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(2022 F-16 Group Build) Tamiya Thunderbird


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That is my next submission for this group.  This will be my first build of a Tamiya F-16 but I'm sure it will be a fun build.  The nice thing there is no bombs and missiles to deal with.  😀 Just a lot of big decals.

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Geoff M

Edited by Geoff M
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Fortunately I like putting on decals  so this will be a challenge.  Did some work on the cockpit.  Tamiya detail is amazing compared to Hasegawa.  

 

Basic cockpit components

 

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Preliminary painting and masking

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Masks off 

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After some detail painting and the seatbelt decals

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Thats all for now.

 

Geoff M

 


 

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Time for an update.  Here is a picture of the IP hand painted with the kit decals for the CRTs.  

 

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Fuselage coming together.  No painting done yet.

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Painting started.  Alclad white primer is the final coat.  This kit fits so well I can just dry fit the pieces together to paint and then disassemble to put the decals on.

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Time for the decals

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This is where I am at right now.  I have been applying lots of Mr Mark Softer to get the decals to conform.  I didn't gloss coat before decaling because the paint looked pretty smooth but now that some of the decals are on I can see the potential for some silvering.  More Mr Mark Softer.  I had to order some Tamiya X-3 to match the blue for touch ups and the ventral fins.  Waiting for that to arrive and I will pick this up again.  

 

Meanwhile I have a Hasegawa F-16D I will add to this group build to keep me busy.

 

Geoff M

Edited by Geoff M
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A little more progress on this one.  I got the touch up paint.  Decals are all on and I have given it a gloss coat.  The decals gave me some trouble, they have a rather pebbly appearance.  I need to do a slight panel line wash and add all the small fiddly bits.  I am not sure what kind of finish to put on this bird.  I know that the Thunderbirds are glossy but small glossy models sometimes look toyish.  Anyway here are some pictures.

 


 

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You can see my next contribution to the group build in the background.

 

Geoff M
 

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Wrapping this one up.  It had its ups and downs.  The big thunderbird decal on the bottom had many tiny bubbles in it that would not go away.  The kit itself is excellent; but having built it for the first time I missed some of the steps I should have paid attention to.  I assumed I could put the gear in after painting - wrong- but I was able to fix that.  I will be prepared for next time.  I chose the wrong wing tip missile launchers and after decaling I noticed that the number 1 on the right side of the intake disappeared.  So it is 1 on the left and 2 on the right.  Here are some pictures.

 

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I look forward to building this kit again and I have another one.  Always learnig.

 

Geoff M

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  • 2 weeks later...

G'day Geoff,

 

Lovely work. I was skeptical that the decal seat belts would look convincing but they look very nice under the closed canopy. I alsoreally like the worn effects of the engine exhaust petals, may I ask hpow that effect was achieved? It looks very convincing,

 

cheers,

 

Pappy

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Thanks for the compliment.  About the burnere can, As Bob Ross would say that was a happy accident.  The kit itself was molded in white plastic.  I put a wash of tamiya panel line black on it to highlight the recesses and when I went to wipe it off it took the paint off down to the white plastic.  So I went with that.

 

Geoff M

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26 minutes ago, Geoff M said:

Thanks for the compliment.  About the burnere can, As Bob Ross would say that was a happy accident.  The kit itself was molded in white plastic.  I put a wash of tamiya panel line black on it to highlight the recesses and when I went to wipe it off it took the paint off down to the white plastic.  So I went with that.

 

Geoff M

Yes, that looks amazing : )  I like these behind-the-scenes stuff : )

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6 hours ago, Geoff M said:

Thanks for the compliment.  About the burnere can, As Bob Ross would say that was a happy accident.  The kit itself was molded in white plastic.  I put a wash of tamiya panel line black on it to highlight the recesses and when I went to wipe it off it took the paint off down to the white plastic.  So I went with that.

 

Geoff M

 Accident or not it is a great representation of worn ceramic coating. Congrats again on a great looking T-bird

 

Pappy

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