Cklasse

Windows filled and fuselage joined. Some panel lines are removed from the sanding and some scribed. Cut out gaps are patched with plastic sheets. This build is coming along with new ideas as I cut and fabricate so as to achieve the desired visual.

Cut the left wing. So off went the LE and TE flaps, as well as the fairings for the flaps extension mechanism. I didn’t realize what kind of trouble I am getting myself into with this take off configuration. A good part of the wing is removed and lots of gaps need to be filled and sanded. I knew there is a flaps set for sale. However, the cost is many times the price I paid for this B747. Guess I will do my best to fabricate them. Again, another trouble I am getting myself into.

Now the build can start with delivery of SIA decals and resin PW4000 engines.

After digesting the numerous excellent build of the B747 here in this forum, I have decided that I would like to build one too. I have always wanted the B744, especially a SIA plane. Opportunity came when someone wanted to part an old Hasegawa kit but it was a Japanese government plane. I bought it anyway and this is my first commercial plane model build. I am going to depict a SIA 50th anniversary B744 taking off. So, there will be some work to do such as extended flaps and slats, and tilting main landing gears.

10 years later……I have started build on my 1/200 B744 and this guy wants to scratch build the flaps and slats too.

Tail fin assembled and finally sealed the cockpit with the split windshield assembly. The fit is not perfect and requires quite a bit of putty and sanding.

The Republic of Singapore Air Force recently replaced the Puma with the H225M. I wonder is this the right decision. Did the RAF consider this helo?

Got distracted by another build of the M1A1. The fuselage is joined and putty applied. This plane is long……… Bought a 1/144 B777-300ER for the Disney World Star Wars livery. Guess what? This is longer than the 1/72 Atlantic. I am going to have a problem of finding space to display these planes.

Progressing at a pace of one tube or hose per night……when will I finish detailing the engine bay? Cut some panels out of the top hull so that I can show the bay with panels opened.

I see gas turbine engines at work; the kind that flies. So the kit bare engine just does not look right. I tried as much as I can, to detail the engines with tubes, hoses, ducts, wirings and heat shields base on pictures and imagination. Eventually I think I have to stop because it can go on for a long time with the number of tubes and wiring a gas turbine engine has. Now to move on to the engine bay detailing. I am beginning to wonder if I am trying to achieve too much by building this tank with interior. Oh well, it’s already started, so it has to end. Build will still continue. Kit engine after detailing

So….I have come to this point of assembly and realized that you either fixed with the engine inside the tank or outside. The engine cannot be removed once the rear sprocket wheels are fitted. I shall leave the engine out so that I can detail the engine and engine bay. The fun part is in detailing. edit notes While detailing the engine base on pictures, I realized the kit instructions for the engine to rear sprocket joint is not correct. The lower half should stay in the engine bay while the top half follows the engine. In this configuration, the engine can be taken out without obstruction. Too late for mine, the rings are glued.

You are right about the livery not changing. SIA is a traditional company that is innovative and yet has the idea of if it ain’t broken, don’t fix it. When SIA went off this mark by painting the B744 into the tropical livery, it crashed the plane, although it’s not the airline’s fault.

I just got an old Hasegawa B744 and planning to build the same marking plane. Do you have the pictures to show?

Thanks Alex for the suggestions. I had placed order from Joydecals for the 50th anniversary SQ marking and a 1/144 stormtroopers marking for a B777-300ER. With the purchase of decal, I have no choice but to buy the plane from Amazon.

Just saw this one year old post but…… I just got hold of a probably 20 year old Hasegawa 1/1200 B747-400. It’s kind of difficult to get a B747-400 now’s a day and it’s even harder to get a Singapore Airlines plane. Here the plan, I will need to replace the RR engines with resin PW4000 and get the only available SQ decal of a 50th anniversary marking. This old Hasegawa kit came with raised panel lines. I wonder do you guys sand away the lines or leave it? I supposed the lines will not be highlighted black since such planes are always cleaned. Do you guys highlight the lines? I always see cleaners polishing the SQ B747 whenever I walked in the hangar during my trainee’s day

I didn’t realized what trouble I am getting myself into when I wanted a tank with movable track parts instead of the usual rubber tracks. Read that it was painful and it is indeed. Lots of careful cutting and trimming of the tiny parts so that I can assemble them into one short section. My eyes are tired from the focused work. It’s gonna take a few nights to complete one track. Now, will I do it again. You bet! I will still do these tracks. These tracks beat rubber tracks for the details and realism. I have a Bradley with such tracks waiting for me to build.

Joined the arms and shafts for road wheels so that I can proceed with assembling engine and driver’s compartment. Just eyeballing the left and right arms after dry fitting into the hull, I realized the left and right side are not on the same level. The tank will slant slightly if I proceed to blindly install them based on the keys on the arms to position. So, the keys on one side of the hull have to be removed so that I can reposition the arms during glueing to make sure both left and right are on equal level. Anyway, I am depicting one track to be going over a bump, so I need to remove the arm keys to position some wheels higher than others.

Turret base assembled. From reference pictures, I found one part is redundant and not supposed to be fitted unlike the instructions. One more round of paint and it should be done for wash and weathering.

Have been deliberating on which kit to start….will it be 1/32 F5E? 1/48 EA-6B? or 1/24 A-klasse? I finally decided to build the Rye Field M1A1 with full interior. This kit box is filled to the brim with parts and is a pleasure to assemble. My intention is to do a partial cutout of the hull and turret to showcase the beautiful interior of the M1. I have learned something about tanks from gathering the images in the internet. Most surprisingly was the ammo case burn off when fired and only the primer cap is ejected. Certainly very different from my Army times when I fired the 106 recoilless gun. I will paint the NATO camouflage since I am tired of seeing M1 only in desert colour in most pictures.

Me too, has just gotten back to my “growing up hobby” after more than a decade. I have to carve out a space from my twin boys play area for my little hobby space. The kits are spilling everywhere and some are hidden in my office cabinet. Part of the reasons for coming back is the use of acrylic paint, which made spray painting tolerable and convenient in an apartment. I have been buying models that I used to build or those that I have always wanted. I am going for bigger 48, 32, 35 scale kit due to the better quality and details of kits now. Display space is a constraint, so I still have the problem later of where can I display the completed models such as a 1/35 Schnellboot, 1/32 F5E.

Completed the cockpit. The kit front instrument leave a big space in front that bares a gap. Had to make a dashboard to cover since it can be seen through the front canopy.

What kit is that B787 from? I am looking for one and also looking for a Singapore Airlines B747.

Seeing this post made me think of my Hasegawa Tomcat that I built in my school days; a Wolfpack cat too. I am revisiting my old hobby beginning of the year and yup! Looking to get those model kits that I built long ago for sentimental reasons. I am tempted to get the GWH 1/72 Wolfpack F14A. Maybe I will make the jump if I continue to read this build post…..

Seems that there is a lack of 1/24 plastic kits of Mercedes-Benz cars other than a few AMGs. I want a W203 but couldn’t find any from the usual Fujimi. Has anyone come across such kit?

Weapon bay finally completed. Now to move on to the cockpit.