So here is my next offering - a High Planes Model 1/48 Hawk 127 Lead in trainer.

A short run kit, so plenty of sand, test, sand, test. Fortunately came with a good online review explaining how to get it all to fit well.

A kind gift from ManCityFan when I saw him at NorEast Con in 2019, hopefully I can do it justice.

Thanks Cliff, the Frog kits are basic, but can be made up pretty well. I have seen a fantastic Do17 done up.

I do still have a Beaufort, a Do335 and another Vengeance from Frog.

Beautiful, great job there Piers! Always loved the white tail on Aussie birds, attractive and I'm sure it made for good aircraft ID for the AA gunners.

I hadn't noticed that's she's a FROG kit until now, always heard about them but never built one.

Thanks guys, got it finished!

On to the next one!

Looking great mate!

Piers: She's coming along well, love the camo! I've had the same issues with sealers looking chalky too, I went though several. So far Alclad matte overcoat hasn't caused any issues. 

And nice to see you having the canopy masked and done. 

Sprayed and preshaded the ocean grey on the topside of the Spit today. Hopefully will get the green masked and applied tomorrow. 

Long weekend here so I got a chance to do a bit more on the Vengeance.

Did some oil weathering then a sealing coat
Some how the sealer coat has made it all look chalky. After this I had to give it a scrub down with very fine sanding fabric.
Also managed to break off the tailplane.

After that I threw out the flat clear, opened a new one. Did some pastel weathering and then a good flat seal.
Wheels are on and it is looking like its getting closer.

That looks like an great job on the wire loom Patrick, looks very neat.
This is great detail, keep it up!

Wow Patrick, I think you're insane to wire the engine- insane in a good way mind you! 

Crikey Patrick! I think you're going to need a stiff drink and a long holiday when you get through with that beast.

Thanks both, just bodging along here :)  Though what do you think of this?

Mk 6 by Patrick Nevin, on Flickr

Looks a lot neater, can be bent, can put stubs over the twisted ends, much less grief?

Patrick: Oh wow, that is so cool!

Wow Patrick, there is a lot going on in that photo!

Looks like you were successful getting the flaps in place, a good result. The gun tubes are settling in well.

The IP and rudders look good, surprised by how basic the IP is compared to others of the time. And a lucky save with the acetate!

I am very interested to see how the ignition looms come together - a lot of work has gone into those.

Good day (Gday? :))

Buffalo 32nd (1 of 1) by Patrick Nevin, on Flickr

Some progress with the Buffalo.  Etch flaps (ptui!) are now some way there, thought I was being smart thinning out the rear of the wing gun cartridge slots before opening them up, alas some of the plastic sagged a little so cyano to fill, cleaned, due to get polished.  Tubing for the guns is now about right, though the length will get made more sensible.  I have the place marked for cutting out the wing gun camera position too, but want a few more looks - since it's done from an oblique, fuzzy picture - before cutting it.

Also the instrument panel/rudder pedals.  They are together!  I managed to completely lose the acetate instrument backing and the only reason it's not been redone using discrete decals is it appears you can't get any Allied ones in this scale! The panic meter hit the red line at this point and I was about to feel dirty about using Luftwaffe alternates when I flicked a bit of 'plastic sheet' out of the way and...it was actually the white-painted rear of said acetate.  Phew. 

The other thing here is Mks 2,3,4 and 5 of the engine wiring loom.  #1 plastic kit part disintegrated under sanding, #2 & 3 are 20A cooker wire with slowly increasing neatness but I then rethought it in terms of the diameter, did #4 which proved the point of bell wire (0.8 vice 2.0mm) with cyano over the top to hide the loops and bulk out to appropriate size.  I then succumbed to a nice nagging feeling at 0400 and re-did the 18 leads around a pin with fewer turns and loose ends.  It does look slightly tat now, but the increasing levels of thick cyano will get neatened when set and I hold out hope for this one.  The rest of construction rather depends on it although discovering a good set of cockpit pictures in the Pilot's Notes has been a Godsend, the kit instructions are somewhat vague in parts :)  

Best to you all

Patrick

Darren: That looks amazing! I too love the paint worn off the plywood floor!

Thanks for the comments. I'm enjoying watching the other builds here, there a nice selection of subjects, including how best to deal with vegemite! 

Lost: I've yet to find any references that explain what the navigator used for "relief", but I think I can guess. 

I've seen other builds do scuffed floors by the nav's seat, so thought I'd give it a try. It's the first time I've tried the "hairspray technique" and am pretty pleased with the result.

Dodgy: Good luck getting the AM for your build. I ended up sourcing mine from Poland, which lead to an anxious wait to see if HMRC were going to slap import duty on it. Fortunately it's classed as hobby materials and should be exempt, but until it arrives you can never be sure....

Nice work Darren! At least you have some paint and glue happening, I'm still searching for AM parts.

Wow Darren, that is amazing detail in that kit. And then heading off and doing the superdetailing too. Doing wonders with the paint - I don't see anywhere needing touch ups.

Not sure the pilot would be happy about the missing relief tube. Come to think of it, the navigator might be even less impressed....

I do like the paint scuffed off the plywood floor - nice touch!

Looking forward to your next installment.

Remember the guy that was doing the Mosquito? Well, I've finally managed to get something semi-presentable together to remind myself I'm still in this build.

The cockpit is coming along nicely, although there's definitely some touching up of the paint job to be done in places. The firewall in the bottom right is from the Brassin set, but everything else is from the kit, which is as impressive as everyone says it is, with the exception of any wires (including the "pilot's relief tube").

And on the subject of wiring, I fell victim to the voice in my head that told me that super-detailing a bulkhead that's almost certainly not going to be visible was the best way to spend a week or so. I blame this decision for my slow progress. It seemd like a good idea, but looking at this picture I notice that the two wires on the right have fallen off. Again. My carpet is now a wool and wire blend, so much of the stuff has ended up in there....

So that's it so far. Hopefully the next post won't be quite so long coming, but at this rate, I'm glad this is a year long build :)

Lol, I haven't tried thinner with the Vegemite yet! 

Love the camo and the white tail on the Vengence Piers! 

That's right, I knew there was something else.
I have the decals on the Vengeance. They are Aussie Decals, and are a bit thick, but they conform well with decal solvent.
I reckon the letters are too big though and they don't fit in like the instructions or the photos of the actual plane.

Hard to tell in the photo, the codes are in Sky Blue.

Gamera

Thanks guys!! I'll try spreading the Vegemite a little thinner. I have been putting butter on the bread with it- I haven't tried the cheese yet. That bread looks good with it there Piers!

 

WHoops, read that wrong, I thought you said spread it with a little thinner! That definitely would not be good for you!
My latest in the Vegemite Group Build is a tragedy - an empty jar!

Thanks guys!! I'll try spreading the Vegemite a little thinner. I have been putting butter on the bread with it- I haven't tried the cheese yet. That bread looks good with it there Piers!

Cliff, I asked the family to provide some constructive feedback on your vegemite technique. The better half thinks there could be a touch less, but the son and I like that level of coverage. But as with any good finish, you need a primer layer on and we could not see what you have put down. We always use butter, (the real dairy stuff) a lighter layer than the vegemite.

Here's one I prepared earlier - as you can see, a light layer of vegemite over the butter...

(bit hard to tell with the holes all over the bread)

Gamera

BTW: This is how I've been eating the Vegemite. Am I doing it wrong???

 

Looks good to me Gamera, making me hungry though.......

The Vengence is looking great Lost.

BTW: This is how I've been eating the Vegemite. Am I doing it wrong???

Piers: Looks good! Love the camo and the white tail! 

looks really good. Well done. Super interesting subject. Crazy dihedral.

Green and brown are on the Vengeance. There are a few gaps here and there to be touched up (as you can see near the wing tip), and the white leading edges and tail will be next.

Thanks Cliff I will look out for that wing fuselage join when the time comes!

Ferg, had a look at the Montex Boomerang - that looks like an incredible kit. I would be very nervous starting that.