Kitty Hawk 1/48 Jaguar GR.1/ GR.3

[Dave Ward]

Ian,
you never know, the ageing may have released any stress, and the parts may go together easily - but I wouldn't count on it.
Dave

[boatman]

WELL on the colour of the real planes as i was working up raf coltishall at the time an me an a m8 went an see the real planes in their hanger when they came back from the war an i see this plane in there thats in the kit an to me an my m8 the colour was very weird as yes it was a sandy colour with a hint of pink very strange colours indeed
chris

[boatman]

Ian,
you never know, the ageing may have released any stress, and the parts may go together easily - but I wouldn't count on it.
Dave

AN YOU would be right Dave if Ian kit is as bad as mine was
chris

[colin m]

It will be nice to see this one being built. By the sound of all the reviews, it's definitely a kit for modelers, not assemblers.

[Mickc1440]

Nice one Mick, no need to delete it, I'll let it slide this time...lol
Could I ask which paint you used? Colour look good.

I know it's supposed to be a pinky colour but I used what I had for a gulf war challenger build so it was a Tamiya rattle can of their desert yellow.

[boatman]

I know it's supposed to be a pinky colour but I used what I had for a gulf war challenger build so it was a Tamiya rattle can of their desert yellow.

HI Mick well thats the colours i see on the real plane sorta pinky colours very weird colours to me anyway an my m8 as we both remarked on it
chris

[Ian M]

Well...
I'll bung a few photos up in a bit but first some waffle.
Only joking, the photos will be in with the waffle.
So:

The avionics bay in the nose is quite well detailed, a little soft maybe, How ever it will, due to two minor details be closed!


The first is the inside of the panels each have ejector pin marks. Being a concave surface not the easiest to get an acceptable, for me result


The second is that the subject has a nice nose art decal that covers the panels.
Unfortunately the panel sits just a fraction low and the splodge of super thin has marked the surface. It'll clean up.


The nose wheel strut: A good fit and again a bit soft, The antic Airfix one was way sharper/crisp. hey ho.

Not the best PE harness but it was in the box and it is what it is. Including to big by far. (looks like the seat cover needs a touch up though).
Not the best bang seat I have seen. The Oh Sh!t pull pinged off into the unknown universe on leaving the sprue, so a quick fix with a bit of wire. (and later paint!)
We will ignore the fact that this grab that fires you through the canopy when pulled is normally covered by a flap so no one else pulls it by mistake!
The cock pit is nothing to write home about. Small cramped and black. Very shallow PE for the side consoles and the IP up front.
To be honest, no one will ever look in side and say wow or eww! so good enough.
I can feel my days of tones of PE and resin are soon a thing of the past.


So far the only parts that have given me grief- The fit was so tight and also impossible to get to stay put odd angles and all that. Lets hope the engines fit.
Talking of engines:

Are they really so devoid of 'gubbins' on the out side?


The PE on the inside of the nozzles was fun to get in. but it got there.

Started to find bits that will be painted befor the glue up due to the placement of them..
A suitable colour needs to found The destructions call out is interior green, but should it not be yellow chromate?
Whilst on the subject of instructions....
I found out what happens to all the people that get turned down by Dragon- They got a job at Kitty Hawk. Lets just say they are not to clear at times AND they missed a page out the book, to that was a photocopy slipped in the book. together with a second page which was identical to the page it should replace!.

The ever growing parts for painting tree. Oh and Boatman. my intake ducts went togehter like a dream. As to if they fit the fuselage remains to be seen.


Some conclusions thus far:
The detail is pretty good if a little soft and fuzzy.
The plastic is also good and takes sanding well.
The kit would probably had been a lot better and less scary, if they had dropped the open panels (there are loads) and concentrated on what can be seen.
So far the fit of the parts is pretty good The two bays on the long stick in the above photo held together with out glue! (they are glued though no need to panic.
The build order seems very odd. I dont recall the Airfix one being as bad. (I have one in the stash so I will find out one day).

Thanks for looking in and hope you are enjoying this little adventure.
Cheers

[boatman]

well ok Ian but wait till you get to the main undercart an trying to fit the engines an their covers they were mostly my stickin points an curseing unless i got a teabreak kit lol
chris

[Tim Marlow]

Interesting to see this being built Ian. It’s been panned so many times that you must have bags of self confidence to put yourself through the wringer. Must say it’s coming on well at present.

[Mickc1440]

It's all coming back now :smiling: nice start Ian

[papa 695]

Looking good so far Ian

[Ian M]

Ding ding; round two.
Now this sub title might give the impression that the build is a fight well actually not so much.
Yes there are parts that need careful dry fitting befor glue is applied but so far only very few real issues.
So first the problem parts.

The intake ducts. width wise the fit was good but they did stand proud about 1mm, which is way off- I am sure the real thing did not have an almost two inch step at the joint area...
So first off the location tabs got the knife and then half a millimeter removed from the back face. Like wise the part on the fuselage where they meet, was also reduced by about the same.
This actually got them to sit how they should; flush on all three sides. On removing the clamp from the one on the right, the rather thin joint had opened and things have gone a bit out of line. Bugger. I will have to have a go at that later.
I primed the parts that are needing paint befor assembly, Alclad. was the weapon of choice. Seriously forgot how much that smells! And being to lazy to go to the shed for some cellulose thinners to clean up with, I used thier own cleaner... NEVER AGAIN. It really stinks most foul.
Any how:



I have added a few of the pipe details that are missing and obvious. The less 'in your face' ones being ignored.
A bit of tape over the well should give enough masking to paint the leg!
'
A wash or two and a bit of grime will break the emptiness here. A look in my reference album has a whole lot more in here.

The main UC struts, although over complicated, went together well. As to if the wheels will sit flat on the ground when I am done remains to be seen.
Talking of flat, the tyres in this kit are very flat on the contact area, or tread if you like. Jags had quite a rounded tyre! with a tread pattern!

While waiting for glue/paint to dry I made a start on the arms. Loads of them- Bit miffed there is only one BGL1000 in the box even though the instructions says to build two!!! Hmmm

A wing and a prayer.

The first of some serious questions. Why on earth have they put a joint diagonally across a panel like that!
On the bottom ok not so easy to be seen but any how. Not good. Why the need to have that one part in PE. Did they cock it up and need to fix it? Madness!

Both trailing and leading flaps have one option. Open...
At least they remembered the bumps for the actuators in the flaps...


Just would be better if they where in the right place as can clearly be seen when held up to a light.

Tune in again for the next round...Fitting bits in the fuselage. :surprised:

[adt70hk]

Coming on nicely Ian, despite the issues. That join across the wing is a bit daft in particular....

ATB.

Andrew

[colin m]

Well now, all seems to be going rather well. Sure, you've had to do some proper modelling, but hey, it's not a Tamiya.

[Ian M]

That join across the wing is a bit daft in particular....

The one on the vertical stab is even dafter! A join between the panels and right through an inspection cover. Why not. lol

A better place would have been to have had a nice locating tab in the radio gismo thingie (tech speak lol). No no- just a but join tween the two parts, Oh and the rudder..
The quick of eye will note that the rivets have been forgotten on this side of the panel as well. Grr.