Mr B Posted April 20, 2013 Share Posted April 20, 2013 Very nice looking work Really nice to see the blue and the contrast with the white frames..... Ace Rgds MR b Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ALF18 Posted April 20, 2013 Author Share Posted April 20, 2013 Great progress, ALF. I like your idea for the det cord. Question, if the world went really bad, would these aircraft be put into the fight in any capacity? Don Thanks Neo! Don I think if things went to heck in a hand-basket, these aircraft would not be in the fight - it's not in the contract! Not only are they marginally capable in most roles, but there is the added complication that the military does not own and operate them outright. They are owned by a company that leases their use to the military, through a Prime Contractor, for a given purpose - training. Now, if Will Smith needed help to shoot down the last aliens, though, I'm sure somebody would fly up in a mighty Hawk to lend a hand! ALF Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ALF18 Posted April 20, 2013 Author Share Posted April 20, 2013 Jeez...sounds like you're busier than a one armed man trying to hang wallpaper. Looking really good, ALF. The colour and the glossy sheen are really close. It's amazing how the gloss coat seems to darken the colour slightly. I noted that on my Corsair build a while ago and the Future has had the same effect on your Hawk. I like it. Now...how about some perspective. What size coffee cup has Max got his head stuck in? Further...is he a double double kind of dog?! Mike Definitely busy here, all right. Thanks for the compliments. This paint scheme looks really nice (as MrB commented as well), and the Future does darken the midnight blue just enough. So for scale comparison, that's a (new) Medium coffee that Max has his whole head buried in. He takes his coffee any way he can get it - in this case, not a double double, but a milk/cream/Splenda version. He also likes SWMBO's two milk one cream no sugar flavour. He does have good taste though. And not because he eats his own poop. Because he likes Timmy's coffee! ALF Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ALF18 Posted April 20, 2013 Author Share Posted April 20, 2013 (edited) Boy this thing has a lot of decals! I am making slow progress on that front. I thought I'd post some pics to point out something that could be very much a "gotcha" with the instructions to this kit. I love the tail insignia - and of course the NFTC (NATO Flying Training in Canada) logo is swept according to the angle of the stabilizer, away from the front of the aircraft. Note the small Canadian flag in front of the tail number, and the fact it is in front. Now, the instructions for the other side show the flag at the front of the numbers (i.e. on the right side of the numbers). But the decal for the other side is a one-piece affair, with the flag on the left, like the first side. No problem, I thought - I'll just chop up the decal, and install the flag on the right (at the front). As I admired my work, something prompted me to check references on the computer - and I was shocked to see that the real thing has the flag on the left all the time! After some anxious moments, I managed to move the decal with the numbers to the right, and installed the flag on the left, where it belongs. Talk about annoying! The decals are quite colourful. The NO STEP decals are white boot prints with red Xs through them; they add a splash of colour to the trailing edge of the wing, flaps, and ailerons. Will post more pics as it nears completion. ALF Edited April 20, 2013 by ALF18 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ALF18 Posted April 21, 2013 Author Share Posted April 21, 2013 Further to the above - the error in the instructions is in one panel, while the other one with the dark-coloured drawings is correct. Anyway... I have pretty much done the decaling, and will glue the main gear doors in place tomorrow, then do the final coat of Future. Here's what it looks like so far, in the harsh light of the flash. Thanks for looking. ALF Quote Link to post Share on other sites
phantom Posted April 21, 2013 Share Posted April 21, 2013 Thats a nice colourful build! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Neo Posted April 21, 2013 Share Posted April 21, 2013 Now, if Will Smith needed help to shoot down the last aliens, though, I'm sure somebody would fly up in a mighty Hawk to lend a hand! ALF LOL been watching independence day lately !? Decals look really great. How big is this bird completed? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ALF18 Posted April 21, 2013 Author Share Posted April 21, 2013 LOL been watching independence day lately !? Decals look really great. How big is this bird completed? Unfortunately, I haven't seen the film in a while - but I sure liked it! Aliens, F-18s, explosions, it had it all. Did you write the virus they used? This is finished now - final dimensions about 40 cm long (including pitot boom) and 30 cm wingspan. Big, but not huge. Just a little bigger than a 1/48 Hornet. Here are the pics, some taken in the nice setting sun this evening. I froze my tush taking the outdoor ones; it's only just above freezing, and a bit breezy tonight. At least there's no snow! ALF Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dmthamade Posted April 22, 2013 Share Posted April 22, 2013 Thanks Neo! Don I think if things went to heck in a hand-basket, these aircraft would not be in the fight - it's not in the contract! :woot.gif:/> Not only are they marginally capable in most roles, but there is the added complication that the military does not own and operate them outright. They are owned by a company that leases their use to the military, through a Prime Contractor, for a given purpose - training. Now, if Will Smith needed help to shoot down the last aliens, though, I'm sure somebody would fly up in a mighty Hawk to lend a hand! ALF I never knew that our military doesn't O and O these aircraft. Learn something every day. Completed build looks great, you doing another F-104 next? Don Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ALF18 Posted April 22, 2013 Author Share Posted April 22, 2013 I never knew that our military doesn't O and O these aircraft. Learn something every day. Completed build looks great, you doing another F-104 next? Don You read my mind, Don. I will reattempt the natural metal finish. Have to do it before the lessons learned disappear into the ether... Yup, the NFTC program is quite a different animal. It is a mix of several contracts, and also military/civilian instructors. Phase 1 - Portage la Prairie, MB. Grob aircraft. Selection (only about 25 to 30 flying hours). Allied Wings consortium runs the place, including the whole airfield (ATC, accomodation, transport, you name it). Civilian instructors on the ground and in the Grobs. Phase 2 - Harvard II in Moose Jaw SK. About 140 flying hours, up until the fast jet/helo/multiengine split. Bombardier runs the contract; ATCO Frontec runs the airfield (sub to Bombardier). Bombardier civilian ground instructors (classroom and simulators), operating CAE-built simulators with CAE maintenance. Military flight instructors. Phase 3 fast jet - Also in Moose Jaw, up to wings standard for fast jet and instructor candidates. Same operation as the Harvard II (Bombardier, military, etc). Phase 3 Helo - Portage la Prairie, Allied Wings. Civilian groundschool and sim instructors; military flight instructors. Fleet is a mix of ex-military Jet Rangers and Griffons. Phase 3 Multi - Portage, Allied Wings. Same mix as helo for personnel. King Airs owned and operated by Allied Wings, leased to military. Phase 4 Fighter Lead-In Training (where this Hawk operates). Cold Lake. Bombardier maintains the aircraft and the hangar at 419, on the base. Civilian techs; military instructors. CAE simulator, with one civilian instructor and some military IPs as well. I'm not sure how Allied Wings has structured things, but I know Bombardier has set up something like a Joint Venture with the Crown. The JV owns the aircraft, which are leased to the military for the training, as are the training services from Bombardier. The program started in 1999; I was there in Moose Jaw doing installation checks on a Harvard II sim when the first Hawk arrived in MJ (201). It's a 20-year program. Not sure what happens when the contract is up. You can see the site at www.nftc.net. ALF Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AX 365 Posted April 26, 2013 Share Posted April 26, 2013 That's a very nice looking Hawk, ALF. Your friend should be very happy with the finished product, as should you. Well done, bub. Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ALF18 Posted April 27, 2013 Author Share Posted April 27, 2013 That's a very nice looking Hawk, ALF. Your friend should be very happy with the finished product, as should you. Well done, bub. Mike Thanks Mike. I mailed it off last week; he should get it in a week or so. Hopefully it will arrive in one piece! ALF Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AX 365 Posted April 28, 2013 Share Posted April 28, 2013 If it gets broken in transit, let me know. My brother works for Canada Post in Gatineau. Out of sheer convenience, I'll beat him for you to make up for the aggravation. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Neo Posted April 28, 2013 Share Posted April 28, 2013 If it gets broken in transit, let me know. My brother works for Canada Post in Gatineau. Out of sheer convenience, I'll beat him for you to make up for the aggravation. LOL this is the first line ive read this morning so i can say you've made my day Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ALF18 Posted April 28, 2013 Author Share Posted April 28, 2013 If it gets broken in transit, let me know. My brother works for Canada Post in Gatineau. Out of sheer convenience, I'll beat him for you to make up for the aggravation. Shoot the messenger! Round up all the usual suspects! Shoot first, ask questions later! Gotta love it! Nice offer Mike - please let your brother know that I might take you up on it. Besides, knowing how brothers get along over the years, he probably deserves a few noogies anyway. ALF Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ALF18 Posted May 2, 2013 Author Share Posted May 2, 2013 Well, Mike - you can tell your brother he is off the hook. Canada Post did a great job. The model arrived yesterday (I only mailed it Thursday last week), in perfect condition. T is a happy customer, and I have breathed a sigh of relief. ALF Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AX 365 Posted May 3, 2013 Share Posted May 3, 2013 Neo - glad I got your day off to a good start. ALF - I'm glad that "T" received his package unscathed. Sean will be happy to know that there will be no beatings laid upon him. He might receive a few noogies anyway, just for old times sake. Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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