Variable Geometry: the Swing Wing GB

Bish

Well, as promised, heres some pics. Been working on both kits last few days. I will make seperate posts to avoid confusion, my own if no one elses.

First, the 1101. Got the first coat of alclad doen on Sun, and as i mentoned i had a couple of problems with parts of it bubbling up. I had thought that was sorted.

Bish, really like the contrasting panel tints and red markings.  Is this Alclad Aluminum as base coat?  What other Alclads are you using? 

Strange about the bubbling.  Alclad is aggressive stuff; perhaps your coats were a little heavy and started eating into the under layers?  I'm watching closely since I've never done a NMF and the P-51D for your 8th GB will be my first.  Not sure whether to go with Alclad or the less aggressive SnJ enamel or Talon acrylic options.

Don

You might be right about being to aggresive. This is only the second time i have used Alclad. I am getting to like it and once i get more used to it i think it will give some great results. I have 3 Bodney P-51's and a B-17, all 1/72nd scale, that i want to use it on. But they will wait untill i have perfected it.

I first sprayed with Aluminium. After i masked some of the panles, i put a small amount of duraluminium in the spray cup and did a couple of panels. I then added a drop of white Aluminium and did a few more. Then a few drops of Jet exhaust for some slightly darker shade. I just carried on doing one panel at a time, adding a drop of a different shade each time. Once that had dried, i did the same again on un touched panels but started with white Aluminium, and repeated the process. Swannys model site has an article on Alclad. It give 3 ways to give panel variation, and this is the one that give the most contrast, the other two are more suttle.

I can't seem to find SnJ over here any more, which is why i tried Alclad. You have to be very careful, another hint, leave plenty of time before masking. I tried to rush it today and the paint started to lift, but i managed to recover. I would suggest 48 hours.

Bish, you would think that 1/48 scale means the same thing to all manufacturers but mixing and matching PE sets can cause problems.  Still, you seem to have overcome them fairly easily and even just a little extra detail an go a long way in sprucing up an older kit.  Looks like you had a productive weekend on both kits. 

That MiG looks like a pretty big bird...

Don

ye you would wouldn't you. I reckon its hasegawa who got their measurmenst wrong as the seat would be to far forward even without the PE.

No, its not that big. About 7 and a half inches long as it stands. Just got the nose gone to add, but as that is grey i will add that after painting.

This is a 1/72nd kit.

Bish, Nice job on the nmf on the .1101.   I like the color contrast.   As for it bubbling up, I can only think that is is because it "bit" the underlying layers.  I had that happen a little bit with the Lancer too for some reason.  I used enamals over lacquer primer. 

Your MiG is coming along nicely too. 

I wanted to help out and build another bird but I am having second thoughts.  I am sure Don can attest that this build will take it outta ya! 

Although, I am set to build a Tomcat for the Alley Cat GB, maybe if Don will allow a crossover I will share here too......I may even do an aggressor in Flanker camo.  Maybe this will count as half of a Russian plane 

Thanks. I am rather liking the way the panels have come out. You might be right. Being new to lacquer i am still getting to grips with it. But i am well happy and its all a learning curve.

I can well believe it about a 1/48th B-1. Not surprised its taken it out of you. Now that would be somthing, i don't think i have seen an F-14 in Aggressor colours. I am sure Don will allow it if you ask nicely

macattack80

I wanted to help out and build another bird but I am having second thoughts.  I am sure Don can attest that this build will take it outta ya! 

Although, I am set to build a Tomcat for the Alley Cat GB, maybe if Don will allow a crossover I will share here too......I may even do an aggressor in Flanker camo.  Maybe this will count as half of a Russian plane 

Kevin, we've always been informal with this GB, so your F-14 aggressor can certainly be shared here.  Afterall, wasn't it eatthis that was building a pink and purple F-111?

After the Bone is completed, my next kit will be a simple OOB 1/48 Monogram P-51D for Bish's 8th AF GB.  All of 43 parts.  I'll spectate and administer this GB and prod along one or two that still need to contribute.  But I still have one or two things to do on the Bone;  did paint and install the crew ladder last night.  Want to paint one additional crew figure and I need my new punch set to finish up, but since I bought that for myself as a Xmas gift, the wife says I can't touch it until Xmas day 

Don

pordoi

 

 

Kevin, we've always been informal with this GB, so your F-14 aggressor can certainly be shared here.  Afterall, wasn't it eatthis that was building a pink and purple F-111?

 

Don

 

OK.  Thanks.  I will do that up then.  I'll even take different pics for each GB.  

Kinda sucks that you gotta wait to use the punch set.     

I actually got the upper half of the Bone gloss coated last night.  I sprayed future straight up with the good ol' Paasche H with the number 3 nozzle and compressor set at about 30 psi.  I might give it another day to fully dry before I mess with it.  OOOOOO   sooooo shiny.....

macattack80

 OOOOOO   sooooo shiny.....

But shiny is good when you're applying decals.  Just say to yourself that dullcoat is your friend;  dullcoat is your friend.  But only after decals are applied and sealed.  Post pics when you're done. 

Don

pordoi

 

 

 

 

 

Pordoi oh I like the look of the white markings sweet !!!! I cant even do that well masking let alone freehand.

Macattack I really like your camo, makes it look mean and sneaky at the same time, well done.

Bish the flogger is lookin good man a great start. Oh and yes a fine save on the NMF too. I have heard of others having that same trouble you did with alclad, seems if one waits too long before over coating that it attacks itself sometimes.

All you guys are making me feel like a complete beginner here, such beautiful work going on here. I do have a couple of WIP pictures to show I am still working on the Tomcat. A bit slowly though.

Got the wings and fuse all together, this old kit is gonna take a bunch of putty though.

A picture of the air vent and actuator I made. I think closing that vent up and adding the actuator made a big difference in the way it looks. I didnt take a picture of it but closing that vent up also took care of the see through looks of the top vents.

Anyway thats it for now, comments are welcomed

vetteman42

 

  Bish the flogger is lookin good man a great start. Oh and yes a fine save on the NMF too. I have heard of others having that same trouble you did with alclad, seems if one waits too long before over coating that it attacks itself sometimes.

Thanks. I have not heard of this problem. Did you mean waiting to soon or not waiting long enough. The first lot of bubbeling happened after i applied it to the Enamel undercoat. Well, its not perfect, but i am more than happy with it for my second attempt. And i am not going to keep chaseing it.  JUst got the Anti glare panel done and it looks sweet. Adding decals in a it.

The Cat is looking nice. Thats 1/48th right. Talking about putty, i found that with the MiG, which is a very old kit, i haven't used a drop of putty to fill gaps. A bit of sanding and that was it. Yet on the brand new, very engeernered Hase i finished recently i had touse a lot of filler in certain places. Go figure.

I really must get a Tomcat. Just not sure which 72nd kit to go for.

vetteman42

 I do have a couple of WIP pictures to show I am still working on the Tomcat. A bit slowly though.....

Vetteman, looks to me like the Tomcat is coming along well. And from the photos, it doesn't look like this will be a putty hog.  At least it appears like you've done a good job of smoothing the seams so far.  Remember to take a swipe or two at those ejector scars on the underside of the stabilizers. 

Regarding your subject aircraft; is it displayed with empty pylons?  I know that you posted a photo but just can't locate it.

Don

Don it is displayed with a full dummy load on the pylons The sad part for me anyways is after asking if I could go take a loser look at it, and told no I couldnt. I was told that the gear bays are empty, all hydrolic lines have been removed and the gear leg down locks have been welded. Also the engine intakes and exhausts have been plugged. Well I am going to show the engines in there anyway, and I am planning to make a base for it, but that will come later. My real plan is to have a model of the 2 last flights of the Tomcat and this one I am doing for the group. One with the offical markings of the last offical flight and the last flight of the last one a month later into the Grumman plant.

vetteman42

Don it is displayed with a full dummy load on the pylons The sad part for me anyways is after asking if I could go take a loser look at it, and told no I couldnt.

That's good.  After I saw the locator slots for the pylons in your third photo, I wondered whether the display aircraft would have payload.  I don't know if I could build the model and not put on some kind of payload.  Sounds like a neat project you have planned with the F-14 trio.

A shame that you weren't allowed  a closer inspection.

Don

Heres another update. Got the Alclad to a stage i am happy with. Still a couple of minor errors, but 100% better than my first attempt and i am more than happy. I painted the Anti Glare panel RLM 81. Not to sure it would have needed it given the slope in front of the cockpit, but its better safe than sorry right. And the decals are all on. As you can see i have used the Ace of spades markings for JG 53 which i got from another kit.

Next is to apply matt varnish to the to the non NMF areas and add the undercarrage and X-4 missiles. Do the panel lines and thats about it i reckon.

Bish,

 The NMF really looks good.  Like the panel variations.  Looks like you're climbing up the Alclad learning scale pretty quickly.  I'm still amazed that this little jet was the precursor to all of the other variable geometry aircraft.  It would be interesting to see a photo of this next to the more recent swing wingers like the F-14.   The size differential alone would be impressive.

Don

I was thinking that about how small it is. Its smaller than an Me 262. Once i get the nose on the MiG, i will do a photo of the two together. Best i can offer at the moment.

    Some more progress on the B-1B.  The crew ladder has been installed so next up was a crew member entering the aircraft.  The Hasegawa kit (US pilot/ground crew set : B) provides a crew member climbing a boarding ladder.  Perfect for my build.  Here's is the DSO entering the aircraft...

.. and mounted to the B-1B...

Just one or two small things to do to complete this;  but won't occur until after Xmas since I need the punch set.  Hey, 6 months into this build, so I can wait another week or two.

Don

Bish

I was thinking that about how small it is. Its smaller than an Me 262. Once i get the nose on the MiG, i will do a photo of the two together. Best i can offer at the moment.

Bish,

Seems like we've coordinated our on-line time pretty well recently.  But I'm 5 hours behind you.  You'e really burning the midnight oil.

Don

I am more of a night person at the best of times, and i don't sleep much. But to add to that i am on guard duty for a month. This past week i have been on standby. means i don't have to go to work, i just have to be within 60mins of camp, so i can't go home. But as i am on night gurad, starting tommorrow night, i am geting my body clock ready. As from sat, i will only have a few hours after i come off duty in the morning to build. I finish my first stint xmas eve and then go back on standby for a week, then another week on guard. Hence why i have been up till 4 or 5 in the morning.

Liking the crew figure. The 1/72nd monogram kit came with a similar figure, but i am sure he had a hemit on and a grip bag in his hand. I haven't checked the 72nd revell one yet to see if he is in there as well.

Some really nice builds going on here. They all look great. Small update on mine. I'm fixing to get all the stuff I need for my Tomcat soon. I hope to be able to start at the first of the year. I'm really looking forward to starting.

Fantastic Don!  I think all your effort spend on detailing the B-1 is not wasted.

Medicman71

I hope to be able to start at the first of the year. I'm really looking forward to starting.

Thanks for the update Medicman.  We're looking forward to seeing your progress.  What aftermarket goodies are you planning to add to the Tomcat?

Don

Harshman II

Fantastic Don!  I think all your effort spend on detailing the B-1 is not wasted.

Thanks Harshman, much appreciated. 

Good to see you back.  There's a few nice builds nearing completion, including Kevin's Bone and Bish has got the P.1101 and a Flogger.  In addition, we're still active with a couple of F-14s on tap! 

Don

Bish,  The NMF finish looks fantastic    The 1101 is looking good.  Nice work.

Don, the figure looks good.  Glad you were able to find one already climbing a ladder so you didn't have to cut off limbs of another one.  He looks quite the part.  Nice job painting.

Vetteman,  Thanks for the comment on the camo.  Much appreciated.  This is my first attempt at a multicolor camo pattern.  I know....on a 1/48 Lancer   As they say   Go big or go home!

Medicman, Looking forward to your Tomcat build.   

I hope to get some more done tonight on the Bone. 

I had a fun couple of days off.  I was finally able to get the kids out to play in the snow.  The wind chill has been pretty brutal lately so I wasn't able to get them outside.  I realized how out of shape I am.  I am pretty sore from trying to keep up.

macattack80

 This is my first attempt at a multicolor camo pattern.... 

Really?  Then   

Regarding physical fitness, I prefer to think that kids cannot interpret the concept of muscular exhaustion.  You have many more years of experience to know that your muscles feel different today than they did   yesterday.  So in fact, everyone is exhausted, but only you know it...     Alternatively, your kids just have a much higher lactate threshold than you do, but that's a much too technical explanation...

Don

pordoi

Regarding physical fitness, I prefer to think that kids cannot interpret the concept of muscular exhaustion.  You have many more years of experience to know that your muscles feel different today than they did   yesterday.  So in fact, everyone is exhausted, but only you know it...     Alternatively, your kids just have a much higher lactate threshold than you do, but that's a much too technical explanation...

 

Don

 

That's a good way of looking at it.  What my daughter was able to interpret is that falling off a sled going down a hill and doing a face plant in some snow happens to suck.  She then opted to go inside for some hot cocoa.     Things ya learn while you're young.

macattack80

What my daughter was able to interpret is that falling off a sled going down a hill and doing a face plant in some snow happens to suck.  She then opted to go inside for some hot cocoa.     Things ya learn while you're young.

Ah, but that's the advantage that we have as adults!  We do a face plant and opt to go inside for a Scotch on the rocks... or two....     The things that you know as an adult...

Don

pordoi

Ah, but that's the advantage that we have as adults!  We do a face plant and opt to go inside for a Scotch on the rocks... or two....     The things that you know as an adult...

 

Don

 

Good call Nothing like a Glenfiddich 15 on a cold day..

pordoi

Medicman71:

I hope to be able to start at the first of the year. I'm really looking forward to starting.

 

 

Thanks for the update Medicman.  We're looking forward to seeing your progress.  What aftermarket goodies are you planning to add to the Tomcat?

 

Don

 

Well, as the Tomcat is the Revellogram kit (I did this same kit 20+ yrs ago), it really needs some work. I have a list of stuff such as:

Landing gear, Wheels, External tanks, Nose, Exhaust Nozzels, FOD Covers and of course a Cockpit replacement. There's a lot there so I hope it comes out well. I already have the decals for the High-Vis VF-1 Wolfpack.