my favs are F`s Posted January 1 Share Posted January 1 (edited) Here is my third 1/32 scale build, and my first of the legacy planes (I have the Blackbird as well, but I don't consider it exactly a ''legacy plane'', as it has stealth features and flew about a decade after the Starfighter). It is a very special kit to me, as I got it as a present. Well, I would have choose the American C version if I could 🙂 , so a conversion it will be. This kit includes a lot (quite a lot) of optional parts and I gotta figure out the perfect match. The markings would be a challenge, as I have only the four US national insignia decals in the correct size and registry, but I gonna print some decals from the C version kit and transform them into masks, to paint the U. S. Air Force/USAF markings. I'm not sure of the exact airframe yet, but I gotta figure out a similar way to do the squadron markings/emblem (I think I'll use the most simple one, with not so many colors). I plan to wrap it with shiny aluminum self-adhesive foil - my first time doing so. If something goes wrong and I can't deal with it - I'll change to a standard oil canning + metalizers procedure. So far, I'm optimistic about the bare metal foil. Here is the kit: And I started from the cockpit. Btw I'll use these afterarket parts - the pilot figure with a seat, the nozzle, and 3D printed decals for the instrument panels: First, I deleted the casted instrument panels on the OOB parts - here they are before and after: Edited January 1 by my favs are F`s Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BastianD Posted January 2 Share Posted January 2 Look forward to see your build progressing! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ALF18 Posted January 3 Share Posted January 3 I'll be watching this as well. I've built a couple Italeri in 1/32 and love the kit. By 'deleted' the original panels, I see you've removed the raised detail in preparation for the Quinta Studios decals. How did you do it? Sandpaper? Scraping with a knife? ALF Quote Link to post Share on other sites
my favs are F`s Posted January 4 Author Share Posted January 4 Hi ALF - yes, I used just a regular blade, and anoter one that is flat (like a chisel). A lot of scraping, very very slowly and precisely though, in all directions to remove the raised parts evenly. Then just a couple of passes with a piece of 4000 grit sandpaper to ''polish'' the surfaces, as I thought the decals can stick easily this way, however, this was not needed at all. PS: The decals stressed me quite a lot - as soon as they contacted the water - they changed color... actually, lost color. 🙂 The base gray color became 100% transparent... it was basically black instrument panels. I thought I did something wrong... luckily, the gray color reapeared once the decals were glued and dry. How did that happen - I have no idea. Probably it is normal, and it's just my first time seeing something like this. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
my favs are F`s Posted January 6 Author Share Posted January 6 (edited) It could be just me discovering something new for the first time, but those 3D decals are HIGHLY recommended! It really looks good in person, but now I can't even believe what I see in the cloze-up images... tremendous! Anyway, the cockpit tub is ready: Edited January 6 by my favs are F`s Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ALF18 Posted January 6 Share Posted January 6 6 hours ago, my favs are F`s said: It could be just me discovering something new for the first time, but those 3D decals are HIGHLY recommended! It really looks good in person, but now I can't even believe what I see in the cloze-up images... tremendous! Anyway, the cockpit tub is ready: I absolutely love those decals. I have a bunch (Quinta, other brands) that I will use for kits that matter to me (F-104, CF-18, etc). You've done a great job on these ones. ALF Quote Link to post Share on other sites
my favs are F`s Posted January 6 Author Share Posted January 6 Thanks! Btw I just figured out some subtle ''weathering'' with satin/matt clear finish would be even better, then very very subtle drybrushing at a shallow angle (to restore the shine of the knobs/switches only). I'll give it a go tomorrow. Just the side consoles... cause right now everything looks crystal clear, and is shiny. I doubt even a newly produced plane can have so ''glossy'' IPs. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
my favs are F`s Posted January 7 Author Share Posted January 7 So I end up using the MB seat from the kit... 😊It was quite the journey to remove the pilot figure from the Lockheed seat as it is a one-piece resin casting, but all went relatively well. I had to do it because the headrest of the original Lokcheed seet was adjusted very low, and thus there was a decent void space right behind the helmet of the pilot, which bothered me a lot. One of the top highlights of the Starfighter cockpit is that everything is ''filled to the brim'', and all profile-view images show that the helmet, the headrest, and the back railing are aligned and only a couple of inches under the canopy... there are no big void spaces there. Anyway, here is how it looks now with the MB seat, and btw I did some modifications as well. And it is prepped. I messed up the yellow/black patterns of the ejection handles, but at least there is something ''yellow'' there... I'm thinking about adding a filter a little bit more to make it less pronounced... And an overview: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Aigore Posted January 9 Share Posted January 9 Oooooh Already started on a new build! That pit looks fantastic with the printed instruments. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
my favs are F`s Posted January 11 Author Share Posted January 11 10x, Aigore. The Nighthawk actually is in the 2nd stage of weahtering and I did a kind of a jig that allows me to slide the brush and draw the long straight lines on the bottom fuselage... just a sneak peak: It's not ready yet, but it really is something like building the Starfighter and, in the meantime - weathering. 🙂 Those oil paints take quite some time to dry properly. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Thadeus Posted January 11 Share Posted January 11 Pretty neat start on the Starfighter. Can't wait for some more. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lgl007 Posted January 12 Share Posted January 12 WOW great work on the Starfighter. Incredible detail! -Greg Quote Link to post Share on other sites
my favs are F`s Posted January 16 Author Share Posted January 16 (edited) Check out the wheels - the movement is ready - before and after: 🙂 It was a hassle... the doors didin't fit perfectly, several thin struts are replaced, the plastic in some areas was very very thin... and 38 magnets later: And here is the retraction in motion. I know it is far from reality, but I didn't try to make the movement realistic at all. In the beginning, I was sceptical about the rigidity/sturdiness of this type of landing gear, but it turned out very sturdy. The model is light as well, so I don't worry about displaying it long-term in a parked position any more. Still plenty of things to do with the MLGs. Cheers for now. Edited January 17 by my favs are F`s Quote Link to post Share on other sites
A-10 LOADER Posted January 16 Share Posted January 16 Gotta hand it to you, you're really good at this, nice work. Steve Quote Link to post Share on other sites
habu2 Posted January 16 Share Posted January 16 I get a "Video Not Available" when I click on your youtube link... ☹️ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
my favs are F`s Posted January 17 Author Share Posted January 17 9 hours ago, habu2 said: I get a "Video Not Available" when I click on your youtube link... ☹️ hm, maybe because I uploaded it as a Shorts and there is an expiry or something like this... Anyway, I just replaced it with a normal video, and gotta be a-ok now. 🤙 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dutch Posted January 17 Share Posted January 17 Amazing work, that! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mr.Happy Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 Wow! This is going to be amazing 🤩 Mr. Happy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
my favs are F`s Posted January 30 Author Share Posted January 30 Surface preps: formation lights, the gun bay is closed, and the small panel on the bottom side where is the center fin/hook is also added: Just barely glued. I'll sand them flush/rescribe/etc later. Then I cut the Reskit afterburner parts, and couldn't resist to take some ''transparent'' pics at night 🙂 : Plenty of details here... but I used it only for testfits so far. Meanwhile, the rest of the afterburner can is assembled (with several milestones) and painted: This is with the afterburner can/liner. It's slightly green-ish and it is not quite visible due to the white light from the torch. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mr.Happy Posted February 1 Share Posted February 1 Nice work on the J-79. I’ve got the A/C Italeri F-104 in 1/32 and I’m looking forward to your build updates. Keep up your great work. Mr.Happy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RichB63 Posted February 1 Share Posted February 1 ResKit products rock! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
my favs are F`s Posted February 8 Author Share Posted February 8 (edited) The NLG is ready - here are the parts: Assembled/painted: And retracted: The motion is not quite gracious, so I didin't take a video. So, everything was ready for the gluing of the two fuselage halves - I added all sub-assemblies on one of the sides. Also, I preserved the OOB J-79 engine for a plausible outdoor display with the cradle, as it is a very very nicely detailed engine, and it would be a real shame to hide it permanently insidie the fuselage. I switched it with the leftover parts from one of the Nighthak's engines. I aligned everything to fit with the tail section and the afterburner resin part. Then, there are several additional axial struts from kit sprue rods - they are there for more structural rigidity, for just in case, as I expect to apply force during the application of the metal foil. Edited February 8 by my favs are F`s Quote Link to post Share on other sites
my favs are F`s Posted February 12 Author Share Posted February 12 The fuselage is now one piece, and I straightened the connection with the tail section by adding these plastic plates: The tail section recieved alignment rods to hold the afterburner can in place, too: And I thinned the trailing edge along the nozzle - here the upper half is thinned, while the bottom is not ready yet. I'm very happy with how it looks now. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mr.Happy Posted February 12 Share Posted February 12 Nice prep work for the aft fuselage. Nicely done, Mr. Happy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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