Thunderbirds 2 & 4

When I first got this kit, this summer (August 2022) as a souvenir from my little stay in Essex. 

Usual slow start with aircraft, doing the cockpit interior. Given the tiny forward windows, not much of this is going to be visible! 

Yeah, you're really not going to see much through those. Bit of colour in the cockpit should do the job! 

Bit of detailing, this is at the forward end of the pod "hole". 

All prep-work and pre-assembly painting at the moment: 6 days in and still in Box 1 of the instructions :-D 

Thunderbird 2 looking more recognisable now. 

On the Tracy Island naval base, T2's pod nearing completion. That ramp construction raises and extends to launch T4.
Rollers on the base (far left) are annoying me already, might just glue them in position because I don't really care if they rotate or not... 

Thunderbird 4 is mostly assembled and in the paint shop for a brave Admiral's Barge colour scheme at 1:350 scale (you can't see the gloss white under the masking tape... and if I can't get a half decent line where the two colours meet, you won't ever see it!!). 

The little Thunderbirds' excavator tank is getting far too much attention for its size. Currently debating a two-tone camo scheme (this Humbrol Blue 25 + a nice Tamiya dark sea-blue XF-17 colour for some camo patches), or I might just chicken out and stick with this basic blue. 

Next stop, varnish and decals 

Pod assembled! 

T4 (Admiral's Barge scheme, pretty happy with it given the scale - entire ship is only about 20mm long after all) and excavator tank. 

Trying to recreate the Thunderbirds credit sequence 🙂 Aft end of my T2, with an attempt at textured coppery tail pipes (vaguely Bristol engine themed). 

Front end - most of these decals from my stash (just not the "2" on the top!). Poor health and safety in the original Thunderbirds design - no jet intake or ejector seat warning stencils... 

T2 ready with pod... 

Thunderbird 4 and excavator, decaled and varnished (bear in mind each is about 15mm long, so that was darn fiddly)! 

Weathered and satin finish, on a mirror to show the underside. 

Weathered and satin finish, on a mirror to show the underside. 

Thunderbird 2 et al. in the display cabinet. 

Thunderbird 2 in the display cabinet with the rest of the little fleet/squadron...