Timmy! Posted May 3, 2014 Share Posted May 3, 2014 (edited) Having a need to get something built, as my Jag project is in more of an experimental phase, I'm using a little spare time to work on a T-45C. I have a 1/48 scale conversion already a 75% complete, but was shelved in favor of a Jag. You can see glimpses of that project in this thread. http://www.zone-five.net/showthread.php?t=11728 In the meantime the Kinetic kit came out and it all seemed just a little pointless. A little over a year ago Pig put an Revell kit in my hands and the kit was thrown on the stash with a promise of someday it would grow into a T-45. Having already completed a complete set of drawings, including decal art, for the 48th scale version a simple multiplication problem and the plans got scaled to 1/32 scale. The Revell kit is a great place to start the big structures match well so no hacking up the fuse to make it fit the plans will be required. Additions to nose, tail, wings and horizontal stab with constitute the main modifications. The finished aircraft will be posed inflight to avoid the landing gear problem. I have the references and drawings - I'm not willing to invest the time to scratch build those parts. Again this is just supposed to be a distraction and scratch the itch to actually build something. This will be one off - no molding conversion kit etc. for the same reason time is scarce and I don't want to get bogged down. With any luck this will be an easy one and something of a test bed for the Jag, I'll be doing some surface stuff I don't think you have seen before and maybe a little 3d printing and CNC mating thrown in for good measure. Here we go. Fuse half over the plans to establish patterns for the profile adjustments. Example pattern, pencil pointing to kit fuse line. Patterns glued to 0.030" styrene Patterns glued to kit fuse After a little sanding and shaping viola the parts match the plan. I know you have to look close white plastic over white paper blends together, but with any luck you get the idea. That's it for now on establishing the profile shape the actual filling out of the shape will began after the fuse halves are joined. I'll then use a different technique to get the plan profile just right. Now I'm on to the cockpit (no photos) which is going well already. The Revell kit parts are proving to be an excellent base for the cockpit mods. More on cockpit in the next progress report. Thanks as always for checking in, Timmy! Edited May 3, 2014 by Timmy! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
markmarples Posted May 4, 2014 Share Posted May 4, 2014 good luck and i follow with interest there are a lot of differences in the 2 aircraft Quote Link to post Share on other sites
NavyF4s Posted May 4, 2014 Share Posted May 4, 2014 Timmy This looks to be a fascinating and challenging conversion. I will watch with much enthusiasm and interest. Thank you for showing us your build. :woot.gif:/>/> Anthony Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Timmy! Posted May 8, 2014 Author Share Posted May 8, 2014 Mini update. Little bit of computer work for mod parts - more to be done but these will be fodder for the printer or CNC. More in the next week or so. Timmy! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Timmy! Posted May 10, 2014 Author Share Posted May 10, 2014 (edited) Last "make believe modeling" update...next one plastic I promise! (fingers crossed, just in case) The base polished and painted aluminum. Timmy! Edited May 10, 2014 by Timmy! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
FAR148 Posted May 10, 2014 Share Posted May 10, 2014 Last "make believe modeling" update...next one plastic I promise! (fingers crossed, just in case) The base polished and painted aluminum. Love the base idea but why put "T-45C Goshawk" on it twice? Like the top view silhouette on the one side. Steven L Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Timmy! Posted May 10, 2014 Author Share Posted May 10, 2014 Love the base idea but why put "T-45C Goshawk" on it twice? Like the top view silhouette on the one side. Steven L :wave:/> Good catch right there, I agree. Less is more at least non-repetetive. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Timmy! Posted May 18, 2014 Author Share Posted May 18, 2014 (edited) Well an afternoon of work and I have the rear cockpit 2/3 roughed out. Basically a lot of scabbing of plastic onto the kit parts to match the T-45 cockpit. For the most part this is the first layer of detail. At least one or two more layers of smaller details will be added. I'm still fighting with myself to set limits on this detail as the cockpit will be closed and many details will be hidden. No I did not build the seats, I'm using Aries NACES seats, I'll have to do some slight mods to them but they will do. I gotta say it's good to be doing some good ol' fashioned plastic modeling - my itch has been scratched. More soon, Timmy! Edited May 18, 2014 by Timmy! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Timmy! Posted May 19, 2014 Author Share Posted May 19, 2014 Mini update, Rear instrument panel 95% complete. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Wolfgun33 Posted May 19, 2014 Share Posted May 19, 2014 Now this is gonna be good! Can't wait to see more. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Timmy! Posted May 22, 2014 Author Share Posted May 22, 2014 Progress continues. Not shown left fuse half detail complete - almost a mirror image of the right half. Only differs in that there is no map bag, instead a smaller solo safety pin bag and different location of the console lighting. Instrument panel coaming next and just a handful of minor details to go, then I'll turn to the front hole. Timmy! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Joel_W Posted May 23, 2014 Share Posted May 23, 2014 Timmy, Just found your build blog, and will be closely following along. Your cockpit detailing is simply outstanding. What I'm really looking forward to is how you use those formers to lengthen and reshape the nose section. Joel Quote Link to post Share on other sites
A-10 LOADER Posted May 23, 2014 Share Posted May 23, 2014 Timmy, WOW, what can I say, your skills are off the charts !! You are a very talented builder to say the least. I've seen your work on some of the pieces you created for that 1/16th scale AT-38B over on the Large Scale Planes forum, AMAZING talents. Keep up the great work and I'll be watching this build as it unfolds. Steve Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Timmy! Posted May 29, 2014 Author Share Posted May 29, 2014 (edited) Thanks for the encouragement fellas!! Work continues. Forward cockpit right side console is complete. Work on the instrument panel has begun. The gray bit is a 3d printed HUD unit. I intended the part to have its reflector glass frame printed integral to the part you see. However, the parts were to fine for a good printed result, the frames will be built in plastic instead. There was also to be a printed "Oh Sheet" handle the sits atop the aft instrument panel, again not a good print so it will be plastic as well. Now here is a good part - the tail hook. I'm sorry about the photos, next time I'll break out my good camera and see if I can get all the detail to show. Timmy! Edited May 29, 2014 by Timmy! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BGB Posted May 29, 2014 Share Posted May 29, 2014 Hello, Very nice work!! Boris Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Joel_W Posted May 29, 2014 Share Posted May 29, 2014 Outstanding detailing in the cockpit. Your 3D printed tail hook is just amazing. Joel Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Timmy! Posted August 16, 2014 Author Share Posted August 16, 2014 Anyone still watching?? So here's the update after a long absence away from home. Cockpit is just about ready for paint. Just a few more items...HUD frame, AOA indexer, and a few rivets on the forward instrument coaming and switch panel and instrument flood lights remain. Hour or two of work. Paint should tie everything nicely together and make for better photography. So here are the photos. First, the forward instrument coaming that has several screened area for instrument and CRT/MFD cooling. The first step was to add some plastic filler pieces and PE brass mesh over the top. Open mesh areas are masked off with vinyl tape, then covered with JB weld epoxy. Excess sanded away. Masks peeled off. Some shots of some of the final cockpit detail. More soon, Timmy! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Timmy! Posted August 17, 2014 Author Share Posted August 17, 2014 (edited) Been a while since I've had this toy out! I've had to change paints since the demise of Floquil (GRUMBLE GRUMBLE). So with a batch of primary colors by Tamiya, I starting the process of mixing colors. Luckily this jet doesn't have too many to deal with. First color needed is Dark Gull Gray FS36231. Turns out XF-54 Dark Sea Gray is pretty close so a little bit of white and its off to the races. Here's the first layer of paint. Certainly makes for more satisfying photos if you ask me. Thanks for viewing, Timmy! Edited August 17, 2014 by Timmy! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Timmy! Posted August 18, 2014 Author Share Posted August 18, 2014 Here's some detail painting. I'm wasn't super fastidious about the paint work. I picked out a few of the buttons in gray, and used a white color pencil to simulate dial faces and data in the console components. I made up some decals for the seats, HUD/Comm control panel and MFD displays. At this point I'll turn to the pilots followed by another layer of detail work. I'll let the photos do the rest of the talking. Timmy! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Timmy! Posted March 31, 2016 Author Share Posted March 31, 2016 Hello everbody! So this one has risen from the dead...too soon? (Easter) Anyway, I have done a lot of work as of late, I just haven't posted much. There has been work on this jet and my Jag project. Though a new push for me has been creating a web page to hold all my project photos and updates. I will continue to post items to keep these threads alive, there will be more complete coverage at my websites. In fact more detail than I have ever published in the forum environment. So.... Please check out Timmy!'s Tech On to the T-45C. I have completed my Student Naval Aviator. My good pal Pig provided me with a few Academy pilot figures from an F-18 kit, that provided a great base for moding my pilot to current helmet and flight gear standards. My biggest goal with these figures was to accurately model an HGU-68/P and MBU-23/P helmet and mask combo. So with a sharp miniature scalpel, epoxy putty and some plastic and aluminum I got the first figure up to snuff. Complete build article here: Timmy!'s Tech T-45C SNA More soon.... Thanks for checking in, Timmy! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Adam1818 Posted March 31, 2016 Share Posted March 31, 2016 Wow great scratch building! I'm following this one forsure Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Major Walt Posted March 31, 2016 Share Posted March 31, 2016 (edited) The work on detailing the cockpit is outstanding!!! And I'm blown away by that figure as well! Edited March 31, 2016 by Major Walt Quote Link to post Share on other sites
A-10 LOADER Posted March 31, 2016 Share Posted March 31, 2016 Holy cow Timmy, that looks awesome !!! Great job on the aircrew. Steve Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Timmy! Posted April 1, 2016 Author Share Posted April 1, 2016 Thanks Guys! It's great to get some paint on plastic and feel like I have accomplished something! Timmy! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.