Jump to content

T-45C Conversion from Revell Kit


Recommended Posts

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.

13912696087_c869268eef_b.jpg

Example pattern, pencil pointing to kit fuse line.

13912735290_c706e98fa9_b.jpg

Patterns glued to 0.030" styrene

13912744388_5a731d58c0_b.jpg

Patterns glued to kit fuse

13912695667_27d9b93e69_b.jpg

14119420833_1c8b610302_b.jpg

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.

14096237842_3b66bca88b_b.jpg

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 by Timmy!
Link to post
Share on other sites

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

Link to post
Share on other sites

Last "make believe modeling" update...next one plastic I promise! (fingers crossed, just in case)

The base polished and painted aluminum.

13967874269_689d90cdc4_b.jpg

14154686444_a9a31130b8_b.jpg

Timmy!

Edited by Timmy!
Link to post
Share on other sites

Last "make believe modeling" update...next one plastic I promise! (fingers crossed, just in case)

The base polished and painted aluminum.

14154686444_a9a31130b8_b.jpg

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:

Link to post
Share on other sites

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.

Link to post
Share on other sites

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.

14186569506_7a9cf655ef_b.jpg

14209570064_1210c16a71_b.jpg

14207265322_9ef3be556d_b.jpg

14229878093_3aa194eb55_b.jpg

14186569306_6696d70cbb_b.jpg

14023085110_08bb4871a5_b.jpg

I gotta say it's good to be doing some good ol' fashioned plastic modeling - my itch has been scratched.

More soon,

Timmy!

Edited by Timmy!
Link to post
Share on other sites

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.

14060897357_3b591b5a6e_b.jpg

14247474965_165db7d35a_b.jpg

Instrument panel coaming next and just a handful of minor details to go, then I'll turn to the front hole.

Timmy!

Link to post
Share on other sites

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

Link to post
Share on other sites

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

Link to post
Share on other sites

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.

14108524930_033caff9aa_b.jpg

14295166335_14ae8c1466_b.jpg

14315349003_904c541966_b.jpg

Now here is a good part - the tail hook.

14291817991_171bd20729_b.jpg

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 by Timmy!
Link to post
Share on other sites
  • 2 months later...

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.

14745031958_b2828c3747_z.jpg

Open mesh areas are masked off with vinyl tape, then covered with JB weld epoxy.

14745031858_d5a95a9788_z.jpg

Excess sanded away.

14928555351_e49bf480a6_z.jpg

Masks peeled off.

14931278272_c07850c9cb_z.jpg

Some shots of some of the final cockpit detail.

14744985920_8a9ef114fd_z.jpg

14928555011_2780daab97_z.jpg

14744985710_fea3544527_z.jpg

More soon,

Timmy!

Link to post
Share on other sites

Been a while since I've had this toy out!

14943308191_3ac67306a2_b.jpg

14943306981_f27e097352_b.jpg

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.

14759785408_f949c88c5b_b.jpg

Here's the first layer of paint. Certainly makes for more satisfying photos if you ask me.

14759719839_bcbabda19c_b.jpg

14923408416_3f8aab4231_b.jpg

14946051032_b6f393df84_b.jpg

14759720309_fa31e03722_b.jpg

14759783648_b16da8d799_b.jpg

Thanks for viewing,

Timmy!

Edited by Timmy!
Link to post
Share on other sites

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.

14776419870_189cf2d680_b.jpg

14776551187_e74077a40b_b.jpg

14776416799_941a00b7f5_b.jpg

14963097675_f1f15fbd55_b.jpg

14776417569_2aae63e127_b.jpg

14776419370_8469accd45_b.jpg

Timmy!

Link to post
Share on other sites
  • 1 year later...

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

26076731151_0ea7302ae4_b.jpg

26117132406_a43fe4388a_b.jpg

26050591712_ffab751bac_b.jpg

26143068515_70b9ee734f_b.jpg

More soon....

Thanks for checking in,

Timmy!

Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...