falcon20driver Posted February 4, 2016 Author Share Posted February 4, 2016 Steve, you were correct. I held up my VF-32 jet and there is no way that base is going to work. I'm deciding between a bigger base or two separate bases now. Work continues on the Viking, if only at a glacial pace. I really don't want to rush this one. Most of my work right now is hammering away with the sanding stick and putty. The engines are mostly assembled now. The only thing is the gap between the pylon and fan shroud. More putty and sanding... The under wing stores are finished too. Here is the drop tank ready for painting. I also picked up some items for the second half of the build. There is an article in the magazine specifically about the squadron I'm building during the time frame of the decals. Next is more sanding and filling and hopefully closing up the front office soon. Hopefully I'll grab a F-14 kit in the near future. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
crackerjazz Posted February 4, 2016 Share Posted February 4, 2016 very cool action display, falcon50driver! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jinxter13 Posted February 4, 2016 Share Posted February 4, 2016 Careful my friend, your ambition and skills are showing....Next you'll be doing a dio of the T-Birds in the tight diamond formation, or their echelon at show center . Quote Link to post Share on other sites
falcon20driver Posted February 4, 2016 Author Share Posted February 4, 2016 Clif, I've already got a blue angels dio in my brain. If this turns out well, it may be next years project. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
A-10 LOADER Posted February 4, 2016 Share Posted February 4, 2016 Things are progressing along nicely. The 2 base idea might not look bad, good thought on your part. Remember all that prep work ( filling and sanding ) is a necessary evil. Are you holding out for the AMK F-14 kit ? Steve Quote Link to post Share on other sites
falcon20driver Posted February 4, 2016 Author Share Posted February 4, 2016 Steve, I don't think the AMK kit will be out in time. If I can find the Hasegawa Bombcat kit at a decent price I'll use that, otherwise I'll build another Hobbyboss bird. At least the HobbyBoss Tomcat already has a refueling probe, bol rails, and armament. I primed the Viking this morning and it looks good. After some good weathering and painting I think it'll be great. I'm trying to scratch build the refueling probe now. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
falcon20driver Posted February 5, 2016 Author Share Posted February 5, 2016 So, primer is on: While that was drying, I started working on the refueling drogue. I dug into the spare parts bin and found the back of a Phoenix and an APU exhaust to combine into a rough plug in. I used a random wire to make the fuel line: Then a tire and some more wire parts and I have a roughly shaped basket: I think with some more work it'll look decent enough. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
A-10 LOADER Posted February 5, 2016 Share Posted February 5, 2016 (edited) The Viking looks great so far. Did you prime with the airbrush or spraycan ?? because it looks really good, nice and smooth. Very clever idea with the basket, IMO it looks the part. Looking forward to more. Steve FWIW, take a look here, ARC / ship modeling / aircraft carriers / best overall modern U.S. carrier model. I found this while searching info about my carrier and when I saw the picture I immediately thought of your idea. Edited February 5, 2016 by A-10 LOADER Quote Link to post Share on other sites
crackerjazz Posted February 5, 2016 Share Posted February 5, 2016 Whoa!!! That drogue looks super cool! Excellent job! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
falcon20driver Posted February 5, 2016 Author Share Posted February 5, 2016 Thanks guys. I primed using MM enamel primer airbrushed on. It usually works well for me. That build you linked to is awesome, hopefully mine looks that decent. Todays plan, if I can find time between chores and errands, is to figure out how to mask the engines. Then prime those and start pre-shading. It looks like Vikings tend to be pretty dirty so it should be fun painting it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Messersch Posted February 6, 2016 Share Posted February 6, 2016 Amazing dio, I hope see soon more updates please! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
falcon20driver Posted February 7, 2016 Author Share Posted February 7, 2016 (edited) Hasegawa Tomcat is in the mail headed my way! I think everyone has those moments in a build when there are ups and downs. Today, after spending a few days priming and pre-shading, was a great moment in the build. I pulled out my VF-32 Tomcat just to get and idea of how this will look. It was a very motivating moment, because the idea in my head is starting to appear in front of me. Edited February 7, 2016 by falcon20driver Quote Link to post Share on other sites
A-10 LOADER Posted February 7, 2016 Share Posted February 7, 2016 Very cool ! This is gonna look really awesome when it's all finished. Gotta love it when all the planning starts to fall into place. The Viking looks good so far. Quite the large display it will end up being. Keep pluggin along. Steve Quote Link to post Share on other sites
crackerjazz Posted February 8, 2016 Share Posted February 8, 2016 Beautiful! That's certainly gonna be one huge display! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
falcon20driver Posted February 13, 2016 Author Share Posted February 13, 2016 Thanks guys. I'm still debating a single base or two separate ones. I'm also still running through how to attach the refueling basket and probe. I'd prefer to have the ability to break down the display to move it. I'm thinking of gluing the basket and line to the probe and using a plastic piece to slide it into and out of the buddy pod. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
A-10 LOADER Posted February 13, 2016 Share Posted February 13, 2016 How about small magnets ?? It would be cool if you could find someone to make the Tomcat probe out of metal then attach a small magnet inside the basket, just my 2 cents. Steve Quote Link to post Share on other sites
falcon20driver Posted February 14, 2016 Author Share Posted February 14, 2016 Interesting idea for sure! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
falcon20driver Posted February 22, 2016 Author Share Posted February 22, 2016 I got home later than I hoped, the unfortunate consequence of accepting a position as a Check Airman. However, that will hopefully propel me into a much better job for the family and myself in the very near future. I was able to get two different colors applied to the Viking. I sprayed on the main color and then sprayed on the slightly darker grey of the back seater's roofs. For the main color I used a lighter color than the called for color. However, with it going on over the darker primer and pre-shading it seemed to come out correct to my eye. I also received the second half of my build from graves_09. Now I just need to order my extras from Steel Beach for the Tomcat and we're off to the races. Later this week I plan on painting the darker area around the cockpit and the upper walkways. Then its decals time and then back to weathering. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
crackerjazz Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 Your S-3 is shaping up nicely! Nice F-14! Looking forward to your updates! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jinxter13 Posted February 23, 2016 Share Posted February 23, 2016 You're doing a knock out job, it's gonna be when you finish...ya done yet? If anyone here went to the 88/89 Miramar airshow, they will remember the display where an A-6 and a Tomcat did a refueling flyby....it was the first time I'd ever seen that at an airshow it was FANTASTIC..sadly the USAF with the boom and Texaco's won't risk the same at such a low altitude..pity; however an A-6/Tomcat dio would be cool also IIRC the A-6 was VA-35 ICBW Quote Link to post Share on other sites
falcon20driver Posted February 23, 2016 Author Share Posted February 23, 2016 Minor disaster. I applied the tail art decals today and they completely fell apart. They're brand new and I've never had this happen before. Hopefully I can source a spare set without having to buy new ones. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
A-10 LOADER Posted February 23, 2016 Share Posted February 23, 2016 Brand new and they fell apart, that sucks. I checked, I do not have that sheet. Hopefully you can get replacements. Steve Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Joel_W Posted February 25, 2016 Share Posted February 25, 2016 Falcon20Driver, I've been off site for a while due to work and family. Just re-read your build thread from the very start, and your efforts are truly amazing. The mock up with the F-14 looks fantastic, and should make an incredible display piece. The paint scheme on the Viking really looks good. The fading just adds that much more realism to the over all effect. Joel Quote Link to post Share on other sites
falcon20driver Posted February 25, 2016 Author Share Posted February 25, 2016 Thanks Joel. You provided words of encouragement just when I needed them. Between the decal issue and now the Tomcat cockpit I'm at a point of much frustration. This is my first Hasegawa Tomcat and I must say the cockpit design is down right stupid. I just had to set it aside for a bit and let it be. Maybe I'll just do some quiet decaling tomorrow on the Viking. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Joel_W Posted February 25, 2016 Share Posted February 25, 2016 Falcon20Driver, Just got a similar email from my brother as his 1/32 scale Meteor Fisher Conversion is wearing him down, and he's in the final stages of the build. Decaling sounds like a great solution to stabilize your mojo and get refocused. Joel Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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