Jeff's CBK Blitz. The FROG Hornet *Finished*

[jssel]

Off and running

Steps one thru three are laid out. First issue to overcome is that many of the holes are flashed over and the channels for the propellers are slightly off center. Nature of the beast I guess considering how old the kit is.




RP-3 rockets cleaned up and will need a little filler to take care of the warhead sink holes.





So it is onward

[splash]

I'm all all aboard ready to enjoy your build of one of the nicest looking a/c produced, I built one several years ago as a Naval Sea Hornet in the Classic gray/sky colours.

[jssel]

Agreed Alan. And no mistaking a deHavilland.

[Old_Tonto]

Am onboard and excited.

[JamesPerrin]

Go Jeff!

[jssel]

With one hour in most of the parts are cleaned up and ready for placement. Step four and five and being worked on.




I have decided to rub down the panel lines as they are so "out of scale". And due to the small size I doubt if I will re-scribe any of them.

[PaulBradley]

Good start, Jeff. Construction of the Hornet was basically similar to the Mosquito - mostly wood - so not re-scribing the panel lines is fine and accurate.

[Old_Tonto]

Great start Jeff.

[splash]

I'm not sure but on the Sea Hornet there was a reinforcement strap running over the top of the body, did the Hornet have the same or was that a Naval mod to strengthen the body for deck landings?

[ShaunW]

That's an early start Jeff and great work so far. From what I can see, photos seem to show a strap over/round the fuselage near the trailing edge of the wings on all Hornets from the prototype onwards. Looking at Jeff's fourth photo above, which shows an overhead view of the fuselage, it would appear that the strap is represented by raised lines.

[jssel]

Thanks for that info Shawn. Much like the Mosquito I guess.

Second hour completed with a bit more done.

Wings cleaned up now. The exhaust stubs and propellers are sandwiched between the halves.









So far I like the simplicity of the kit. Didn't realize it at the time but there is no landing light lens in the box. My plan is to place a section of Bare Metal foil on the inside of the wing and then using the punch and die set to make a new lens.

A brief interlude.

[ShaunW]

Nice one, the Hornet is such a great looker. Sounds like a good plan to replace the missing lens Jeff. In my case, as I haven't got a punch and die set (they are pricey over here and I'm too mean to buy one ) I would use Glue 'n' Glaze to make the lens. Great old clip of the Yardbirds there, featuring a youthful Jimmy Page wielding a Fender Telecaster instead of his later trademark Gibson Les Paul. Thinking aloud, did Led Zeppelin do a version of Train Kept a Rollin', or use the song as a basis for one of their own tunes?

[jssel]

Zepplin did and a couple of songs shared riffs

[ShaunW]

I thought so...

[jssel]

Little early on this one as I have called from the bench for a little while (not long)

Update:




Foil on the wing innards:





And this is what you see looking into the hole.





Again everything aligned very well considering. and here is where we are at now.