jmel Posted November 29, 2006 Share Posted November 29, 2006 I was getting bogged down with my 1/32 A-7K conversion, so I took a break from that to do something easy: the Tamiya Thunderbirds kit. It turned out to be more of a task than the A-7K . As it comes straight from the box, the Thunderbirds kit still needs several modifications to make an accurate block 32, let alone a bigmouth block 30. I wanted to do a 178FW machine from here in Ohio, so I had to trade my intake and P&W engine to get the big intake and GE. Pig Fleischmann came to the rescue. I originally wanted to do 86-0262, the MiG killer marked as the 162FS flagship, using the new SuperScale decals, but those decals were horrible, and they all went into the trash. I next tried 87-0222 as it appeared in April 2003 from Fox One's sheet, with barely more success. The grays for the stencils was too dark, and the checkerboard tailflash was too small. I wound up piecing the tailflash together from spare red checkers (applied over a painted yellow stripe), and stencils from several other 1/32 sets, since the T-birds kit does not include decals for jets other than the Thunderbirds team. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Keith Diamond Posted November 29, 2006 Share Posted November 29, 2006 Never disappointed in viewing your work Jake Even though you didn't get to put on the markings you originally wanted, I like the choice of the Scooby Doo markings on the nose. Question though. What method did you use to accentuate the panel lines and weather the aircraft. I really like the realistic look of an inservice Viper you achieved with that. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jmel Posted November 29, 2006 Author Share Posted November 29, 2006 A few closeups. A mistake from the Fox One sheet. The instructions show this jet as having the Hill paint stencil. It should be the Iowa stencil. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
volzj Posted November 29, 2006 Share Posted November 29, 2006 Gorgeous work Jake, it looks terrific. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jmel Posted November 29, 2006 Author Share Posted November 29, 2006 (edited) Geez, I really thought I'd done a better job on the intake than this....... This was my first attempt at painting a pilot. He is pretty much straight from the box. I added a kneeboard, and that's it. I forgot his comm cord, though, I just noticed. Edited November 29, 2006 by jmel Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jmel Posted November 29, 2006 Author Share Posted November 29, 2006 (edited) Last few. The inert AIM-120s were robbed from the F-15E Bunker Buster, the AGM-65 from the Academy F-18 kit (modified into a captive CATM-65), the LANTIRN pod from a Teknics resin set for the F-15, while the AIM-9M is from the kit. The LANTIRN pylon and TER is from the Academy F-16 kit, and the AMA pod is scratchbuilt from aluminum rod and sheet plastic. Thanks for looking! Jake Edited November 30, 2006 by jmel Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Albert Moore Posted November 29, 2006 Share Posted November 29, 2006 Mr. Melampy, That is one gorgeous Viper! The finish is impeccable. Slap an airport/airfield background and that could pass for real! Cheers, Alby Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ravensfan6711 Posted November 29, 2006 Share Posted November 29, 2006 First rate job! Very cool! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
afterburner Posted November 29, 2006 Share Posted November 29, 2006 Great work Jake! Nice job on the paint and weathering- looks spot-on. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
longmc Posted November 29, 2006 Share Posted November 29, 2006 Great Job, Jake! You've done us proud!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Gary West Posted November 29, 2006 Share Posted November 29, 2006 Another great job here too - nice tidy build Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jmel Posted November 30, 2006 Author Share Posted November 30, 2006 (edited) What method did you use to accentuate the panel lines and weather the aircraft. I really like the realistic look of an inservice Viper you achieved with that. It's really nothing more elaborate than several passes with an airbrush, each with different shades of the base coat. I followed that up with a wash and some drybrushing. I actually think it is a bit overdone in some places, especially the wash. Thanks guys! I'm glad to finally be able to finish something for a change. Now, on to the A-7K!! Or, maybe another Viper or two. Or three. Jake Edited November 30, 2006 by jmel Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guard Hog Posted November 30, 2006 Share Posted November 30, 2006 (edited) Jake! Not much too say other than... great work! I love the pilot. What did you use to paint his visor? I've never been able to get that shiny black like you did, no matter how much future or gloss I coat it with. Brave man with that photo set-up. I take it that it wasn't a windy day? Awesome! - Tom Edited November 30, 2006 by Tom Silkowski Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ken Middleton Posted November 30, 2006 Share Posted November 30, 2006 looks great Jake! Nice to see you able to squeeze some modeling in between your photo shoots Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gb_madcat_sl Posted November 30, 2006 Share Posted November 30, 2006 Excellent build you've got here. Makes me wanna take out mine and start!!! Mark Quote Link to post Share on other sites
VFA103Super Hornet Posted November 30, 2006 Share Posted November 30, 2006 Excellent work Jake. I hope my Eagle turns out half that nice! I really want to build my Tamiya Viper soon.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jmel Posted November 30, 2006 Author Share Posted November 30, 2006 I love the pilot. What did you use to paint his visor? I've never been able to get that shiny black like you did, no matter how much future or gloss I coat it with.Brave man with that photo set-up. I take it that it wasn't a windy day? Awesome! - Tom Hey, Tom! The visor is simply Testor's gloss black enamel brushed on. I think it is 3 coats. Nothing too fancy. Yeah, sorry about the photo set-up. I was too lazy to get out the tripod and do it right. Nice to see you able to squeeze some modeling in between your photo shoots I've had a bit of a lull lately. That's about to change, though, as I have an air-air shoot next week with the 178FW. Thanks, guys! I really appreciate the kind words. Jake Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jmel Posted November 30, 2006 Author Share Posted November 30, 2006 I really want to build my Tamiya Viper soon.... Do you have the CJ kit or the Thunderbirds? If you have the T-birds kit, be prepared for quite a bit of extra work to make it right. I can make you a list of the necessary changes if you'd like. I'm really surprised at how much Tamiya missed. Jake Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ThePhantomTwo Posted November 30, 2006 Share Posted November 30, 2006 Hey, Tom! The visor is simply Testor's gloss black enamel brushed on. I think it is 3 coats. Nothing too fancy.Yeah, sorry about the photo set-up. I was too lazy to get out the tripod and do it right. I've had a bit of a lull lately. That's about to change, though, as I have an air-air shoot next week with the 178FW. Thanks, guys! I really appreciate the kind words. Jake Another air-to-air shoot Jake,awesome! :) I'm speechless about you Viper,it's just awesome! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
David Walker Posted November 30, 2006 Share Posted November 30, 2006 (edited) Just amazing work. The paint work in particular is fantastic. Edited November 30, 2006 by David Walker Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Michael Posted November 30, 2006 Share Posted November 30, 2006 Do you have the CJ kit or the Thunderbirds? If you have the T-birds kit, be prepared for quite a bit of extra work to make it right. I can make you a list of the necessary changes if you'd like. I'm really surprised at how much Tamiya missed.Jake Jake, First of all, great job on the Viper. It looks like the real thing and that is the highest praise I can think of. I like the little details like the C model on station 1 & the B model on station 9. Most people don't catch things like the rollerons deleted on CATM-9Ms or the 210 & LAU-129 rails. I know you are a busy dude, but I was hoping you might post that list of changes needed to get an accurate early F-16C. I am sure any tips or issues you noticed during construction would be helpful. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Gambler Posted November 30, 2006 Share Posted November 30, 2006 Terrific Viper Jake!!!!!!! Looks absolutely stunning. Cheers, Jeff. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jefropas Posted November 30, 2006 Share Posted November 30, 2006 Jake, SCHWIIIING! What else can I say...... Jeff Quote Link to post Share on other sites
VOODOO73 Posted November 30, 2006 Share Posted November 30, 2006 Awesome Viper Jake.Pilot and artwork is amazing,congrats :blink: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Aggressor Supporter Posted November 30, 2006 Share Posted November 30, 2006 Great work on your big Viper Jake! Like it a lot, especially the pilot and Scooby decals. :blink: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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