Spit1A Posted December 18, 2010 Author Share Posted December 18, 2010 Just checked on mine and if you push the pit al little more foward you will see that it snugs in nicely leaving it flushJust one question for you since you have all that nice led setup you really should add some nav lights too just add one more led and run some fiber optic wire from it Cheers Neo Hi Neo, thanks for checking. After a little bit of work I have it so that the bottom edge of the flat part is inline with the top of the cockpit tub, but there is still a gap between the parts....But the photo etch parts I have actually cover up the gap, so I guess I'll go with that. As for fibre optic wires for the nav lights, that would definitely be cool, but I don't think I'm gonna do that for this build. Right now I'm happy with just the ID light. But maybe the next model I make I'll try fibre optics. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Spit1A Posted December 26, 2010 Author Share Posted December 26, 2010 Just a little update today, but first of all, a belated Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone! I've been slowly working on some cockpit details and getting used to working with photo etch. Replaced the kit shelf or flat area behind the ejection seat with photo etch parts. I really like the look of the mesh over the equipment bay when compared to the kit part. I cut holes in the photo etch around the mesh part so that I can pose the canopy open and closed. Here is the rear part of the canopy with some photo etch and some wires for detail. Here's the instrument panel. I have mixed feelings on the colour photo etch. Love all the little details that I would never be able to paint by hand, but I don't like some of the colours. Here is left and right side of the ejection seat spruced up with the photo etch. I think I went a little crazy with the paint chipping, but I kind of like the look. Finally, the cockpit tub all done. Thanks for looking! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ken Middleton Posted December 26, 2010 Share Posted December 26, 2010 the rear deck area looks excellent, as does the rest of your work Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Spit1A Posted January 9, 2011 Author Share Posted January 9, 2011 Hey guys, the build is going slowly but surely. Here's an update on my progress so far. Got to try out the 'dipping the intake in some white paint' technique that I've seen other people to here. It worked pretty well! Adding some photo etch to the landing gear bays. Added some brake lines and other lines to the landing gear Cockpit tub installed in the fuselage. I haven't glued the seat down yet. I think I'll leave it out till the very end. Gluing the front part of the canopy down, and using my fancy dancy lego building jig! Another great tip I've learned from lurking these forums. Engine exhausts and nozzles painted ...continued in the next post.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Spit1A Posted January 9, 2011 Author Share Posted January 9, 2011 Finally, I decided to move the AN/ALQ-165 antennae to the right of the centre line based off info from Steve Bamford's Building the CF-188, and chuck540z3's exceptional 1/32 CF-18B topic Thanks for looking! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Spit1A Posted January 9, 2011 Author Share Posted January 9, 2011 I forgot to ask, does anyone know if the vertical stabilizer stiffening plates had been installed on CF-18s by the time they were in the Balkans? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tilt Posted January 9, 2011 Share Posted January 9, 2011 This hornet is looking simply amazing!! Can't wait to see more. And I love your use of lego as a model craddle. I'm SO going to steal that idea - lol. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Spit1A Posted January 10, 2011 Author Share Posted January 10, 2011 Thanks Tilt! Got a little bit more done today. Added the cover for the nose cannon. I drilled a little hole in it as well. Added a little protrusion and some holes around the ID light. Got the vertical stabilizers on! It's starting to look like an airplane now. Finally, look at that giant gap between the front of the canopy/windshield and the fuselage! And I thought I was being so careful with this build! :lol: Oh well, time to get the putty out. The canopy actually still matches up with the windshield pretty well. I guess I won't be taking many pictures of this model from the right side... Thanks for looking! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Neo Posted January 10, 2011 Share Posted January 10, 2011 I just had the exact same problem with mine i found that the HUD was hitting the canopy so i bent it back a little and it went into place Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ken Middleton Posted January 10, 2011 Share Posted January 10, 2011 Nice work - the pit looks really nice Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Spit1A Posted January 10, 2011 Author Share Posted January 10, 2011 Thanks guys! I just had the exact same problem with mine i found that the HUD was hitting the canopy so i bent it back a little and it went into place Neo, I had another look at it this morning and you're right, it looks like the HUD is the problem. I should have checked that before gluing it down! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Neo Posted January 10, 2011 Share Posted January 10, 2011 Yeah that hud was a paint in my %#@ i folded the 2 pe the same way and when i tried to bend one back the right way it broke in 2 the same thing happed when i bent back the pins that hold the glass supergluing them back into place was an eye staining experience Depending on the glue you use you might be able to unstick you canopy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Spit1A Posted January 10, 2011 Author Share Posted January 10, 2011 Yeah that hud was a paint in my %#@ i folded the 2 pe the same way and when i tried to bend one back the right way it broke in 2 the same thing happed when i bent back the pins that hold the glass supergluing them back into place was an eye staining experience Depending on the glue you use you might be able to unstick you canopy Wow, I can't imagine trying to reattach those little tabs to the frame. Unfortunately I used 5 min epoxy. I've been toying with the idea of trying to slowly pry the windshield off, but I suspect I'll end up just cracking it if I do that. Might be better if I just leave it as is. On the bright side, I can use this mistake to justify building another Hornet at some point down the line! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ALF18 Posted January 10, 2011 Share Posted January 10, 2011 You guys are both more patient than I am. I hate the PE parts on this HUD - I've built about 5 of these kits, and curse every time. The HUD definitely sits high, and makes it tough to get the canopy to sit down. I think a little putty on the right side is your best option - it won't show that much that the windscreen is at an angle. ALF Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Neo Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 Yeah i agree with alf but dont forget to display it with the main canopy raised or else its going to show Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Spit1A Posted January 11, 2011 Author Share Posted January 11, 2011 Thanks guys, It's nice to know I'm not the only one who has had problems with this area of the kit. So I decided to throw caution to the wind and try to gently pry the windshield off. And with only a little bit of force the whole thing just popped off! I think it helped that the plastic parts were smooth and already had a coat of paint on them. I think the epoxy just bonded to the paint so everything came off really easy! :blink: Here is the model after removing the windshield. To me it looked like the thick HUD glass parts were causing the problem so I removed the kit parts and cut out some parts out of clear overhead sheet. I'm pretty happy with how they look. They look a little bit too thin, but I think the kit parts are a little thick. And now the windshield fits!! Thanks for looking! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Neo Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 Great recovery Mav ! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Neo Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 (edited) love thethin glass btw what did you cutthem out of? Edited January 11, 2011 by Neo Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Spit1A Posted January 11, 2011 Author Share Posted January 11, 2011 love thethin glass btw what did you cutthem out of? Thanks! The new 'glass' was made from clear overhead sheet. I think it can also be called transparency film. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GRAIL007 Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 (edited) Nice fix, will have to watch that on my two birds. cheers Mark Edited January 11, 2011 by GRAIL007 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ALF18 Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 Thanks! The new 'glass' was made from clear overhead sheet. I think it can also be called transparency film. Great idea! Nice and easy to work with, and could be useable for stuff like the ID light cover as well... Well done. ALF Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ken Middleton Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 Nice, I think the HUD glass looks great! ALF - good idea on the search light cover :unsure: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Spit1A Posted January 12, 2011 Author Share Posted January 12, 2011 Thanks everyone! Another nice thing about using overhead slides is that they are sheets of plastic that fit in a printer so it's easy to print patterns on them. Sometimes I print out camouflage masks or patterns for small parts on them. I have a quick question about the vertical stabilizer stiffener plates on CF-18s. See the pic below Does anyone know if they were installed on the aircraft by the time they were in the Balkans? Or did it vary depending on the airplane? I'm hoping to model aircraft 188795, so if anyone knows if this particular airplane had them installed at the time that would be great. Thanks! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Emvar Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 I would think that by 1999 the aircraft had the mods done..... I'm not an expert. But I do know that it varies from airframe to airframe. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ALF18 Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 Thanks everyone!Another nice thing about using overhead slides is that they are sheets of plastic that fit in a printer so it's easy to print patterns on them. Sometimes I print out camouflage masks or patterns for small parts on them. I have a quick question about the vertical stabilizer stiffener plates on CF-18s. See the pic below Does anyone know if they were installed on the aircraft by the time they were in the Balkans? Or did it vary depending on the airplane? I'm hoping to model aircraft 188795, so if anyone knows if this particular airplane had them installed at the time that would be great. Thanks! Sorry, I don't know for sure, especially about 795. I have squinted at all the pics I have from that deployment, but they are lower resolution and difficult to make out. The stiffener plates definitely vary from aircraft to aircraft. I have seen some with 4 installed (inside and outside left and right stabs), while some have one or even none. Those who have them tend to have 2 to 4 on average... ALF Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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