CraigSargent Posted March 5, 2007 Share Posted March 5, 2007 Progress so far on a commission build of an in-flight AV-8B of VMA-513 from OIF in 2006/2007. Cockpit is still waiting for the Eduard Zoom set before finishing it. Writing is so I didn't mix up fuselages with the VMA-231 Desert Storm build which is being done in parallel. Underside showing closed up speedbrake and main gear well. Gap in front of chaff/flare disp needs filling yet. Completed wing assembly with outrigger doors closed. After comparing to quite a few pics, I think Hasegawa actually got the wing kink correct - not going to open a debate on this, just the way I chose to model it. Close up of closed nose gear and LIDS - stbd LIDS extension line needs rescribing as it is too big. Stbd intake completed, port just needs final clean up after last sanding. Modified LITENING with seeker head out, and rotated forward and outward. Still need to correct the intake. Mk.82 being converted to GBU-38 JDAM. Rescribed and fins thinned. Next step will be to mask tail assembly and do ablative coating, then add nose vane assembly and fuses. Another angle of the stores. Close up of closed outrigger doors. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bugfan Posted March 5, 2007 Share Posted March 5, 2007 Wow Craig, 2 at once, you are a very talented man!!! Seriously, I am looking forward to watching you go on these, I have always liked the Harrier!! Keep the pics coming, Jack aka BUGFAN Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Aggressor Supporter Posted March 5, 2007 Share Posted March 5, 2007 Looking good so far. Interested in seeing what the customer will eventually be getting. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RedHeadKevin Posted March 5, 2007 Share Posted March 5, 2007 Can you keep us in some good pics of how you're doing the GBU-38? I'm gonna want about a million of those for my Super Hornets, and my Bone. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CraigSargent Posted March 5, 2007 Author Share Posted March 5, 2007 Can you keep us in some good pics of how you're doing the GBU-38? I'm gonna want about a million of those for my Super Hornets, and my Bone. Sure, what you can see above has had the following to date (based on one of the Mk.82s in the Hasegawa weapons set): - Two bomb halves glued together - Nose fuse cut off where it attaches to the body - Tail fuse plug removed (the small stub at the rear of the fin assembly) - Fins thinned to aerofoil shape (instead of the slabs from the box) - A panel line scribed around bomb circumference at 7mm and another at 13mm - Small oval panel scribed on the port side of the bomb just behind the line scribed at 13mm - Mount holes filed (new ones drilled to fit the Harrier pylon) - Screw heads added just behind each of the two scribed panel lines using a needle in a pin vise (same tool as used for rescribing). Note that these are actually raised hex head bolts on the real thing, but I didn't have a punch small enough to replicate and this was expedient. Next step will be to mask off the tail assembly and stiple Mr Surface on the bomb body for the ablative coating. Fun will be figuring the best way to replicate the JDAM vane kit, but I have a few good ideas to try out. This was a significant request by the buyer as VMA-513 was the first Harrier unit to use JDAM operationally. Original load out was to be a Laser Mavericka s these were also used in theatre, but this is more fun to do. And for Raptor Supporter, check my avatar for the new unit nose badge (been in place since 2006). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Starbuck Posted March 5, 2007 Share Posted March 5, 2007 Very cool! Nice job so far. I am about 80-90% complete with my "Flying Nightmares" Harrier , so I'm pretty eager to see how yours turns out. It's from 1997-98 and I used the OOB decals and has been quite challenging for me to find pictures of them during that time period. I'm really digging the new nose badge. Are you making your own decals, or are they available somewhere for purchase? Anyway, I will be following this thread closely and looking forward to the next update! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CraigSargent Posted March 5, 2007 Author Share Posted March 5, 2007 Mostly custom decals for the unit specific stuff (especially the mission markings and new nose badge as none available), but will probably use a mix of kit and aftermarket for stencilling and common markings. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Don Harrison Posted March 5, 2007 Share Posted March 5, 2007 I found Tamiya Tape hardened with CA worked well. Thanks, Don Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CraigSargent Posted March 5, 2007 Author Share Posted March 5, 2007 Good work, but my first trial is going to be with lead foil, as I really want something I can add after painting and which I can use punches on to get nice clean cut outs. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Don Harrison Posted March 6, 2007 Share Posted March 6, 2007 Good thought, never thought of foil... That would work well too.. Don Quote Link to post Share on other sites
okthree Posted March 6, 2007 Share Posted March 6, 2007 Good work, but my first trial is going to be with lead foil, as I really want something I can add after painting and which I can use punches on to get nice clean cut outs. I am interested in seeing how you build these also. I was thinking of trying to scratch build my own too, and thought of using foil from a disposible pie tin for the fins. The lead foil will probably be easier to work with. Everything looks good so far. Mark Quote Link to post Share on other sites
okthree Posted March 6, 2007 Share Posted March 6, 2007 Good work, but my first trial is going to be with lead foil, as I really want something I can add after painting and which I can use punches on to get nice clean cut outs. I am interested in seeing how you build these also. I was thinking of trying to scratch build my own too, and thought of using foil from a disposible pie tin for the fins. The lead foil will probably be easier to work with. Everything looks good so far. Mark Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Aggressor Supporter Posted March 8, 2007 Share Posted March 8, 2007 And for Raptor Supporter, check my avatar for the new unit nose badge (been in place since 2006). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CraigSargent Posted March 25, 2007 Author Share Posted March 25, 2007 Progress report. Large percentage of the assembly complete, though still some seam work and tidy up to do. Note my method of fitting the lower part of the LERX first and avoiding the large steps underneath where it meets the wing. Underside showing attached gun pods and Evergreen styrene square tube added for stand. GBU-38 progress. Abalative coating is Mr Surfacer stippled on with a stiff brush (after masking the tail assembly). Turned nose fuse in the Dremel and tail plug is punched using Waldon set. Nothing simulates metail like metal, so have used brass shim for the nose vane assembly - still have the upper half to add. One of the Achille's heels of the Hasegawa kit. You can see that the hole in the centre which accepts the front part of the fuselage is offset to the bottom (bottom of image). If you don't do anything about it, the nose is pulled up resulting in a banana shaped fuselage. I have added some card to fill in these unrequired cutouts on the corners of the assembly. Fit of the gun pods. I have drilled out the front opening and modified the fit of the barrels with a card bulkhead (check images of the real aircraft). Pilot requires modification as the survival vest moulded on Hasegawa's current pilots is incorrect for that used by the USMC/USN. Tamiya tape and Milliput to the rescue. Still some work to do yet, and the copper wire is to allow the pose to be modified so pilot will have hands on stick and throttle. Left arm already repositioned, but needs tidy up. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GreyGhost Posted March 25, 2007 Share Posted March 25, 2007 Wow Craig, a excellent and fun thread to watch ! Thanks and your client is going to love the finished product knowing your work ! Gregg Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hornet78 Posted March 25, 2007 Share Posted March 25, 2007 Keep it commin Craig, I'll be printing this one out for referance !! Excellant work "Mate" Jim Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CraigSargent Posted March 25, 2007 Author Share Posted March 25, 2007 GBU-38 pretty much ready for paint now. Plates are a little simplified where they meet, but for the purpose of this build, I'm calling it done. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Posted March 26, 2007 Share Posted March 26, 2007 Hi Craig mate, this is looking good! You make it look so easy! I'll be marking this as reference for when I get around to finishing mine! BTW, when will the lo-viz P3 markings be released? Cheers Mike A in Hamilton Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CraigSargent Posted March 26, 2007 Author Share Posted March 26, 2007 BTW, when will the lo-viz P3 markings be released? Yes... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
okthree Posted March 26, 2007 Share Posted March 26, 2007 The GBU-38 is looking great. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CraigSargent Posted April 4, 2007 Author Share Posted April 4, 2007 Update time. Quite a bit of progress, but no actual build pics as yet. Have been spending quite a bit of time doing artwork and printing decals. First up, the MFDs for the cockpit. Left is a moving map display atken from a cockpit shot of the actual aircraft I'm building. Right is FLIR imagery taken from a pic found online. Next, stencil data for the LITENING. This has now all been applied to the pod and looks pretty authentic, even in 1/48. Chaff flare loadouts for the 6 dispensers on the aircraft. Arrows indicate front of aircraft. Aircraft specific markings. Stencils are being sourced from the kit and a TwoBobs sheet. Close up of the new unit markings for the nose. Headed away for the Easter weekend, so hope to have some progress shots next week. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RedHeadKevin Posted April 5, 2007 Share Posted April 5, 2007 Hey Craig, that GBU-38 looks fantastic! I'm wondering if you could describe how you measured and cut the brass for the strakes. Did you have a pattern that you laid on flat brass sheet? Or did you just eyeball it? Thanks. I was going to try making my GBU the same way, but I couldn't find a good enough reference for the cutouts on the metal. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CraigSargent Posted April 10, 2007 Author Share Posted April 10, 2007 Hey Craig, that GBU-38 looks fantastic! I'm wondering if you could describe how you measured and cut the brass for the strakes. Did you have a pattern that you laid on flat brass sheet? Or did you just eyeball it? Thanks. I was going to try making my GBU the same way, but I couldn't find a good enough reference for the cutouts on the metal. Yes. Pattern was some Tamiya tape wrapped around a second assembled bomb (didn't want to damage the ablative coating on the first). The distance from the fuse to the front and rear of the plate was marked and this was cut with a sharp blade. This tape was then carefully removed and laid on the brass sheet. The cut outs were then measured and marked, and punched with a Waldron set. Holes were filed and cleaned up and then the sheet was bent to the bomb nose. Excess was cut off and the lower part was glued on. Then the upper part, then the tape retaining bands and finally the two vanes added from card measured off the bomb. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Matt_S Posted April 10, 2007 Share Posted April 10, 2007 Looking good so far. ;) Matt :) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ken Middleton Posted April 11, 2007 Share Posted April 11, 2007 nice work Craig - those GBU-38s look awesome. And I like your Captain Hook pilot! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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