Build started 03 July 2010 - Completed 30 August 2010
Proposed Scheme - Twobobs #72049
On the bench
Heres a project I have had in mind since Two Bobs released the VF-2 OIF Bounty Hunters. The aim is to produce a copy of this Navy photo taken by PH3 Daniel McLain in Nov 2002 for the Army/Navy football game flypast - source U.S. Navy Website.
The first stage was to resize the 3D Models of the Cats to fullsize in the 3D world, set up a camera to the specs shown in the EXIF info. and then with the photo in the background, manoeuvre the two 3D models into position.
The object of this exercise was to find out what the actual distances are between the Cats so I can eventually build and display them as shown in the photo.
More renders
This build will be the Cat #104 (aka "GO NAVY").
23 May 2010
With a few months gone by since I decided to start the project, I finally think I am nearly ready to start. One of my problems, was how to display the Cats as accurately as possible, both in postions and without damaging the models by attaching them to stands. Using a combination of a couple "Helping Hands", aluminium tubes and Neodymium magnets, I rigged up the following.
Helping Hands...
about £25 of Neodymium magnets from e-Magnets UK
Simple construction of ball joints and 10mm x 4mm magnet
when ready I will glue another 10mm x 4mm magnet into the lower pancake...
enabling me to break down the display if required with out damaging the aircraft. The purloined ball-joints will enable me to tweak the aircrafts positions as well, so I can match the photo as close as possible.
06 July 2010
Since the last update, I had been toying with the idea of also lighting the Cats, but experimenting with the lights on the tails didn't match my expectations, so I started the builds off by spraying parts and gluing assemblies. These builds also introduce a new element, in that I have yet to build one of these Hasegawa Cats, wheels up. Should be fun.
Part build up so far...
11 July 2010
Progress to date is the main assemblys construction is now completed, and I was attempting to add a bit more detail to the VF2 pilots by adding some custom made decals....
...unfortunately it wasn't until I applied them yesterday after a 3 day wait, I realised I had printed them on clear not white decal paper.
As you probably won't see their shoulder patches anyway I have decided to crack on and start finishing off the cockpit, ready for masking and primer. The figures (P.J. Productions US 80's Pilots) are superb, and being made from soft yellow resin were easy to cut and carve, for repositioning.
The wheels up configuration went smoothly, as the various doors were a snug fit, once I had removed their hinges. I did use some blu-tac in the nose and main gear bays to support the doors, before gluing them shut. The main fuselage (and suprisingly) the nose seams will need a fair bit of work to fill them.
Heres a quick photo showing the builds so far on their respective stands.
17 July 2010
Seams filled and sanded. Pilots and RIOs finished and fitted. Canopies have been masked and now ready for start of the painting
I finished the builds off, and then tried to take some in flight photos, but I couldn't get the lighting to my satisfaction. I then removed them from the stands and took some photos on the bench.
Bullet 104 and 106 together on the stands...
and with the stands photoshopped out.
