Mike C Posted February 8, 2014 Share Posted February 8, 2014 (edited) Here's my only entry for this GB, since I don't really have any other RAAF subjects.... But then again... If all goes well, and if there's time, I might build a 2nd one with same scheme (have 2 sets of the same decals), but using Hasegawa "C" Hornet, in-flight. Got the cockpit done.... Pretty sure I screwed up the decal for the MFD. Oh well... It won't be noticeable when finished anyway. :monkeydance:/> :woot.gif:/> 'Later! Edited June 8, 2014 by Mike C Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mike C Posted February 17, 2014 Author Share Posted February 17, 2014 (edited) I haven't been able to put in too much bench time on this. Here's where it's at right now... I used Tamiya Extra Thin cement for all these parts. Perfect fit so far... When dry-fitting one of the engine nacelles, it also looked like it was gonna be a perfect fit too. Awesome! Edited June 8, 2014 by Mike C Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Litvyak Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 Looking good so far! Does the Leading Edge decal set in 1/72 come with the resin bits like in 1/48? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mike C Posted February 17, 2014 Author Share Posted February 17, 2014 No, it doesn't. But then again, maybe it was supposed to but he ran out so he gave me two sets? I don't know for sure. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
arnobiz Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 Fascinating how the same kit can be assembled in so many different ways! This is the third method I see :) Great work, I have the same sheet (and the same kit!), this motivates me to give it a go! Arnaud Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mike C Posted February 17, 2014 Author Share Posted February 17, 2014 :lol: Actually I simply followed the instruction sheet by the numbers this time. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
arnobiz Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 :lol:/> Actually I simply followed the instruction sheet by the numbers this time. Funny, never thought of doing that :) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Trojan Thunder Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 No, it doesn't. But then again, maybe it was supposed to but he ran out so he gave me two sets? I don't know for sure. I got 2 sheets with mine as well. I think there was a printing issue with some sheets so Dave supplied 2 sheets to make sure you had at least one of every decal in good condition. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lodni_k Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 Interesting GB! Nice job! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mike C Posted February 22, 2014 Author Share Posted February 22, 2014 (edited) I installed the engine nacelles this afternoon. Using Tamiya extra thin cement and some squeezing, the parts joined perfectly. I'll only need the tiniest amount of Tamiya liquid surface primer just above the slime light. But then.... Trouble showed its ugly head when I tried to fit the front and main fuselage.... 1. Now the main instrument panel can only be installed one way, and yet, somehow it was too far back, so the top of it hit the "hood" (a bit hard to explain). I had to bend the instrument panel forward (in the process ALMOST breaking it off!) 2. Somehow I must not have glued up the complex front fuselage parts properly, making it narrower than the main fuselage. I knew the smooth sailing wouldn't last.... You know, the funny thing is, this is my 2nd Academy Hornet. I don't remember having such a drama with my 1st build. I might try to find my old build thread for that first one to remind myself.... Edited June 8, 2014 by Mike C Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mike C Posted February 22, 2014 Author Share Posted February 22, 2014 (edited) Anyway... I managed to find the old build thread of my 1st Academy Hornet. Man.... I should've re-read that old thread before starting this project. Would've saved me a whole heap of trouble! Oh well, at least I picked up a couple of little tips that saved me from more trouble... So, I decided to use brute force... With quite a bit of squeezing and Tamiya Extra Thin cement, I managed to join the forward and main fuselage parts with somewhat minimal future drama (I think). I'll only need to work on the seam at the bottom there. I won't worry about the sides, since they'll be covered by the intake splitter plates. Just like my 1st Acad Hornet, will need lots of puttying and sanding for the seam just under the windscreen and near the "bird slicers". Will probably defer that until I install the radome. I decided to go against the instruction sheet, and installed the jet intake to the engine nacelles first. I'll glue up the intake splitter plates later. Edited June 8, 2014 by Mike C Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mike C Posted February 23, 2014 Author Share Posted February 23, 2014 (edited) Installed the radome. As I feared, the fit wasn't great. After using brute force (squeezing till my fingers felt like they were falling off!), and rather generous amount of Tamiya Extra Thin cement, at least I don't have "step" to contend with, just sanding and puttying and more sanding. I also sanded the seam line along the length of the canopy, then polished with Tamiya Polishing Compound (Finish). I really hate this new method of molding canopies. Here's the pic before a dip into Pascoe's Long Life. 'Later! Edited June 8, 2014 by Mike C Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Trojan Thunder Posted February 23, 2014 Share Posted February 23, 2014 Nice Progress Mick, I have a couple of Academy kits for future builds. Keeping an eye on this one. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
arnobiz Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 Nice progress. You could have saved a lot of sanding/puttying/rescribing work with a small sprue spacer though: Academy Hornet build Hopefully this will help your next build, I'm sorry I did not mention this earlier. Keep up the good work, Arnaud Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mike C Posted February 24, 2014 Author Share Posted February 24, 2014 (edited) Nice progress. You could have saved a lot of sanding/puttying/rescribing work with a small sprue spacer though: Academy Hornet build Hopefully this will help your next build, I'm sorry I did not mention this earlier. Keep up the good work, Arnaud Dang! That would've helped! Oh well... I'll file this away for my next build. (Hopefully I'll remember!!! ) BTW, the dipping of canopy into Pascoe's Long Life kind of failed. The darned thing went on too thick, resulting in some milky white residue when dried. So, I stripped it off again using Windex. I don't think I'm gonna bother re-dipping. Edited February 24, 2014 by Mike C Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lodni_k Posted February 25, 2014 Share Posted February 25, 2014 They do not sell "Future" in Australia? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mike C Posted February 26, 2014 Author Share Posted February 26, 2014 No, I can't find "Future" anywhere in my local supermarkets or hardware shops. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Trojan Thunder Posted February 26, 2014 Share Posted February 26, 2014 No, Future has never been sold in Australia. Some enterprising people import it and sell it up to $30 a bottle! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mike C Posted March 2, 2014 Author Share Posted March 2, 2014 (edited) Seems that my patch up work produced a reasonably good outcome, except for that little seam line that I missed near the radome. I've also been working on the gas bags and the weapons. At this stage, I'm sure I'm going to load up 2 gas bags under the wings, not sure if I'm going to hang one on the centreline. As far as weapons go, since this is special anniversary scheme, I'll be loading it up with inert AIM-9 Sidewinders. Not sure if I'm going to load it up with an inert AIM-7 Sparrow on the "cheek" station or not... 'Later! Edited June 8, 2014 by Mike C Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mike C Posted March 7, 2014 Author Share Posted March 7, 2014 (edited) I've been curious about this seam line between the wings and the fuselage. Academy put a bunch of rivets there as though there was some kind of panel there. However, all pics I found of legacy/baby Hornets show there should not be any seam line there. So, question for real-life Hornet keepers out there... Is there, or is there not panel there? I.e. should the seam line be filled? 'Later! Edited June 8, 2014 by Mike C Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lodni_k Posted March 7, 2014 Share Posted March 7, 2014 Mike, there is a rather large panel on that shoulder. And the "rivet holes" are actually where the fasteners would go. A little bit overdone on that kit. On most Hornets, most of those fasteners will be covered over by RAM and paint but that depends on many factors. Hope that helps! Calvin Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mike C Posted March 7, 2014 Author Share Posted March 7, 2014 Mike, there is a rather large panel on that shoulder. And the "rivet holes" are actually where the fasteners would go. A little bit overdone on that kit. On most Hornets, most of those fasteners will be covered over by RAM and paint but that depends on many factors. Hope that helps! Calvin Thanks Calvin. So, I guess I should leave the panel there, and probably fill the seam line slightly? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lodni_k Posted March 8, 2014 Share Posted March 8, 2014 (edited) Let's just say that if I had put that panel back on and not sealed it I would have got my butt royally reamed! :rolleyes:/> Edited March 8, 2014 by lodni_k Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mike C Posted March 8, 2014 Author Share Posted March 8, 2014 (edited) I've applied a bit of highly thinned Tamiya putty over the seam line, trying to make it less pronounced. I'm gonna use cotton bud dampened with nail polish remover to wipe off the excess putty. Edited June 8, 2014 by Mike C Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mike C Posted March 8, 2014 Author Share Posted March 8, 2014 (edited) I used cotton bud dampened with nail polish remover to wipe off the excess putty, then sprayed flat black to check how it'd look painted up. Since I took the pics above, I applied more thinned putty over the seam. I also sprayed flat black on the nose sections... Looks OK now, I think. 'Later! Edited June 8, 2014 by Mike C Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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