SPA Modeler

Stikpusher wrote:Four!? Good thing they are 1/72... or you're gonna run out of bench space real quick...

Plenty of room...I know this bench!!!

Started with the 18's.
Not a whole special going on with these.
The bad thing about these kits is that there's no intake trunk...just half a wall(where the gear bays are) not very far back in there.



So...FOD covers to negate that issue!
Heated up some sheet styrene over a candle and pressed it over the intakes...



Those have been cut to the proper size and set aside for now...we'll see those again later.

On to the 14.
For the nav lights and tail beacon, the kit provides these in clear parts...but Those parts never seem to fit nicely, so I didn't even bother trying. I heated some clear sprue, dabbed a bit of CA, and smashed the heated end into the slot.



I used a grinding bit to grind em down close, finished off the rest with sand paper.



Tail beacon got the same treatment.

And...the A-6.
Again, not a whole lot of special treatment.
The rear deck of the pit, however...is a bit simple.
(started cutting out the detail, then thought I should do a before/after shot!)

Kit part..



After modification...

As they sit right now...




18F...(color PE)



14...(brush painted)(this Aires pit was a NIGHTMARE to make fit!)





A-6...(brush painted)



I'll do the seats later.

Fermis, that is an interesting way to create clear nav and tail beacon lights using clear sprues. How the heck do you get them to look like that and clear? What grit did you use to buff it clear? Can you give me pointers on doing those? I'd like to try my hand on a scrap F-16 kit.

BlackSheep214 wrote:Fermis, that is an interesting way to create clear nav and tail beacon lights using clear sprues. How the heck do you get them to look like that and clear? What grit did you use to buff it clear? Can you give me pointers on doing those? I'd like to try my hand on a scrap F-16 kit.

I use Testors "sanding films", starting with the heaviest grit, working to the lightest(150-600). Then hit it with a rag wheel/Dremel.

Magnificent work Fermis! Man, I cannot keep up! I just hope to get mine finished to some level of quality, Keep going man, this is stunning work.

A superb selection of builds Fermis - loving the cockpit work.

Not a lot to show...but everybody got there wings!

Fermis, I read through your build thread several times before I caught that you brush painted the cockpits. Um, may I add a BRAVO to these comments... WOW. Inspiring.

Bruce / speedgraflex

speedgraflex wrote:Fermis, I read through your build thread several times before I caught that you brush painted the cockpits. Um, may I add a BRAVO to these comments... WOW. Inspiring.

Bruce / speedgraflex

Thankya sir!

The 6 and 14 were brush painted...both 18s got the pre-painted Eduard stuff though.