Gloster Javelin T.3 (Airfix)
![Album image #1 Album image #1](/albums/img/5/8/8/655588-10105-27-720.jpg)
Let's see what we have for raw materials - the well known Heller T.3.
![Album image #2 Album image #2](/albums/img/5/8/7/655587-10105-86-720.jpg)
The Airfix FAW.9, a re-tooled version of the Heller T.3.
![Album image #3 Album image #3](/albums/img/5/8/2/655582-10105-93-720.jpg)
The ZTS Plastyk FAW.9...
![Album image #4 Album image #4](/albums/img/5/9/7/655597-10105-39-720.jpg)
...and the Frog/Novo FAW.9. Funny what you find in your stash if you look hard enough.
![Album image #5 Album image #5](/albums/img/5/8/5/655585-10105-20-720.jpg)
And some aftermarket stuff, including two sets of the Airwaves etch.
![Album image #6 Album image #6](/albums/img/5/8/1/655581-10105-16-720.jpg)
The ZTS Plastyk kit has engraved lines, but is a very basic kit which doesn't match drawings very well.
![Album image #7 Album image #7](/albums/img/5/8/3/655583-10105-99-720.jpg)
Plus, it's moulded in some weird grey plastic with swirls all through it. I like those A&AEE markings though.
![Album image #8 Album image #8](/albums/img/5/8/4/655584-10105-40-720.jpg)
The Heller T.3.
![Album image #9 Album image #9](/albums/img/5/8/6/655586-10105-22-720.jpg)
Which for some reason included the subsequent FAW.9 parts. To build a T.3, I'll have to get another kit for the proper tailcone.
![Album image #10 Album image #10](/albums/img/5/9/5/655595-10105-26-720.jpg)
Uh, the Frog/Novo kit has a wee bit of flash...and what looks like oil mixed with the styrene. Odd.
![Album image #11 Album image #11](/albums/img/5/9/6/655596-10105-25-720.jpg)
It seems like oil oozing out of the yellow areas.
![Album image #12 Album image #12](/albums/img/5/8/9/655589-10105-61-720.jpg)
The T.3 cockpit with some Pavla ejection seats and Airwaves etch.
![Album image #13 Album image #13](/albums/img/5/9/0/655590-10105-11-720.jpg)
The T.3 had a longer nose than the FAW.9, seen here comparing the ZTS Plastyk and Heller fuselages.
![Album image #14 Album image #14](/albums/img/5/9/1/655591-10105-97-720.jpg)
The intake areas match pretty good between the two kits.
![Album image #15 Album image #15](/albums/img/5/9/2/655592-10105-29-720.jpg)
The photoetch consoles are wider than the cockpit areas...
![Album image #16 Album image #16](/albums/img/5/9/3/655593-10105-43-720.jpg)
But they don't look too bad when drybrushed. I may replace with decals.
![Album image #17 Album image #17](/albums/img/5/9/4/655594-10105-81-720.jpg)
Photoetch rudder pedals.
![Album image #18 Album image #18](/albums/img/6/0/0/655600-10105-80-720.jpg)
Painted and dressed bang seats.
![Album image #19 Album image #19](/albums/img/5/9/9/655599-10105-92-720.jpg)
I'd like to pose the airbrakes open on the T.3, so out comes the knife.
![Album image #20 Album image #20](/albums/img/5/9/8/655598-10105-28-720.jpg)
These are the Airwaves PE bits, but the interior of the airbrake bay is too shallow.
![Album image #21 Album image #21](/albums/img/6/0/1/655601-10105-62-720.jpg)
Use the airbrake to mark some lines for position...
![Album image #22 Album image #22](/albums/img/6/0/3/655603-10105-23-720.jpg)
...like this...
![Album image #23 Album image #23](/albums/img/6/0/2/655602-10105-63-720.jpg)
...and add some bits of 1 x 3 mm styrene stock.
![Album image #24 Album image #24](/albums/img/6/0/4/655604-10105-63-720.jpg)
Not perfect, but much better.
![Album image #25 Album image #25](/albums/img/6/0/5/655605-10105-95-720.jpg)
Now I just have to make three more of these!
![Album image #26 Album image #26](/albums/img/6/0/6/655606-10105-53-720.jpg)
All the bays opened up.
![Album image #27 Album image #27](/albums/img/6/0/7/655607-10105-95-720.jpg)
And the new parts added.
![Album image #28 Album image #28](/albums/img/6/0/8/655608-10105-84-720.jpg)
The intakes added, along with some nose weight.
![Album image #29 Album image #29](/albums/img/6/1/0/655610-10105-29-720.jpg)
I found another T.3 kit on eBay, and here is the pen nib tailcone. Nice sink marks.
![Album image #30 Album image #30](/albums/img/6/0/9/655609-10105-71-720.jpg)
But I want the exhaust to be deeper, more like the real thing.
![Album image #31 Album image #31](/albums/img/6/1/2/655612-10105-38-720.jpg)
I made some artwork in Corel Draw and printed out the intake and exhaust faces, using the Airfix 1:48 kit as a guide.
![Album image #32 Album image #32](/albums/img/6/1/1/655611-10105-52-720.jpg)
You can hardly tell they're fake.
![Album image #33 Album image #33](/albums/img/6/1/3/655613-10105-95-720.jpg)
The shadows that I added to the artwork make the printouts look 3-D, even though they're flat.
![Album image #34 Album image #34](/albums/img/6/1/8/655618-10105-69-720.jpg)
Now for the fun part. Sanding off the raised detail and scribing all the panel lines. Ugh.
![Album image #35 Album image #35](/albums/img/6/1/7/655617-10105-41-720.jpg)
This will take forever. I hate scribing.
![Album image #36 Album image #36](/albums/img/7/4/7/657747-10105-36-720.jpg)
Scribing on the main part of the fuselage is done.
![Album image #37 Album image #37](/albums/img/7/4/8/657748-10105-41-720.jpg)
Of course, the occasional fubar was filled in.
![Album image #38 Album image #38](/albums/img/7/5/2/657752-10105-99-720.jpg)
I really messed up the wingtip, and had to get one from a spare kit.
![Album image #39 Album image #39](/albums/img/7/4/9/657749-10105-84-720.jpg)
The tailplanes need to be posed down a bit, plus I still need to cut out the elevators.
![Album image #40 Album image #40](/albums/img/7/5/0/657750-10105-35-720.jpg)
The first coat of Gunze Medium Sea Grey. Time to look for things that need to be fixed!
![Album image #41 Album image #41](/albums/img/7/5/1/657751-10105-32-720.jpg)
Some of my scribing is too deep; where's my Mr. Surfacer?
![Album image #42 Album image #42](/albums/img/1/7/3/668173-10105-29-720.jpg)
Adding brass tubing for the horizontal tail planes.
![Album image #43 Album image #43](/albums/img/1/7/2/668172-10105-56-720.jpg)
Separating the elevators from the tail planes.
![Album image #44 Album image #44](/albums/img/1/7/4/668174-10105-99-720.jpg)
Building the canopy arch from 0.005" thick styrene.
![Album image #45 Album image #45](/albums/img/1/7/5/668175-10105-27-720.jpg)
The canopy arch in place inside the canopy.
![Album image #46 Album image #46](/albums/img/1/7/6/668176-10105-95-720.jpg)
Getting ready to add the canopy. Ejection seats in place.
![Album image #47 Album image #47](/albums/img/5/6/6/677566-10105-95-720.jpg)
Gunze H75 Dark Sea Grey is applied.
![Album image #48 Album image #48](/albums/img/5/6/7/677567-10105-71-720.jpg)
![Album image #49 Album image #49](/albums/img/5/6/8/677568-10105-44-720.jpg)
Overall, I'm pleased with all the scribing. She looks much better without the raised panel lines.
![Album image #50 Album image #50](/albums/img/5/6/9/677569-10105-18-720.jpg)
Freehand application of Gunze H73 Dark Green.
![Album image #51 Album image #51](/albums/img/5/7/0/677570-10105-13-720.jpg)
A few spots to clean up on the camo edges.
![Album image #52 Album image #52](/albums/img/5/7/1/677571-10105-27-720.jpg)
I used Floquil Old Silver to replicate the High Speed Silver paint on the underside.
![Album image #53 Album image #53](/albums/img/5/7/2/677572-10105-83-720.jpg)
I've decided on XH436, No. 151 Squadron at RAF Leuchars for the markings. St Andrews cross will add a bit of colour.
![Album image #54 Album image #54](/albums/img/9/1/7/693917-10105-52-720.jpg)
Gunze H73 Dark Green and Gunze H75 Dark Sea Grey, applied freehand.
![Album image #55 Album image #55](/albums/img/9/1/8/693918-10105-76-720.jpg)
The blue in the Print Scale roundels is too light for my tastes. Off to the spares box.
![Album image #56 Album image #56](/albums/img/9/1/6/693916-10105-24-720.jpg)
Front strut actuator is photoetch on top of solid plastic painted black. Underside is Floquil Old Silver.
![Album image #57 Album image #57](/albums/img/9/1/9/693919-10105-34-720.jpg)
Stickers on! Only codes, fin flash, and St Andrews cross from the Print Scale sheet.
![Album image #58 Album image #58](/albums/img/9/2/0/693920-10105-33-720.jpg)
![Album image #59 Album image #59](/albums/img/9/2/1/693921-10105-65-720.jpg)
Some leftover photoetch is used as part of the airbrake actuators.
![Album image #60 Album image #60](/albums/img/9/2/2/693922-10105-24-720.jpg)
I think these PE parts were originally supposed to be straps for an ammo box.
![Album image #61 Album image #61](/albums/img/9/2/3/693923-10105-10-720.jpg)
Some photoetch gussets complete the effect.
![Album image #62 Album image #62](/albums/img/9/2/4/693924-10105-86-720.jpg)
The wing pitot is from Master - it bends just by looking at it. Very delicate.
![Album image #63 Album image #63](/albums/img/9/2/5/693925-10105-81-720.jpg)
Airbrakes all on. Note the greeblies on top of the fuselage.
![Album image #64 Album image #64](/albums/img/9/2/6/693926-10105-99-720.jpg)
The front fuselage periscopes are added, along with some antennae. I'd say she's done!
![Album image #65 Album image #65](/albums/img/9/2/7/693927-10105-71-720.jpg)
Canopy seals are white decal stripes.
![Album image #66 Album image #66](/albums/img/9/2/8/693928-10105-92-720.jpg)
Rod antenna behind the nose gear, whip antenna on top of the fin.
![Album image #67 Album image #67](/albums/img/9/2/9/693929-10105-59-720.jpg)
![Album image #68 Album image #68](/albums/img/9/3/0/693930-10105-98-720.jpg)
Overall varnish is Floquil "Flat Finish" which gives a nice egg-shell sheen.
![Album image #69 Album image #69](/albums/img/9/3/1/693931-10105-87-720.jpg)
![Album image #70 Album image #70](/albums/img/9/3/2/693932-10105-52-720.jpg)
![Album image #71 Album image #71](/albums/img/9/3/3/693933-10105-91-720.jpg)
![Album image #72 Album image #72](/albums/img/9/3/4/693934-10105-53-720.jpg)
![Album image #73 Album image #73](/albums/img/9/3/5/693935-10105-66-720.jpg)
I think the old gal cleaned up pretty good.
![Album image #74 Album image #74](/albums/img/9/4/2/693942-10105-62-720.jpg)
![Album image #75 Album image #75](/albums/img/9/3/6/693936-10105-69-720.jpg)
![Album image #76 Album image #76](/albums/img/9/3/7/693937-10105-46-720.jpg)
![Album image #77 Album image #77](/albums/img/9/3/8/693938-10105-43-720.jpg)
![Album image #78 Album image #78](/albums/img/9/3/9/693939-10105-18-720.jpg)
![Album image #79 Album image #79](/albums/img/9/4/0/693940-10105-67-720.jpg)
![Album image #80 Album image #80](/albums/img/9/4/1/693941-10105-28-720.jpg)
Now that I've finished the T.3, I need to do it all over again for the FAW.9!
Comments
4 23 September 2019, 17:50
![](/profiles/img/14838-610-s.jpg)
I'll take a seat Bill 🙂 ordered already some shares from putty manufacturers😉
23 September 2019, 19:20
![](/profiles/img/10232-810-s.jpg)
As usual, i´ll take my seat in front row, right behind uncle Bill. I wont see your face when you suffer...😉😉
24 September 2019, 06:35
![](/profiles/img/10105-s.jpg)
Welcome aboard, mates. Labour of love? Well, I love the aircraft and it's for sure going to be labour... 🙂
24 September 2019, 12:32
![](/profiles/img/10105-s.jpg)
I've finished the scribing, the fuselage is assembled, and the first coat of Medium Sea Grey is on. This has highlighted a few areas that still need some work, including some of my scribing that is too deep. I guess I got carried away at times. Mr. Surfacer should fix that - I don't want anyone thinking that the Mad Matchbox Trench Digger has been working on my Javelin!
I've separated the tailplanes from the vertical fin, as they were normally down a bit when the aircraft was on the ground. The elevators need to be removed so they can be posed as well. Come to think of it, the flaps on the underside of the wings should be down too, but it's too late for that! All told, the Heller/Airfix kit fits together quite well, and there was very little putty used. It's also a very good match to the T.3 drawings I have.
I put the landing gear on so she can set on her legs. The gear is quite spindly though - I applied a layer of thin superglue over the stress points hoping that will strengthen them a bit. I'm not worried about the gear collapsing due to the weight of the model, just me and my fumble thumbs knocking them off! Cheers, Bill
29 September 2019, 23:12
![](/profiles/img/10105-s.jpg)
Hi mates! I'm getting closer to painting the T.3. It will have the typical Dark Sea Grey and Dark Green over High Speed Silver camouflage scheme. The markings will most likely be XH336, 226 OCU. Or maybe XH438, 72 Sqn. I decided to have the tailplanes slightly drooped, and the elevators drooped a it more. This seems to be the normal situation when the aircraft is on the ground. This required me to cut off the tailplanes, and then cut out the elevators. The elevator hinges got destroyed in the process, so I made new ones from card stock. I also had to scratchbuild the canopy arch, which is not included in the kit. It's fairly obvious looking through the canopy. I'm off to the UK on Friday and will be at SMW in Telford on November 9. Cheers, Bill
30 October 2019, 19:54
![](/profiles/img/13641-502-s.jpg)
I have to follow this! Even though it's gonna make me abandon bulding my kit from Chematic😉
31 October 2019, 11:59
![](/profiles/img/10105-s.jpg)
Thanks mates! Sorry for the late reply, but I was travelling to the UK for SMW. Maybe some of you will attend as well?
8 November 2019, 11:20
![](/profiles/img/13641-502-s.jpg)
Wish I could and as I see who's ateending I wish even more😉 Looks like much more important event than I thought 🙂
8 November 2019, 11:34
![](/profiles/img/36121-874-s.jpg)
I'll be at SMW on Sunday, hope to see some of you?, although it's a bit difficult as everyone uses Avatars!
8 November 2019, 19:40
![](/profiles/img/10105-s.jpg)
Finally, some paint of the Javelin T.3! She now has the standard scheme of Dark Sea Grey/Dark Green over High Speed Silver. I have some detail painting still to do (like the tip of the nose and the intake lips) and then she can get a coat or two of clear gloss to get ready for the transfers. My wife and I visited Scotland on our trip to the UK (right before SMW), so I've decided to use the markings for XH436, No. 151 Squadron at RAF Leuchars in 1960. The tail will have a nice St Andrews Cross, so that will add a bit of colour. I've uploaded the latest photos so you can see the progress. Enjoy! Cheers, Bill
29 November 2019, 20:40
![](/profiles/img/10105-s.jpg)
Hi mates. The Javelin T.3 is finished, and I've uploaded many more photos. I think the old gal cleaned up pretty good. What do you guys and gals think? Cheers, Bill
8 January 2020, 21:27
![](/profiles/img/21863-418-s.jpg)
That's a masters job. Airfix can have a look at it how it should be done now 😉
9 January 2020, 07:35
![](/profiles/img/10105-s.jpg)
Thanks mates! The FAW.9 will follow shortly (I need to take a break from all that scribing!). My next project will be the CMR 1:72 Blackburn Firebrand TF.5. Cheers, Bill
9 January 2020, 19:37
Album info
1:72 Heller/Airfix kit - rescribed panel lines, opened up and raised the spoilers made from Airwaves photoetch.