Tim Moff Posted July 26, 2022 Share Posted July 26, 2022 I'm in with this kit from my stash...gotta love invasion stripes! Based outa my home village of Lakenheath. May need some bits like a AN/AAQ-33 Sniper Pod and an AAQ-13 LANTIRN pod as I may have robbed those in the kit for my last build...need to check! The airframe was 1 of 3 that was painted in a heritage scheme in 2019 to honour the wings involvement in the D-Day operation at the75 years commemoration. 97-0219 was built to reflect a P-47 Thunderbolt, 'Nelli B'.... https://www.lakenheath.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1744647/liberty-wing-unveils-heritage-jet/ Looks like it carried some CATM units for AIM-9M and AIM-120C so will probably create something along those lines as well... I got the decals via a swap, the C model had been used and I have the Red paint in the collection so decision made... Ive a couple of other things on the go and really want to get my Merlin off the bench, but want to get going early on this...if I find some ref pics showing it a little more worn paint job wise I will try to reflect that, but likely kept nice and shiny...best go look at the box and see what's missing! 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted July 26, 2022 Share Posted July 26, 2022 Welcome aboard with a colorful version. I do like the commemorative schemes. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trickyrich Posted July 27, 2022 Share Posted July 27, 2022 Oooo very nice scheme!!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Moff Posted August 7, 2022 Author Share Posted August 7, 2022 Started on some bits, looking back at my 2017. C build this kit has some challenges so thought I’d go for a quick win ….invasion stripes Have primed some other parts …anyone know how much weight in grammes I’d need in the nose for the gear ? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Moff Posted August 11, 2022 Author Share Posted August 11, 2022 Have come down with Covid so excommunicated to the conservatory - meaning in between bits of work I have got some building done... Started on the intakes and pylons - some injection in marks to sort before I primed... got the red on the tail fins...then masked up Working on the office interestingly some ref pics show gun area fully red, others just outer metal area? Something I need to sort... Getting there on the main body...just need to decide wether to do the metal areas before the wings/CFTs etc...net bit is the butt join of the main body and nose - once I have built it! Need to put some weight into the nose, may just use some old nuts/bolts... 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Moff Posted August 16, 2022 Author Share Posted August 16, 2022 Bit more work... masking the gun area will be a challenge! starting to look at some of the tanks etc... Exhausts started with iron/burnt metal... Now I have started building wheels down...enough weight in the nose?? some interesting weathering - so I may model towards the end of the airframe wearing the scheme... Also need to change the intake ramps to the FS36118 Gunship Gray... 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted August 16, 2022 Share Posted August 16, 2022 (edited) Looking great, not sure on the nose weight myself. However Im of the school of thought “add more than you think necessary” as I’ve had a few builds go wheelie on me and then I lose interest once that happens. Edited August 16, 2022 by Corsairfoxfouruncle 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Moff Posted September 19, 2022 Author Share Posted September 19, 2022 Busy at work plus the first family holiday for 3 years means I have been away from the bench a bit - some catching up to do as this is no shake and bake! CFTs on - fit not great so some filling to be done. Hopefully the wings go on next and nearing the end of the build phase - that said test fit shows a some gaps to be filled! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zack Posted September 20, 2022 Share Posted September 20, 2022 I will follow with great interest. The color full sceme is very attractive. Looking forward to your next update Mr. Tim! Stay safe, stay sane and Happy Modelling Zack 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wings unlevel Posted September 20, 2022 Share Posted September 20, 2022 23 hours ago, Tim Moff said: CFTs on - fit not great so some filling to be done. Geez they’re not quite as conformal as they should be! Your build is looking great though, everything looks like it’s all about to come together. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Moff Posted October 2, 2022 Author Share Posted October 2, 2022 Managed to push on just been bad at updating here …. Some real build challenges and I’ve ploughed on and left some seams and filling and sanding is not my strong point ….. with time pressing on I had to make some compromises - maybe next time I buy a GWH or Tamiya kit Build ongoing, stripes on and masked … Started work on some of the odds and ends Some references for the pod Matching the olive drab for the anti glare area Decided to do the metal first then mask Then time to prime 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Moff Posted October 2, 2022 Author Share Posted October 2, 2022 pressing on close up of the check nose getting it all lined up and I thought it best to paint the area below the decal light grey in case the white decal struggles against the Gunship Grey Bit of marbling to give some tonal variation Thought I’d paint on the drill round blue stripes Cut out a photo copy of the checker board to line all up Started the main Gunship Grey 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Moff Posted October 2, 2022 Author Share Posted October 2, 2022 Light grey area sprayed in to aid the decal More paint Maybe a bit of weathering?! Painting done - just some corrections and touch ups! 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Moff Posted October 2, 2022 Author Share Posted October 2, 2022 Getting some momentum so started the decals for the tail fins Onwards Reminds me - need to clear the bench now I’m getting close to the gloss cote and decals - need to get the nav lights painted then gloss …. Can see the last l couple of laps ahead … meanwhile I’ve gripped my Merlin and got some decals on! My F-5E is till in the build stage and needs some care … 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Moff Posted October 3, 2022 Author Share Posted October 3, 2022 Masked off the lights area and sprayed Happy enough Canopy done … w some advice - how do you mask off the hub part of the wheel assembly - I want to spray the tyres but I’m struggling to mask ? I did try to hand paint but failed dismally - top tips appreciated! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted October 3, 2022 Share Posted October 3, 2022 1 hour ago, Tim Moff said: Masked off the lights area and sprayed Happy enough Canopy done … w some advice - how do you mask off the hub part of the wheel assembly - I want to spray the tyres but I’m struggling to mask ? I did try to hand paint but failed dismally - top tips appreciated! Are you using a dedicated masking set or tape ? Dedicated ones usually have wheel masks. With tape I look for a pen/pencil/tube the same diameter and use it to cut a circle. If not some people use a circle drawing template to make round masks. I haven't found one yet so I use my method. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Moff Posted October 4, 2022 Author Share Posted October 4, 2022 10 hours ago, Corsairfoxfouruncle said: Are you using a dedicated masking set or tape ? Dedicated ones usually have wheel masks. With tape I look for a pen/pencil/tube the same diameter and use it to cut a circle. If not some people use a circle drawing template to make round masks. I haven't found one yet so I use my method. just tape at the moment - not sure if there’s a masking set available - will check. Great idea - will need to check and see if something has the same circumference… 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zack Posted October 4, 2022 Share Posted October 4, 2022 Hi Tim, Circle cutter or circle template. Tape or card, i have seen peope using post-it notes. If it sticks you can either spray through or mask of the center and spray around. With card you are spraying through. Not sure what the width of the masking tape you are using is. But reglar DIY will do, just make sure you "untack it". HTH Zack BTW, my +20 year old Academy F-15 is oficially back from the SOD. THX 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Moff Posted October 4, 2022 Author Share Posted October 4, 2022 6 hours ago, Zack said: Hi Tim, Circle cutter or circle template. Tape or card, i have seen peope using post-it notes. If it sticks you can either spray through or mask of the center and spray around. With card you are spraying through. Not sure what the width of the masking tape you are using is. But reglar DIY will do, just make sure you "untack it". HTH Zack BTW, my +20 year old Academy F-15 is oficially back from the SOD. THX Thanks @Zack and @Corsairfoxfouruncle for the advice - I am getting a circle template from Hobby Craft hopefully either spray through or trace and cut out... @Zack good luck with your build hope you fill the gaps and joins better than me!! https://www.hobbycraft.co.uk/helix-circle-template/5669361000.html 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Moff Posted October 4, 2022 Author Share Posted October 4, 2022 Glossed the airframe ready for decals shiny some initial main decals on 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted October 4, 2022 Share Posted October 4, 2022 Thats looking good with the decals started. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Moff Posted October 5, 2022 Author Share Posted October 5, 2022 More on need to get on top of the pylons/wheels/weapons etc .. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dansk Posted October 5, 2022 Share Posted October 5, 2022 looking good tim! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted October 6, 2022 Share Posted October 6, 2022 One of the things I least like about modern jets. All the stencils take forever, and yes Im pointing at you Japan. What with the F-15, F-4EJ, and F-2. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Moff Posted October 15, 2022 Author Share Posted October 15, 2022 (edited) Pushing on chopped up some bits for the TACTS pod I seem to be missing a pilot - only one in my little container for small parts … subtle colour change on the port missile rails which are painted Mod Eagle Gray on this reference -you can see the Gunship grey on the Stbd side to contrast …likely a swap over from the 493rd FS C models that were at Lakenheath at the time - sadly now departed Last bits to do, undercarriage, antennas and the inert missiles. Will likely get the gloss cote on to seal the decals in first, put some Tamiya panel line accent in and look at some weathering to depict the aircraft at the end of its time in the scheme. Edited October 15, 2022 by Tim Moff 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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