Hawker Hunter FA.11 FAA "Rough Diamonds"
FROG

Dutch
As I said earlier, I picked this kit to help me break my builder's block and because it was: 1) cheap, 2) a small challenge because it lacked decals, (requiring me to reduce my large decal stash, although only modestly), 3) required only minor mods, 4) depicted a simple 2 colour paint scheme, & 5) could be built relatively quickly. I set a goal of seven days and have already exceeded that because of familial duties. But I was able to add another two hours this weekend. Current status: cockpit, pilot and internal baffles are painted and glued in, wings glued together and attached to fuselage, joints puttied; wing tanks glued (still need tail fins), and u/c painted. The Sqn/Signal Hunter in Action book shows numerous FA.11 with a large spotlight in the nose in place of the radar. However, the Arco-Aircam Hunter book has a photo of XF287, BY 781 as depicted in the Almark decals with the radar still in place. So I will leave the nose alone. Fuselage has been painted first coat of flat white for imperfections. More sanding tonight followed by final white, then Day-glo orange highlights, followed by Dark Sea Grey and final assembly and decalling. Should be ready before weeks end! R/ Dutch

Duncan Cook
I will stay tuned here, looks interessting.

Dutch
I spent about 1.5 hours checking my seams, reglueing the lower fuselage joint, sanding, reputtying the outer pylon slits and lower wing joints, resanding, and repainting in flat white.

Dutch
XF297 data from UK Serials website: ukserials.com/

HABL003058 XF297 Hawker Hunter GA11 d/d 08/12/1955, w/o 13/11/1969 and broken up 06/02/1970 at Brawdy

Dutch
Only 5 minutes tonight applying final lower white coat. Day-Glo or Flourescent Orange bits Thursday.

Dutch
Painted the orange on wingtips, fuselage spine and nose. Will let dry thoroughly and then sand and mask the kit before applying the Dark Sea Grey uppercoat. 20 mins.

Dutch
Spent ten minutes going through the decal stash looking for appropriate sized "9" for under wing and rear fuselage serials. Got what I needed.

Holger Kranich
Good luck with your progress!

Dutch
Spent an hour on Saturday masking off underside and then applying blue-grey paint to top side. Upon removing the masking on Sunday morning, I dreaded the white underside paint peeling off, but it did not. Phew! However, I di dpeel a few small spots of orange paint so I will have to retouch those places. Also the blue spray paint dried before hitting the plane and "powdered up." It left a very rough coat, much of which I scrubbed away with a soft toothbrush. I still have more sanding to do with 2000# wet/dry paper in order to get ti smooth enough to accept klearcote before decalling. So much for a simple & quick build!

Dutch
Gonna break this one back out over the holidays and finish it off.

Dutch
So, I had a few minutes yesterday to work on this one. I touched up some of the orange paint that had peeled off when I removed the masking tape; I reglued the ejection seat that was rattling around inside the fuselage; and I sprayed the first coat of white on the underwing tanks. Looking to finish it off this weekend. First kit for 2014! I think I started this one last year about this time hoping to complete it in a week's time! Hah! C'est la vie! Life is what happens when you plan something else.

Dutch
Started applying underwing serials last night only to discover that they tore to pieces. Apparently my Almark decals are so old as to render them useless. So after scouring the spares box for Hunter decals, I found: Modeldecal #26 (useless) & Matchbox PK-?? (trimmed XE into XF). I will have to use Modeldecal #35 RAF 20 in black numerals to complete the underwing serial 287. Once in place and dry, I will trim u/c doors. I will now recoat the most essential Almark markings such as the 781 & Pegasus on the nose and the Royal Navy titles and serial on the rear fuselage with MicroScale decal film; then complete the markings with various Modeldecal extras. Aggravation! Will upload some pictures soon. R/ Dutch

Duncan Cook
Do you have any pictures you cans how us? I'm curious how it looks now.

Dutch
Just received Cutting Edge CED72044 decals for Rough Diamonds aircraft, so I will move this to a front burner when I return from a business trip next week.

Dutch
Well, it has been four years since my last post, but I am finally getting to the finish line on this kit. I recently received the Montex canopy mask (for the Revell Hunter) and trimmed it to fit. I custom mixed some dark blue paint, i hope it matches. Decals next.

Dutch
Well, I pushed this one across the goal line today. Applied the last decals (Cutting Edge), some of which tore and folded under (XE680 on stardoard side). Oh well! It's done. Into the display case, it goes.

Łukasz Gliński
Interesting, could we have a look?

Dutch
Four photos of completed model uploaded today. Not great; I have done better work, but finished.