SPA Modeler

Stikpusher wrote: ↑Wed Jan 11, 2023 7:21 pm Does the Trumpeter kits have the radar warning receivers on the wingtips or nose aft of the radome? The fuselage spine was for an emergency hydraulic system retrofitted, after it was learned that the primary and secondary hydraulic systems located next to each other was susceptible to battle damage from the same hit.

No, all barren. Nothing to remove there. I may have a hole to fill if any of them were provided as seperate parts tho. Haven’t looked at that yet. The light on top of the spine is flush i stead of raised so some work there but overall that’s an easy one.
Edit - it does have the camera mount up front so that will have to go. Gonna need some styrene for that hole

Great start. This is gonna be awesome

Those are such iconic aircraft. This is looking great.

Are you in KY? May have to make a road trip Bowling Green!

Close but not quite. Northeast side of Cincinnati. I head over to Louisville a couple times a year. My buddy over there is an avid modeler and I go to their club show. Regionals for IPMS are there this year. May i think.
Corvette Museum in BG was a great trip! Did that with my youngest son when we got his project car, a ‘92 Vette.

Almost ready to close the fuselage. I really wanted to smooth out the intakes but boy are they rough. Plastic is 1/16” thick on the inlet frames that are part of the fuselage. Ended up using a full size metal file to get them paper thin.




With the inner ones thinned i made up a cardboard template to profile the variable intake geometry. This is a great way to cover most of the seam and all of that huge step trumpy created.




While those dry i futured the clear parts so they can dry for a day. Tomorrow I’ll make the hardware that moves the intake ramp and hopefully paint it all up. Did I mention my plan is to mount both wings before I assemble the fuselage? That will allow me to do all the painting cleanly. Should be an exciting weekend

What a fabulous project and what a great aircraft. Superb progress thus far.

How was this guy a Topgun graduate if he was in the USAF flying Thuds? Did he swap services?

Stuart wrote: ↑Mon Jan 16, 2023 6:13 pm How was this guy a Topgun graduate if he was in the USAF flying Thuds? Did he swap services?

The US air services often do exchange programs to have pilots get experience with their service schools, aircraft types, and methods of operating.

Ah cool - I did wonder if it was something like that, thanks Carlos!

Going about this slightly different than I’ve seen in any other build. Here’s how it looks doing the wings 1st. Ive got almost perfect joints and was able to cleanly paint the intakes as a result.







Still trying to decide how best to modify the spine. It has to be removed and tapered between the light and tail. Maybe 1-1/2” of spine needs removed. I bought some half round pieces to make the taper with. While i was writing this i had a thought. Maybe i’ll use them as filler from the inside. Then i should have something solid to carve rather than a hollow spot. Hmmmm, interesting. If anyone has done this type of thing before let me know.
Just below my thumb in this pic is where the top fuselage light is.

Wow, this is an ambitious build. Great work and research. This is a great effort you are making look easy. I have the Revell 105 in the stash, but that one is gonna take some work to make it right, to me. And I don't have that ambition atm. Keep it coming.