Subject: Re: 1:48 Kittyhawk Jaguar GR3 Snowcat
From: "Submissions for ARC" <[email-masked]>
To: "Richard Spreckley" <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 4 Mar 2014 01:54:44 -0800

Hi,
I just wanted to let you know your article went on ARC today.  Thanks again for sending it in.

Steve Bamford
ARC Air - Aircraft Resource Center
http://www.arcair.com

Live like there is no tomorrow;
Love like you've never been hurt.
Work like you don't need the money.
Dance like nobody's watching.
Sing like nobody's listening.
Live like it's Heaven on Earth.

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Richard Spreckley 
  To: [email-masked] 
  Sent: Friday, February 28, 2014 10:39 AM
  Subject: 1:48 Kittyhawk Jaguar GR3 Snowcat

  "1:48 Kittyhawk Jaguar GR3" 

  by "Richard Spreckley" 

  RMCS 

  -------------------- 

        Steve Bamford will insert full sized version of photo 01.jpg here  

  This is the long awaited kit from Kittyhawk of the Jaguar GR3 and what a kit it is! I wanted to do something a bit different and the 56 Sqn snowcat was perfect. This build was going to test all my skills as a modeller, I wanted to try new techniques and use both plastic, resin, photo etch and white metal to bring this model to life. The moulds and plastic in the kit are superb, Kittyhawk have included some photoetch in the kit which helps to make this model stand out. Unfortunately you can immediately tell that this is a model that has inherited the Jaguar A kit from last year, the majority of the armananets available are French in origin; the kit only supplies one drop fuel tank aswell.

  I wanted to make this model initeresting so I decided I wanted a broad selection of ordanance which would include the BL755's and the iron bombs with high drag chutes. The over wing sidewinders were a must and I wanted a twin drop tank configuartion. Serious investment was needed and Flightpath came to the rescue with the amazing Jaguar armanent resin set which included everything I pretty much needed.

       

       

  At the time of the build I wanted to increase the detail in the cockpit, the kit one is good and with the photoecth enhancements I would say it is better than most, However I decided to use the Aires resin cockpit set for the Airfix set; I used the seat, instrucment panel and shroud and integrated them into the kits cockpit tub. I needed quite alot of putty, sanding and moulding to get the aries kit to fit, but the result, I feel was worth the effort. The build itself is quite a challenge as it is quite complex, I certainly found there was a need for a level of patience and trust in the build sequence, which in the end all comes together in the end. As I was going to expose one of the RR Avon engines I wanted to ensure that it was enhanced to the eye; I did this by scratchbuilding all the plumbing with different diamaters of wire to give the look of a fitted engine ( I did use some ref photos, but I wanted to get the feel of it rather than accuarcy on this occassion).

          
        Steve Bamford will insert full sized version of photo 02.jpg here  

  Once all the sub-assemblies were put together I use Vallejo air paints, along with Vallejo washes to start to paint and weather the aircraft.All RAF 'snow' schemes were temporary, with the white camoflage painted over the drab green. In most of these cases this was just white wash, which soon rubbed off exposing the green underneath, this is the look I wanted to replicate. Once satisfied with the level of weathering I used future klear to seal the model and I then applied the decals, flight tags and finished off the scratch built FOD guards. I wanted to show this model on a small diorama which had to be a winter scheme. I used a foam board with a cork matting, I sculpted an area using putty for snow mounds and then airbrushed the hard standing are, finishing it off with modellers snow. The 56 Sqn patch was obtained to represent thier snowcat theme.

  It is a fantastic kit, which built on its own is superb, but Kittyhawk have left enough for a modeller to use thier skills to enhance it to thier tastes. I am now planning a second model depicting the Jaguar deployment during the Gulf war. 
  "Richard Spreckley"