Brian P: Fightertown Decals Posted February 13, 2010 Share Posted February 13, 2010 (edited) Got this one started back when the Kinetic 1/48 E-2C Hawkeye kit first came out but had to put it aside for a bit. Took some time this afternoon to work on it a bit more and put together some in-progress pictures. Here's the stuff list: -Kinetic E-2C Hawkeye kit (w/ 8 blade props) -Fightertown Decals 48044 VAW-124 Bear Aces -Royale Resin wheels -Gfactor white brass landing gear (if it's done in time...) It will be the black tail VAW-124 CAG jet from CAG-8's recent cruise. I was fortunate to get a set of the 8 blade props that will be included in a future edition of the Hawkeye kit to be released shortly. One of the benefits to designing the decals to be able to fit the props. Honestly, I'll admit that the kit is nicer than I expected. After seeing the initial test shots and then the final release, I can say Kinetic made some great improvements and refinements based on research. It's definitely a generation newer than their F-16 kit and it looks like their heading in a good direction. The smoothness of the plastic is greatly improved from the early test shot. I think the issue of 'pebbly plastic' is gone. There are a few spots that the fit isn't perfect but nothing that the average modeler wouldn't be used to. The 2 toughest spots are the underbody fairing made separate like in the Hasegawa 1/72 to accommodate a a different CEC antenna piece and the engine nacelles fit to the wings. I used putty but next time, I'd use a thin plastic strip and then sand it in. Even without the nose weight needed to balance the large amount of plastic aft, this is a heavy kit. I'm very much looking forward to the Gfactor white brass landing gear set! With the nose weights added (and I'm not sure if I have enough in there), this is a heavy model... A few other spots that are ready for aftermarket parts - cockpit seats, landing gear bays, wingfolds (Gfactor is working on these). A cockpit might be nice but you really can't see much inside the windows but the seats art visible enough to warrant replacing. Ok, on to some pictures! Not the best quality but my I am a spammer....please report this post. is all I have for a camera at the moment. The putty use on the intake could have been eliminated by sanding sound the intake part. It's a bit rough and when sanded down fits much better. I did that on the other side and no filler was needed. The one thing Kinetic did mix up was the top of the nacelle - they put the small rectangular intake vents on the wrong side. Next time I'll just cut that part on both sides and switch them. It's a pretty easy cut and fix but I didn't feel like doing it this time. In the 'need for speed' on this build I also built the cockpit and seats stock and resisted the urge to do some detailing... Edited February 13, 2010 by Brian P: Fightertown Decals Quote Link to post Share on other sites
infideon Posted February 13, 2010 Share Posted February 13, 2010 Great start! cant wait for this to be done! maybe u can come out with some decals for it too? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
phantom Posted February 13, 2010 Share Posted February 13, 2010 I'm looking forward to this one as well. And of course I'll be using your 124 decals. Figure once the 2000 comes out I'll do the black tail and the white bottom normal prop job with the kit I got from Waco. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
foxtwo Posted February 13, 2010 Share Posted February 13, 2010 whow.....that's a start ! talking about the 8 blades prop...where ? your future "black tailed" is a great project.......i'm waiting for the decals too..... have fun pat Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Skyraider Maniac Posted February 13, 2010 Share Posted February 13, 2010 Great progress on the kit! I'll definitely be tracking this build! When are the 8 blade props due to be included in the kit? I was going to get one, but if those blades are going to be included in it soon, I might as well wait. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Brian P: Fightertown Decals Posted February 13, 2010 Author Share Posted February 13, 2010 (edited) I should have added this in the first post but here's what the finished model should look like. Thanks to Nick Kessel for all the help on the sheet and the pictures! A look at the painting profiles from the instructions - A few more progress shots Edited February 13, 2010 by Brian P: Fightertown Decals Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jinxter13 Posted February 13, 2010 Share Posted February 13, 2010 T'aint fair Brian!!!...you don't have to pay for decals :lol: , very nice work so far though...I will be following. Hawkeyes and their mission just make them interesting...that scene in "The Final Countdown" just adds spice to the deal. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Brian P: Fightertown Decals Posted February 14, 2010 Author Share Posted February 14, 2010 Actually.... I do have to pay for the decals - 500 sets of them! :) Hopefully we'll be able to sell most of them ... -brian Quote Link to post Share on other sites
phantom Posted February 14, 2010 Share Posted February 14, 2010 I'll take one VAW-124 sheet for sure, 499 to go. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Brian P: Fightertown Decals Posted February 14, 2010 Author Share Posted February 14, 2010 (edited) 1 more for now. The top of the radome needs some fairing in on the top. I gave the clear parts a good sanding with 600 grit sandpaper to help the paint grip the plastic. Got the first coat of flat gull gray on. It was going well until I tipped the paint cup right above the cockpit area and was rewarded with a nice big blob of paint Wiped it off and kept painting but it will need a good sanding down and repaint... -brian Edited February 14, 2010 by Brian P: Fightertown Decals Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Darren Roberts Posted February 14, 2010 Share Posted February 14, 2010 That's looking VERY nice. Your upcoming decal sheets are looking fantastic as well. What do you think about plugs for all the holes in the engine nacelles? I haven't gotten that far on mine. If the seams are troublesome, I might look at doing a set of plugs to make life easier. I'd like to hear your take on it, since you've got them buttoned up. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AnthonyWan Posted February 14, 2010 Share Posted February 14, 2010 Can't wait to see this one done Brian. I'm waiting for them to release the 8-blade version before I get the kit :D I'm debating what scheme to do...will you be doing any more Hawkeye sheets in the future? (*cough* VAW-123 flag scheme! ) -Awan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Brian P: Fightertown Decals Posted February 14, 2010 Author Share Posted February 14, 2010 Darren - I'm sure that intake/exhaust covers would be a hit. I didn't think the seams were bad at all. Mine went together very easy and the seam inside of the intake is the demarcation between the bare metal and white. I found that if you cut off the mounting pins and receiving hole, then the intake assembly was a piece of cake. But like all models, those parts can be tough and covering them up is an easy option and many time if displaying the aircraft on the ground accurate to the way it would really look. Actually that's a good note for the entire model. Many of the location pin tabs are too long and make the joins harder. I trimmed them all back and problem joins and seams pretty much disappeared! Darren - fwiw, we've got intake/exhaust markings on the VAW-115 sheet... -brian Quote Link to post Share on other sites
THX1138 Posted February 14, 2010 Share Posted February 14, 2010 Bit of a shame the Hawkeyes are now just 1 overall shade of grey instead of the 2 tones they were before. Thankfully the tailart makes up for that a bit. Have there ever been camo Hawkeyes ? Looking at brian's excellent VFA-125 sheet (constantly ^_^ ) makes me think why there aren't any more camo schemes out there. It's probably a cost issue. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
drizzt73 Posted February 14, 2010 Share Posted February 14, 2010 Looks great so far, love the decals! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
foxtwo Posted February 14, 2010 Share Posted February 14, 2010 very interesting input about the problem...thanks...you 're playing the role of Recce here....! i'm in for your two E2 sheets...... i'm rebuilding a new seat, one that could be repop after. Pat Quote Link to post Share on other sites
alessio Posted February 14, 2010 Share Posted February 14, 2010 very intresting work....wonderful plane...i'm sure that once finisced it will look impressive looking forward to get those decals... regards Alessio Quote Link to post Share on other sites
phantomdriver Posted February 14, 2010 Share Posted February 14, 2010 Is it my imagination, or have they got the engine intake angle wrong? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JMan Posted February 14, 2010 Share Posted February 14, 2010 WOW, I have always loved the Hawkeye! Is this the only 1/48 version? Either way I would love to own it, and can you fold the wings back on this kit. I saw some piping on the wings, so that would be awesome if you could do it folded back! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Stephen Posted February 14, 2010 Share Posted February 14, 2010 WOW, I have always loved the Hawkeye! Is this the only 1/48 version? Either way I would love to own it, and can you fold the wings back on this kit. I saw some piping on the wings, so that would be awesome if you could do it folded back! The wings can be folded on this kit.Detailed wingfolds are included. Stephen Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mareku Posted February 14, 2010 Share Posted February 14, 2010 Gorgeos start, mate. I´v just bought the kinetic model. Lowely to see how you are building it Quote Link to post Share on other sites
twhite80 Posted February 16, 2010 Share Posted February 16, 2010 This build is going great. I think that the E-2C has surpassed my expectations in terms of quality. I will have to pick one up, though I am going to wait for the 8 bladed prop first. Keep the pics coming. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GreyGhost Posted February 17, 2010 Share Posted February 17, 2010 Great looking Hummer, Brian ... Gregg Quote Link to post Share on other sites
POMPEO Posted February 21, 2010 Share Posted February 21, 2010 nice progress, i love to know about this new E-2C decals, coming soon i will made my order of VAW-115 Liberty Bells sheet congratulations Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jinxter13 Posted February 21, 2010 Share Posted February 21, 2010 (edited) Progress looks very good Brian...I will follow this'un and decide on the possibilities given time to do one, but if so it will definitely be with wings folded....for the same reasons they do it, on board the boat. Speaking of which anybody know the difference between a ship and a boat.... I do :D . Edited February 21, 2010 by Angels49 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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