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F-16F Desert Falcon - Block 60 Viper in 1/32! *Finished!*


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Hi all,

 

If anyone remembers this from 2014, I'm doing another one!

DSCF5584.JPG

 

This time it's a commission build. I'll be using the same kit (Academy Sufa) and the IsraCast Block 60 F conversion for a UAE Air Force bird.

 

Work starts soon, and I'm going to get back to my usual building pace.

 

Al

 

 

Edited by Alan P
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3 hours ago, speedy said:

Where did you get that kit from, they're like rocking horse dodo

 

steve.

Luckily my client had one in his stash, complete with Big Ed set!

 

I got the conversion set from Aviation Megastore in Holland.

 

Al

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  • 2 weeks later...

I've been working on this for a while, I just haven't got round to posting photos. So here goes:

 

Got cracking in the cockpit with the Big Ed set. 

Seats:

7d0fa766-aae0-4b69-9303-adf612b161e7.jpg

All the detail wiped out to make way for the pre-painted etch consoles:

1e18af6e-2cea-4a90-8128-d88f870952e4.jpg

Footrests and PE pedals:

f7fd80b9-3512-49a3-85f0-4575aa792e28.jpg

Vent details on the back walls:

bd89e8a3-f96e-4fb6-b6c9-ecc09068390a.jpg

Backseater's pedals:

36e1837c-cd0d-46ad-b94f-8f11b57c7d6b.jpg

I've used about a bazillion Eduard sets in my time, but this one's a doozy.

37158f0e-dfe9-4dda-b185-1f6e1bb42e64.jpg

2fb5304c-eb45-4965-ac5c-e78d197f3a9c.jpg

So far, so good!

 

Alan

 

 

Edited by Alan P
Photobucket is the devil
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Moving outside now:

 

You can see the difference between the Sufa spine and the Block 60 F:

178ecd12-535f-42e0-be71-d4641fc79331.jpg

The IsraCast piece is nice! The kit parapack/RWR/ECM stinger is a perfect fit.

At the front end, you need to donate some of the kit spine:

431d0994-263f-4302-9834-72ed0abae128.jpg

I decided to fit it first so that I don't get any issues with the cockpit/canopy mount.

Once dry-fitted, there are some gaps but nothing serious. I'll probably use white Milliput for a smooth join.

c750acb6-69a4-45d3-80de-37f1b1ade238.jpg

 

Cockpit ready for some primer...

74628696-49f3-496c-9d63-3aef7778ae24.jpg

ebff2ceb-7507-463f-b7ac-3a864bdabbdd.jpg

I'm using this stuff:

fc984e36-2fec-4dd1-a4ab-12317fe8e852.jpg

Before I do, I fitted the PE cockpit seals.

834936fd-df35-4feb-8521-d130e4d4aaaa.jpg

598e7c3b-9b5a-424c-be16-bec313aadeed.jpg

Perfect fit. Well done Eduard!

 

Alan

Edited by Alan P
Photobucket is the devil
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Moving on to the wheelwells:

My customer had the Aires wheelwell set, which came attached to humongous pouring stubs. They were a bit of a job to tidy up, but once done, you can see they are QUALITY items.

92971156-6b31-4d58-9f43-722450ee59ec.jpg

First the kit forward wheelwell needs to be removed:

4e8126fc-6760-40ee-a5b6-ce4974c8d6c1.jpg

One attack with clippers and Dremel later:

42eea9da-1aec-4828-9030-df853377e2aa.jpg

Sorted!

Next was the intake trunking - Academy provides the entire intake trunk (Revell! Are you watching?!)

949747b0-2317-4d1f-98f2-ee9260ba842d.jpg

It's built from top and bottom halves, so there is an obvious seam down both sides. Stand by for a trade secret, to be revealed in a minute...

I test fitted the wheelwell once the pouring stub had been removed by crane and dumper truck. It is a drop fit. Nice work, Aires.

e66a3cc4-d393-4693-ae53-3d7b49fbdab2.jpg

 

Okay, how about that intake?

e28be8bb-046e-43e7-b9d1-fc682a4318b8.jpg

As you can see, the seam goes all the way through on both sides.

The fix!

Stand the whole pipe vertically in a plastic lid, seal edges with Blu-tac.

51831d73-ac85-4532-a290-7fc683834adb.jpg

cd39b4fa-0f1c-46e9-be1e-6d7ab1bd53ca.jpg

Get some household emulsion - satin white works best.

b08f4a30-0f2e-458b-ab98-e1f0205def03.jpg

Remember to plug up any holes on the part, then fill her up with emulsion and leave for a while.

40d829bf-0ce5-4f8d-a06a-b303e6b8cf9f.jpg

When you're ready, pop it off the base and let the paint pour through back into the pot. Results will be shown when it's all dried!

 

Really glad to be cracking on with this, got my pace back up!

 

Alan

Edited by Alan P
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On 28/06/2017 at 10:27 PM, Intruder503 said:

Al,

How long did you let the paint sit before draining?

 

Chris

It wasn't long, perhaps half an hour, but it takes another two hours to dry and you need to move it around to stop it from pooling at the end.

 

Al

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Okay, links for this build have been updated but about 90% of my entire site history has been obliterated, along with most of Britmodeller's pictures from before about 2012!

 

Made a start on the wheelwells. I used Ultimate weathering wash which was a bit too heavy.

042fff2f-1ced-4b0f-b60c-0f270ab0ceb7.jpg

Once I'd cleaned it all up and added the wiring from enamelled copper wire, it looks much better!

f866944b-178f-4c75-8b84-13861e123f01.jpg

1e9851bb-7531-4ccc-87c2-da3261a95f36.jpg

I'll add the decals at a later stage of the build.

 

Alan

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The next step was adding the intake. I remember from the first one of these I made, this was the hardest part.

 

One of the minor deficiencies of the Academy kit is the depth of the splitter between the fuselage and the intake lip - it's too narrow:

7136d052-29f1-4b36-9c84-743ad881f8e5.jpg

I traced a template from paper card and transposed it to a piece of 1mm plastic card:

f32b841d-7173-4986-bb6b-523a9dbeec67.jpg

This makes extra thickness on the splitter:

f37a5a00-4141-46d4-b246-8066129bcda5.jpg

This went on the fuselage ready for putting it all together:

8400e0f9-9bce-485c-84f6-e72e67929004.jpg

I attached the splitter panel to the top of the intake trunk and then attached the whole lot to the aircraft.

2f21d4ce-bdd3-4c50-9ec2-c9c08cbc7e3f.jpg

848fb1eb-36a3-40b7-bb06-01fa64e0e5d1.jpg

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This looks a lot better now. The join needed sanding so that the plastic card and kit part all lined up nicely.

 

The two sides of the intake need to be sanded at the forward ends to accommodate the extra height. (Unfortunately I didn't take photos! sorry!)

Once assembled there are some gaps, which I filled with superglue and accelerator, then topped over with Mr White Putty.

c8ba0b96-61ac-4548-95ca-12d6465ae073.jpg

One other building point - the forward Aires wheelwell is a complete pig to fit. I had to sand it right down and gouge out a "bed" for it in the underside of the intake. This was nerve-wracking due to fear of cutting too deep and puncturing the intake trunk. Luckily I avoided this! I lined up the two intake halves carefully and marked off the space for the wheelwell before I superglued it to the intake trunk. The two halves then fitted neatly.

Overall state of play is pretty good. This is progressing much faster than I expected.

29fd6e24-925c-47ef-a0db-6df6cb9f5ff9.jpg

Next - prettifying the cockpit!

 

Al

Edited by Alan P
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Getting more work done in the cockpit.

Instrument panels:

eb1c9659-baf6-4051-a0cd-6fef5bcf057b.jpg

b31ec1d9-9606-4a4e-91a3-d38141435195.jpg

8af4bcb9-bea6-4a6a-83df-6b8d517d75ed.jpg

All the detail is from the Eduard Big Ed interior set.

 

Ejector seats finished:

2269c769-7277-4348-8ed0-4135467688e0.jpg

ad4d2890-d722-42a0-aa79-1c9dd7b7d94a.jpg

Again using the Eduard seat belt set.

 

Lastly I finished the engine face:

617195a1-be79-4562-870d-4b6f48698e3c.jpg

A great result using AK Extreme Metal paint for the first time. I think I may have found my new go-to metaliser paint.

 

Alan

Edited by Alan P
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4 hours ago, adamg1987 said:

Amazing modelling technique, I'll try to remember the tip for the intake. Brilliant!

Thanks Adam. I always try to pass on some good tips and tricks when I do a WIP thread. 

 

Shame Photobucket spoiled my past attempts 😠

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Here are some shots of the finished cockpit:

c14fa489-2d3c-4c72-84b7-5e85fe187ed4.jpg

e414a6a5-0b92-483f-ad03-23c6b6f367a7.jpg

401c481f-631f-4c79-970f-a990ac87671d.jpg

I glued the sidewall detail to the kit rather than fix them to the cockpit tub as per the instructions:

a413fb47-ba88-4b10-b0cb-95df526bbd96.jpg

28175dea-414a-4530-aed3-c5b5a81f8dee.jpg

All fits snugly now.

With that done, I can fit the fuselage together.

84348a8d-f94e-4663-9eee-35dfe0feb215.jpg

Surprisingly good fit as long as you manage the seams properly. Hardly any putty required here.

The spine is another story!

2a14cb4e-510d-4157-af1e-983c2bd829a8.jpg

Milliput (superfine white) is the filler here.

e2652df5-244d-4865-ba44-df6b19cc4057.jpg

But it all fits nicely now. Tomorrow I will complete the airframe assembly and putty up ready for primer!

 

Alan

 

 

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