Lockheed GB anyone?

bondoman wrote:

Note: The kit has clear windows with NO internal flange; what were they thinking?

That's crazy!  Well done SC, and a great idea to solve the little problem.

HI S.C.

great work you've done there! Looks good!

Hi guys,

When I get my P-51 finished for the Mustang GB, I've got a 1:48 Academy T-33 started that I'd like to enter in this GB if it's ok.  Looks like there is plenty of time 'til November.  I'll put some prelim pics up soon.

Ken 

I've kinda got 3 aircraft going at once (s'pose that's no different than everyone else in here), but here are a few shots of my Academy T-33A that's underway.

__________________

Ken 

Thanks, guys.   Actually, I messed up on the metal finish.  I had already applied a rattle can bright metal finish when I decided to try some MM buffing metalizer.  So I applied this over the previous coat and it came out reasonably well.  However, I discovered that the buffing metalizer directly on the plastic is the way to go for a brilliant finish.    Oh well, I'm still learning, but this one won't turn out too bad.

Ken 

Goofed up a nautural metal finish? I have never heard of that before. I am currently touching up the Future finish on my Model 14 with polishing sticks. Darn Future takes so long to cure it has brought my build to a snails pace. Just finished my !/32 Trumpeter P-38 and am extremly disapointed with the results but I treat it as a learing process when it comes to NMF. There are a hundred different ways it can go wrong and little room for error. She looks    good  from where I'm sitting there Ken!

                                                                              Soulcrusher

Hi gang,

Here are a few more progress pics of my Academy T-33A.

Ken 

Hey, that looks sharp Ken! Excellent progress! I love the look of those straight-winged jets. Nice work on the markings too. They really have that painted-on look!

I have been making slow but steady progress on my Tamiya F-16. Sweet kit, great fit, but sink holes galore, especially in the main wheel bays and on the main gear struts. Has slowed the build down a bit, but I should be putting some paint to it soon.

That is one sharp looking T33 ken. it nice to see an less seen subject for this group build. I hope to start decaling my Model 14 Super Electra next week after the Future coat has cured.

                                                                                    Soulcrusher

Here is my completed Academy 1:48 T-33A.  I thought this was a pretty tough build.  Quite a few fitting problems and instruction faults.  The cockpit is poor and the instructions had the main gear struts on backwards.  This is almost OOB - I've modified the cockpit a bit with Eduard seat belts, ejection handles, and a rebuild of their silly "flat on the floor" rudder pedals.  Also, added some wheel-well plumbing and aftermarket and homegrown decals. 

This aircraft (35954) is one of four that were flown by the SD ANG back in the late 50's and 60's, and is one I was fortunate to bum a ride in while full-time with the Guard.

Ken 

Ken, you've definitely earned that badge! That is one striking build! The orange on the wing tanks really gives it an additional splash of color. I just love the way that jet looks. Awesome work, and many thanks for participating in this GB!

You should definitely post this over in the Aircraft forum as well, so more members can see your fine work.

Ruddratt & Daywalker,

Thanks for your nice comments - helps to make these efforts worthwhile!  This is my third build in recent years.

The metallic finish is a series of mistakes that turned out better than expected.  I had applied a bright chrome-like finish from a Krylon rattle can that turned out too grainy, so smoothed it out and thought I'd try some MM alum buffing metalizer.  It's not too bad, but would have been a lot better if I had put the buffing metalizer directly on the plastic (as I learned from a subsequent test).  Other colors are Tamiya flat black (XF-1), Tamiya bright red (TS-49), and MM fluorescent red on tip tanks.  Put on Future topcoat and MM flat clear over black areas.

Thanks, again.

Ken 

Thanks, Mucker.

Time to move on to the Corsair GB now.  From what I've seen in the fine details on that thread,  I'll be lucky if they even let me stay in the group! 

Ken 

Nice!

Love the finish on it. Natural metal looks awesome.

Have some progress to show on my Viper....

The pic doesn't do the part justice....I got a pounce wheel and did the rivets on the wing

Here is the fuselage mocked up. The bottom half is completed....rescribed from nose to tail,  intake and wheel wells installed. I just need to complete the scribing on the top section and tailplanes before I attach them. Also, I buffed out the mold line down the center of the canopy. Used a flexifile to knock it down and then used higher and higher grit each time until I got to 2000 grit...then dipped it in future.

btp - man, you are a bear for punishment!  That's a lot of rivets and scribing!  Looking good. 

Ken 

kbuzz01 wrote:

btp - man, you are a bear for punishment!  That's a lot of rivets and scribing!  Looking good.  Ken

I'm just looking wistfully at my ec-121 project, hopefully soon...

kbuzz01 wrote:

btp - man, you are a bear for punishment!  That's a lot of rivets and scribing!  Looking good.  Ken

thanks....I think.

Actually, it isn't so much difficult as it is time consuming. It seems like I have been scratching into that plastic for years!

btp- Outstanding work!  I am going to be keeping a close eye on your build as I hope to dig into my Viper in the not-so-distant future.

Mike- Glad to hear she's coming along!  I gotta admit, the ejector pin issue is what is keeping me away from mine.  You are a braver man than I my friend!   Looking forward to seeing those pics.

Strut your stuff, Mike! Let's see some pics! Like Frank, I'm looking forward to seeing this one.

It's been a fun kit so far, guys, in spite of the ejector pin issues. Still is a sweet kit. Looks like I'll be posting some progress pics sometime tomorrow (once I get the rest of the lawn cut and the second coat of stain on the patio deck).

ruddratt wrote:

It's been a fun kit so far, guys, in spite of the ejector pin issues. Still is a sweet kit. Looks like I'll be posting some progress pics sometime tomorrow (once I get the rest of the lawn cut and the second coat of stain on the patio deck).

Ah....the "Honey Do" List! I know that all too well!

Well I started puting the decals on my Model 14. The civilian registration letters are huge and wanted to shatter when touched, A little carefull sliding and I managed to line up most of the shattered decals ok. A couple of spots need touching up. The elaborate stripe that runs down the side of the fuselage shatered into mutliple pieces as soon as it hit the water. I do  not know what to do now. The kit is OOP and the lightning bolt shapped stripes would be almost imposible to mask, especially because they are outlined in a fine red stripe. I am hoping Classic Airframes might be able to help out. If not I do not know of any other way. Anybody out there able to reproduce decals. I still have the right side intact because I did not even attemp to put it in water. I'm hoping mabye it can be used as a master to make a good decal. You figure you spend $50.00 buck on a kit that the decals should be decent right?  I guess not. I'll post some progress tomorrow.

                                                                                   Soulcrusher

Update! I have manged to work a trade with jeaton1. I am sending him three sheets uf unused F4 Phantom decals. In exchange he is willing to part with his Model 14 civilian registration markings from his Classic Airframes kit. Thank God1 I was not looking foward to masking of the long two colored stripes that run almost the whole length on the fuselage. It is frustation to be so close to finishing and being held up by a decal set that is almost imposible to come by. Now i just get to enjoy filing all of the side windows to fit one at a time.

                                                                              Soulcrusher