H.S. Buccaneer S2B, 12 Sqn., RAF, Lossiemouth, Scotland, 1985, Group Build.

[Airframes]

Put it this way, when last winter ended here, autumn began, and it hasn't stopped raining since ! It's so bl**dy dismal, I even switched on the central heating yesterday - in bl**dy August !!!

 

[Catch22]

We're like 12 degrees below average here Terry, I feel your pain! At least it's sunny here though.

And Harrison, I think I win for snow!

 

[Wurger]

Terry , I have gone through the whole thread again. What can I say only ? Bravo , bravo , bravo , bravo....

FANTABULOUS !!!

 

[magnu]

Considering what you've had to work with Terry I think you deserve a medal for persevering with a kit which most of us would have given up on long ago having first given it a very stern talking to with a large blunt instrument. And getting such good results from it too.

 

[Crimea_River]

Hang in there old boy.

 

[Airframes]

Thanks very much indeed chaps!
After an enjoyable few hours working on the Buchon, I had a bit of a fiddle with the wings of the Buc, after sanding the outer wing-fold spars, and it looks like the wings should now fit reasonably well - if the glue will hold that is !
Some detail has been added to the wing fold, and I hope to continue tomorrow, after I've decided what to fit first - wings or landing gear !
All being well, I should get the main things sorted, just leaving the small items such as antenna and canopy, so I'll try to post some more pics on Sunday night.

 

[T Bolt]

Hang in there Terry! It'll all work out in the end.

 

[Vic Balshaw]

"With that true British spirit and stiff upper lip, surrender was out of the question"............good on yer Terry, you're a man of true grit.

 

[Wayne Little]

Look forward to more my good man....

 

[Airframes]

Well, it took a little bit longer than I anticipated (should have known !), but I actually made some good progress, and only one £*%^ up ! There's a slim chance I might make the deadline after all.
I decided to fit the Radar Martels and pylons to the outer wing panels first, then fit the undercarriage. This all went without problem, and the gear legs were detail painted and dirtied, as were the wheel bays. The little mishap concerned the rather long and delicate pitot probe, which I'd already decided to replace, possibly with a hypodermic needle tube. In the end, I was forced to, because as soon as I touched the part, even on the sprue, the bl**dy thing went 'ping' and snapped clean in two !
A bit of fiddling, drilling, sawing and glueing myself to the needle with superglue later, and a suitable steel tube was grafted onto the pitot mounting, and cemented to the lower wing. It sill needs to be sanded slightly and then re-touched, which will be easier, and safer to do once it's set in place.
The windscreen and HUD have been fitted and sealed, and just need the joint touching in with paint to blend it into the fuselage, and the rear blast screen frame has been painted, along with some small detail areas, such auxilliary intakes and vents.
The first steps in adding detail to the wing fold mechanisms has been done, and the remainder will be completed and painted once the wings are fitted.
Next step is to the spray the finishing clear coat, before the horrors of fitting the wings !
PIC 1. Shows the Radar Martels in place, with the hypodermic pitot probe (thanks Dwight, it was just what I needed
!).
PIC 2. The main gear in place and the wheel bays painted and dirtied. The gear doors have yet to be fitted - another tricky job, as the locating points are minimal, and access difficult.
PIC 3. Some extra holes have been drilled in the wing folds, and some tubes added, ready to receive wiring and pipe work, and more detail will be added, and the edges tidied, once the wings are in place.
PIC 4. The Hud and windscreen in place. The screen has been sealed with PVA which, once hardened, will be painted and clear coated to blend into the fuselage profile.
PICS 5 and 6. On her legs at last !
Thanks once again to you all for your welcome encouragement during this b*st*rd of a build !!

 

[vikingBerserker]

NICE!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Matt308]

OOooooohhh, my lady is coming into shape.

 

[Catch22]

Well done Terry! You have me wanting to build one now! On second thought, perhaps not...

 

[Vic Balshaw]

Ooooohhhh Terry, after all you have been through, it looks great. Give yourself a CDM.

 

[Wurger]

Really not bad.

 

[B-17engineer]

Fantastic!

 

[109ROAMING]

Damn , thats looking flash mate 8)

 

[Wayne Little]

Looking real good Terry....!!

 

[T Bolt]

Almost there Terry! Looks great!

 

[Airframes]

Thanks very much guys. I hope to get a bit more done later today - I'll post pics if doesn't all go to rat poo at the last minute !