Interceptor Group Build

Count me in.  I know I faded out of my last GB... sorry, RadMax, I thought you had a cool idea but real life intervened.  Anyhow, I think (hope) I can squeeze in another build before school starts.

I'll go with the ProModeler F-86D in 1/48.  I had intended to build the  RM F-16ADF.  Went to LHS to see if he could order the PE set, since the cockpit is blank plastic (support the locals and all that)... long story short, he couldn't but I ended up buying the Dog Sabre kit I'd been eyeing for a year.  It looks like a very good kit for $26, I'm looking forward to building it.

I'm a big fan of interceptors.  My first completed build after I got back into the hobby a year ago was the RM F-101.  Now if only someone would make an injection-molded MiG-31 in 1/48...

Desdinova wrote:

Outstanding. The F-102 and the -106 both carried some very cool markings, I'm not familiar with the 32nd FIS though or its color schemes. That reminds me of a bizarre story I heard about the F-102 during the Vietnam war. Apparently, they had a couple squadrons moved to southeast asia, I think Thailand, to protect our airspace. Then, someone got the bright idea to use them for ground attack. They were ordered to fly, nap-of-the-earth along the Ho Chi Minh trail in the middle of the night, and look for Vietcong campfires with their infrared gear designed to detect Soviet bombers. Once they found a target, they were to shoot at it with their air-to-air rockets and return to base. Apparently this hilariously ludicrous misapplication of technology lost most of its humor when they started losing pilots left and right from flying into the sides of mountains in the dark. So, fortunately, they stopped doing it. Kind of makes you wonder what the heck they were smoking over there. Though, I do think the Delta Dagger looks pretty good in SEA camo.

I see another one that fell victim to inaccurate fiction reports from "Un named sources".  The F-102 was sent to Vietnam and Thailand and performed the alert duty roll and limited B-52 escort.  They never were used for ground attack at any time during the Vietnam war.  Some one that wanted to glorify the roll the F-102 played in Nam probably started that story and now it is assumed as true.

The 32nd FIS had red, white and blue fan stripes painted on the vertical stab.

Desdinova wrote:

Updated to add the list of participants. I think I might start working on the 106 early just to free up workbench space so I'll have room to work on the F-14. How is that F-102 kit in terms of fit? I thought about getting one but the F-106 was such a pain in the rear that I kind of shied away from it. Not that I don't like a challenge (I don't build many Tamigawa "shake and bake" kits, and for more reasons besides cost), but I have my limits.

The Monogram F-102 was released in the late 80's and does have some fit problems.  With dry fitting and sanding you shouldn't have to much problems.  The weapons bay doors fit very bad and will require careful work to get them to fit properly.  There is a large gap where the lower wing and upper wing join, which will require some filling and sanding.  I have built several and it is a fun kit to build.

I may as well jump on board this GB as well. I will be doing two 1/48 ICM Spitfire Mk VII interceptors decked out as 453 SQN RAAF in WWII using Red Roo Decals.

Bumpitty-bump.

One more day.  I'm really looking forward to starting my Sabre Dawg.  My first NMF (minicraft 727) didn't turn out super-duper but I learned some lessons and I can practice another one on the F-107 I started for the Ohio GB.  I'm going straight OOB with the Wright-Pat decals.

I have three F-102A kits, two Case X and one Case XX wing.  I ordered the TF-102A conversion and will be doing the Case XX as a TF-102A.  The other two are Monogram Pro Modeler Case X which I am doing in the colors of the 32 FIS, aircraft 56-1027.  The TF-102A will be from the 4756 ADWC, Tyndall AFB.

I haven't started on any of them yet, as Spring and Summer projects have come first.  That and I spent a week at my camper in the tri-state area doing some necessary fishing and relaxing.

PanzerWulff wrote:

put me in for a west german F-104 by Hasegawa in 1/48

Which one did you get, the Marinenflieger?

Why not use the kit as a learning curve? Strip the paint job, rescribe - everything? It's always good to have a kit that you don't care about to try new stuff on or try different ways of doing things.

The spitfires will be done, it just will take a break in the weather to strip them and paint them to my satisfaction.

My Six met a similar fate.  That was after I closed the speedbrake and (poorly) filled in the IFR receptacle, too.  But for what that kit costs, I think I'll just try again sometime.  This one will be "target practice" when I finally get an airbrush.

I am mostly done with the Dawg's office.  One look at that 'pit and one understands why most early (and some recent) interceptors had a G.I.B. to work the radar.  The IP attaches to the tub via these itty-bitty side and front consoles.  I fiddled with it for a while yesterday and still couldn't get it quite right, but the IP also fits snugly into the fuselage so I might just glue it in there and work backwards.  Otherwise, I'm pretty pleased with how everything looks.  This was my first time using a wash in the cockpit, a white pencil on the guages, and Future on the gauge faces, and I'm happy with the results.  I don't have a digicam but if I can get usable images with a Polaroid and a scanner I will try to post something.

Overall, it's a very high-quality kit.  The instructions are very thorough and include reference photos and various little tips & hints.

I'm looking to start a 1/48 RAAF Mirage III0 in the next week.

It's an Italeri III E that I'm converting to the Australian O.

It'll have

• Resin cockpit
• resin wheel wells
• Scratchbuilt exhaust/afterburner can
• I'll detail the landing gear with brake lines etc
• Full re-scribe
• Custom decals

I hope to start on the rescribe tonight as I'm waiting for my cockpit to turn up. I'm thinking I'll be scratch building the exhaust can as I don't like my chances of finding an AM part.

Hope this fits the bill.

Mark

Got my resin cockpit and wheel wells and decals last night from High Planes.

Spent the night cutting and sanding to get them to fit this kit as I have a feeling they're for the Heller kit.

I've just about completed the re-scribe, my first, and only have a few line that need correction.

I'll be spending the weekend moving house so I don't think I'll be able to make any real progress as all my paints/AB are packed away.

I think Ill have a crack at my exhaust nozzle tonight.

All this detail work usually kills me but as I can't do anything else I'm quite enjoying it. 

Be warned yg,

My Mirage has twin 30mm paintball canon as per Australian specifications. 

rudy_102 wrote:

How bout we get something Polish in here? I'll do Mirage Hobby's 1/48 scale PZL P.24C of the Turkish AF (that particular plane was export only, even though it was far superior to the P.11 which the PAF used, and this puzzles me greatly as Polish logic is NEVER this stupid).

Ello?

I think the boss is away,

the last post form him on any forum was july 2nd.

I like your idea rudy, that's one mean looking A/C.

Has anyone any ideas on a badge?

Mark T Gold Coast wrote:

Has anyone any ideas on a badge?

I'll do something tomorrow seeing as I still have 4 days till my end of freedom and start of band camp.

Hey Mark you've probably done this but I can't find the post of your finished Mirage. But can you explain how you made the stand for the plane? I'm going to do that for my F-106 since I want to mask as little as possible.

ygmodeler4 wrote:

Hey Mark you've probably done this but I can't find the post of your finished Mirage. But can you explain how you made the stand for the plane? I'm going to do that for my F-106 since I want to mask as little as possible.

YG,

here's a link to the post, http://www.finescale.com/FSM/CS/forums/652058/ShowPost.aspx

You can sort of see the stand. If you are happy to wait a few days I'll be seeing my parents so I'll be able to get a photo of the stand on it's own.

I've made another one for a F-111 http://www.finescale.com/FSM/CS/forums/655211/ShowPost.aspx

I bought the base from a trophy shop for a couple of bucks.

The uprights are some aluminium tube that I got from my LHS and on the mirage the cradle that supports the ac is aluminium tube, on the F-111 it's just coathanger wire sanded with some 600 grit paper then polished with some metal polish.

The coat hanger wire worked best as it is easier to work and didn't cost me anything. (The shirt that used to hang on it is now a rag, win win.)

I drilled the base on the angle I wanted the uprights to sit. The fit was pretty tight so no glue required.

I then bent the wire to form each half of the cradele, set them in the tube and then crimped the tube with pliers to hold them in place. They did need some epoxy to stop them from moving around as I couldn't crimp the tube hard enough.

The mirage one took a while to work but once that was done the F-111 took about 5 mins to make.

I didn't think they were too good myself, I'm really surprised at the responses I've had to them.

Hope I've explaned it well enough, any questions feel free to ask.

Mark

Ok since I couldn't decide which Interceptor to put on the badge I figured I would put them all on. Kind of. Which ever plane you build that the badge you get. If of course everyone is fine with this and the host likes the idea.

F-102

F-86

F-106

F-104

F-14

Spitfire

PZL P.24C

Sorry the first 2 are all weirdish I don't know why they are like it. And if you do decide to use these badges please DO NOT just copy and paste the URL to your sig b/c after this is over I'm going to delete all of the except the F-106 so you need to save to your computer and then put them in your Image hosting thing (ie Photobucket or whatever you have) Thanks

I really like that F-106 badge,

Nice work YG.

Now all we need is for the host to return.....

Well I got some progress pics.


ANd now for the speedbrake.


And now for the closed wheel bays.


And now for the cockpit.

And one of my favorites.

Joe

Looking good YG.

I love the 106 and 102, they are on my list of 'must do' kits. They're so sleek and clean. They belong in the air, not on the ground. I think you made the right choice building it with the gear up.

The cockpit looks great. Is that the OOB offering or AM?

I hope to get back onto my kit soon too.

Thanks Mark.

It's oob and I painted and put the figure in last night w/ Me and my dad's Monday Modelling night. And yes I know yesterday was Wednesday but I t couldn't be Monday or Tuesday. lol.

Here is one of the Mk VII Spitfires prior to applying the decals. The other has gone back for remedial work on the paintjob as finger prints showed up under the varnish. There is also a Mk IX getting done at the same time.

Nice work Harvs,

What did you use to mask the cammo? It looks really good and I can't see any paint edge.

I've not had much luck making paint schemes so I'm really keen to hear what you used.

Got my Cockpit done.

This is the cockpit for my RAAF Mirage III/O

Can't wait to get cracking with the rest of it now.

I have managed a bit of progress with the two Spitfire Mk VII's. The ICM stencil data decals are rubbish but I don't have sufficient of any other kits to replace them. The two aircraft are the same codes but are in fact different tail numbers (plus father-in-laws name is Doug).

Hi all

After a couple of attempts at free handing my cammo, and numerous visits to the sink with some windex, I've decided to give Harv's blu tac method of masking a shot.

Last night I got the grey painted on my mirage and started masking out the green with blue tac.

I can't wait to get home and give it a go.

I'll post some pics as soon as I've got some.

How is everyone else going with theirs?

Mark T Gold Coast wrote:

How is everyone else going with theirs?

I'm looking to start my F102 in about 3 weeks.  Should be fun.  My daughter is going to work on her F101 at the same time so I can teach her how to use the airbrush etc. since our color schemes will be very similar.

Finally got a paint finish I'm happy with!

After several attempts at free handing it and several different colour shades I'm now happy with the result.

I ended up painting the whole a/c grey and then masking the pattern with blue tac as you can see. (Thanks Harvs)

I don't know if it was the blue tac 'bleaching' the paint under where it was applied, as I left it on for 3 days, or if it was just overspray but I ended up with a very obvious lighter colour where the bt was.

I ended up going over the boundary areas again free hand and thought I'd have a shot at 'post shading'.

I've never done anything like this before and am happy with the weathered look.

This is one of the two Mk VII Spitfires i'm building for this GB. It is 99% finished, the exhausts are yet to be glued on and the exhaust stain down the side of the fueslage also require to be done. I class this and the other two ICM Spitfires as 1 foot models, they look better at 1 ft than close up.

Thanks espins.

Dave.

The spitfire looks pretty good to me. I know a photo can tell a thousand lies but i'd be happy with that spit on my shelf.

Mark

Hi everyone,

I've made a bit of progress on the mirage since my last post.

It's now sitting on it's landing gear with canopy on and is just waiting on it's future coat so that I can apply decals and then an oil wash and some weathering.

The tanks are painted and await fitting and the missiles are awaiting their turn under the airbrush.

I hope to have this baby wraped up  by the end of the week as I start a new job next week and don't know how much spare time I'll have.

Scott,

I'm sorry to hear that.

I know how hard it can be to fit all the models in to our spare time.

Sometimes it feels a little too much like hard work and not the relaxing way to pas time that I enjoy.

Hope all the other builds go well and that the F-102 doesn't become a forgotten model in the stash.

Good luck

Mark

Mark T Gold Coast wrote:

Scott, I'm sorry to hear that. I know how hard it can be to fit all the models in to our spare time. Sometimes it feels a little too much like hard work and not the relaxing way to pas time that I enjoy. Hope all the other builds go well and that the F-102 doesn't become a forgotten model in the stash. Good luck Mark

Thanks Mark, I appreciate it.  You totally understand my friend. 

Okay, I've actually started the F-106 in earnest. I have the cockpit halfway done and hope to have some pictures to share by saturday.

By the way, that Mirage looks great. 

Hey guys......

wondering if its too late to join in the fun.

I have a Revell F-106 that I'd like to build up.   (hope you dont have too many 106's alrady)

Sure, go ahead.

Kool.........

Been working on the F-106, cockpit is together, but pics came out blurry.  ITs such a cramped pit anyhow almost nothing shows up from outside.

 Love the detail in the missle bay, but the fuselage fit is somewhat warped.

Any of you other sixers rescribing the panel lines?.....thought about it but chickened out.

Woo Hoo!

Finaly got the mirage finished!

I can't really complain as any of the problems I had were all the result of me. I have to learn to be more patient.

My grandfather used to tell me 'The longest way to get a job done is to take a short cut'

This was the Italeri 1/48 mirage IIIE converted to a RAAF IIIO. The basic kit was ok, but, as this is a model of the aircraft, A3-86, that my Dad had as his own I decided some upgrades were in order. 

As Italeri supply this with raised panel lines I decided now was as good a time as any to learn the art of re-scribing.

I cut the flaps and elevons off and set them as they sit when the ac has shut down and the hydraulic pressure has bled off.

I scratch built the exhaust can using the parts from the one supplied with the kit and some plastic card and tube.

The cockpit tub and seat are fom High Planes. They were not too bad but weren't for this kit and required a lot of work to make them fit. The instrument decals were cut from the kit decal sheet as the resin detail was a little too fine to distinguish the instruments.

The paint is Gunze acrylic and the decals are from High Planes as well. This is the first time I've used post shading and am very happy with the results. The decals needed toning down as they were a little too bright on the weathered aircraft.

This Aircraft was the one and only ac that my dad had his name on during his 20 years in the RAAF.

Wow, that is VERY nice.

The f-106 cockpit is officially finished, I'll see if I can't dig out a camera later today. 

Excellent Mirage!

 Darn good camerawork too. I like the glass table/whatever you are using as a base.....looks cool.

How did that rescribing go?

In other news.......working on the weapons bay.  Lots of nice detail here, but Im dreading fitting the fuselage together....the dry fits reveal major warping issues.

I've decided to do the weapons bay after I get the fuselage together and cleaned up. Right now I'm working on the top fuselage halves, filling seams and sanding. The tail is definitely a real PITA.

I think you have the right idea.....

With the weapons bay open there are a lot of fragile projections to snap off......I should have done my filling and sanding first.......

Oh well.

Thanks for the kind words.

CJ, The scribing went ok. I used a short metal scriber but as it has a conical tip, the deeper I went, the wider the line got.

I've read about an Olfa scriber so I might give that a try next or if I have need to  order from squadron soon I might get one of theirs.

I will try to get models that don't have raised panel lines in the future but there are a lot of them out there that don't, like my revell f-105, so I think it's a good skill to have.

Looks like you're making good progress on the 106. I love that plane. I can't wait to do one myself.

I wish everyone the best with all their builds!

I can't wait to see how they all come out.

Good Luck

Mark

To all the F-106 builders here... what markings have you all settled on?

I picked up a Superscale sheet, 48-1011, with markings for the 49th FIS. Here's a good picture of the aircraft I'm modelling.

Nice looking markings.......

I think Im going with one of the the OOB choices but have not narrowed it down.

FINALLY got the top and bottom fuselage halves together last night after much frustration and cursing.

 Do not attempt this unless you have some clamps available or have six arms.  I finally had to draft my wife to "hold here and squeeze while I apply some glue......"

Tell me about it. I'm not looking forward to doing that again; right now I'm finishing up the seams around the upper fuselage halves while trying to figure out how to get the wing top attached to the lower fuselage without creating a massive stepped seam. The fit is terrible.  Actually, from dry-fitting, the lower-upper fuselage fit doesn't seem that bad by comparison.

Sounds good.......

I've been wearing out a few sanding sticks while trying not to break off the weapons bay pylons.  You dont know how smart you were to save it for later.

On a whim I went ahead and rescribed a 'few' of the wing surfaces to add some detail, but am not going to try and redo all of the panellines.

Nice to see some other F-106 Builders.  Yeah I still need to prime mine.  If you already haven't try to leave the doors off.

cj95 just in case you do this plane again which i highly encourage... The missile bay is supposed to be zinc chromate green.

your build looks real good

and for every other f-106 builder...its alot easier the second time around..trust me.

Hmmmmm........Im basig my colors off a book I have where most of the the wepons bay shots seem to be more of an interior green color.

 Thats also what the instructions call for, thought that is hardly conclusive.

You may be correct, but I'm gonna stick with what matches my photographs.

Anybody know the exact shade of grey for the body?

Ok here is one post. At the end there is a link that proved helpful as well as different peoples suggestions.

/forums/650410/ShowPost.aspx

I'll try some other sites i probably posted on but right now im going to jam on my saxophone with my dad. sorry.

good luck

Anybody know the exact shade of grey for the body?

FS 16473. I don't  know what paints you guys use, but I'm using Model Master Aircraft Gray.

Okay back off work for a bit, so hopefully I'll make some progress.........

 Still cant get a good photo of the cockpit, but I suppose it will be invisible anyways once the cramped windscreen is closed off.......Oh Well.

 Just finishing off the last round of putty-ing in preparation for the base coat.

 Need to fill a gap in the afterburner can as well....

How are the other 'Six's' going............. as well as the other interceptors?

Looks good.

I've been laying low because of a sinus infection. I've also got a big college project to put together, so it may be a while before I get more done. As a result, I'm officially extending the end date from the end of the month to New Year's.

Getting close............

Have the F-106 all Future'd up.

Now comes the long wait for it to dry enough to mess with.

More pics.......Sorry couldnt resist

Had to go back and paint the yellow stripe on the tail manually.  I was assuming it was part of the decal, but hadnt looked closely at the sheet until now......oops.

Oh well it turned out ok.

Canopy looks nice......why oh why did I spend so much time detailing the cockpit......cant see a thing.

Falcon Missles ready for decals.........

Essential Model desk tools.......Large quantities of Dr. Pepper.

Hope to decal her tonight....woo-hoo!

(copied from Aircraft forum)

Ta-DA!!!!!!!

The Delta Dart is complete!!!!

Its a nicely detailed kit, though the fit left a lot to be desired.

Overall I had a blast and really devolped an affection for this 'Ultimate Interceptor'  Its quite different from most of the WWII stuff and Modern 'Boring Grey Jets' that most of us usually build.

 The only thing missing is the drop tanks which are still being sanded and puttied for later installation.

Enjoy!!!

The Internal Weapons bay with Falcon missles and the Deadly Nuclear GENIE.......

I rescribed a few lines on the upper fuselage mostly as an experiment.....only 80% pleased with the result.

Love the colorful tails

My 'Six' in its final display spot along with some of the rest of my dust collectors........It really stands out.

Beautiful plane.

 The F-86 saber, was that plane considered an interceptor?

 The F-86D or other radar-carrying Sabres might.

Anyone here still making progress?

Looking forward to comparing Darts.

cj95 i could have sworn that i commented on your 'Dart well i guess it didnt go through. ... so... It looks AWESOME and I dont think you guys are ever going to see my 'Dart b/c i don't want it to have to be compared to this one.

Really though I mean come on progress, I thought thats what forums are.....saying your a modeller but never really modelling? huh well i guess im going to have to start it up again i have to prime it and get in "the mood" to model. Ive just got my Drivers License so now i can get models and paints i need at the LHS. Well now that im done being random im going to get off.

I know what you mean by 'get in the mood again'.

My interests and hobbies seem to go in cycles.

I'll be building models like crazy for a month.....then I'll stop and be playing Flight Simulator for a month ....... Then I'll be outside every night with my Telescope .......then I'll be playing Steel Beasts or something.........Then I'll come back to models.

Its a cruel cycle.

Right now it's video games for me since im ungrounded from them for the first time in um lets see oh yeah 3 years.

since i know your going to ask why ill answer it....my dad says if i get a C+ or lower on my report card then im grounded until i dont.

SOunds cool.

Looking forward to pics of any sort......

echo....echo......

Unfortunately I don't own a digital camera, but I can borrow one. I've just had a lot of things to deal with recently, which has kind of gotten in the way. I'm not back in college, though, until next month, so I should have time to finish it.

Ouch. Hope you heal up fast.

Believe it or not, I also injured myself, not five minutes before writing this - reached into the fridge for a coke, and the edge of the cardboard box stabbed me right under my thumbnail somehow.  Probably gonna get in the way of modelling for a few days since I don't want to play around with caustic chemicals with an open wound, and it hurts.

Sound like you guys need a glass of Hardenup

Now get back to work

Well My shoulder is good now but i need to do some therapy to build up the mucsle so I can play Lacrosse by the time the season rolls around.

Other news I have primed my F-106 and It has revealed areas I need to sand some more.

Here's some pics after primer

And my Favorite shot...

lookin good guys another 3-4 weeks and I'll be back to building my Mig-31 the surgery went well and my eye is healing up,however the headaches and itching are a pain in the rear,the only pics I have are me post op with my lil buddy Nicholas

Later All"Panzer"