Marcel111 Posted October 12, 2013 Share Posted October 12, 2013 (edited) Hi guys, Yes, it's yet another Chico build. However, this one will me somewhat nuanced, I came across a head-on pic of Chico showing the aircraft at a different timeframe to the usual Chico pics. Some differences seen on the pic are a red-tipped starboard SUU-23, a yellow-tipped port TER and a port forward ECM pod (ALQ-87 I think) (these are usually carried starboard). Thanks to Chuck for giving me right of first refusal on Chico back when he started his (legendary) F-4E. Apologies if you have seen the opening pics below on a different forum. Here is some of the work I have done on the Mk. 7 dispensers. Big thanks to Jim R. for supplying outstanding reference pictures. I started off with the Tamiya CBUs, I sanded these clean of all detail. I then scratch-built the tail fins, which are fairly complex. They involve a fold out fin section that appears to be spring loaded. Also, the fin has a sort of vane that is on the leading edge of the assembly when folded in but forms the trailing edge once rotated out. These are the frames that the pivoting fin are parked in before extension: I added this internal structure... this should make sense later on: And here are four half-completed fin assemblies: These are those rails that run lengthwise along the body of the CBU. I think they are basically cable ducts. Notice that I have engraved channels to represent the cable ducting. Also note the circular cut-outs: And here we fast-forward a bit. Fins and cable ducts are attached. Note the new windows on the nose, various holes around the nose section as well as "riveting". All the dark areas are not from test-washing, but are from all the pencil I use to measure and mark. A close-up view of the tail assembly. Note the little "vanes" inside the leading edge of the fins. Also note the strap around the body of the CBU ahead of the fins, I believe this is used to safety the fins prior to deployment. Cheers, Marcel Edited November 23, 2014 by Marcel111 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hajo L. Posted October 12, 2013 Share Posted October 12, 2013 Great work! HAJO Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jinxter13 Posted October 12, 2013 Share Posted October 12, 2013 That is in old school lingo...some crackerjack scratchin...... :thumbsup: Chico requires a stand up and :salute: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JesniF-16 Posted October 12, 2013 Share Posted October 12, 2013 Wow Marcel! I see you've been busy.... Great scratch on the CBU, you've always been such a master when it comes to load-out (and pretty much all aspects of building)! Will you attempt to cast these yourself? /Jesse Quote Link to post Share on other sites
chuck540z3 Posted October 12, 2013 Share Posted October 12, 2013 Welcome back to WIP threads Buddy! Your scratch building is scary good as usual. PS: I eventually found the link to my F-4E build and bumped it up for your future reference. For some reason the links to older builds like this one are missing when you do a search. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Marcel111 Posted October 12, 2013 Author Share Posted October 12, 2013 Thanks for the interest! It's good to be back on ARC. Will you attempt to cast these yourself? Jesse, I fortunately have friends in high places so hopefully this will be cast for me. If things turn out well the CBU will eventually also be generally available as after-market. Chuck, thanks for bringing up your Phantom build, it has already saved me from making a mistake. Marcel Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Finn Posted October 12, 2013 Share Posted October 12, 2013 Nice start but one major problem with the Tamiya Rockeyes, besides lack of detail, the back end is too narrow, the back plate should be more like this: http://data3.primeportal.net/hangar/shawn_antunes/f-105d_61-0086/images/f-105d_61-0086_032_of_160.jpg Jari Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Marcel111 Posted October 13, 2013 Author Share Posted October 13, 2013 Nice start but one major problem with the Tamiya Rockeyes, besides lack of detail, the back end is too narrow, the back plate should be more like this: http://data3.primeportal.net/hangar/shawn_antunes/f-105d_61-0086/images/f-105d_61-0086_032_of_160.jpg Jari Thanks Jari. I hadn't noticed that before, too late to do anything about it now. Not sure I could have anyway, I don't own a lathe (I will buy one when we move back to the U.S. one day). Cheers, Marcel Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Marcel111 Posted October 18, 2013 Author Share Posted October 18, 2013 Here is what the Mk.7's look like with additional detail added and paint on. Another view below. Jari pointed out that the tail taper is excessive. In the interim, I had mailed these to Harold (AMS). Fortunately Harold has been able to fix the issue, so if things work according to plan I will be able to load up my Chico with some nice and accurate Mk.7's, plus these bad boys will be generally available some time in the future. Thanks Harold, and also thanks Jari for pointing this out. :cheers:/>/> Marcel Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Finn Posted October 18, 2013 Share Posted October 18, 2013 One more item Marcel, the fuze windows should be flush like here: http://data3.primeportal.net/hangar/shawn_antunes/f-105d_61-0086/images/f-105d_61-0086_024_of_160.jpg Jari Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Marcel111 Posted October 18, 2013 Author Share Posted October 18, 2013 (edited) One more item Marcel, the fuze windows should be flush like here: http://data3.primeportal.net/hangar/shawn_antunes/f-105d_61-0086/images/f-105d_61-0086_024_of_160.jpg Jari Yeah, they look a little more proud than they are in real life, keep in mind that the pics are really magnified. When painted black, they won't look all that proud I think. That said, I hear what you are saying, I actually initially tried to scribe them but had difficulty doing that on the double-convex surface, so I ended up cutting the shapes from the thinnest plastic sheet I could find and then glueing on. Once I get them back in resin, I will sand them almost flush, I think that's what people that may buy these down the line can do also do if they want. Thanks again for the very constructive feedback. On another note, does anyone out there know how to get a hold of the Sierra Hotel Phantom exhausts? I am on their website almost every day but can never seem to get a hold of them. I also emailed Sierra Hotel but the email bounced back. :cheers:/> Marcel Edited October 18, 2013 by Marcel111 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
11bee Posted October 18, 2013 Share Posted October 18, 2013 Very impressive work. I think if the rest of the project is of the same standard as your Mk-7's, we are going to be looking at the best 1/32nd Phantom on ARC! Looking forward to more updates. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Wolfgun33 Posted October 19, 2013 Share Posted October 19, 2013 Very nice work on scratch building!! They look great! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Harold Posted October 19, 2013 Share Posted October 19, 2013 Yeah, they look a little more proud than they are in real life, keep in mind that the pics are really magnified. When painted black, they won't look all that proud I think. That said, I hear what you are saying, I actually initially tried to scribe them but had difficulty doing that on the double-convex surface, so I ended up cutting the shapes from the thinnest plastic sheet I could find and then glueing on. Once I get them back in resin, I will sand them almost flush, I think that's what people that may buy these down the line can do also do if they want. Thanks again for the very constructive feedback. On another note, does anyone out there know how to get a hold of the Sierra Hotel Phantom exhausts? I am on their website almost every day but can never seem to get a hold of them. I also emailed Sierra Hotel but the email bounced back. :cheers:/>/> Marcel The solution for the "windows" would be some dark decal film. However, I am doing what Marcel suggested. I am sanding them down as much as possible. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Marcel111 Posted October 20, 2013 Author Share Posted October 20, 2013 The solution for the "windows" would be some dark decal film. However, I am doing what Marcel suggested. I am sanding them down as much as possible. Thanks Harold! Between you, Jari and me we, we should get these things to look half-decent. Marcel Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Harold Posted October 21, 2013 Share Posted October 21, 2013 Thanks Harold! Between you, Jari and me we, we should get these things to look half-decent. :thumbsup:/> Marcel They already are looking better than anything on the market, EVAH. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Marcel111 Posted October 21, 2013 Author Share Posted October 21, 2013 They already are looking better than anything on the market, EVAH. Thx Harold... I was being somewhat facetious, these Mk.7's will be at a different level to anything else out there right now. Marcel Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Harold Posted October 21, 2013 Share Posted October 21, 2013 Thx Harold... I was being somewhat facetious, these Mk.7's will be at a different level to anything else out there right now. :thumbsup:/> Marcel I made more molds yesterday. I left a bit more of the "safety bands" on the rear section than should be there, (on propose). That is the break line from the main canister section. That is where the casting block needs to be removed, that way the modeler has a small amount of leeway when they sand that area flat, to mate to the main body. It worked for me anyway... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Marcel111 Posted October 25, 2013 Author Share Posted October 25, 2013 11bee and Wolfgun33, thanks for the support! I made more molds yesterday. I left a bit more of the "safety bands" on the rear section than should be there, (on propose). That is the break line from the main canister section. That is where the casting block needs to be removed, that way the modeler has a small amount of leeway when they sand that area flat, to mate to the main body. It worked for me anyway... Harold, can't wait to get them in the mail! Here is the start of the SUU-23 builds... they have turned into little models all on their own. I am using Harold's resin pods. I then had he idea of sinking the Master brass Vulcan set into the pod by drilling out the front. I started with a 1mm bit and worked my way up to 4mm: At the same time, I drilled out the AMS blast suppressor (that's what I presume it's function was) and also drilled the little perforations around the circumference of the "can". I then also used a Master brass barrel spacer as the end plate. Importantly, the barrels do NOT protrude from the plate as is almost always incorrectly shown on models of the SUU-23. The plate at the front end of the SUU-23 is truly just a flat plate with six holes around the perimeter and a central hole. And with some initial paint on: As I got more into construction, I thought I'd drill through a hole from the back of the pod such that I can sink the barrel assembly in from the back, which makes sense since the assembly is tapered towards the front: I did all of this by hand without any guides, fortunately I lucked out and managed to keep the drill centered. You can see how close things got: More to follow. Marcel Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Marcel111 Posted October 26, 2013 Author Share Posted October 26, 2013 After successfully drilling a centered hole all the way through from the back, I then decided I just couldn't live with the large vents being closed. The solution to that was to cut off the tips of the pods and sand the respective area from the inside. Here's a rough cut of how that looks: Note that I also ended up rebuilding those smaller vents somewhat further back. I invented a little trick to help with this: By stacking up standard channel sections of the appropriate size, I can create a consistent vent. Also, if you ever try this, stack up substantial lengths on top of one another and then just slice off a grill section with a sharp blade. I also detailed the ejector port: And here is an overview: And here is an overview of how everything assembles together: Marcel Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jim.skinner Posted October 26, 2013 Share Posted October 26, 2013 Just wow. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
chuck540z3 Posted October 27, 2013 Share Posted October 27, 2013 Just wow. Ditto! I promised myself that I wouldn't post on ARC before I came back from vacation, but your super clean scratch work is up there with Guy and John- which is saying a lot! Very cool scratch work Buddy! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Harold Posted October 27, 2013 Share Posted October 27, 2013 That is sweet. They will be killer once painted. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JesniF-16 Posted October 27, 2013 Share Posted October 27, 2013 Genius approach to scratch building Marcel :worship:/> The plastic channels piggy-backed is a great & simple idea :thumbsup:/> Can't wait til this stuff is available for us to purchase! /Jesse Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JMan Posted October 28, 2013 Share Posted October 28, 2013 here comes another great build from one of the best! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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