Mud Movers GB - July 1st - Dec 31st 2008

Quick progress pic.  I've spent mucho time reading Jake Melampy's new Eagle guide to familiarize myself with the jet before starting anything.  I've recently begun actual work by glueing the fuel tank halves together, removing all molded cockpit detail from the interior of the front fuselage halves, assembling the front gear bay, and cleaning and assembling the resin cockpit parts in prep for primer.

The Avionix cockpit is very nicely detailed.  The tub and seats are an improvement over the kit parts while the IP's and side wall details are about the same.  The only thing I don't like about the Avionix cockpit is the large amount of cleanup required particular in between really really small parts.  I've already broken off one of the ejection seats emergency handles while trying to remove flash.  I have no idea where that part pinged to so it's a loss.

Anyway, next is to do some more dryfitting and then primer the whole lot.  

Cheers!

Arki,

This guide by Jake Melampy, is it a new book or is it on f15estrikeeagle.com?  If it's a new book, it goes on the ever growing list of books to buy.

It's a new book!

http://www.reidairpublishing.com/

Sprue Brothers also carry it.  I have his A-10 guide also.  Chock full of great stuff.  

arki30 wrote:

It's a new book! http://www.reidairpublishing.com/ Sprue Brothers also carry it.  I have his A-10 guide also.  Chock full of great stuff.

Ok, it goes on the list.  For your viewing pleasure and inspiration, might I suggest

www.f-15estrikeeagle.com/videos/misc/eagles.wmv

Thanks for the video!

Hey guys,

I am forced to switch my entry. I was going to do an Italeri A-10A....but was not happy with the prospect of the decaled instrument panels. I ordered some PE to spruce things up a bit, and it looks like it might be awhile before I get my hands on them....so I decided it was time to whip out my Revell mudhen.

Here are some pics of the cockpit...

It is the standard Revell boxing of the 1:48th F-15E Strike Eagle. I am building it OOB. I am going to add some Mk. 82 bombs from another kit (possibly donated from a couple Hobbycraft A-4Cs)...not decided on markings yet.

If that PE set ever comes in and I still have enough time, I may do the Warthog also....we'll have to see

Did some work to it today.....God I love the kids being back in school!!!!

The cockpt looks even better installed!

I am using Mk. 82s from the spares box...but which kind?

Nice work on your Beagle!  You are definitely moving faster than I am on my F-15E and you just started!  I'm still stuck in the doldrums of detail painting the cockpit.

I say go with the standards.   And I'll update the front page. 

Keep posting so I can steal, uh, borrow ideas.

Yeah...when I get in the groove I tend to be a pretty quick builder....it's airbrushing that takes months!

The other day I pulled the box out and started looking at the parts, doing some dry fitting...next thing I know, I have a half built Strike Eagle on my bench!

Of course, I'm watching with great interest hoping one day to tackle that Revell '15 of my own some day...

Looking good both of you! 

btp2k2 wrote:

....it's airbrushing that takes months!

I suppose the good thing with the F-15E is the simple color scheme! Gunship Gray anyone?

I'm actually looking forward to no camo for this build. 

arki30 wrote:

btp2k2 wrote: ....it's airbrushing that takes months! I suppose the good thing with the F-15E is the simple color scheme! Gunship Gray anyone? I'm actually looking forward to no camo for this build.

And you just discovered the number one reason I mainly build USN aircraft!

Dark ghost grey anyone?

Next profile is the Sukhoi Su-25 Frogfoot.  Brutal looking aircraft, all business.

Length: 47'-10 1/2"

Height: 15'-9"

Wingspan: 47'-1"

Powerplant: (2) Soyuz/Gavrilov R-95Sh turbojets w/9,039 lbs of thrust each

Weight: 38,645 lbs maximum takeoff weight

Speed: 620 mph

Range: 310 miles

Armament:

(1) GSh-30-2 Twin-barreled 30 mm cannon with 250 rounds

9,568 lbs of ordnance on 10 underwing pylons

Using the ruse of an open cockpit day and fly-in, I was able to infiltrate a secret Soviet base near Dallas Tx and take many pics of Eastern Block aircraft.  In addition to the various CAF a/c on display, got some more pics of one of the Hinds, a L-39 ground attack version, a L-29, and an AN-2.  Just before I had to go to work, they flew a L-39 which made a couple of low altitude, low speed passes (no aerobatics unfortunately).  I don't know what fuel that bird burns, but it is a stinky bird when it's getting warmed up.  I was about 100-150 yards away and still gagged on the fumes.  The Cold War Air Museum guys hope to have the Hind certified by October in time for the airshow at Alliance Airport in Fort Worth which would be way cool.  Now, if I could just win the lottery and convince them to get me a Frogfoot for research. Thanks for the Frogfoot pics Arki.

I've decided to throw caution to the wind and do both the F-15E and the originally planned Italeri A-10A...and I am toying with the idea of breaking out the Hobbycraft A-4C as well

I am going to throw a body in the seat of the warthog so most of the decal instruments won't be visible.

I got the fuselage,  wings and tail assembly on the A-10 welded together yesterday....I'm stuck at work now, but will take some pics later.

Woohoo, bold!  I'm also jealous you have that much time to build...  Or that you're just that much faster at it!

I'm actually juuust about finished with detail work in the cockpit.  I'll likely have it all assembled and photo'd by tomorrow.  I hope.

arki30 wrote:

Woohoo, bold!  I'm also jealous you have that much time to build...  Or that you're just that much faster at it! I'm actually juuust about finished with detail work in the cockpit.  I'll likely have it all assembled and photo'd by tomorrow.  I hope.

Well....I have a pretty awesome schedule for building....I work 12 hour shifts friday though sunday....couple that with my daughter in school and my wife going to work 9-5 during the week means I am at home building models a lot.

arki - that is one serious build there mate.. really look forward to your build ! and awesome pics, love the tornado.

btp2k2 - very nice start, great pit.. is that the Revell kit #85-5511? I got that one in my stash , 50% off at Michaels! and great build schedule! LOL

I have no time for anything nowadays, not sure if I will get to mine anytime soon :(

JMart wrote:

btp2k2 - very nice start, great pit.. is that the Revell kit #85-5511? I got that one in my stash , 50% off at Michaels! and great build schedule! LOL

Yup....that's the same one.....I am searching for some of those Michael's coupons...are they in the news paper or something? Would love to pick up a new compressor or even a Badger Anthem airbrush for 40-50% off!

Progress pics of the cockpit. 

As mentioned before I broke off one of the emergency handles on the rear ejection seat.  I was really careful not to repeat that...but during cleanup of the wash on the same ejection seat I managed to ping one of the air sensors off.    I actually heard it hit...somewhere.  

The Mike Grant instrument decals are really nice, but really small.  Everything on this cockpit seems (is) really small.  Thank goodness for a magnifying lens or I never would have seen half this detail.  And I'm not convinced I did it justice like some could, but in the end I'm okay with how it turned out.  I used the Promodeller dark and light wash to help give the detail some depth.  Paints are MM and Pollyscale acrylics.

Next is to fit the cockpit in the front fuselage and actually begin some real assembly.  Hopefully I can pick up some speed for a little bit, for while I like detail it does suck up serious time.

Thanks for looking, and hopefully I see some progress from everyone else too! 

Very nice work arki.  Very impressive.

I'm still trying to get a couple of other GB committments completed so I can start on this one....and as soon as I decide what to build.....

Hey, nice work Arki! Pit's looking good...I'm really digging how the seats came out.

Dialup makes it a tad difficult to search back a few pages - can you refresh my memory on what AM pit set you went with?

Probably watching football this afternoon which means I'm going to get to sneak in some time working on the Frogfoot. Sanding and filling, that is. Heh.

arki....that looks great! The seats look the biz

Keep it up!

Thanks Dupes and Paul!

It's the Avionix resin cockpit set.  Really nice, and I won't have to do much resin removal to get it to fit within the fuselage!

Awesome work there, arki! Can't wait to see that nice office fitted into the fuselage.

On my end... the P-47 cockpit is almost done. Literally one piece to go and it's paint shooting time. Engine is ready for paint as well. I'm just now getting my airbrush set up at my new place, not being able to paint has been my major holdup. Should have it all sorted out this weekend, the girlfriend is working so I'll have time to sit and fiddle around at the workbench. Wahoo!!!

Kev

Here are a couple of quick shots....

Got most of the seams filled, going to go over it with some Mr. Surfacer 1000 just to fill any pits in the putty and to smooth out any scuff marks from sanding....

And the A-10A

The main fuselage is all done, filled and sanded....again, want to go over it with Mr. Surfacer 1000....and then rescribe any lines that the putty filled in. Got the wing assembly built, just need to sand it.

Whoah, not only are you doing 2 builds, but simultaneously! Are you going to break the monotone-camo trend and go with a 3-color Hog?

That, and I see what looks to be a 1/35 scale Cobra WIP in the background...that the Academy kit? Been wanting to find one of those on Ebay myself.

Thanks Dupes! Not really sure what I am going to do with the warthog....camo is definitely not one of my strong suits...we'll see. Maybe this is the build to try it out again! Yup....that is the Academy AH-1W. It's my "fall-back" kit when I get stuck on my current project, I go over to the Whiskey Cobra and do some work.

I completed the cockpit for the A-10 today. Not much to do really....paint dk gull grey, apply decal. Tough, eh? Well, I hate the way decal dashboards look, so I added a pilot to cover up the decal. Here he is, ready for action!

This damn thing must have a pound and a half worth of nose weight! I can't imagine how much weight you need to put in those 32nd A-10s

Arki,

I dont know if I'll be able to add a build to this group. Sorry

I've been on 60 hours at work and I havent had much time for anything. I also have a build scheduled for October, I'm hoping I find time for that.