discussion Dave W's Revell 1/48 Tornado ADV Saudi Air Force

[Dave W]

I've decided to build this one first. With the Revell 1/32 GR1 to follow if I have time. It's the new Revell 1/48 ADV and looks to be a very nice kit. From 1988 to 1995 I was employed by British Aerospace as a crew chief on Royal Saudi Air Force Tornado's at Dhahran on the Gulf coast. So I thought I would build one of the aircraft I used to work on. During the first Gulf War they carried a full missile load and the 2,250L external tanks. So that's how I will build mine. I will also have the flaps and slats out,as that's how we used to leave them parked up. And I won't do much weathering as we kept them very clean. Ive got an after market decal sheet and a brass pitot tube for it. The squadron badge on the decal sheet is a bit crap. So i may try to find a better sheet.View attachment 292458View attachment 292459View attachment 292460View attachment 292461View attachment 292462View attachment 292463View attachment 292464View attachment 292465View attachment 292466View attachment 292467

 

[colin m]

All looks very good Dave, and a big trip down memory lane for you.

 

[papa 695]

Great idea Dave.

 

[Dave W]

Im about to make a start on this one. Ive just flown up to Glasgow where im back on shift tomorrow. The kit box was too big to get in my cabin bag . So i unpacked the box and managed to get most of the sprues in my case. Im home again at the weekend and will bring the rest of the kit back next week. Ive included some sprue shots here. And im very happy with the quality of the parts. Revell have even moulded in the APU exhaust to the right fuselage side. Panel lines are nicely engraved. Im sure Tamiya could make a better job of it. But having grown up building the very basic kits in the 60’s and 70’s, im very happy with the level of detail in these modern Revell kits.View attachment 292649View attachment 292650View attachment 292651View attachment 292652View attachment 292653View attachment 292654View attachment 292655

 

[Dave W]

Multi part seats are quite nice. I normal use resin replacements. But in my opinion these will be goid enough under a closed canopy.
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[Guest]

A model with history!!!
Nice one Dave. I’m sure you will turn it a very special build.

 

[Dave W]

Intake ducting together and airbrake bays on.

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[papa 695]

Nice start Dave

 

[flyjoe180]

Nice start Dave. Those seats look very good as you say.

 

[Dave W]

Cockpit and nose gear bay glued to lower fuselage piece. A complicated kit this one. Lets hope i can get everthing lined up properly.
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[Dave W]

Intake trunking glued to lower fuselage piece
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[papa 695]

Nice work Dave, an interesting way of building it, but like you say if your slightly out anywhere there could be trouble later on.

 

[Dave W]

Nice work Dave, an interesting way of building it, but like you say if your slightly out anywhere there could be trouble later on.

I'm sure there will be trouble Ian. The cockpit is a gnats tadger too far back. So the fuselage sides need a tiny bit of trimming where they meet the cockpit aft bulkhead

 

[Dave W]

Ive used the kit instrument decals in the cockpit

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[Dave W]

The piece marked ‘xx’ stops the fuselage fitting properly. Its not even shown in later stages of the instructions. In fact it would get in the way of mounting the two boxes on top of the rear instrument panel!. So ive cut it off and everything fits nicely now

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[Dave W]

Forward fuselage halves are a good fit with that piece removed from both sides

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[papa 695]

Nice work Dave.

 

[Dave W]

Ive worked out that the piece i cut out is a shelf that sits against the rear cockpit instrument panel bulkhead. lve checked and everything is lined up correctly. My advice to anyone building this kit is to just glue the instrument panel in where it touches the cockpit floor. That way the panel can be tilted back slightly when the fuselage sides are fitted. Then you wont have to do the surgery i have done. Not a problem though as i will use some plastic card to replicate the shelf i cut off.

 

[Dave W]

Its taken me most of the evening to attach the fuselage sides. They line up almost perfect, but not quite. So i glued the forward ends first. Let the glue set then glued the rest in place.The fuselage sides should also be glued to the intake trunking. But i will check the fit of the intakes and upper fuselage first.

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[Dave W]

A bit more progress. Thought i would assemble the mechanism that keeps the pylons in line when the wings are swept. Not that im going to play with it. I will be having the wings forward.I managed to glue the wrong spine section to the fuselage upper panel. Luckily i realised my cock up before the glue had set!. Correct panel shown fitted in photo. Thats what happens when you dont read the instructions properly!View attachment 293176View attachment 293177View attachment 293178