how to build airfix bae hawk 1:48

8/19/2019 How to Build Airfix BAe Hawk 1:48.

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Feature Article

Airfix

BAe Hawk T.1 “ed Arrows!

1"#$ scale

%&

's (eorge

)Aug 2011*

)$+ images, #- A# ages, /,-# words*

eference" tem o. 03111


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Background Info...

T4e Hawk entered AF ser5ice in 1-+ and argua%l&, 4as gone on to %ecome t4e world6s

most successful 7et trainer. T4e AF, from oint8defence intercetor to target towing, 4as

used it in a num%er of ot4er roles %ut it is as t4e mount of t4e AF Aero%atic Team, t4e ed

Arrows, t4at t4e Hawk 4as found t4e most fame. 9et to soldier on for a num%er of &ears &et,

desite t4e introduction of t4e Hawk T2, t4e first generation Hawk is a neat and tid&

aircraft, oular wit4 its man& oerators, and also ent4usiasts and modellers.


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T4is kit dates from 200/ and w4ilst not t4e first Hawk a5aila%le in t4e scale, is certainl& a

good kit and was wit4out a serious ri5al until t4e ad5ent of taleri6s offering. T4ere are 12$

arts, some of w4ic4 will go straig4t to t4e sares %ox and t4e %ox is acked tig4t: t4e clear

arts are good and %agged searatel&. ;ou get 2 decal otions, co5ering t4e ed Arrows

and t4e Finnis4 Air Force6s aero%atics team, t4e >

T4ere 4a5e %een comments a%out Airfix decals, and to m& e&e, t4ese are slig4tl& out of

register. T4is issue, and t4e deformit& of t4e ex4aust art, romted me to ut in a call to

t4e Horn%& Helline )note t4at t4e tele4one num%ers in t4e older %oxings are no longer in


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use: &ou can t4oug4 get t4roug4 5ia t4e num%ers on t4e Airfix we%site*, w4o, wit4out fuss,

4a5e romised relacements for %ot4 t4e decals and t4e offending art.

9ee 4ow it all %uilds u o5er t4e coming weeks.

References...

9


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4ollowed u to scale t4ickness, articularl& on t4e uer fuselage iece )art #+*. 9tandard

tec4niues used 4ere: c4ain drilling wit4 a micro drill and filing awa& t4e excess.

also %acked t4ese, and ot4er ex4aust oenings, wit4 %lack ainted lastic card. Attention

also needs to %e made to t4e 4oles t4at need drilling out for t4e c4osen otion, and t4ere

are also a fair amount of seam lines to %e remo5ed from a lot of t4e arts.

T4at done, time for t4e %uild to commence roer, wit4 t4e cockit. T4e e7ection seats are

38art affairs, wit4 sarse detail. Howe5er, t4e& are less t4an accurate and as suc4, t4is

romted t4e second aftermarket addition, some Airwa5es Hawk T1 seats )9E#$033, an

item in m& stas4 stock*. T4ere is no real comarison, alt4oug4 t4e widt4 of t4e kit seats

mean t4at t4e& would 4a5e %een a fuller fit in t4e cockit tu%


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But, aart from t4e need to remo5e t4e cano& %reakers, t4e resin seats were t4e ones for

me.


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Ha5ing decided t4at, ainted t4e cockit tu% and sidewalls Gtracolor


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4andling, as t4e& are Als rinted )ti: coat wit4 Ileer, or similar, %efore use*. Tami&a6s


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used E


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T4e cockit sidewalls 4a5e raised detail, and t4ese were also dr& %rus4ed wit4 weat4eringigments. T4e comleted tu% was t4en glued to one fuselage 4alf, and as t4e instructions


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call for 10g of nose weig4t, used some lead weig4ts in a5aila%le saces: t4ese were secured

wit4 PA glue.

T4e nose w4eel %a& was also ainted G13 AF ?ig4t Aircraft (re& and weat4ered. T4e

alignment of t4e nose w4eel %a& roof )art 2$*, and cockit %ulk4eads )arts 1- and 22* is a

%it 5ague, as t4e& will Lfloat6. found it %est to line t4em u in t4e rig4t fuselage 4alf, and

t4en glue. T4is takes us u to 9tage in t4e instructions, %ut lanning a4ead, treated t4e

seam on t4e 2 HM glasses sulied in t4e kit: t4e&6d 4a5e made interesting F reference

oints on t4e real t4ing and t4erefore need sanding out>>


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A coule of oints %efore glued t4e fuselage 4al5es toget4er. First, t4e ex4aust )art /0*

does not need fitting at t4is stage and lea5ing it out gi5es a good 4olding oint for ainting

)m& usual 4andle is a %ent clot4es 4anger*. 9econd, test fitted t4at t4e nose w4eel

assem%l& would fit into its oening after t4e fuselage 4al5es were closed: wit4 a little

fettling on t4e to surface, it will.

Main Construction...

T4e wings 4a5e t4e otion to model t4e flas down, and liked t4e look of t4at. As suc4,

detoured from t4e instruction seuence and tackled t4is area of t4e kit first. Nf note, t4e

srue attac4ment oints are reall& t4ick on t4e wing trailing edges, eseciall& t4e lower

4al5es,

...so care needs to %e taken wit4 t4eir remo5al: used a raJor saw and t4en sanded down toa smoot4 finis4, to ensure a distortion8free trailing edge. To dro t4e flas, &ou 4a5e to cut

out t4e raised art from t4e wing. T4e instructions )stage 12* suggest t4at &ou 7oin t4e

uer and lower wing 4al5es rior to erforming an& surger& on t4e flas: felt t4at it would

%e %etter to do t4e cutting w4ilst t4e wing 4al5es were searate, and did t4is wit4 no

negati5e results


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)t4oug4 will tr& t4e suggested met4od on anot4er kit, for comarison*.

eending on &our fit otion, &ou need to oen u 4oles in t4e lower wing: onl& oened

u t4e in%oard airs for t4e tanks8onl& fit was going for. T4e main undercarriage %a&s 4a5e

some moulded8on detail: scoe for imro5ement 4ere, %ut left t4em as is. T4e wing 4al5es

were 7oined once t4e surger& was comlete, and tidied u t4e fla recesses to lea5e a

s4aed and t4inned area, w4ic4 is a more realistic internal wing rofile wit4 t4e flaslowered.


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9tage 1/ 4as &ou fitting t4e wing fences and t4e na5igation lig4ts: %ot4 s4ould %e fitted at

t4is stage, alt4oug4 didn6t fit t4e lig4ts, w4ic4 was a mistake to %e fair. @it4 t4e fla

surger& comlete, it was %ack a coule of instruction stages wit4 t4e intakes. Pro%a%l& one

of t4e weaker areas of t4e kit, eac4 intake is in two 4al5es. First, t4ere is a few sink marks to

deal wit4, and 4oles to fill for identification lig4ts t4at are not alica%le to t4is mark: &ou

also need to remo5e t4e lums t4at are made %& t4e attac4ment oints for eac4 intake 4alf,

w4ic4 are too rominent if left untreated.


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As er t4e instructions at stage + O $, t4e internal surfaces of t4e intakes were ainted G1#1

gloss w4ite and t4en t4is was masked and followed %& G13$ F911+/ Battle (re& )for m&

intended sc4eme*. T4e demarcation oint %etween t4e two colours is not clear, so settledfor t4e widt4 of Tami&a 10mm masking tae to ensure an e5en matc4.


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@4ilst sorting out t4is demarcation line %efore 7oining t4e intake 4al5es was easier t4an

would 4a5e %een t4e case ot4erwise, t4e 7oin of t4e 4al5es is not erfect and t4ere is a

noticea%le and awkward seam...

... t4ere is a Two


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As suc4, t4e wing was fitted %efore t4e intakes at stages + and $ of t4e instructions, w4ic4

in5ol5es ainting t4e intake faces %lack, and fixing t4e intakes in lace. T4e wings, main

fuselage and uer fuselage art )art #+* reresent t4e main 7oins, and t4ese were all done

at t4is oint. found t4at 4ad to use filler on all t4e 7oins excet t4e wing to fuselage:

again,


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After sanding and a %it of re8scri%ing, a coat of Halfords lastic rimer s4owed t4at a %it

more work was needed on t4e intake 7oin.

T4e last %it of main airframe work was t4e flas. T4ese are fitted at stage 20, and t4ere are a

few t4ings to note 4ere, alt4oug4 was temted to lea5e t4em off until all ainting 4ad

%een comlete: glad didn6t. T4e flas6 guides are fitted at t4is stage and t4ese are

incorrectl& num%ered. Parts 3-8# s4ould %e for t4e raised otion, not 38+0 as in t4e

instructions. T4eir fit is a little imrecise, and care needs to %e taken to ensure t4at t4e& all

line u to recei5e t4e flas on an e5en le5el. T4e main flas s4ould %e fitted first, as er t4einstructions, and t4ere are indent guides on t4e secondar& fla arts )arts +2 O +#*, %ut


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t4ese do not line u: t4e instructions do not make it clear t4at t4ese arts do not san t4e

w4ole fla. T4at oint aside, t4e& need trimming %& 2mm in%oard, to ensure t4at t4e

indents on t4eir surfaces, t4e fla guides, and t4e fuselage oening all line u.

@it4 all t4at work, 6m glad t4at wasn6t tr&ing to sort it out after main ainting

?ea5ing all t4is work aside for a w4ile and wit4 t4e model looking like a Hawk, next task was

to finis4 t4e cockit and get e5er&t4ing read& for ainting.

Cockpit Finishing...

T4e cano& 4as t4e miniature detonating cord )


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w4ic4 a 5ac formed examle )or sand t4e framing %ack and olis4 wit4 sanding

%uffersColis4ersQ

T4e internal %last screen is moulded searatel&, %ut is flat on t4e %ottom surface, w4ere it

s4ould %e indented, and t4ese oints aided m& decision to close t4e cano& on t4e finis4ed

model. T4e edges of t4e %last screen were ainted matt %lack, and ainted t4e cano&

internal frames w4ite. T4e w4ite was t4en masked to lea5e a fine line )to reresent


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T4ese fitted into t4e cockit tu%s wit4 no issues, and desite %eing narrower t4an t4e

originals, don6t look out of lace at all. T4e rear cockit coaming and %ot4 HMs were also

fitted )t4ese were gi5en a dr& %rus4 of sil5er*, as was t4e front windscreen: t4e later needed

fairing in wit4 some


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After t4is, t4e %last s4ield was fitted wit4 (ator (ri )w4ite glue*, and cano& was closed u

and fitted to t4e fuselage. T4ere wasn6t too muc4 of a fit issue, %ut do take care wit4 t4e

%last s4ield6s interaction wit4 rear cockit coaming.

@e6re now a%out read& for some colour...


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Painting Part 1...

T4e sc4eme 6d c4osen from was from (aldecal6s LFinnis4 Air Force Part 16 s4eet )#$C001*,

w4ic4 allows 7ust a%out an& low85is Finnis4 Hawk to %e modelled, and 4as t4e num%ers for

t4e > 9ure enoug4, t4e& weren6t t4e %est fit...

... and 4ad to do some sanding to get t4e rofile rig4t...


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After t4is, it was a uick re8rime and reaint, and t4e undersides were comleted.


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Nnce full& cured, t4e undersides were masked off: not 4ig4lig4ted in t4e decal instructions

is t4e need to ensure t4at t4e uer surface o5erlas t4e under surfaces6 leading edges, so

t4is was masked accordingl&.


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T4e uer surfaces were gi5en and initial coat of G13$ F9 11+/ A


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Mnlike most ot4er national aero%atic teams,


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T4e leading edges, including t4e intakes, were t4en gi5en a coat of G13$ lig4tened wit4 a

coule of dros of w4ite, to relicate t4e finis4 on actual aircraft. T4e mix was lig4tened

furt4er and t4e rudder was t4en sra&ed. All t4e uer surface masking was remo5ed, aart

from t4e mid8rear fuselage section, and atc4es of furt4er lig4tened G13$ were sra&ed

around some of t4e anels. Finall&, t4e mid8rear fuselage section was sra&ed wit4 a

darkened coat of G13$, w4ic4 was too dark initiall&...


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...and once corrected, left a darker section in t4is area. N5erall, t4ese different treatments

%roke u an ot4erwise too uniform surface finis4. s4ould oint out, %& t4e wa&, t4at t4e

demarcation line %etween uer and under surfaces around t4e intake area isn6t clear, so

referred to references for a %est guess.


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T4e final %it of ainting was to aint t4e fin ti and its %ottom leading edge %lack: t4is detail

is missing from t4e instructions=

Painting Part 2...

T4e main undercarriage %a&s did look a %it %land on reflection, so, consulting references

again, ainted some of t4e ca%ling wit4


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...it6s not a lot of detailing, %ut adds colour to t4e area. T4e same colour, and some %lack

wire, was also used to fas4ion %rake lines for t4e main undercarriage legs. T4ese, and t4e

ot4er ?ig4t Aircraft (re& arts, were all set aside.

A %it of a catc4 u, now, wit4 some of t4e ot4er ainting. T4e w4eel 4u%s 4ad %een sra&ed

?ig4t Aircraft (re&, and t4eir raised rims negated t4e need for an& masking rior to ainting.

@4ilst t4e Finnis4 Hawk fleet transitioned to gre&s, t4e ancillar& euiment doesn6t aear

to 4a5e %een reainted. As suc4, t4e &lons were ainted G1#$ F91#22+ sraeli (re&: t4e

closest matc4 could find to t4e rescri%ed lig4t green in t4e Airfix instructions. T4e fuel


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tanks were ainted ?ig4t Aircraft (re& on t4e under surfaces, masked, and gi5en a coat of G1

AF ark (reen. Take care 4ere, as t4ere is no clear line for masking, so it6s good old Lt4at

looks a%out rig4t6 measuring, and t4at comleted all of t4e main aintwork.

ext, we6ll %ring t4is 7et to life.

Marking Up...

First off, a coule of coats of Ilear to gi5e a solid, gloss %ase for t4e decals. As 6d said a

coule of stages %ack, wanted to use (aldecal6s Finnis4 Air Force Part 1 s4eet for t4is %uild:

modelled H@8/2, o #, rimaril& as # is Lm&6 num%er> N5erall, t4e decals erformed 5er&

well, wit4 no sil5ering. ronicall&, t4oug4, t4e roundels were slig4tl& out of register, %ut not

as %ad as t4e Airfix originals. Alt4oug4 t4e (aldecal s4eet is excellent, some stencils and finedetails are missing, so used t4e Airfix 5ersions as aroriate: 6m leased to reort t4at

t4e& also erformed flawlessl& and settled well after treatment wit4


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t took an e5ening to comlete t4e decals, and once dried, t4e model was again coated wit4

Ilear.


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6m alwa&s looking for new roducts and came across weat4ering solutions %& T4e

etailer.net. T4ese are water8%ased and after a li%eral alication, come off easil& wit4 a

dam kitc4en towel. f alied t4inl&, it acts as a stain, and t4is was used in t4e w4eel %a&s

and on t4e undercarriage: 6ll %e tr&ing out t4is roduct again.


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used Tami&a weat4ering sticks )9oot, Nil and 9il5er* to relicate ex4aust staining, scuff

marks and ot4er 4ig4lig4ts: t4e o5erall dirt&ing u ga5e me t4e workmanlike finis4 t4at

was after.

Aroac4ing t4e 4ome straig4t, next turned to t4ose little details t4at finis4 a model, or, if

not rig4t, can soil it. T4e kit sulied itot ro%e is a %it of a lum reall&: t4is was relaced

wit4 a coule of telescoic sections of Al%ion tu%ing... )9ee Here ow R Tools*

...and ainted


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...after w4ic4 t4e 9tainless treatment was gi5en to t4e ex4aust 4ousing on t4e rear

star%oard fuselage. T4e 4oriJontal tails were finall& fitted, and t4ese were suc4 a good fit

t4e& 65e not used glue. ote t4oug4, t4at t4e underwing tanks and &lons were gi5en a

satin coat, as, comared to t4e real aircraft, t4e& are now4ere near as grim& and t4is makes

a nice contrast to t4e dull airframe. Four final %its of detail: first, drilled small 4oles into t4e

%ases of t4e two identification lig4ts )arts 11+ and 11$*, and t4en ainted t4e resulting

recesses (unJe Elear ed. Nnce dr&, t4e %ases were %acked wit4 (unJe 9il5er and attac4ed:

t4is tec4niue relicated a real lig4t 4ousing o5er a %ul%.


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9econdl&, w4ilst used t4e aerial, art 1#+ )ointing forward as er t4e instructions*, filed a

small recess at t4e ti, to 4ouse a lengt4 of Al%ion tu%ing: t4is relicates t4e radio aerial as

seen on Finnis4 Hawks.


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Nn t4e su%7ect of aerials, t4ese we all fitted, alt4oug4 on reflection, t4e& are a %it on t4e

c4unk& side, scale wise, and relacements would %e a good idea. ext, ainted t4e edge of

t4e delo&ed flas flat &ellow, and w4en dr&, ga5e a wie wit4 a %it of soot weat4ering.

Finall&, t4e edges of t4e intakes, and t4e leading edges of t4e fin, wing and taillanes were

all gi5en a coat of Ilear: t4is was to relicate t4e different tone and finis4 on t4ese areas.

Home straig4t now, and t4e undercarriage and air%rake were all fitted. T4e main

undercarriage is fiddl& to fit and care needs to %e taken wit4 t4e retraction arms )arts $#

and $3*: fit t4ese first wit4 slow8setting glue, and t4en add t4e main legs. T4e nose w4eel

leg axles were trimmed to allow t4e nose w4eel to slot in: 7ust, and it will t4en rotate on t4e

axle to sit on t4e re8filed flat. t was t4en eased into osition and left a few 4ours to

4arden: unlike t4e main undercarriage legs, t4e fit was not as tig4t. T4e main w4eels are a

5er& tig4t fit: again, no glue needed and was 7ust a%out a%le to rotate t4em onto t4e flats

t4at 6d also filed on t4ese. 4a5e to sa& t4at t4e lacement for all t4e undercarriage doors isa little 5ague, and referred to references to ensure t4e correct angles for t4e main doors.

T4e air%rake was fitted, and 6d s4ortened t4e actuating arm to fit t4e air%rake slig4tl&

oened: ictures of Hawks at rest s4ow t4is osture. Final arts to fit were t4e new itot

ro%e and ex4aust, and t4en it was off wit4 t4e cano& masking, and


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how to build airfix bae hawk 1:48

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