MarkW Posted April 3, 2017 Author Share Posted April 3, 2017 On 4/2/2017 at 9:35 AM, TMReich said: I have to believe that even if this specific failure mode wasn't anticipated, the possibility of a visor failing in some way was. I would bet that the basic flight instrument readings can be displayed on the console. You are correct sir. Nobody's mentioned the Bogmonster is retiring yet? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ken Cartwright Posted April 23, 2017 Share Posted April 23, 2017 Not sure if this is new info, but saw this article about the UK's F-35Bs carrying Meteor missiles in 2024 (if all goes according to plan). http://defense-update.com/20170421_f35_meteor.html Quote Link to post Share on other sites
phantomdriver Posted April 23, 2017 Share Posted April 23, 2017 5 hours ago, Ken Cartwright said: Not sure if this is new info, but saw this article about the UK's F-35Bs carrying Meteor missiles in 2024 (if all goes according to plan). http://defense-update.com/20170421_f35_meteor.html The secretary of State for Armed Forces was at the factory this week, as reported on Forces TV Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MacStingy Posted April 23, 2017 Share Posted April 23, 2017 SIGH...so much progress being made by the rest of the world. Once again our procurement seems to be buried under important matters like pot legalization. Where oh where is our Hornet replacement? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TaiidanTomcat Posted April 24, 2017 Share Posted April 24, 2017 (edited) On 4/22/2017 at 9:47 PM, Ken Cartwright said: Not sure if this is new info, but saw this article about the UK's F-35Bs carrying Meteor missiles in 2024 (if all goes according to plan). http://defense-update.com/20170421_f35_meteor.html The eurocanard crew will be upset, the meteor was the "club" against the evil American F-35 with its inferior AMRAAMs Edited April 24, 2017 by TaiidanTomcat Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TaiidanTomcat Posted April 24, 2017 Share Posted April 24, 2017 Scale Modelers rejoice, rumors of new coating method as seen above. contrast with picture below Quote Link to post Share on other sites
11bee Posted April 24, 2017 Share Posted April 24, 2017 14 minutes ago, TaiidanTomcat said: Scale Modelers rejoice, rumors of new coating method as seen above. contrast with picture below I hate it. Boring. Why can't they keep the old version?? Kidding aside, is this going to be the new look for all jets or is it just a trial / test aircraft? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kstater94 Posted April 25, 2017 Share Posted April 25, 2017 This is now the standard scheme for F-35s that are being delivered Regards John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mr Matt Foley Posted April 25, 2017 Share Posted April 25, 2017 53 minutes ago, kstater94 said: This is now the standard scheme for F-35s that are being delivered Regards John Seriously? Any idea what that color would match up with? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MacStingy Posted April 25, 2017 Share Posted April 25, 2017 Can get out the old Badger350 for this challenge.🙄 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MacStingy Posted April 25, 2017 Share Posted April 25, 2017 That is when I can do a Canadian version! Hope I live that long. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
82Whitey51 Posted April 25, 2017 Share Posted April 25, 2017 (edited) http://aeroscale.co.uk/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=25107 Not sure if this has already been posted; New 1/48 F-35A coming from Meng. Edited April 25, 2017 by 82Whitey51 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TaiidanTomcat Posted April 25, 2017 Share Posted April 25, 2017 3 hours ago, 82Whitey51 said: http://aeroscale.co.uk/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=25107 Not sure if this has already been posted; New 1/48 F-35A coming from Meng. I had not seen that, thank you Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TaiidanTomcat Posted April 25, 2017 Share Posted April 25, 2017 "There is a new look coming to the F-35 later in the year! With a sleeker, more uniform coating system, F-35s are saving time in Aircraft Final Finishes (AFF) and saving dollars. The design and new look didn’t happen overnight, but rather was the effort of many people over the last five years.In 2012, James Thistle came to Fort Worth from F-22 in Marietta as the Production Operations Senior Manager in AFF. He quickly recognized the need for improving the throughput of AFF, which at the time was operating at almost double the scheduled span and cost budgeted for the area. After pitching a potentially significant opportunity to his then-director, Tom Carrubba, now vice president of Aeronautics Quality Transformation and Enterprise Integration, he was able to gain the initial support for changing the engineering design, coatings material and the application process used in AFF.“What resulted in the end was several days of span time saved in AFF and one of the most positively impactful affordability projects on the F-35 to date. It saves significant hours per unit, defects and rework and improves the aircraft sustainability in the field. It also changes the exterior look of the aircraft to a more uniform coating,” said Carrubba.“The Aircraft Finishes configuration required the preparation and applications of various materials, which aesthetically appear as jig saw panes of various shades of gray across doors, panels and control surface edges. The manufacturing process to yield a complying product are extremely labor intensive and requires unique skill sets and more so concentrated attention to detail, which meant more labor and processing span in AFF," said Thistle. "Despite the immense efforts amongst the F-35 Finishes organizations, the process often yielded escapes and as a result contributed towards the organizations number one driver for quality defects."The idea to optimize the process by eliminating multiple masking operations and the need to manually hand spray various top coats by using robotic application during the final top coat application; or “Z13” overcoat as it is more commonly known, was conceived. The project will reduce the cost of an F-35A by $16,000 per aircraft and will save $49 million in the total life of the program.Chad Wemyss, Delivery Operations Manufacturing Engineering (ME) manager, has been working on the project since picking it up as AFF ME Lead in 2012. “This has been one of the most intense collaboration efforts I’ve taken part in. It has involved several years of testing by the Signature Integration and Materials and Processes (M&P) teams, as well as close teamwork with Production Operations, Finishes Engineering, Sustainment, the Affordability team, the F-35 Program Office and the customer, Joint Program Office (JPO). There have been a lot of stakeholders with different aspects of project inputs and requirements and keeping the whole thing moving forward has been challenging, but also extremely rewarding,” he said. The team kept with it and the results were evident when AF-104, the test aircraft for this project, finished its final coatings in AFF. Implementation of the change is expected in the 2nd quarter of 2017." Quote Link to post Share on other sites
11bee Posted April 25, 2017 Share Posted April 25, 2017 Thanks for the info TT. Still can't figure out if the F-35 is a good looking jet but I do like the new finish. Assume that earlier jets will be repainted at some point when they go in for heavy Maint? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
B2Blain Posted April 25, 2017 Share Posted April 25, 2017 Does this mean that modelers also do not have to mask the multiple RAM panels. I have a "C" model with the initial coat painted on. More uniform? Or uniform - as in one color? I don't know if anyone has pics? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
11bee Posted April 25, 2017 Share Posted April 25, 2017 25 minutes ago, B2Blain said: Does this mean that modelers also do not have to mask the multiple RAM panels. I have a "C" model with the initial coat painted on. More uniform? Or uniform - as in one color? I don't know if anyone has pics? Looks like the new color is lighter. Anyone got additional pics of this aircraft? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
B2Blain Posted April 26, 2017 Share Posted April 26, 2017 Sorry, I missed the pic above. Is that this jet? I don't like it either. Darker is better. RAM panels are still there - a little more subtle. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mr Matt Foley Posted April 26, 2017 Share Posted April 26, 2017 21 minutes ago, B2Blain said: Sorry, I missed the pic above. Is that this jet? I don't like it either. Darker is better. RAM panels are still there - a little more subtle. Looks somewhat close to a Gunship Gray but with the Dilithium Crystals in it. Well, at least in the first photo it did.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
B2Blain Posted April 26, 2017 Share Posted April 26, 2017 I believe the base coat is FS36170. But TT's pic looks like it is lighter. Like a faded FS36118? But it depends on lighting and the contrast with the F-35 next to it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TaiidanTomcat Posted April 26, 2017 Share Posted April 26, 2017 First jet with the new paint is AF-104, don't know if it's flown yet, hopefully when she does we will get some pics from the fence sitters. What's old is new, it looks like the original concept art when JSF program was in its infancy and everything wore a Hill like F-16 two tone lol. 16K in saving is not huge by itself alone, obviously 49 million is and it's good to see every detail is being examined. It all adds up Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Koen L Posted April 26, 2017 Share Posted April 26, 2017 (edited) 6 hours ago, TaiidanTomcat said: First jet with the new paint is AF-104, don't know if it's flown yet, hopefully when she does we will get some pics from the fence sitters. What's old is new, it looks like the original concept art when JSF program was in its infancy and everything wore a Hill like F-16 two tone lol. 16K in saving is not huge by itself alone, obviously 49 million is and it's good to see every detail is being examined. It all adds up AF-104/ 14-5103 was delivered to Luke AFB months ago. You can see some pics here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisk48/33017434836 https://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisk48/32392424030/ https://farm1.staticflickr.com/730/33136649396_2c0bb28c03_b.jpg Edited April 26, 2017 by Koen L Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TaiidanTomcat Posted April 26, 2017 Share Posted April 26, 2017 4 hours ago, Koen L said: AF-104/ 14-5103 was delivered to Luke AFB months ago. You can see some pics here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisk48/33017434836 https://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisk48/32392424030/ https://farm1.staticflickr.com/730/33136649396_2c0bb28c03_b.jpg Wow thank you. My Google Fu turned up nothing Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ken Cartwright Posted April 26, 2017 Share Posted April 26, 2017 A little more news: Two US F-35s fly to Estonia to show solidarity with NATO: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-russia-estonia-idUSKBN17R1VL Quote Link to post Share on other sites
habu2 Posted April 26, 2017 Share Posted April 26, 2017 I'm so glad LM finally listened to us modelers and did something about that zig-zag paint scheme. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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