V - Sky-Fighter

[monkey_1971]

The weather is still rubbish here in Devon so I'm off with my next retro Sci-fi project, this time some classic 1980's TV.

 

The two V mini-series were a game-changer for TV Sci-Fi in the 80's, sadly it all went wrong a few episodes into the weekly show. I still watch the two mini-series every once in a while. It brings back memories of sitting cross-legged in my parents lounge watching space nazis/lizards try to take over the Planet, although I didn't get the not very well disguised Nazi references as a kid. No VCR in my house back then so the 1984 Olympics pretty much passed us by 😁

 

There are a few sellers on Etsy producing kits for the various Visitor ships used in the series. As far as I cen tell they are all based from the same set of 3D files but I've gone with kits from Cozmic Scale Models. They are larger than most at 1:32 scale. They currently produce the Sky-Fighter and Squad Ship and I bought both. There are files knocking around for the Troop Transports, Tanker and Mothership. Cozmics stuff seems to have had a bit of TLC applied and has alignment pins and enhancements that make it more of a production kit than the basic 3D prints. I've been impressed with the two kits they have supplied and I'm hoping they may see fit to expand the line if these sell in decent numbers.

 

Anyways, pic of the box and the major parts.

 

 

The vehicles were pretty simple with no lighting setup and the kit (at least the sky-fighter) doesn't have that many parts. It should be a doddle of a build...

The entry hatch stairs come in two parts and have to be glued together:

 

The front wing tips have been glued into place and some filler applied to sort out the pretty big gaps (I think this was me rather than the kit parts here).

 

The rear section has the option to display with the lasers deployed or not. I've glued the panel cover in place as even on the filming miniature those lasers looked a little rubbish!

 

Test fitting all the bits together it became obvious that the inside cabin would be visible when the stairs were deployed and there are bits of the exterior that will be awkward to paint when assembled so I shot the relevant bits with some primer.

 

That's all for now. Assembly should go quickly as there aren't very many parts and the only mod I may make will be to add some pipe work onto the landing gear struts that is missing from the filming miniature and sometimes there sometimes not on the full-size set mock-ups.

 

Edited February 26, 2024 by monkey_1971

[psdavidson]

Nice!

I remember having a huge (errr...) crush on Diana at the time

but then, I was a teenager......................

 

 

/P

[Thom216]

I too really liked that show. I can still hear the sound effects for the 'pew pew' and them swooshing through the air.

Good start and will be watching for more.

 

3 hours ago, psdavidson said:

Nice!

I remember having a huge (errr...) crush on Diana at the time

but then, I was a teenager......................

 

 

/P

That lizard-face part only impacted the attraction a little...

[monkey_1971]

This one is going to go quick!

 

Major assembly is complete. Some filling and clean-up work to be done around the seems then on to painting.

 

[Pete in Lincs]

I didn't know about these kits. I don't remember much of the series. Pretty much just 80's hair on pretty women who ate Hamsters good luck with the rest of the building 

[monkey_1971]

I've been a little tardy with the update posts but work on the sky-fighter continues. The forward lasers have been attached to the main body competing the major assembly. The primer coat is down and I've begun masking and painting of the secondary colours. I think it will be easier to paint all the windows black and mask them rather than try to mask off the very thin frames.

 

Elsewhere the landing gear has been primed and painted.

 

I'm thinking I may use the pieces of wire to reproduce these bits of pipework which aren't in the kit , were never shown on the miniatures but were put on for the full size set mock-up's

[monkey_1971]

More progress.

 

I finished off the landing gear with the addition of the off-cuts from some 20 gauge wire

 

I'm quite happy with how they turned out!

 

Painting of the secondary colours on the main body is complete. It's starting to look like a Sky-Fighter now 🙂

 

A few days to let it harden and then I'll mask all the windows panes off and spray the final colour. I think covering that black will be "a test"  but I'm sure it's going to be easier than trying to mask off all the thin window pillars (particularly on the rear section).

 

 

Edited March 12, 2024 by monkey_1971

[monkey_1971]

Argghh, painting this thing has seemed like a battle (The Final Battle maybe 😉). I'm done but I can't say I'm entirely happy with the finish.

 

I had MAJOR problems with adhesion of the white paint. I normally use Tamiya acrylics and have never had a problem but with the Phoenix before it (although to a lesser degree) and the Sky-Fighter I used Vallejo Model Air for the base and the adhesion of the paint has been awful. It's on-top Vallejo polyurethane primer which is my go to, and I left 48 hours drying before doing anything further but every time I masked and peeled it off huge chunks of the base layer kept peeling back with it. I must have painted, peeled, sanded and repainted a good 3-4 times top and bottom. The finish is pretty rough now but it passes from a distance, I think I'm just resigned to this being as good as it gets without completely stripping it all back to the bare plastic and starting afresh. The underside is worse and probably won't be seen that much so I'm going to live with it.

 

When I tackle the Squad Ship I'm going back to Tamiya acrylics and see if normality is restored.

 

Anyhow, rant over, pics of the final paint job. Clear coat next, a wash to pull out the underside panel details then the decals.

 

[monkey_1971]

I am declaring the Sky-Fighter done. I'm not head-over heels about the paint finish and I lost my temper with the entry hatch at one point so the bottom stairs are now not fixed too well but I'll display it with the hatch sealed and all will be fine 🙂

 

Pics of the finished vehicle;

 

 

BUT...

 

I am determined not to let this thing beat me. Moving right along and, I'm taking what I've learned from the Sky-Fighter (namely don't use Vallejo Model Air paint) and applying those lessons to it's bigger brother. I give you...

 

The Visitor Squad Ship

 

This one has some pretty chunky pieces that make up the passenger compartment

 

The passenger doors are a neat affair hinged with some brass rod so hopefully no repeat of the Sky-Fighter hatch incident 🙂

 

 

Tamiya Acrylic Paints have been ordered and I've started on the various assemblies. The Cockpit and rear section are a repeat of the Sky-Fighter but the rear landing gear are not used with the Squad Ship and also no laser guns.

 

Landing Gear ready for priming and painting;

Edited October 31, 2024 by monkey_1971