KAGNEW Posted June 14, 2012 Share Posted June 14, 2012 (edited) more to come Glen Coleman www.Kittyhawkmodel.com Edited June 14, 2012 by KAGNEW Quote Link to post Share on other sites
pookie Posted June 15, 2012 Share Posted June 15, 2012 (edited) Noice! it would be awesome to see progress pictures of how a mold gets machined. Edited June 15, 2012 by pookie Quote Link to post Share on other sites
KAGNEW Posted June 15, 2012 Author Share Posted June 15, 2012 more pix of what it takes. these are unpolished molds Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Darth2307 Posted June 15, 2012 Share Posted June 15, 2012 Very Cool. Any idea of a general release date for this kit? Gonna have to get at least two of them. Thanks! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dave1089 Posted June 15, 2012 Share Posted June 15, 2012 Looks very nice. Would like to see some RAF/FAA decals for it though! Dave Quote Link to post Share on other sites
pookie Posted June 16, 2012 Share Posted June 16, 2012 I will never understand how on earth you guys put all that detail into hard as heck steel moulds, considering you are doing a reverse image. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Inquisitor Posted June 16, 2012 Share Posted June 16, 2012 I will never understand how on earth you guys put all that detail into hard as heck steel moulds, considering you are doing a reverse image. Maybe watching this two videos you get a slight idea of how. http://www.hobbylink...ne-molds-part-1 http://www.hobbylink...ne-molds-part-2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ThePhantomTwo Posted June 16, 2012 Share Posted June 16, 2012 I hope a F-35A and C will follow the F-35B release! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
markiii Posted June 16, 2012 Share Posted June 16, 2012 Very Cool. Any idea of a general release date for this kit? Gonna have to get at least two of them. Thanks! I heard July 2012 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Otto Posted June 17, 2012 Share Posted June 17, 2012 (edited) I was in the mold making business for about 8 years and those are short run aluminum molds. The reason I say short run is because they are good for about 30K +- shots and they deteriorate in the process. If you plan on buying a kit, by one from the first run. Steel tools look completely different and they would cost about 4-6X as much to make. These are not to be mistaken with the old eastern European short run molds which were made out of Chrome Plated Epoxy and were good for about 5-7K shots and deteriorated quickly after the first 750-1000 kits. Today, in this industry aluminum is adequate. Mild steel molds would be good for about 250K shots and regular hard steel tools like we used to make were (are) good for about 1+M shots. Aluminum molds are easy to make and quite inexpensive. The first few thousand of the kits should be as good as the master. I would definitely buy a couple/few. If the price is right? Edited June 17, 2012 by Otto Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JackMan Posted June 17, 2012 Share Posted June 17, 2012 I was in the mold making business for about 8 years and those are short run aluminum molds. The reason I say short run is because they are good for about 30K +- shots and they deteriorate in the process. If you plan on buying a kit, by one from the first run. Steel tools look completely different and they would cost about 4-6X as much to make. These are not to be mistaken with the old eastern European short run molds which were made out of Chrome Plated Epoxy and were good for about 5-7K shots and deteriorated quickly after the first 750-1000 kits. Today, in this industry aluminum is adequate. Mild steel molds would be good for about 250K shots and regular hard steel tools like we used to make were (are) good for about 1+M shots. Aluminum molds are easy to make and quite inexpensive. The first few thousand of the kits should be as good as the master. I would definitely buy a couple/few. If the price is right? Once again I learn something new from ARC forums. Thanks for the detailed explanation, Otto! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Stratospheremodels Posted June 17, 2012 Share Posted June 17, 2012 (edited) I was in the mold making business for about 8 years and those are short run aluminum molds. The reason I say short run is because they are good for about 30K +- shots and they deteriorate in the process. If you plan on buying a kit, by one from the first run. Steel tools look completely different and they would cost about 4-6X as much to make. These are not to be mistaken with the old eastern European short run molds which were made out of Chrome Plated Epoxy and were good for about 5-7K shots and deteriorated quickly after the first 750-1000 kits. Today, in this industry aluminum is adequate. Mild steel molds would be good for about 250K shots and regular hard steel tools like we used to make were (are) good for about 1+M shots. Aluminum molds are easy to make and quite inexpensive. The first few thousand of the kits should be as good as the master. I would definitely buy a couple/few. If the price is right? Hi Otto, I have to say that in today's model kit industry, i wouldn't call a mold that can make 30,000 plus parts a 'short run' mold.. This mold would be considered more a mainstream subject, high quantity run (and you still have to sell all 30,000 parts, though with the subject at hand here, it should probably not be too difficult). My background is industrial design, there are aluminum molds that can go as high as a million parts, if they are well made. Steel molds are also known to be at risk for deterioration, such as chrome plated steel molds, a lot of steel molds can also rust, i even saw molds that had rusted before they had even started their production run. By the way, nice inserts Glen. Stephane Stratosphere Models Website: http://www.picturetrail.com/stratospheremodels Email: stratospheremodels@yahoo.fr Edited June 17, 2012 by Stratospheremodels Quote Link to post Share on other sites
EX_Birdgunner Posted June 17, 2012 Share Posted June 17, 2012 I'm really curious why RCAF roundels in both hi and low-vis are provided since Canada is purchasing the "A" model. Thinking ahead maybe? Denis Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bobski Posted June 18, 2012 Share Posted June 18, 2012 Looking good, but all the national markings should be low-viz grey Quote Link to post Share on other sites
blunce Posted July 11, 2012 Share Posted July 11, 2012 When, where, and how much?! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Paolo Maglio Posted July 11, 2012 Share Posted July 11, 2012 look very interesting but those Italian roudels are no longer in use by sevral years, current ones are 14 cm in diametre and have a reduced white section. Feel free to contact me if you need more details. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Eri Posted July 11, 2012 Share Posted July 11, 2012 Oh YES! Singapore Decals! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Wolfgun33 Posted July 12, 2012 Share Posted July 12, 2012 When, where, and how much?! Ditto!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sharkey Posted July 12, 2012 Share Posted July 12, 2012 Awesome. I really like the box art, too. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
B_Realistic Posted July 12, 2012 Share Posted July 12, 2012 Dear Paolo, I think they don't care. The decal sheet also provide Belgian roundels or supposed to be belgians - without the blue external ring. But Belgium has years ago (and rather wisely in my opinion) decided not to join the F-35/JSF programme. KittyHawk F-35B kit target is obviously mass market (here I don't speak about Belgium :P) and not accuracy. V.P. HomeBe, you're right about that. I'm from Belgium and I'm glad they didn't attend the billion Euro program due to budget costs. Certainly these days to the fact that we're very limited in making our own opinion. It's no democracy but merely listening what Europe has to say! B_Realistic Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Phatsamurai Posted July 13, 2012 Share Posted July 13, 2012 I agree, How much , I am looking forward to this! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jinxter13 Posted July 14, 2012 Share Posted July 14, 2012 (edited) When, where, and how much?! What he said.... Ditto!!! Uh Huh....Add me to that mix. Edited July 14, 2012 by #1 Greywolf Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GMK Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 Does anyone know whether the Kitty Hawk kit be built 'closed up'? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
scapilot Posted August 13, 2012 Share Posted August 13, 2012 Gone mine pre ordered today from pacific coast models. Should be shipping in about ten or so days. 59.00 bucks and no shipping. Model looks really good put together from WhT ive seen. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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