Hi, I am in the process of modifying and repainting this excellent kit. I have modified the engine & cowl, fitted litho exhaust flutes and now I am repainting it by brush using Warbirds authentic colours for a FAA livery.

Anyone interested in some details?

Hi Tim. Ok then, where to start?

 1st - the kit is superb. It is well packaged, well made. The hardware kit is good, but the retracts are cheap and nasty. Also you need to get a better pilot. The finish is Profilm and beautifully applied.

2nd - I have decided that the Canadian Navy air race scheme is not for me, so I intend making it a RN Fleet Air Arm Sea Fury. I have ordered the correct decals from Pyramid (http://homepage.ntlworld.com/y.j/shop/index.htm) in 1/7th scale. I have also ordered (and now recieved) the correct colour paints from the Warbirds range (http://www.fighteraces.co.uk/), Sky and Dark Sea Grey.

3rd - I ordered and received a superb 1/6th pilot from Pete's Pilots eBay shop.

4th I began by mounting the engine on the bulkhead, 20mm behind the instructions stated position. I have elected to use an ASP 1.08 2st, utilising the standard silencer, mounting it at 45 degrees to put the silencer at the bottom of the cowl.

I then made up some metal exhaust linings out of thin litho plate to line the exhaust ports as per the real thing.

5th - I then trimmed 20mm off the cowl and marked up the holes for the securing screws and exhaust. When complete it looks good to me.

6th - I enlarged the cockpit aperture before I rubbed down the whole of the kit with a green scotch pad until all the shine was removed. Then I mixed up (added the catalyst / fuel proofer - easy) the sky coloured paint (mix a maximum of 1oz at a time as it goes a long way), before wiping down the model parts with a solvent wipes and finally a tack cloth. I then using a really good quality (£14) artists sable 1" brush, I began painting in long even strokes until done.

7th - The second coat was applied the next morning and the finish is fantastic. No brush strokes, no runs or drips. Now I must resist the temptation to apply the next colour for at least 24hrs. 

More tomorrow when I get my good camera back from SWMBO!

Nice one Shaun!!!  I have looked longingly at this kit for some time, as it's my favourite plane of all time, too, but the combination of electrification (I only fly EP now) and the IMO downright horrible colour scheme as supplied has put me off.

Why do they only do it in such an unusual scheme, must have cost them sales, mine for a start!!!

You say the retracts are cheap n nasty, what will you use??? 

The retracts - I will probably be fitting a set or air retracts as I have some lying around. I don't mind mechanicals, but they can be a pain to set up and need an extra battery on board. The retracts were in poor condition, but I refurbished (cleaned) them last night and they seem fine. By the way they are air up / air down.

The scheme - don't be put off by it. You can either ignore the scheme and mark it as FAA anyway, or, as I am trying to show here, repaint it. It's not been any drama so far, and preparation as well as choice of paint is key.

I'll borrow my son's camera and try agin with that, but it's a shame about my own camera.

Sorry to hear........

We had our bags opened between Caracas (Venezuala) and London (via Madrid)..................presumably Caracas!!!!! 

They took two new pairs of Trainers (£7 a pair ADIDAS "clones" from Folkestone Market!!!) 

 TEE HEE!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

One up for the good guys then.

Well my lovely wife felt so bad, she went out and bought me a replacement yesterday, so I'll post some more pictures later.

As promised, here's some updated pictures with the cowl loosely fitted and the second colour applied. Remember this is brush applied apint, so hopefully you can see how good the WB paints are.

But which pilot to use?

The paint does look good !

I like the second pilot...looks like he enjoyed the flight a bit more

Thanks Tim.

I think I'm going with No2 as he looks more nautical as well (woolly sailors jumper?)

yes he definately looks sick in grey!

Nah, once the methanol and grass cuttings / tarmac gets all over it it will be fine.

PS GloNo went in post this morning., its now down to the royal mail or whatever they call themselves these days.

Lovely..., colour looks ok Shaun, bottom pilot pic I think.

My wife said have you been spraying over that carpet..

Nah, brush painting.

I have had a number of "expert" opinions that I have c#cked the colour up. Apparently it should be Extra Dark Sea Grey, Not Dark Sea Grey. I'm a bit peeved as the object was to get the colours authentic, but now I'm told they're still wrong. Bit of a waste of time really. 

Don't know if I should repaint it. Phil at Fighter Aces has very kindly offered to replace the tin of paint free of charge as it was him that advised me of the colours. But the build up of paint layers is starting to show a bit now.

Right then. No repaint! I am going to press on regardless.... Today the fake exhausts are going in and then I'll mask up for the stripes etc.

In fact, here's the exhausts. A little more visible than the real ones, but since I've bothered to fit them, I want them to be seen!

Made from 5/16th evergreen tubing

Taped in place whilst they dry

And when the cowl is fitted

And here's the pilot, Lt Seagull RN

Comments welcome.