PEA GB - 1/72 SR-71 Blackbird

[FTS]

For this GB i'll be building the Italleri SR-71 first.

Box and sprue shots for now.

[GreenBat]

A great choice, looking forward to this.

[tc2324]

A great choice, looking forward to this.

Seconded, and it looks like you saved some time of money on not having to paint it....

[FTS]

A great choice, looking forward to this.

Seconded, and it looks like you saved some time of money on not having to paint it....

It seems very similar to the Airfix F-117 I did at the beggining of the year. The plastic is crap with raised pannel lines and I put money on it that i'll need plenty of filler. One thing i'm looking forward to with this build is the painting, cos it's not really 'black' more different tones of very dark grey I've not had a go at painting that sort of tonal variation before.

[paddyboy]

Hi FTS

Having got close to a few Habu's over the years, erre they not also matt in finish, or was that just an optical illusion

Looking forward to seeing how it goes

Best regards

Paddyboy

[FTS]

I finally have an update for you.

Basic cockpit;


Top side with filling;


and underside with lots of filling!;


Now to add the engines.

[tc2324]

[FTS]

Not a massive jump ahead with this as I have another project on the go, however it's ready for paint. Anyone got any top tips for a realistic finish on the SR-71?

[seven]

Looking good FTS, you could try finishing it matt black, and dry brushing a very thin coat of gunmetal? Thats certainly what i'll be trying first.

7

[tc2324]

[FTS]

Is that a hint TC? I'm making good progress with the Blackbird now. It's primed with Mr Surfacer 1200 from a rattle can, great stuff! My new friend from a few doors up is taking my airbrush overnight to get it working properly again so hopefully over the weekend i'll move on at pace with it. I'll put a pic update up tonight. For now, just imagine it grey. Very grey

[FTS]

Here's a pic update;

[paddyboy]

Hi FT

Yes, that is certainly very grey

Keep us mortals posted on progress

Paddyboy

[FTS]

Well after an emotinonal 2 hours of fighting with the airbrush, it's painted. I'll be attaching its legs tomorrow and Klear coating it for the decals.

[paddyboy]

Hi FT

I think you won the fight with the airbrush

She's lookin' cookin' to me

Cheers

Paddyboy

[tc2324]

Thats a great paint job Steve. The matt effect has come out really well on that.

[FTS]

Thats a great paint job Steve. The matt effect has come out really well on that.

I used Tamiya NATO Black, which i've not used before, and it seems to have done the job. The flash makes the fading a lot more pronounced than it is in the flesh. I've read that a Satin finish is best for an SR-71, so once the decals are on and it's been glossed, ill give it a coat and hope If it doesn't look right then i've got some Vallejo matt varnish to return it to this. (He hopes)

[FTS]

One for the board, the instructions say that the pitot is to be painted gold. On the shots that i've seen it has a very slight golden tint to it but i'm not convinced. Can anyone confirm that is indeed gold?

[nigelblake]

Looks steely grey on this....

Lockheed SR71 Blackbird by Nigel Blake, 2 million views Thankyou!, on Flickr

[FTS]

Cheers Nigel. I'm happy with that, steel it is