Beyond The Sprues

Modelling => Completed GBs => Group and Themed Builds => In the Service of Her Majesty GB => Topic started by: Robomog on September 15, 2022, 11:58:30 PM

Title: Red Arrows Hawk
Post by: Robomog on September 15, 2022, 11:58:30 PM
Well somebody was bound to to it so I volunteer  ;D

The Red Arrows have been at most (if not all) of the late  Queens landmark celebrations so it really should be represented here.

Here's the starting point

(https://i.imgur.com/u8vypwA.jpg)

I have some decals on order as well so it might not be a straight out of the box build.

More when it happens........

Mog
>^-.-^<
Title: Re: Red Arrows Hawk
Post by: Kerick on September 16, 2022, 12:35:41 AM
Looks like a great plan!
Title: Re: Red Arrows Hawk
Post by: robunos on September 16, 2022, 04:22:41 AM
A linky that you may find useful . . .   ;)


https://rclibrary.co.uk/title_details.asp?ID=2648




cheers,
Robin.
Title: Re: Red Arrows Hawk
Post by: Robomog on September 16, 2022, 08:01:20 AM
Thanks for that  :smiley:

Mog
>^-.-^<
Title: Re: Red Arrows Hawk
Post by: Robomog on September 23, 2022, 08:35:12 AM
Hi all.

And so it begins ........

Been doing the pre painting and tidying of parts tho not a lot of that needed.

The fuselage has been assembled but needed a bit of brute force and ignorance to hold it all together. Eric the Cat was not impressed with the clamps pinging off  :D

Here's the story so for.........

(https://i.imgur.com/GBERvdu.jpg)

Thanks again to Robunos for that link I am sorely tempted to do a Yellow Jack's Gnat but do not have one in the stash (quelle horrour!)

More when it happens.........

Mog
>^-.-^<

Title: Re: Red Arrows Hawk
Post by: robunos on September 24, 2022, 04:46:02 AM
Looking good so far, though from what I remember, that kit should be better fitting than that . . .


cheers,
Robin.
Title: Re: Red Arrows Hawk
Post by: Robomog on September 24, 2022, 09:00:34 AM
It looks worse than it is, most of it aligns  reasoably well except around the nose  ;)

Mog
>^-.-^<
Title: Re: Red Arrows Hawk
Post by: Robomog on October 01, 2022, 09:54:10 AM
Hi all more progress

The wing fit is not too bad only needed some Polystyrene filler on the finer cracks, the intakes were a very poor fit and needed sanding and filing to smooth it into the body plus some Polystyrene filler to tone down the joint.

Here's where its at now......

(https://i.imgur.com/3NZU6Na.jpg)

An annoying part of the design is that you have to install the nose wheel quite early in the construction. It's amazing that it hasn't been knocked off by now.

There is still some sanding required on the smoke tank. Then check the canopy fit before masking the cockpit and nose wheel ready for painting.

Mrs Lady Mog bought me a mid range air brush and compressor for my birthday so I am keen to try it out.

Thanks for looking.........

Mog
>^-.-^<
Title: Re: Red Arrows Hawk
Post by: Robomog on October 08, 2022, 05:37:13 AM
Hi all

The Hawk is ready for the paint shop now, just have to set aside a " spray day" to get the primer coat on

(https://i.imgur.com/BDcRk8R.jpg)

The Decals have arrived......

(https://i.imgur.com/udanvUc.jpg)

I will be doing this one

(https://i.imgur.com/tTMUQHb.jpg)

More when it happens

Mog
>^-.-^<
Title: Re: Red Arrows Hawk
Post by: Robomog on October 26, 2022, 08:33:25 AM
Hi all

The hawk has had its first pass through the paintshop  using my  new airbrush and compressor and its quite a different technique to using rattle cans so a steepish learning curve.

For a start the air pressure is much  greater and the amount of  paint  dispensed  less  plus  mixing the paint and cleanig up afterwards its a lot more hastle,  no doubt i will find my level.

As an aside and a total coincidence i uncovered a half built BLOX  Red Fighter  kit ( a sort of poor mans Lego) which i took time out to complete.

Results were good .........

(https://i.imgur.com/wWulB0y.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/tZwdwKb.jpg)

Thanks for looking.....

Mog
>^-.-^<





Title: Re: Red Arrows Hawk
Post by: Old Wombat on October 26, 2022, 10:09:22 AM
'Mog, the pressure from your compressor should be adjustable, I run mine fairly low (at about 15psi) for general use & even lower (down to 5psi) for very fine work.

I find a full clean of the airbrush is not as necessary as many say, mine gets a good wipe out & flushing with thinners.

First, empty out the excess paint, tip some thinners in, give it a good scrub with an old paint brush, pour out the now filthy thinners & wipe out the cup with a soft rag or paper towel. I, then, use the paint brush (wiped on some paper towel to remove the residue of the previous effort) to clean the needle (through the cup, with some thinners, repeatedly pulling & releasing the trigger) & a cotton bud/Q-tip to clean the nozzle (for that I part-fill the cup with thinners, start running the thinners through the system, wet the cotton bud with the thinners & wipe around the inside of the nozzle shield), it bubbles back into the cup & I find it better to tip the last of the thinners out to stop some of the crap that usually comes back going through the airbrush again, then giving the cup a good wipe out & spraying a squirt of IPA into the cup & running the airbrush empty.

I usually strip it down & clean, polish & oil it about once every 6-to-12 months, depending on usage.

Paint thinning is a personal thing & every paint brand is different but, once you know what paints you prefer & what thinning ratio works for you, they tend to be very consistent.

Anyway, there are a lot of very good videos out on the interwebs by people better than me that I suggest you have a look at some, & pick & choose what works for you.
Title: Re: Red Arrows Hawk
Post by: Robomog on October 26, 2022, 05:04:20 PM
Thanks OW I'll try that, especially the pressure, it was blowing the Hawk off of its spray rig!

 I forgot to reapply the primer to bits I'd  sanded down so I've got some unwanted pre shading I need to spray out.

Mog
>^-.-^<
Title: Re: Red Arrows Hawk
Post by: Robomog on November 11, 2022, 09:28:23 AM
Hi all

Well the next airbrushing session did not go to plan, I'm obviously doing something fundamentally wrong and need to step back and experiment/train.

The finish is OK but there were a couple of runs I had to sand/buff out.

I'm onto the decals now but these are fighting me as well.  Firstly one of the nose flashes dried out of position and bent, probably my fault, I didn't check it when it went into the drawer to set.  I now have another Hawk on order to scavenge the decals.

Secondly the decals on the underside are a complete nightmare. Whoever designed the decals had thoughtfully allowed for the wheel  doors but completely neglected the prominent hinge/ actuator  covers on the trailing edge making the base of the arrow impossible to lay.

(https://i.imgur.com/RqgKcT9.jpg)

I had to cut the first one in situ which turned out messy and the one I tried to pre cut is even worse as you can see from the photo. Hopefully I will be able to patch it with some white paint. If not have a second attempt with the new decals.

Thanks for looking.....

Mog
>^-.-^<
Title: Re: Red Arrows Hawk
Post by: raafif on November 12, 2022, 08:25:29 AM
I've had the same problem on a different kit ... need to "test" fit decals as well as plastic parts before assembly now :icon_twisted:
Title: Re: Red Arrows Hawk
Post by: robunos on November 14, 2022, 05:50:47 AM
You seem to be winning, nonetheless, so keep at it . . .   :D


cheers,
Robin.
Title: Re: Red Arrows Hawk
Post by: Robomog on November 14, 2022, 10:27:52 AM
Thanks guys.

After the above rant i remembered that the actuator covers were seperate parts and i installed them because they would be the same colour as the wing.

If i had left them off i would have had no problems with the underside decals aaaaagh!.

In my defence the instructions give you no warning of this  and tell you to install them ahead of the decals, that'll teach me to follow orders.

More soon.......

Mog
>^-.-^<
Title: Re: Red Arrows Hawk
Post by: robunos on November 15, 2022, 12:32:43 AM

If i had left them off i would have had no problems with the underside decals aaaaagh!.



And then what happens is that you leave off the flap horns, paint the wing and add the decals, THEN add the flap horns, mask up and paint them, and then removing the masking damages the decals anyway . . .


cheers,
Robin.
Title: Re: Red Arrows Hawk
Post by: Robomog on November 15, 2022, 06:56:44 AM
 ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Damned if you do, damned if you don't!

I am not alone !!!!

Mog
>^-.-^<
Title: Re: Red Arrows Hawk
Post by: Robomog on November 25, 2022, 11:24:21 AM
Well after a few challenging moments and some lessons learned, mostly do not try new techniques on time limited projects, I can happily announce that the Hawk is completed.

Here's the pics .......

(https://i.imgur.com/UmGoBwq.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/NiRffVl.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/Bj53x0q.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/UQuUAyI.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/2g5dJ1o.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/jb0tuPF.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/r6POJDN.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/5MXifps.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/Xijjm5A.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/nOdkK0y.jpg)

And a couple of scale shots .......


(https://i.imgur.com/zBiPwyF.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/C5djC7l.jpg)

As always all comments and criticisms gratefully accepted

Mog
>^-.-^<
Title: Re: Red Arrows Hawk
Post by: GTX_Admin on November 26, 2022, 01:24:51 AM
 :smiley:
Title: Re: Red Arrows Hawk
Post by: robunos on November 26, 2022, 05:56:48 AM
Oh, that's come out very well indeed, after all your tribulations . . .   :smiley:




cheers,
Robin.
Title: Re: Red Arrows Hawk
Post by: Old Wombat on November 26, 2022, 02:23:16 PM
Oh, that's come out very well indeed, after all your tribulations . . .   :smiley:

Absolutely! :smiley: :smiley: 8)
Title: Re: Red Arrows Hawk
Post by: Robomog on November 27, 2022, 09:35:00 AM
Thanks guys. For a simple out of the box build and aftermarket transfer adaption it was quite fraught, mostly my own fault of course  ::),  but it has turned out well.

Mog
>^-.-^<
Title: Re: Red Arrows Hawk
Post by: apophenia on November 28, 2022, 05:57:07 AM
... but it has turned out well.

It has indeed! Well done 'Mog  :smiley: