F-15E --- 1/32 --- Tamiya

[F`s are my favs]

)))

 

Btw the pylon is done:

There is a huge pin running from rail to rail for greater structural support:

 

 

Because it will be with mountable loadouts - with magnets, and should be very strong. And the best thing is that even test fitted looks prepped and ready for painting. Yet the painting will be along with the model itself, quite later. I have the pylons of the C in 1/48 dismantled - so a quick comparison )

 

 

 

[F`s are my favs]

I realize now that these pylons are so huge that they play a role as "small" vertical stabilizers as well. 

[Luca]

great job on those pylons sir... and great rails.

[F`s are my favs]

PS: the quality of the pics is such cause i forgot to switch on the lights... scuse me

 

 

I noticed that 2 small "casters" should be added near the tip of each rail,

 

 

 

then - hm, okey, let`s prime it, and after a very thin layer of surfacer:

 

 

 

 

 

[F`s are my favs]

I filled the panel lines of the CFTs:

 

 

And I started with some "texturising" of the bottom fuselage and i`m very happy indeed. I think to continue with the entire plane. Here is the fuselage before, like mirror flat:

 

 

 

Only the area of the heat shield is done and only from the one side of the engine starter (i forgot the exact name). It`s barely visible and only at this angle:

 

 

[Deadpool]

Hey F,

 

Sweet work so far mate. Detail is sickening. Awesome stuff.

[allthumbs]

That skin rippling looks great Favs...can you share with us your technique?

 

Rich

Edited July 4, 2016 by allthumbs

[F`s are my favs]

Thanks

 

It`s just a knife with a curved blade, of which actually i handle only the blade, and i make very subtle scratches. Not once, but usually >10 repeats of the same area (ripple is an awesome word). Because of the curvature of the blade, the indentations stay curved too, with almost no visible edges like scratching with a pointed blade. After a few tries it appears like the more chaotically - the better. Usually it`s following the panel lines and the rivet lines. The big panels also look good if texturised entirely and not only along the edges. And that`s it, of course after that i sand over the areas with around 800 grit and then with 1500 grit sandpapers, which "restores" the gloss shine of the surfaces.

 

Absolute no loss of panel lines or rivets, because the scratching is very very subtle... i don`t know... like to remove a few shavings or the flash from a detail. And in this kit the panel lines are veeery deep and thick too. This exercise even makes them look a little bit more delicate and normal.

[F`s are my favs]

The lower fuselage is texturised:

 

 

 

 

Now some extended riveting.

[Iain]

Looks great! 

 

Iain

[LSP_Paul]

Ambitious start! Keep up the good work. 

Paul

[ClumsyDude]

That looks BRILLIANT. I am most impressed, I'm about to start a 1/32 hornet and may have to do something like this!

 

Jim

[Shawn M]

oil canning looks great, really adds another dimension

[Chek]

The skin texture looks very good Fs.

 

You might find that some of the effect disappears once a matt finish is applied, but hopefully not too much.

It's certainly more realistic than a mirror-flat surface.

[F`s are my favs]

... some of the effect disappears once a matt finish is applied, but hopefully not too much...

 

Yes definitely, that`s exactly what happened with the underwing pylon after surfacer 1200. Yet the texture is there and should get back after all.