Having built several models over the last few years with the almost mandatory addition of resin, photo-etch, aftermarket decals etc, I decided that I wanted to build something more or less straight from the box with as little hassle as possible!

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This kit fitted the bill nicely, and it is an aircraft I have always had a liking for. The only extras I included were the removal and repositioning of the flaps (nice and simple) and the simulation of a spinning prop. The prop is a disc of clear plasticard with the blades airbrushed on to give the impression of movement and the paint used for this is from a company called 'Deka' who make a large range of transparent colours (with various shades of each colour) from white and all through the colour spectrum to black. This paint is acrylic and as hard as nails when dry!

All other paint on the model is Humbrol.

The only other non standard part is the arrestor hook which is a length of 1.2mm wire which was superglued inside the fuselage halves before joining them together; this wire is more than strong enough to support the weight of the model without bending and also protrudes approx 12mm into the simulated carrier deck. The arrestor wires across the carrier deck are nylon fishing line.

Oh yes, and the pilot figure is modified from a Hasegawa Jaguar GR 1. 
A neat and uncomplicated model built almost straight from the box ,including the kit decals.

Something like an F-14, A-6 or S-3 (in 1/48 scale though) making a deck landing would be very tempting to make next !

Neil Burkill