Joel_W Posted April 20, 2016 Share Posted April 20, 2016 Thanks Joel. I've been looking around the Web for help. I believe I've mostly gotten over the cockpit issues. I've never seen a kit where nothing lined up and everything seemed twisted. I'll get pictures up this evening. F20D, Unfortunately, that's a general consensus of a lot of Hasegawa kits these days. Although I had no issues with the Eduard/Hasegawa AF, I did have warp and some fit and warp issues several years ago when I built their SBD-4 (?) Dauntless. These are the only two Hasegawa kits I've built in the last 7-8 years. Joel Quote Link to post Share on other sites
falcon20driver Posted April 20, 2016 Author Share Posted April 20, 2016 Ok, cockpit is hammered into place. I should have put an Aires pit in, it would have been easier ! Then I started dry fitting the canopy and other items to make sure it would all line up. More sanding and fitting...but I'm content with the results. I still have some additions to the office and weathering, but I feel just having a Hasegawa front end together is an accomplishment. I spent the rest of my working time on the gear plugs. With a little clean up the fit fairly well, certainly a 100 times easier than trying to close up the included doors. Great stuff Darren . I found removing the upper area of the wheel wells that are a part of the fuselage greatly improved the fit of the main gear doors. Probably some more fiddling with the front end tomorrow and continued work on the fuselage halves. Thanks for stopping in Quote Link to post Share on other sites
falcon20driver Posted April 21, 2016 Author Share Posted April 21, 2016 Now I'm getting excited. Long way to go, but this gets the mojo going: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JohnS Posted April 21, 2016 Share Posted April 21, 2016 Cool! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kike Posted April 22, 2016 Share Posted April 22, 2016 Great job on both planes! great display Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jinxter13 Posted April 22, 2016 Share Posted April 22, 2016 That is looking absotively posilutely fantabulous.. :D ;) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
A-10 LOADER Posted April 22, 2016 Share Posted April 22, 2016 I love it !! This is going to look awesome when completed but, it's gonna be a big display. I say this as I work on two 1/18th scale Tomcat displays. Steve Quote Link to post Share on other sites
plasticWerks_JL Posted April 22, 2016 Share Posted April 22, 2016 Love seeing stuff displayed in interesting ways, and this is going to look awesome. Inspiring work, Falcon Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Joel_W Posted April 22, 2016 Share Posted April 22, 2016 F20D, The Big Cat is really starting to come together quite nicely. Closing up those wheel wells sounds like it has turned out to be a major job, but you really have them beaten into submission. The refueling display will certainly be a real eye catcher. Do you have a idea of where to display it? Joel Quote Link to post Share on other sites
falcon20driver Posted April 22, 2016 Author Share Posted April 22, 2016 Thanks for all the kind words gents. I think I'll pursue more dioramaso I'm the future as its neat to tell a story through modeling. Joel, I was thinking the living room but the wife seems to disagree! I'll set it up on top of my display case most likely. Today is yard work day so probably no progress till next week. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
falcon20driver Posted April 25, 2016 Author Share Posted April 25, 2016 Had one of those "I'm not the brightest guy in the world" moments. Pretty sure I've some how lost the exhausts for the bomb cat. Not a clue where they could have gone. Also on those sprues are the engine faces. DOH! I guess I'll be using Aires engines now. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Adam1818 Posted April 25, 2016 Share Posted April 25, 2016 Had one of those "I'm not the brightest guy in the world" moments. Pretty sure I've some how lost the exhausts for the bomb cat. Not a clue where they could have gone. Also on those sprues are the engine faces. DOH! I guess I'll be using Aires engines now. It happens to all of us!! You got a good reason now to tell the wife why u need to order more parts 👍🏻 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
falcon20driver Posted April 25, 2016 Author Share Posted April 25, 2016 I'm already practicing the "but honey, I have to buy them!" speech. I decided to work on the armament today instead of the fuselage. Hopefully I'll get some photos up today. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
falcon20driver Posted April 28, 2016 Author Share Posted April 28, 2016 Unfortunately it is time to go earn a paycheck again . Here is where the project stands for now: I was able to get the nose finished up and lower section on. Let me just say, those Steel Beach wheel plugs are 100% worth it! It still needs some cleaning, but it fit well as far as this kit is concerned. Then, I spent time on the armament. I officially turned it into a bombcat, using more S.B. goodies: I built up the AIM-9, AIM-120, Phoenix, and LANTRIN pod (S.B.) and got them painted. I'm happy with the pod's color but I missed the mark on the missiles, so they'll need to be repainted. If anyone has suggestions for the grey that they should be painted (1997) I'd be happy to hear it. I'm waiting on the cluster bombs flown by VF-211 during OSW. Then it was back to the fuselage. I installed the intakes (brutal!) and then joined the nose and main fuselage. Here is how it is for now: Then I had to set up the display for one last look before preparing for work: I'll be ordering the new exhaust over the next week and working on those next time I'm home. Then it is going over the whole thing cleaning it up for paint, and then paint! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
A-10 LOADER Posted April 28, 2016 Share Posted April 28, 2016 Well done, things are progressing along nicely. Steve Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Joel_W Posted May 2, 2016 Share Posted May 2, 2016 F20D, Your continued efforts are really paying off big time. That last picture shows just what a fantastic display presentation "Fill'er up" is going to be. Joel Quote Link to post Share on other sites
falcon20driver Posted May 7, 2016 Author Share Posted May 7, 2016 Thanks Joel and Steve. You guy's continued support is greatly appreciated. I wanted to thank longmc and kellyf15. They're sending me parts for the Tomcat that I desperately needed to finish this thing up with. ARC truly is an awesome community. Hopefully I can get back to the bench in a few days. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
falcon20driver Posted May 9, 2016 Author Share Posted May 9, 2016 Disaster. I'm so angry I want to put this Tomcat under my car and back over it. Due to a stupid hand slip, I smashed the front windscreen. Completely shattered.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
my favs are F`s Posted May 10, 2016 Share Posted May 10, 2016 Man i`m following your topic from quite some time, and, <_</> damn, rly?! If it`s only the wind screen - so it has larger frames that could cover the glued pieces (some transparent glue if possible), then sand and polish like removing the central seam line, and paint the frame again. I don`t know... It`s worth trying! It will be a wonderful display of the 2 models! Btw - another idea - make some contrasting colorful painting/marking scheme of the plane for less attraction to the wind screen area ;) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
falcon20driver Posted May 10, 2016 Author Share Posted May 10, 2016 Thanks F. I have a replacement coming thanks to KellyF15. He's saved my butt twice now. I'll try and get some progress picks up today. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Joel_W Posted May 11, 2016 Share Posted May 11, 2016 F20D, sure wasn't expecting that. But a replacement on it's way will save the day. Joel Quote Link to post Share on other sites
falcon20driver Posted May 11, 2016 Author Share Posted May 11, 2016 Trust me Joel, I wasn't either. The poor dog was hiding under our bed on the other side of the house because I was using less than polite language at a higher than normal volume apparently. Anyway, as I mentioned KellyF15 is bailing me out big time and hopefully I'll be back at full speed soon. In the mean time, much delayed photos... The FUBAR: Since the window was slowing down other progress I finished up the smaller items. First was initial painting of the Cat's claws. 211 seemed to carry a little bit of everything during OSW: Then it was time to add one of the most important parts: And then after getting the exhausts on it was time to start laying primer: Finally this afternoon I went outside to play around with camera angles for when this is all wrapped up. I realized I need to use longer acrylic rods while photographing to get the bases and other obstructions out of the field of view. This is the only one that somewhat came out: Looking over the Tomcat I realize its certainly not the cleanest build I've ever done, but considering this thing has been a fight the whole way I'm content with what my abilities allow. Now is the fun part, paint! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
xavi84 Posted May 11, 2016 Share Posted May 11, 2016 DAMN THAT'S COOL! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Adam1818 Posted May 11, 2016 Share Posted May 11, 2016 Can't wait to see the finished product! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jinxter13 Posted May 11, 2016 Share Posted May 11, 2016 DAMN THAT'S COOL! What he said + an extra very cool!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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