Mach 2's General Dynamics RB-57F 1/72 - Better Pictures

[hsr]

This kit took way to long to complete, and for me that is a real mojo killer and causes a bad case of get-it-done-itis which in this case caused the decals to suffer, more on that later. The problem was not that it was a Mach 2 kit, again more on that later, but its large size, a natural metal finish and a relatively large number of paint colors. A weeks vacation in the middle didn't help either. Since I retired I have averaged 2-3 weeks per project and this one took a little over 4 weeks. This is my 7th Mach 2 and as far as the plastic is concerned I would rank it as one of their better ones, far superior to my last build, their E-1B. The main issues were the soft plastic is not conducive to building a large heavy plane and lead to a couple split joints, but the main issue is that no feature on the right side lined up with the corresponding feature on the left side. This was especially bad and annoying when it came to the wing roots. I pretty much fixed that, but I will not show you a picture from directly above over graph paper. I used the Pavla interior, but knowing that the "transparency" would be only translucent at best I didn't spend a lot of time on it. I had a hard time getting enough weight in the nose and it just sits on the node wheel. The decals where a major issue. My previous experience with Mach 2 decals was that they were far better then the plastic and in some cases really excellent. Not this time. while thin they were very stiff, or rigid. They refused to snuggle down and were impervious to all decal solvents know to man. I mostly go them to look OK, but I had to give them a top coat which I don't usually like to do with a NMF. But enough whining and on to the pictures. 

Before you ask, the wings should drop enough the the wing tips are even with the bottom of the fuselage.

 

Next up is the Testors/Italeari F-21A Lion, aka ISI Kfir. 

[jeaton01]

Not a bad model at all  Nice work.  I have one to build, glad to hear it is better than some of the Mach 2 stuff.

[Corsairfoxfouruncle]

Great looking Canberra 👍 Id say it still looks good even with all you describe.

[qn30jEkPz7]

Seems like despite it putting up a fight you wrestled a good result out of it

[neil5208]

Shame about the transparency, an otherwise excellent piece of work

[Gorby]

It looks excellent to me, difficult to believe that you managed to get this end result from a Mach 2 kit!

 

[Eric Mc]

An excellent result.

 

I bought one of these at Telford in November. I've always been a bit wary of Mach 2 kits (for all the well known reasons) but took a risk because I want a NASA B-57 in my collection. You got a fantastic result. The canopy certainly seems to be the weakest link in the build. I think I might have a go at making an acetate crash moulded alternative if I ever get around to building it. It certainly looks impressive.

[hsr]

Thanks guys. In this thread 

 

it is mentioned that the Italieri canopy can be used. I just didn't want to buy an entire kit just for the canopy

[pdsvidioman]

Hi there is Falcon FNCV4372 set which gives the required canopy, plus lots more. Paul

[hsr]

Last night when I took the pictures it was dark in the house, being night, so the pictures came out dark. In my attempt to lighten them up I made them kind of grainy. So today when it was lighter I took new ones and didn't lighten them, so they came out much less grainy. Enjoy

[huvut76g7gbbui7]

Good to see one finished.

My NASA one is presently on the shelf of doom.

[Eric Mc]

That sounds ominous.

[glatisant]

Magnificent. Looks like a lot of hard work went into it. 

[huvut76g7gbbui7]

On 18/12/2017 at 10:06 PM, Eric Mc said:

That sounds ominous.

Filling,sanding,primer,more filling and sanding..repeat ad nauseam!

She's almost ready for the white paint and I promise to finish her in 2018 

[Eric Mc]

It will be interesting to see how it turns out.

[docjojo]

Mach 2 is always a huge challenge to build.
And here it's done with great success