bashace Posted October 11, 2014 Share Posted October 11, 2014 The airbrakes on the Academy kit don't like to be in the retracted position, will be a messy fit if you want them closed. Progress looks great! V/r Ron Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dnl42 Posted October 11, 2014 Author Share Posted October 11, 2014 Ron, Thanks for the heads up. I'll make sure I check them carefully. While the Freedom Models' X-47B generally has some really nice fit and finish, none of the spoilers or doors actually just dropped into place. A little patience, fitting, and filing got them to fit nicely enough. I've had to resort to those tools a bit already on this kit... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dnl42 Posted October 12, 2014 Author Share Posted October 12, 2014 Dang it! I somehow contrived to lose the canopy! I found a Rob Taurus canopy for the Eduard kit at Sprue Bros. While Pavla has a 1/72 MiG-21 set, they don't have anything in 1/48. My Google-fu hasn't found anything for the Academy kit per-se. Does anybody have any better leads? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mingwin Posted October 12, 2014 Share Posted October 12, 2014 i have a CMK vac-form canopy that is intended for the Academy kit, that i'll never use... maybe i can help you if you didn't find any better solution... but the shipping could be the complicated part of that "gift" offer... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dnl42 Posted October 12, 2014 Author Share Posted October 12, 2014 (edited) Mingwin, Thanks for the offer! I'll keep it in mind in case the Taurus canopy can't be made to fit. After all, it should fit just fine, right? Edited October 12, 2014 by David N Lombard Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dnl42 Posted October 12, 2014 Author Share Posted October 12, 2014 Working on the fin and spine. Here are the Academy and Wolfpack bits side-by-side. The differences are apparent. But, as modelguy2 warned, the Wolfpack bits are a tad short. Sadly, that's a nit... Here are the Academy (top) and Wolfpack (bottom) spines. As you can see, this particular example is twisted and lacking in surface detail. I decided to use the Academy spine after some minor surgery to include some of the spine from the Academy fin. Sadly, the fin was also a little wonky too. It's late...I deal with the fin warp tomorrow later today <_< Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dnl42 Posted October 13, 2014 Author Share Posted October 13, 2014 Got the fin straightened out. Looking carefully at the fin, it was clear the rear of the fin was warped; some hot water fixed that. I then found the slot in the base of the fin was tilted. Some filing fixed that. That allowed me to get the empannage and wings on. Now I've got some filling and filing and PE bits to put on and then off to the paint shop. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bashace Posted October 13, 2014 Share Posted October 13, 2014 Good save on the tail and spine, that would of shelved it in my hangar. V/r Ron Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dnl42 Posted October 15, 2014 Author Share Posted October 15, 2014 Ron, Thanks. It clearly would have been more interesting if I couldn't have reverted to the plastic spine. But, I'm highly motivated on this one due to the really cool markings. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
supergru Posted October 15, 2014 Share Posted October 15, 2014 Paintshop! Paintshop! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dnl42 Posted October 20, 2014 Author Share Posted October 20, 2014 (edited) Supergru, Yeah...I was hoping I would show at least a base coat by the end of this weekend! Alas, I'm still working on getting that Taurus vacuformed canopy designed the Eduard MiG on my Academy MiG... Edited October 20, 2014 by David N Lombard Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mingwin Posted October 28, 2014 Share Posted October 28, 2014 have you finally succeed at fitting that Rob Taurus canopy on the academy kit? can't wait seeing that build going forward! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dnl42 Posted October 28, 2014 Author Share Posted October 28, 2014 I've got the canopy to the point that I know it will fit with some work. I'll need to build up a support sill in the rear of the canopy. I'm thinking of replacing the lower metal frame of the canopy with styrene to better bridge the Eduard v. Academy differences. Before I do that, however, I'm still working on getting the rest of the airframe ready to paint. Looking at photos, it's clear that I could go too far in fairing this beast =8^0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dnl42 Posted November 27, 2014 Author Share Posted November 27, 2014 FI·NAL·LY! Ready for the paint shop... Losing that dang canopy caused a nightmare. While the Rob Taurus vac canopy is nice, there's clearly a difference between the cockpit openings of the, um, fine Academy kit I'm building and the Eduard kit that others are enjoying. Easily the worst canopy job I've done. I did spend some time opening up the various scoops. The D-shaped scoops were quite the challenge Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mingwin Posted November 27, 2014 Share Posted November 27, 2014 ah! it's good to see some update on that build! i mean... an update with photos and it looks really good so fat! can't wait to see it painted! great job David! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dnl42 Posted November 30, 2014 Author Share Posted November 30, 2014 Short update. I applied a coat of Tamiya fine white primer and then started painting using Mr Color 73, Aircraft Gray, as called out by Academy. This is the first time I've used Mr. Color, and I must say, it went on very nicely when thinned with their 400 leveling thinner. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dnl42 Posted November 30, 2014 Author Share Posted November 30, 2014 And here it is, with the base coat. The observant will notice the inlet cone is gray--that's what you get when you forget to mask it... :bandhead2:/> Oh well, I noticed this particular aircraft used a different color, so I suppose it may well have been some subconscious flub to ensure I corrected that mistake... I'll have to use Mr Color more often! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dnl42 Posted December 15, 2014 Author Share Posted December 15, 2014 Got the decals on. It was quite the breathing exercise as I held my breath maneuvering all the pieces into place. There was a single piece from the nose, above the wing, to the trailing edge. It still needs some more Micro Set and Sol lovin'. I'll have to resort to paint to make up some of the seams between decals. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
supergru Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 One piece decal? Gee, that's heroic !!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mingwin Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 looks great! that's one of the most impressive "special scheme" to be sport by a Fishbed. and one of the very distinctive art to be sport by any aircraft. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Motta Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 Really nice indeed!!! I'm building one Academy and one Eduard but I just find your thread now... shame on me! Because I could get loads of advices here!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dnl42 Posted December 28, 2014 Author Share Posted December 28, 2014 Done! That Master Model pitot was fabulous! I highly recommend it!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Neo Posted December 28, 2014 Share Posted December 28, 2014 Wow thats a really nice looking bird..euh fish! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Motta Posted January 13, 2015 Share Posted January 13, 2015 Bravo!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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