exdraken Posted November 21, 2015 Share Posted November 21, 2015 (edited) New hopefully fast "weekend" project: MQ-9 Reaper French Airforce 1/33 "Belfort" operation Barkhane 1/48 Kinetic kit reboxed by Revell decals will be the excellent ones from Caracal Models decals: main parts: good fit, no glue yet!: no actually small... as far as I know France does not arm its Reapers as of yet, so a clean recce drone it will be Edited January 11, 2016 by exdraken 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bentwaters81tfw Posted November 21, 2015 Share Posted November 21, 2015 Did it really need a box that big? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exdraken Posted November 21, 2015 Author Share Posted November 21, 2015 Did it really need a box that big? box size goes in line with price I guess more seriously: definitely on the bigger size, sprues are quite big though and the kit also contains 2 GBU-12s and 4 Hellfires including pylons and lauchers.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob P Posted November 21, 2015 Share Posted November 21, 2015 It's a nice build. However, a few tips for you: Don't forget noseweight (ask me how I know!) Check the prop. As moulded it would be pulling the Reaper backwards (unless they've corrected this fault). Needs a tweak on the prop pitch on each blade. Have fun! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exdraken Posted November 22, 2015 Author Share Posted November 22, 2015 (edited) thanks Rob, might have forgotten the nose weight.... I put in everything I found in the hurry! fuselage closed later accordingly! to get some idea only: I will have to do something about the props... I think cutting and re-glueing alone does not really work as the shape would have to be mirrored maybe I will just turn it around... changes engine rotation to clock-wise, but does some notice??? Edited November 22, 2015 by exdraken 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exdraken Posted November 24, 2015 Author Share Posted November 24, 2015 soo.... the weekend project has ended - its now a longer project.... the Revell/ Kinetic model is actually an early model reaper, while the French ones are later models.. I did not know until now that there are different ones at all! ok, so the flap/ actuator fairings on the lower wings are a lot bigger on the later models, so need to be changed... additionally the main landing gear sports large dampers for presumably higher gross weight... lots of pictures and info here: in french, thanks to Aerophil at www.master194.com !! http://maquette72.free.fr/documentation/04_reaper_france/index85_docfr.php my acuator mod, still quite crude, need re-shaping and some more pics: thanks for comments! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashman Posted November 24, 2015 Share Posted November 24, 2015 Reminds me of when I built the 72 Italieri one- good work! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exdraken Posted December 1, 2015 Author Share Posted December 1, 2015 fairing size wise more accurate for a late model Reaper, not yet too nice and shiny though added the missing spliter-device in the air intake: cheers, Werner 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parabat Posted December 1, 2015 Share Posted December 1, 2015 Nice work, looks very Ridley Scott Alien like. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exdraken Posted December 8, 2015 Author Share Posted December 8, 2015 (edited) finally found some more info about the necessary landing gear modifications: http://www.uasvision.com/2012/01/10/general-atomics-introduces-new-trailing-arm-design-on-predator-bmq-9-reaper-landing-gear/ trailing arm design and shock absorbers... does anybody have a little more info? Edited December 8, 2015 by exdraken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exdraken Posted December 12, 2015 Author Share Posted December 12, 2015 painting done actually I did not know that the Reapers sport a quit dark underside! as the demarcation line also comes with the fuselage shape break top/ bottom it is hard to see in natural light! hope you like it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exdraken Posted December 13, 2015 Author Share Posted December 13, 2015 decals are on, from Caracal decals, printed in Italy by Cartograf, so no issue to be expected! and there were none my only critics are with the instructions... a small side-note on the necessary changes (or at least that there are some!!!), with the French Reaper would have been nice... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exdraken Posted December 19, 2015 Author Share Posted December 19, 2015 I finally did something about the landing gear: I therefor reworked some spare landing gear struts/ dampers. they might not be 100% correct, but look busy! I also started top modify the sensor turret, as Kinetic represent the first generation form some years ago! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exdraken Posted January 11, 2016 Author Share Posted January 11, 2016 (edited) I call it finished now! thanks for all your comments and help! more soon in the Ready for Inspection gallery! cheers Werner Edited January 11, 2016 by exdraken 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exdraken Posted January 13, 2016 Author Share Posted January 13, 2016 Ready for Inspection now here: http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234995450-mq-9-reaper-french-airforce-133-belfort-operation-barkhane-148/ thanks for looking! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James B Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 Great build and great insight into the kit. Think I may have to get one now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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