F-117 Nighthawk ... update 7JUL ...

Mikeym_us

modelchasm:

Hey Chris ...

Sorry, but this Revell/ Monogram kit doesn't even come w/ an open bomb bay! So, no bombs .... at all. I cut the bay doors so I could open them and I'm using the GBU-10's from a Hasegawa "Modern US Smart Bombs" kit.

I think the Tamiya kit does come w/ open bays, but I don't know if it comes w/ ordinance or not.

Sorry.

 

The ProModeler kit of the F-117 has open Bomb Bays and bombs as well as the Italeri F-117 also has open bomb bays as well.

Dead on, Mike ... however, the detail on the PM's bomb bay details are really least desired. Some of the details on them are just incorrect. But they're doable. The bombs aren't all that great either. Hasagawa's modern smart bombs kit is probably the best out there.

I think the CMK set was actually meant for the ProModeler kit open bomb bay and all. The ProModeler kit is actually worth the money especially with the PE it comes with.

You are really doing some serious conversion work on this one!  The tubing on the L/G, screens on the intakes, etc are a great idea, really improved the look.  This is an exciting build to watch!

Touche' Mikey ... the PM kit is a better kit than the Revell. Would I do it all over again, I'd probably go w/ the PM first. However, the CMK resin kit is "supposed" to be for the Tamiya kit (isn't everything made for Tam kits!?!), but I'm finding that fitting it into the Revell kit, besides having to cut out the bomb bay doors, isn't really a problem.

Frank, thanks for the comments. I'm looking forward to finishing this one up, but the little details are making things a little slow right now.

We'll try to get more updated this week.

modelchasm

Touche' Mikey ... the PM kit is a better kit than the Revell. Would I do it all over again, I'd probably go w/ the PM first. However, the CMK resin kit is "supposed" to be for the Tamiya kit (isn't everything made for Tam kits!?!), but I'm finding that fitting it into the Revell kit, besides having to cut out the bomb bay doors, isn't really a problem.

Frank, thanks for the comments. I'm looking forward to finishing this one up, but the little details are making things a little slow right now.

We'll try to get more updated this week.

Yeah and I even built the Testors 1/48 scale F-117 years back and it was actually a pretty decent kit as well with open bomb bay open or closed refueling receptical even the cockpit was pretty detailed. I've seen the real F-117 up close and personal while they were taxiing. And one thing I've noticed that really stands out is that the screens on the intakes are really electrically heated de-icers to prevent ice from forming in the intake and they get so hot they can actually glow red. So when you paint this thing up remember to paint the screens a redish hue.

Awesome insight! Thanks for the suggestion. In looking at reference pics, I thought that it had kind-of a reddish/ rusty hue to it. I'll definately take that into consideration....

VERY COOL! I can't wait to see what the next update brings! I like those guided bombs you have attached, very nice!

    Thanks, Jim

Been a while since I've touched this one ... but finally got back to work on it a little and got the pit installed. Here's a quick update.

Got the pit all worked up and painted. Found a neat little trick for painting up the pit ... call me lazy, but it works for me. I took a silver Sharpie marker and just picked out a few of the interior details. Then I took red and green fine-tip Sharpies IOT make the red and green lights/ switches. I think they came out pretty nice. I also had to clean up a little gap btwn the pit and the fuse with some Milliput.

The pit is installed into the upper fuse. Now, priorities are to paint the jets exhausts, install the gear bays into the lower fuse, and glue the fuse halves together. I expect a "little" bit of work to get the halves to marry up nicely. After that, it's off to paint. I'm also expecting to be painting this one for a good minute.

During the EagleQuest show a weekend or two ago I had the oppurtunity to sit down and talk to Dan Clover, one of the Masters guys, who gave me a TON of good tips as are as painting a monotone paint scheme. Getting excited about it, but I also know that it's going to take awhile.

Anyway, here's what I've got at the moment. Guess I need to take more pics.....

As always .... all C&C welcome.

Looks like the Sharpie technique paid off.

Thanks Jet .... Call it a moment of "I'm too lazy to get the paints out cause I really don't feel like it, but it needs to be done .... ". However, I think that it's possibly going to turn into my "new way" of doing things! HAHA!!!

Looks like your "I'm too lazy to get the paints out cause I really don't feel like it, but it needs to be done..." technique paid off.

Thanks Jet ... maybe I'll do a short, one-pager, write-up on how I did it. I didn't really take any in-progress pictures, but I've got a couple other 'pits that I've got on the bench.

After doing it this way, I can't really see myself going back to paints ..... Hmmmm .... wonder if I could just color a NMF A/C with the silver marker!?!? ..... nah .... HAHA!

Thanks again for the comments.