neil5208 Posted April 7, 2019 Share Posted April 7, 2019 (edited) So for a change from the WW2 subjects I have been working on so far this year I have started the Italeri SR-71 Blackbird in 1/72. IMGA0767 by neil Connor, on Flickr Its a 2011 rebox originally released in1985 so has fine raised panel lines, I haven't decided if I am going to re-scribe it as yet. It will be built in flight for 3 reasons, first it won't fit in my display case on its wheels and needs to be at 30 degree angle, secondly the wheel well detail is minimum and I don't want to buy the etch set as I only paid £10 for the kit and thirdly the Harrier GR3 I did in flight turned out pretty well so I thought I do it again Started on cockpit and undercarriage doors, will order a couple of pilots as the kit doesn't have any. IMGA0768 by neil Connor, on Flickr IMGA0769 by neil Connor, on Flickr IMGA0770 by neil Connor, on Flickr The front undercarriage doors needed some sanding to be flush but otherwise fitted well. IMGA0771 by neil Connor, on Flickr And a quick comparison with the Zero I still working on. Edited May 9, 2019 by neil5208 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikolay Polyakov Posted April 7, 2019 Share Posted April 7, 2019 Nice start with the Blackbird, Neil! 👍 I built an Academy one back in 1990s, but I’m waiting for some future (I hope) releases with using all the modern technology of today. Keep up the good work! Cheers! 😎 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beggsy Posted April 7, 2019 Share Posted April 7, 2019 Looks good! Nice work sanding back the doors without losing the details on them. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billn53 Posted April 7, 2019 Share Posted April 7, 2019 Always love a Blackbird ever since I saw one do a flyby at Travis AFB back in the '80s. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hairystick Posted April 8, 2019 Share Posted April 8, 2019 Good to see another 'Bird underway. I made the same kit a year or two back and will recommend being careful around the join between the front and rear sections of fuselage. I'll follow your build with interest! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil5208 Posted April 8, 2019 Author Share Posted April 8, 2019 Did you build as the instructions? I was thinking of joining the upper and lower fuselage parts first and re enforcing before joining the upper to lower. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomjw Posted April 8, 2019 Share Posted April 8, 2019 An excellemt start. I'll look forward to following this. Cheers, Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkSH Posted April 8, 2019 Share Posted April 8, 2019 Good to see someone else doing the Italeri kit, mine is currently undergoing rescribing and riveting (a very long and boring process!) in the Specialists GB and like you I'm doing it wheels up. Good start. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Parvis Posted April 8, 2019 Share Posted April 8, 2019 I'm not sure if you have a source for pilots in mind, but, I came across this the other day so thought I'd point it out. I've no association with the maker and while I did order some stuff the other day I haven't received it yet so I can't comment, at this point, on how the prints look in real life. Matt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil5208 Posted April 8, 2019 Author Share Posted April 8, 2019 19 minutes ago, Matt Parvis said: I'm not sure if you have a source for pilots in mind, but, I came across this the other day so thought I'd point it out. I've no association with the maker and while I did order some stuff the other day I haven't received it yet so I can't comment, at this point, on how the prints look in real life. Matt Thanks Matt, just ordered some high altitude pilots by PJ Productions this morning but thanks all the same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hairystick Posted April 9, 2019 Share Posted April 9, 2019 On 4/8/2019 at 2:09 AM, neil5208 said: Did you build as the instructions? I was thinking of joining the upper and lower fuselage parts first and re enforcing before joining the upper to lower. I joined the two top sections together into a single piece (likewise the lowers) before joining. Care is still most certainly needed. Joining the two halves requires care also, as the join along the chines likes to open up if given 1/2 a chance. Pull them together and position well prior to adding the Tamiya extra thin! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CedB Posted April 9, 2019 Share Posted April 9, 2019 I'll follow along if I may Neil I'd just got mine out of the stash to fondle the parts, considering it for the Specialist GB. Or maybe the Lockheed GB starting soon. But if you're doing this and Mark's doing one in the GB I'll watch and learn… I couldn't find any PJ pilots except the French ones. Is that the ones you've gone for? I guess, as you're building the two-seat version, you won't be including the drone? I'm in two minds as that scheme seems to require some silver… we all want BLACKbirds! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil5208 Posted April 9, 2019 Author Share Posted April 9, 2019 2 hours ago, CedB said: I couldn't find any PJ pilots except the French ones. Is that the ones you've gone for? I guess, as you're building the two-seat version, you won't be including the drone? I'm in two minds as that scheme seems to require some silver… we all want BLACKbirds! Correct, I think once painted orange they'll be convincing enough through the small canopy. If you wanted a silver Blackbird, they came off the production line without most of the radar absorption paint. There's a picture with 10 blackbirds lined up online. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CedB Posted April 9, 2019 Share Posted April 9, 2019 Thanks Neil 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil5208 Posted April 13, 2019 Author Share Posted April 13, 2019 Small update. While waiting for my aircrew to arrive I made a plastic block from laminating plastic card, filed a square hole and filed the acrylic rod to fit, this will be mounted internal before the fuselage halves are joined. IMGA0773 by neil Connor, on Flickr IMGA0772 by neil Connor, on Flickr It will be fitted behind the undercarriage bays as this is the stiffest part. The PJ Production pilots are excellent and will need careful painting IMGA0776 by neil Connor, on Flickr I have also started to rescribe the raised panellines just to make my life more difficult. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil5208 Posted April 16, 2019 Author Share Posted April 16, 2019 The PJ Production pilots have been paint, just a few spots to touch up and they will be ready to go into the cockpit dub. IMGA0777 by neil Connor, on Flickr I have also re-scribed the front upper and lower fuselage section already and will move onto the main sections later. While looking for picture of aircraft showing the weathering I can across this picture of an A12 Oxcart, (first prototype on first test flight at Groom Lake) which I didn't realise was the single seat predecessor of the SR71. If any wanted to do a full on natural metal finish then this would be one to do. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maxwellphillips Posted April 17, 2019 Share Posted April 17, 2019 I did a project at school on the Blackbird. There was the A12, which was CIA, not air force, and they also had a YF12, which was supposed to be a fighter version. I think they only made 1 or 2, but it had little cut aways on the nose and looked the dogs danglies. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratch Posted April 17, 2019 Share Posted April 17, 2019 Following with interest, are you re-scribing because the panel lines are raised? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil5208 Posted April 17, 2019 Author Share Posted April 17, 2019 18 minutes ago, Ratch said: Following with interest, are you re-scribing because the panel lines are raised? Yes I am, I want to do it as a quite weathered aircraft with streaks running down but couldn't do easily with raised panel lines. Its turning out to be easier than I thought as its all straight lines on a pretty flat surface less engine nacelles. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratch Posted April 17, 2019 Share Posted April 17, 2019 I have the Academy kit - when I get round to it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billn53 Posted April 17, 2019 Share Posted April 17, 2019 4 hours ago, neil5208 said: Yes I am, I want to do it as a quite weathered aircraft with streaks running down but couldn't do easily with raised panel lines. Its turning out to be easier than I thought as its all straight lines on a pretty flat surface less engine nacelles. 3 hours ago, Ratch said: I have the Academy kit - when I get round to it. I built the Academy kit not too long ago and did the streaky weathering thing. Turned out nice. There’s a WIP and RFI posted if you are interested. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billn53 Posted April 18, 2019 Share Posted April 18, 2019 Here is my RFI: https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235030457-gentlemen-start-your-engines-academy-sr-71a-blackbird-172/ and the WIP: https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235027443-i-couldnt-resist-sr-71a-blackbird/ I hope you find these of some help. -Bill 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil5208 Posted April 18, 2019 Author Share Posted April 18, 2019 6 hours ago, billn53 said: I built the Academy kit not too long ago and did the streaky weathering thing. Turned out nice. There’s a WIP and RFI posted if you are interested. I tried finding the Academy kit after seeing your wip but had no luck and I wasn't prepared to pay the ridiculous amount for the Hasegawa kit so gave up. But I went into a local craft store for some no11 blades and they had this £10 rather than the usaul £30! I will attempt for a similiar effect that you did wether I can acheive it is another matter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil5208 Posted April 19, 2019 Author Share Posted April 19, 2019 A bit more scribing done but still 60% to go, pilots now in place and dry fitted cockpit and fuselage sections together. Some minor spots that will need work when finally assembled but otherwise looks good. Once the canopies are in place not much will be seen of the pilots but should look good, IMGA0780 by neil Connor, on Flickr IMGA0781 by neil Connor, on Flickr IMGA0778 by neil Connor, on Flickr IMGA0779 by neil Connor, on Flickr Just to remind everyone how big this is for 1/72 it on an A3 cutting mat. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkSH Posted April 19, 2019 Share Posted April 19, 2019 Yep! its a big model alright, good work on the rescribing it really is a pain in the proverbials. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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