Blitzenbayraktar TB2 (or not TB2 finished on time: not TB. Slings and arrows of outrageous photo-etch.) *****DNF*****

[Angus Tura]

Merry Christmas!

 

 

This is the Big Planes Kits (very small) model of the Turkish Bayraktar TB2 drone extensively used in Ukraine and earlier in Nagorno-Karabakh. I was going to do the much simpler Aztec Models TB2 but it arrived without decals, which still haven't shown up. Maybe it can be a later (shorter) BBGB later in the year.

 

Before hearing about @Enzo the Magnificent's latest extension till 27/12/23 I thought I'd need to try to Superhero this today. So, after and evening of prep I was good to go at midnight last night:

 

 

So, the halves of the fuselage, air-scoop above the fuselage, tail-booms and  wings have been cleaned up as have the halves of bits that will need a joint line dealt with. 

 

The bottom of this large NACA-style scoop,

 

 

and the bits of etch to go inside,

 

 

are a bit painful.

 

The rest of the assembly is easy-peasy but took me an hour longer than planned bedtime:

 

 

So, 3'10" down.

 

Sleep followed by reading Enzo's latest, followed by another sleep and breakfast.

 

 

After a concerning HbA1C in 2022, I have ditched marmalade toast, fresh orange and sugar for salad sandwich, polish sausage and atorvastatin: I might live long enough to clear the stash now: 253 years.

 

See you later.

 

Alan 

[Adrian Hills]

What a lovely breakfast. Maybe time for my 11s ! 

[Dave Swindell]

33 minutes ago, Angus Tura said:

I was going to do the much simpler Aztec Models TB2 but it arrived without decals, which still haven't shown up. Maybe it can be a later (shorter) BBGB later in the year.

There looks to be plenty of spare decals from this kit to help out with the Aztec one Alan?

[psdavidson]

Taking shape nicely, and that's a better breakfast than my half bowl of gruel

 

/P

[Angus Tura]

Hello. Un-inspired by the extension, if you know what I mean, I had a bit of a leisurely start,

 

 

before smoothing out and sanding down and bits of superglue and accelerator as filler. Then Mrs.T told me it was time to do some chores and not quite done with that:

 

 

So now 5'10" down.

 

I heart-searched a bit about the wing root joins. I previously spent a lot of time on an MQ-1 losing that join only to find out that it's a very obvious join on the real thing where it breaks down to transport. So, I've kept them. I haven't done the jon between the fuselage top and bottom at the nose, and I managed to bust-off and re-glue one of the booms...but Mrs.Tura is not always the easiest to gainsay...

 

See you later,

 

Alan

[Bertie McBoatface]

4 hours ago, Angus Tura said:

I haven't done the jon

you wouldn’t think a drone would need an on board jon 😁

[JOCKNEY]

Looks terrific Alan, you'll be in the Gallery in no time 

 

Cheers Pat 

[AdrianMF]

Looks good!

 

Regards,

Adrian

[Angus Tura]

Merry Christmas!

 

 

Breakfast unchanged except Mrs.Tura's excellent glazed ham. How she does this now that Future polish has dissappeared remains a mystery.

 

Yesterday update:

 

 

This is just all smoothing out smoothed out. So, ready for details and then paint. I was going to do a ukraini one but the more I think about a black prototype one-and-don't-have-to-worry-about-panel-lines(!) the more attractive a prospect that becomes.

 

Goodwill to all BlitzenBritModellers.

 

Manana

 

Angus

[Angus Tura]

Forgot: 6'23" down.

 

Alan

[Angus Tura]

One downside of multi-day blitz-building is that you keep seeing the same breakfast. 

 

 

Absolutely nothing done yesterday.

 

See you later,

 

Alan

 

[Angus Tura]

So so so. Ho ho ho

 

On 12/25/2023 at 11:31 AM, Angus Tura said:

I was going to do a ukraini one but the more I think about a black prototype one-and-don't-have-to-worry-about-panel-lines(!) the more attractive a prospect that becomes.

 

This seemed a better and better idea. I thought I'd check what colour the missiles would be on a black prototype and, according to BPK's instructions, there are no missiles. So, this is definitely the way to go: the thought of getting 32 etch fins square on the 4 rockets was giving me the screaming ab-dabs.

 

 

This is just to record a start time but you can see the flanges around the pylons at the innermost part of the wings.

 

 

Here it is minus-flanges.

 

Then bits that can't go on till after painting. I like to try to keep these on the sprues to make holding easier for painting.

 

 

And here they all are.

 

 

These are the propeller and sensor dome. Between these is a little part for the back of the fuselage. That fits very well. There's a bit of engine detail on it. Leaving it off has let me put a sprue-handle on the model to help me paint.

 

So now, before paint I need to get on the rest of the plastic and photoetch details, wash, metal primer on the etch parts and spray. 'Piece of cake!

 

See you later,

 

Alan

 

9'00"

[Angus Tura]

Ah me!

 

Yesterday was more than averagely frustrating. Many bits of family nonsense, especially taxi-ing. I also notice in the last several months that I can't get by on no sleep like I used to. I totted-up the time as I went along and I've plenty of time, but I'm afraid I've got things I really do have to do today.

 

Here's as far as I got:

 

 

This was 12.30am today. Getting the photo-etch details on was not good. There is very little help in terms of pins and hole, lugs &c. It's also terribly delicate. I'm hoping that several sprayed on coats of gloss black paint can act as a glue. Having given up too on the BBGB I can paint the details with enamels and not vallejo-style acrylics and that has got to be better.

 

There is an upside! I do like the kit, and there's another one in the box, and I've learnt a lot about the kit. So, in May Blitzbuild I think I'll have another go. I think there's quite a bit more prep one could do within the rules and I'd replace some but not all of the photoetch with plastic-card. But imminently do-able, I think.

 

So, see you in May and apologies.

 

Alan

[JeroenS]

Ah, too bad, but you got quite a ways. Tiny bits of PE don't help, that's for sure. Till next time!

[Jinxman]

Great attempt - sorry to hear about the family stuff, hope it all smooths out with a bit of time for reflection.

[psdavidson]

A shame, as you were getting there.

Looking forward to seeing this one complete and another attempt next year sounds good

 

/P

[Angus Tura]

17 minutes ago, Jinxman said:

Great attempt - sorry to hear about the family stuff, hope it all smooths out with a bit of time for reflection.

Thanks: I think I've given you the wrong impression! The family are all fine but however much they reflect they continue to think that talking, eating, telly watching and playing cards together is more important than blitzbuilding!

 

KRO

 

Alan