zak

That really is exceptionally well painted, love it

Holy ****! Insane but incredible build

That is some amazing detailing..taking notes for future builds ;-)

Hi folks
Just a small update, lost my mojo over the Xmas period so slow progress.
 
The nts unit..... Version 15 or 16 who knows... It's starting to resemble the real deal now, pics are a little crappy but hopefully you can see the adjustments I've made. Also sourced some mirror paper (the same stuff used on two way mirrors) to use on the left side camera glass, will post pics shortly.
 

 

 
Began riveting the tail and boom, looks a little messy at the minute as I'm using humbrol's decal fix. This leaves a gluey residue but has a much stronger bond than microfix/sol. I'm using a two different sizes of archers rivets and Micromarks rivets for the larger rivets.
Also scratched the tie down thing on the centre of the boom
 

 
More soon
Zak

Hi folks
Just a small update, lost my mojo over the Xmas period so slow progress.
 
The nts unit..... Version 15 or 16 who knows... It's starting to resemble the real deal now, pics are a little crappy but hopefully you can see the adjustments I've made. Also sourced some mirror paper (the same stuff used on two way mirrors) to use on the left side camera glass, will post pics shortly.
 

 

 
Began riveting the tail and boom, looks a little messy at the minute as I'm using humbrol's decal fix. This leaves a gluey residue but has a much stronger bond than microfix/sol. I'm using a two different sizes of archers rivets and Micromarks rivets for the larger rivets.
Also scratched the tie down thing on the centre of the boom
 

 
More soon
Zak

Hi folks
Just a small update, lost my mojo over the Xmas period so slow progress.
 
The nts unit..... Version 15 or 16 who knows... It's starting to resemble the real deal now, pics are a little crappy but hopefully you can see the adjustments I've made. Also sourced some mirror paper (the same stuff used on two way mirrors) to use on the left side camera glass, will post pics shortly.
 

 

 
Began riveting the tail and boom, looks a little messy at the minute as I'm using humbrol's decal fix. This leaves a gluey residue but has a much stronger bond than microfix/sol. I'm using a two different sizes of archers rivets and Micromarks rivets for the larger rivets.
Also scratched the tie down thing on the centre of the boom
 

 
More soon
Zak

Hi folks
Just a small update, lost my mojo over the Xmas period so slow progress.
 
The nts unit..... Version 15 or 16 who knows... It's starting to resemble the real deal now, pics are a little crappy but hopefully you can see the adjustments I've made. Also sourced some mirror paper (the same stuff used on two way mirrors) to use on the left side camera glass, will post pics shortly.
 

 

 
Began riveting the tail and boom, looks a little messy at the minute as I'm using humbrol's decal fix. This leaves a gluey residue but has a much stronger bond than microfix/sol. I'm using a two different sizes of archers rivets and Micromarks rivets for the larger rivets.
Also scratched the tie down thing on the centre of the boom
 

 
More soon
Zak

Main undercarriage bay finished

Thanks Don H
Here are the pieces on the dio. I'm waiting on 8 figures to add on the base.
The tricky part is positioning everything so it flows on the base..

Thanks for the tip Danaos. If I can find the black ones then I can lighten them up by lightly spraying them with a light grey till they blend in. Now to find them! No one seems to have them. Does anyone know if anyone else makes Phantom stencils?

Nice start, like the scheme to. Hope the aires doesn't give u too much grief (I cannot make their stuff work without alot of labour)

First 4 small "pins" are glued on the opposite side, precisely adjusted to support the door at the correct depth, float... neutral buoyancy... can`t find the word... just to fit flawlessly by itself. The upper 2 pins, along the piano hinges, will also support the entering of the door`s edge when opened.
 

 

 
Then, the filling of the gaps... These are the stretched sprue rods, slightly thicker than the gaps so when they touch the frames, i should sand them nearly to their diameters.
 

 
Glued with a normal melting glue and with CA glue...
 

 
 

 
 ...and with Surfacer. They are already pretty good married to the door, but just to fill the tiny little gaps.
 

 

 
Now i let them to dry thoroughly and then a lot of fine sanding and testfitting to adjust the proper fit in the frame. Then hinges, magnets, textures, rivets... quite a lot. I`ll take pictures.

Amazing (throws wallet at screen)

Stunning

So impressive, the work you've put in really shows. So many great details

Right, after a bit of a focus session with my buddy Derek Davis, F3 project is now centre stage on the workbench. Having gone over the whole design so far I have realized my biggest problem is structural integrity. The Revell kit is pretty flimsy out of the box, and so after cutting it up into even more bits with even more joints means it is very diificult to get it all lined up and checked.
 
Soooooo...... I am going to actually BUILD one and develop the parts as I go. The design will still be digital so once it is all together I should have an accurate set of data for a second set of parts for masters which I know will go together into a sturdy structure.
 
Today I am developing a beefier bulkhead where the jet engine front fans are located and some frames fore and aft that will solidify the upper and lower main fuselage. The forward fuselage plug and belly pan is also going to extend further back between the main undercarriage bays to stop the fuselage trying to fold in half at every opportunty!! If I can print these revised parts over the week end I will get back posting pics.
 
Any comments or questions please don't hesitate to pipe up!

Thanks for all your input guys, I think I've cracked it (after numerous failed attempts!).
I tried 'sugru', way to sticky to work with at this scale even after it had cured for a while and hardened, it also loses its stickiness during curing however it's an interesting product that I'm sure will have some kind of modelling application (casting mold maybe?).
Numerous attempts with thin plasticard, wire, milliput failed. I was almost going to give in and paint them on but then I remembered I had some kneadatite (or green stuff as it's commonly called). This stuff has just the right amount of tackiness and holds its shape, conforms well to the inside of the test canopy and shouldnt need any other adhesive added. However it's, as the it's name suggests, green. I added a couple of drops of black ink and vallejo white paint whilst I was kneading it and hey presto, grey putty! No pics as of yet as I'm not quite ready to add it to the canopy yet but will update my cobra build soon.
Cheers
Zak

Tanks are drying from all super glue used. I started on deck hatches.

Thanks dude!

Hey chaps hope all are well.
Not much to show at the minute. Much of my modelling time has been spent on rebuilding a few elements (3-4 times...) The nts unit is being scratched again as my first (or 5th...who knows) effort was quite abit out, same with the skids.
 
Also have a few goodies on order as well which will hopefully add a few nice touches to the finished kit but I'll reveal those at a later date.
 
Added extratech PE washers to the belly drainage pipes, pipes made from aluminium tubing
 

 

 
Detailed the nose drainage pipes with telescoped aluminium tube
 

 
Built the m197 cannon. This took a good couple of hours mainly to get it lined up correctly but well worth the effort when completed. Really need to grow another pair of hands....
 

 
Found some spare eduard PE hinges which look much better than before
 

 
More soon folks, thanks for looking and commenting guys!
Zak

These are promising materials for your application:
 
 
https://www.amazon.com/Half-Round-Rib-Tying-Material/dp/B00FW0RZFG
 
http://www.basspro.com/Vinyl-Rib-for-Flies/product/34431/?hvarAID=shopping_googleproductextensions
 
http://www.basspro.com/Stretch-Tubing/product/98782/?cmCat=CROSSSELL_PRODUCT_HZB2
 
HTH,
 
D.B.

If it were me, I would probably try a combination of very small diameter brass wire and thin strips, bent to shape, and soldered, then paint and attach with white glue. The advantage is that the brass can be worked and shaped for an exact fit separately then attached.
 
-Joe