Can TARI

Thanks Dave... My approach to modelling is trying to improve my skills with each kit I build by experimenting new tools, or rather new for me at least... As for the raised panel issue, honestly apart from reluctance to share hours of work, I can tell last weeks efforts to print and install these panels with accuracy has proven that these files would not give proper results if they are exported to jpeg as millimetric corrections need to be made in x and y directions independently on almost every panel's border lines and width to achieve a proper match on the plane, for superposition of the real thing on AutoCAD screen does not yield precise cloning. Even with AutoCAD I had to print no less than ten different copies of these panels with very minor modifications to get a satisfactory result. So I would hardly recommend such an attempt without software capabilities... This build is experimental for me so I take the burden and if I ever build this plane the first thing I'll do will be to buy these panels as PE sets...

Before moving on with the home made raised panels, I decided to rectify another poor detail, which is about the weapon bay doors. I wanted to improve the inner faces and hinge details as I plan to build this bird with all these bays open... Side bays' doors... Main bay doors... I'll now move on to deal with those raised panel works...

Wing extension over the air intakes are moulded with a quite rounded section, which is in reality a quite sharp profile. These had to be filed and sanded... Another false detail here on the upper-outer corner of the intakes... Corrected as much as plastic allows ...

Thank you all for following... Here's a bit of update... The assembly is quite well engineered, everything fits perfctly... However nozzle area needs some corrections... And the nozzles had to be further detailed as they lack some important details... CAD software help to create some raised panels on the nozzles which Academy seems not to have cared...

Avionics reproduced...

Cockpit enhancement...

One big detail the kit lacks is the absence of surface panels on various locations on the aircraft, where numerous comprehensive aftermarket PE sets are available to cover these areas. However, given the nature of these panels and flat materials as the detail sets are, I decided to produce these panels myself using self-sticking paper with appriopriate thickness. While the real challenging pleasure for me to build an aircraft kit is always being able to add something from my own, not having to invest as much as the kit itself on these details will be equally pleasurable, if I can achieve what I plan to do... So invoked my professional skills as an architect and have drawn some panel examples from some prominent detail sets on AutoCAD, some of which then I printed on self-sticking paper to give some test shots. Some panels do not follow the correct lines on the aircraft as these are test shots and of course will be given the proper treatment... Another advantage over the PE sets other than the cost is definitely not having to glue them, which would be a nightmare especially on rounded surfaces. I have a feeling that it will work out well, but we'll see... As the test shots prove this kind of a production is possible, I will now go ahead with the cockpit works...

However, the wing extension over to the the air intake top is not correctly moulded and is round whereas it must be sharp as almost like a knife. Some sanding work will be needed obviously... Besides, surfaces above air intake rectangles' outer tops need to be given a concave shape but are totally flat... Anyway, later on these...

Dry-fit shows there's not going to be much putty work, at least on the front sides of the fuselage. The nose section is well represented, quite sharp and crisp as on the real plane...

Hi everyone, My new build is an F-22A Raptor of Academy in 1/48 scale. Much has been said on the kit so far, so I'll try to share my point of view with regard to pros and cons as I proceed and I hope to see this kit builds up to at least a portion of the beautiy the real aircraft proudly displays... I have some detail enhancement plans with some extraordinary ways to produce them, but we'll see... Ok, enough talk... Let's start... A very satisfactory decal sheet...

Hi gang, I'd like to thank you all for your nice views as well as informative remarks. Cheers from Istanbul and happy modelling... Can TARI

It is not just you, +1 here for the family versions comment as twin seaters of some a/c look definitely better incuding F-15, F-16, F-18. Nice comment Marcus, thanks...

Top build...

Thanks... Be careful if you do not want to build a "what if" as Meteor and Storm Shadow missiles are not yet operational, as has been commented...

Thanks for the clarification Selwyn... Then we can altogether assume Typhoons may get such dirty until those weapons are operational ... Apparently Revell has got a lot more to learn on Typhoons like me...

Thanks for the information and comments Gary. I'm much less of an expert on Typhoons let alone RAF squadrons, even than Revell, Aware of the airbrake I am, however like toI build models sometimes by taking the liberty of twisting 100% accuracy for the sake of a better look... And for the weathering issue, well, it is true and I've already said that

If your "what if" refers to the weathering of the vent, I would disagree that it is a "what if" as some aged aircraft already are showing signs of that. I could say it is a bit early for such heavy weathering, but personally I take "what ifs" as things never likely to happen which is not the case here... As for the RBF tags, thanks for the information. Honestly as I revisit the reference photos, now I see the tags are attached onto the weapons and not the pylons...

Thanks. Revell says it is 17 Sqn...

Photos must be ok now

Uploading problem...

Some problem with photos I think...

Here's my latest build after 6-7 years. I added Eduard cockpit set and ejection seat set, scribed all the rivets on the wings, tail and fuselage as there's almost none on the kit itself. The flaps and the rudder I also cut apart... RBF tags are home made... I think I held the airbrush for weathering longer than needed on the gas vent on the port side wing, The exhaust effect there is a little bit heavier than actual aircraft right now, but I liked the overall look so let's assume this Typhoon is a little bit older and bears the aging effects as Tornados do... Thanks for looking and your comments are welcome...