Marcel111 Posted December 8, 2013 Share Posted December 8, 2013 The idea with the two mirrors is very cool... and nicely executed also Marcel Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JesniF-16 Posted December 8, 2013 Author Share Posted December 8, 2013 (edited) Thank you linus for the kind word and the sweet reference links, it will come in very handy in the future! Thanks to you Marcel /> In-between jobs + snow + frigid cold = PROGRESS /> Decided to give my attention to the canopy frame... Here are the kit parts all glued together straight OOB. Not bad, but it could use a little help! I had to close that huge gap at the sides of the support bridge. Hopefully you can follow my simpleton terminology. I'm not sure if these are speakers or ducts, but I added some coffee filter mesh (thanks Chuck540z3) to the openings as well as the wire that runs the full length of the frame... I also replaced the kits "oh crap" handles with wire... To fill the gaps, I added some plastic card to make it more like the real deal... Filling these voids also will completely cover the WSO coaming, since I opted NOT to detail that part /> Archer rivets were added for more interest. The round ducts/pipes have these flex connections which I represented using .2 mm wire wound around the ducts a few times... Thanks wardog /> Edited December 10, 2013 by JesniF-16 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JesniF-16 Posted December 8, 2013 Author Share Posted December 8, 2013 Here is the canopy frame painted and weathered. The top surfaces get quite dusty over the years... I carefully masked the surface that will attach to the canopy for strength. I don't really care for Tamiya's breakdown of the canopy sections, it just seems way too complex. Not really looking forward to gluing the clear part to this frame ;)/> I am satisfied with the outcome of the frame.... The weathering is a lot dirtier when viewing 1:1. Masked and painted the inner frame on the windscreen and canopy... This is as far as I will go since I will wait to glue the canopy and frame to the fuselage when it comes to that point... The clear parts still need to be polished, but I am waiting for the Plexus plastic cleaner to arrive in the mail.... Another tip that i got from Chuck's Hog thread :)/> The mirrors and a gage were added from the Eduard interior set. This is just a test fit, but it seems to match up perfectly :thumbsup:/> Now it's time to tackle the dreaded nose gear bay details. Once the nose gear bay is finished I might be able to close up the front fuselage :rolleyes:/> I am hoping to have one more week of downtime at work, but it sounds like things are not running very smooth at the plant I have been contacted to cut & weld in 2 huge shutoff valves that cost the company $125K a piece = not good.... for them :rolleyes:/> Comments & critique are welcome and appreciated :cheers:/> /Jesse Quote Link to post Share on other sites
.linus Posted December 8, 2013 Share Posted December 8, 2013 Hey man this looks incredible! One quick thing for ya. From what I've noticed in photos, the ac hoses on the canopy are corrugated like a vacuum hose. http://media.dma.mil/2011/Mar/24/2000272835/-1/-1/0/110319-F-RP755-270.JPG Old guitar string works well for this. In your scale it's probably and A or E I have a way better photo saved but it's not mine. If you'd like I can pm it to you. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JesniF-16 Posted December 8, 2013 Author Share Posted December 8, 2013 Thanks linus! Wish Ida had that photo yesterday... The guitar string woulda been a great idea man! But the way that my hose is displayed, is correct as well.... I have a good pic of this from Jake Melampy's Modern Eagle Guide pg. 19. I think yer photo is fairly recent since it has the JHMCS on the canopy rail so maybe the old hose is replaced with the corrugated hose. Either way thanks for the great shots :thumbsup:/> Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Aigore Posted December 9, 2013 Share Posted December 9, 2013 Awesome progress with the canopy frame! Great work mate! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JesniF-16 Posted December 10, 2013 Author Share Posted December 10, 2013 (edited) Awesome progress with the canopy frame! Great work mate! Thanks Janne, I am pleased that you approve! BTW I also wanted to thanks JohnS for helping me out with some great reference photos for the canopy frame :thumbsup:/> /Jesse Edited December 10, 2013 by JesniF-16 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Marcel111 Posted December 10, 2013 Share Posted December 10, 2013 (edited) Very sweet work on the canopy frame... and very worthwhile too, since it will be so visible. :thumbsup:/> Marcel Edited December 11, 2013 by Marcel111 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
chuck540z3 Posted December 11, 2013 Share Posted December 11, 2013 GREAT looking canopy Jess! The clear parts still need to be polished, but I am waiting for the Plexus plastic cleaner to arrive in the mail.... /Jesse Plexus tip! Pic of the stuff below for those who may want to know what the heck we're talking about: Plexus This plastic polish was originally made for real aircraft plastic windshields. I found the stuff years ago when I wanted to clean up and polish the rear plastic window on my wife's little sports car, because although polishing compounds removed most of the scratches, the window lost it's shine. Plexus smells and acts very much like ordinary furniture polish, where you spray it on and then wipe it off with a soft cloth. It leaves a thin film within the micro-scratches on the plastic, leveling the surface and improving reflectivity. On clear plastic parts without paint, just spray a little on and wipe it off. For painted parts, however, I would spray some on a Q-tip or small micro-cloth and try to avoid the paint. If the paint isn't fully dried and cured, the solvents within the Plexus can take the paint off. Also, you don't want a shiny finish on flat black metal framing, etc. Over time (~6 months), the finish can dull a bit and lose its luster, so I just re-spray some more Plexus on a small cloth and re-buff the canopy. Between Tamiya polishing compounds and Plexus, I hardly ever dip my canopies in Future any more. Future works great of course, but I find the shine to be a little bit over the top and unnatural looking. Hope this helps! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JohnS Posted December 11, 2013 Share Posted December 11, 2013 The canopy looks awesome Jesse. Great detail & scratch building. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JesniF-16 Posted December 17, 2013 Author Share Posted December 17, 2013 Chuck, thanks for clarifying the "how to" tips on the Plexus cleaner. Great stuff :thumbsup:/> Very sweet work on the canopy frame... and very worthwhile too, since it will be so visible. /> Marcel Thanks Marcel, it is VERY visible! The canopy looks awesome Jesse. Great detail & scratch building. Thanks for yer support John! I suppose I should introduce to you the subject that i will hopefully be modeling depending upon finding someone to make me some custom stickers... f-15ERJ145 from Z-5 worked on 86-0186 from 1998-2003. To make this story short, he was able to finagle the 333, 334, 335 & 336th squadron decals from the paint barn :thumbsup:/> Looks pretty bad to the bone IMHO! To start, according to the reference photo of 86-0186, it looks like all I have to do is remove one antenna... I noticed that the more recent strike's have the same antenna as the Super Hornets which are long, narrow and have a slanted attitude to them. Some antenna's are shaped like a shark tooth as well... I chopped up the kit gear bay so I could gain access for some scratch work and ease of painting. The trumpeter scribing tool was used for this... Let's just cut to the chase here... All detailed and painted up. I started by scratch-building the grey box (ASP) and some of the hydraulic components. I then mounted the parts and tubed them up. I'm glad that most of the gear bay is hidden by the gear door!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JesniF-16 Posted December 17, 2013 Author Share Posted December 17, 2013 Here things are all dry-fitted for show. I'm likin' it /> Things are pretty clean in most photos, so I really had to back off with the weathering... I feel that a "wash" is just too much for the gear bays. Phew! Now that the fine details are finished, I can start working on the front fuselage for a change of pace Obviously the real subject gear bay is a lot more complicated, but I think it's looking busy enough for me! I've also been taking some measurement for some custom decals, cuz I need to get the ball rollin' if I wanna do the 86-0186! Thanks everyone /Jesse Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ken Middleton Posted December 17, 2013 Share Posted December 17, 2013 (edited) that looks great Jesse, I have a few shots of the nose gear bay if you need them, but it looks like you are all set :thumbsup:/> Edited December 17, 2013 by Ken Middleton Quote Link to post Share on other sites
chuck540z3 Posted December 17, 2013 Share Posted December 17, 2013 Freaking awesome Jess! The gear details are perfect and, more importantly, they look real. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
wardog Posted December 17, 2013 Share Posted December 17, 2013 Looking good Jesse. The subtle effects like the paint chipping really add to the overall realism of your model. You're getting closer to the finish line. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
A-10 LOADER Posted December 17, 2013 Share Posted December 17, 2013 Great progress Jesse ! The gear bay looks really good, just enough weathering. Keep pluggin away, looking forward to more. Steve Quote Link to post Share on other sites
zaxos345 Posted December 17, 2013 Share Posted December 17, 2013 Really amazing work Jess!! John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JesniF-16 Posted December 17, 2013 Author Share Posted December 17, 2013 that looks great Jesse, I have a few shots of the nose gear bay if you need them, but it looks like you are all set /> Thank you Ken! I already found your pics on Google Page bookmarked, especially MLG shots for later! Freaking awesome Jess! The gear details are perfect and, more importantly, they look real. Thanks Chuck, always nice to hear these comments from the best Looking good Jesse. The subtle effects like the paint chipping really add to the overall realism of your model. You're getting closer to the finish line. Thanks a million E! Yep, still a long journey yet, as you know too well :)/> Great progress Jesse ! The gear bay looks really good, just enough weathering. Keep pluggin away, looking forward to more. Steve Thanks a lot Steve, good to know the weathering isn't "underdone"! Really amazing work Jess!! John Thanks for yer support John :D/> /Jesse Quote Link to post Share on other sites
.linus Posted December 17, 2013 Share Posted December 17, 2013 dude that nose bay is looking sweet! . great job man! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sharkey Posted December 17, 2013 Share Posted December 17, 2013 Amazing~ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jmel Posted December 18, 2013 Share Posted December 18, 2013 Great job, Jesse! I really like all the attention you're giving to the small areas. The extra work will stand out on the completed model. jake Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Woody_ Posted December 18, 2013 Share Posted December 18, 2013 I can only hope that one day I will manage to make such amazing models,respect. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JMan Posted December 18, 2013 Share Posted December 18, 2013 Very nicely done Jesse. Love the paint chipping on the nose gear. Any quick tips on how thats done? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JesniF-16 Posted December 20, 2013 Author Share Posted December 20, 2013 dude that nose bay is looking sweet! . great job man! Thanks linus glad you like it! Amazing~ Thanks Sharkey :)/> Great job, Jesse! I really like all the attention you're giving to the small areas. The extra work will stand out on the completed model. jake Thanks Jake, I can only hope that it all turns out in the end! The painting and weathering of this beast will make or break the build ;)/> I can only hope that one day I will manage to make such amazing models,respect. Thanks Woody and if you do yer research on modeling technique and learn to be VERY patient, you will be able to build great models :cheers:/> Very nicely done Jesse. Love the paint chipping on the nose gear. Any quick tips on how thats done? Hi JMan, I mix Model Master Aluminum with a hint of Burnt Umber and apply very carefully with a 12/0 round paintbrush... Nothing fancy, just use a bit of artistic license :thumbsup:/> Thanks to all and Happy Holidays :cheers:/> /Jesse Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ghatherly Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 Jesse, Coming along very nicely. Have a Merry Christmas, Gary Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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