Speedman Posted October 19, 2013 Author Share Posted October 19, 2013 You may also want to enlarge the aperture on the exhaust - it's the most toy-like thing on the model. Maybe also blank it off inside. As hythe said, it is the worst part of the kit, totally inaccurate and I really don't know what Matchbox were thinking when they designed it. So I opened up the exhaust aperture and stared hunting around for something to make the exhaust from. As luck would have it, I found the Academy rocket launcher I used parts from to improve the rocket pods on this kit fitted perfectly. I capped one end with some plasticard and carefully thinned the edge of the other with a scalpel and some wet & dry, with that done I just had to work out how to mount and leave a tiny gap around it. I tried bits of card in various places to stand it off from the fuselage but it was always a little lopsided. In the end I just wrapped it in 3mm masking tape and kept unwinding it until it sat exactly where I needed it then glued it in place. I added a few bits of scrap card at the capped end to strengthen it and gave it a lick of Revell acrylic Anthracite. With that done I fitted the cockpit and glued the fuselage together. I applied some green putty and once that was sanded a layer of Mr.Surfacer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted October 19, 2013 Share Posted October 19, 2013 Interesting method for mounting the exhaust and that certainly looks much better than the kit parts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hythe Posted October 19, 2013 Share Posted October 19, 2013 This is all looking very very good, I'm impressed! Exhaust looks much better, did you manage to obtain any measurements or just using the Mk1 eyeball? Cockpit looks very nice indeed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kev67 Posted October 19, 2013 Share Posted October 19, 2013 Just a note on Milliput, to stop it sticking to the surface if you are rolling it out etc, just use tulcum powder on the surface you are using Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speedman Posted October 19, 2013 Author Share Posted October 19, 2013 Exhaust looks much better, did you manage to obtain any measurements or just using the Mk1 eyeball? I've been working from scale plans, I print several on one sheet so I can cut parts out as guides for scribing etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hythe Posted October 19, 2013 Share Posted October 19, 2013 Excellent? Where did you obtain scale plans, may I ask (since I have LOTS of these beauties still to build) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speedman Posted October 20, 2013 Author Share Posted October 20, 2013 Excellent? Where did you obtain scale plans, may I ask (since I have LOTS of these beauties still to build) I've spent about an hour trying to find the website I found them on tonight (technically it's last night now, but you get the idea) but I've not come across it again. I originally found it whilst looking for something else and it's one of the few plans I've found that had both early and late versions of the "G". I'll keep having a dig around the net to see if I can stumble across it again. I've made and fitted the clear nose with the twin landing lights tonight. It's just a lump of clear sprue filed down, the lights were made by drilling into the block and painting the holes silver and using a black Sharpe to blacken the back of the clear part and the blunt tip of the nose. Using a Sharpe to do this gives a much stronger bond when using CA than if you use paint. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Natter Posted October 20, 2013 Share Posted October 20, 2013 Great idea for the clear nose and the lights. That's one to file away for future use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted October 20, 2013 Share Posted October 20, 2013 Smart work on the nose lights. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speedman Posted October 21, 2013 Author Share Posted October 21, 2013 It's been a busy day! The tail is on, as are the stub wings, tailplanes and the top fairing. All have had some Mr.Surfacer and a good sanding, now I just have to go over a few of the panel lines again and I can start adding some detail parts. I added a small section of card under the rear of the tail boom and blended it in as it narrows too much at the join to the tail assembly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Natter Posted October 21, 2013 Share Posted October 21, 2013 Tamiya build standard on a matchbox kit, who'da thought it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smiffy Posted October 21, 2013 Share Posted October 21, 2013 Coming along really well. I love the additions to the cockpit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speedman Posted October 29, 2013 Author Share Posted October 29, 2013 (edited) Now that I've finished my Jug I can crack on with this build again. I've fitted the skids at last and added some card for the tail boom access panel and AC filter intake, I've also scribed and then chiselled out the fresh air intake above the canopy. Edited March 31, 2016 by Speedman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmaker Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 Nice work on a Matchbox kit! Cant wait for more! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speedman Posted November 2, 2013 Author Share Posted November 2, 2013 I couldn't live with the gun pods so they've had to have some surgery. I've drilled part way through to give the impression of the two vent holes on either side, if I had gone all the way through it would have been possible to see right through the pod and would have looked awful. The pylon was chopped off and some card added either side to bulk it out to the correct dimensions then I filed down the bottom so there are now two attachment points to the pod. After scribing the pod I reattached the pylon and fitted some new locating pins. I've also added a couple of bits to the airframe like the crew steps and the oil tank vent behind the anti collision light, I've masked the canopy and whittled out parts of the rotor hub so it looks a bit more realistic. Fingers crossed I should be spraying some primer on it tomorrow. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted November 2, 2013 Share Posted November 2, 2013 It's small detail parts such as this that lift models to a higher level. Always worth the effort. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speedman Posted November 3, 2013 Author Share Posted November 3, 2013 Sprayed the primer today and I've popped the spare canopy back on until I'm ready to paint the upper fuselage. Next will be some Halfords appliance white on the undersides. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted November 3, 2013 Share Posted November 3, 2013 it occured to me looking at this one and Neil's two earlier today that a coat of primer changes the model. It suddenly goes from having an identifiable heritage due to the colour of the base kit plastic and showing all the additions/corrections/modifications made to then become a scale replica of the real machine. Sorry, enough of my ramblings, nice work Speedman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woody37 Posted November 3, 2013 Share Posted November 3, 2013 It's looking rather tasty now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Heath Posted November 4, 2013 Share Posted November 4, 2013 Those panel lines look superb, very neat work on such a tricky job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luis Alfonso Posted November 7, 2013 Share Posted November 7, 2013 Hi Friend: I am really think in being missing for great things here since some time ago....I really am very impressed about your nice work with this one. I recently have won one of these nice little gems in Ebay too and also, I have have one Hobby Craft copy new and another one with missing pieces so, I will use your ideas and work as a basis for mine. Thank you very much for sharing. Cheers, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speedman Posted November 9, 2013 Author Share Posted November 9, 2013 I sprayed the pre-shading today. After a quick coat of white on the undersides I went over this with grey on the panel lines, I used black over the primer everywhere else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdrianMF Posted November 11, 2013 Share Posted November 11, 2013 I didn't appreciate just how good this is until I saw it in the primer. Looking good! Regards, Adrian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbit Leader Posted November 11, 2013 Share Posted November 11, 2013 I didn't appreciate just how good this is until I saw it in the primer. Looking good! Regards, Adrian Too true - How often does the primer show up all those serious faults.. This build has completely smashed that myth.. Looking forward to the completed product.. Cheers.. Dave. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speedman Posted December 4, 2013 Author Share Posted December 4, 2013 It's been a while since I posted an updated, but now I've caught up on a few of the other builds for this group I can get back to this one. A few weeks ago I sprayed the white undersides and today I masked it up and put down a few coats of tan. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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