Iain

And a start made - couple of hours this evening assembling sub sections ready for some paint.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Have to say I'm mightily impressed with the fit and engineering on this kit so far - a quick neatening up of parts after removing from the sprue gates and they're just falling together beautifully.
 
After recent projects from Special Hobby, Pacific Coast, fixing B-24 wings - and playing with a certain very large vac form - this is bliss! 
 
This is going to be my 'grown-up' version of Saturday pocket money builds as a teenager - not worrying about detail/accuracy - just focusing on a clean build and nice finish.
 
We'll see where I get to...
 
Have fun!
 
Iain
 

Alittle light sanding this weekend - followed by a little filler (white areas):
 

 
Area ahead of cockpit to be sanded back in next few days...
 
Iain

Talking of fettling - here's an example - the wing root intake sections.
 
These are separate from the wings to facilitate differing versions.
 
Moulding looks very sharp - but alignment of parts at their edges is variable - so it's a case of aligning the parts as neatly as possible and then truing up the edges once everything has dried overnight:
 

 

 
And that beautiful Centaurus cowling - after partial clean-up and the addition of upper and lower infil panels:
 

 

 
Iain
 

And a start made - couple of hours this evening assembling sub sections ready for some paint.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Have to say I'm mightily impressed with the fit and engineering on this kit so far - a quick neatening up of parts after removing from the sprue gates and they're just falling together beautifully.
 
After recent projects from Special Hobby, Pacific Coast, fixing B-24 wings - and playing with a certain very large vac form - this is bliss! 
 
This is going to be my 'grown-up' version of Saturday pocket money builds as a teenager - not worrying about detail/accuracy - just focusing on a clean build and nice finish.
 
We'll see where I get to...
 
Have fun!
 
Iain
 

I'm really bad at completing Group Builds - and at the moment very bad at finishing anything - but...
 
Trying to get MoJo restored I figured a straight out of the box (maybe with a few minor tweaks) might be good 'therapy' and, from what I've seen/read the Hobbyboss F-84 kits are pretty straightforward builds.
 
So, I'm in with this - don't expect anything amazing - and final scheme to be decided:
 

 
I also have the F-84E boxing - so can swap the speed brakes to fix the errors in the respective kits where the styles have been transposed.
 
Last F-84 I built was the Heller 1:72 kit - back in the early '80s - and I really enjoyed that one...
 
Have fun!
 
Iain

And a start made - couple of hours this evening assembling sub sections ready for some paint.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Have to say I'm mightily impressed with the fit and engineering on this kit so far - a quick neatening up of parts after removing from the sprue gates and they're just falling together beautifully.
 
After recent projects from Special Hobby, Pacific Coast, fixing B-24 wings - and playing with a certain very large vac form - this is bliss! 
 
This is going to be my 'grown-up' version of Saturday pocket money builds as a teenager - not worrying about detail/accuracy - just focusing on a clean build and nice finish.
 
We'll see where I get to...
 
Have fun!
 
Iain
 

And a start made - couple of hours this evening assembling sub sections ready for some paint.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Have to say I'm mightily impressed with the fit and engineering on this kit so far - a quick neatening up of parts after removing from the sprue gates and they're just falling together beautifully.
 
After recent projects from Special Hobby, Pacific Coast, fixing B-24 wings - and playing with a certain very large vac form - this is bliss! 
 
This is going to be my 'grown-up' version of Saturday pocket money builds as a teenager - not worrying about detail/accuracy - just focusing on a clean build and nice finish.
 
We'll see where I get to...
 
Have fun!
 
Iain
 

And a start made - couple of hours this evening assembling sub sections ready for some paint.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Have to say I'm mightily impressed with the fit and engineering on this kit so far - a quick neatening up of parts after removing from the sprue gates and they're just falling together beautifully.
 
After recent projects from Special Hobby, Pacific Coast, fixing B-24 wings - and playing with a certain very large vac form - this is bliss! 
 
This is going to be my 'grown-up' version of Saturday pocket money builds as a teenager - not worrying about detail/accuracy - just focusing on a clean build and nice finish.
 
We'll see where I get to...
 
Have fun!
 
Iain
 

Alittle light sanding this weekend - followed by a little filler (white areas):
 

 
Area ahead of cockpit to be sanded back in next few days...
 
Iain

And a start made - couple of hours this evening assembling sub sections ready for some paint.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Have to say I'm mightily impressed with the fit and engineering on this kit so far - a quick neatening up of parts after removing from the sprue gates and they're just falling together beautifully.
 
After recent projects from Special Hobby, Pacific Coast, fixing B-24 wings - and playing with a certain very large vac form - this is bliss! 
 
This is going to be my 'grown-up' version of Saturday pocket money builds as a teenager - not worrying about detail/accuracy - just focusing on a clean build and nice finish.
 
We'll see where I get to...
 
Have fun!
 
Iain
 

The front half of the crank case has been machined from acrylic, and detailed.  It was not as hard as the aft half, because the aft half had the intake manifold ports.  Here:
 
 
 
Combine this piece with the aft half and it begins to look like a crank case:
 

 
It is now time to sprout its blossoms (the cylinders).
 
During my days off, I could not stop the little gray cells cogitating the problems ahead, which are many.   Some involve the curved and formed pipes that make up the intake manifolds, and the exhaust pipes.  So I attempted a little tuffy - the P & W provided exhaust stack for the forward row of cylinders - this part:
 
 
 
Note it is actually a tube within a tube perhaps with the outer tube as an insulator of sorts (?).  The outer tube has a weld fin along its length, and a flange near where it attaches to the cylinder head.  And it is the "S" shape that makes it so challenging.
 
I am going to use .125 inch diameter solder to make all these parts.  This stuff:
 
 
 
Now - the main reason I am using solder is because it can be formed relatively easily.  I say relatively.  This stuff is pretty stiff, taking alot of force to bend it.  But once formed or bent, it has no springback, and unlike a tube, it has no thin walls that can collapse during extreme forming.  I used .117 inch diameter on the Thunderbolt a couple years ago - that stuff was easily found in hardware stores.  The .125 inch stuff was harder to find, and more expensive. It is also the largest diameter I could find commercially, and it actually is not large enough.  For instance, a typical exhaust pipe on the Corsair, per drawing, is 2 11/16 inch diameter, or .149 inch in 1/18 scale.  Although I cannot find similar data on the intake manifold pipes, by scaling various engine related drawings for Corsair and Thunderbolt, the diameter appears to be about the same as the exhaust pipes.   Well - I have to use the 1/8 inch stuff; I have no choice unless any of you have any bright ideas.
 
So - for that little exhaust stack prototype, I created a robust fixture, or tool, and it has to be robust:
 

 
This fixture assures a fairly exact and repeatable final shape of the part.  The solder was first lined with .156 diameter plastic tube, reamed to .125 inch ID, because it has to be slightly larger diameter than the rest of the exhaust piping.  And then forced into an "S" shape with the fixture. It took a couple of tries with modifications made to the fixture.  But it seems to work OK.  I was fairly amazed the plastic didn't just split apart - it did not want to be formed into that shape!  I now hope the fixture is robust enough to do this 8 more times.
 
Here is the finished prototype part, which I think is good enough to just use as is:
 

 
OK - must keep my eye on the ball.  It is now time to finish the cylinders, including the air deflector jackets.  That is what you will see next post.  Thanks.
 
 
 
 
 

And a start made - couple of hours this evening assembling sub sections ready for some paint.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Have to say I'm mightily impressed with the fit and engineering on this kit so far - a quick neatening up of parts after removing from the sprue gates and they're just falling together beautifully.
 
After recent projects from Special Hobby, Pacific Coast, fixing B-24 wings - and playing with a certain very large vac form - this is bliss! 
 
This is going to be my 'grown-up' version of Saturday pocket money builds as a teenager - not worrying about detail/accuracy - just focusing on a clean build and nice finish.
 
We'll see where I get to...
 
Have fun!
 
Iain
 

That's good to know re. intake - forewarned is forearmed and all that...
 
Going to make a start later this evening - possibly Dutch, or French markings. I used to be indecisive, now I'm not so sure! 
 
Iain

And a start made - couple of hours this evening assembling sub sections ready for some paint.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Have to say I'm mightily impressed with the fit and engineering on this kit so far - a quick neatening up of parts after removing from the sprue gates and they're just falling together beautifully.
 
After recent projects from Special Hobby, Pacific Coast, fixing B-24 wings - and playing with a certain very large vac form - this is bliss! 
 
This is going to be my 'grown-up' version of Saturday pocket money builds as a teenager - not worrying about detail/accuracy - just focusing on a clean build and nice finish.
 
We'll see where I get to...
 
Have fun!
 
Iain
 

The Mirage kits capture the look very well Dave  - but, having built two now - be prepared for a fair amount of test fitting, filling and re-shaping of parts - they aren't shake and bake...
 
Iain

OK so I'm jumping right into this GB. I wasn't even aware it was coming. I think the subject is OK with the 'Cold War Jets' theme, as this is NATO 1980?
 
Last week I got this crazy idea of making a Danish F-16 as we are celebrating their 40 year Jubilee (receiving the first of many January 1980).
 

 
ET-204 at AB Skrydstrup, January 1980.
 

 
Nice 80'ish photo of the first F-16B in Denmark - ET-204.
 
In 1975, Denmark purchased 48 F-16 aircraft with the option of purchasing an additional ten aircraft.
The acquisition was part of the joint purchase of 348 F-16 aircraft made by Denmark, Norway, Belgium and the Netherlands.
A purchase that was then called the "arms trade of the century".
The option of 10 aircraft was used in the 1980's, and a number of replacement kits have been purchased throughout the years for damaged aircraft.
In total, Denmark has had 77 F-16 aircraft delivered, which have been used by four squadrons at Aalborg Airport and Skrydstrup Airport.
 
After some research and not being able to get my hands on either the old Hasegawa F-16A or the Tamiya 'Thunderbirds' F-16C (for at resonable price).
I finally ordered AFV's F-16B Block 20....(Was lucky, found a box of this 2012 kit in France for a bargain price)
 

 

 

 
The kit has got resin parts tor an early F-16, including early tail, narrow wheels and non bulged doors.
It's got options of both the small and large intake too.
 
From the top of my head, I will need the early horizontal stabs from Quickboost and the wheel bay from Aires.
As I'm not very knowledgeable regarding Jets I will have to rely on experts on the subject.
You are very welcome to add your 'insight' on the early F-16B's.
 
Cheers: Kent

Hi all!
 
I´ll jump in with this.....
 
 

 
 
I know it can be a tough ride, but I just love this Aircraft!   
 
 
Stefan 

I'm really bad at completing Group Builds - and at the moment very bad at finishing anything - but...
 
Trying to get MoJo restored I figured a straight out of the box (maybe with a few minor tweaks) might be good 'therapy' and, from what I've seen/read the Hobbyboss F-84 kits are pretty straightforward builds.
 
So, I'm in with this - don't expect anything amazing - and final scheme to be decided:
 

 
I also have the F-84E boxing - so can swap the speed brakes to fix the errors in the respective kits where the styles have been transposed.
 
Last F-84 I built was the Heller 1:72 kit - back in the early '80s - and I really enjoyed that one...
 
Have fun!
 
Iain

The trick with a project of this scale is to try to maintain the right mindset during the build.
 
At absolutely no time can one think of the finish line or the 8 million steps required in order to be finished.
 
It's all about being in the moment and just happily doing whatever your'e doing right now, with no thought of the finish line whatsoever.
 
In time, it will come together and you'll be surprised to see it.  
 
The real trick is maintaining enthusiasm, energy, and passion for the same subject matter for as long as it will take to complete the build.  Might need to break it up into multiple stints.
 
But it's going to be spectacular when its done!
 
 

Having just built this i can confirm it’s a smooth build and fits pretty nicely! The only thing I didn’t like was the jet intake because they didn’t transition it into the pipe, just left a step inside the nose. Looking forward to seeing what you do with this baby OOB! 

I'm really bad at completing Group Builds - and at the moment very bad at finishing anything - but...
 
Trying to get MoJo restored I figured a straight out of the box (maybe with a few minor tweaks) might be good 'therapy' and, from what I've seen/read the Hobbyboss F-84 kits are pretty straightforward builds.
 
So, I'm in with this - don't expect anything amazing - and final scheme to be decided:
 

 
I also have the F-84E boxing - so can swap the speed brakes to fix the errors in the respective kits where the styles have been transposed.
 
Last F-84 I built was the Heller 1:72 kit - back in the early '80s - and I really enjoyed that one...
 
Have fun!
 
Iain

I have some old vac formed ones somewhere John - can't confirm size just now - but will take a look and report back.
 
Might have to give me a few days - we're in mid loft/stash tidy...
 
Iain

Hi Nick
The second group: TBF(T), SBD(T), P-51D(R), Ki-84(H) and Shinden(Z-M) is in the mold-making phase with production to begin within a week.
 
The Spitfire Mk I/II(R) is scheduled for the third group of gear to be developed, along with the Me 262(R), He 162(R), P-38(T), the P-47's(T), A-4 Shyhawk(T) and B-24(HB). As soon as test shots are ready I'll post in a new thread on Vendor's Board.
 
Thanks for your interest.
 
D.B.
 
 
 

I'm really bad at completing Group Builds - and at the moment very bad at finishing anything - but...
 
Trying to get MoJo restored I figured a straight out of the box (maybe with a few minor tweaks) might be good 'therapy' and, from what I've seen/read the Hobbyboss F-84 kits are pretty straightforward builds.
 
So, I'm in with this - don't expect anything amazing - and final scheme to be decided:
 

 
I also have the F-84E boxing - so can swap the speed brakes to fix the errors in the respective kits where the styles have been transposed.
 
Last F-84 I built was the Heller 1:72 kit - back in the early '80s - and I really enjoyed that one...
 
Have fun!
 
Iain

afternoon all
 
 
 
..that is a superb idea - I did look at doing it with my Spitfire and could only find one place in Canada that did small run and it was very expensive. I will look again though and if anyone has any ideas please let me know
 
..bit more done this weekend..
 
..the First Aid kit and gunsight pad were made from milliput and lead wire, with brass for the straps (as they are held taught and need to loom like it..)
 
..I am not good at organic things like this..
 

 
..painted up and although not great, I think they will have to do..
 

 

 
..then moved on to the side and upper windows - all the catches & latches were prepared and two tiny pins added so I can pin one to the other at the right angle..  it has been a fraught day as I HATE working with transparencies - the knife edge of a terminal ****-up being so easy to do just frays my nerves..
 

 

 
..I had left the protective film on so it was fairly straightforward to prep them and paint them..
 
..also weathered a bit by rubbing wire wool and scuffing them a bit..
 

 
..and with the film removed - there is a flaw in the top canopy where it didn't like bending to shape that has only been seen now the covers are off, but it just looks like a small crack so I am going to have to live with it..
 

 
..and pinned together..
 

 
..a few more bits need adding like hinges and some rubbing pads, but this is pretty much done so a quick dry fit..
 
..the First Aid kit looks ok I guess..
 

 

 

 

 

 

 
that's it for now..
 
TTFN

Peter