Karl Sander Posted December 10, 2006 Share Posted December 10, 2006 (edited) Italeri's 1/48 EA-18G - to be done in a "made-up" operational scheme (because I don't like either of the kit's options - both look lame to me, and besides it'll be a LOOOOOOOOOONG time before -209 ever sees the G). Cockpit installed in forward and upper fuselage: Seats are a tad spartan but not bad. Instrument panels are decals which is a cop-out in this scale, IMHO - but since we're talking a jet that's 2+ years from IOC I can stomach it in this case. However, rear instrument panel sits too far into the shroud, and the aft cockpit should have 2 side sticks instead of a center stick. Underside with intakes: Edited December 10, 2006 by Karl Sander Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Spongebob Posted December 10, 2006 Share Posted December 10, 2006 Going to be a 137 jet??? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AnthonyWan Posted December 10, 2006 Share Posted December 10, 2006 Hahaha 'shocker' :blink: You're making the one with the red tails and the sword right? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GreyGhost Posted December 10, 2006 Share Posted December 10, 2006 Looking good Karl ! So, what markings are you going to mod to put on this G ? Are you going with -209 ? Gregg Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Karl Sander Posted December 10, 2006 Author Share Posted December 10, 2006 Spongebob guessed right. I'm going with -137. I haven't QUITE figured out how to do the tail markings yet... though I'm not going to hold myself to the current silly rule of having to fit the tailcode between the slime light and rudder. One, I think it's a silly rule to begin with and two, I hope by the time we transition it will either be gone or our type wing will ignore it. Not doing -209 because frankly I don't like how they designed the markings (and I don't actually know where they come from...). And I'm not fond of the RAG markings I've seen - either in the kit, or any of the paint jobs I've seen on real airplanes yet (and no, I have no idea what those stupid eyeballs on the decal sheet are for...). So, I've got some thinking to do on tail markings. Our air wing's C model squadron put their tailcodes on the inboard side, which is an option. I MIGHT go with super hornet convention if I can find letters the right size and slant to fit, and an appropriate sized Rook... Of course, with the speed of my building I've got nothing but time... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Frank Steffens Posted December 10, 2006 Share Posted December 10, 2006 Ok....its late in the year, but Karl Sander comes through with the Funniest Thread Title of the Year. Nice work so far Karl...keep the pics coming. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dan 88 Posted December 10, 2006 Share Posted December 10, 2006 (edited) Nice title Karl, sure is an attention grabber! Da Shocka is looking nice so far.... :huh: Daniel Edited December 10, 2006 by Super Hornet 88 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
VFA-103guy Posted December 10, 2006 Share Posted December 10, 2006 Kolja- Dude..you have brass nadds just for building that kit. I would think you could rob parts from the Italeri and mate them to the new Revell kit. It might be much less more of a headache for you.. Nice job so far! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Karl Sander Posted December 10, 2006 Author Share Posted December 10, 2006 Kolja-Dude..you have brass nadds just for building that kit. I would think you could rob parts from the Italeri and mate them to the new Revell kit. It might be much less more of a headache for you.. Nice job so far! I didn't think that far ahead. I'd been wanting to do one in my old squadrons markings for a while, and was thinking for the longest time I'd be robbing Monogram EA-6B pods and scratchbuilding reciever wingtip pods. I was happy enough not to have to do that! My pea brain didn't get far enough down the road to think it would be smarter to put parts on the Revell kit. Though that would certainly have gotten me around the silliness of the Italeri cockpit... Brass nads? Hardly. Not after spending 12 months, who knows how much $$, on the Monogram Prowler (rescribing, a paint disaster that required a sand-down and more rescribing before repainting, and resin from 3 different companies...) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Karl Sander Posted December 13, 2006 Author Share Posted December 13, 2006 Wings are on. Just a bit of filling and sanding - nothing too bad by my standards. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GreyGhost Posted December 13, 2006 Share Posted December 13, 2006 Karl, don't forget the wing fences that the Gs most likely will have ... Coming along Nicely BTW ! Gregg Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Karl Sander Posted December 13, 2006 Author Share Posted December 13, 2006 Karl, don't forget the wing fences that the Gs most likely will have ... Coming along Nicely BTW ! Gregg Thanks for that pic - I've actually been looking for decent shots of the top of the wings and spine... The fences I've been thinking of using brass or thin sheet styrene for - probably the latter, as it would be much easier to cut!! You'll note I also need to do that flat-ish antenna on the spine (I think it's supposed to be SATCOM)... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GreyGhost Posted December 13, 2006 Share Posted December 13, 2006 Your Welcome ... That "saddle" looking antenna right ? Oh- they also have the newest "Pipes" style Heat Exchanger vents berween the tails ... Darren makes them in resin through his Steel Beach line ... He designed them for the Hase kit but I bet they would go on the Ital kit as well ... Gregg Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AnthonyWan Posted December 13, 2006 Share Posted December 13, 2006 (edited) Hey that kit dont look as bad as some say it is... Great job so far Kolja B) Might have to have a go at the shocker myself Edited December 13, 2006 by AnthonyWan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Karl Sander Posted December 14, 2006 Author Share Posted December 14, 2006 Your Welcome ...That "saddle" looking antenna right ? Oh- they also have the newest "Pipes" style Heat Exchanger vents berween the tails ... Darren makes them in resin through his Steel Beach line ... He designed them for the Hase kit but I bet they would go on the Ital kit as well ... Gregg If I mention your name, do I get a discount? :) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GreyGhost Posted December 14, 2006 Share Posted December 14, 2006 I doubt it'll help but sure, you can try I guess ... :) Gregg Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sea-monkey Posted December 14, 2006 Share Posted December 14, 2006 I'm currently battling my way through one of these - love EW aircraft and the Super Bug so I had to have it. I actually like both of the prototype marking provided and have had a hard time deciding whether to go for red or green - think I have settled on red. One think that really annoyed me was that contrary to some reviews, there aren't any HARM missiles included - these in my opinion are really needed and I'm finding it hard to find any I can add to the kit. I foolishly attempted to drop the flaps as I love the way they look on parked hornets - I got stalled trying to achieve this as all the hinges really need scratch building, among other things. I then decided I would put the wheels up to get things going again as the gear and bays aren't so flash. Well, this bring ups another series of issues such as getting the closed doors to fit nicely and having to tidy up the intakes which I can no longer put FOD covers on. Also having a hard time fitting the closed speed brake and LERX flap thingies (why, oh why do they mould these things open when they are intended to be closed!!??!!). Been learning lots along the way though I guess. Intend to buy the Hasegawa F model - might be able to pinch the spare flap hinges from this. Does anyone know if the white decals in the Jolly Rogers version are usable? My A-7E ones are lemon instead of very light grey!!!! I thought they would have learned to print white by now :) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Karl Sander Posted December 21, 2006 Author Share Posted December 21, 2006 I think I understand better what Brian meant by brass nadds. Italeri engineered the wings rather oddly - when you join them to the fuselage, there's a square shaped void that's filled with another two-piece assembly - which of course doesn't fit so hot. So there's been some filling and sanding going on at the wing roots: And just a little more on the underside - getting the front fuselage, intakes and main landing gear wells to play together nicely: Meanwhile, some add-ons to make the F a G. No insider information here - Boeing and navy PR photos (such as the one Gregg posted, and a few in the current issue of The Hook). The saddle-looking SATCOM antenna - just sheet styrene cut to shape working from the photos: The wing fences Gregg mentioned - thin strip styrene rough-cut to shape, sanded for wing camber (the top still need to be sanded a bit to smooth out the countour and make the height uniform): A couple extra antennae on the arse end (identical on the other side, but I didn't take a picture). The one in front of the stab is basically 3 layers of styrene cut to shape, the one back toward the tailpipe is spare sprue cut and sanded more or less to shape: Lastly on the nose - two more spare sprue antennae plus the "pizza box" that Italeri neglected to include. Just two layers of styrene sheet, laminated and lightly rolled to get them to curve: Obviously the styrene and sprue add ons are still a bit rough and need some sanding/blending in yet! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
VFA-103guy Posted December 21, 2006 Share Posted December 21, 2006 Brass nads man...brass nads.. <_< Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Karl Sander Posted December 21, 2006 Author Share Posted December 21, 2006 Brass nads man...brass nads.. <_< Nah, just an unhealthy prediliction for squadron green and fondness for sandpaper Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rodney Posted December 21, 2006 Share Posted December 21, 2006 Looking good Karl. You going to finish this before things get going in Jan? Rodney Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Frank Steffens Posted December 21, 2006 Share Posted December 21, 2006 Great progress Karl....I think the name "Shocker" would really stick if the real aircraft had a sensor array somewhere on the plane that looked oddly like a pointer and middle finger together, then a space, then a pinky. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Joe Hegedus Posted December 22, 2006 Share Posted December 22, 2006 I think I understand better what Brian meant by brass nadds. Italeri engineered the wings rather oddly - when you join them to the fuselage, there's a square shaped void that's filled with another two-piece assembly - which of course doesn't fit so hot. So there's been some filling and sanding going on at the wing roots: FWIW, I'd give them credit for including the LEX vents; while they blew the airbrake which none of the Super Hornets ever had, the square shaped void you mention and the assembly that goes in it was a feature of the EMD jets. It has since been disabled so it doesn't move anymore on those, and I don't think it's on any of the production jets. But it is one thing that they got right based on the information they had at the time they originally tooled the kit. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Karl Sander Posted December 22, 2006 Author Share Posted December 22, 2006 FWIW, I'd give them credit for including the LEX vents; while they blew the airbrake which none of the Super Hornets ever had, the square shaped void you mention and the assembly that goes in it was a feature of the EMD jets. It has since been disabled so it doesn't move anymore on those, and I don't think it's on any of the production jets. But it is one thing that they got right based on the information they had at the time they originally tooled the kit. This tooling, fortunately, doesn't have any speedbrake. WRT the void, I guess it's an "above for initiative" but "below for execution" as the fit of the parts that go in there is really quite heinous... Looking good Karl. You going to finish this before things get going in Jan? Not likely, as I'm actually on the road till Thursday (visiting the folks and whatnot), and things kick off the 8th. But our manning in the Prowler shop is actually ALMOST normal this det (more accidental than anything - our outgoing guy doesn't have to be back up at the FRS in Whidbey till Feb) so I might get a wee bit of tinkering done here and there. Bring a couple extra layers, it's been STUPID cold lately... I think the name "Shocker" would really stick if the real aircraft had a sensor array somewhere on the plane that looked oddly like a pointer and middle finger together, then a space, then a pinky. Hmmmm - how's about some selective stores jettisoning, leaving you with say, a pod and drop tank under one wing, and a HARM under the other.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Chris Kethan Posted December 22, 2006 Share Posted December 22, 2006 Nah, just an unhealthy prediliction for squadron green and fondness for sandpaper Karl, Great work. Those Italeri kits can be a bear to get together. I noticed that you used squadron 'green' putty... Have you tried the Tamiya putty? I used to use the green, but after I tried the Tamiya ONCE, I threw my green in the trash. The tamiya goes on smoother, dries faster, and is easier to sand. If you mix some liquid testors cement with the tamiya putty, you get a great filler that is really thin. Once again, the Shocker looks great. (That's what she said) Chris Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.