She's coming along great Jim, love all the detail you painted on the electronic boxes.

Jim, too much technical jargon; you may have to dumb it down for me!

mikeymize

Jim, too much technical jargon; you may have to dumb it down for me!

That's funny!   

Ken

jimbot58

Getting busy under there!

Awesome job Jim!  I still can't believe how you can do that at 1/72 scale!  It just blows me away.

Ken

Gamera

She's coming along great Jim, love all the detail you painted on the electronic boxes.

I can't take all the credit there: the faces of the boxes are actually pre-painted PE parts.

Ken, I honestly don't know how I do this either. My eyesight is not what it was, and my hands are not as steady either. I did mention before how I use my near-sightedness to an advantage-by taking off my glasses, I can see up close fairly well.

Hi Everyone,

I think I have the cockpit, avionics bay, and front wheel bay cut, filed, and sanded to where they are going to fit together.  Here is the front view picture:

 And here is the side view:

Another shot a little closer showing the cockpit and fuselage seam:

When it is time to glue this all together it is going to be intense.  I will have to use 30 minute epoxy so I will have time to get everything lined up.  The avionics bay since it is going around a curve in the front will have to be pushed in at the front using a wedge under the rubberband while the epoxy sets.

The next step is to paint the auxillary air intakes so that they can be glued in place inside the fuselage before the fuselage halves go together.

Ken

Son Of Medicine Man

Hi Everyone,

I think I have the cockpit, avionics bay, and front wheel bay cut, filed, and sanded to where they are going to fit together.  Here is the front view picture:

 And here is the side view:

Another shot a little closer showing the cockpit and fuselage seam:

 

When it is time to glue this all together it is going to be intense.  I will have to use 30 minute epoxy so I will have time to get everything lined up.  The avionics bay since it is going around a curve in the front will have to be pushed in at the front using a wedge under the rubberband while the epoxy sets.

The next step is to paint the auxillary air intakes so that they can be glued in place inside the fuselage before the fuselage halves go together.

Ken

Wow, that's gonna be nice, Ken! I don't envy your button up, but you know what you're doing. I used super glue so I had to wedge the body halves apart while I glued from the front and worked toward the rear. Next time, I'll use that long period epoxy instead. Thanks for the idea!

Those ejection seats look fantastic!   

Russ

Jim: Ah yeah I think you said several times that the box fronts were pre-painting PE, still in 1/72nd that's just insane detail!

Ken: Good luck with getting the glue to seal everything up. That is one honey of a cockpit, looking forward to seeing how the rest of her turns out.

Yow! Today I am working wounded! Somehow, while performing the mundane task of putting clothes in the dryer, I managed to rip a decent size piece of flesh out of my thumb, when I caught the side of the door just the wrong way. So I ended up working a bit handicapped tonight with my thumb wrapped in a bandage! You never realize just how handy thumbs are when you are trying to do delicate work!

I did manage to get somethings done:

Putting on the last avionics bay door, and the missile rail for the right side:Sorry if it's a bit out of focus.

Also trying to add some wash to the Bullpups as they were a bit bland as they were.

Another view. The door looks out of whack, but that's just the camera angle. Plus it a bit out of scale too thick. Wish I had sanded it down a but....Oh, well!

Here is a first for me-empty frets for the PE parts! This was the Avionics set, but the cockpit set looks the same. There were actually a couple of pieces left here, but they were just too tiny for me to do. You can see them here as parts #39 and #24. Part 42 was a spare.

Well, me and my boo-boo thumb are off to bed.

Jim

Striker8241

Wow, that's gonna be nice, Ken! I don't envy your button up, but you know what you're doing. I used super glue so I had to wedge the body halves apart while I glued from the front and worked toward the rear. Next time, I'll use that long period epoxy instead. Thanks for the idea!

Those ejection seats look fantastic!   

Russ

Thank you Russ for the compliments!  I appreciate them!

Ken

Gamera

Jim: Ah yeah I think you said several times that the box fronts were pre-painting PE, still in 1/72nd that's just insane detail!

Ken: Good luck with getting the glue to seal everything up. That is one honey of a cockpit, looking forward to seeing how the rest of her turns out.

Thank you Cliff for saying that.  I do appreciate it!

Ken

jimbot58

Yow! Today I am working wounded! Somehow, while performing the mundane task of putting clothes in the dryer, I managed to rip a decent size piece of flesh out of my thumb, when I caught the side of the door just the wrong way. So I ended up working a bit handicapped tonight with my thumb wrapped in a bandage! You never realize just how handy thumbs are when you are trying to do delicate work!

I did manage to get somethings done:

Putting on the last avionics bay door, and the missile rail for the right side:Sorry if it's a bit out of focus.

Also trying to add some wash to the Bullpups as they were a bit bland as they were.

Another view. The door looks out of whack, but that's just the camera angle. Plus it a bit out of scale too thick. Wish I had sanded it down a but....Oh, well!

Here is a first for me-empty frets for the PE parts! This was the Avionics set, but the cockpit set looks the same. There were actually a couple of pieces left here, but they were just too tiny for me to do. You can see them here as parts #39 and #24. Part 42 was a spare.

Well, me and my boo-boo thumb are off to bed.

Jim

Hi Jim,

Great work once again!      You must be very close to being finished.  Are you going to enter that into any contests? 

Sorry to hear about your thumb, I hope it heals quickly.  That is the one digit that we use the most and for me it sure is a pain when it is out of commission like that.

I will never use all of the PE parts on a single fret for the F-4E I am building.  I have purchased so many different ones that overlap that I have used parts off of each one but in different areas.  That is pretty awesome how you did that!  That is a lot of small parts that you put together!!   

Ken

Hey Cliff, I have a question for you, being our resident metal finish paint expert!   

Which brand of metal finish paint do you prefer to use?

Ken

Well, Mr. Thumb is doing better today, it doesn't look as bad as I thought it would. It was hard to tell for sure last night as it bled for a long, long time. I usually do heal pretty fast, which is a good sign, I guess. It could be worse-my friend calls me and tells me his sister is on the way to the hospital-seems she cut off part of the fleshy part of her finger with a kitchen knife!

As far as a contest goes, I thought that would be interesting to do one day, but there are few contests in the Denver area. There is an IPMS convention going on later this year in Loveland, which is in the northern part of the state, but it is open to members only. I am not much for joining things then going to meetings and all that. I tend to be a bit of a private person, I guess.

Another friend also phoned to tell me his wife in going in for surgery for an aneurism in her brain. Somehow they go in through a vein in her groin to reach it and reinforce it somehow. I don't understand how that works, but then I'm not a surgeon. Seems like it would be easier to get there from a vessel in her neck, but I have heard of this before.  I hope for the best for them them both. They were there for a lot of support when Mom passed.

Hello. Almost ready to call this project done. A few touches, plus the pitot tubes will need to added. The camera was wanting to focus on the background so they are a little fuzzy.

The only parts left of the cockpit set was #34 here, only one of which you are supposed to use. It's a handle on the canopy the pilot uses to close it, I assume. Don't know if I will use it or not because of the fact I'm going to leave the cockpit closed.

I needed to cement in this bulkhead inside the canopy and it's the reason I have to close it. If open, it hits the seat back and won't set in the proper position.

I tried to get some of the cockpit here but it didn't turn out very well. I'm not gluing the canopy in place in case I want to show it off. I'll have to try and get a better photo later.

Almost there:

A view from below:

Maybe this weekend, it will be decent weather and I can take a better photo of her. Until then:

These are some experiments with the settings on the camera so I don't always have to reduce to reduce them in order to upload them to Imageshack. I can turn the resolution down and they are fine for forum posting. Still learning the thing.

I'll try to get another once those pitot tubes are in place. As to the next build, I'm just going to have to pick up some of the other incomplete kits and see what starts to work itself. I'll be able to announce my build then.

Jim

She sure looks sweet and mean Jim!  Awesome job!      I can't wait to see the photos with sunlight.

By the way, I hope your friend makes it through surgery okay.  That has to be scary stuff.

Ken

Jim: Hope the thumb heals quickly, it is funny you take them for granted till they gets all dinged up!

Really nice work again! I can see enough of the cockpit to tell you put a lot of work into it. And I like the low-slung posture in the last two photos - looks like she's ready to ponce off the carrier deck onto some unsuspecting MiG!

Ken: Actually DoogsATX would be a better person to ask than me but I'll give it a shot. I always use Alclad II, great stuff! It's pretty much foolproof as far as I can tell, the problem is getting a perfect smooth flawless undercoat since every little blemish or problem with show up like an ahem sore thumb... After than the Alclad is pretty easy to apply and get to look good. I've heard good stuff about the acrylic NM finish Talon but never used it.

Gamera

Jim: Hope the thumb heals quickly, it is funny you take them for granted till they gets all dinged up!

Really nice work again! I can see enough of the cockpit to tell you put a lot of work into it. And I like the low-slung posture in the last two photos - looks like she's ready to ponce off the carrier deck onto some unsuspecting MiG!

Ken: Actually DoogsATX would be a better person to ask than me but I'll give it a shot. I always use Alclad II, great stuff! It's pretty much foolproof as far as I can tell, the problem is getting a perfect smooth flawless undercoat since every little blemish or problem with show up like an ahem sore thumb... After than the Alclad is pretty easy to apply and get to look good. I've heard good stuff about the acrylic NM finish Talon but never used it.

Hey thanks guys.

Actually Gamera, the D's won't be leaping off any carrier decks any time soon. They were strictly a land loving Air Force version. We here in Colorado are pretty far from the big water!

Jim

ACK! (Faceplant) What was I thinking!?! 

JIM: The A7 is phenomenal, the fact that it's 1/72 blows me away. I would have needed a microscope to get anywhere close to that level of detail. Bravo Sir!!

jimbot58

Hello. Almost ready to call this project done. A few touches, plus the pitot tubes will need to added. The camera was wanting to focus on the background so they are a little fuzzy.

I tried to get some of the cockpit here but it didn't turn out very well. I'm not gluing the canopy in place in case I want to show it off. I'll have to try and get a better photo later.

Almost there:

A view from below:

Maybe this weekend, it will be decent weather and I can take a better photo of her. Until then:

I'll try to get another once those pitot tubes are in place. As to the next build, I'm just going to have to pick up some of the other incomplete kits and see what starts to work itself. I'll be able to announce my build then.

Jim

Dom

Gamera

Jim: Hope the thumb heals quickly, it is funny you take them for granted till they gets all dinged up!

Really nice work again! I can see enough of the cockpit to tell you put a lot of work into it. And I like the low-slung posture in the last two photos - looks like she's ready to ponce off the carrier deck onto some unsuspecting MiG!

Ken: Actually DoogsATX would be a better person to ask than me but I'll give it a shot. I always use Alclad II, great stuff! It's pretty much foolproof as far as I can tell, the problem is getting a perfect smooth flawless undercoat since every little blemish or problem with show up like an ahem sore thumb... After than the Alclad is pretty easy to apply and get to look good. I've heard good stuff about the acrylic NM finish Talon but never used it.

Hi Cliff,

Thank you for the information!  What are your opinions on the Model Master Metalizer lacquer paint?  I am thinking about using the non buff Steel for the engine inside the auxillary air intakes.  I am also thinking about using it on the avionics bay.  It is an area that I can't get into to make it shine by buffing it.

Ken

Ken: The MM Metalizer is great stuff, looks to me even more like metal than the Alclad. My beef with it is it's so darn delicate. You can mask over Alclad with most anything, the Metalizer will peel if you even give it a dirty look. There are things you can use that are low tack like Post-It Notes or laying a moist piece of paper and spraying with low pressure.

If it's something you're not going to mask like the insides of the intakes it should work great. The avionics bay, I guess it depends on how you're going to mask- if you stuff it full of paper for example you shouldn't have any problems. Just be careful getting anything sticky near it.

Thanks for the info on MM Metalizer. I'm going to try it when I build my F-86. I've always used the rattle cans in the past so this would be the first time I've used an airbrush with it. It'll be a while though as I'm currently working on my T-34 for this GB as well as an SU-85 just to keep doubly occupied lol; they're so similar I figured what the heck!

Gamera

Ken: The MM Metalizer is great stuff, looks to me even more like metal than the Alclad. My beef with it is it's so darn delicate. You can mask over Alclad with most anything, the Metalizer will peel if you even give it a dirty look. There are things you can use that are low tack like Post-It Notes or laying a moist piece of paper and spraying with low pressure.

If it's something you're not going to mask like the insides of the intakes it should work great. The avionics bay, I guess it depends on how you're going to mask- if you stuff it full of paper for example you shouldn't have any problems. Just be careful getting anything sticky near it.

Thank you Cliff for the information once again.  It sounds like it will be just what the doctor ordered then.  I did read on Testor's website about the masking warnings.  They said the no buff could be masked with the low tack tape but not to try to mask the buff Metalizer.  But I will try the wet paper method.

Ken

Ken: I hope it's of use. And too, best not to spray any clear flat over NM paint, I do use MM Metalizer Sealer over Alclad but most clear flat will kill the NM look.

Well, I am declaring the A-7D as complete! Finished! Done! Finalized! I was hoping for a good day of weather this weekend so I could get an outdoor shot of it, but they are calling for lots of the fluffy white cold stuff this Saturday! Failing that, I'll have to see if I can do something indoors with my tarmac and some sort of a neutral background to post on the wall of fame.

I haven't totally locked in my build choice for the 2nd Berny build, but while digging though the stash, this just fell on my desk:

Oops! How did those parts get out of the box?

Then, when I got on the computer,  it seems somebody used my Sprue Brothers account to order a photo-etch cockpit detail set! What nerve! HA-ha!

I haven't officially decided, but this might be the one. I was just waiting to see which kit 'spoke' to me asking for a build.

The PE set won't arrive until maybe Saturday or Monday (it was fairly cheap for 2 day parcel air post, so I'll see if it does arrive that soon!)

In the meantime, there is more than enough to do. Hasegawa corrected several things (or has you do it for them!) carving several details off the fuselage, filling a few panel lines and re-scribing a few others. Plus there are all the dozens of holes to drill out for the numerous antennas, ECM pods and so forth. With 177 parts, this should keep me busy. 

I may also keep another kit going, perhaps the Phantom RF-4B or the F-15E. You know how we talked of that thing with what to do while we wait for the glue or paint to dry.

I probably already have, but I'll make my official commitment later in the week....

Jim

Jim: I LIKE!!! Good choice!

jimbot58

Well, I am declaring the A-7D as complete! Finished! Done! Finalized! I was hoping for a good day of weather this weekend so I could get an outdoor shot of it, but they are calling for lots of the fluffy white cold stuff this Saturday! Failing that, I'll have to see if I can do something indoors with my tarmac and some sort of a neutral background to post on the wall of fame.

I haven't totally locked in my build choice for the 2nd Berny build, but while digging though the stash, this just fell on my desk:

Oops! How did those parts get out of the box?

Then, when I got on the computer,  it seems somebody used my Sprue Brothers account to order a photo-etch cockpit detail set! What nerve! HA-ha!

I haven't officially decided, but this might be the one. I was just waiting to see which kit 'spoke' to me asking for a build.

The PE set won't arrive until maybe Saturday or Monday (it was fairly cheap for 2 day parcel air post, so I'll see if it does arrive that soon!)

In the meantime, there is more than enough to do. Hasegawa corrected several things (or has you do it for them!) carving several details off the fuselage, filling a few panel lines and re-scribing a few others. Plus there are all the dozens of holes to drill out for the numerous antennas, ECM pods and so forth. With 177 parts, this should keep me busy. 

I may also keep another kit going, perhaps the Phantom RF-4B or the F-15E. You know how we talked of that thing with what to do while we wait for the glue or paint to dry.

I probably already have, but I'll make my official commitment later in the week....

Jim

Great work Jim on completing the A-7D!    Congratulations!

And that Hasegawa Growler looks like a sweet kit!  Looks like you better start glueing some pieces together that fell out on that workbench before they get lost!   

I look forward to seeing the pictures of the completed A-7D!  If you want to wait for a sunny day, by all means then do.  It surely can wait another week.  After all that work you put into it, it deserves it!

Ken

Hi Everyone,

Well I ordered the Model Master Metalizer paint.  But the place I ordered it from doesn't appear to have even dropped it off at the USPS yet.  I ordered it on Sunday.  I sent them an email just a while ago, so I will see what they have to say.  I don't like just sitting around waiting for something to show up in the mail in the first place, let alone to have the place I ordered it from take their sweet time!    They showed it being in stock but now I have my doubts.

Ken