Guest Peterpools Posted April 26, 2015 Share Posted April 26, 2015 (edited) The Viper : UPDATE: 4/26/15 .... Getting Started While slowly working on the Meteor's wings and I mean slowly and then moving onto fitting the wings to the fuselage, I gave into the erg of just tinkering with my Tamiya F-16CJ Viper, my supposedly next project. The tinkering increased as the more I worked on the Meteor's wing fairings. WARNING: THE TAMIYA VIPER IS CONTAGEOUS and once the box was opened, putting it down was next to impossible! My original intention was to go all out on the Viper with a ton of After Market resin and PE sets but my enthusiasm for such projects as been steadily dwindling. What I needed was the old juices back and no better way for me then a pure fun OOB build, enjoyment and bringing home the build for what I actually paid for the kit or close to it. So the Viper would be right out of the box, see what I could do and go with what Tamiya created. I knew I would cave into a few goodies along the way: Aires Aces II Ejection seat, exhaust set and wheel set are the only planned additions to a fantastic kit. All the other Aires sets and PE sets are back in their boxes and will wait for another build – yup, I have a few more Vipers in the stash, so they will be used. I decided to start with step 13, the main gear well and engine bay, rather then building the GE F110 right now. I do have Jim Melampy's Modern Viper Guide and thanks to Jeff (Stinger), The Scale Viper, A Modeler's Guide to Building the F-16 by Pete Fleischmann is on the way. For my OOB build, I am mainly using the references as a back up to Tamiya's instructions for a painting guide and a few enhancing ideas. So far, I found out it is ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE TO PUT THE VIPER DOWN. Instead of the Meteor being my main build and working on the Viper only while while Meteor parts and assemblies are setting up, the reverse seems to be taking place! Much of the work done on the interior of the engine bay, will never be seen but was a blast to do and weather. Did I say weather? True, just the same. I decided to go with a well maintained Viper but with some weathering from in flight use. The interior of the engine bay was primed with MIG's Polymer Surface Primer thinned 50/50 with Tamiya X-20A and shot at 16 psi working pressure. Smooth as silk and an excellent primer. The instructions do say to let it dry for a full day before sanding and a few hours at least before painting on top. Since I didn't need to do any sanding or filling, I waited about 15 minutes and went right onto applying Tamiya Acrylics with perfect results. Future provided the gloss coat and then the rivets, panel lines and other details were picked out with MIG's new Panel Line Wash – awesome product. I did find using either MIG'S “Enamel Odourless Thinner†# 2018 or Mona Lisa Paint Thinner produced the same excellent results in the clean up process. Once dry, I waited another 15 minutes, I sealed everything with Vallejo Matt Varnish thinned 70/30 varnish to X-20A. The ducting in the engine bay was weathered a bit more and dry brushed to highlight the details and tone down the flat black color. I also started working on the front office as well, priming with MIG Polymer Acrylic Primer and then following up with FS3623 gray, as Tamiya's instructions are incorrect. I replaced the kit Aces II seat with the Aires Aces II, whose detail is quite a bit better and is always one of the first points of interest a viewer looks at. I've pretty much gone 100% acrylics these days except for Alclad work and apart from a much easier clean up, haven't seen any differences in smoothness and look when comparing acrylics to enamels. A llot of work did go into making the intake ducting seamless and was glossed white with latex paint. Tamiya's fit is near perfect and well up to their reputation for top notch quality. So far the juices are flowing again at a fever pace, with life and work getting in the way! The fun factor is back and so far off the scale; it's scary. Next up, the main wheel well; no where as detailed as the Aires Resin set but when done will look fine and the fit is perfect – not slicing or dicing, no mess or fuss. Next work session, some time first needs to be devoted to the Meteor's wing roots and then back to the Viper. Thanks for checking in. Peter Heading back into the stash The Tamiya front office with the Aires ACES II Ejection Seat Seamless front intake . please excuse the dust specks .. I should have cleaned them up before taking the photos but at least the seams are history Edited August 29, 2015 by Peterpools Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 26, 2015 Share Posted April 26, 2015 Go Peter !........Harv Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark31 Posted April 26, 2015 Share Posted April 26, 2015 Damn you Peter with all those fine builds.(thinking about the F-16) Keep going my friend Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daywalker Posted April 26, 2015 Share Posted April 26, 2015 (edited) Brilliant start Peter, this kit is still one of my all-time favorites. I enjoyed every one I built (still have 12 in the stash to build ) ! Edited April 26, 2015 by Daywalker jan p 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loic Posted April 26, 2015 Share Posted April 26, 2015 Go Peter! Gooooo!!! I will follow this build closely Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Peterpools Posted April 26, 2015 Share Posted April 26, 2015 Thanks Harv .. Really enjoying myself and typical Tamiya quality. BTW, it cleaned out the dust from the intakes so I wouldn't forget down the road. Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Peterpools Posted April 26, 2015 Share Posted April 26, 2015 Thanks Mark I just couldn't help myself and I'm rolling. Just crack open the box and I'm willing to bet, you won;t be thinking but building Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Peterpools Posted April 26, 2015 Share Posted April 26, 2015 Thanks Frank It's easy to see why you build more then one and have 12 in the stash ..of course, that makes my F-16 stash look pale by comparison. Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Peterpools Posted April 26, 2015 Share Posted April 26, 2015 Thanks Loic I'm rolling but need to figure out how to split my time between the Meteor and the Viper. Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stinger16 Posted April 26, 2015 Share Posted April 26, 2015 Very nice start on your viper Peter, I agree with you that this build is very contagious. What fighter unit are you going to be building ? I'm looking forward to seeing what you can do with a big tamiya viper, this is going to be fun to watch Jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Peterpools Posted April 26, 2015 Share Posted April 26, 2015 Thanks Jeff Sticking with my basic OOB plan, I was planning on going with79th Fighter Squadron, 20th Fighter Wing, Tiger Meet Version, Buckley AFB, Colorado August 2001. BUt knowing me, things could change Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stinger16 Posted April 26, 2015 Share Posted April 26, 2015 Do you need anything else before I send that book to you, I have a box of extra parts etc Jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Peterpools Posted April 26, 2015 Share Posted April 26, 2015 Thanks Jeff I pretty sure I'm good Very much appr4eciated the offer Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ericg Posted April 26, 2015 Share Posted April 26, 2015 Hi Pete, Nice start mate! I guess we all have multiple builds on the bench at one time. Hope you keep the Meteor on the boil as well. Eric. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anthony in NZ Posted April 26, 2015 Share Posted April 26, 2015 Wow, go Peter! I have to say, I have often thought about getting this kit, for no reason other than it is a cool looking plane! Love what you have already done. I am worried that watching this will tip me over the edge and get one. That cockpit is nice, did the Aires set come with etch panels or is that painted? Cheers Anthony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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