BIG Russian Jet Groupie GB

Awesome photos, Dre. Great shot of the Milky Way. Too much light pollution around here to see anything like that.. And it was too cloudy to see the shower, even if it hadn't been a bust (which seems to be the case for most people who tried to view it).

Thanks, Dean! :-) The tinting wasn't hard at all. I think the trick is to spray a couple of light coats.

Well that is one seriously good looking Flanker! Also I need to tint the wind shield of my Tornado, was it difficult to do PB? It's really a great looking model you have there man.

Yeah, that one should be built.   I want one, but I have to be good and not buy any more toys until I pay off an expensive camera lens (and you think modeling is spendy?).

On a different note, we were supposed to have a meteor storm last night, but it turned into a total bust around here.   I was able to catch only one very faint trail at 3:30 am, right before I left the mountain.  It is just left-of-center above the scrub trees...

and the Milky Way was beautifully viewable too...

Now back to that Bronco...  I want to see a 1/32 OV-1 Mohawk because it has such a graceful design.

Well, now that I think about it, if Kitty Hawk's forthcoming 1/32 OV-10 Bronco is decent, that WILL have to be my next build. Love the Bronco and been waiting for a new tool kit for years. Just hope KH doesn't muck it like they have some of their recent releases.

LOL, I've told myself that same thing for the last 2 years or so.... and I'm still stuck on Soviets.

Thanks, Mikey! Appreciate it.

Dre, don't what I'm going to do next. After taking a few months off, I'll have to stare at my stash for a while and see what catches my eye. After doing three Russian a/c in a row, might have to do something U.S. for a change. Maybe. :-)

Porkbits that is one fine example of an aircraft and hats off to the work and talent exhibited; you should be proud!

Can't wait to see what you get into next, PB.

Thank you, T3chDad and Dre. :-)

Dre, yeah, the front canopy is stock. I tinted it using a method I found on the Net (where I find everything). Just mixed some orange and red food coloring until it looked the right shade, then mixed it with Future thinned with isopropyl rubbing alcohol (about 20%). Then lightly sprayed a couple of coats on the inside of the canopy. I had tried dipping the entire canopy in tinted Future but with no luck--the Future would just run off and pool at the corners (frustration #10,001 of this build).

I'm really glad you like the exhaust cans--now I'm not so intimidated with the prospect of trying a NMF build. Hm. Maybe the Hustler I have in my stash? :-)

Wow, that turned out really great, PB.   Although it might have fought you along the way, you certainly made it shine all the way around!

Did you tint the front canopy, or is that a stock part?  It looks good.   Although a small part of the overall model, those PE exhaust cans look so much better than the kit items and your engine panels are stunning.

Good stuff, man!

Let me be the first to say "B-E-A-utiful"!  Excellent work!

Well, guys, after almost six months of weekly toil, here it is. Not perfect, but I'm happy how she turned out, especially because this kit fought back literally every step. Please excuse my amateurish photography also.

SO....(speech! speech!) Thanks for all of your help, and most importantly, for your support during what was a challenging build. I learned a lot about the Flanker along the way and improved my modeling skills a notch or to as well. So THANK YOU AGAIN. You guys rock.

I'll still be around, so I hope you will continue to post your Flanker builds...I wanna see 'em!

PB

And, finally, just because you kinda have to.... :-)

Thanks, gents. And here I thought I had bored everyone off into oblivion. ;-)

Had a good day of weather today, but too busy to take photos. :-( Maybe tomorrow. After that, three days of clouds and rain. :-(

Get back in it, Dre! Medium green would be very cool. Or how about a metallic gray? I'm thinking of the shade that Tamiya makes.

And finally, great news! At the big hobby show in Japan, Hasegawa announced and displayed their upcoming Su-35! Bad news...it's 1/72. So close....

Let me pose this question to the crowd...  any ideas what color I could use for the various dielectric panels and nose for an all-black Flanker?   I think that white will be too stark, the standard medium green is an option and I'm thinking that maybe that bright Flanker blue could be eye-catching.  

Thoughts?

You're on final approach and ready for mission complete, PB.    It's looking good, real good.

I know I keep saying it, but I might get back to my own model sometime soon, now that SWMBO's vacation is over.

Can't wait PB!

I debated about doing a panel wash or toning down the Future gloss, but I like her shiny and new looking, so...... I'm calling her done. :-)

As soon as we get some sun up here in the Northeastern U.S (not looking good for the rest of this week)., I'll take some photos and post them.

Sounds like a fine way to spend an afternoon. :-)

Well, she's got legs! I can see the light at the end of the tunnel of this build (and pretty sure it's not a train). I might actually finish this week.

Hope everyone is well.

PB

It's not so bad...  some cold beers, a worn out old cotton T-shirt and a lazy afternoon in front of the TV should knock it out.   Sadly, there's sections on this molding that have a pronounced pebbly texture that will require a little fine grit sandpaper and water.

Ah, the fun part. ;-)

I still have to polish all that plastic so the gloss black lays down all smooth and pretty...

Aha, and can't wait to see yer black Flanker! Sounds like you're...almost there. ;-)

With luck and good weather, I will be able to get back to the black Flanker after I wrap up a vacation to New Orleans next week.   All it needs is the stabs and fins added, the breakable fiddly bits and a ton of paint....

Can't wait to see yours finished, PB.  

Nice! Tornado is also an awesome bird.

Finished up decaling. Of course, not without a couple of minor issues because, well, it's this build (one of the roundels wrinkled badly, but luckily it's on the underside of the wing) . But I got the windscreen and canopy Futured, now waiting for life/work to permit time to paint them and add their associated bits. Then, time to attach the pylons, landing gear and doors, then missiles. Phew. Are we there yet? :-)

Hahaha yes I definitely did need it, I have just purchased the HaHen Decals for my Tornado as well so fingers crossed I get them soon!

Nice! I have that one, too. Supposed to be a great kit.

And you definitely you needed it. :-)

Hey thought I'd just say I bought the Eduard Mig 21 BIS 1/48 you know because I needed it, even though I have the 1/32 Mig 21 MF so it's gonna be made here, though the Bulgarian scheme which is the best for some reason doesn't have the decal or painting instructions, seems odd as the other 5 versions are there.

That would be as good a place to go nuts on NMF as any other.

Aha, that is true. I'm thinking the Su-7 would be a good kit to try out a NMF since I now have some experience with Alclad.