A-10 LOADER Posted February 3 Author Share Posted February 3 Thanks Aaron, I'll think about this a while longer while I finish up the AIM-9X. I can't glue the fuselage halves together until this decision is made however. Steve Quote Link to post Share on other sites
A-10 LOADER Posted February 7 Author Share Posted February 7 Viper update, The chaff / flare magazine well's are finished. Not as hard as I thought they'd be once I got going but, I'm glad they're finished. Steve I used this piece of sheet plastic to keep the chaff / flare buckets flush with the outside of the fuselage while I built up the plastic pieces on the inside. These will be added at the end of the build. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Red Dog Posted February 7 Share Posted February 7 that's what I call dedication 🙂 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
A-10 LOADER Posted February 7 Author Share Posted February 7 33 minutes ago, Red Dog said: that's what I call dedication 🙂 I was kinda leaning more towards insanity 🤪 but, thanks bud. Steve Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ST0RM Posted February 7 Share Posted February 7 Nice buckets!! Taking it to another level, Steve. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
A-10 LOADER Posted February 7 Author Share Posted February 7 28 minutes ago, ST0RM said: Nice buckets!! Taking it to another level, Steve. Thanks amigo. I forgot to add this earlier, the Flight Line Resin AIM-9X is finished. I used a #22 MV lens for the seeker head. I'm waiting on my RES/KIT GBU-12's and fuel tanks in the mail yet. Steve Quote Link to post Share on other sites
A-10 LOADER Posted February 11 Author Share Posted February 11 Another update on the Viper, After numerous dry-fitting sessions, I've decided to attach the intake to the lower fuselage before gluing the fuselage halves together. I can get a tighter fit, where the intake meets the fuselage, when I slightly flex the forward part of the fuselage up. This is easier to do without the top fuselage on. Before I attach the intake I want to get some color on the topside of it, mask / paint the intake lip and, get some color on the underside of the fuselage above where the intake will cover because it's much easier with them as separate pieces. I primed those areas first and corrected some seam issues on the intake lip area. Steve Cut some card stock to use as a paint shield to keep the intake interior area from over spray. I masked off, to preserve the details, before applying the Tamiya white putty. Wet sanded with some 400 and ready to re-prime the body work area. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lgl007 Posted February 11 Share Posted February 11 Amazing work so far 🙂 Keep the pics comin... -Greg Quote Link to post Share on other sites
A-10 LOADER Posted February 11 Author Share Posted February 11 6 hours ago, lgl007 said: Amazing work so far 🙂 Keep the pics comin... -Greg Thanks very much Greg. Another area I wanted to improve was the way the horizontal stabs attached to the jet. I never liked the way Hasegawa made the attachment point for them with that tiny nub and the oversized opening, weak connection. I cut the nubs off the stabs and drilled a hole for a piece of .040" brass rod. The fit of the rod is very snug, no glue needed. Now I can paint the horizontal stabs separately from the jet. I also drilled the #80 holes for the static dischargers in the stabs, wings and, the tail while I was at it. Three pieces of .030" plastic glued together to make the "block" that will get drilled to hold the horizontal stabs. Blocks glued into place. I can now drill a hole for the brass rod into the block and the stabs will be a press fit at the end of the build. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
strikeeagle801 Posted February 12 Share Posted February 12 Very nice. I love the innovation that you are showing with what can be seen as shortcomings in the kit. I kinda wondered at first why you wouldn't start with the newer Kinetic Gold Delta, but with all of your improvements so far, I think it'll turn out just as good (if not better) this way. Aaron Quote Link to post Share on other sites
A-10 LOADER Posted February 12 Author Share Posted February 12 Thanks Aaron. I've seen the Kinetic F-16D, nice looking kit but, I already had this kit in my stash. Most of my kits ( Hasegawa ) were purchased back in the late 90's to mid 2000's, except for a handful of more recent releases. I was a huge Hasegawa fan and still think their kits can be built into solid builds. I have AMS and no matter what kit I build I'm going to look to improve on something, I just can't help myself. Steve Quote Link to post Share on other sites
A-10 LOADER Posted February 13 Author Share Posted February 13 The last pieces to this puzzle arrived yesterday so today I got everything cleaned up and assembled the fuel tanks. I can't help but be amazed at the level of detail with their 3D products, beautiful stuff. Steve GBU-12's and parts ready for primer / paint. Fuel tanks assembled. The wing pylon is not glued. I still have to add the "pins" to the pylons for them to attach to the wings. The tanks will be glued to the pylons at the end of the build. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
strikeeagle801 Posted February 14 Share Posted February 14 (edited) Finally got my Reskit GBU-31's painted and built for my F-14D last night. Just gotta throw decals on them tonight. I'm constantly impressed with just what everyone can do with 3D printing. Miles ahead of cast resin already, and the technology is still evolving. I've got a Flight Line Resin AIM-54C and two FLR AIM-9M's for it too. Anyway, back to your regularly scheduled program Aaron Edited February 14 by strikeeagle801 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
A-10 LOADER Posted February 14 Author Share Posted February 14 Worked on getting the last items "pinned" to the wings, the fuel tank pylons. Next I'll prime the GBU-12's and the fuel tanks / pylons. Steve Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Red Dog Posted February 20 Share Posted February 20 Nice progress, slowly getting there Steve. These wingbags looks great and heavy 🙂 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
A-10 LOADER Posted February 22 Author Share Posted February 22 Thanks Red Dog. I made some progress this week on some things. I got all the GBU-12 parts, the fuel tanks and, the pylons primed. The bomb bodies were sprayed with faded olive drab. The fuel tanks and pylons are finished and awaiting weathering. After lots of research, reading and, seeing finished builds I decided to give AK a try for the HG5 finish. I primed some spoons and shot one with the paint, straight out of the bottle, a 50/50 mix with MCLT, to see if any metallic color would need to be added. These pics won't do it justice, you need to see it in person but, I think it will work. It looks much better outside and you can really see the metallic "sheen" to it in natural sunlight. It's subtle which works for the scale effect. I still need to spray a semi-matte over this to see if the "sheen" changes so, we'll see. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Thadeus Posted February 26 Share Posted February 26 I was recently experimenting with misting of colour with very diluted Vallejo Metal Color Aluminium (aka cleaning my airbrush after spraying it) and got some interesting results. This was over some previously painted cardboard, so the result may vary. Can't wait for some paint shots to see Your AK paint. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
A-10 LOADER Posted February 26 Author Share Posted February 26 1 hour ago, Thadeus said: I was recently experimenting with misting of colour with very diluted Vallejo Metal Color Aluminium (aka cleaning my airbrush after spraying it) and got some interesting results. This was over some previously painted cardboard, so the result may vary. Can't wait for some paint shots to see Your AK paint. Funny you should bring this up Thadeus. I sprayed the lower fuselage area, above where the intake will sit and, the intake with the AK Have Glass Gray FS 36170. Easier to get color on these areas now instead of later. I did lighten the color a little by adding some Mr. Color Super Metallic 2 "super stainless", SM204. I put three 17ml bottles of the Have Glass Gray to one 10ml jar of the super stainless, in a separate container. When I'm ready to paint I'll mix this 50/50, in a separate container, with MCLT. I also masked off and sprayed the intake lip FS 36293 ( this is the bottom color I used on my AC-130J ), matches the decals. Still working on painting the GBU-12's but, they're getting close for decals. Steve Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ikon Posted February 27 Share Posted February 27 Nice progress. I like the 'trunking' going up into the fuselage. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lgl007 Posted February 27 Share Posted February 27 Great progress so far Steve 🙂 Love the progress. -Greg Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ST0RM Posted February 27 Share Posted February 27 Impressive as always, Steve. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Red Dog Posted February 27 Share Posted February 27 i'll be curious to see the final result of that have glass paint, it's always a challenge Quote Link to post Share on other sites
A-10 LOADER Posted February 27 Author Share Posted February 27 Thanks for checking in guys and, your supportive comments. Upon removing the foam from the intake, I was very disappointed to see the mess that was left behind 😠. I've used the foam on past projects with good results but, not this time. When I first started the intake I spent an hour trying to mask it off but, it just wasn't cooperating so, went with the foam plug. I need to get this fixed and insert the intake reinforcement strut before I attach the intake to the lower fuselage. How people attach this part first then try to mask and paint, I have no idea. After some careful hand brushing I was able to get it looking better. It's not perfect or being entered in a contest so, I'll call this a win. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mr.Happy Posted February 27 Share Posted February 27 I’ve been out of pocket since December and man this build is such a welcome sight to take in. I like your approach to the intake very cleverly thought out and done. Sorry to ask if you already posted it. Do you like the way that AK paint sprayed? If so did you use there (AK’s) thinner or another brand. Again if I had missed something my apologies I’m getting over a very painful back surgery and I’m just catching up on your build. Great work and very cool to see your progress. Mr. Happy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
A-10 LOADER Posted February 27 Author Share Posted February 27 (edited) Thanks Mr. Happy. The AK sprayed very nice. It's a lacquer so I mixed it 50/50 with Mr. Color Leveling Thinner shot thru my Gaahleri airbrush with a 0.5 needle. Great airbrush, atomizes the paint extremely well which is key since this color has a LOT of metallic in it. Wishing you a speedy recovery. Steve Edited February 28 by A-10 LOADER Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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