STEALTH PLANES GROUP BUILD

You´re making good progress Darwin. Do you remember the kitbashing story in FSM not so long ago, I think Paul Boyer wrote it. Did he make a C also, or was it some other blackbird?
What are you going to use for decals?

Keep it up /Johan

QUOTE: Originally posted by Gilmund You´re making good progress Darwin. Do you remember the kitbashing story in FSM not so long ago, I think Paul Boyer wrote it. Did he make a C also, or was it some other blackbird? What are you going to use for decals? Keep it up /Johan

Johan,
Yes, I remember Mr Boyer's article. He made the original Blackbird, the A-12 using the same SR front end and F-12 back end. I have been planning on using this technique to build an A-12, an M-21 and an SR-71C for several years. He got it done before I did.
The C model used the same high visibility markings as the early A models so that part will use either kit decals or basic AM marks. The only thing I have to do is cobble together the tail number 17981 and the nacelle "Buzz" number 981. I have enough white numbers to pull that off. I also have to scratch build all the various parts of her "Hangar Queen Dress". It will definately conjure up visions of Scarlet O'Hara.

blkhwkmatt,
Yes, it does seem unworldly or futuristic doesn't it? The design of the Titanium Wonderbird is nearly 50 years old and even today would be considered cutting edge technology. She will still outperform anything else currently in the sky or even planned.
A testament to the unbridled genius of Kelly Johnson, Ben Rich and the rest of the Skunk Works gang. I feel so priviledged to have stood in her shadow for those 12 years.

Darwin, O.F.

Some more notes on the F-19/F-117 history...
I thought I had head somewhere that F-117 was chosen because it was a number that wouldn't raise much suspicion by any spys out there since it didn't fit the normal naming convention. I thought (and I could be wrong) that they used to use designations of F-116 for some F-16s that had been modified to simulate MiGs for combat traning... but I begin to question that since the F-16 was still rather new when the F-117 was developed.

As for the "Aurora" code name, I recall reading that it was the original code name used by the B-2 program and since that was about the time the SR-71 was being retired, it was assumed to be replacement for the Blackbird... but by the time the B-2 became a "white world" program, the idea was intrenched. An interesting side note to the SR-71 replacement is the Lockheed Martin has been working on a stealthy UAV based on their Dark Star (presumably) and was actually flown during the intial phases of the Iraq war. There were reports of U-2 pilots complaining about other aircraft in their airspace! The Air Force has officially acknowledged its existance, but they haven't said much more... should be interesting to find out in a few years or decades.

As for my F-117 model, I'm about ready to start decaling soon. I'll put up some pics when I get there.

Hmmm, interesting that.
I'm back from a week training with the AAC out in the scrub! 6 days of running around in the bush, sleeping in the mud and hooning in the back of Land Rovers! Great fun! However, that means that my build has gone by the board. I'll get back to it asap.
How's everyone else's going? Any pics?
Cheers,
John

QUOTE: Originally posted by johnforster [ I'm back from a week training with the AAC out in the scrub! How's everyone else's Doing? Any pics? Cheers, John

John,
The basic construction is complete on my SR-71C, clear coat applied, decals just finished this evening, (d _ _ _ there are a lot of those little suckers), and I am working on the finishing touches. It should be done in another day or two. I will post pictures then.

Darwin, O.FL

I have finished my SR-71C trainer/Hangar Queen for this GB. I have posted a more complete write up on the general aircraft forum. I will repost the pictures here.

Darwin, O.F.









More photos can be viewed at: www.bellevillercflyers.com/gallery/album109 .

Yardbird, I must say that you have a great looking SR-71. That is a very impressive build. Congrats!!!

Great build yardbird!

Due to injuries I am extending the deadline of this build to the end of the year. May seem like overkill so feel free to do mutliple builds. Sorry but I am unable to do any sort of modelling at the moment and probably won't for another 2 months.

Hope this is okay with everyone.

Dan

Not good news, mate.
No good news from me either, chaps. I've shelved the SR-71 for the moment, as I STILL can't find the missing clear sprue!!
However, I'm not pulling out of the build. This gave me a perfect excuse to buy the Testors 1/72 B-2 Spirit, I've been eyeing off for awhile!!
Has anyone else built this kit before? Anything I should know about? I'll post when I've opened the box, which will be a while, because I want to finish my Hornet for the 1/72 Attack a/c GB first, then give myself some workbench space. This is looking like being a BIG model!!
Cheers,
John

Glad you'll be doing a B2 John. I really wanted to do that as my build but could not find a stockist anywhere locally.

Can't wait for piccies!

Here's some pics of the sprues. I couldn't help myself, I just HAD to have a peek into the box!! Anyway, it's looking like being a great model! Given me heaps of inspiration to finish my Hornet now, just so I can get started on this one!





Cheers,
John

can the model be already in another group build?
if so, I'll join with the SR-71 in 1/72
I'm in the Eye in the Sky Group build

since the recon GB is allowing cross builds, I'll join you guys and do the recon as a cross! if that is ok with you of course
oh, and IF I can join can you set the time limit for me a little past June? or is that asking too much?

I'm sure it could be extended. I've got a 1/72 B-2 that I'm building for this and I haven't even started! Dan?
Cheers,
John

so i can join?

Of course you can join! I think it's pretty likely that the end date will have to be extended anyway, because of Dan's accident!
Cheers,
John

I've already asked this question a couple of weeks ago, but not sure if it's ever answered: is the Rafale considered a stealth jet? If so I'll enter this GB with my Revell 1/48 Rafale M. End of year deadline should be do-able for me.

thanks.

Terry

Hmmm, I'm not really sure, Terry. Does it have any type of cloaking features? Even active stealth technology or a radar-reducing profile would be alright. If it's got any of them, then yeah I guess so..we'll ask Dan...when he gets back on!
Cheers,
John

QUOTE: Originally posted by johnforster Of course you can join! I think it's pretty likely that the end date will have to be extended anyway, because of Dan's accident! Cheers, John

yay! that i can join and
No! for dan's accident

John,
Well, I think the Rafale is only "somewhat" stealthy. It's not designed from the ground up to be radar invisible, but it does have some characteristics you'd find on a true stealth jet: the profile, the jagged edge on the LG doors etc. If the f-117 is 100% stealth, then I'd say the Rafale is 40%.
Terry

QUOTE: Originally posted by loftycomfort John, Well, I think the Rafale is only "somewhat" stealthy. It's not designed from the ground up to be radar invisible, but it does have some characteristics you'd find on a true stealth jet: the profile, the jagged edge on the LG doors etc. If the f-117 is 100% stealth, then I'd say the Rafale is 40%. Terry

If I had a vote about letting you in, I'd have to say yes, based on the fact that I've entered this GB with the Su-47 Berkut which is also only a "somewhat" stealthy aircraft!!!! Hope that you'll get in with us!!!

Update from my personal "skunk works"

With any luck I should be able to rool out my Berkut by tomorrow night!!! I have the assembly complete and will shoot a coat of future tomorrow am then decal. Still am debating on just how much I should weather the bird, since I am finishing it in a psudo-operational scheme. For a 1/144th scale bird, i have invested a good deal of time, but so far it is worth the effort!

Update 16 May 05 - Landing gear is on, so she is sitting on her own now, just have to do some small touch up work and then seal it with future. Didnt get much done this weekend, to much other stuff to do (spring cleaning with the Misses) but I might get something done on it this week.

Hey all, I'm still here just checking in. I got my wing(s) glued together on the Horten 229. I guess you call it wings there really is no fuselage, no tail either so I guess I get to skip some steps ... Should be done quick now I hope. It'll be fun to paint.

Sounds good, I-beam. Piccies?
Cheers,
John

My Su-47 Berkut is complete!! I'll be shooting some pics tonight to post here!!!

It was a fun little build with no major issues on fit except for the underside of the wings just forward of the intakes - huge gap. I left it there beccause it almost looks like it belongs. Maybe next time I'll fill it. I'll post more information on the kit with the pictures!!!

guys, have we decide upon an official end date?
if it's June 2005, I'm dead cos I'm going to ROK over break
if the end date can't be postponed, I'm gonna have to drop out.
I've already started on the cockpit, but I habe serious doubt about finishing before the end date.
I still have a ferdy to finish.
If I knew that I would join so many other GB's I wouldn't have signed up for this.... sorry guys.

QUOTE: Originally posted by jinithith2 guys, have we decide upon an official end date? if it's June 2005, I'm dead cos I'm going to ROK over break if the end date can't be postponed, I'm gonna have to drop out. I've already started on the cockpit, but I habe serious doubt about finishing before the end date. I still have a ferdy to finish. If I knew that I would join so many other GB's I wouldn't have signed up for this.... sorry guys.

i do believe that the end date has been extended to the end of this year. Hope that this news cheers you up!!!

Well, it's been a while, but here are a few pictures of my progress on my 1/48 Academy F-117.



The exhaust I painted using Testors Magnesium Metalizer followed by some light passes with Exhaust Metalizer. Note that I also decided to paint the air vents using a darker black than the rest of the fuselage to make them stand out better.



I dedcided to try and simulate the strange bronze color that can be seen in the intake grill at certain angles. I airbrushed Tamiya "Metalic Brown" from the side of the grill and then painted over it with black from the front of the aircraft. That left some of the metalic color visible from the side angles.

wow caine that looks great! What did you use for the overall color and the tinted clear part.

The canopy on the Academy kit comes tinted in the orange color. The overall color was about a 70/30 mix of Polly-S "NATO Tri Color Black" and "Scale Black".