Variable Geometry: the Swing Wing GB

Macattack man thats a great looking Bone ! I can sure see the time and effort you put into the build. Love the camo and markings. She sure looks mean and aggressive with beautiful lines to her all at once. My hat is off to you Sir.

For a recap of the build.

I chose to do an OOB build but the kit decals were even less so I had to buy an aftermarket set from SuperScale.  The decals I used were for the "Trilogy of Terror" of the 96th Bombardment Wing based at Dyess AFB in Texas.  This particular plane, tail number 85-0065, was renamed "Texas Armor" and ultimately "Lil Chief"

These decals were very brittle and did not perform as I had hoped so many of the decals are out of place as I had to move them around a lot due to them breaking apart.

The SAC camo scheme is why I chose the era of B-1.  I haven't done a 3 tone camo scheme yet so I figured I would give it a go.  I used a Paasche VL with the fine tip and freehanded it.  I am very pleased with the results.

The loadout consists of 24 SRAM's (Short Range Attack Missle) and fuel tank.  The fuel tanks used looked all beat up and stained so I used some burnt umber oil paint and a dot filtering techinque to achieve the streaks.  I think it turned out OK.

I kept the weathering to a minimum as these planes in this camo looked quite clean.

The vortex generators, radar cross-secting vanes, pitot tubes and various antenna were made from styrene sheet, rod, and strip where needed.  I never added any detail using stryene so I learned a thing or two there.

This build lasted 7.5 months.  I have tinkered with a few other kits while building this one so I wouldn't get tired of looking at the same model on the bench.  It took a lot of putty, CA glue, patience and beer   I learned a lot on seam filling, a little on scratch building, and that I shouldn't put anything off because a build seems out of my league.  It may be, but I can't learn anything if I don't try.

Would I build another 1/48th scale Lancer........believe it or not....yes. 

Bish

Another great B-1 mac, love it

Thanks Bish.  Much appreciated.

Wow. Looks even better!! I saw three of those bad boys at the hobby store yesturday. I was grinning thinking of ya'lls. I really want to do one but not sure if I have the room anywhere for it.

As for my Tomcat.....Well i'm working on the cockpit. Got it painted up just need to dry brush it. After looking at the rest of the kit, I'm really not happy with it. The nose is so not the right shape and the exhaust looks just as bad. I'll keep building but I think I gotta order a new nose from Steel Beach and exhaust from Aires (I think that's who made them). Need to stiil order the new decals too.

Another great B-1 mac, love it

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Vetteman, awesome idea...although I don't have any acrylic or water color paints that would be good for a wash.  I will take you idea to the art supply store and stock up.  Thanks for the comment too!

I went through and re shot the pics that were all blurry.  I also put a light oil wash and dusted on some pastel chalks to dirty up the burner cans.  Thanks Don for the suggestion! 

Here we go with the final, final pics....I hope.

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Macattack SUHWEET bone !!! will be awaiting the next set of pictures.

I was thinking maybe an acrylic wash would be easier on the metalizer paint, just a thought. Or even some water colors I use those all the time.

Is it too late to join? I'm a new member and am almost completed my first model. I have a Revell 1/48 F-14D that i'm about to start. I've learned so much from this site I can't wait to start work on it!

Matter of fact, I will chance it and put an oil wash on the burner cans.  You think a black wash or a burnt umber?

pordoi

macattack80:

I might have to take some better pics.  They looked good on the camera and on Photobucket.  All blurry here.  Unless it is the Bigfoot Bone.  Then it is supposed to be blurry. 

 

 

The blurry pics look to me to be from camera shake caused by a shutter speed that was too slow (i.e., lighting not bright enough).  Increase your lighting, or take some outdoor photos using natural light for the "whole plane" shots. 

Awesome build. I'm jealous that your wings swing.  The payload photos are great; those ARAAMS look intimidating.  And the weathering on the fuel tank is spot on.  One suggestion if you're up for doing one moer tweak to this Bone; the turkey feathers are pristine.  A wash with diluted black oil would weather them nicely and also bring out some detail.

I'll hold off a bit selecting pics for the front page if you're planning to shoot some more.  If not, let me know and I'll choose one or two of the best from what you've already posted.

Overall, 

 

Don

 

Medicman, Thanks for the comment.

Don, Come to think of it, I think I had the camera set on the macro setting.  Hence the slow shutter speed.  I will take a few more pics tonight. 

I was toying with putting a wash on the burner cans.  I dont trust MM metalizers all that much though to put any kind of thinner on them even after using their sealant.  If I feel adventurous I may put a wash on them tonight.   

Thanks for the .

macattack80

I might have to take some better pics.  They looked good on the camera and on Photobucket.  All blurry here.  Unless it is the Bigfoot Bone.  Then it is supposed to be blurry. 

The blurry pics look to me to be from camera shake caused by a shutter speed that was too slow (i.e., lighting not bright enough).  Increase your lighting, or take some outdoor photos using natural light for the "whole plane" shots. 

Awesome build. I'm jealous that your wings swing.  The payload photos are great; those ARAAMS look intimidating.  And the weathering on the fuel tank is spot on.  One suggestion if you're up for doing one moer tweak to this Bone; the turkey feathers are pristine.  A wash with diluted black oil would weather them nicely and also bring out some detail.

I'll hold off a bit selecting pics for the front page if you're planning to shoot some more.  If not, let me know and I'll choose one or two of the best from what you've already posted.

Overall, 

Don

Awsome Bone!!!! Looks great!!!

I might have to take some better pics.  They looked good on the camera and on Photobucket.  All blurry here.  Unless it is the Bigfoot Bone.  Then it is supposed to be blurry. 

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Yet some more

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Here are some more.

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I got the final flat coat on and I am calling this one DONE!!!!

Here are the final pics.  I tried using some light colored towels to make a back drop and assist with the lighting.  Not enough room though. 

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Vetteman, Thanks for the comment.  Nice to see your Tomcat up on the landing gear. 

Thanks Don and Kevin. My build has been slow in coming but hey its getting there.

Kevin GREAT decal save man, as was said earlier ( not sure who said it ) maybe you should consider painting the markings instead of those troublesome decals. Not to mention painted markings look so much better.

Not much of an update but I am excited by it, the Tomcat is on her own legs at last. Just have to finish pin striping the ordnance and get it glued on along with a few last minute touch ups. I think the roughest part of the build for me has been painting the missiles, paint wait paint wait geeze. Anyway heres a WIP picture.

Thanks guys!  I'm definetly looking forward to calling this one done.

macattack80

I got stage 2 done which was the application of the Light Ghost Gray.  It looks ok.  I will do a final flat coat tonight and that should do it.   IT WILL BE DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here is a pic of the fixed area.

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Whoa!   Very nice.  Hey, who needs decals?  You should just paint the markings on your next build.    Really looking forward to the final photos, Kevin.  It's been a long haul and I know that you've stepped back at several stages to re-do things that you weren't happy with and dealt with other frustrations as well.  When you finally do call this one done, it should be the highlight of your collection.  At least until your next build is completed    Just give me some good photos that show the model in its best light to choose from to post on the front page.  Which is not an easy thing to do with something this large....   Nice job.

Don

The fix looks good. Nice save!!

pordoi

Ugh!  I've been laid up all weekend with the flu, so it's good to have some new photos and info to read through.

 

Sorry to hear about your illness.  There has been some nasty stuff floating around this year.  I think my kids have had some new illness once a week.  Then, as you know, everyone in the house gets sick. 

I got stage 2 done which was the application of the Light Ghost Gray.  It looks ok.  I will do a final flat coat tonight and that should do it.   IT WILL BE DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here is a pic of the fixed area.

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Ugh!  I've been laid up all weekend with the flu, so it's good to have some new photos and info to read through.

Vetteman:  looks like your Tomcat is well aged to me.  I like the panel shading.  Only thing that I can think of to photograph the dusty finish is to take the outdoor shots with more overhead lighting rather than the oblique lighting that you had.  Looks like you're into the home stretch.

Kevin:  either approach would have worked for the B-1B nose decal.  Alot of photos show scrapes and scratches around the fueling receptacle.  Then again, I like the aggressive look of the Bone from a head on view and your fix really shows that.

Don

Vettman, nice upgraded mancave.  Thanks for the kind words too.  Your F-14 is looking awsome!  Keep up the good work. 

Medicman, Thanks.  I was toying with the idea of leaving it for the same reason you suggested and blame it on the boom operator too.  But I figured that the nose section of the plane looks really aggressive so I wanted it to look like it means business....not like it got the business. 

Don, I was just trying to replicate the damaged decal.  You very well could be right about it just being an outline.  I wasn't too impressed with this decal sheet.  The instructions were VERY vague for placement and it wasn't very extensive in the stencil dept. 

I just have to touchup the gray and a little green.  Then a shot of dullcote over the decal fix and it should be done.

Guys as promised, but a bit late, I wanted to wait to take pictures in natural light but still the weathering is washed out some. The camera just wont pickup the dusty dirty look it has

I still have a ways to go, landing gear, missles and the burner cans. Any comments are welcome

Nice save on the decal. The Bone is really looking good. You know, that decal issue looked like the boom hit the nose a few times. Seen other aircraft like that.

Sure come on over Don I have been workin on the Tomcat today but am more than willing to share some space.

I don't have pictures yet but had to share, my idea worked !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This Tomcat looks like it has a couple years worth of dust on it !! I will dull coat it in a couple of hours and take some pictures as the dull coat will really make the dusting pop I hope. I aint all jazzed or nuthin mind you but weathering isn't one of my strong points. Actually I am still trying to find my strong point

vetteman42

Guys I went an wus a bad boy yesterday, got side tracked. Decided to raise my bench 3 inches, then just had to make a new top for it. Now I had sawdust all over so had to sweep the mancave, and to do that I had to move stuff around, saws, welders, the other work bench, 52" TV, stuff like that. Needless to say I didn't get anything done on the Tomcat yesterday. Oh I also have a nice new light to hang too....

Sounds like a great update to the mancave, but since you're not using it yet, can I come over and build? 

Don