BAE Systems Hawk WIP

1
June 30, 2021
I decided to improve the look of the model by thinning the main gear wells borders. This was achieved with a Proxxon tool and cool blood.
2
June 30, 2021
The result of 1 hour work. I found it very useful to hold the piece against a light during all the filing process, constantly checking to avoid removing too much material.
3
June 30, 2021
The air intakes were hollowed to improve the frontal look. This implied new air trunks made from sheet styrene, a spare engine "face" and some epoxy putty later on.
4
June 30, 2021
The main gear bays deserved a little work too. They are much deeper on the real plane than on the model, so I removed as much material as I could from the wing insertion tabs too.
5
June 30, 2021
Both cockpit seats are equally tilted backwards on the real plane. The kit's back seat reproduces this feature OK, but the front one's floor is horizontal. I carved a deep line along the "hinge" point and carefully bent the piece.
6
June 30, 2021
I found some nice pictures of the nose avionics bay open, so I decided to put some extra work here.
7
June 30, 2021
This is the piece that serves both as avionics bay floor and front gear bay top. The trapezoidal shape is the wheel housing.
8
June 30, 2021
Main gear bays cleared, waiting for big scratch work on the structure and perimeter surfaces.
9
June 30, 2021
The side consoles of the cockpit are too thin on the model. I wanted them to look more like the real thing, so first step was to thin the cockpit walls as much as I could. Enter Proxxon again. I love this tool!
10
June 30, 2021
This is the result. You can also see the epoxy resin air intake trunking.
11
June 30, 2021
My favourite picture, homemade X-rays.
12
June 30, 2021
Test fit of the cockpit, seats, front and rear bulkheads and instructor's instrument panel.
13
June 30, 2021
Due to the now wider cockpit space, the tub's surfaces needed to be extended to meet the new walls in a few places. Sheet styrene was used.
14
June 30, 2021
Side console panels were trimmed to match reference pictures, then covered with styrene sheet. Now there is more space to scratch build all the panels, buttons, etc. I also added the foot-rests.
15
June 30, 2021
The front dash board is also scratch built. First I glued in place a cantilevered piece that will hold the dash board.
16
June 30, 2021
New instrument panels. A lot of trial-error was needed. First I drew the outline in millimeter paper, then cut it to get a template for testing. When it more or less fitted, I cut the same shape in styrene to fine tune it.
17
June 30, 2021
Dash board. It has a particular curved bend that required a lot of testing.
18
June 30, 2021
Avionics bay greebling.
19
June 30, 2021
Little improvements on the front gear leg. New oleo and shape corrections.
20
June 30, 2021
major elements of the front fuselage.
21
June 30, 2021
Some wiring added with copper and lead.
22
June 30, 2021
Test fit of the avionics. There is a lot of cabling on the real plane, much more than this, but I think I'll leave it this way to avoid the risk of damaging the work.
23
June 30, 2021
Scratch built exhaust interior. To achieve the conical shape I fitted a thick piece of sprue on the micro drill, as if it were a lathe, and shaped it with a file.
24
June 30, 2021
Looks good to me.
25
July 2, 2021
Cockpit structure completed. The fragile dashboard is also glued in place. I hope it resists all the upcoming work...
26
July 11, 2021
After many dry fit tests, both instrument panels fit reasonably well, so I'll leave them like that. Now it's time to start adding details like the displays and lots of knobs everywhere.
27
July 11, 2021
I cut the flaps off to display them in a parked position. That led to a supplement of styrene along the original piece's front edge, followed by careful sanding it into shape. The first addition wasn't enough so you can see a second one.
28
July 11, 2021
Scratched new vents to achieve a more realistic look.
29
July 11, 2021
These two gentlemen here are asking for some attention. I started with copper wire ejection handles. My plan is to add epoxy resin cushions and chute bag. Maybe next weekend...
30
July 11, 2021
The back IP cover must be precisely positioned for the IP to lean at a proper angle underneath.
31
July 11, 2021
Canopy will be open, more scratch to come. The kit's fit is very good, if only those panel lines were thinner... Airfix did a good job reproducing the main hatches and surface detail on the left fuselage half, and then mirrored it all on the right. But according to references, both sides are actually quite different. Black CA as putty filled the wrong details.
32
July 11, 2021
33
August 3, 2021
Left side wiring and piping completed.
34
August 3, 2021
The result of a two hour session on the side consoles. All the knobs and buttons were glued with slow setting CA.
35
August 3, 2021
New test fit of the cockpit and the fuselage halves. They are all getting along well so far.
36
August 3, 2021
Scratch built rudder pedals.
37
August 5, 2021
Side consoles finished, now it's time for the instrument panels!
38
August 7, 2021
Front instrument panel ready.
39
August 7, 2021
In place. The back one is waiting for adjustments on its dashboard to improve the fit.
40
August 7, 2021
The naked seats are so sad... But there are some issues that must be addressed first, like the control sticks and the fitting of the canopy.
41
August 9, 2021
Back instrument panel also ready.
42
August 9, 2021
Back IP dashboard waiting for final detailing, main elements done.
43
August 9, 2021
Front dashboard detailing. Later I added some wires at the front that I had forgotten.
44
August 9, 2021
Windshield test, nothing prevents it from staying in place. Big relief! I hope I can get rid of those scratches. There is also a little hole at the front that came with the kit. It's not on the frame, so I will not repair it.
45
August 9, 2021
Control sticks. 🙂
46
August 26, 2021
I added a raised reinforcement panel present on port side, and finally completed the stabilator pivot.
47
August 26, 2021
The last two pieces of the cockpit before painting begins. I tried Archer resin rivets for the first time and they worked just fine.
48
August 26, 2021
Those two pieces in place with everything else but the seats.
49
October 1, 2021
After a few busy weeks, I managed to go back to the workbench and paint the cockpit.
50
October 1, 2021
Impressionist style instrument panels
51
October 1, 2021
Avionics
52
October 1, 2021
I primed every part black, followed by thin layers of a mix of Gunze's grey/blue/white for the base color, avoiding recesses to let the black show a little. I used a whitened version of this color made with Vallejo's for the structure, to increase contrast.

David R. Meizoso
Wow, thank you so much all of you for your praises! I'll do my best with the remaining stages too, feels kind of under pressure now! 😉
John: That was fun! Short sighted if anything! Meaning this "close distance supersight" comes when I take my glasses off, nothing fancy actually!
Piotr, I have also a 1/72 Fencer already started, from Trumpeter. Looking forward to see some progress on yours!
Brianireland: let me check the kit box... confirmed, 1:72. Little shelf, short budget!

20 January 2022, 19:30

Daniel
been thinking the same as Brian...stunning!

21 January 2022, 19:23

Spanjaard
David, in regards to little shelf space, you should be trying 1/144 😉 there are kits there with amazing detail. Sweet and specially Platz come to mind. specially now that Eduard is reboxing some of them, it is al lot easier to get them.

23 February 2022, 13:47

David R. Meizoso
Spanjaard, I agree. I wish I could get Platz's SR-71 in 1/144, I'd love to build it.

23 February 2022, 14:32

Spanjaard
I have that in my wishlist... preorder from Japan is tempting.... 1999.co.jp/eng/10810568 but that is a rebox of Dragon, so i am not sure if the quality is as good as "normal" Platz models...

23 February 2022, 15:30

Spanjaard
reviews of the DML seem to be quite good....

23 February 2022, 15:42

Bruce Huxtable
David, your magic continues - really enjoying your cockpit detailing and painting. Inspiring for sure 🙂

23 February 2022, 17:25

David R. Meizoso
Thank you so much, Bruce!

23 February 2022, 17:43