Skids Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 (edited) Hello allAfter almost a years break I have been tempted back and the kit to begin with is the HobbyBoss YF-23.Why, because I think it's one of the best looking planes ever built. Is the kit accurate, well no it's not. Do the shape issues bother me, not that much. It's just nice to have a 1/48 scale version of this aircraft.I am not going to try and correct the main shape issue as I think it will be beyond my skills. But I will amend little bits.Luckily Caracel models released the correct decals to recreate either test plane, as the kit decals are a bit poor and as much as a 'whiff' aircraft might be ok with some it's not for me. I will be doing PAV-1 (overall gunship grey)Box shotThe first thing that got me was the size of the YF-23. When you open the box the fuselage pieces fill it. On dry fitting the main pieces together you really get a sense of how big this thing looks.The main thing I am going to alter is the exhausts, as the kit version is for PAV-2. PAV-1 did not have shrouds over the engines and it needs some of the cover taken away to expose more. Well looking on YF-23.net you can see the difference. I will be removing a small part of the upper fuselage as indicated below.More soonThanksSimon Edited August 9, 2014 by Skids 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parabat Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 Excellent! I will be watching this with a lot of note taking! Excellent choice sir! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shawty82 Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 (edited) Good job Simon, will be following this one closely. Should really update my build log! Quite looking forward seeing your work on the exhausts. Thanks again for the help with the PAV2 decals. Good luck mate! Edited March 31, 2014 by shawty82 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelglue Posted April 1, 2014 Share Posted April 1, 2014 Gorgeous plane, and so big too. I can't get enough YF-23 so I'll be watching. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skids Posted April 1, 2014 Author Share Posted April 1, 2014 (edited) Thanks Chaps Well cut the pieces out and now just need to line them up, funny thing is when you look at photos from the test flights there seems to be only 1 directional thrust flap, yet on the PAV-1 in the museum it seems to have 2, hmmm more investigation needed me thinks. Anyway this is how it looks so far (the flap will line up flush with the fuselage when I'm done) more soon Thanks Simon Edited April 1, 2014 by Skids 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exdraken Posted April 3, 2014 Share Posted April 3, 2014 cool subject! thanks for sharing! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thomastmcc Posted April 3, 2014 Share Posted April 3, 2014 very cool .. thomas 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skids Posted April 5, 2014 Author Share Posted April 5, 2014 Hi Not managed to get that much done over the last few days. I have under coated the wheel bays and painted them white (but forgot to take a picture of them) and done some research on PAV1. It seems it does have two exhaust nozzles so now I need to make the other two by cutting down the two upper ones on the kit (which are for PAV2) and make the fit. I have managed to cut one down (shown with the other one), and I will add some length of plasticard to make it look longer. More real soon Thanks Simon 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skids Posted April 7, 2014 Author Share Posted April 7, 2014 Hello Well I have managed to finish creating one side with the two exhaust nozzles. After a few test runs I finally got it to a point I am happy with. Onto the second one now. Also found the pic of the sprayed white wheel wells, amazing that most of the kit parts are on this board spayed white. A few detailing bits are needed on these before I put them together. I am really enjoying this kit Thanks Simon 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark73 Posted April 8, 2014 Share Posted April 8, 2014 Love this aircraft, great to see the size comparison to the F-16, will watch with interest 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skids Posted May 5, 2014 Author Share Posted May 5, 2014 Hello Bit of a stall due to other commitments (blimey where has that month gone) but now its time to get going again. Right I have started painting the wheel wells (pic soon) finished making the exhaust nozzles (primed just waiting for some paint). And just added some wires to the undercarriage (pic below with a sneak of the wheel bays that wont be just white). More real soon thanks Simon 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shawty82 Posted May 6, 2014 Share Posted May 6, 2014 Coming on well mate! Good to see you back in the saddle :-) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skids Posted May 11, 2014 Author Share Posted May 11, 2014 Cheers shawty82 Well a bit more done, wheel wells pretty much done bar putting them together. Starting on the cockpit now. Cheers Simon 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skids Posted May 13, 2014 Author Share Posted May 13, 2014 (edited) Hi All Was going to start the cockpit but realised that its all wrong have found a few pics but none at the right angle to see whats behind the Aces seat. Anyone know where I can get a good pic? In the mean time the engines are getting painted and I have decided to do a slight reshape on the intakes as they are the wrong shape. So time to cut away the blacked out areas. Never tried anything this substantial in reshaping before but how hard can it be. Might be back if it goes ok otherwise it will be a bin job. Simon ps Why is it so hard to build a kit OOB, I tried but I just cant do it Edited May 13, 2014 by Skids 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plastic Licker Posted May 14, 2014 Share Posted May 14, 2014 Nice work so far Simon, I feel your pain on the modifications... Every time I try to just build something quick I get drawn in! Jon 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caerbannog Posted May 14, 2014 Share Posted May 14, 2014 Great choice Simon! Concerning the cockpit I recall that I have heared the cockpit of the YF-23 was basically using the rear cockpit of the F-15E (or just the instruments????). As this information may be wrong you should compare it yourself but it could be a starting point for aftermarket stuff. Sadly I have no cockpit pics of the YF-23 either. Rene 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skids Posted May 15, 2014 Author Share Posted May 15, 2014 Thanks for the comments, I am going to try to cut down the fixes to a minimum if I can, I was intending an OOB on this kit but that went a bit wrong. Will do the intakes, exhausts and cockpit. Got some pics of directly behind the Aces but not the whole thing. Will make a start on this soon. In the meantime the intakes are starting to take shape. I am quite pleased so far. Sorry for the bad quality pics. More soon Thanks Simon 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skids Posted May 25, 2014 Author Share Posted May 25, 2014 Hi All Following a few weeks of my father-in-law being in and out of hospital not a great deal has been done. But I have finally started the cockpit area. Studying photos (not that there are many of the cockpit area) I have decided to emulate what I can see and add a bit of my own interpretation. So I have started by cutting away almost all from behind the seat and building it up with plasticard then adding detail. More soon Thanks Simon 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted May 25, 2014 Share Posted May 25, 2014 Looks good so far Simon. Nice to see someone building it, rather than moaning about it being wrongo! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exdraken Posted May 25, 2014 Share Posted May 25, 2014 nice progress and nice detail! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skids Posted May 26, 2014 Author Share Posted May 26, 2014 (edited) Thanks guys I am not very quick at this modelling lark, but there is no rush. (and Im sure someone will release a resin cockpit just as I finish mine) Looks good so far Simon. Nice to see someone building it, rather than moaning about it being wrongo! Mike I am not a moaning about a kit type really. If I want to build it I will right or wrong. I think the moment I become the moaning whinger I will give up modelling. I just enjoy what I am doing. Isn't that what its all about? At the end of the day (it gets dark!) I love the YF-23, one of the best ever looking aircraft created. So I'm gonna build it and have fun. Simon Edited May 26, 2014 by Skids 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shawty82 Posted May 26, 2014 Share Posted May 26, 2014 Very much liking the build Simon, great to see you doing the rear cockpit properly! Have seen glimpses of the R2D2 style oxygen generators, you going to model them? What are you using for reference? Sorry to hear about your father in law, really should reply to your last PM!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skids Posted May 26, 2014 Author Share Posted May 26, 2014 Rant gone as on reflection that is for a different thread sorry to all those that had the misfortune to read it. Cheers shawty82 I have found a few pics of the rear cockpit so I am going to try and make it look better. If anyone has any pics or links I would appreciate any help on the subject. Yes I am going to have ago at the R2D2 oxygen generators. No worries as I am sure you have been busy, liking your last build. Off to study the pics now so will post more pics soon Thanks Simon 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skids Posted May 31, 2014 Author Share Posted May 31, 2014 Another small update. Before putting the detail parts in I have spent some trying to get the part that raises with the canopy (not sure what its called). Had a few goes to get the shape right and I am finally getting to a position where I am happy with it. Hopefully it will look ok! (Not finished at the back but the front half is almost done. More soon Thanks for looking in on my painfully slow modelling. Simon 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skids Posted June 6, 2014 Author Share Posted June 6, 2014 Hi All I need some advice, I was masking the inside of the canopy and when carefully (or so I thought) cutting it to shape I have slipped and put a small scalpel line (not deep) on the visible part. Will micro mesh solve the problem or is there anything I can do or has the Any help appreciated Simon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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