I love your videos Gary. I'm a bit fed up with those hyper-talented people who build museum-quality replicas; there's no way I can ever be at that standard. And life's too short anyway. I think you build in a way that all of us can emulate, and your results are still brilliant and highly satisfying, so many thanks for sharing
Just build to a standard where you can put something on a shelf and be proud to say that you built it. I'll never be in the museum/competition league but then I'm not sure I want to be. Just not my way, although I admire the talent of people who can make such realistic models. I try to get better, but there is a limit to my ability and my ambition and I'm comfortable with that. When I finish something and m'dear wife says "wow, that looks good" then I'm happy too.
I've just finished building the Gecko Katy. I cannot imagine building and filming at the same time. I found it a very fiddly build but am very pleased with the outcome. Thanks for sharing your build. I have subscribed.
Glad to have you onboard! It's not so tricky as long as you've got a camera mount that is out of the way. When I first started I used to have to reach around a tripod with predictable results!
Gary, I got the "Mossie" kit monday. In perfect shape. Thank you so much. Being the 1st kit I've seen in 40+ yrs., it's amazing. I'll do my best to do it justice. Ordering paints, glue, etc. Using your amazon links. It will take me a bit longer with my disability, but just put all my heart and soul into it, and bring the model to life. Much respect for the work on the "Katy's". Your evolution from the starter kits has been exceptional to follow. Carry on, my friend.
I'm glad it arrived safe and sound! I really hope you enjoy it - the kit is very well engineered and there are some great ideas to help make the build easier - such as using the upper wing as a template to make the undercarriage. Do let me know how it comes out!
Katy looks excellent Gary, indeed it is frustrating to have all this detail that you won't see... 😬 looking forward to seeing the finished set up with driver and diorama, should give it that royal warrant!
@@garys_stuff Reminds me of the last model I done, 1/35 Trumpeter T-72B3 full of etched metal and a tad over engineered which is typical of Chinese manufactured kits.
Great effort Gary, we can all feel your frustrations. Looking forward to seeing the final Dio. I have the Airfix Katy in the stash and will NOT be adding the Gecko version !!
Lovely work, Gary -- you've shown much patience. The answer to your question about about contests is hat when I've been responsible for judging, there's no picking the model up. You can use a pen light and a dental mirror to see better, but no magnifiers because that becomes a matter of the strongest lens *Many car model judges actually pick up the model but it's a practice I disagree with -- too much breakage from handling..
So I guess you can use the dental mirror to check out the stretchers, etc. Makes sense. This is why I'll never be a competition builder though - that and the time pressure I have on creating content for the channel...
@@garys_stuff The best reason to enter a contest is just to see what everyone else entered and to meet other builders. There are strategies for building for a contest but my view is that if you build for a trophy and not because you love what you're building, you risk poisoning your love of the hobby. I wrote a set of rules and judging forms and Tamiya told me they've passed them on to organizers of big national contests. To me its not about winning but celebrating excellence.
It's a lovely kit Gary and you are doing it justice. I wonder at the end, whether you will feel all that extra work beyond the Airfix version, is really worth it. I think I heard several sighs. Can't wait to see it in your diorama.
It does depend on the intent of the model. If it is to sit on a shelf on display and never get looked at closely, then is there a point in all the detail beyond a personal satisfaction at having done it? It's a curious thing...
Another good video Gary, even though you were getting frustrated with the photo etch you’ve made a cracking job. Looking forward to the final part. I’m currently building a 1/48 scale F14, a lot of online video builders use PE for rudder pedals etc. like you I don’t understand why…you can’t see them on the finished article! I build for the pleasure of building and painting for me (and my grandsons) 👍
Absolutely, I gave up on rudder pedal PE a while back for my own projects. I spend a lot of time thinking "why am I doing this?" when I know I'l never see them again. But then we like completeness, I suppose, and the sense of achievement. But this one is testing my limits!
Hi Gary, that has turned out absolutely fantastic, if I get one I thing I will stick with the Airfix version, looking forward to the next episode, best regards from a Kiwi living in Australia.
Great series so far (I just subscribed). I found your channel because this is the next thing I am going to build. The more I watch though the more scared I am of committing to it! I have the Airfix one also, but was attracted to this one because it had the Princess Elizabeth figure. I like you informative and straightforward approach!
Thanks man! The Gecko one just needs patience, it's a good kit underneath it all and you can take a position on how much photo-etch you need in your life! If you're not having the engine on display and have the back doors shut you can save about 160 parts!
I'm working on this model at the moment and you said it's frustrating, I totally agree 😂 You mentioned about would judges look at the stretchers. As the doors can only be modelled opened or closed, if you model them closed they can't see them anyway. Which then raises the point, why model them? Lots of bad language was used by me getting those PE straps on the stretchers.
I feel your pain, Mark! There are many times I build stuff and know I'll never see it again - like the navigator station in a Valiant - but I do it anyway. Had I been doing a closed door Katy I'd have left out everything that wasn't apparently structural.
HI Gary. Much respect for your patience & determination in progressing this cantankerous build. I've really enjoyed watching it. I have only just recently found your channel & subscribed so I will in time be watching your previous video journey. Your laid back, "C'est la Vie" style is a tonic compared to other more intense Utubers and I appreciate that you seem not to be a rivet counter or scale critic. I would be interested though to see a little more of your painting op's or techniques, particularly how you cleaned & touched up the Water Container cage of PE. Do You any particular primer on PE? I imagine that when you glue painted parts that the paint needs to be well bonded to the plastic in order to remain secure.. I have been gifted some Revell kits to encourage me back to modelling, including a Lancaster & 1/32 jet Typhoon ,😕😕. So I wondered about your experiences with large Revell kits.? Best Regards Dave W.
I tend to use a Vallejo polyurethane primer on PE bits as it seems to be a decent base for top colour. Normally the light grey. If 'm worried about the bond you can easily scrape a bit away to get bare metal. As for large Revell kits - I've not yet made any! I can't think they'll be much different to any kit in basics, just a lot more parts and will need more room to make and display them! Both of them sound like a lot of fun though - I do like a Lancaster (I've got another one in the stash waiting to be built) and I will build a Eurofighter at some stage although probably not in 1/32!
Great job on the Katy Gary! Following with interest as I'm in the process of building the Airfix kit as 2nd Subaltern Windsor's vehicle. Also going back to your Airfix build to check out what goes where. That Gecko kit looks incredibly fiddly! But it will be worth it in the end. Looking forward to the diorama.
Looking good Gary, you mean you did all that in one day, Blimey that would take me months Lol as I'm just a weekend modeller, see what you mean about the figure looks like it been moulded by another company 👍
Not keen at all with PE on kits and if the trend continues to 'over-engineer' kits then I might give up altogether 🤔 Your vids are so easy to follow so for that I thank you . . .carry on the good work
I think there will always be options for regular building and for super detail, it won't go one way or the other. Remember that despite all the photo etch and huge parts count this one is only £5 more than the Airfix kit.
Re critiques. I think there are two schools of thought. Does it /look/ right? e.g. 1:72 scale aircraft rivets are usually too big if scaled up, but /look/ right. Versus historical accuracy - aka rivet counters. e.g. Fiddly bits / bits you'll never see may be /historically/ accurate. Neither school is wrong as such :) My guess in a competition would be three judges, one from each school and a third for a casting vote.
Interesting - it's a bit of a grey area to me. Same with photography, I knew people who decided whether or not work was at a particular standard for a particular distinction and I never knew how they did it.
The Gecko instructions are wrong, at least according to colour photos of the time. The vehicle was painted in SCC.15 olive drab, a darkish green that was intended to mimic US dark green - which is what I used instead of buying some SCC.15 from somewhere (I think MIG does one, probably others too). In the Airfix kit they suggest using Humbrol 253 which is RLM83 Dark green as an approximation. There will be much debate on various message boards about the accuracy of the colour to use, of course!
I love your videos Gary. I'm a bit fed up with those hyper-talented people who build museum-quality replicas; there's no way I can ever be at that standard. And life's too short anyway. I think you build in a way that all of us can emulate, and your results are still brilliant and highly satisfying, so many thanks for sharing
Just build to a standard where you can put something on a shelf and be proud to say that you built it. I'll never be in the museum/competition league but then I'm not sure I want to be. Just not my way, although I admire the talent of people who can make such realistic models. I try to get better, but there is a limit to my ability and my ambition and I'm comfortable with that. When I finish something and m'dear wife says "wow, that looks good" then I'm happy too.
ER II R.I.P.
Gary thats amazing cant wait to see the final i may build one of these
It's an amazing kit if you've a liking for absolute detail...
way over engineered Gary !!! you have the patience of a saint !!!! ....if that were me it would be bin bound kidda
If only I had any other attributes of a saint... it's a slog but worth the effort in many ways.
I've just finished building the Gecko Katy. I cannot imagine building and filming at the same time. I found it a very fiddly build but am very pleased with the outcome. Thanks for sharing your build. I have subscribed.
Glad to have you onboard! It's not so tricky as long as you've got a camera mount that is out of the way. When I first started I used to have to reach around a tripod with predictable results!
Gary, I got the "Mossie" kit monday. In perfect shape. Thank you so much. Being the 1st kit I've seen in 40+ yrs., it's amazing. I'll do my best to do it justice. Ordering paints, glue, etc. Using your amazon links. It will take me a bit longer with my disability, but just put all my heart and soul into it, and bring the model to life. Much respect for the work on the "Katy's". Your evolution from the starter kits has been exceptional to follow. Carry on, my friend.
I'm glad it arrived safe and sound! I really hope you enjoy it - the kit is very well engineered and there are some great ideas to help make the build easier - such as using the upper wing as a template to make the undercarriage. Do let me know how it comes out!
@@garys_stuff I sure will man. I've already watched your build video several times.
Katy looks excellent Gary, indeed it is frustrating to have all this detail that you won't see... 😬 looking forward to seeing the finished set up with driver and diorama, should give it that royal warrant!
Fingers crossed!
Amazing model Gary.
Thanks mate!
@@garys_stuff Reminds me of the last model I done, 1/35 Trumpeter T-72B3 full of etched metal and a tad over engineered which is typical of Chinese manufactured kits.
It's been a wonderful experience throughout each video and I look forward to seeing the diarama.
Great video Gary 👍🏼👍🏼
Cheers Ian
Thanks for sharing Gary - always a pleasure to view your builds
Thanks Ralph!
I love that they have included so much detail, but that is probably more than I can manage. Great work nevertheless
Cheers Matthew!
Great effort Gary, we can all feel your frustrations. Looking forward to seeing the final Dio. I have the Airfix Katy in the stash and will NOT be adding the Gecko version !!
The Airfix Katy is a lovely kit, to be fair. This was just something of a challenge and a need to make the comparison between them.
You deserve an extra coffee ☕ after all that 👍 cheers 🐢
It'll go down well - thanks Locha!
Great work! Thanks.
Cheers Greg!
It might be frustrating at times but your knocking it the park Gary . Regards Gav.
Cheers Gav - almost at the end now!!!
Lovely work, Gary -- you've shown much patience.
The answer to your question about about contests is hat when I've been responsible for judging, there's no picking the model up. You can use a pen light and a dental mirror to see better, but no magnifiers because that becomes a matter of the strongest lens
*Many car model judges actually pick up the model but it's a practice I disagree with -- too much breakage from handling..
So I guess you can use the dental mirror to check out the stretchers, etc. Makes sense. This is why I'll never be a competition builder though - that and the time pressure I have on creating content for the channel...
@@garys_stuff
The best reason to enter a contest is just to see what everyone else entered and to meet other builders.
There are strategies for building for a contest but my view is that if you build for a trophy and not because you love what you're building, you risk poisoning your love of the hobby.
I wrote a set of rules and judging forms and Tamiya told me they've passed them on to organizers of big national contests. To me its not about winning but celebrating excellence.
It's a lovely kit Gary and you are doing it justice. I wonder at the end, whether you will feel all that extra work beyond the Airfix version, is really worth it. I think I heard several sighs. Can't wait to see it in your diorama.
It does depend on the intent of the model. If it is to sit on a shelf on display and never get looked at closely, then is there a point in all the detail beyond a personal satisfaction at having done it? It's a curious thing...
Your build looks really good ,Gary. Using steel rules as folders is a good tip👍😎Pete 🤓
Thanks Pete - saves having to buy an expensive PE bending rig!
I just use two old utility knife blades, works fine.
Looking forward to the next video as this Katy is in the UK and the Airfix one was in North Africa.
The diorama is very simple but adaptable to future needs....
Another good video Gary, even though you were getting frustrated with the photo etch you’ve made a cracking job. Looking forward to the final part.
I’m currently building a 1/48 scale F14, a lot of online video builders use PE for rudder pedals etc. like you I don’t understand why…you can’t see them on the finished article! I build for the pleasure of building and painting for me (and my grandsons) 👍
Absolutely, I gave up on rudder pedal PE a while back for my own projects. I spend a lot of time thinking "why am I doing this?" when I know I'l never see them again. But then we like completeness, I suppose, and the sense of achievement. But this one is testing my limits!
Watching you build the Katy has been a real treat, thank you Sir !
My pleasure Fred, glad you like it.
Wonderful build, the kit looks very fiddly but the detail looks great.
Cheers Mark - it is ******* fiddly!!!
Nice progress Gary, I thought you'd overtake my build. Looking forward to seeing your diorama. Cheers Bob
Thanks Bob - hope you're enjoying your build too. I will check out the content on it!!!
Looks great Gary! Thanks for sharing! 😎🇨🇦
Your a Legend Peter 👍🐢☕
You bet Peter - one more to come!
Hi Gary, that has turned out absolutely fantastic, if I get one I thing I will stick with the Airfix version, looking forward to the next episode, best regards from a Kiwi living in Australia.
Cheers Les - I'll do a comparison video as well soon...
Great job Gary.
Cheers Stephen!
Great series so far (I just subscribed). I found your channel because this is the next thing I am going to build. The more I watch though the more scared I am of committing to it! I have the Airfix one also, but was attracted to this one because it had the Princess Elizabeth figure.
I like you informative and straightforward approach!
Thanks man! The Gecko one just needs patience, it's a good kit underneath it all and you can take a position on how much photo-etch you need in your life! If you're not having the engine on display and have the back doors shut you can save about 160 parts!
I'm working on this model at the moment and you said it's frustrating, I totally agree 😂 You mentioned about would judges look at the stretchers. As the doors can only be modelled opened or closed, if you model them closed they can't see them anyway. Which then raises the point, why model them? Lots of bad language was used by me getting those PE straps on the stretchers.
I feel your pain, Mark! There are many times I build stuff and know I'll never see it again - like the navigator station in a Valiant - but I do it anyway. Had I been doing a closed door Katy I'd have left out everything that wasn't apparently structural.
HI Gary. Much respect for your patience & determination in progressing this cantankerous build. I've really enjoyed watching it.
I have only just recently found your channel & subscribed so I will in time be watching your previous video journey. Your laid back, "C'est la Vie" style is a tonic compared to other more intense Utubers and I appreciate that you seem not to be a rivet counter or scale critic.
I would be interested though to see a little more of your painting op's or techniques, particularly how you cleaned & touched up the Water Container cage of PE. Do You any particular primer on PE? I imagine that when you glue painted parts that the paint needs to be well bonded to the plastic in order to remain secure..
I have been gifted some Revell kits to encourage me back to modelling, including a Lancaster & 1/32 jet Typhoon ,😕😕. So I wondered about your experiences with large Revell kits.?
Best Regards Dave W.
I tend to use a Vallejo polyurethane primer on PE bits as it seems to be a decent base for top colour. Normally the light grey. If 'm worried about the bond you can easily scrape a bit away to get bare metal.
As for large Revell kits - I've not yet made any! I can't think they'll be much different to any kit in basics, just a lot more parts and will need more room to make and display them! Both of them sound like a lot of fun though - I do like a Lancaster (I've got another one in the stash waiting to be built) and I will build a Eurofighter at some stage although probably not in 1/32!
Great job as always Gary. Looking forward to seeing the finished piece on its diarama.
Thanks Rob!
I am not a lover of small phot etch bits on models, even if they do look better some times. Great job you have done with it Gary.
Cheers John!
I feel your frustration Gary - I’m not a fan of photoetch - will be interested to see which of the two Katys you prefer as a modelling experience
I'm forming some opinions on that - might do a specific video about it!
Great work mate👍
Cheers mate!
Great job on the Katy Gary! Following with interest as I'm in the process of building the Airfix kit as 2nd Subaltern Windsor's vehicle. Also going back to your Airfix build to check out what goes where. That Gecko kit looks incredibly fiddly! But it will be worth it in the end. Looking forward to the diorama.
Thanks Randall- hope you are enjoying the Airfix kit, it's a nice one!
Looking good Gary, you mean you did all that in one day, Blimey that would take me months Lol as I'm just a weekend modeller, see what you mean about the figure looks like it been moulded by another company 👍
Yes but then I do this for a living (?) so I can devote all my time to building kits and editing video!
Not keen at all with PE on kits and if the trend continues to 'over-engineer' kits then I might give up altogether 🤔 Your vids are so easy to follow so for that I thank you . . .carry on the good work
I think there will always be options for regular building and for super detail, it won't go one way or the other. Remember that despite all the photo etch and huge parts count this one is only £5 more than the Airfix kit.
Re critiques. I think there are two schools of thought. Does it /look/ right? e.g. 1:72 scale aircraft rivets are usually too big if scaled up, but /look/ right. Versus historical accuracy - aka rivet counters. e.g. Fiddly bits / bits you'll never see may be /historically/ accurate. Neither school is wrong as such :) My guess in a competition would be three judges, one from each school and a third for a casting vote.
Interesting - it's a bit of a grey area to me. Same with photography, I knew people who decided whether or not work was at a particular standard for a particular distinction and I never knew how they did it.
what colour was the queen Elizebeth scheme the instructions say brown but yours is green?
The Gecko instructions are wrong, at least according to colour photos of the time. The vehicle was painted in SCC.15 olive drab, a darkish green that was intended to mimic US dark green - which is what I used instead of buying some SCC.15 from somewhere (I think MIG does one, probably others too). In the Airfix kit they suggest using Humbrol 253 which is RLM83 Dark green as an approximation. There will be much debate on various message boards about the accuracy of the colour to use, of course!
@@garys_stuff thanks
where did you get the decal pen ?
My local Hobbycraft, but I'm sure you can get them widely.
@@garys_stuff sorry to be a pain Gary,what’s it called,I’ve looked on their website and can’t find it
@@Exgasman9072 look for "Derwent waterbrush", it should be there. There are three (I think) versions, I use the broad brush.
@@garys_stuff Thanks Gary
Try cleaning the wash off your parts would look a lot better.
Thanks for the tip, I'll be dealing with the finish in the next (and final!!!) video...
I’m sorry Gecko, but as a loyal subject of our late Sovereign Lady I do not want to see her thighs in that much detail. Most unseemly!
It is odd when you're painting the figure that you feel you should apologise all the time for being so bold. Maybe it's too soon.....