StDs 1/72 AModel Hawker Hector

[Steve-the-Duck]

So, we're kind of back on track. After leaving the remaining Alclad to dry for five days, here's round 2!


I tried dust-coating this time round, as advised by my brother-in-law, and we may have a winner! Still needs a second go-over though, in a few more days time...

As a comparison, I did the cockpit panel in rattle-can Humbrol Chrome Silver, which I thought I might have to use all over. Or foil. I think the slightly duller look works well, as these panels wouldn't have stayed as highly shiny as the cowling, with the crew climbing in and out
Except for the Station Warrant insisting the poor erks buff up after every flight...


As another compare and contrast...

My prototype Spit has several different finishes. Wings are (greyish) Aluminium spray, Metalcote Polished Aluminium (blotchy because of varnish for the decals, but I COULD say it was 'weatherting'). Control surfaces are Chrome Silver. Nose cowling is Bare Metal Chrome foil, which I thought I might have to use on the Hector, but wouldn't have had the right shinyness

[papa 695]

Glad to see you got the paint sorted Chris, looks good.

[Steve-the-Duck]

'The bandages came off just this afternoon!'

Niow THAT's what I'm talking about. Now I have a handle on the Alclad, it may see more use.
Might still try the Vallejo if I come across it. I found a set of Mig metals and finish stuff in a model shop yesterday, but fifty quid a pop just to try out is a bit much.

Perhaps if I do decide on the Razorcrest for the Star Wars group build I may give it a go. Opinions on the Mig metals anyone?

[colin m]

There w are moving along nicely. Alclad is great stuff. Well worth persevering with.

[Steve-the-Duck]

There w are moving along nicely. Alclad is great stuff. Well worth persevering with.

I agree. Well, I do NOW

[Steve-the-Duck]

Okay, the latest success and mis-step

Under wing registration letters on, using Modeldecal pre-war set. The Roundels are the kit parts, which are really very nice. The transfer sheet also has spare W/T markings, but I still needed more, which came from my Modedecal Harts sheet. The fuselage join at the bottom left a gap, so I've added a strip of plastic rod for the covering join. The paintwork is a little streaky and blotchy in places, but that works for weathering.

And on to the sides

Kit roundels and stencils, codes Modeldecal. Even though it's one sheet, some transfers go on perfectly, others break-up, but there are spares
Now for the latest mis-step, which I haven't shown

I was going to add the cockpit coming at this stage, but it doesn't fit. And that's because the instructions tell you to add four spare Vickers MG drums to the inner underside of the coming, which interferes with part of the inner side frame. So, I've had to shave off those parts. And then you discover that the control panel interferes at the front of the fuselage, and doesn't sit down properly.
I'm determined not to have any gaps, so once the varnish over the transfers is dry, that's the next job

Well, I know what to expect for the Amodel Hart and the Fury, when I get to them. I may use the Hart for the trainer conversion, now I've got another AZ Hart on the way

[Ian M]

Alclad is the bees whatsits when it goes right. I have had a bottle or two that seemed to have 'gone off'. The results looked a bit like what you had.
The biggest help I can give is Alclad is very much a less is more thing.

[papa 695]

Coming along very nicely.

[Steve-the-Duck]

Coming along very nicely.

Well, KIND of...

With all the travails of this kit, I'm still, SLOWLY, progressing

So, the cockpit coaming (spelt right this time!) is soon to be attached, finally

First off, having altered the inside to actually fit down where it should be, I then had to shave down the best part of a millimeter for it to match the forward fuselage. So, time for a repaint. I didn't want it as shiny as the cowling, so, I thought, I'll use the rattle-can of Chrome Silver as before, with a black undercoat, Halfords Primer, and gloss varnish. Simples!

And there we have it
Except...

My brother-in-law grey-primered a stand of his, and didn't notice this piece was still on the big flat piece of card we use as a spray table.
So back to square one. So, it now has the Chrome finish, just got to touch up the leather shroud and then...
I have to make the bulkhead that fits between the pilot and gunner on all the Hart variants, which is absent from Amodel ones entirely, but is in all the AZ kits. So there's a template right there
I've also realised, of you look back at the cockpit floor back aways, the gunners' seat is probably moulded in the wrong place. It should be a bit further back, and also attached to the side with a retractable framework, I THINK
Never mind

Oh, and another trial I finally mounted the tail fin, which attaches with a single pin, the only locating pin in the whole kit, just about. And, of course THAT broke off with handling...
So, it's now mounted with brass rod. Which does make it stand clear of the tail surfaces, like it should

At leasst all the troubles with this kit lets me know what to expect from the Hart (to be converted to a trainer) and the Fury II waiting in the, haha, wings

[Steve-the-Duck]

Cough wibble wheeze
'Let us meet at the Hour of Scampering'

There are times with this thing... I'm not quite throwing it at the wall, it's just an exercise in mild and compounding frustrations

So, the cockpit coaming... This is the AZ Model Audax, which has a piece for the bulkhead between pilot and gunner, completely missing from the Amodel Harts
So, I made a quick stand-in. BTW, the AZ Model Audax, a 'plane known as "the 'Art with the 'ook", is completely missing the message hook piece from the kit
Which is odd seeing as that's the entire role of the 'plane!

So, the bulkhead is in place, trimmed to fit
The kit has a tiny red cross transfer for the medikit, but the last time I tried putting it on, it wouldn't stay. The extra coating of primer has obscured the hatych detail but the chrome finish does look like natural metal
Which is nice

So, on with the piece, FINALLY

Not a great fit, bit of a Matchbox 'trench' there, but nothing that can't be dealt with...
He says optimistically

[Steve-the-Duck]

The wheels in the kit are separate hubs and tires, which is a nice idea to make painting easier
And to make up the balloon tyres for my planned Hardy conversion to the AZ Audax

Both this and the Amodel Hart have two pair of large and small hubs with appropriate tyres

[Steve-the-Duck]

Well, here we are then

Main struts are on, next for the cabane struts, which are sadly lacking in adequate mounting points. The strut pieces themselves are VERY thin, and pliable. I was expecting one to break, especially as they have like SIX mounting points to the sprue. The airspeed indicator thingy is moulded on,another nice touch, but I KNOW I'm going to break that while rigging

Put a very small stream of filler along the coaming / fuselage join. Unfortunately, the brush silver is a different shade to the spray,. Doesn't show too much though

[Steve-the-Duck]

Okay, so once this and the SE.5A are done, this will be next, the 'plane I wanted to do for this GB in the first place!
It's a big, hefty resin piece, and will need a full interior with all those big windows, but I've stuff left over from another, similar, aircraft build...

I'm also considering this

Yes, it is, indeed a vacform! I mean, it can't give me any more trouble than this Hector can it?

Can it?

Hmm, when WAS the last time I attempted a Vac (and got halfway-through?)...

[Steve-the-Duck]

I am persevering...

So, the control column just dropped out and broke, for no apparent reason. and the left wing struts detached...
But the top wing IS going on....

[yak face]

Keep at it chris its going to be worth it . The Breda looks lovely , like an italian take on the De havilland DH89 dragon rapide . cheers tony