GH, that cockpit looks super nice and that IP, WOW!!! That is simply stunning. 

BK

blkhwkmatt

So I began working on the Dragon/DML YF-23 last night and have decided to change my entry.  Looking at all thelse parts ( was an open box eBay purchase), I realized that I don't have the canopy pieces at all, and that the lower wings were very warped.  

I looked again on ebay, to see if I could pick up another one cheap,  but  nope.  Did a little more research and and found that this kit is the least accurate of all offerings.  With all that being said, I did manage to get it mostly built in about two hours.  Would have lots of sanding, filling and so on.  Was planning on using some 1/72 scale F-16 decals to depict an operational fighter.

I'll let you all know what I'll be replacing it with shortly. 

<Matt

 

BK

So I began working on the Dragon/DML YF-23 last night and have decided to change my entry.  Looking at all thelse parts ( was an open box eBay purchase), I realized that I don't have the canopy pieces at all, and that the lower wings were very warped.  

I looked again on ebay, to see if I could pick up another one cheap,  but  nope.  Did a little more research and and found that this kit is the least accurate of all offerings.  With all that being said, I did manage to get it mostly built in about two hours.  Would have lots of sanding, filling and so on.  Was planning on using some 1/72 scale F-16 decals to depict an operational fighter.

I'll let you all know what I'll be replacing it with shortly. 

<Matt

Thanks Bish. I'll have decals on the go starting on Monday evening.

Rob S.

More progress to report. Got the 'cam' job done on the CF-18. Had a bit of a disaster as you will see below, but, fortunately it was an easy fix.

Whooops, didn't expect this when I pulled the tape off. I rarely get this much damage from Tamiya acrylics! Oh, well, it wasn't a show stopper!!

All fixed. Still can't get over a modern jet fighter with British WW2 colour scheme!

 

Nice recovery there. Its loking good. The RAF had a Eurofighter in a BoB scheme, would be nice to see the pair together.

Here are a few pics of where I'm at with her.  First off the box and a couple of sprue shots, them to the decal sheet and the pit PE, then the pit in various stages.  Welcome to AF 67-463

GH: Sounds cool, looking forward to the photos. 

Rob:Looking really good, looking forward to the decals next week. 

So, Canada Day long weekend, so, I imagine this will be a break from the '18 for me. I have a few more pics and I'll get back at 'er next week.

I forgot to photograph it, but, I did spend some time painting and masking off the landing gear and wells.

here she is with her gloss coat:

Finished scraping off the pit areas that get PE, drug the box off the pile and got it over to work so I could get it washed down.  Will get some start pics up before the w/e is over on paint and office work.  Got digging in the decal envelope that was in the RF4C box that I bought in a frenzy back when, and have 3 sets of Print Scale for 67-463.  Guess I can screw it up a couple of times 

Got to build the RF one of these days or my down under bud will wonder what happened to the PE he sent me.

Can't believe a couple done already and the work done on them.  Nice job guys.  And a couple more well on the way and looking great.  Tells me I am going to have to step up my abilities to try and catch up on quality.

Rob, I'll echo the nice save.  The Betty I'm doing for the Japanese GB has the same issue and have got to finish fixing that......just flat out aggrivating, but haven't been in the mood, as I have to redo the green crosses as well.

**EDIT**  4 hours later and have most of the pit together and painted a dark gray (MM dark gray with about 15% MM interior black).  Will get the thing highlighted and PE on over the w/e.

Thanks Theuns, I'll adopt that method.

The way I remove masking tape that had yielded good results is to lift one corner with a tweezer and then fold the tape back on itself. Then i SLOWLY pull back the tape so that the "non-glue sides" are back to back -sliding.

This way you don't put any real "pull" on the paint under the tape.

Hope it helps

Theunbs

Rob: Geeeessssshhhhhhhh, I hate repairing paint when it gets ripped up like that, but everything looks perfect now.

I looked around and didn't have any paint for the Viper, hoping to go by the hobby shop this evening and pick what I need so I can get cracking on the cockpit and close the thing up.

Rob. nice paint work and even better save. I am always fearful that will happen when I use tape so I look for ways to mask without using any tape whenever I can. It looks  super nice.

BK

Nice save on the hornet's camo.

Theuns

@Rob S,

Nice come back on the paint issue! And I have to agree, the modern aircraft with commemorative paint schemes are really cool.

@jelliott523,

The U-2 is looking great! I know you'll do a great job re-scribing. I was thinking, after seeing your pictures, that plane is a lot bigger than I had thought.

@Thuens,

Good job on the interior so far. Looking forward to seeing more.

Gamera

Jelliott: I know what you mean with those older kits, are you going to rescribe everything? Lotta work but she's gonna look cool.

 

My plan is to "attempt" to rescribe what I can. Fortunately it shouldnt be too bad since the only areas where the line is completely gone is along the fuslage seam. The rest of the seams will provide a good area to line up for rescribing. It's crazy how big this thing is at 1/48, the wing span is almost 26"! I'm definitely going to have to find somewhere to display this...most likely on its own shelf.

Actually, I'm really looking forward to getting it done, it hopefully will turn out nice.

More progress to report. Got the 'cam' job done on the CF-18. Had a bit of a disaster as you will see below, but, fortunately it was an easy fix.

Whooops, didn't expect this when I pulled the tape off. I rarely get this much damage from Tamiya acrylics! Oh, well, it wasn't a show stopper!!

All fixed. Still can't get over a modern jet fighter with British WW2 colour scheme!

Some great looking progress thus far Theuns and jelliot. U-2 was always one I want to add to my collection.

Jelliott: I know what you mean with those older kits, are you going to rescribe everything? Lotta work but she's gonna look cool.

Theuns: Lots of work there too, but looks cool so far. I built a medevac UH-60 a few years ago and the interior is totally different from the regular chopper, I was able to buy a resin interior though. 

Theuns

The problem with this kit is that the cabin detail basically is only a floor and some formers in the rear boom. There is no roof of formers in the front section so I have to make it all from scratch.
I cut strips of styrene and started glueing them the the fuse side. The inadequite rear detail I had to file away and will have to do like the rest of the fuse. Then I will have to somehoe figure out how to shape anbd make the roof lining.

This is the effect I want but will have to take some artistic licence with some of the detail.


Theuns

PS sorry for the copy and paste but I was not in the mood to re write the whole post :-)

 

BK

The problem with this kit is that the cabin detail basically is only a floor and some formers in the rear boom. There is no roof of formers in the front section so I have to make it all from scratch.
I cut strips of styrene and started glueing them the the fuse side. The inadequite rear detail I had to file away and will have to do like the rest of the fuse. Then I will have to somehoe figure out how to shape anbd make the roof lining.

This is the effect I want but will have to take some artistic licence with some of the detail.


Theuns

PS sorry for the copy and paste but I was not in the mood to re write the whole post :-)

Some progress on the 1/48 U-2S: The moldes are old! Lots of flash and some poorly fitting seams. By the time all is said and done, I'm going to end up having to rescribe all the panel lines as they are all raised detail, and with the amount of sanding of joints and filler, there wont be much left in the way of recognizable panels. I'm not going to go too overboard on those panels though. Here's what I've got so far.

(Note: I did have to take out the PE instrument panel as I was having issues dry fitting the front canopy glass. I'll have to shave some of the PE down to get the windscreen to fit properly.)

As Mathew McConaughey would say "All right, al right, al right!"

Pencil me in for this one please.

Italeri 1/72 MH53e. I will have to do a load of scratch building to get it up to standards...

Theuns

Theuns

Will a MH-53e Sea Dragon work here?

 

Theuns

 

BK

Will a MH-53e Sea Dragon work here?

Theuns

Wow, you are moving right along! Already with the first coat of paint!!! 

Thanks folks, it's going well. 

She's definately an '18 now

managed to get the Flat Earth down

That's it for now. I'll let that set up and get back at it tomorrow. Landing gear went on fine. No glitches thus far. A bit of sanding, but, that's normal. Enjoying the build thus far.

Rob, wow, you are moving right along. Looks like a F-18 already.

BK

Looks good Rob. I have nevr had issues with Academy kits. The only really issue i have heard of is the decals.