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Mrs V’s Missile - Finished

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  • Member since
    January 2015
Mrs V’s Missile - Finished
Posted by TheMongoose on Monday, February 21, 2022 7:44 PM

So my wife thought this Lindberg Snark missile looked super cool in orange and got it for me for Christmas a year ago. I've been working on it off and on...she said hey it normally doesn't take you this long to build something ;-) I told her the kit is ancient and every piece is warped or full of flash! I can only take the torture for short periods of time lol

so I've finally gotten somewhere worth showing. My plan for this thing is to do a launch scene! Which i am excited about. It took 3 months to get the cob led's due to shipping delays. Now that they're here I'm go for launch.

Heres what the display looks like, just a mock up here where I'm setting the length and angle of the rods for the exhaust.


ignore the missing steps. It's hard to keep those in place, every time i move it a few fall out into the box. I want to keep it so it scissors like it's designed so I ll just keep putting them back on till the layout is all set. It truly is the best part of the whole kit :-)

don't ask how long it took to work that nose cone into shape lol

now here I'm laying out the led's. This is 9' of 6000k 24v cob lighting. 8mm wide. I slid it inside 10mm tubing to make the jet exhaust from the nozzles. In pics it is a blinding white leaving those nozzles and then quickly turns to a heavy black and brown smoke.

and now that the layout is good i finished up the Snark itself and got some black primer on it



I'm on the road for a week so probably late next week and I'll have some color on the missile and some smoke on the tarmac! See you then Beer

In the pattern: Scale Shipyard's 1/48 Balao Class Sub! leaning out the list...NOT! Ha, added to it again - Viper MkVii, 1/32 THUD & F-15J plus a weekend madness build!

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: SW Virginia
Posted by Gamera on Tuesday, February 22, 2022 11:25 AM

Oh wow, she's gonna look cool when done! Yes

"I dream in fire but work in clay." -Arthur Machen

 

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: USA
Posted by keavdog on Tuesday, February 22, 2022 11:33 AM

Can't wait to see this one done.  Ive done a couple challenging Lindberg kits myself.  I bet you'll be happy to wrap it up as well.

Thanks,

John

  • Member since
    February 2004
Posted by dhenning on Tuesday, February 22, 2022 8:53 PM

Very cool concept!  This will be great to see the progress.   I am also working on the Lindberg Snark, but being afflicted with detail frenzy, I have been scouring the web looking for photos of the launcher and details of the operational missile (in it's very short service life).   So are you going with the red and white scheme or the gray with the SAC shield and sash?

Dave

  • Member since
    January 2015
Posted by TheMongoose on Tuesday, February 22, 2022 9:28 PM

Hey Dave glad you stopped by! I'm going with the red(kinda an orange red maybe?). In the pics I've found so far that scheme seems pretty pristine. The launchers seem quite abused tho. I've seen at least 1 shot where the truck is still there with the trailer attached during launch! For the snark i think some mottling over the black primer with +/-10% yellow might do the trick for my display. Anything to distract from the warped look lol 

How about yours, picked a scheme yet? 
checked out the video from the usaf museum of them moving theirs around? Gives some great shots of different parts of the missile you don't see in most pics.

In the pattern: Scale Shipyard's 1/48 Balao Class Sub! leaning out the list...NOT! Ha, added to it again - Viper MkVii, 1/32 THUD & F-15J plus a weekend madness build!

  • Member since
    October 2019
  • From: New Braunfels, Texas
Posted by Tanker-Builder on Wednesday, February 23, 2022 9:06 AM

Hey!

     I remember that model. I, as a youngster fascinated with things that fly, and didn't get a big allowance. Missile kits turned to fighters were de-rigour for me. They were cheaper.

  • Member since
    January 2015
Posted by TheMongoose on Thursday, February 24, 2022 7:56 PM

In the pattern: Scale Shipyard's 1/48 Balao Class Sub! leaning out the list...NOT! Ha, added to it again - Viper MkVii, 1/32 THUD & F-15J plus a weekend madness build!

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: SW Virginia
Posted by Gamera on Friday, February 25, 2022 8:41 AM

Oh wow almost a turtle-shell look! I'm looking forward to seeing how this works out when you get back!

"I dream in fire but work in clay." -Arthur Machen

 

  • Member since
    September 2012
Posted by GMorrison on Friday, February 25, 2022 12:26 PM

Pretty interesting article on Wiki.

The guidance system was so bad that one test flight that was to be a round trip from Canaveral to Puerto Rico dissappeared. The missile was later found in the Amazon Jungle in Brazil!

 

Bill

 Modeling is an excuse to buy books.

 

  • Member since
    January 2015
Posted by TheMongoose on Friday, February 25, 2022 7:30 PM

Oh yeah Bill this baby was apparently just about scare tactics. They must have been depending on the range of the nuclear cloud.

Gamera you and i are about to be disappointed with the mottling attemptt...

Oh what a bad decision! The red is translucent. I knew the black needed covered well but this is ridiculous. I ended up putting a gray over it all. I think as bad as this shows thru that there will still be mottling after i cover the grey.

Here it is in light ghost grey over red mottling lol

glad i tried that while i had time this morning. Letting this dry while I'm at the inlaws this weekend.

In the pattern: Scale Shipyard's 1/48 Balao Class Sub! leaning out the list...NOT! Ha, added to it again - Viper MkVii, 1/32 THUD & F-15J plus a weekend madness build!

  • Member since
    February 2004
Posted by dhenning on Tuesday, March 1, 2022 9:23 PM

Going to go with the gray opeational scheme with the SAC badge and milky way sash on mine.   Still working on the launcher details.   Overtime, the launchers were modified to reduce the amount of support equipment needed for a combat launch.   They eventually mounted a start cart (huffer) on the front of the launcher and ran a box duct down the frame of the launcher to the rear, where it divided into a couple of high pressure air bleed lines used to start the jet engine.   The photos of the truck in place during launch were also used in the combat operations at Presque Isle AFB in Maine. The truck carried a electrical generator (I think) to provide the ground power for the launch.  I think that the booster nozzles were turned to reduce any damage to the truck and generator.

  • Member since
    January 2015
Posted by TheMongoose on Friday, March 18, 2022 8:09 PM

Looking forward to seeing that dhenning!!

made a little progress on mine. Mixed a custome guards red and 20-25% orange to try and match the color to my eye. Toss on some stripes and here you go!

In the pattern: Scale Shipyard's 1/48 Balao Class Sub! leaning out the list...NOT! Ha, added to it again - Viper MkVii, 1/32 THUD & F-15J plus a weekend madness build!

  • Member since
    January 2015
Posted by TheMongoose on Saturday, March 19, 2022 3:01 PM

In the pattern: Scale Shipyard's 1/48 Balao Class Sub! leaning out the list...NOT! Ha, added to it again - Viper MkVii, 1/32 THUD & F-15J plus a weekend madness build!

  • Member since
    October 2019
  • From: New Braunfels, Texas
Posted by Tanker-Builder on Sunday, March 20, 2022 7:53 AM

Hmmm;

 Sorry about the delayed reply. Yes I did. And it was the best looking conversion to a fighter plane I had.Looked wild in bright red with a pilot in it. I wish I still had all those models.

     When I enlisted I gave them all to my next oldest brother to play with. Well, needless to say he did and they went the way of all played with models, Right from his hot little hands to the round file eventually!

  • Member since
    January 2015
Posted by TheMongoose on Sunday, March 20, 2022 8:51 AM

TB you made me remember the 1st time a buddy wanted to blow up our models with firecrackers! i had forgotten all about that experience. I never brought a model over to his place after that. Just couldn't destroy something i made.

Decals going on today and I'm pretty happy! Liquid decal film and 2 minutes in the water then 2-3 minutes to set and they slid right off...all in 1-piece too!

check out the shield

solvaset isn't destroying them either so i have high hopes of these looking ok for the diorama. No crazy expectations that it'll be a show winner, just a great display that will remind some of us of the younger days like TB says and maybe inspire a kid or two around the model tables Yes

In the pattern: Scale Shipyard's 1/48 Balao Class Sub! leaning out the list...NOT! Ha, added to it again - Viper MkVii, 1/32 THUD & F-15J plus a weekend madness build!

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: SW Virginia
Posted by Gamera on Sunday, March 20, 2022 9:39 PM

That looks awesome! Great job on the stripes and nice work weathering the launch ramp. Good to hear the decals went off without a hitch! 

"I dream in fire but work in clay." -Arthur Machen

 

  • Member since
    January 2015
Posted by TheMongoose on Wednesday, March 23, 2022 10:17 PM

Big thanks for stopping by Gamera!

coming down the home stretch now. so i can't use chicken wire to form a base for the smoke...realized after the fact that the lights have exposed wires at the joints so metal is a no-no for sure Idea. Walking around home depot i found this plastic mesh they put between layers of landscaping bricks! Free Big Smile so i also found that CA doesn't stick to it real well. Dang. Twisted some copper wire to hold it together and stapled it to the base lol

then i used synthetic cotton rope. Gives a nice impression of flow doesn't it?

next is layering it up and then doing some hairspray and painting!

let me know what you think Surprise

In the pattern: Scale Shipyard's 1/48 Balao Class Sub! leaning out the list...NOT! Ha, added to it again - Viper MkVii, 1/32 THUD & F-15J plus a weekend madness build!

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: SW Virginia
Posted by Gamera on Thursday, March 24, 2022 11:23 AM

Ohhhhhhhhh, love the blast! That's going to look sooooooo cool!!!

"I dream in fire but work in clay." -Arthur Machen

 

  • Member since
    March 2005
  • From: West Virginia, USA
Posted by mfsob on Monday, March 28, 2022 10:14 AM

Yep, the blast effect and smoke is going to look way cool!

 

But I wanted to say, Well done on allllllllllllll those white stripes. I have a complicated reletionshi* with white decal stripes ... and black ones ... and red ones ... and ...

  • Member since
    January 2015
Posted by TheMongoose on Monday, March 28, 2022 6:44 PM

mfsob

Yep, the blast effect and smoke is going to look way cool!

 

But I wanted to say, Well done on allllllllllllll those white stripes. I have a complicated reletionshi* with white decal stripes ... and black ones ... and red ones ... and ...

 



made me laugh!! Great comment on the relationship between modeler and stripes Blind Fold sometimes best looked at with blinders on

In the pattern: Scale Shipyard's 1/48 Balao Class Sub! leaning out the list...NOT! Ha, added to it again - Viper MkVii, 1/32 THUD & F-15J plus a weekend madness build!

  • Member since
    January 2015
Posted by TheMongoose on Saturday, April 2, 2022 2:09 PM

Here is Lindberg’s 1991 boxing of the Snark missile in 1/48. I must have weeks invested cutting off flash and filling seams. What a mess these old molds were. I was bound and determined to finish as my wife gave it to me for Christmas 2 years ago. The key goal here was to go to another level with lighting - EXPLOSIONS! 
The models are painted with MCW acrylic lacquer. Those are the 31yr old decals…they looked good until i put clear on the Snark ones, a few showed some silvering almost like they lifted a bit with the hot paint on them. The tractor, hitch and stairs were weathered with Flory washes and dry brushed with Vallejo metal colors. 220 grit sandpaper for the base. Lights are 24v COB LEDs at 6500K. 9ft of them! Blinding even from the living room lol had to use my sons New Google phone to capture the scene. Any other camera just showed bright glaring light all around. The streaming jet exhaust is compliments of synthetic ‘rope’ style cotton. That really sets off the appearance of flow I think.

Here are my top 10 shots. Hope you guys enjoy them…

D080D65C-4D1C-43F1-929F-F2698D220B46-600

 

BA22B102-7776-495A-823D-D5DE44F10EDD-600

 

DAD09684-C3AF-4B0F-9F4C-F33311D1876F-600 

 

C696B9C1-A256-41D7-950E-6B43797A5C6A-600

 

D04E7602-B7F7-419D-8C56-64BA617DF009-600

 

2CCB1972-2DFC-4376-A8A7-984691E75A75-600

 

017CB12A-AD39-496C-A573-EDD8CE7760CD-338

 

279C81D6-96C5-4447-9F96-2345D26DFF66-338

And here’s a sneak peak underneath

 

074289A1-14F8-41D3-9C14-73B3066053B1-600

In the pattern: Scale Shipyard's 1/48 Balao Class Sub! leaning out the list...NOT! Ha, added to it again - Viper MkVii, 1/32 THUD & F-15J plus a weekend madness build!

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: USA
Posted by keavdog on Saturday, April 2, 2022 4:31 PM

That turned out great!  You sure did a nice job on that old tired kit.  And your launch/lighting effects are fantastic.  Very nice piece.

Thanks,

John

  • Member since
    June 2004
  • From: East Stroudsburg, PA
Posted by TigerII on Saturday, April 2, 2022 6:10 PM

Awesome work. The exhaust launch smoke REALLY put this kit over the top. Definitely makes a conversation starting night light. YesYesYes

Achtung Panzer! Colonel General Heinz Guderian
  • Member since
    February 2004
Posted by dhenning on Thursday, April 7, 2022 7:06 PM

Turned out great!  I finished my launcher upgrades and then started on the missile.  Man, what a depressing chore!   Added additional stock to the elevons, had them fitting tighter and filling in a little better.   Shot it with the gray finsih coat and now I see that one has a nice warp in it!    Tempted to scrap them, fill the gaps with evergreen stock and sand away to fill them all in and then scribe the outlines.  But I did get a good coat of paint and Future on the fuseluge, but at least I didn't start decaling yet!

Love the lighting and the smoke!

David

  • Member since
    August 2021
Posted by lurch on Saturday, April 9, 2022 10:09 AM

That is fantastic. The lighting was a great touch. I would have never thought of useing rope on the lights but what a great idea. My dad always said " you are only limited to your imagination" and you just proved it . Great job on it.

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: SW Virginia
Posted by Gamera on Monday, April 11, 2022 8:33 PM

Somehow I missed the finished photos... Sad

Great job all around, I too love the lighting effects. You did a fantastic job on the missle and base but the lights take her to the next level! 

"I dream in fire but work in clay." -Arthur Machen

 

  • Member since
    July 2014
  • From: Franklin Wi
Posted by Bakster on Wednesday, April 13, 2022 8:03 PM

Nice job. Looks cool...

  • Member since
    October 2020
Posted by Scale-Master on Wednesday, April 13, 2022 9:51 PM

That came out Awesome.

I grew up in awe of those aircraft due to my Dad building the models of them in the very early 60's and letting us have them in our rooms for display.  

Play with his models?  Never.  He taught us respect for others work early.

Great job, and thanks for triggering some welcome memories. 

Build what you want and build it for yourself, the rest will follow... Mark D. Jones

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