Variable Geometry: the Swing Wing GB

Well, just trying to keep things moving in this GB.  I know that Kevin and I will be finished our B-1Bs soon so we need another active build or two to keep things lively.  Otherwise, I'll end up talking to myself online...

I haven't yet seen your most recent Osprey pics, but I'll have a quick visit to look.

Don

EDIT (after viewing Osprey pics):  $@%@ %#@#@  Nice job on the flaps but I can see how the kit is trying to beat you into submission.  ... It's a heavyweight fight;  in the middle rounds..,   both fighters are getting weary..., it will be just a matter of stamina and which fighter might land the lucky blow that sends the opponent reeling... 

Now, start the TomCat, will ya... 

YES SIR!! I'm trying to free up some space on the workbench to start. Stupid Osprey is kicking my but and getting in the way. I just added pics to the Osprey WIP thread by the way (If you're keeping track at home, that.....was a blatant plug!!)

Sure!  Why wait.  You won't need the decals until you are almost done.  Start the kit already!!! 

Oooh.  Like the F-15 reference since I have both the Revell 1/48 F-15e and the Tamiya 1/32 F-15c kits in the stash.  Thanks for the heads up.

Don

Well may have to wait a little longer. After looking at my decals for it I wasn't happy with them. Fightertown Decals is about to put out a BIG sheet for the VF-1 Wolfpack Tomcats. Probably start anyway seeing as that I won't need them right away.

Hey Don, if you're looking for a Strike Eagle book try this one.

http://www.reidairpublishing.com/products/RAP04.html

I have the F-16 Modern Viper Guide and it's an awsome book.

Medicman71

You're welcome guys. Glad I could help. I'm a research fanatic and love getting books on whatever i'm building.

I got the wheels and external fuel tanks in the mail yesturday. Hope to get started real soon now.

A shame, but the F-15e book doesn't look like it has the modeling section and scale plans.  But nontheless, it looks like a good reference.

Sounds like you've got all the AM goodies ready to go.  This one will be a fun build to watch.  Keep us updated.

Don

You're welcome guys. Glad I could help. I'm a research fanatic and love getting books on whatever i'm building.

I got the wheels and external fuel tanks in the mail yesturday. Hope to get started real soon now.

Medicman71

Here's a link to the books. I got mine from Sprue Brothers.

http://www.sampublications.com/sampubs.htm

Nice resource and link.  I'll look into the F-15e book for my next build, especially if that book alos has 1/48 plans.  Thanks.

Don

Medicman71  Thanks for that link. and its a UK based site as well, bonus. And can't wait to see the F-14, i love those plans.

Andrew, I wasn't expecting an egg plane!  Looks like a fun build though.  Cant wait to see more pics.

Medicman71, sounds like your F-14 is gonna be pretty spruced up with some aftermarket goodies.  I am definetly looking forward to that.

I hope to get some weathering done over the next couple of nights.  I don't think that I am going to wash all the panel lines.  They are quite overdone on this kit.  I will probabaly keep the wash to the contol surfaces and the few vents located here and there and maybe the avionix bays in the nose.

You're welcome Bish. The book is from SAM Publications. They have a lot of good ones. I got that one and one on USAF Special Operations Aircraft. There's others i'd like to get too.

Here's a link to the books. I got mine from Sprue Brothers.

http://www.sampublications.com/sampubs.htm

Medicman71  Thanks for the kind words.

That looks similar to a couple of books i am looking at getting on the Me 109.

Great work on the builds Bish. They look great.

Well I had some of the Tomcat stuff come in on Friday. Got the cockpit, FOD covers, and AOA Probe for the nose. Just waiting on the wheels and external tanks. Got a great Tomcat book as well. Here's a pic of it.  VERY good book. It even comes with 1/48 scale line drawings and a modeling section.

Konigwolf13

....   Pordoi, is that kit going to be finished in time (just kidd'in).

Well finally got paint and action going for this GB. Ok it might not be my planned build but hey its going somewhere

The KIT, LOL, well it is a model swing wing aircraft isnt it?

 

Hehe!  Yes, can't  argue that it's a swing winger.  Go for it.

And you're right; I think that I'll finish the Bone just in time before the GB deadline  .  Gotta say that I've hardly worked on anything else over the last 7 months.  It was a complicated kit that required alot of attention.  That said, I was in no hurry either since I've got to be around for the entire GB anyway

Look forward to seeing the egg plane come together.

Don

Ye, i just saw the 190. And a good pressie for the kids and a nice way to get them into the hobby.

Look forwad to seeing this one built.

Bish, they are fun, this is my second after doing a FW190 in the weekend madness GB. After that the missus said santa should put on in each of the kids stockings this year LOL.

Andrew

Thanks Andrew.

Somone just built an egg plane for my Mighty 8th GB. They look like a fun little build.

Bish nice builds

Pordoi, is that kit going to be finished in time (just kidd'in).

Well finally got paint and action going for this GB. Ok it might not be my planned build but hey its going somewhere

The KIT, LOL, well it is a model swing wing aircraft isnt it?

Progress so far. Cockpit base colour, instrument and control decals on, and some black paint down around the IP's. Next up the seats and any other cockpit bits to be painted.

Andrew

macattack80

Glad the punch set worked out.  I gonna order one tomorrow I think. 

I couldn't wait....I just ordered one.

Bish, great job on the Mig!  Camo looks great!  Your Me 242 looks awesome too!   

Don, Nice work making the sensors and antenna.  Glad the punch set worked out.  I gonna order one tomorrow I think.  I would attempt to make a more accurate representation of the wing fold mechanisim if I glued the wings forward too.  It will add to the already great model you have built.

I think the decals and clear coats should be dry enough by tomorrow to put a wash in a few of the panel lines.  Maybe I will actually get this thing done by next week.

Well have not had much chance to sit down and do some serious modeling in the last three PLUS my F-111 PE still isnt here so just have not gotten around to starting the build . Looks to be another 3 weeks before I get the parts now  (have been resent) so I think I will put a hold on the Pig . But I do have another swing wing plane I got from santa that will fit right in I think. Details and Photo's will be in next post.

Andrew

Bish

Those pioits look just fine, and i still love the white around the cockpit.

On your kit is there just a big space where the wings sweep back into. I think thats the same on the 72nd kit. While i have seen others that have a bit of plastic that is glued at one end and goes back when you mivew the wings. Nice photos of the real thing, if its ok with you i will save them for future referance.

Yes, the 1/48 kit just has a large space where the wings sweep back into.  Revell does provide a plastic piece that can be inserted into this opening.  It actually locks into the extended wings; but is not really reflective of the actual retraction mechanism.  Since I glued the wings in open position, I think that a more accurate representation is warranted.

Don

Those pioits look just fine, and i still love the white around the cockpit.

On your kit is there just a big space where the wings sweep back into. I think thats the same on the 72nd kit. While i have seen others that have a bit of plastic that is glued at one end and goes back when you mivew the wings. Nice photos of the real thing, if its ok with you i will save them for future referance.

Medicman71

Ok....Tomcat stuff was ordered on Wednesday and may be getting some if not most of it today!! So ready to get started.

Alright!  Love to see AM goodies added to kits.  I will enjoy watching the Tomcat come together.

Don

Hey, I survived the great East Coast blizzard of 2010 and safely returned to Louisville.  Got some time at the bench yesterday and the Bone is almost completed.  I added the pitot tubes to each side... they were made from 0.020 plastic card and painted with Alclad steel and given oil washes in black and Burnt sienna.  I think that 0.010 plastic card would be a better match for scale but the thinner plastic just didn't seem to withstand the sanding that I needed to do to make all six of the tubes uniform in size and shape.   That said, here is the end result:

I also added the four radar altimeter antennae to the underside of nose.  These were disks that I punched with the new MicroMark punch set and painted with Alclad steel.

Only one more thing to do and that's to make the covers for the swing wing mechanism.  These appear to be some form of thick cloth that drapes over the fuselage openings.  There also seems to be a retractable component (the white assembly in the photos below).  I have already started scratch building the retractable piece from plastic card and the plan is to use thin elastic strip to model the textured cloth parts.  Will post photos as this last step of the build progresses, but here is what the end product will look like (hopefully).  Photos reproduced from the Peeters B1-B Lancer book for illustration and discussion only.

After over 7 months, my B-1B nears completion.

Don

Thanks again Don. I agree with you on the look of these jets, very slab sided. I will deffinatly stick around. And if i get the Mig on a board, i will post some more pics befor ei fly out, even if its not quite finished. I am ordering a step ladder but i won't get my hands on it until a day or so before i fly. But the board itself is just about done so i plane on attaching the plane next week.

One thing i have noticed about soviet swing wings is that they seem to park them with the wings swept back. Seems to make sense as it saves space, and makes the Dio better for me for the same reason. Not sure why western air forces don't don't that. And will look forward to seeing all the other builds get finished up.

maybe another swing wing GB in a couple of years. If so, i will be in there.

Bish

 

 

Wow, two completed builds posted in one day!   Thanks Bish for adding a Soviet swing winger.  I was hoping to see a few of these Cold War birds in the GB.  Is it me or do the Soviet jets always look a bit "boxy" relative to the US jets?  That is until you consider the SU-27 which is one of the finest looking planes ever designed...

Again, thanks for your contributions Bish and I hope that you'll stay around and comment on the other swing wings that are in progress.

Don

thanks Don, been a fun build. Will deffinatly be nice to compare Alclad finishers. I have 3 P-51's and a B-17G amongst a few other kits that i plan on useing it on.  So this has been an excellent stepping stone before moving onto those. But these two are my last builds for a bit. My next one will be the B-17F for my Mighty 8th GB which i plan on starting in May. In the little time i have left behind the desk i am going to concentrate on finishing some Dio's. Not sure if i can get the MiG 23 done in time, but i will give it a go.

Glad you are useing that photo. Might also cause a few questions with that designation.

Been a great GB. happy New year to you as well.

Bish

 

All comments suggestiong and advice more than welcome. Don, thanks for a great GB and bringing the fact the the P.1101 was a swing wing. When i saw it added to your list i woundered what you were on about. But then after a bit of reading i realised you were right. It great how this site can teach you things, and not just about building models. 

Bish, you did a fine job with this unusual subject.  I really like the different tints that you gave the panels in your NMF.   I think that I'll put the photo above on the front page because it shows your dio from a nice angle and I can just imagine what the figure on the left must be saying....  "you mean that the wings can move and this thing can still fly??"  

We'll compare notes on doing NMF finishes with Alclad after I try my first one in your Mighty 8th GB.

Thanks for your contributions to the GB and we also learned alot about this aircraft from your research on the P.1101. 

Happy New Year!

Don

By last Tues i had got the paint job finished. I had a couple of dramas with some of the dark green getting under the masking tape when i sprayed but i ahve managed to sore that out.

A few sessions saw the decals on. Quite afew small ones on this so was a bit tedious.

and i managed to get it all finished by Thurs, just in time.

So thats me complete for this GB. Thanks guys, has been alot of fun doing these kits. Will look forward to seeing the progress the rest of you make.

Time for my final updates. First the Me 424A-1. I finishe dthe kit on xmas day. You mat notice that the Ace of Spades markings have gone. I don't seal my NMF finish because i am not sure what to use that won't spoil the metal look. And the dacles look fine as they are. But i did have to apply a Matt finish to the coloured areas including the anti glare panel. But i had made the erro of applying the JG 53 markings before i did this. And when i masked the tape went over the decals and then lifted them off when the tape was removed. And despite have several 72nd 109 kits in the stash and a load of spare decals i don't have any Ace of Spades. So i am going to add this when i can get hold of some decals.

So this is how it looked xmas day.

Heres a couple of comparison photos just to show how small this is. One with an earlier Messerschmitt, and Me 262 and the other with the MiG 23.

And by wedensday i had managed to finish the Diorama. My Dio's at the moment are rather simple due to shortage of time. Plus these are my first aircraft Dio's in about 9 years so its a lot of re-learning and learning new methods.

So, my first GB that was totally completed as a Diorama.

All comments suggestiong and advice more than welcome. Don, thanks for a great GB and bringing the fact the the P.1101 was a swing wing. When i saw it added to your list i woundered what you were on about. But then after a bit of reading i realised you were right. It great how this site can teach you things, and not just about building models.

Now for the MiG 23.