Whirly Posted January 19 Share Posted January 19 Hello, I anticipated a lot this GB because there are so many wonderful subjects to build! My first will be the prototype which I plan to convert from the Heller F-84G kit. Now superseded by the Tamiya and Academy much better efforts, bust still enjoyable. Pictures to follow. Cheers Fabio 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reini Posted January 19 Share Posted January 19 How fitting that this is the first build thread in this section 🙂 Looking forwards to the pics and the building to commence at 27th 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hook Posted January 20 Share Posted January 20 Excellent choice! The Heller still builds up well and quickly. None of those fussy detailed cockpits, wheel wells et al! Cheers, Andre 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wez Posted January 20 Share Posted January 20 Looking forward to this one, I lack the courage to chop up the fuselage to get it the right length. Welcome to the GB. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LorenSharp Posted January 20 Share Posted January 20 An early Thunderstreak. a VERY early Thunderstreak This should be a treat! Welcome aboard Fabio! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whirly Posted February 5 Author Share Posted February 5 On 1/19/2024 at 8:43 PM, reini said: How fitting that this is the first build thread in this section 🙂 Looking forwards to the pics and the building to commence at 27th By pure chance I was browsing the site when this thread was brand new, it was too good an opportunity to miss! Now it's time for an update since it's already fallen in the third page... First a look at the basic kit. I found inside an Aeroclub nose gear, will decide later about its use. I have also an Hobbyboss kit which may benefit from it. I took inspiration from these previous builds which are quite complete: http://www.ratomodeling.com.br/finished/new_breed/ http://hsfeatures.com/features04/xp84bd_1.htm The conversion is not that complex, but there are many changes to implement, so this is a list: - remove 1 scale ft from the cockpit and shorten the cockpit tub too - shorten the canopy of same amount and remove all the framing - remove tip tanks and build up wingtips - remove the auxiliary intakes below the cockpit - engrave movable trim tabs for the ailerons and rudder, remove the fixed tabs - add a long pitot tube to the left wing leading edge - the thin strake under the tail is much longer - the main wheel-wells have a different shap around the u/c leg (and so the u/c doors) - the tail exhaust is slightly longer and with a bigger diameter The last three I didn't see addressed in the previous conversions and it is interesting to note that most of them are not specific to the prototype but valid for all Thunderjets up to the F-84D included. This could be a job for Sword! First let's see the wings. I choose to make a quick resin copy of the Tamiya wheelwells to embellish a bit the Heller wings which are totally void. The result is a bit agricultural but not so bad. Wingtips nearly complete, tabs inscribed, wing cannon plugged and wheelwell shape corrected. See as I initially enlarged the hole for the leg attachment point and now I found it in the wrong place after changing the shape. With hindsight, I should have moved the attachment point instead of adapting the resin piece. Work is also underway on the fuselage: auxiliary inlets are gone and the early airbrake is installed (fit was not great...) while nothing has been installed inside. I preferred to make one single cut to avoid banana shapes and will add the cockpit and intake lining afterwards. You'll see I'm removing all surface detail and I don't plan to rescribe it: I choose the Heller kit for this project just because there's is so much work to do on the airframe which would ruin all the delicate engraved details on the more modern kits and the prototype is also very smooth in its grey overall livery. Thanks for looking! 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whirly Posted February 8 Author Share Posted February 8 (edited) Alea iacta est! (the die is cast) I also replaced the exhaust with something more fitting shapewise (an old pen section) and I cut a groove for the long ventral strake. Thanks for looking! Edited February 8 by Whirly 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wez Posted February 8 Share Posted February 8 Gulp! Well done, brave man. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LorenSharp Posted February 8 Share Posted February 8 A nice beginning Whirly.Nothing like a little surgery at the beginning to get the creative juices flowing. Looking Good! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Klaasdebouwer Posted February 13 Share Posted February 13 Quite daring to open up the fuselage like that. Executed. I wonder how it will fit back together again. Good luck. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whirly Posted February 26 Author Share Posted February 26 Hello, sorry for the long hiatus: time was very limited in the last two weeks so i did only small progress on this build. I cut and added the longer strake from a piece of transparent acetate, because I needed something harder than plasticard to sustain the heavy sanding session which will follow generous applications of Mr.Surfacer. Hope to update soon with more progress. Thanks for looking! 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted March 2 Share Posted March 2 I’m still intrigued how this will work out. I want to build a D and this will give me inspiration. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whirly Posted March 10 Author Share Posted March 10 On 3/2/2024 at 9:38 AM, RidgeRunner said: I’m still intrigued how this will work out. I want to build a D and this will give me inspiration. With a bit of work it's not so difficult: the shortened cockpit needs stepped side consoles which are peculiar to the early marks. A bit of weight is needed in the nose before joining again the two sections. And that's it! I took care to cut the fuselage near to the widest point of the cockpit, so that after removing a few mm. the parts would meet again. Thanks for looking! 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whirly Posted March 12 Author Share Posted March 12 Hello, we are nearing the painting stage: airframe is complete, just needing a primer coat to check for minor defects and then on to the canopy. Thanks for looking! 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LorenSharp Posted March 12 Share Posted March 12 This is coming along rather nicely. Great work so far. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whirly Posted April 12 Author Share Posted April 12 (edited) On 3/12/2024 at 2:59 PM, LorenSharp said: This is coming along rather nicely. Great work so far. Thanks Loren, hope to make it behind the deadline. Sorry for the long hiatus, I had a very hard time with family and daily job in the last few weeks, on top of that a club show display required to put many more unplanned models quickly on the assembly line! I'm trying to catch up with this to clear my space on the desk. First I dressed up the basic kit provided seat. Then it was time to shorten the canopy and remove all the frames. It was a complex job because you need to match the windscreen cross section with a lot of sanding and I was afraid the thickness of the plastic was not enough. In the end you can do it with a lot of care to avoid crushing the canopy between your finger while polishing. The primer coat revealed a lot of blemishes needing attention, I'm still struggling with them but I'm optimistic. Thanks for looking! Edited April 12 by Whirly couple of typos 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LorenSharp Posted April 12 Share Posted April 12 I know what you mean about life tripping you up occasionally. I'm n the same boat(airplane?) I'm trying to get myZELL build finished in time myself. YOurs is coming along Great! Keep it up! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whirly Posted April 15 Author Share Posted April 15 Thank you @LorenSharp for the kind words. I saw what you are doing with the ZELL build and it is an incredible endeavour, once completed should be really spectacular! Back to my build, I masked the cockpit in preparation for a black coat before the final grey. I nearly missed an important detail: all the various intakes and outlets related to the engine seem to be missing on the first prototype (at least so appear from the available images) so I quickly filled them with super glue and baking soda. And now ready for paint. Thanks for looking! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whirly Posted Saturday at 16:46 Author Share Posted Saturday at 16:46 And painted it is! There is no official reference for he 'Pearl Grey' used on the early USAAF jets, so I made a mix with mostly white and about 1/5th of RLM63. Already drying since yesterday, so should be ready for decaling soon. Thanks for looking! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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