Second Strike: Viper GBII June 2012-Dec 2012

Wow. Looking great already Fly-n-hi. Can't wait to see more.

Here's more of the stuff that will be hangin' underneath.  In addition to the GBU-12s, AIM-9Ms and AIM-120Cs there will be two 370 gallon tanks, a LITENING II targeting pod and an AN/ALQ-184 ECM pod.

The LITENING II pod so far:

Here's the vertical stab all glossed up and ready to go:

I ended up finishing the GBU-12s, AIM-9Ms and the AIM-120Cs ahead of everything else.  Usually I do that stuff near the end.  The LGBs have clear seeker heads.  This made for a cool look I thought:

Alrighty, Medicman gave me the thumbs up to join so here goes.

Its the Tamiya 1/48 F-16C Block 32.  I'll be building this one up OOB with the Tamiya PE detail set (which is still OOB as far as I'm concerned since the parts are in the instructions).  It will have the Arkansas ANG colors as depicted on the side of the box.  

The instructions call for the 3 tone scheme but reference pics show her with the 2 tone colors: Arkansas ANG F-16.  So I'll do the 2 tone scheme.

I started this with another Viper about a year ago.  The plan was to build them together.  But I got ahead on the other plane and put this one in the closet.  I had finished the cockpit and glued the fuselage together and that was it:

I decided to not follow the directions and glued the intake together top to bottom instead of front to back.  This made it easier to deal with the seams.  Then I brush painted heavy layers of Tamiya gloss white in there:

Awesome Viper Casper!!! Great work!!!!

professordeath

Yep. The weathering is spot on.

Thanks guys! I wanted the plane to look used but not too far gone. I've been having really good results with the Tamiya Black panel line wash. I put it on the riveting and the panel lines as if i was airbrushing for pre-shading. I then use a cue tip, dry brush or slightly damp thick paper towel and remove the excess with some enamel thinner always brushing fore to aft in the direction the air currents would pass over the fuselage. I am pretty happy with the result.

Cheers

Great job Casper, I really like the weathering. Looks well used.

Cheers

Tony

Nice job Casper!

I'm calling this Viper done! This has been a fun build, Tammy again delivers the goods in these large kits. I wish they'd release more jets in their 1/32 range, I'd love an F-104 or an F-8 from them in this scale. Anyway this kit was thoroughly enjoyable.

Cheers

 I have the Aires set for mine and I have the Steel Beach cover set as well. I'm debating on which to use. May paint up the SB one and see how it looks.

And is it cool if we join the GB?  Proffesor and I asked last week on page 6 but I think you guys overlooked it.

oortiz10

Hey everyone,

School has started for me, so I haven't had as much time to model as I would like.  Still, I'm following everyone's great progress, and taking small forward steps on my projects as time allows.  

For my builds, I decided to go with Steel Beach's covered AOA probes, HUD, and ejection seat set on the -A, and True Details' ACES ejections seats for the -D.  I build my kits with the canopies closed and I don't spend a lot of time on the office or worry too much about the accuracy of the panels, but I thought these sets might add some visual detail to the cockpits.  

The TD seats look great.  The detail on them is pretty sweet.  The moldings and details are crisp, and there wasn't any evidence of any bubbles in the casting at all.  On the other hand, the SB set left a lot to be desired.  The seat and the HUD were dimpled with bubble holes.  The seat details were mushy, and the the resin was flaky in spots.  The surfaces were rough and sloppy (for lack of a better term).  All four pieces had to have the surfaces sanded smooth and the pin holes filled.  The HUD was too tall to fit under the closed canopy, so I had to sand it a bit to fit, but I'm not complaining about that.  

Anyway, here's what the seats look like so far.  They TD seat still need the ejection handles and canopy breakers added.  I'm waiting to add those until the last possible moment, to avoid breaking them off.  All seats still need a flat coat, but otherwise they're pretty much done.

I had originally planned to have the -D's intake open, but after a pathetic attempt at eliminating the interior seams and gaps, I've decided to make an intake cover.  I'm gonna experiment with some materials to see which looks best.

Anyway, I'll post more pix as soon as I make some more progress.  Thanks for lookin'!

-O

I have the Aires set for mine and I have the Steel Beach cover set as well. I'm debating on which to use. May paint up the SB one and see how it looks.

Fly-n-hi

STFD637 or Medicman71...are you guys still around?

Your, right Prof D. These Tammy 1/32 sure build up nice! I'm thinking of an F-15 but I'd sure like to see them expand their 1/32 range.

Cheers

Painting is all complete. I'll get to the decaling on the weekend.

Top view;

and bottom;

Cheers

I am back in business thanks to Helo34/John.  Thanks again!

O, very nice looking seats.  True Details is the best for the money, in my opinion.

Cheers,

Greg

Hey everyone,

School has started for me, so I haven't had as much time to model as I would like.  Still, I'm following everyone's great progress, and taking small forward steps on my projects as time allows.  

For my builds, I decided to go with Steel Beach's covered AOA probes, HUD, and ejection seat set on the -A, and True Details' ACES ejections seats for the -D.  I build my kits with the canopies closed and I don't spend a lot of time on the office or worry too much about the accuracy of the panels, but I thought these sets might add some visual detail to the cockpits.  

The TD seats look great.  The detail on them is pretty sweet.  The moldings and details are crisp, and there wasn't any evidence of any bubbles in the casting at all.  On the other hand, the SB set left a lot to be desired.  The seat and the HUD were dimpled with bubble holes.  The seat details were mushy, and the the resin was flaky in spots.  The surfaces were rough and sloppy (for lack of a better term).  All four pieces had to have the surfaces sanded smooth and the pin holes filled.  The HUD was too tall to fit under the closed canopy, so I had to sand it a bit to fit, but I'm not complaining about that.  

Anyway, here's what the seats look like so far.  They TD seat still need the ejection handles and canopy breakers added.  I'm waiting to add those until the last possible moment, to avoid breaking them off.  All seats still need a flat coat, but otherwise they're pretty much done.

I had originally planned to have the -D's intake open, but after a pathetic attempt at eliminating the interior seams and gaps, I've decided to make an intake cover.  I'm gonna experiment with some materials to see which looks best.

Anyway, I'll post more pix as soon as I make some more progress.  Thanks for lookin'!

-O

Ok, box of finished parts

and the coat of light grey underneath

Cheers

Dang Caspar!  Another beautiul build!

I was wondering if anybody out there had the Italeri 1/72 F-16C/D "Night Falcon" in their stash?  My dobie puppy ate my instructions, so I was hoping somebody could scan them, and email them to me.  I finished up the ejection seats on it the other day, but I'm on hold till I have some directions.

Travis, I originally said I wanted to do a "Lonestar Gunfighter", but I don't think this kit is even close to that, so I will most likely use the kit "Night Falcon" decals instead.

Cheers,

Greg

Much Viper work done this weekend,

The tail is painted and decaled;

Ordinance now painted;

This is the box of finished parts;

...and the first of the three greys for the fuselage;

Cheers

STFD637 or Medicman71...are you guys still around?

These are some great looking builds guys.

What are the odds that I can get in on this GB?  I have a 1/48 Tamiya F-16C Block 32 that I started on about a year ago but I've really only gotten to the point of finishing the cockpit tub and wrapping the fuselage around it.  Plus some of the small stuff is complete...like the GBU-24s.

My goal is to complete it before Nov.

Looking great guys. I hope to get some work done in my Viper this week.

Casper that engine looks incredible!!!

Omar- Two at the same time? Impressive.  

OK everyone,

I finished my last project, and I decided to go ahead and start my Viper(s) while glue and stuff dries on the project I currently have underway.  

I figured since I'd be building the one-seater I'd go ahead and build the two-seater alongside.  I'm using some parts from Hasegawa's -B to build an Edwards AF Base chase plane out of Hasegawa’s –C boxing, and I’m using some –C parts to build a –D out of the –B.  The only thing I’m missing is the big mouth intake for the –D, but I went ahead and got started on the intakes without it.  Not many people are gonna notice that the intake/engine combo is wrong, so I went ahead and left it as is, using the parts I had.

Anyway, the –A’s gonna have an intake cover so I didn’t bother with cleaning up the intake seams.  The –D will have the intake uncovered, so I spent a little time cleaning up the seams.  I didn’t end up with a true “seamless” intake, but it looks better. 

I also sprayed a little paint on the top of the intakes and under the cockpit.  I did this to avoid any painting problems after the parts have been assembled. 

These show the assemblies dryfitted together.

That’s all I got so far.  I’ll be working on these as time permits.  I’ll post more progress pix when there are some to show.  In the meantime, feel free to share your two cents.

Cheers,

-O

I finished the IP today;

Also finished and fitted the HUD assembly.

Cheers

Slow progress on the Falcon but it's going well. Fuselage top and bottom fitted so it's starting to look like a plane now.

Canopy all painted and seat fitted into the rail as well.

Cheers

The shape of the Viper is starting to emerge now. The thing I really like about this kit is it is a bit like a puzzle rather than a straightforward build. Bit's have to go in first and be detailed then other bits click in and over it. Great engineering from Tamiya as always.

Wheelbays;

Engine complete with paneling;

and the inside of the engine housing;

Cheers

Some good progress on the Viper this week. I've completed the engine and the engine bay. I have painted the exhaust in titanium sliver and waiting for that to dry.

I'm now as far as I can go at the moment until my Eduard sets arrive in the post for the wheelbays and extra detail. Gotta say, great kit so far.

Cheers

Ok, got some prep work done on the Viper this week. A lot of parts, I'm not sure whether to build the engine dolly at the moment so I am building the engine first and then deciding.

Got the interior of the exhaust done;

Exterior of the engine without the greeblies;

The greeblies including the intake fan;

...and the engine bay. This should all look ok when fitted together and sufficiently weathered.

Cheers