Bolleken's 1:72 stuff

[speedgraflex]

Marius, I will echo what these worthy gents have already written: some masterful skills here by you on current projects as well as with older ones. I'm grateful you posted the Revell model in a separate photo because I see the same nose fit issue that I have on your model. Tooling for these kits is from c. 1994, so perhaps there is a quality control issue, but my feeling is the central fuselage is slightly off center. That's why my mount and scratchbuilt cockpit frame is also slightly off center. The nose is slightly undersized, and the upper wing fairings are too flattened in profile to be mated properly. However, I really appreciate the kit. These are my small issues. Did you have any wing related problems? You are a much more experienced builder...

Your English is good, I was going to compliment you, earlier. I appreciate any assistance with the Horten nose. It's a focal point. And it has a heavy seam.

I thought this was one of your models, until I realized it was an actual photo. Low angle works!!

[Bolleken]

Good morning everyone!

@Stikpusher: As I told, white was a big issue for me. When I used a brush only, it was even more horrible. In 1989 I colored an Air France Constellation with white in the upper area and it looked ….ugly (ok, at that time I was 13 years old). One year later I did my first Rafale A: that one looked like a toy, an ugly toy. That’s why I switched to very light gray with better results. At the end of the 90`s I started using an airbrush. I used Revell white and it always blocked my airbrush….Using Tamiya’s spray can lead to better results. But when I switched to Tamiya white for the airbrush, all my issues were gone. For sure it is only my personal experience.

@Bruce: I also started the Horten-build back in the 90s which is a reason for not optimizing the fitting issues. When I remember it right, you can get a better fitting when you remove all locators and fitting pins. But I guess it is too late now? I would suggest to fill the gaps and sand this area for harmonized contour. You will lose some details and rivets, but for me it would be a minor issue when you think of the Horten brother’s history. Like Howard Hughes they were always looking for perfect aerodynamic planes. That’s why they often removed canopies and suggested horizontal lying pilot positions. They filled gaps too. Sanding it to perfection might be an option for your Horten.

I am following your build and I think you found a lot of good solutions to improve it. One tiny thing: On the wing tips you put the ailerons into a new positions, right? But don’t they work in different directions? I assume if you put one down the other one needs to be put up. I made this mistake on one of my Alpha Jets. But I am not sure if this recommendation is valid for a flying wing.



Some progress on my Rafale: It is now futured and got some engine covers. They were made very simple by using small plastic washers and a downloaded Rafale-logo printed on paper with red printing too. Glued together they were mounted to the completely undetailed nozzles (inside). I am trying to do some intake covers as well.
-Echo thoughts-

[speedgraflex]

Marius, good morning!

Your echoes are in my head: I have been thinking organically for the Horten from the start, and it also makes sense for you to make the connection with Hughes for his aesthetic sense. I keep a "mood board" for each project, you must do something similar; it's an advertising idea to bring all the images for the project on one foam core board pinned so the ideas will float around and all the "Mad Men" will be thinking about the project's ideas and imagery... the Horten has always been to me the most beautiful bird, closest to Icarus for the pilot, and I keep a photo of the younger Horten brother taken in a field with a model glider on my mood board; the personality stamp of the designer is so clear: the bond to the glider, and the man being carried aloft within this great wing. So I hope that makes sense what I'm writing. The fit on the nose is a pain but you understand the form is important. I haven't glued that part yet; I'm training the plastic to get along with each other using tape and kneaded eraser to make a temporary connection.


Walter Horten, 1929. Courtesy Nurflugel.com

Wow. I wrote a lot. But it's good to have these thoughts. The Rafale looks amazing!!!

[speedgraflex]

Good morning everyone!

@Bruce: I also started the Horten-build back in the 90s which is a reason for not optimizing the fitting issues.

I am following your build and I think you found a lot of good solutions to improve it. One tiny thing: On the wing tips you put the ailerons into a new positions, right? But don’t they work in different directions? I assume if you put one down the other one needs to be put up. I made this mistake on one of my Alpha Jets. But I am not sure if this recommendation is valid for a flying wing.



Marius, I forgot to answer this but you're right. One should be up, one should be down. I'm a little nervous to move the ailerons, but I need to do it.

Some progress on my Rafale: It is now futured and got some engine covers. They were made very simple by using small plastic washers and a downloaded Rafale-logo printed on paper with red printing too. Glued together they were mounted to the completely undetailed nozzles (inside). I am trying to do some intake covers as well.
-Echo thoughts-

[Stuart]

That is an beautiful looking Rafale - and those engine covers came out looking very nicely. Superb work all around.

It's such a nice looking aircraft, and has a bit more flair that the Eurofighter Typhoon (which isn't a bad looking aircraft in it's own right). I sometimes think we Brits would have been better off going French with the Rafale for our new carriers, rather than getting the F-35B. Mind you - That's a great idea for a what-if.

Bruce - Your mood-board is a great idea. I think I might try that on my next project as I have a hard time concentrating on my current builds, and keep loosing my desire to build through too many ideas - That might help wonders.

This is a very good thread this.

Cheers

Stuart

[speedgraflex]

That is an beautiful looking Rafale - and those engine covers came out looking very nicely. Superb work all around.

This is a very good thread this.



This is, indeed, a very good thread because it goes freely from place to place thanks to everyone's input and enthusiasm for making better models. What Kubrick said when asked about Icarus, right? "Note to self: build better wings."

Well, we are building wings right here; Marius is definitely leading the charge.

Portman—Let me know if you set up a mood board; I'd like to se it. I'm doing two right now: one for work/the other for the ZM 1/48 Ta 152 H-1. I know ZM makes a printed book, a concept album, but the whole idea with advertising boards is fluidity—pinning imagery in connection with different types of stock photos, illustrations and copies from anywhere, playing music with images, finding patterns—and there is something to be said for good old paper stock.

[Stikpusher]

It's such a nice looking aircraft, and has a bit more flair that the Eurofighter Typhoon (which isn't a bad looking aircraft in it's own right). I sometimes think we Brits would have been better off going French with the Rafale for our new carriers, rather than getting the F-35B. Mind you - That's a great idea for a what-if.


Stuart

True... the Rafale is far more elegant in looks. But if the F-35 can do half as well as advertised....

[Bolleken]

Hi guys,

Here is the progress I made yesterday night on the Rafale. I started decaling it and the Heller kit has the most horrible decals I have ever used. They are a bit too dark, very thick, they crack when you just touch them, some items are out of position. That’s why I lost the biggest decal, a blue stripe for the underside. I am not sure how to get a replacement, probably I have to airbrush it. Very disappointing!




Also I created a refueling probe for the MiG 28 by using a plastic sheet and an old rocket of a Matchbox Panther. The retainer for an arrestor hook is also done by using a cut bomb.



Hope you like the images.

[Bolleken]

I think this MiG 28 as an aircraft carrier plane needs some stabilizers on the front. So I cut some aggressive looking ones from plastic sheet and attached them with tape just to show u.

[speedgraflex]

Hi guys,

Here is the progress I made yesterday night on the Rafale. I started decaling it and the Heller kit has the most horrible decals I have ever used. They are a bit too dark, very thick, they crack when you just touch them, some items are out of position. That’s why I lost the biggest decal, a blue stripe for the underside. I am not sure how to get a replacement, probably I have to airbrush it. Very disappointing!

She's a beauty; the hard stripes accentuate the lines very well. Your first photograph is my favorite of the series you made. Decals make me a little nervous, to tell you the truth. You handled the stripes like a pro despite the thickness of the kit decals. How are you planning to paint the hard line on the bottom or do you know anyone who makes decals? When I was building the 2001 spaceships I had Jim Botatis make a page of silver which I could cut up into smaller panels and move into place much easier than painting—especially at the scale here maybe that will be an option—sometimes the cost will be too much and it is more effective to paint. This is a really beautiful model, Marius!