The 144 Group Build - Complete, pics pg 1

I HAVE A PROBLEM!!!!!!!

I haven't even started my AC-130H (my first 1/144 model) and I've already gone out and bought the B-47 Strato Jet and a B-36 Peacemaker in 1/144. Now today I went to the LHS for supplies and ended up walking out with two Dragon kits. One is the "Jolly Rogers Memorial flight kit with a F-14 Tomcat and F-18 Hornet. The other kit is a EA-6B Prowler and the VAQ-140 Patriot all in 1/144 scale. I'M SO SCREWED!

So wheres the problem?

Addictive little things are they not? Its nice when you can get so much in such a small (relative speaking) package, at a 1/2 decent price.

Andrew

Here are my latest additions. I'm thinking of starting with the Tomcat

I am really interested in seeing how the smaller planes trun out. Right now I do my "Modern" jets in 1/72 due to storage, my WW2 in 1/48 cause of size, and I am really liking 144 for the "Big" bombers. The BONE is looking good so far. I only wish I had an etching tool.....something else to buy I guess....more pics to come.

Travis/STFD637

Travis, the new (not reissue) kits are starting to come up nice, the old and reissue kits have cocp[it issues to say the least, hell one of the minicraft planes I'm doing doesnt even have a cockpit, just a hole where it should be. The newer ones from what I've seen eg - my e-2c see below, and MH-60 Seaknights are very nice, better than some 72 and 48 scale I've seen or built

OK The AH-64D is on old, to ticked with it at the moment., so onto Hellers E-2C.

Before opening this kit I was expecting Heller's usual bland performance, but upon opening WOW, on par at least with Dragons latest offerins in the same scale. Seats that look like seats, seperate pilots not molded blobs and it even has the yokes. Good Panels lines. The only issue I have is the raised rivets are over done

Here are the sprues and instructions

The Box - Shows the only varient provided, the french version, no real problem here.

First sprue, shows nice engraved panel lines, and on the rights the pilots yokes.

Here you can see what I mean by the rivets being overdone, more cocpit parts and pilots in bottom right, landing gear on the left

Radome and clear parts

Decals

Instructions

Another Update Tomorrow

Andrew

Well tonight I started work on my Lil' F-14 Tomcat. I know I am suppose to do an AC-130 but I decided to take a slight detour. I should still be able to get to the 130 before the end of this mission.

Here is the kit by Dragon.

 Here are the parts. It looks like a lot for a fighter in this scale but keep in mind its two aircraft in one kit. 

Its hard to believe this tiny aircraft has a cockpit with pilots.

 They look more like the aliens from "The Day the Earth Stood Still" then Navy pilots.

There's not much I can do with these blobs. The best I can hope for is that they become obscure as it all comes together. This is embarrassing.

After filling the nose of the aircraft with plumbers putty for weight I put the aliens in place and sealed up the cockpit

Next we move onto the body of the aircraft

Dragon may not be able to make pilots but the wings sweep back and forth, SWEET!

Here we installed the long intakes for the engins

 Well that's it for now. Thanks for looking

Dirk

Andrew, Nice choice. I can't wait to see the progress.

Here are some new pics form the "Bone" As of today it is 90% done. Just finishing up the final coat of paint and decals.

Here are the JDAMS that come with the kit. Ready for painting:

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Tail section needed a little work as well as some of the seam lines.

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Pretty much assembled:

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So far so good, Pretty happy since this is my first kit in a year and a half.

Travis/STFD637

Looking good Travis. Do you have something you can put next to it so we can get an idea of the size?

Dirk, No problem. Next set of pictures I will give you some size reference..I would love to do the 1/48 of this kit.....My wife would probably kill me though....plus I wouldn't have a clue where to put it. This is just right!

Travis

I hear ya. I have chosen to work in 1/72 because of the size not the quality or what I can do with it. But even the bombers in that scale are huge. 1/144 is proving to be fun.

Lovin all this activity!

Andrew, the Hawkeye is beautifully detailed for 144, look forward to seeing that one come together!

Dirk, the little Tomcat is looking good, despite the robot crew!    I done a MID with a 144 Academy F-14 last year; the nose/canopy shapes were off but the crew figures were decent.     If they'd just include the Academy firgures with the Dragon kit now!   http://floatingmid.com/f14d.jpg.... http://floatingmid.com/f14q.jpg

Travis, the more I look at that B-1, the more I want to go get one!    Lay a quarter down beside it and take a pic? 

As far as my 747-100 goes, I completed the wing construction and attached the fuselage to the work-up board last night.... this part won't take near as long as dropping the flaps did.

Take care,

Frank

Very cool affect with the Tomcat. Do you cut all your models in half, or should I say do you only build half your models?    What becomes of the other halfs?

Frank: I will try the quarter trick. Yes I have always thought the B-1 was a "sexy" plan. I watched the "dogfights" episode where they talked about a future conflict using F-22s and F-35s. They showed the B-1 being used as a "missle" platform for air to air. I thought that was great! I love the "Pave-Low" capability of the plane! The F-14 looks great.....I grew up on USMTC Pt. Mugu. (Black Bunny F-4/F-14) Always loved those jets!

Dirk: good question! I was wondering what Frank did with the other halves too!

Travis

Thanks fellas,

     I save the opposing halves for future projects: One kit = Two builds!

Economics!

Maybe if he would send me the other half of the F-14 or whatever other half's he has  I could give it a try.

    Just to throw in a little *teaser* here before molding the bolts in place.....

    Here is the process of applying Stove Bolt anchors to the fuselage interior....

.... and the beat goes on
Frank

Very interesting Frank, I want to see th efinal result, you have me tempted.

The E-2C is coming along nicely.

The cockpit went together fine, there were two small issues. For such detail there was no instrument panel detail or decal, so I had to paint it in in 144 scale. Second problem, the pilots legs arnt wide enough to be seated with the yokes. No probs means two pilots else where :)

Here you can see my wonderful artwork

You Can see the pilot doesnt sit down so well as his feet hit the controls.

Fuselage went togther no probs, with the fwd cabin perfect.

Wings going on.

Oh no a gap, luckily easily filled with a small piece of tranparent styrene sheet scribed, cut and glued into perfect position :), close one.

Cockpit masked ready for painting, by far the logest part so far.

Rear/main Cabin windows masked, quickest job so far.

Andrew

Nice work Andrewl that sure is an interesting little kit!       I think I would have cut the pilots' feet off to make them fit in, seeing as how no one could see that area anyhow, but regardless, it will still be a great addition to your shelf! 

The thing that makes the mirror display so different, is once the clean seam is against it, even though you know it's just half a plane, it LOOKS whole, which short circuits the senses.

   You can see more examples here:  http://FloatingMID.com

Take care,

Frank

Frank, Not to concerned about the pilots, not sure how visable they would be anyways if they where in there and they are decent enough to put into a kit where they will be visable.

Andrew

PS Just checked out the link to your site, love the tomcat and stuka, lots'a thoughts going on. :)

Andrew

Thanks!     The Stuka was a lot of fun to build, and looks really nice on the wall beside my workbench!         Also, those figures do look good and will come in handy if you build 144 much!

Spent six hours on the main landing gear for the beast today, using the upper part of the 1971 gear leg and the lower part from the newer 747-400 kit (the one I built the 744SP from), since it was more detailed and taking up space in my spares box.      Extended the Oleo Struts by adding a section of stretched sprue along with various bits & pieces from the spares, and also the wiring was from stretched sprue.

Take care, more to come....
Frank

Frank, It looks great. I need a better camera. Mine just can't seem to get fine focus on those small bits. Here is the "Bone" finished: I went with RLM 66 overall and RLM 74 for the nose. Actually I am pretty happy with the overall finish of the project! I think it is one of the better models I have turned out...especially since it is the first 1 in a year and a half.

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Here I have the final coats on and it is ready for decals and Flat finish:

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Decals on window are unmasked.

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Underside:

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Cockpit and art work.

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Great kit. I lost a lot of the decal detail due to the Low Vis being the same as my paint: I guess that is the idea. Now on to the B2.

Thanks, Travis/STFD637

Travis,

Great looking B-1 you have there! I got to see one do touch and goes and a few fly bys at the Wings Over Houston air show back in 2005. To see such a large aircraft manouver like a fighter was a very cool sight to see.

Cheers, Douglas

Beautiful work on a great airplane, Travis;   I've enjoyed watching the build and definately going to get one of them!    Thanks!

Take care,

Frank

Thanks guys. I must say having access to this site is a great bouns to the magazine. I have got so many great ideas that have helped make the build a little less frustrating than I remember.

Frank just curious what gage wire is that? I am looking at investing in some wire for my different scales. I love the real looking break lines....just adds that extra "pop."

Here are some of the B-2 (Revell) pics

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Here the engines have been primed for the flat black.

Well I have some putty and sand work ahead of me. The seam line is along the under side...which should be ok. The bombay could be better. I still haven't fugured out which GBU these are? And of course Revell/Monogram felt the need to stamp their name outside on a control surface area!

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 Thanks for the comments.

Travis/STFD637

Travis,

    On to the B-2 now, bravo!!

    Actually, there's no need investing anything to get various guaged "wire" for your projects, infact, you already have all you'll ever need and possibly ever use; the sprue trees in your kits!

 It works really good, and if you're making support cables that need to be taunt, glue each end of the sprue wire where you want it, then after the connections are dry, light a match, blow it out, then immediately hold it about 1/2 inch under the wire.....  the wire will tighten beautifully right before your eyes! 

Take care,

Frank

Awsome. I will give it a try. Thanks Frank!

Travis/STFD637

Travis,

Nice job on the Bone.  When you posted that you were doing the B-2, I thought that Revell/Germany had repopped the HobbyCraft molds (or vice versa), but it is a completely different kit.  Can't remember what issuse it was, but within the last few years FSM had a build up article on this kit with a scratchbuilt pit and crew.  Can't remember when it was, perhaps someone out there in readerland knows?