AIR RACER GROUP BUILD BECAUSE WE FEEL THE NEED FOR SPEED

 Jeremy- I agree with the rest of 'em, SHINY, just as a racer should be.Your Spit' is looking great.

My F-82 won't be bare metal , but I will be going for one of those mile deep, polished, smooth, and very shiny finishes. In either dark blue or black, most likely black. Remember, the shinier the surface is, the less aerodynamic drag. Even the top aerobatic teams like the T-birds and Blue Angels have been known to wax down the aircraft before a show. Not only does it look good , but helps them slip through the air better.

Thanks guys... you're too kind!   I'll try to warn you next time.

As you know, back when she was Spitfiretron, I covered her in heavily thinned Model Master gloss black enamel. When you spray it on really thinned like that, it has time to lay down nice and smooth before it dries. I let the paint dry all week (and it needed every bit of that time to dry) before I felt comfortable proceding. I then sprayed Alclad II "polished aluminum". I first spray on a light coat... just enough to show up on the model. After a couple of hours drying time, I use the cloth you get with a new pair of eyeglasses (you can buy them for cheap money) and lightly buff the plane. Next is a heavy coat of polished aluminum, dry and buff. And finally a third medium coat, dry and buff.The picture I took was after the second coat of Alclad... it was hurting my eyes trying to polish it so I just had to share!

The third coat is waiting for some attention now. There are some flaws that showed up with the black coat but I just didn't feel like fixing them... lazy I guess. I'll let you guys find 'em when all is said and done.

OOOOOOOOO SHINYYYYYYYYYY!!!!Looking great mate!!! Looking forward to seeing the decals go on!!!

 Oh my Gawd!!!! You should really post the pics further down on the page, put in a disclaimer at the top:

  Beware: prepare to be blinded

                                   sunglasses required!!!!!!!!

 Just playin, man, that thing is gleaming!!!!

 What is your finish?

 I think you should diffinately not do anything to dull that down!!! Super shiney, like a racer should be!!!

      NICE

             FERMIS

Okay... maybe a little heavy on the shine but she is a racer!

fermis wrote:

Hey Vman, since my Galloping Ghost 51 will be 1/2 NMF(fuselage/white wings) I'd like to also throw it in the NMF GB......groovy???

Fermis I think that would be niffty, both groups do allow crossovers my friend

 Hey Vman, since my Galloping Ghost 51 will be 1/2 NMF(fuselage/white wings) I'd like to also throw it in the NMF GB......groovy???

 I've made a bit of progress, wings are painted along with the rudder(grey) and anti-glare, and the fuse shall be "metalized" tomorrow.

fermis wrote:

vetteman42 wrote: Fermis You said you found the right props for your F-82 at the contest ?? What props are they and who has them ?  This, sadly, is false. I picked up a pair of Ultracast blades for P-47s, they are way big for the stang though.

Was this for 1/48?  I am always on the hunt for 1/32 props. I'd especially love sea fury 5 bladed props.

vetteman42 wrote:

Fermis You said you found the right props for your F-82 at the contest ?? What props are they and who has them ?

 This, sadly, is false. I picked up a pair of Ultracast blades for P-47s, they are way big for the stang though.

vetteman42 wrote:

avadon wrote:  fermis wrote: Daddy1- WOW!!! That thing is gonna be sweeeeeet!!!! J- exausts from a contest vender(everything I get, comes from vendors!!!)   Second this. Do I get to ride in Daddy1's dream machine when he's done!  Avadon I believe Daddy1's daughter gets the first ride in it then the first completed build for the group gets the second ride

 Heck, she's liable to be the prime driver in my speedster. Would be interesting to see what this beast could do if some one were to build the full size bird. I'm no areospace enginier, but I do believe the consept could work. I've basically applied what a lot of teams have done with P-51s , just with an extra fuselage . 

 Thanks for mentioning my girl. Given me some more paint scheme/sponser ideas to play around with.

 Not to far away from a coat of primer . I'm going to use auto sanding primer. Used it before on model cars and it does a great job of filling minor imperfections. Also seals the plastic ,so I can use automotive lacquers or even nail polish and other "hot" paints. 

 Yes, I said nail polish. Have you ever noticed all the great hot rod colors avalable in nail polish. Not to mention  some neat little decals and transfers meant for ladies fingernails.

 One of my favorite things about this build is being able to apply custom/race car modeling skills to an aircraft. Lots of fun.

  Jeremy- Check out your local auto parts store for some ultra-fine sanpaper and possibly some rubbing compounds. I've had success with plastic windshields before. Another good polising compound is toothpaste

vetteman42 wrote:

simpilot34 wrote:  avadon wrote: Trying to improve Tron is like trying to paint some add-on's to the Mona Lisa. It was an awesome genre movie at the top of it's game for it's era. I don't see why people always feel the need to re-make movies. Oh yah I forgot, it's because they have no new ideas.   I saw someone on netflix rented it and said "Special effects were bad and it was cheesy". I just shook my head in shame. If your going to watch movies from a different era then you have to have some appreciation for technology at the time and the cinematography used. There are certainly times where I think the average person should not critique films, unless they have a degree in film. If you liked the first one, you will definately watch thesecond one, then you will make your own judgement. Some will love it, some will hate it, as always the case. but ..but ....but .........but ..........hey doesnt that Spitfiretron look cool ??????

Oh how silly of me where are my manners!!! Jeremy, your Spitfiretron looks fantastic!!!! Something bout a black spit that just looks right you know?

simpilot34 wrote:

avadon wrote: Trying to improve Tron is like trying to paint some add-on's to the Mona Lisa. It was an awesome genre movie at the top of it's game for it's era. I don't see why people always feel the need to re-make movies. Oh yah I forgot, it's because they have no new ideas.   I saw someone on netflix rented it and said "Special effects were bad and it was cheesy". I just shook my head in shame. If your going to watch movies from a different era then you have to have some appreciation for technology at the time and the cinematography used. There are certainly times where I think the average person should not critique films, unless they have a degree in film. If you liked the first one, you will definately watch thesecond one, then you will make your own judgement. Some will love it, some will hate it, as always the case.

but ..but ....but .........but ..........hey doesnt that Spitfiretron look cool ??????

avadon wrote:

Trying to improve Tron is like trying to paint some add-on's to the Mona Lisa. It was an awesome genre movie at the top of it's game for it's era. I don't see why people always feel the need to re-make movies. Oh yah I forgot, it's because they have no new ideas.   I saw someone on netflix rented it and said "Special effects were bad and it was cheesy". I just shook my head in shame. If your going to watch movies from a different era then you have to have some appreciation for technology at the time and the cinematography used. There are certainly times where I think the average person should not critique films, unless they have a degree in film.

If you liked the first one, you will definately watch thesecond one, then you will make your own judgement. Some will love it, some will hate it, as always the case.

Trying to improve Tron is like trying to paint some add-on's to the Mona Lisa. It was an awesome genre movie at the top of it's game for it's era. I don't see why people always feel the need to re-make movies. Oh yah I forgot, it's because they have no new ideas.

I saw someone on netflix rented it and said "Special effects were bad and it was cheesy". I just shook my head in shame. If your going to watch movies from a different era then you have to have some appreciation for technology at the time and the cinematography used. There are certainly times where I think the average person should not critique films, unless they have a degree in film.

avadon wrote:

fermis wrote: Daddy1- WOW!!! That thing is gonna be sweeeeeet!!!! J- exausts from a contest vender(everything I get, comes from vendors!!!)   Second this. Do I get to ride in Daddy1's dream machine when he's done!

Avadon I believe Daddy1's daughter gets the first ride in it then the first completed build for the group gets the second ride

Thanks for the help Buddy! I think I'll try to get the seam out myself just for the sake of experience and if that doesn't work, well, then I'll get the Falcon canopy. 

I trudged forward today and sprayed a few thin coats of MM gloss black on the old gal. I think she looks pretty cool like this. The way that the panel lines are highlighted makes her look like something from TRON.

Jeremy,

If your going to try to polish it out, you're going to need a polishing kit like the car modelers use.  Start at 400 grit and work your way up to the 12000 grit.  Probably need to get one of the Novus polish kits as well.  Or you can go to your favorite online retailer and order Falcon's Spitfire Special vacuum formed canopy set.

fermis wrote:

Daddy1- WOW!!! That thing is gonna be sweeeeeet!!!! J- exausts from a contest vender(everything I get, comes from vendors!!!)

Second this. Do I get to ride in Daddy1's dream machine when he's done! 

Jmabx I havent had much luck polishing canopys, if it works out for you can you let me know how you went about it ? I know I must be doing something wrong. When I have that trouble I chicken out and look for a vacuformed one.

Daddy1 what Fermis said !! I just cant wait to see what happens next in the devlopment of the F-82R. Beautiful work so far.

Fermis You said you found the right props for your F-82 at the contest ?? What props are they and who has them ?

Daddy1- WOW!!! That thing is gonna be sweeeeeet!!!!

J- exausts from a contest vender(everything I get, comes from vendors!!!)

daddy1 wrote:

Does it run on the inside of th canopy too? Looks bad enough to start with 400 and work your way up , finishing off with a couple dips in Future. Good luck. I've got a similiar poblem to overcome on the turrets of my Liberator.

Only on the outside... that's why I didn't know if it belonged there or not.

I never could figure out how to get the seam out of those Liberator turrets. I built one a long time ago that never survived. I now have four "D"s and two "J"s waiting for the day I can figure out those turrets.

jmabx wrote:

Fermis - Off to a great start I see. I really like the Hasegawa P-51D kits... they build up pretty nice. I can't wait to see your finished #77. By the way, where did you buy the Cutting Edge exhaust?   Did some work on the Spit MkXIV today... got her nice and smooth and ready for paint. I pulled the canopy out of the bag and noticed that it has a huge seem running down the middle of it. I'm not a big Spitfire aficionado but I just don't think that it belongs there. Yes, no? If it does not belong and I need to sand it out, where do I start? 400, 600, 800grit? The seem is rather large and it's going to take a heavy bite to get it out but I don't want to start too rough and ruin the part.  Any help much appreciated with my love and affection for all time. If you guys haven't run across this, I'll post it over in the aircraft forum. Thanks!

Does it run on the inside of th canopy too? Looks bad enough to start with 400 and work your way up , finishing off with a couple dips in Future. Good luck. I've got a similiar poblem to overcome on the turrets of my Liberator.

 Time at the computer has been limited lately, but I have been keeping up on things.

 First, let me say, Jeremy, that is one beautiful Ryan. I started that kit many years ago as a land plane. Was trying to use silver leaf on the fuselage and it wasn't looking to good ,so I shelved the project. Seeing yours reminded me , I have that kit. I also have better ways of doing the metal finish. Might have to drag it out of the stash in the near future. A neat ,sporty little airplane.

 I like the interest shown of fantasy/dream machine racers. Some wicked stuff coming from this GB.

 On the subject of wicked flying machines, here's current WIP of the twin 'Stang.

 Extened the leading edge of wings a bit, and built up the vertical stabs and rudders. I still need to putty in low spots and sand to shape. I've also got the cockpit opened up with canopy donated by an old(20plus years) Revell F-16 built up that had been retired to parts. Same F-16 donated the dashboard hood , also will take seat from same and modify into a modern looking seat(not ejection). Trying to take care of most major bodywork and airframe shape , Next I'll scratchbuild a basic racing cockpit. Bare , functional, slick . Then I'll close up the bottem and build the radiators with NACA style ducts.-

 Paint scheme is running somewhere around all black or dark blue with some kind of flames and or scallops. Lots of ideas.