LetLetLet ~ Warplanes

Let Let Let - Warplanes => Aircraft Modeling => Topic started by: modellius on November 12, 2020, 07:27:25 PM

Title: F-104
Post by: modellius on November 12, 2020, 07:27:25 PM
Well now, since I have I don't know how many started kits it's time for another one..... But this time I wish to keep it simple as possible and maybe, just maybe actually finish it this year, it would be the first and only finished one this year... Oh well, what can I say....

It's a very well known Hasegawa kit 1/48 scale in Eduard box with lot of extras, which however didn't stop me to get some more. Not much only Aires wheel bays, Master pitots and the pylons and the wheels are on their way to me....

After comparing the kit with drawings and pictures I found Hasegawa panels and rivets are a bit of fantasy but I don't want to do anything with them, a little attractive painting ( for me it is anyway ) should compensate it.

The cockpit is a bit upgraded, Hasegawa's pretty poor and these areas are visible on the kit so I had to do some scratch work. The main wheel bays are installed, I was very surprised to see it fits perfectly, no mayor surgery was needed, first time from Aires......

Here are the pictures of progress so far more to follow
Title: Re: F-104
Post by: No.1 on November 12, 2020, 07:40:05 PM
 :-love :-love :-love
Title: Re: F-104
Post by: modellius on November 14, 2020, 11:51:52 PM
I said simple wright ? Yes, simple.....

Well now, I noticed that even " big names " in scale modeling pay a lot of attention on details, cockpit, wheel bays etc but, conopy interior somehow fell out of this, max the PE and/or resin parts provided are installed. However we all know that the aircraft is a complex machine and the conopy as part of it is complex as well.... I so I take a deep breath, a couple of beers and decided to take it the next level, so here is my conopy interior full scratch
Title: Re: F-104
Post by: Second Air Force on November 15, 2020, 12:08:16 PM
Yes, this is the area that most modelers ignore, and there are a lot of moving parts in a jet canopy! (I've always been puzzled by the use of vacuform canopies to get the extremely thin edges, when the real canopy has the frames inside just like you're doing!!)

Great work!
Title: Re: F-104
Post by: draken35 on November 22, 2020, 05:48:35 PM
You are true for what concerns the wings.
You can find an improvement set here:
http://dacoproducts.com/
I've bought the sprues with the wings (kit is still on my "to do" list  :))

Your work is simply incredible...  :-love
Title: Re: F-104
Post by: modellius on January 03, 2021, 02:07:42 AM
Lazy me....

However here is some progress. I managed to f*ck up the fuselage so I ordered another model but I will tell you later about it. In the meantime I made the diorama
Title: Re: F-104
Post by: modellius on January 03, 2021, 02:08:55 AM
And the diorama will have a figure, it was a lot of work, it took me 6 different figures to make one I like, will update soon the stage it is now
Title: Re: F-104
Post by: modellius on January 03, 2021, 02:11:56 AM
There is a lot of progress in the cockpit as well, it took a lot of time but it looks good enough for me now
Title: Re: F-104
Post by: modellius on January 03, 2021, 02:15:50 AM
And the new kit arrived, but I didn't look and it is a C not a G version so the tail section needs a lot of surgery to make it right, Aires nose gear section can not be installed without damaging the original parts so surgery at this area is needed as well, there is still some work but it's getting there now....
Title: Re: F-104
Post by: No.1 on January 03, 2021, 08:29:13 AM
True, C and G are different worlds...
Title: Re: F-104
Post by: draken35 on January 04, 2021, 07:22:35 PM
Lot of work; I'm impressed by the quality of your build!
Title: Re: F-104
Post by: modellius on January 23, 2021, 03:59:38 PM
some progress on this project. the figure is finally made, except the hand, couldn't find good looking ones. This is the pose I had in my mind, to give a little " life" to diorama
Title: Re: F-104
Post by: modellius on January 23, 2021, 04:02:17 PM
And the second  " actor " of the sceene is the compressor, Hasegawa with a some home manufacturing
Title: Re: F-104
Post by: No.1 on January 23, 2021, 04:05:29 PM
 :-clap :-clap :-clap master in its best :-ok
Title: Re: F-104
Post by: modellius on January 23, 2021, 04:10:03 PM
Thank you my friend !

This become a very complex build, the painting scheme I choosen can't be made after the whole kit is done, there are parts of the aircraft which needs to be painted and weathered before assembly, this is how it looks now. The instrument panel is done except the smaller details and installed on place.
Title: Re: F-104
Post by: No.1 on January 23, 2021, 04:24:58 PM
Aaaaa- Norway early pattern :-love
Title: Re: F-104
Post by: modellius on January 23, 2021, 05:44:18 PM
Yes, I found it very attractive, I hope I will be able to manage it well...

The front and rear clear parts installed, thru the front part the details I made around the HUD and in the inside are visible so it was worth the extra work ( canvas, cables, switches..... )
Title: Re: F-104
Post by: draken35 on January 27, 2021, 10:04:39 AM
Stunning work!!!
Title: Re: F-104
Post by: No.1 on January 27, 2021, 11:58:07 AM
Just hope this will be finished ;)
Title: Re: F-104
Post by: modellius on January 28, 2021, 08:30:26 PM
Stunning work!!!

Thank you !

Just hope this will be finished ;)

Now there are two of us  :-green :-green :-green

Some progress, made some test painting, first time ever I use Alclad paints, they are good but need a lot of attention while working with them
Title: Re: F-104
Post by: No.1 on January 28, 2021, 08:33:45 PM
I know about those paints, how you solve sensitivity problem?
Title: Re: F-104
Post by: modellius on January 28, 2021, 08:38:00 PM
Needs a very good prepeare, Gunze Surfacer first, then sanding after that matirung mesh ( I don't know the exact name, can be found in any paint shop ) and as a last layer before Alclad is semi gloss black..... And Alclad cote after, the cote is superb, doesn't kill the metal look
Title: Re: F-104
Post by: No.1 on January 28, 2021, 08:41:33 PM
Good, same as I did. I did not work with for few years, what do you use for cleaning airbrush? Enamel thinner?
Title: Re: F-104
Post by: modellius on January 28, 2021, 08:43:41 PM
Good, same as I did. I did not work with for few years, what do you use for cleaning airbrush? Enamel thinner?

Alclad airbrush cleaner
Title: Re: F-104
Post by: No.1 on January 28, 2021, 09:57:26 PM
And I don't have it, need its analog. Soon will start build Su-27 and will need those metal finish for Su-27 exhaust
Title: Re: F-104
Post by: modellius on January 28, 2021, 10:01:43 PM
And I don't have it, need its analog. Soon will start build Su-27 and will need those metal finish for Su-27 exhaust

ALC-307-60 Airbrush cleaner
ALC-310-60 Klear Kote Gloss
Title: Re: F-104
Post by: modellius on February 01, 2021, 12:21:07 PM
 Bit of progress. Metal painted and decals installed. Have to say Alclad is very good metal paint but needs a lot of practice, hard to work with...... The next NMF will be better.....
Title: Re: F-104
Post by: No.1 on February 01, 2021, 12:22:48 PM
It will have worn out metal look?
Title: Re: F-104
Post by: modellius on February 01, 2021, 12:23:24 PM
Yes, that was the effect I tried to represent
Title: Re: F-104
Post by: draken35 on February 04, 2021, 09:42:58 AM
:-ok
Title: Re: F-104
Post by: modellius on February 09, 2021, 01:08:00 AM
Now, the Alclad Klear Kote Gloss is a pis of sh#t ! It gives a good metal finish but after 6 days of spraying still sticky, not dry 100%....And I think it will never be..... So I took a deep breath, highly deluted Gunze Aqua Clear ( gloss ) and over spray it in nothing to loose basic, it was it would either help or peeling of and another scheme..... Well it all went good, the metal look is not lost and it is dry, even the panel lines are done and the masks are off. This is how it looks now   
Title: Re: F-104
Post by: No.1 on February 09, 2021, 06:38:08 AM
Masterwork!!!
Title: Re: F-104
Post by: draken35 on February 10, 2021, 05:24:59 PM
:-ok
Title: Re: F-104
Post by: modellius on March 08, 2021, 06:56:54 PM
Detailing up the the landing gear
Title: Re: F-104
Post by: No.1 on March 08, 2021, 07:43:54 PM
 :-clap :-clap :-clap
Title: Re: F-104
Post by: modellius on March 12, 2021, 07:41:42 PM
Thank you !

Some progress on landing gear
Title: Re: F-104
Post by: No.1 on March 12, 2021, 07:45:20 PM
Very detailed and clear!!
Title: Re: F-104
Post by: draken35 on March 15, 2021, 04:52:18 PM
Splendid !
Title: Re: F-104
Post by: modellius on April 05, 2021, 01:00:35 PM
Thank you friends !

Happy Easter Holidays to you all !

Bird is finally on her on feet. The landing gear is complete, very complex I must say but on the end I'm satisfied how it turned out. More detailing to come soon, cheers !

Title: Re: F-104
Post by: No.1 on April 05, 2021, 02:14:28 PM
Thank you for wishes :-ok and congratulate on this excellent build!!
Title: Re: F-104
Post by: draken35 on April 14, 2021, 07:40:25 PM
Waouw!!!
Title: Re: F-104
Post by: modellius on April 16, 2021, 01:30:03 AM
Thank you friends !

A bit of progress, pitot tube, tip tanks and the exhaust
Title: Re: F-104
Post by: No.1 on April 16, 2021, 07:07:19 AM
 :-clap :-clap :-clap
Title: Re: F-104
Post by: modellius on April 18, 2021, 06:45:39 PM
Thank you mate !

Seat detailed up and the tip tanks installed to the wings
Title: Re: F-104
Post by: No.1 on April 18, 2021, 08:57:02 PM
Museum quality build!!
Title: Re: F-104
Post by: draken35 on April 19, 2021, 02:16:41 PM
:-ok :-ok :-ok
Title: Re: F-104
Post by: modellius on April 29, 2021, 09:39:36 AM
Thank you friends !

A little progress, speed brakes and wings installed
Title: Re: F-104
Post by: No.1 on April 29, 2021, 09:42:15 AM
 :-clap :-clap :-clap
Title: Re: F-104
Post by: draken35 on April 29, 2021, 10:21:50 AM
Looks excellent!
Title: Re: F-104
Post by: modellius on May 16, 2021, 10:41:40 AM
In the past few years every model I make in some point turn back and bite me in the ass. The fun part is I never know on what stage of building or why.... This time it happened again, as I wrote before the Alclad gloss cote remained a sticky so I over sprayed it with Gunze at it was fine, at least for a while. Some reaction happened so when I was making the final assembly it was all sticky and finger prints was all over the fuselage, they were deep and when I tried to polis them the paint started to come off. So I had to disassemble the whole thing and peel of the paint..... Well at least now I know Tamiya paint remover works fine...... So now I will start it all over again.....
Title: Re: F-104
Post by: No.1 on May 16, 2021, 02:55:16 PM
 :-dal :-dal :-wall
Title: Re: F-104
Post by: draken35 on May 22, 2021, 08:35:15 AM
Keep morale high!