It looks like many of us have been kept busy by real life. I'm still working extra hours and more than once found myself too tired to do much when I get home. Seems that working in a warehouse is hard on this mid-fifty year old body.

I have managed a little work. I temporarily taped major parts together so I could judge the weight on the nose and  add the needed weights:

No tail sitter now.

After gluing in the fishing weights, I cemented the upper and lower fuselage parts together. The mating surfaces don't match exactly, so I have work to do there.

I also been working on the wings, filling a nasty seam and then attaching actuators to the lower surface. There are also some small parts that correct the dog tooth on the wings to make it correct for the Growler. One side is done. Also visible is the other afterburner can. rolled up and glued with CA.

This wing you can see that dog-tooth correction here, plus I put one of the AN/ALQ-99 pods together and added the PE details provided by the Eduard set. I tend to jump around a bit, but it gives me things to do while waiting for glue to dry on other parts.

Ken, hope you get caught up on everything so you can get back to the important things like leisure.

On a bit of a somber note, today marks the 56th anniversary of my parent's wedding day. Seems like the calender is full of all these dates to stumble through. Mother's day is already giving me trouble.

Jim

Well Jim;

We just missed the anniversary of the Doolittle Raids on Japan;

It's forgivable, given the home-grown raids on Boston.

Jim, did you fill that top wing with putty? Sorry if I missed your explanation,

that looks serious from here.

Must have been a nightmare, throwing those Mitchell's off the deck just to toss a few eggs onto Tokyo.....

But the Psychological impact must never be forgotten,,,,,,,doing things because they are hard....

Dom

Nice work again Jim, you are moving right along!

Afraid I haven't gotten much done either, been a bit pollinated and what I have gotten done is mostly to a 1/35th Sherman I've been practicing some new techniques on.

Leaving for vacation Monday, hopefully will feel like jumping back in with things when I get back.  

jimbot58

It looks like many of us have been kept busy by real life. I'm still working extra hours and more than once found myself too tired to do much when I get home. Seems that working in a warehouse is hard on this mid-fifty year old body.

I have managed a little work. I temporarily taped major parts together so I could judge the weight on the nose and  add the needed weights:

No tail sitter now.

After gluing in the fishing weights, I cemented the upper and lower fuselage parts together. The mating surfaces don't match exactly, so I have work to do there.

I also been working on the wings, filling a nasty seam and then attaching actuators to the lower surface. There are also some small parts that correct the dog tooth on the wings to make it correct for the Growler. One side is done. Also visible is the other afterburner can. rolled up and glued with CA.

This wing you can see that dog-tooth correction here, plus I put one of the AN/ALQ-99 pods together and added the PE details provided by the Eduard set. I tend to jump around a bit, but it gives me things to do while waiting for glue to dry on other parts.

Ken, hope you get caught up on everything so you can get back to the important things like leisure.

On a bit of a somber note, today marks the 56th anniversary of my parent's wedding day. Seems like the calender is full of all these dates to stumble through. Mother's day is already giving me trouble.

Jim

Most excellent work once again Jim!  Well done as always!     

Thank you for thinking of me.  This week has had me running so hard I don't know which way is up!  I was hoping that today I was going to get a chance to see the workbench but it didn't happen.  But I did manage to make some money on the side which I desperately need (working on other people's computers), since our property tax is due next month and it has doubled this year!

Ken

Hi Everyone,

I did make a small score on eBay today!  Dom, you are going to be jealous again. 

It is only 8.5 inches X 11 inches, but you know how much I love the Voodoo!  I stole this for only  $14.00 (that is including the shipping charges!)

Ken

Gamera

Nice work again Jim, you are moving right along!

Afraid I haven't gotten much done either, been a bit pollinated and what I have gotten done is mostly to a 1/35th Sherman I've been practicing some new techniques on.

Leaving for vacation Monday, hopefully will feel like jumping back in with things when I get back.  

So Cliff, going anywhere worth taking the camera to?   

Ken

Son Of Medicine Man

Hi Everyone,

I did make a small score on eBay today!  Dom, you are going to be jealous again. 

It is only 8.5 inches X 11 inches, but you know how much I love the Voodoo!  I stole this for only  $14.00 (that is including the shipping charges!)

Ken

Ken:

Pure Beauty man,

yeah, I am jealous....

no fair.....LOL

thanks for sharing the images man, very much appreciated,

as I sulk in my cave of jealousy....LMAO........

Dom

Ken: Congrads on picking up a little extra cash, certainly doesn't hurt the way things are going. And another cool work of art!

I was headed up to West Virginia, I don't think there's much military related that way. I was hoping to tour the old Congressional Bunker. And if I should get a photo of the Mothman I'll be sure to post it!

Gamera

Ken: Congrads on picking up a little extra cash, certainly doesn't hurt the way things are going. And another cool work of art!

I was headed up to West Virginia, I don't think there's much military related that way. I was hoping to tour the old Congressional Bunker. And if I should get a photo of the Mothman I'll be sure to post it!

Lots of thing to see in West Virginia, including the World's Largest Teapot, The John Brown Wax Museum, and the Mystery Hole! Lots more here! Enjoy your vacation!

Hi all. Just back in town and getting caught up on all the GB stuff. Very impressive work Jim; love the slight paint chipping you did in and around the cockpit. Ken, the Voodoo pic looks great. I always appreciate the style of artwork from that era.

I was on the opposite coast when the Boston attack happened but as a former resident of Mass I couldn't help but think of the friends I still have there. Will never understand the rationale that causes individuals to do that type of thing.

Greetings Everyone!

I have finally grabbed a chance to sit at my workbench!  I polished the painted exhaust turbines and the exhaust nozzles that I had painted with the Model Master Titanium Buffing Metalizer.  Here are a couple of pictures:

I also painted the ends of the exhaust cans a lighter shade of green to give the effect of "wear" that they normally would exhibit.  Here is a picture of those:

I got the effect I was looking for here.  A non uniform spotty effect toward the ends where the color green was getting lighter towards the ends.

Next I will mix up some wash (a dark green color) to bring out the lines.  I like to use a darker shade of the same color for a wash since the effect I am going for is to make it appear the shadow of light is making the lines appear.

Since I have to go into work tonight I will have to wait until tomorrow for the wash application.

Ken 

Those are looking nice, Ken!  Looking forward to seeing how the wash turns out!

Russ

Striker8241

Those are looking nice, Ken!  Looking forward to seeing how the wash turns out!

Russ

Thank you Russ for the compliments!

I don't know if anyone is interested, but another one of those Voodoos is up for sale on eBay for $15.00.  Here is a link:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=111061874189&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:3160 

Ken

Hi Everyone,

I have applied the wash to the exhaust cans.  Here is how they turned out:

I probably should have gone a little lighter on the shade of green but I am not going to change it.  If you care to know the formula that I use; it is approximately 2 parts Model Master Acryl to 1 part Model Master Acrylic Thinner and 2/3 part dish soap.  I let it dry for a few minutes and then rub it off with a cotton swab.

Ken 

Those look good, Ken! Are you going to spray maybe a little metallic sheen around the outer edges to simulate the effects of heat? Just curious .

Good job!

Russ

Striker8241

Those look good, Ken! Are you going to spray maybe a little metallic sheen around the outer edges to simulate the effects of heat? Just curious .

Good job!

Russ

Hi Russ,

Thank you for the compliment!

No this part is the inside where the color is green.  The pictures I have in the book I am using shows it very clearly.  I have not found any on the internet or I would post them here.  Here is a link to where Berny describes them:

http://cs.finescale.com/fsm/modeling_subjects/f/2/t/43399.aspx 

Ken

Hi Everyone,

I am totally upset!    The Aires exhaust came with photo etch shown here:

This is supposed to fit inside the exhaust cans just to the rear of the exhaust turbine fan.  Since it came with the Aires kit, you would expect it to fit!  But they don't, they are too big.  Here is a picture:

In an attempt to cut them down so they would fit, I destroyed them.  Here is the result:

I spent a lot of time trying to make them work but now they look like garbage.  And the kit was not cheap! $24.00 plus shipping!

I have looked to see if anyone else has ever encountered the same problem and the funny thing is, I have not found a single picture that anyone has posted of a successful install of this photo etch.  The only pictures I have found is of the outside of the engines.  So I am guessing that nobody else has ever successfully installed the photo etch either.

I am going to try one more thing.  Eduard makes a set of photo etch to fit the original Hasegawa exhaust.  I will order it and see if it will fit.

The exhaust will just look completely wrong without the photo etch or I would blow it off.

Ken

Kripes'a'mighty Ken:

What the heck happened to those flame holders, they look

like a flock of birds got inhaled and blown out the back end!!!

Very frustraing!!!

Dom

Bockscar

Kripes'a'mighty Ken:

What the heck happened to those flame holders, they look

like a flock of birds got inhaled and blown out the back end!!!

Very frustraing!!!

Dom

Thanks Dom.  Frustrating is an understatement!  I think this will be the last time I purchase anything from Aires.  Their detail looks great, but when you spend that kind of money, you should not have to work so hard to make it fit. Never again!

Ford Motor Company did this to me many years ago (20 to be exact) and I have never owned a Ford since.

It would be different if I were trying to customize or change something about the kit.  But this is a part that came with the kit that should just drop in!!!!

Ken

Son Of Medicine Man

Bockscar

Kripes'a'mighty Ken:

What the heck happened to those flame holders, they look

like a flock of birds got inhaled and blown out the back end!!!

Very frustraing!!!

Dom

Thanks Dom.  Frustrating is an understatement!  I think this will be the last time I purchase anything from Aires.  Their detail looks great, but when you spend that kind of money, you should not have to work so hard to make it fit. Never again!

Ford Motor Company did this to me many years ago (20 to be exact) and I have never owned a Ford since.

It would be different if I were trying to customize or change something about the kit.  But this is a part that came with the kit that should just drop in!!!!

Ken

It should'a been a 'smooth & effortless transaction'......

Especially with a part thinner than paper and smaller around than a NY Subway Token.

Did they say in the instructions you needed to be a certified neuro-surgeon to get the

thing to fit? Why put carp like that in the box if it turns out to be a scratch build?

Any way they would replace the parts, not that you want to go there a second time.

We used to call Fords 'Fix Or Replace Daily'.......

Dom

I did send an email to Aires and explained to them my experience.  So we will see what their response is.

Ken

Well after doing some research I found that Eduard's Brassin line has a set of cans that received a very high rating.  So I think I will just go with them.  Here is a link to the review:

http://www.scaleplasticandrail.com/kaboom/index.php/component/content/article/44/737-148-brassin-f-4-exhaust-nozzles-early-for-hasegawa-kits-from-eduard 

Scale Hobbyist has them listed for $25.19.  At this point I am so fed up with the Aires kit I am going to toss them in the trash.  But I will wait until this set shows up just to make sure that they do fit better.

As a bonus they throw in the arrestor hook which does look a lot better than the one molded onto the fuselage.

Ken

yeah Ken;

Might as well not get a second best for this build, you put in way too much time and expense to get it messed up with carppy parts.

those flame holders are tricky as they sit behind the turbine cones, that is a little farther Aft, 'in-front' of the cones if your looking at them from the turkey feather perspective.

Actually very surprised Aires hasn't figured that one out. That's a good heads up for the rest of us, so the bad experience won't go entirely to waste.

I would like to see the Brassin PE over-top the Aires to check for tolerances.

Dom

Son Of Medicine Man

Hi Everyone,

I am totally upset!    The Aires exhaust came with photo etch shown here:

This is supposed to fit inside the exhaust cans just to the rear of the exhaust turbine fan.  Since it came with the Aires kit, you would expect it to fit!  But they don't, they are too big.  Here is a picture:

In an attempt to cut them down so they would fit, I destroyed them.  Here is the result:

I spent a lot of time trying to make them work but now they look like garbage.  And the kit was not cheap! $24.00 plus shipping!

I have looked to see if anyone else has ever encountered the same problem and the funny thing is, I have not found a single picture that anyone has posted of a successful install of this photo etch.  The only pictures I have found is of the outside of the engines.  So I am guessing that nobody else has ever successfully installed the photo etch either.

I am going to try one more thing.  Eduard makes a set of photo etch to fit the original Hasegawa exhaust.  I will order it and see if it will fit.

The exhaust will just look completely wrong without the photo etch or I would blow it off.

Ken

Augh! That's terrible, Ken! I hope they at least give your money back!

Russ

Son Of Medicine Man

Well after doing some research I found that Eduard's Brassin line has a set of cans that received a very high rating.  So I think I will just go with them.  Here is a link to the review:

http://www.scaleplasticandrail.com/kaboom/index.php/component/content/article/44/737-148-brassin-f-4-exhaust-nozzles-early-for-hasegawa-kits-from-eduard 

Scale Hobbyist has them listed for $25.19.  At this point I am so fed up with the Aires kit I am going to toss them in the trash.  But I will wait until this set shows up just to make sure that they do fit better.

As a bonus they throw in the arrestor hook which does look a lot better than the one molded onto the fuselage.

Ken

Bummer! Now you've got to do all that work over again! It does look like the Eduard kit has more going for it though. Good luck!

Russ

Just read of your adversities Ken. Having only purchased Eduard in the past I'm not too familiar with Aires but they certainly dropped the ball on this one. Hopefully you'll get some restitution.

Thank you everyone for your support!  I did spend a lot of time on them but not a great deal.  As Dom said, I can't install them looking like that after all the work I have put into the rest of the kit.

Aires did get back with me and they are sending another set of photo etch.  But I don't know if I could do any better with another set!  Plus they are coming all the way from the Czech Republic, so who knows how long it will take to get here.

I have already ordered the Eduard Brassin set and it will probably be here before the end of the week.  Of course I will still have to paint everything again so it will be a close race!  But the Eduard Brassin set has the extra detail parts so it may not matter.

Ken

Hey guys, just got back tonight.

Nice job on cans Ken, sorry about the flame holders- yes I hate bleeping PE parts. Seems like they'd at least size them to fit the kit though.

Son Of Medicine Man

Thank you everyone for your support!  I did spend a lot of time on them but not a great deal.  As Dom said, I can't install them looking like that after all the work I have put into the rest of the kit.

Aires did get back with me and they are sending another set of photo etch.  But I don't know if I could do any better with another set!  Plus they are coming all the way from the Czech Republic, so who knows how long it will take to get here.

I have already ordered the Eduard Brassin set and it will probably be here before the end of the week.  Of course I will still have to paint everything again so it will be a close race!  But the Eduard Brassin set has the extra detail parts so it may not matter.

Ken

it is kind of weird, trying to find the correct procedure to install the flame holders.

But here is a hint:

It looks like Eduard's solution is to cut he inner rings out, and just attach them directly to the turbine cone.

See that step in the cone? that is where the old kit attaches them.

I'll keep looking, this is actually a very interesting problem, I don't know how Aires could mess up

so many customers like that, there is no way you could be the first or only one suffering their lack of foresight.

Dom

here are some more shots:

and:

Link is:

http://www.eduard.com/store/Eduard/Brassin/Aircraft/1-48/F-4-exhaust-nozzles-early-1-48.html

Just a thought, I don't think you can squeeze the Aires outside ring inside the cans, the flame holders have to sit on the cones, on that step.

Just a thought.

dom

Hi Everyone!

I found some pictures of the inside exhaust of a J-79 engine on the internet:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nutleyboy/3801308723/ 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/fujiboy/1023874372/lightbox/ 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Or6mIaSWZ8g 

After studying these very closely, the Eduard Brassin kit is a much better resemblance to the J-79 than the Aires kit.

Ken