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

[Ian 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.

It sure aint a Tamiya! I kid you not the old Airfix one is a walk in the park compared to this.
I must admit that it's not fighting to hard. Also the issues I am finding are mostly because things are to tight or to big. An easy problem to solve. Worse if they where to small....

I have put the gubbins in the fuselage and zipped it up. Not photos today, sorry, They will come tomorrow, when the various clamps, tape, vice grips and sash cramps are removed.

[Jim R]

Hi Ian
Well so far so good. It hasn't found it's way into the bin - yet! Definitely a build that needs patience and experience. The instructions and the wing joins are ridiculous :sad: Despite everything you're making good progress.
Jim

[boatman]

WELL Ian as far as im concerned you havnt hit the really bad bits yet they are still to come an why they dint make the vetical tail in one piece is beyond my understanding as its not that big is it ?
chris

[scottie3158]

Not a wingy person but your making a great job of it, despite the strange joints.

[Tim Marlow]

Coming along well, but the joints do make you scratch your head. It’s almost like the designer had never done one, or even built one, before.

[papa 695]

Coming along nicely Ian

[stillp]

It’s almost like the designer had never done one, or even built one, before.

Or thought about one!
Pete

[boatman]

Coming along well, but the joints do make you scratch your head. It’s almost like the designer had never done one, or even built one, before.

AN You could well be right Tim as thats what i thought when i was building my kit
chris

[Ian M]

Me thinks they had plans for another version. There are two top sections for the tail fin, and several of the openable covers have two versions....
We will never know.

[Ian M]

WELL Ian as far as im concerned you havnt hit the really bad bits yet they are still to come an why they dint make the vetical tail in one piece is beyond my understanding as its not that big is it ?
chris

I thought you said the intakes was one of the bad ones... Prey tell.

[boatman]

I thought you said the intakes was one of the bad ones... Prey tell.

ok Ian my gripes were mostly with engine fitment an the covers that fit round them as on my kit they are about 3mm short of meeting up to the bottom fuaslage terrible in my opininon an the main undercart mounts are way out of place i had to get the dremel diamon cutter an cut about 4to 5 mm along the bottom fualage so the undercarts could be fitted in there slots an then i was left with a big hole which i filled up with 1 mm platicard but see how you get on as i found that the only things that really fit good was the two avionics covers well thats what happened too me when doin this kit as ive been building plastic kits for over 50 yrs or so but ive never had a kit that was so bad a fit hows that ?

ps when i first saw it to buy in hannant i asked if i could see inside the kit box an i was so impressed with the layout an illastations as it looked so well made as i wanted to build 54 sqr at coltishall as i was there to see the real planes up close an watch them bein refuled till the fuel came pourin out of the overflow pipe at the tail but i was really dissapointed with this kit an the decals just splinted when i put them in water
chris

[Ian M]

The butcher shop is now open.
Right then.

First we chop off the fan at the front.


Then the jet nozzle off the back.

Add a couple of tabs to give the covers something to sit against.
The Hope was that I would be able to just glue the exhaust one once all was buttoned down but no such luck. I'll figure that bit out when I get to it.

Even though the fit of the nose section was a bit iffy the canopies fitted perfect!

Dont worry about the glue, this was pre clean up.

The intakes are now flush on all three sides. Panel lines re scribed and even a few rivets re impressed! The nastiness just behind the cock pit is also not as bad now.


A few more thoughts and impressions about this kit:
All these panels that "dont fit" and are total oop: Well I have to conclude that that the panels do not fit. They are not designed to fit in the closed position. They are designed to be open. The covers for the machine guns have detail on the inside that are just in the way and the interior 'frame' that they close against is in the way! Simple fix cut off most of the supporting frame, file the detail off the edges inside and they fit. Yes its a faff. but I guess that they (KH) did not think that anyone would want to close the covers.
In which case they should have used more time on detail inside the exposed bays.

[rtfoe]

Ian, it must have been head racking to get you to double post.
With the grinding of the panel insides means it actually fits. That's one way of solving the problem.

Cheers,
Richard

[Ian M]

LOL my decrepit lap top had a hissy fit. I have 'tidied up' sorry about that. :flushed:

I really believe that the design criteria was only for an open panel build but they sort of forgot to add the detail.
IF and its a big if, I ever get hold of another one of these. (I must be chuffing mad), I will do it doors open...Having found this little gem:

https://blackdog-model.com/a48120-1-48-sepecat-jaguar-big-set-902544857/

[rtfoe]

I have a feeling they accidentally forgot to add a sprue of closed door panels. Because however bad a fitting is, there is always a way around it with lots of dry fitting, fettling and sanding or even thinking out of the box and approaching from another angle. That's what makes this hobby interesting for builders rather than assemblers.
Getting a hold of another kit can either be easy if many want to offload thinking it's a bad kit or difficult once they realise the same as you have :smiling2:...now that it is no more in production.

Cheers,
Richard