StDs 1/72 AModel Hawker Hector

[Steve-the-Duck]

Not too early to post this am I? Not starting 'til Montag but I'll get the preview in



While A Model kits are nicely detailed, their major flaw is a lack of locating pins. The 1/144 'Canberraski' I did recently had six fuselage halves, with no steps or pins to align them properly
So, I already know I'm going to have to drill and put in a couple of brass rod wing spars

I'm going for a pre-war Silver wings version, so fortunately I've got plenty of pre-war RAF letters. And silver / chrome / aluminium paint

One oddity I've noticed on the box art. It depicts 613 Squadron flying in defence of Calais, the only time the Hector was actually used 'in anger'. But if you look closely, the column of trucks they're bombing look British by the camo. especially the smaller one in the field. Bedfords rather than German Blitzes!

[papa 695]

Looks a nice little kit Chris. Looking forward to the start on Monday.

[Steve-the-Duck]

As Ambassador Kosh said, 'And so it begins'
I'll be doing this beast as K8143 of 4 Squadron (Army Co-op). None of the photos I've found, which are very small, definitively show whether the 'plane had the Co-op six-pointed star with squadron badge on the fin, so I might not do that.
It will be all silver though
To be honest, I wasn't going to do any of my Hart variants until I had the complete 'set', I'm still missing the Hardy. But starting at the last variant and working backwards is okay


A bit out-of-focus, sorry. The only part of the cockpit with a locating hole is for the joystick, which I'm leaving off until I've painted the seat and added belts.
I'm also going to have to add a firewall at the front, or you'll be able to see right through and out the engine intakes!

The gunner seat has NOTHING to guide placement, nor which way up the floor panel is supposed to be. I can see myself having to move it later. Up top here is one of the alternative floors, with open bomb-aimer hatch, viewed from below. Luckily I have plenty of photo reference!

[Steve-the-Duck]

So, the balance weights added to the rear fuselage do have a tiny point for placement, which needs drilling out to fit one of the few locating pins on the kit

And here we see the instructions are just edging the right side of 'vague.' Just

[Dave Ward]

Ambassador Kosh said, 'And so it begins'

AAAh a Babylon V follower!
The Hector looks pretty good, once you've the bits off those nasty sprues it will look pretty mainstream
Dave

[yak face]

Nice one chris , the Amodel kits can be a test but subject wise they are often the only game in town . It doesn't look too bad once its cleaned up and seen as you’ve done their stuff before you know the drill regarding strengthening joints etc . Cheers tony

[Tim Marlow]

Very good subject, not often we see an interwar bird built.

[Steve-the-Duck]

Right, so the main cockpit parts are detailed and painted

The kit suggests a grey interior, but I've3 gone with the red bled-through dope effect

The control panel is just as is, with a couple of coloured dials. I thought about some white details, but decided just to go for gloss over black
All the panel decals I've got for Harts and variants are black on clear, which is a shame looking at real panels

Pilot seat with Tamiya masking strip seat belts; my go-to technique if I've no appropriate etch or other. Still notb adding the joystick yet, and the pedal angle won't be obvious when in place
As can be seen at left, one really good thing about these kits is separate tyres to the wheel hubs!

The fuselage floor, with gunner's seat. Belts again from masking strip.
I'm going to have to add a bulkhead behind the gunner, as well as the engine firewall, and a piece to represent the fuel tank behind the control panel when the fuselage goes together
The brass supports I'll be adding for the lower wings will be in the position of the wing spars. More by coincidence than design!

[Steve-the-Duck]

A LOT of small holes for rigging mounting have been drilled


The two tiny plastistrip squares under the tail surfaces are cable run brackets
I've also had to drill out all the strip mounting points as they're barely indentations

[Tim Marlow]

Going along nicely Chris,

[boatman]

AAAh a Babylon V follower!
The Hector looks pretty good, once you've the bits off those nasty sprues it will look pretty mainstream
Dave

YES Dave im another ive got the complete set on dvd of B/5
Chrisb

[colin m]

A Hawker Hector, that's a new one on me. It will be nice to see this one finished.

[Steve-the-Duck]

Cough, wibble, wheeze
'The avalanche has already started. It is too late for the pebbles to take a vote.'

[tr1ckey66]

Lots of aircraft in this GB that are new to me tis being another one. I'm guessing this is one of those interwar designs like the Hart, Fury, Gauntlet or Gladiator?
Looks like an interesting build and I'm looking forward to the progess
Good luck
Paul

[Tim Marlow]

Lots of aircraft in this GB that are new to me tis being another one. I'm guessing this is one of those interwar designs like the Hart, Fury, Gauntlet or Gladiator?
Looks like an interesting build and I'm looking forward to the progess
Good luck
Paul

Always amazes me how many different, but very similar, aircraft the RAF used during the interwar period. The pilots must have had different rides every eighteen months or so :smiling: