Spencer Pollard

Good evening! With the dust now settling following Scale Modelworld, here's a little showcase of my 1:24 Harrier T.2 conversion that I've been working on over the last six months. Easily the most difficult, demanding and technically involved project I've ever undertaken, this Harrier is the culmination of thirty years of wanting this model in my collection and developing the skills to finally bring the project to fruition. Consuming around 600 hours, the conversion is based on the ancient Airfix 1:24 Harrier GR.1/3, all changes and details being 99% scratchbuilt, created in collaboration with David Haggas, Nick Greenall and Dave Fleming who all provided technical information on every aspect of the conversion, Mal Mayfield who created the masks that allowed almost all of the markings to be airbrushed on, Tim Perry who created the patterns and vac-formed parts for the amazing ferry tanks that are fitted under the wings and finally, Haris Ali who vac-formed the canopies and laser-cut the wonderful base that the model sits on. Thank you all so much! I hope that you like it! Spence :0

Hi Kev - I think I'll deal with those with Filler Primer. I've tried it on the tailplanes and it seems to work okay - we'll see! Hey everyone! Here's a quick update on my Harrier T.2 build. As I'm still working on the airframe, I decided to deal with the intakes and engine. One of the problems in the kit is that the intake tunnels are too narrow and don't meet the compressor face in the right place and the triangular ramp behind the cockpit is missing altogether (which also makes the undercarriage bay the wrong shape!). Add to that the fact that the tunnel encloses the drop-down auxiliary doors when they are open (so you can't see the compressor blades) and the need to completely rebuild this section is obvious. To do this the engine needs to be fixed in place so that you can accurately line the tunnel; next problem, the nozzles don't fit properly. To cure this, the engine was cut in half, a 3 mm section removed and then it was glued back together and fixed inside the fuselage, the nozzles now being centred properly within their openings. Once set, the intake tunnel could be added with Evergreen strip and left to dry. Sanding and a layer of White Milliput, will create its final, smooth shape. Another job done - onwards and upwards! Spence https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWs1lMxWZmQ

Hey everyone - thanks very much for you kind words on this build! Sorry it's taken me so long to get back on here, but I've been a bit bogged-down with work and time's rather limited. Over the last week or so I've spent some time dealing with the issues that afflict the large Airfix Harrier, including the open nozzle fairings and the complete lack of detail in the airbrake bay. Add to that the need to shorten the bay and then repair the fairings around the two front, cold jet nozzles and you can see that nothing on this model is easy!!! Here's what I've done so far. The part resting on my fingers BTW, is the airbrake interior supplied by Airfix - it's a bit basic, isn't it?! The detail in the bay is close to what's needed, but not overboard; very little will be seen in there once the model is on its wheels, so I'm happy to have created the basics and nothing more... I hope that you like it! Spence https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWs1lMxWZmQ

Hey everyone! Well, the plan this week was to spend at least two days on the cockpit of the Harrier T.4 and try and get the starboard walls, instrument panels and half of each rear bulkhead complete, and that's pretty much what I've done. Though it's not absolutely perfect (I've had a nightmare trying to work out where some of the cabling goes!), I'm happy that the interior captures the look of the images that I have to work from and that the major items are in place and complete. One thing that I have learned though is that scratchbuilding is around 50% construction and then 50% ripping out what you have completed because you are not entirely happy with your work! Honestly, there is at least one other perfectly serviceable 1:24 T.4 cockpit in the bin... I'll be posting a Youtube video and Blog update on this tomorrow, but in the meantime, I hope you like what I've done so far. Have a nice evening!

Hey Everyone! I've managed to grab a few hours on it today and almost completed the detailing of the starboard, front cockpit wall. This includes the remainder of the side console structure, wiring looms and pipework and the cover panels that I could see in the reference shots that David sent me.This will no doubt need a few more details here and there, but so far, so good. I've also blocked out some nonsense behind the instrument panel. Though much of this won't be seen and is in the main fiction, it's better than having a gaping hole back there. The rudder pedals need to be fabricated and they will conceal almost everything, so what is in there, should be enough! Next job - that rear bulkhead... I hope you like it!

Hey everyone! I've completed some more work on my 1:24 Harrier T.4 conversion, today seeing me spend over 6 hours creating the structure on which the cockpit with be created. I knew it would be frustrating, but it took longer than I thought, but at least it's done and I can now start work on the detailing! The pile of bits next to the nose gives you some idea of how many attempts I needed to get the parts the correct size and shape... https://thekitbox.wordpress.com/2016/07/06/harrier-t-4-conversion-part-3/

Hey everyone! I thought you'd like to see what I'm working on at the moment, a 1:24 Harrier T.4. This is a conversion that I've wanted to complete for over 30 years and so now I've decided to have a go. In essence it's an almost complete reworking of the 40 year old Airfix Harrier GR.1 into the two seat T.4 and so I have to build a new nose, scratchbuild the cockpits and then build an entirely new tail section - as well as a complete redetail of the remaining airframe and features. I've given myself around 5 months to complete this model, so here's hoping I can! Though I'd love to detail it all on here, there's just too much information and too many pictures, so if you'd like to keep up with what's likely to be a very involved conversion, please follow the link and you'll find plenty more information! I'll also keep dropping some teasers onto here as well.. https://thekitbox.wordpress.com/2016/06/28/harrier-t-4-conversion-part-2/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfQeFAMdUVY

It would!!! Spence

Hi mate. The instructions direct you to use two parts XF-3 flat yellow and one part XF-5 Flat green for the interior parts, including the cockpit, which is their mix for Interior Green - or rather that's what it had printed on the instructions that I was sent with the test shot. I used Gunze Sangyo Interior Green for my kit, the colour matching the photographs I had of Yeovilton's aircraft. Maybe the production instructions are different? Spence

Hi everyone! Well after three weeks of work, Tamiya's incredible 1/32 F4U-1 Corsair is finally done. Nothing in my working life matches the tension and eventual adrenalin rush of completing a huge project like this and though smaller models can be equally exciting, having this thing in front of me after the thick end of 100 hours work - almost 2/3s of that, painting and weathering - is a really satisfying feeling. I hope you like it! The full review will be in the September issue of TMMI, on sale August 15th. Spence

Hi everyone! Thanks very much for the kind words on my Corsair over on HS. It's very much appreciated. For those that haven't seen it yet, I've opened a little thread on here so that you can see it for yourselves. I hope that you like it! All the best - Spence Hi. You do know that I build models like this for a living, don't you? Spence

Hey Everyone! Here's the Tamiya Spitfire that we've built for the April issue of MAW - we hope that you like it! Now, if you don't mind I think that it's about time that I completed some armour! All the best, Spence http://www.militaryinscale.com/

Hey Everyone. Though the last few weeks haven't been great (We were burgled...), life still goes on in magazine land, this Spitfire being the result of some of our labours. A collaborative effort with Alan Firbank (he built all of the sub-assemblies and basecoated the internal sections), this is our version of Tamiya's Spitfire and as such, the drive to build something a little different has resulted in a representation of F/O Prince Emanuel Galitzine's Mk.IX as operated by the Special Service (High Altitude) Flight, Northolt, during September of 1942. There are still a few days of work left until it is finished, but these shots provide a teaser of how the model will look in the April issue of MAW. We hope you like it so far..! Spence http://www.militaryinscale.com/

Hey Everyone - thanks you so much for all of your comments on my Mosquito! I'm so glad that you like the completed model and that you all felt that I managed to get the best from it. The kit is magnificent and it was a real privelege to be able to build such an early sample! You can read about the model in the February and March editions of Model Aviation World - in the meantime I think I may put my feet up for a few days, before I start work in the Tamiya Spitfire. They just keep coming eh..? Spence

Hi Everyone - I hope that you're all well today! Well, here we go, some final shots of my Mosquito as built from the extarordinary Airfix 1/24 kit. Though I still have some final details to add (ammo feeds, actuators in the bomb bay, flaps at the back of the radiator troughs, rockets and a light or two...) this is the model as it will appear in the February issue of Model Aviation World. Photos really can't capture the sheer presence of this kit (the Tamiya 1/32 Spit is about the same size as one of the wings..!) or the features that it incorporates - it is, to all intents and purposes, magnificent. I hope you enjoy the final shots as much as I've enjoyed putting it and them, together. Now, if you don't mind, I need some sleep... Spence

Hey Nick! Thanks for the kind words. To answer your question, the Tamiya Spitfire IX... Spence

Hi Everyone - I hope that you're all well today! As you can see I've completed the engine and mounted it in the port nacelle. This has been loads of work, needed lots of Alclad and a very light hand with the glue brush - the results though have been well worth the effort and yes, I am pleased that I chose to close up the starboard engine bay!!! Now it's on with the undercarriage - all 100 odd parts of it..! I hope that you like it! Spence

Hi Everyone - I hope that you're all well today! Thanks for the very kind words on my model - they are very much appreciated! Another small update. As you can see, I've applied most of the decals and started on weathering the model with oil paints which have both helped add dirt and also darken the colours somewhat, so that they are closer to the shades that they should be, rather than the muted tones that I chose to use. Wow! What a job this has been... Still, I'm really happy with the results and I feel that I'm now starting to break the back of the mammoth project! I hope that you like it! Spence

Thanks for the comment. To answer your questions, the kit goes together very well indeed and I've built it from the box with no extras - what you see is what you get! Spence

Hi Everyone - I hope that you're all well today! Here's the latest update. As you can see the model has been painted in its basic camouflage colours ready to be sealed-in, the decals applied and then the weathering completed using oils. Though I'd toyed with the idea of painting the model in a different colour scheme, I stuck with my original plan to finish it in this scheme as I feel that it suits the aircraft so well! I'll be publishing a full step-by-step story on how I painted the model as part of my feature in MAW. In the meantime I can say that the model was painted using Tamiya acrylics thinned with Lacquer thinner, shaded and highlighted along the way. I hope that you like it! Spence

Hi Everyone - I hope that you're all well today! Thank you so much for the kind words on my Mosquito - they are very much appreciated! Here's a quick update showing off the completed bomb bay and the nose mounted guns. The guns still need to have their ammo feeds fixed in place - something I'll do later on. As you can see there is a ton of detail in both of these areas of the model with plenty to build, paint and weather - it really is never ending!!! Next week I hope to be able to apply some paint to the exterior of the model - well, that's the plan... I hope you like it! Spence

Hey Everyone - I hope that you're all well today! Here's the Airfix Mosquito - or rather bits of it! As you can see, I've worked on the cockpit, assembled much of the airframe, the spinners and now I'm building and painting the bomb bay and gun mounts - all of which look great complete. There is still a long way to go, but this should give you a flavour of what I'm try to achieve with this impressive new kit. Oh and BTW, I know that the feed chutes for the forward guns are the wrong way round after being told about it yesterday; I really need to get my eyes tested, I hadn't noticed the shape of the shells in the openings and that they point forward! I hope you like it! Spence