Fleet Air Arm Phantom

eBay purchase. Bloody RAF...not having a Crab Fat Phantom  

AAAAAAH. The guy I bought it from had started it, badly. 

The problem buying partially started kits on eBay. Breaking the kit apart with cause me a few extra issues later.  

RAM Models decals for the FG.1 

Too many choices from RAM Models decals  

The damage from splitting the back end. 

Taking off the tail flap to repair back end. 

Making a new vent with modelling clay and filler. 

It worked! Replacement vent made 

Test fit. It's ok, but will have to close the gaps. 

Goodies arrived from the UK. 

Flightpath's 25kVA ground power rig "Houchin" 

Base coat on the Houchin. 

Houchin coming along.  

Crew ladder built and primed. 

Base coat on and ready for some detail. 

Ladder just needs a varnish.  

Fleet Air Arm chocks.  

Wheels on. Nearly went cross eyed painting the wheel nuts red. 

Rear cockit panel with the dials sanded off and chunks cut out.  

More chopping.  

Tub coming together.  

British RN tractor, but figures are dressed as Yanks. 

All the figures provided are American flight deck crew. Got some work to do here. 

See, it really is a Phantom. Coming together. 

Home made scribing tool 

Using the tool like a pen 

Fitting the intake blanks. I'll fit the handles later. 

PE on nose oleo.  

Little bit of scratch wiring in the cockpit  

On the bench. Much nicer than working on a tray on the bedroom floor. 

Aircraft operating area arrived.  

Primed and pre-shaded. 

Just waiting for the FG.1 to taxi in. 

Rebuilding the ejection seats. 

Ready to start weathering. 

New dog.  

Tail vent broke off (and disappeared) ????  

Blue stuff & green stuff to make a new vent. 

Tail vent on. A little (gentle) filling and sanding required. 

Some light reading and great references.  

Back on the bench from the shelf of shame.  

Opening up the Ground Power Supply cover. Really should have done this before glueing it together ?‍♂️ 

And the Houchin cable goes in here.  

Made some handles for the intake blanks. Little chunky, but once they are painted and weathered I think they’ll work.  

Metal finish on the heat shield. I was advised to do this first.  

Cans! Airwaves FGR.2 exhaust nozzles. Reading up there is no visual difference. The FG.1 engines simply had a quicker reaction time for “wave off” on the flight deck.  

Step looking good (then I knocked it off) 

She a lady in black! So good to have all the repairs and filling covered.  

Should look nice once it’s weathered 

Making a “training variant” sidewinder to go on the stb inner rail.  

Ready to receive the next colour.  

Family time means time away from the bench. Not always a bad thing.  

Now she’s ready for some colour!  

Extra Dark Sea Grey is on….. but I’m not sure, I feel it should be a little darker and a little bluer.  

Dry rub Hobby Decals. Gorgeous, but sooooooo many