Variable Geometry: the Swing Wing GB

pordoi

OK, is this the version that I should add to the front page?  And what's this about getting to this on time???  Priorities, man... priorities!!! 

 

Don

 

Yeah.  Lets go with that.  The single color paint should be easy.  

Luckily the other projects I have started should be wrapping up quick.  A couple 1/72 F/A-18F's and a 1/72 H-19.  The H-19 just needs paint and decals.  The Super Bugs are nearing the end of construction.  Not too bad. 

I think I will have a pretty productive model building year.  Now if I can just get one to look good....

macattack80

 

pordoi:

 

 

 

OK, is this the version that I should add to the front page?  And what's this about getting to this on time???  Priorities, man... priorities!!! 

 

Don

 

 

 

  Now if I can just get one to look good....

Macattack hummmm have you checked out your bone ? I think it looks GREAT and am waiting to see more of your work for sure.

vetteman42

Macattack hummmm have you checked out your bone ? I think it looks GREAT and am waiting to see more of your work for sure.

  Looking forward to seeing the Tomcat.  Front page is now updated.

Don

Ok.  Here is my next GB addition.

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

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

The VX-9 decals

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

VX-9 aka "Vampires" is a test and evaluation squadron so I will load the airframe up with 2 AIM-9 Sidewinders, 2 AIM-7 Sparrows and 4 AIM-54 Pheonix missles to "test" the airframe with the heavy load.  All will be painted as if they are inert weapons.

Macattack I like the markings you are gonna use good choice

macattack80

Ok.  Here is my next GB addition.

:550:0]

Ooooh.  Doin' the white bunnies, eh?  That will look really neat on a gloss black airframe.  Do a good job on this or Hefner may sue you for defamation...

Don

Macattack I'm interested to see how you build your F-14 since I have the exact same kit. As a new modeler I'm always curious if there's an easier way to do some things. I've done a little work on mine myself. Once I get something to show, I'll post some pics.

pordoi

 

 

Ooooh.  Doin' the white bunnies, eh?  That will look really neat on a gloss black airframe.  Do a good job on this or Hefner may sue you for defamation...

 

Does this mean I get to visit the Mansion?.....probably not

Flyhigh

Macattack I'm interested to see how you build your F-14 since I have the exact same kit. As a new modeler I'm always curious if there's an easier way to do some things. I've done a little work on mine myself. Once I get something to show, I'll post some pics.

I built one of Revell's F-14A models a few years back when I first got going in scale modeling myself.  I found the kit to be decent.  Much easier to build that the Hasegawa "superkit".  Revell didn't change much when they kitted the A and the D variants other than the exhaust nozzles and gun gas vent panel and adding the new chin pod. 

Comparing notes is a great way to learn new tricks.  As stated before Aggieman, Don and I all built the Revell B-1 Lancer for this GB.  It was nice to have some new and different approaches to tackle a similar problem....although where I had trouble Don  had smooth sailing and vice versa.

Your build is coming along nicely.  Keep up the good work.  I should get started on this one in a week.

You two are so tempting me to build another F-14A. 

So its been a while since I updated my progress. I tried my airbrush for the first time and it was with white. Probably not the easiest color to learn with! After a few minutes of practicing I had to try it on my model. It didn't turn out as nice as I would have liked but a little touchup with the brush and I think the intakes turned out fine. There was a little overspray on the body but that will be painted over anyway. This is how it turned out:

The fit of the intakes to the body is not the best either. I'm going to have to sand that smooth and maybe try filler for the first time.

I also hand painted the bottom of the cockpit where it looks like the gear bay is. I was a little scared to use the airbrush this time!

I then finally decided to give the airbrush another try. Last night I handpainted the leading edges and masked them after they dried. Today I airbrushed the top and bottom portion of the wings. I figured it would be easier to paint the wings before assembly. My airbrushing is starting to come along nicely. I've definately improved since the last time I gave it a shot. This time it didn't smell as bad either. I made sure to have good venting and I do wear a respirator. I found the paint to have some thick pieces in it almost like small grains of sand. It wasn't everywhere, just in a few spots. I think next time I will try straining the paint.

I then started glueing the body together. Trying to get the wings to sit in place without moving was a real pain. They had to be in the perfect spot due to the "mechanism" to make them swing together. I found a little piece of tape helped that was easily removed after. I only did the back portion of the plane and I'm going to be doing the front most likely another day. I noticed i scraped some of the paint off and scratched it while trying to attach the body with the wings. I should have waited longer for the paint to dry I think. I'm too impatient sometimes! It should be easy to touch up when I paint the body though.

As you can see I already masked the plane where the black paint will go. I find when I'm bored but I can't paint or glue I like to mask stuff! haha. At least its ready for when the time comes!

Thanks for all the input guys and I look forward to seeing everyone else's progression! 

Looking good Flyhigh!  White paint isn't the easiest to airbrush.  You did fine.  That is a pretty big step to sand down at the engine nacelles.  That seems to be a problem with every F-14 kit no matter who molds it. 

For the area you plan on painting black, I would either paint the black first, wait until it is dry, then mask it off.  Or just paint the camo color then mask and paint the black areas.  Masking an area off unpainted and trying to mask over the exact spot will cause much frustration.  Ask me how I know that.  Use the same method you did for the slats on the wings.  It will work out fine.

vetteman42

You two are so tempting me to build another F-14A. 

Don't let us stop ya!   We will have a fleet!!!

So there I was window shopping at Spruebrothers, always dangerous for the wallet, and was looking at the aftermarket items for an F-14D in 1/48 scale.  Steel Beach Accessories has the ECM blisters, that the older Revell F-14D's lack, in resin.  I was going to carve out some sprue to make the missing blisters.  The resin set comes with all 6 ECM blisters, the TACAN antenna and a nose gear bay door with the blister as well.  For only $6.00 too!

When Revell re-tooled there F-14D kit they added upgraded weapons and the ECM bumps they included the blisters as seperate parts.

http://store.spruebrothers.com/148-steel-beach-accessories-f-14-tomcat-antenna-set-sb176-p21342.aspx

Back to page 1 we go!

And I ordered some True Details ejection seats for this build.  The resin set of the ECM blisters arrived just before I left for work.  The look pretty good. 

Sorry for the absence gentleman.  I had some serious things occur at work that needed attention and made it difficult to keep posting or staying current.

Nice work on the Tomcat, Flyhigh.  You keep saying that this is the first time that you've tried something, yet everything looks to be coming out really nice.  Whatever you're doing, don't stop.

Kevin, you've gort aftermarketitis.    A very serious condition that can lead to another 7 month long build like your Bone.  Beware, young man.  It's an insidious disease.

And like I said before, we're ending the GB with a flurry of F-14s, so anyone else that wants to jump in with another will have lots of company.

Don

No apology necessary Don.  Sometime life happens.  Work pays the bills.  Plus you need money incase you catch aftermarketitis.     The more I get into model building the more I want to obtain aftermarket stuff.  Oh man......I think....I'm...infected......need...resin...parts......need...PE...sets..........need....seemless....intakes........ AHHHHH!!

Hey all. Looks like my builds gonna be on hold for a while (End of the month). Between both jobs and having to recertify my EMT, I have very little time. Rodeo is going on here and that keeps me really busy. I'll try to get to it when I finish doing the recertification stuff. Sorry all. 

Flyhigh looking good there buddy White is my nemesis as far as painting goes and you did a very nice job of it. And for being your first time using an air brush I would call it a stellar job to be sure. You might consider using the AB on those small areas too as it is very good practice for when you advance to freehanding camo schemes with it.

Macattack yup you now have the dreaded disease "Aftermarketitis Syndrome" there is no cure for it and you can only keep it under control by indulging is some form of AM. It can however be slowed down a bit by another  disease called "Scratchbuildgizmology" The sad part is it has side effects of its own you then have to deal with, it is also just as addicting as Aftermarketitis. Oh and don't forget, Styrene is the catalyst for both of the aforementioned conditions.

Don no apologies are necessary, we all know life and health can reek havoc  on our hobby time and Forum time.

Medicman71

Hey all. Looks like my builds gonna be on hold for a while (End of the month).....

 

No worries, Medicman.  We'll keep a bar stool open for you.

Don

pordoi

Medicman71:

Hey all. Looks like my builds gonna be on hold for a while (End of the month).....

 

 

 

No worries, Medicman.  We'll keep a bar stool open for you.

 

Don

 

Thanks. Although......Alcohol and super glue.......not a good combination in my hands. Lol.

hi im back modelling again and would like to enter a 1/48 tornado and a 1/48 b1b please

eatthis

hi im back modelling again and would like to enter a 1/48 tornado and a 1/48 b1b please

Hey, welcome back eatthis!  You are more than welcome to do additional builds; just let me know details regarding the specific kits.  Also, we're set to end this GB at the end of April, so that leaves about 7 weeks left to complete. 

Don

iv actually built 1 within this gb timeframe i just didnt post anything up is it valid or not?

heres the build il leave to the mods to decide if its valid or not

i like this picture

eatthis

iv actually built 1 within this gb timeframe i just didnt post anything up is it valid or not?

 

heres the build il leave to the mods to decide if its valid or not

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well, the only rule that I will really try to enforce in this GB is the rule to just have fun.  Let me know the kit and scale for the Tornado and I'll add it to the front page.  Then get going on your other builds before time runs out

Also, can you describe how you anchor the plastic rods in the exhausts to mount the aircraft in flight?  I'm thinking of doing that for my next build.

Don

sorry its a 1/48 scale italeri kit

if the rod is close enough in size to the hole its going in (in this case the engines) then no anchoring is needed although big models ( the tsr2 is) may require additional strentghening where the rod goes to support the weight  i used expanding foam (i fit pvc windows) but epoxy resin would probably be good

eatthis

sorry its a 1/48 scale italeri kit

OK, front page is updated.  Still thinking of doing the 1/48 Bone? 

Don

its in progress as we speak iv just stalled atm iv ran out of paint lol

eatthis

its in progress as we speak iv just stalled atm iv ran out of paint...

  Yes, it does require a bit of paint, doesn't it.  This will be the fourth 1/48 B-1B in this GB.  Post some in progress photos while you wait for new paint to arrive.

Don

 its gonna be a whif and i dont want the cat out of the bag just yet but theres a cpl i can post ;) and yeh it takes alot of paint lol