Variable Geometry: the Swing Wing GB

Well, I applied some decals last night.  It didn't go as well as I had hoped.  The Superscale decals are very brittle.  I used a set from them before and they were quite good.  Every decal seemed to break apart.   So needless to say I didn't get them exactly where I wanted them.   Luckily, I was able to piece them all back together.  I didn't want to mess with it to take any photos until they dried completely.  So hopefully I will be able to snap a few pix tomorrow.  The Trilogy of Terror is being just that   

Medicman71

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.

WooHoo!  detailin'.   Love it.  Maybe I should have asked you to list only the parts that were still Revellogram; might have been a shorter list 

We want pics; lots of them while you build this.  I've got a in  hand and a bag of popcorn just waiting.

Don

macattack80

Well, I applied some decals last night.  It didn't go as well as I had hoped.  The Superscale decals are very brittle.  I used a set from them before and they were quite good.  Every decal seemed to break apart.   So needless to say I didn't get them exactly where I wanted them.   Luckily, I was able to piece them all back together.  I didn't want to mess with it to take any photos until they dried completely.  So hopefully I will be able to snap a few pix tomorrow.  The Trilogy of Terror is being just that   

Cursed be thy name, Revell B-1B.  Whether it is kit parts or aftermarket goodies.  I don't think that I've ever used Superscale decals before, so can't comment on whether your experience was the norm or exception.  So let me just say what I have said to you in prior posts;  hang in there and you'll solve this problem just as you've dealt with other issues in this build. 

The Trilogy of Terror; maybe we should define it as Aggie's desert camo bone; my "Hard Rain" and your "Trilogy". 

Don

Well I asked for money for X-mas so that I could order all the stuff I needed.......ok, wanted. So after I order them and they get here, the Tomcat will begin.

I was going through the photobucket album and noticed a pic that I forgot to post so here it is.

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This is the flight deck, that was of course, warped.  I fixed that by heating it up over a candle and reshaping it.

I figured if it was worth taking a photo of I may as well post it.

pordoi

Cursed be thy name, Revell B-1B.  Whether it is kit parts or aftermarket goodies.  I don't think that I've ever used Superscale decals before, so can't comment on whether your experience was the norm or exception.  So let me just say what I have said to you in prior posts;  hang in there and you'll solve this problem just as you've dealt with other issues in this build. 

The Trilogy of Terror; maybe we should define it as Aggie's desert camo bone; my "Hard Rain" and your "Trilogy". 

 

Don

 

You are right about the issues.  But I look forward to working on it.  I'm not too frustrated with the decals because  I don't think it's from my doing.   At least I didn't have to trash them.  I know now to be extra careful when applying them. 

We do have quite the trilogy don't we?.  Kind of fitting as I will probably finish last of the the 3 Bone builds to complete the "Trilogy of Terror".

Here are a few pics of the few decals I put on the other day.  I hope to get the rest of the decals on tonight.

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For the most part I was able to get the decals looking OK after they broke apart.  A few like the flag on the starboard side of the tail was as good as I could do. 

macattack80

I was going through the photobucket album and noticed a pic that I forgot to post so here it is.

[View:/themes/fsm/utility/:550:0]

 

This is the flight deck, that was of course, warped.  I fixed that by heating it up over a candle and reshaping it.

I figured if it was worth taking a photo of I may as well post it. 

 

Hey, that's one serious warp.  Good job with the candle    

And regarding your problems with the decals;  I find it difficult from the photos to see where they split, even on the starboard rudder.  Nice job. 

Who knows, you might beat me to the finish line yet, Kevin.  I'm stalled waiting for Xmas day so that I can get my hands on the punch set.  After that, it's only one or two more steps before it will be done...

Don

Thanks for the kind comment Don.    If you look at the longhorn skull you can see a few vertical lines.  Thats where that particular decal didn't cooperate.  All the other I was able to fix without too much fuss.  I just wish I could have placed them a little closer to their intended targets.  Namely the squadron insignias.  I tried to get them centered under the rear window but that obviously didn't work out.

I put a few of the stencil data decals on last night and those were the worst.  I think the only thing holding the decals together is the ink.  The film doesn't want to stay together.  I won't stress myself out and attempt to put on decals that won't be seen anyway, either because they will be lost in the camo or broken apart. 

All the big colorful decals are on the upper half and I hope to get the few on the underside either tonight or tomorrow night. 

The light at the end of the tunnel is getting brigher.  What a good looking aircraft!

macattack80

Thanks for the kind comment Don.    If you look at the longhorn skull you can see a few vertical lines.  Thats where that particular decal didn't cooperate. 

Yes, I saw that.  But it's a minor flaw that doesn't detract from the overall build.

macattack80

The light at the end of the tunnel is getting brigher.  What a good looking aircraft!

Oh yes, isn't it!   Beautiful bird.  Even though it was a difficult build, one really begins to appreciate the Bone.  It's a cool lookin' aircraft with an attitude (given the payload that it can carry).  It would be a shame if the AF moth balled the fleet.

Don

I sealed the decals in with another blast of Future.  Gonna give it a day or 2 to fully dry then spray some future on the underside.  Now its just waiting for stuff to dry so I can proceed. 

I found a pretty cool webpage with some good info and pics on the B-1 Lancer.

http://www.aviationspectator.com/resources/aircraft-profiles/b-1b-lancer-aircraft-profile

macattack80

I found a pretty cool webpage with some good info and pics on the B-1 Lancer.

http://www.aviationspectator.com/resources/aircraft-profiles/b-1b-lancer-aircraft-profile

Nice find, Kevin.  Sort of a compilation of information that I've seen at other sites along with some stuff that I've not seen before.  Very detailed history of the development of the B-1 and lots of photos of early Bones.  Some great photos for you to see how that SAC tri-color weathers.  I also got a laugh at the "commercial" like statement at the beginning;  effective against any adversary, anywhere, any time...

I've bookmarked the site.  Thanks.

Don

Macattack  I cant see a thing wrong with the decals, looks great to me And I love the nose art you have chosen " Trilogy of Terror "

I have been making progress on the F-14 but nothing worth showing, mostly filling and sanding. I did find a very  interesting and unexpected history on my subject I will share with the finished pictures.

vetteman42

Macattack  I cant see a thing wrong with the decals, looks great to me And I love the nose art you have chosen " Trilogy of Terror "

I have been making progress on the F-14 but nothing worth showing, mostly filling and sanding. I did find a very  interesting and unexpected history on my subject I will share with the finished pictures.

Thanks Vettman, much appreciated. 

Hey Don, when you are done punching holes in everything imaginable, let me know what you think of the MicroMark punch set.  I was thinking of getting one soon.

Got the 1101 finished today. Going to hold off on the pics until the end of the week. I want to see if i can get the board done and have it finished as a Diorama.

As for the MiG. I got the underside painted last week and the first top colour done yesterday. I got the missiles painted today and am now working on the under carrage. Hopefully tomorrow i can get the second top colour painted and the third on Tues. I will get some pics up then.

macattack80

Hey Don, when you are done punching holes in everything imaginable, let me know what you think of the MicroMark punch set.  I was thinking of getting one soon.

Kevin, I'm a hole punching fiend...

The MicroMark kit works pretty well.  I've just punched .010 card so far but the discs are sharp and uniform.  The fit of the plastic cover on the metal base is very snug, which is good.  A little difficult to remove, but then there is no need to remove it; just separate enough to slide the plastic sheet between.  If you get one, remember to get a mallet with a delrin or hard rubber head so that you don't damage the punch rods.

Bish, congrats on finishing the P.1101.  Look forward to seeing it on the base.  I'm traveling to Philadelphia for the next few days to visit family but will stop in occasionally to see the photos.  Will be back to hopefully finish up the Bone next Friday. 

Happy Holidays to all Swing Wingers! 

Don

Thanks for the info Don.  That punch set is becoming a must have tool for my workbench.  Have a safe trip to Philly.  I should be finishing up my build by next week.  I hope.

Bish, like Don said, congrats on completing your build.  Can't wait to see it on the base.

As the designation P.1101 was a project number, and i am building a production aircraft, i am looking to give it a production designation. I am thinking of Me 424, which i don't think was given to any other aircraft.

Bish

As the designation P.1101 was a project number, and i am building a production aircraft, i am looking to give it a production designation. I am thinking of Me 424, which i don't think was given to any other aircraft.

Cool idea Bish!  I don't know a whole lot about german aircraft so I can't verify that 424 was used but I like the designation for you production model.  Good choice. 

I can't find it in any of my refeance books and it is a higher number than any other Me, and possably from any other German aircrfat, so it fits. As i also have the night fighter kit, which has a T tail i am thinking of calling the current build the Me 424A-1 and the NF version the Me 424A-2/U1

We cant be on the second page......

Doesn't seem to take long. Sort of goes against whats being said about the site not being used as much.

I managed to get the underside gloss coated with Future.  While that is drying I will get working on making the various antenna not included in the kit.   I'm gettin' there....

Makes two of us. Got the MiG painted this morning. Just got to do the nose and tip of the tail. Hopefully i can get the decals on tomorrow.

As for the Me 424, the board is just about done, just got to finish the figures. I only have till Fri so got to get a move on.

I have a question for you guys regarding painting the wings. I started off painting with the wings swept forward and then swept them back to paint the area that had been covered by the wing glove. After that i just painted the other colours with the wings swept back, the position it will be displayed in. What do you guys do. Do you just leave the area that will be un seen unpainted. I am thinking that next time i build a swing wing i will paint the wings before i fit them into the fuselage.

Just got the nose cone on the MiG. Got some comparison pics with the Me 424 that i will post at the weekend. Just waiting for some touch up painting to dry before i add the decals.

Bish, At first I painted the wings seperate from the fuselage to make sure I got coverage in all the nooks and crannies but I repainted the wings because I didn't like how they turned out.  I repainted them in the manner in which you did.

Looking forward to seeing you completed Me 424

I think painting them before fitting is the way to go next time.

I am lucky in that i can get home this Fri for the weekend, so going to put my pics up then. Hopefully the 424 will be done as a dio, not much left to do there. And i am also hopeing the MiG will be done. The decals are on, just to to add the matt varnish tonight. And then i am hopeing to get it finished off tomorrow. Then next week i can just concentrate on the MiG dio.

I got the rest of the decals on.  They were troublesome just like round 1.  At least they are on.  I expect a l little silvering on a few as they had to be moved around a bit to fix/place them on the model.  I used MicroSol and MicroSet on most.  A little Solvaset was needed on the decals on the nose gear strut.  It looks like a plane all of sudden.

I also got the extra antenna and sensors done too.  They look okay and will pass my inspection.  May not be perfect close enough for government work...