Rich F Posted November 25, 2008 Share Posted November 25, 2008 (edited) I've finally got off the starting blocks with this, first job cutting the sanding blocks off the Aires cockpit bits. After a quick wash came the fitting. Knowing that Aires are notorious for poor fitting this wasn't going to be easy and it wasn't, spent most of the day sanding then test fitting until finally the damn thing fit. this was only after I'd sanded through the cockpit floor on the tub. The biggest problem was trying to squeeze the cockpit and the undercarriage bay in. So managed to stuff all of this... Into this. I also decided to open up a couple of the avionics bays to add a bit of interest. Managed to achieve quite a good fit in the end, just the the instrument coaming needs a bit of filler, well chuffed I also had the PP Aeroparts nose cone which is a vast improvement over the kit offering. Its really meant for the Hasegawa kit as it comes with part of the forward fuselage moulded aswell, after sawing this bit off i offered upto the Revell kit and said a silent prayer it fits like a glove, thank god! Here you can see the difference in the nose cones, i think the PP Areoparts one really captures the 'double curve' much better than Revell's. Next up, painting the cockpit, probably my favourite bit. Cheers Rich Edited December 12, 2008 by Rich F Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alrite Posted November 25, 2008 Share Posted November 25, 2008 Looking good so far, that nose really does make a difference. I believe Dr.Pepperresins has made a few for the ROG kit, cannot comment on them though. Nearly finished test fitting my pit now and I don't believe, luckily, I have had as much hassle as you because mine will be inflight. I assume you will go for the canopy open, if not, I would check the seat height because I think the aires seats may be slightly overscale. Anywyas good progress so far Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted November 29, 2008 Share Posted November 29, 2008 Nice work!! The resin bits look great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonymousDFB1 Posted November 29, 2008 Share Posted November 29, 2008 Nice start Rich. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spike7451 Posted November 29, 2008 Share Posted November 29, 2008 Rich, Chec PM. Merv Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich F Posted December 12, 2008 Author Share Posted December 12, 2008 Just about finished the office now, Aires casting is a work of art, but a bugger to paint, the tiny details really tested my eyes at times. This is definitely my last 1/72 kit, well, for a while anyway. Paints used were Humbrol & Revell enamels followed by a few washes with oils and highlighted with enamels. Just started on the Aires wheel wells, these are just as nice as the cockpit. Cheers Rich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perry Posted December 12, 2008 Share Posted December 12, 2008 Amazing work, those seats and the pit are fantastic especially as they're 1.72! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spike7451 Posted December 12, 2008 Share Posted December 12, 2008 Lookin good Rich.And a perfect subject if I may say so. (Carlsberg dont make Tornado Squadrons,but if they did,it'd be 17(F) 17(f) brobably the best Squadron in the word. Merv Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deon Posted December 12, 2008 Share Posted December 12, 2008 Well worth the effort fighting with the Aires stuff... it looks great Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonymousDFB1 Posted December 12, 2008 Share Posted December 12, 2008 Nice work Rich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seamus Posted December 12, 2008 Share Posted December 12, 2008 That's looking great, though it's making me wish I'd invested in the Aires bits for mine Keep up the good work Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spike7451 Posted December 12, 2008 Share Posted December 12, 2008 Shaun, Still got 3 months to GO FOR IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11 Merv Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seamus Posted December 12, 2008 Share Posted December 12, 2008 Sorry Merv, I'm done for this GB. No more Tornadoes in the stash, and besides, my next builds will be for the Naval GB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spike7451 Posted December 12, 2008 Share Posted December 12, 2008 Darth Dazzer !Over to you to convert young padouin lerner to the Dark Side.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Laidlaw Posted December 12, 2008 Share Posted December 12, 2008 That's a lovely bit of work there Rich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avro683 Posted December 12, 2008 Share Posted December 12, 2008 Simply stunning Rich. Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted December 12, 2008 Share Posted December 12, 2008 Incredible detail for 1/72. You must be moonlighting as Edward Tweezerhands! Great work, looks as good as 1/32. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eng Posted December 14, 2008 Share Posted December 14, 2008 Flippin stunning pit, dude!! Well worth the effort there, can't wait to see the rest of the project. Nice one, Eng Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich F Posted January 20, 2009 Author Share Posted January 20, 2009 Thought I'd better post a couple of Pics just to prove that i am still plugging away at this one, albiet at a snails pace. I'm not going to load the AIM-9L's so I thought i better add a bit of detail to the pylons. Just about got the kit together now, but not without problems, trying to get the Airwaves dropped flaps and slats wing set too fit involved a bit of surgery. I think I'm right in saying that the wings were designed to fit the Hasegawa kits, the Pivot points are totally different and needed to be be redrilled to fit in the Revell kit. I also decided to add a bit of suface detail to the wings as they are a bit sparse compared to the kit ones. Good job i had the PP Aeropart's Tornado detail set as it contains a set of wing retraction seals, much needed if using the Airwaves wing set! Lastly noticed that the Revell kit sits a bit high at the front when on its wheels, thought I'd compare the kit gear to a pic of a real one, look at the gear linkage on the kit, looks like there no weight on it! Not far from the painting bit now my favourite bit, i hope! Rich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich F Posted February 5, 2009 Author Share Posted February 5, 2009 Right, got the bulk of the wrap-around done, I did my usual pre-shading with Humbrol black 85, then i felt brave and decided to spray it free hand with my Badger 150 using a fine nozzle. Took 3 spraying sessions to get it all done. The result was i think was a good one, yeah theres a bit of over spray that needs sorting but I never did think it would be perfect first time round. Oh BTW I used Humbrol Gloss 5 for the DSG and Xtracolour X116 Vietnam Green for the er...well Green! Picked up a tip for using these colours from can't remember where. Looking at Verlindens Lock on for the Tornado i noticed that the aircraft featured a lot of swapped around panels from other A/C with various shades of Green and Grey and soft and hard edge camo so I'm going too try and recreate this. I think the trick well be too try and make it look not to obvious and not to over do it. Im off for a Rich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spike7451 Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 Rich,Looking good, As to the nose sit,dont forget the is a large ammo tank for the Mauser's immiadiatly behind the nosewheel. Merv Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T0M4ever Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 Wow, you've really brought that Aires resin to life! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James V Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 Stunning build that! Just spent a good ten mins reading the whole thread! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich F Posted February 18, 2009 Author Share Posted February 18, 2009 (edited) Cheers Guys! Well, reached another milestone, finally got the million tiny decals on, only took a week I used the kit decals and Almark decals for the squadron markings. Here's how she looks now. Next up is a coat of Clear, then a wash with Promodellers dark weathering wash. Hopefully get this one finished by the end of the month. Rich Edited February 18, 2009 by Rich F Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spike7451 Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 Nice.....Dont fit the center belly pylon tho. Merv Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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