tc`s Build of Mystery 2014

[tc2324]

Yep..., it`s that time of year again......

With the T.7 Hunter on hold as I await supplies, I went into the spares box and come out with these....





So that`s one old manky Monogram F-4, sprues, bits and bobs and one cut to size dio base.

More soon.

[Flyingmonster]

Rocket assisted take off?

[tc2324]

Rocket assisted take off?

Not this time mate...

So with the afternoon off work, I`ve started prep work.

First I`ve built some ladders and a step ladder thingy.....



.... then I started playing with the sprues and making the A frames needed....



.... and finished off by digging out the intakes as so that you can see through the aircraft......



Pretty sure this will give the game away.

[Vulcanone]

The Rocket sled test F-4 that they used against a concrete bunker to prove it could store nuclear waste (or whatever it was) and survive an aircrash ???

Tim S

[tc2324]

The Rocket sled test F-4 that they used against a concrete bunker to prove it could store nuclear waste (or whatever it was) and survive an aircrash ???

Tim S

Funny enough I did consider that dio Tim....,

however....,

..... I started working on some of the dio bits and scratch built the stands from sprue bits....,



..... and I would imagine the next picture will pretty much give the game away....

[lhrlima]

I've got it! It's an ex U.S Navy F-4J undergoing rework into an RAF one!

Steve.

[Vulcanone]

Or an F-4 about to be moved to a museum (or worse....)

Its being Sunday Brain won't engaged any more tonight....


Tim S

[sufa 36]

F4 in davis monthan diorama?

Allan

[tc2324]

And we have a winner.....

F4 in davis monthan diorama?

Allan

For those interested in the how, first I stuck sand paper down onto the base. I then placed blobs of superglue here and there to add some different texture. Then a spray coat of Humbrol `sand`, some dark wash around the superglue areas finished of by adding the pre made tufts of dry grass.

Obviously this dio is inspired by the Davis Monthan bone yard.

[lhrlima]

Looking good already! I wish I had the brains to think of stuff like that!

Steve.

[atech]

Looking good so far, will be interested in how you do the spraylat.

I have some close up photos if you need them

Atech

[tc2324]

Cheers guys.

will be interested in how you do the spraylat.
Atech

That is a very good question and one I`ve been thinking about.

I`m gonna play around with some fine electrical tape. You know the stuff you wrap around screws if the fit is a bit loose. Cut to fit and lay flat on top carefully. Then just press it on so it fits the contours.

One major problem I do have however is the fact that one of the canopy tops is missing.

So this may just be a derelict F-4 rather than one in storage.

[tc2324]

So I`ve started to rebuild the Phantom and correct the many many issues with it. This involved a shed load of glue, both standard and super, a lot of use of the file, heavy duty clamps a about 5 miles of masking tape to try and get the shape back to how it should be.



One area that sticks out and really shows it`s age is the front windscreen and instrument panel cover.





Not really sure how the pilot would get to see whats in front of him judging by this design??

However on a brighter side, my 74 Sqn Hurricane is enjoying it`s temporary dio base......

[Vulcanone]

tc2324

Very Nice,

I'm in a seemingly never ending struggle to get some Airfix Canberras done, or should that be struggling with disaster after disaster. I gave up posting work in progress photos after the last one! At this rate there may be a Canberra scrapping diorama coming soon.

Someday I will get the silver paint that works right (not keen on the ALCLAD option) I tried Halfords silver on a couple today, having got speckles on an attempt with Humbrols tins in an airbrush. And got the same effect again, and even worse, a wrinkly effect afterwards (possibly spraying directly over the previous colour I planned to do them???

Any suggestions

Tim S

[tc2324]

tc2324

Someday I will get the silver paint that works right (not keen on the ALCLAD option) I tried Halfords silver on a couple today, having got speckles on an attempt with Humbrols tins in an airbrush. And got the same effect again, and even worse, a wrinkly effect afterwards (possibly spraying directly over the previous colour I planned to do them???

Any suggestions

Tim S

Hi Tim,

I personally use Humbrol silver rattle can and I pretty happy with it. Look at my latest 74 Sqn update and the Hunter T.7 to give you an idea. I also give it two or three coats from a reasonable distance once every 10 mins so that I avoid the speckle effect. Also don`t forget that you never spray over anything that is enamel as that can blister. Other than that it`s just a case of practice. I`ve had a fair few `disasters` so don`t get dis-heartened if plan A turns int plan Z.

A bit of a long update on this so bare with me....

Had a look over the weekend at how I could apply faded markings on the aircraft. One idea was to gently rub the decal with a fine abrasive. So I tried that and got this.....



I then placed in water and got this....



Oh dear.

So on to plan B and that was to apply the decal normally and then give it a very light spray so again it was placed in the water......



oh fudge...!

Turns out the decals themselves are so old that they have become allergic to water.

So I then tried the same technique to a new decal......



It`s not going to well is it?

So I binned the idea and just put the rest of the decals on normally.

BTW, if anyone have black NAVY or MARINE decals they don`t need in 1/48 scale I love to hear from you.

Onto the plan for recreating the Spraylat.

Had the idea of using thread seal tape and here`s the result.





Not perfect by any means but gives you an idea of what I was trying to achieve and I`ll be redoing this when I have more time.

I`ll finish off with a couple of `overall` pics.





More soon.

[Reheat2004]

Just a suggestion but you could also try putting the decal onto the aircraft and then gently sand when its dry? This can also be used to make the paintwork look old/used.
Kind regards
Stu

[Vulcanone]

tc2324

I think you have answered the cause of the blistering problem (in that)

Yep I over sprayed the enamel Light aircraft grey on three Canberras....

It was worse on the two that I have set aside as trials airframes, and they look a tad rough, but apart from a light speckled effect the other B.2 isn't too bad

Ah well, to quote a certain Monty Python film..... Its only a model

Cheers for the advice


Tim S

[tc2324]

So an update on this experiment using two pictures with different light and shade.....





..... and tried to use items at my disposal without having to buy anything and a bit of skill, if you can call it that, to make the F-4 look a bit `old`.

Up to you lot to tell me if I`ve done it.

[paddyboy]

Hi Buddy

I have been on hols, in a 'Wi-Fi' desert for 18 days, so please excuse no replies

That looks a corkin' result

Best regards

Patrick

[tc2324]

Cheers paddy.

So I started looking into staining and `rain` effect and played around with a few ideas. Came up with this....