SEARCH FINESCALE.COM

Enter keywords or a search phrase below:

Tamiya's 1/48 F-16 Thunderbird

5437 views
28 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    August 2016
Tamiya's 1/48 F-16 Thunderbird
Posted by Keyda81 on Monday, November 5, 2018 9:40 PM

This is the second time I've built this kit.  I was far better prepared the second time around, lol.  The first attempt a few years ago was well a very poor build. 

I built this for a group build on a facebook page that I'm a member of.  There is a contest, and I'm crossing my fingers, but won't know until January.  Anywho I thought I would share some finished pics.

I did do some scratch building with this as well.  I made the exhaust cover from a piece of cardboard, and tape for the handles.  The intake cover is made from a piece of material coated in modge podge and shaped around the intake.  The wheel chocks were made from a square piece of wooden dowel, which I filed to shape then painted.  I put string on both sides so they would stay in place around the wheel.  The static dischargers are just small pieces of stretched sprue glued in place and painted.  I added some plumbing to the landing gear bays as well.  Not entirely accurate, oh well.

Biggest gripe with this kit is the decals.  They are fragile, and a bugger to get in place.  Some didn't survive, and I had to paint some areas.  I kind of wish I would of gotten masks, and painted everything on, but didn't think of it until after I already started with the decals.

  • Member since
    November 2003
  • From: State of Mississippi. State motto: Virtute et armis (By valor and arms)
Posted by mississippivol on Monday, November 5, 2018 9:52 PM
Very nice, Keyda! The extra touches worked out well. Those markings are exactly why I never build Tbird a/c. If I ever do one, I'm building no.5, they apply the number inverted on the intake.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: USA
Posted by keavdog on Monday, November 5, 2018 10:15 PM

I think that turned out really nice.  Really like the chocks.  Nice job K!

Thanks,

John

Ole
  • Member since
    October 2018
  • From: Central VA
Posted by Ole on Tuesday, November 6, 2018 6:12 AM

Very nice work! Those decals look painful.

  • Member since
    May 2006
  • From: Chapin, South Carolina
Posted by Shipwreck on Tuesday, November 6, 2018 7:49 AM
Those T-birds are very pretty and you certainly did justice to yours. Thanks for sharing.

On the Bench:

Revell 1/96 USS Constitution - rigging

Revell 1/48 B-1B Lancer Prep and research

Trumpeter 1/350 USS Hornet CV-8 Prep and research

 

 

 

  • Member since
    August 2013
Posted by Jay Jay on Tuesday, November 6, 2018 7:59 AM

Beautifully done Keyda. I built the same model and yes the decals where a tough go and like you , I had to paint/touch up several areas too. 

I did mine in flight over the Daytona Speedway and intended to give the model to the pilots that inspired me to build it. I met all of them and had a nice chat. They where all well spoken and intelligent individuals and a tribute to our armed forces. But alas, after I got the plane built I never saw them again and the model remains on my shelf.

 

 

 

 

 

 I'm finally retired. Now time I got, money I don't.

  • Member since
    August 2016
Posted by Keyda81 on Tuesday, November 6, 2018 8:46 AM

mississippivol, Thanks!  Those decals nearly drove me mad, lol. I wanted to do the #5, but I went with the block 52 option which is what I saw this past summer, and that only allowed for the #1 jet marking wise.  I wanted it to be accurate as far as the instructions this time around, the first time it was no where near accurate, lol.

Thanks keavdog!

Ole, They were, lol.  That and the white paint.

Thank you Shipwreck!

Jay Jay, It was a nightmare.  At one while during touch-ups I got blue paint on my finger somehow, and didn't notice.  Well that turned into a nice blue smudge on the white paint.  I managed to not freak out entirey and fixed it for the most part.  I got to see them this year at our local airbase.  I couldn't get near the planes, but my camera is a decent enough one where I could zoom in and at least get some reference photos.  Still wish I could of done a walk around of the plane.  I did use a few shots I found online.

 

  • Member since
    May 2017
  • From: Denver, Colorado
Posted by MrStecks on Tuesday, November 6, 2018 9:25 AM

Nice job Keyda, the plane looks great.  Those decals do look like they would be a hassle, but end result looks fine.  Nice touch adding the static wicks and the other scratch-built items.  Good luck with the contest!  Yes

Cheers, Mark


On the bench:  Revel 1/48 B-25J Mitchell

In the queue: Tamiya 1/48 F4U-1A Corsair

  • Member since
    June 2014
Posted by BrandonK on Tuesday, November 6, 2018 9:36 AM

WOW!!! That is really nice. You did a spectacular job on that and deserve to win the contest. It's not easy pulling of clean shiny finishes but you killed it with this one. Well done. YesYes

BK

On the bench:

A lot !! And I mean A LOT!!

2024 Kits on deck / in process / completed   

                         14 / 5 / 2  

                              Tongue Tied

  • Member since
    August 2016
Posted by Keyda81 on Tuesday, November 6, 2018 12:11 PM

MrStrecks, Thank you!  The decals were the worst part, lol.  I usually like doing decals cause it means I'm nearing completion, but these ones, ugh.  Thanks!

BrandonK, Thanks!  I learned not to use my normal primer when I'm painting the bird white, it took several coats to fully cover it.  I swear I was going to go blind making sure it was evenly covered.  I'm hoping to win the contest, I never win anything, lol.  It was liked by a lot of people, so fingers crossed!

Ole
  • Member since
    October 2018
  • From: Central VA
Posted by Ole on Tuesday, November 6, 2018 12:54 PM

What primer did you use? Tamiya's Fine gray primer would have been great for a base coat, followed by their white primer. Works flawlessly for white paint.

  • Member since
    August 2016
Posted by Keyda81 on Tuesday, November 6, 2018 8:46 PM

Ole

What primer did you use? Tamiya's Fine gray primer would have been great for a base coat, followed by their white primer. Works flawlessly for white paint.

 

I think it's Rustoleum to be honest, lol.  It works great, and it's cheap, but it is a pretty dark shade of grey.  Next time I paint anything white, I'll try something else, lol.

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Northern California
Posted by jeaton01 on Wednesday, November 7, 2018 7:54 PM

Well done, Keyda.

John

To see build logs for my models:  http://goldeneramodel.com/mymodels/mymodels.html

 

  • Member since
    December 2010
  • From: Salem, Oregon
Posted by 1943Mike on Wednesday, November 7, 2018 10:38 PM

Spiffy job on a handsome fighter!

Mike

"Le temps est un grand maître, mais malheureusement, il tue tous ses élèves."

Hector Berlioz

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Central Florida
Posted by plasticjunkie on Thursday, November 8, 2018 6:35 AM

Looks really good K! Don't you just love applying those decals? You did great with such a PITA scheme which will require some type of touch ups here and there. Don't worry about the plumbing not being accurate as long as it looks busy in there. This is known as Gyzmology. Great idea about your covers. Beer

 GIFMaker.org_jy_Ayj_O

 

 

Too many models to build, not enough time in a lifetime!!

  • Member since
    August 2016
Posted by Keyda81 on Thursday, November 8, 2018 8:45 AM

Thanks jeaton, and 1943Mike!

plasticjunkie, I usually like decals, not in this case, lol.  It was weird too, cause one side would go on great, then the other well not so much.  I did have quite a few touch-ups to do, thankfully the paint matched the decals perfectly.  I should of put more plumbing in there, but honestly using wire made it a bit of pain, and I should of used stretched sprue.  Live and learn, it was my first time trying it.  Thanks! 

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Central Florida
Posted by plasticjunkie on Thursday, November 8, 2018 9:05 AM

Stretched sprue is good. Lay it down get the shape you want then hit it with Tamiya thin and let it cook. When done, paint then apply a light wash to make the wires pop.

 GIFMaker.org_jy_Ayj_O

 

 

Too many models to build, not enough time in a lifetime!!

  • Member since
    July 2016
  • From: NYC
Posted by Johnny1000 on Thursday, November 8, 2018 5:39 PM

That's looking pretty tight. Nicely done. 

 

  • Member since
    August 2016
Posted by Keyda81 on Thursday, November 8, 2018 10:36 PM

plasticjunkie

Stretched sprue is good. Lay it down get the shape you want then hit it with Tamiya thin and let it cook. When done, paint then apply a light wash to make the wires pop.

 

I'll try that method next time, thanks!

 

Johnny1000, Thank you!

  • Member since
    February 2012
  • From: Olmsted Township, Ohio
Posted by lawdog114 on Saturday, November 10, 2018 2:49 AM
Well done!....

 "Can you fly this plane and land it?...Surely you can't be serious....I am serious, and don't call me Shirley"

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    August 2016
Posted by Keyda81 on Saturday, November 10, 2018 9:21 AM

Thanks lawdog!

  • Member since
    May 2013
  • From: Indiana, USA
Posted by Greg on Saturday, November 10, 2018 4:21 PM

I think this is one of your best so far. Just love that paint scheme!

YesYesYes

Too bad the decals were a pain but you'd never know it.

  • Member since
    August 2016
Posted by Keyda81 on Sunday, November 11, 2018 8:33 AM

Greg

I think this is one of your best so far. Just love that paint scheme!

YesYesYes

Too bad the decals were a pain but you'd never know it.

 

Maximum effort was put into it that's for sure, lol.  I have Tamiya's Skyray kit as well.  I was going to pull that out of the stash, then looked at the decals and put it back in the stash, lol!  I'm going to have to wait a while on that one!

  • Member since
    May 2013
  • From: Indiana, USA
Posted by Greg on Sunday, November 11, 2018 10:23 AM

Keyda81
.......I'm going to have to wait a while on that one!

You can handle it, you just don't know it. Wink

  • Member since
    August 2016
Posted by Keyda81 on Sunday, November 11, 2018 8:29 PM

Greg

 

 
Keyda81
.......I'm going to have to wait a while on that one!

 

You can handle it, you just don't know it. Wink

 

Lol, I'm going to have to forget how much of a nightmare the decals were on this.

  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: 37deg 40.13' N 95deg 29.10'W
Posted by scottrc on Monday, November 12, 2018 9:45 AM

Kudos Keyda, you did great on such a challenging scheme.

  • Member since
    August 2016
Posted by Keyda81 on Monday, November 12, 2018 1:38 PM

Thanks scott! 

  • Member since
    January 2015
Posted by TheMongoose on Monday, November 12, 2018 8:10 PM

You know how much I like the Thunderbirds and this looks awesome. Gloss is really hard to do and it shows well on your build! Whatever the hassles were with decals it doesn’t seem to show. Nice lines on the blue coming around the nose, looks like every lined up and the spacing is uniform between stripes. 

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
    August 2016
Posted by Keyda81 on Tuesday, November 13, 2018 8:04 AM

Thanks Mongoose!  I thought about your build while I was doing this one, and really wished I would of purchased masks for painting the blue and red, lol.  Despite all that it turned out a million times better than the first one I did!

JOIN OUR COMMUNITY!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

SEARCH FORUMS
FREE NEWSLETTER
By signing up you may also receive reader surveys and occasional special offers. We do not sell, rent or trade our email lists. View our Privacy Policy.