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Tamiya 1/48 Lockheed F-117A Nighthawk

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  • Member since
    April 2016
  • From: Parsons Kansas
Tamiya 1/48 Lockheed F-117A Nighthawk
Posted by Hodakamax on Thursday, October 6, 2016 8:47 AM

I've always been amazed at all of the different approaches for a flying machine. Purpose is probably the greatest factor of design in this case being stealthy to Radar. My interest grew in this craft after seeing one close-up at an airshow. It was fenced off from the crowd and had serious looking armed  guards around it. The first thing I noticed was there was no visible exhaust at least from my level. A strange aircraft for sure. I decided Max's Comparitive 1/48 Aircraft Museum (really just my office collection) needed one of these as a demonstration of function and special purpose. It's a big craft like the size of an F-14. Here it is, check it out!

Max

 

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: Twin Cities of Minnesota
Posted by Don Stauffer on Thursday, October 6, 2016 9:07 AM

The jet exhaust is in the form of two slits or rectangular areas on either side of the tail.  They are intentially shielded from view as much as possible to eliminate the short-wave IR signature to defeat heat seeking missiles and IR trackers.

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Western North Carolina
Posted by Tojo72 on Thursday, October 6, 2016 9:07 AM

Nice work on this one

  • Member since
    March 2015
  • From: Streetsboro, Ohio
Posted by Toshi on Thursday, October 6, 2016 2:40 PM

Beautifully done.  What brand of black did you use?  Tamiya, MM?

Toshi

On The Bench: Revell 1/48 B-25 Mitchell

 

Married to the most caring, loving, understanding, and beautiful wife in the world.  Mrs. Toshi

 

 

  • Member since
    April 2016
  • From: Parsons Kansas
Posted by Hodakamax on Thursday, October 6, 2016 2:55 PM

Toshi, Model Master Acryl black followed MM Acryl Flat Clear after decals which pretty well matched the aircraft that I saw. BTW it came with a really nice canopy masking sheet.

Max

  • Member since
    August 2016
  • From: Eufaula, Alabama
Posted by WannabeFarmboy on Thursday, October 6, 2016 4:34 PM

Looks great! They had one of these fly past the crowd at an air show I went to when I was 9 or so. It was moving so fast it was almost out of sight before you could hear anything. It was so awesome. Lol. 

  • Member since
    April 2016
  • From: Parsons Kansas
Posted by Hodakamax on Friday, October 7, 2016 10:25 AM

Hey thanks Tojo, Toshi, Don and Wannabe. At least it was fun and different to build and display!  Smile  Again, thanks for looking and comments, always appreciated!

Max

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: SW Virginia
Posted by Gamera on Friday, October 7, 2016 11:25 AM

Nice work on this one too Max! It's hard to keep an all black aircraft from looking like a big black blob, you did a great job on it. Did you use a light wash on the panel lines? 

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

 

  • Member since
    April 2016
  • From: Parsons Kansas
Posted by Hodakamax on Friday, October 7, 2016 11:41 AM

Funny thing Gamera, the flat clear seems to get better with age. I think the camel hair monthly dusting is driving the finer particles into the finish. Weird! Maybe powder and brush is the way to go on black models. That thing was also tricky to photograph. At different angles and lighting it became, as you say, a black blob. Any close-ups fooled the camera into making it a medium gray. All the facets made lighting more difficult than usual. Somewhat challenging but a learning process. Thanks for checking it out and your comments!

Max

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