Started 22/08/2005
25/08/2005
No pics yet - I have just started to remove the parts from the sprues and clean them up. Clear parts have been dipped in Klear, and now starting to rescribe the raised panel lines and rivets.
07/09/2005
After spending about a week rescribing most of the raised panel lines, I started construction of the cockpit. After finishing assembly, I progressed with a quick paint and detailing of the various switches and MFDs.
Whilst cleaning up the various parts, you have to sand down the Revell Logo embossed on the stabilisors and wouldn't you know it, I managed to snap the crossmember link. So I drilled out the two stabs and fitted an Aluminium tube in the rear fuselage and brass rods in the stabs.
Next up was the assembly of the the fuselage. This entailed fitting the cockpit tub in the top fuselage half, and then over the course of two nights glueing and clamping the two fuselage halves. Only a small amount of putty was required on the rear seams, but the front section required a fair amount of sanding and filler, to remove the step produced.
The next task was to glue the two wing halves together - there was a resultant gap of about 2mm all round which required copius amounts of filler to get rid of this. Next a primer coat Alclad II Grey Primer was sprayed (after masking the cockpit hole), and the wheel wells and intakes were sprayed with 2:1 Humbrol Satin White (#130) and Cellulose Thinners. Then a quick shot of Humbrol Satin Black (#85) around the cockpit sills and coaming.
Happy with the white coverage, I then masked the inside of the intakes with Tamiya masking tape. After fitting the intakes and missile/main gear doors I stuffed some sponge into the intakes. Next up will be masking of the wheel wells prior to the final primer coat.
Heres some shots of the pilot and ejection seat, not yet finished still requiring some touch up details.
28/09/2005
Major paint work done. Started with a final coat of primer, then rubbed down with a MicroMesh pad. Next I sprayed the tips of the wings, tails and horizontal stabs with Humbrol Insignia Yellow (#154), and when cured, masked them off, and sprayed Tamiya Blue (TS15) from the spray can. I used Maskol in the wheels wells and boy does it stick - suffice to say a lot of time will be required to clean them out.
29/10/2005
Decalling finished and sealed with a mixture of Klear and Isopropyl Alcohol.
Completed
and a group shot
