Gamera

Thanks! Wasn't so complicated after all- even I could figure that out!

You know the old saying, "If I can do it, anybody can!!!!" 

Thanks! Wasn't so complicated after all- even I could figure that out!

Gamera

Hutch if it isn't too much trouble I'd love to hear how you did the metallic paint details.

Not much I can do with the Italeri kit now since I've already decaled her but I'd like to write down your technique if I pick up the Academy or Hasegawa kit sometime in the future.

My advice on the Italeri kit is unless someone gives you one or you can get a really good deal on it either go Academy or wait for the Hasegawa one. Most of the fit is good, and most of the detail is ok but there are some annoying issues with the kit. Italeri molded the upper wings and the rear upper fusilage in one piece to get the blended look right. The forward fusilage/cockpit area is a separate piece that mates in the middle of the aircraft. I suppose they did it this way to fit it into a smaller box. I had a devil of a time getting rid of the seam line since the parts want to flex and crack the putty out of the line. Finally I placed a small bottle inside the plane just to get some firmness. It still was a bear to smooth everything out. The front parts for the intakes seem to be made for an entirely different kit. Either that or I completely screwed up somewhere since I used a pile of putty and sanding to make them fit. There is almost no detail inside the gear and weapon bay and I suspect that maybe the whole thing was still classified and Italeri couldn't get a good look. Or else in the rush to have the first kit out Italeri cut corners here. Still from your review of the Academy offering I'd save myself a lot of sweat and go with it.

PS- sorry I have no idea how to spell 'fusilage', no dictonary handy, and the spell check doesn't seem to want to work....

Gamera,

What I did was use Alclad Dark Aluminum mixed with Humbrol 125 for the dark areas an Alclad Aluminum mixed with Humbrol 126 for the lighter areas.  Here is how I mixed it...can be a little tricky, so have patience:

For the dark areas, thin the Humbrol 50-50 with thinners and then mix that solution mixed with the Alclad on a 50-50 ratio.  Mix the Alclad with the Humbrol a few drops at a time or you risk mucking the mixture.  then Airbrush on.

For the lighter areas, thin the Humbrol 50-50 with thinners, but mix that solution with the Alclad at a 40-60 mixture in favor of the Alclad...this will give you that hint of shimmer.  Then Airbrush on.

Please note to not hold the airbrush too far, or the mixture will have a tendency to be more course on the surface.  If that happens, you can rub it a bit with blue tack poster putty...that will not harm the surface, but removes any rough spots.  I live in a dry climate, so you may not experience this.

Don't forget to cut out your template to cover the dark areas with paper.  I used the blue tack and raised the template about 1/8th of an inch to produce feathered edges.

I hope this helps.

Gamera

Hutch if it isn't too much trouble I'd love to hear how you did the metallic paint details.

Not much I can do with the Italeri kit now since I've already decaled her but I'd like to write down your technique if I pick up the Academy or Hasegawa kit sometime in the future.

I would be happy to....let me get back with you later, today....

Hutch if it isn't too much trouble I'd love to hear how you did the metallic paint details.

Not much I can do with the Italeri kit now since I've already decaled her but I'd like to write down your technique if I pick up the Academy or Hasegawa kit sometime in the future.

My advice on the Italeri kit is unless someone gives you one or you can get a really good deal on it either go Academy or wait for the Hasegawa one. Most of the fit is good, and most of the detail is ok but there are some annoying issues with the kit. Italeri molded the upper wings and the rear upper fusilage in one piece to get the blended look right. The forward fusilage/cockpit area is a separate piece that mates in the middle of the aircraft. I suppose they did it this way to fit it into a smaller box. I had a devil of a time getting rid of the seam line since the parts want to flex and crack the putty out of the line. Finally I placed a small bottle inside the plane just to get some firmness. It still was a bear to smooth everything out. The front parts for the intakes seem to be made for an entirely different kit. Either that or I completely screwed up somewhere since I used a pile of putty and sanding to make them fit. There is almost no detail inside the gear and weapon bay and I suspect that maybe the whole thing was still classified and Italeri couldn't get a good look. Or else in the rush to have the first kit out Italeri cut corners here. Still from your review of the Academy offering I'd save myself a lot of sweat and go with it.

PS- sorry I have no idea how to spell 'fusilage', no dictonary handy, and the spell check doesn't seem to want to work....

Looks wonderful!  And that cockpit....sah-weet!

Brian

anthony2779

Beautiful build,and excellent paint job.I have been waiting to see one of these built up,and yours certainly came out great.How was it ? I heard about fit problems.I think I'm going to see how the new Hasegaw version do out this year.

thanks for posting-great work

I had absolutely no fit problems...it was a dream.  The entire top portion of the fuselage is one piece...  Only minor issue I had was under the intakes where I had to do a little putty to fill a noticeable gap.  A real easy correction.  The weapons complement was robust and the decals accommodated every unit currently in existence.  I am curious to see how the Hasegawa kit stacks up because the Academy kit will be hard to beat.  According to reviews, the Academy kit leaves the Italeria kit in the dust.

Great work,  I love seeing finished Raptors.There hard to find in real life, I have only seen them flying once before . You sure did a great job! I wonder how much better the Academy kit is compared to Italeri?

Beautiful build,and excellent paint job.I have been waiting to see one of these built up,and yours certainly came out great.How was it ? I heard about fit problems.I think I'm going to see how the new Hasegaw version do out this year.

thanks for posting-great work

A great build of one of the awesomest planes of all time.

The paint never picks up on camera - not even in real life.

Here are some photos from an airshow last year and you can't even see the paint  http://s31.photobucket.com/albums/c362/gigatron_2000/RI%20Air%20Show%20June%2009/?start=all  (scroll about half way down)

-Fred

That is a nice clean build sir!  I don't usually go in for modern A/C but, this one is certainly an exception.  I had no idea about the sheen of the radar absorbent paint.  It's too bad that the camera didn't pick that up as I would love to have seen the effect.  Well done on the camo and colors.  I may have to pick on of these up.

Cheers

Dave

Gamera

Awesome! I've been fiddling around with the 1/48 Italeri F-22 on and off for the last year and mine doesn't look a tenth as good as yours. I didn't even try to do the metallic paint.

Maybe Academy isn't quite as good as Tamiya or Hasegawa but they're pretty darn close. The Italeri kit is ok but fit isn't the greatest - esp around the intakes.

Thanks for posting, this actually gives me some imspiration to finish mine off.

Thanks for the kind words.  I agree with your comments on Academy.  I was extremely surprised  and pleased at the fit and quality of this kit.  BTW, the metallic paint was actually very easy....let me know if you want details on how I did it....

Excellent model!

Awesome! I've been fiddling around with the 1/48 Italeri F-22 on and off for the last year and mine doesn't look a tenth as good as yours. I didn't even try to do the metallic paint.

Maybe Academy isn't quite as good as Tamiya or Hasegawa but they're pretty darn close. The Italeri kit is ok but fit isn't the greatest - esp around the intakes.

Thanks for posting, this actually gives me some imspiration to finish mine off.

  Great job! That is one awesome and intimidating looking bird!

Beautiful job!  Thanks for sharing.

Gigatron

Great looking Raptor, Hutch!

My buddy's a crew chief on these things and I've been up close n' personal - and your's looks dead-on

-Fred

 

Thanks, Fred....very kind words....I am blushing...  Again, this was one of my more fun builds...

Great looking Raptor, Hutch!

My buddy's a crew chief on these things and I've been up close n' personal - and your's looks dead-on

-Fred

Medicman71

Looks great!! Very nice build. Ok, i'll ask. How did you do the camo for it?

I laid down the base dark coat first and then cut out the shapes I was looking for.  I then attached the cut outs with some blue tack poster putty leaving about an 1/8th of an inch distance between the cut out and the surface.  This gave me the feathered edges I was looking for.

Hi Hutch,

Beautiful job on the Raptor and, indeed, combining Alclad and Hubrol for the finish is an ingenious solution.  Fit and finish are spot on!

I had not considered adding the F-22 to my "to build" list but after seeing your work I'm giving it a closer look.

Superb!

Looks great!! Very nice build. Ok, i'll ask. How did you do the camo for it?

Very nice indeed. She looks beautiful.

Excellent build .  Thanks for sharing.

Regards,  Rick

tempestjohnny

Hutch, great build.  Not sure if you could tell me but how big is it compared to a F-15 or F-16

The F-22 is larger than the F-16, but is about the same size to the F-15 length/width wise.  But by mass, the F-22 is larger.  I was recently up in Elmendorf AFB and saw 22s and 15s flying together and sometimes it was hard to distinguish between the two at a distance...vertical stabilizer a dead giveaway.

That is an incredible model, most definitely one of the more complex paint jobs I have seen too.  You have done the Raptor proud, very proud.  I will be curious to see how Hasegawa's release due soon will compare to this kit. 

Again, well done!

Hutch, great build.  Not sure if you could tell me but how big is it compared to a F-15 or F-16

I agree....I was not expecting the quality engineering and all the thoughtful extras.  Fit was excellent and the extra canopy helped with the painting.

To Heat Ser 906, I had no problems with the gear.

To Mike v, I understand this is the best 1:48 for the Raptor.  This one will be hard to beat.

If anyone needs tips on nailing the paint, let me know.

paintsniffer

Did you by chance notice a problem with the AMRAAM trapeeze setup? I put 6 AMRAAMs in the belly of mine with the doors open and the missiles extended.. I don't think they stick down far enough. The side to side clearance is very tight, which made mounting the weapons tricky.. But I was expecting that.

Yes, it was a bit tricky, as you say, but not too bad.  More annoying than anything, but with a little patience and tweeking, I got it where I wanted it.