Da SWO Posted December 10, 2023 Author Share Posted December 10, 2023 Started gluing the engine on. It doesn't sit flush with the fuselage so I glued the front part and will use CA to force the back end and fuselage together. The model is still a little nose heavy, I assume that will change when I add the tail and stabilizers, so weight will be added to the sensor ball. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Da SWO Posted December 24, 2023 Author Share Posted December 24, 2023 Little more work. I used CA to pull the engine mount rear fuselage together, and added the tails. The tails fit in good, with minimal putty. I'm sanding them down today. It's become tail heavy, (expected) and I have some liquid gravity coming in. There is an opening (for now) in the nose that I will put the liquid gravity in, and I will also add weight to the under fuselage ball sensor. . I'll also add all the antennas, and other external fuselage parts this week. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Da SWO Posted January 3 Author Share Posted January 3 One of the tail seams is being difficult, adding more putty tonight, maybe 3rd time will be a charm. I can't put all the small pieces on until I finish getting the seams smoothed down. 😞 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Da SWO Posted January 9 Author Share Posted January 9 Finished sanding, and put the antennas on. I assembled the weapons pylons. They all had a gap on the rear, but minimal putty and that problem went away. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Da SWO Posted January 18 Author Share Posted January 18 Had a problem with the clear coat. Tamiya clear over Tamiya Light Ghost Grey. Waited two days from painting to spraying the clear coat on. You can see the two blotchy areas on the tail plane, like it dissolved the paint leaving the primer. Can someone explain what happened? The only thing I can come up with is the can was sitting next to a window, and was cold. I put it in warm water to heat the can up. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Night Owl Models Posted January 28 Share Posted January 28 This looks like orange peel of the clearcoat not the undercoat of paint its caused by incorrect leveling or stretching of the clear coat. You will have to sand it smooth then reapply the clear coat. Be mindful of your room temperature and product temperature. I would warm the clearcoat in warm not hot water before using it and try a test piece before committing. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Da SWO Posted February 6 Author Share Posted February 6 On 1/28/2024 at 1:32 AM, Night Owl Models said: This looks like orange peel of the clearcoat not the undercoat of paint its caused by incorrect leveling or stretching of the clear coat. You will have to sand it smooth then reapply the clear coat. Be mindful of your room temperature and product temperature. I would warm the clearcoat in warm not hot water before using it and try a test piece before committing. Sanded it down, primer, grey and clear went on good the 2nd time. Started putting decals on, not going to get much bench time this week, so getting the decals on will be a major win. Some of the Reapers have winglet communications antennas, does anyone have a good drawing/photo so I can add these? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Da SWO Posted February 7 Author Share Posted February 7 Most of the decals are on. I need to finish the horizontal stabilizers. Very busy week, but hopefully tomorrow and friday. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Da SWO Posted February 9 Author Share Posted February 9 (edited) Model Fiesta weekend will keep me away from the bench, but most of the decals are on and I will gloss coat tomorrow before leaving the house. The very last decals rolled on itself as I was applying it. Hopefully I still have the sheet from the first model, otherwise I'll :cut and paste" the 174 ATKWG into a 147 ATKWG. Extra work, but doable. Edited February 9 by Da SWO Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Night Owl Models Posted February 9 Share Posted February 9 Use decal softener even if you think you don't need it should solve the curling, just let it sit then work the decal with a brush. Go over all decals before your clear coat it will push the decals into any seams and give you a more realistic finish. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Da SWO Posted February 9 Author Share Posted February 9 2 hours ago, Night Owl Models said: Use decal softener even if you think you don't need it should solve the curling, just let it sit then work the decal with a brush. Go over all decals before your clear coat it will push the decals into any seams and give you a more realistic finish. I use the microscale sol/set, it went into the sol and just "jumped" from the tweezers to my thumb. Static electricity? IDK, it was weird. Found my spare sheet, so I'll fix it on Sunday. Packing for Model Fiesta between chores today. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Da SWO Posted February 17 Author Share Posted February 17 Decals are on, clear and dull coat are on. Working on(painting) the landing weapons pylons and hell fire missiles. The Hamilton Hobbies prop hub is going to need some work, and I have to decide how to mount the prop assembly to the fuselage. I'll post another in a bit. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Da SWO Posted February 17 Author Share Posted February 17 This is the prop hub. This was one of the last two he had, so I am glad to have gotten it, but it's rough. I cut it off the base, and assume the stem needs to be remove too. The bottom is not level, and there bubbles in the resin. Suggestions for mounting it? Cut the stem and glue to the fuselage (props won't be able to rotate). Cut the stem and out a rod in, then use the kits mounting hole. Thoughts? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Da SWO Posted February 27 Author Share Posted February 27 I was worried that the resin prop/hub combo would make it a tail dragger, so I drill a hole where the sensor ball will go. I weighed the prop hub and glued 3x the weight in bb's into the nose. Cut the stem off, and drilled the prop hub out so it would take a metal rod. Looks decent (depending on orientation), I may just glue it in-place. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Da SWO Posted March 4 Author Share Posted March 4 (edited) In the ironic LOL category. The holes in the prop hub are too small, so I had to drill them out. Hellfire missiles are getting painted. I really want this finished by Thursday evening. Edited March 4 by Da SWO Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Da SWO Posted March 4 Author Share Posted March 4 Sensor ball and external tank are on. 2 of 4 props are on. I need a little touch up on the wingtip, and around one of the satcom antennas. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Da SWO Posted March 6 Author Share Posted March 6 Props/hub installed. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Da SWO Posted March 8 Author Share Posted March 8 Hellfires on and drying. Couple of paint touch ups and I am done. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Da SWO Posted April 11 Author Share Posted April 11 98% done. I just need to fabricate and attach the winglets. I think I finally found a good photo and will finish this after a couple of road trips this week and next. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dutch Posted April 12 Share Posted April 12 (edited) Bravo Brett! Way to tackle and work through the difficulties on this kit. The results are very nice indeed! Seems counter-intuitive to place high-viz markings on a drone, but I do like that Texas splash on the tail! Hmm, not sure I want the ANG flying around with live Hellfires, but this is Texas, so maybe okay! We'll say it's open carry and call it a border guard mission! K/r, Dutch Edited April 12 by Dutch Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.