Squeezed in some build time over the last week bouncing around the instructions building various sub=assemblies.
Going with the kit cockpit. Aries makes a resin replacement and Eduard does PE. How much of the extra detail would be seen once it is painted the very dark grey/black is debatable.
The two external fuel tanks.
The main parts needed to build an outer wing panel, RH wing in this case. The wing halves have engraved areas for the support structure used with deployed wings. The slot for the outboard pylon is flashed over and requires cleaning out if installing the pylon. The pylon will be left off until after painting to making masking for the EDSG wrap around the leading edge. The kit wing bulkhead (lower left) will be replaced by the Wolfpack resin bulkhead. The two part ailerons can be left moveable. There is the option for dropped or retracted outer flaps. I'll be using the retracted flaps with the folded wings. Also shown are the wing fence and pitot tube mount.
And the built up LH wing panel, upper and lower surfaces respectively. The pylon is pressed into its slot.
The kit provides parts for 4 Redtop IR AAM. The fins are overly thick, scaling out to 1.5" thick 1:1. They can be cut off and replaced with thinner sheet stock or the edges sanded to thin them down (my course of action). The left is pre and the right is post sanding. The opening at the front is for for the clear seeker head.
The kit also provides parts for 4 rocket pods. Unfortunately, Airfix has had a molding problem with these and the nose cone is too "stepped" when compared to the RN 2" rocket pod. The rocket heads are the correct rounded shape and should only be visible when viewing the pod from the front. Odds & Ordnance and Red Bear Resin make replacement rocket pods.
Cheers,
Rich
