HobbyZoneUSA Posted June 8, 2018 Author Share Posted June 8, 2018 This was our second Wonderfest, and we've signed up for next year as well. This year, the special guest was Sybil Danning, the Queen of the B-movies, and she popped into a reception we attended Saturday night. She and her husband were supposed to be there only 30 minutes but hung out with us for 3 hours instead. She's even more beautiful in person! Out2gtcha and LSP_K2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_K2 Posted June 8, 2018 Share Posted June 8, 2018 Yes, sometimes the guests are quite interesting. Amongst others, Kevin McCarthy (Invasion of the Body Snatchers), was there many years back. HobbyZoneUSA 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HobbyZoneUSA Posted June 22, 2018 Author Share Posted June 22, 2018 So I let this almost-finished F-5E sit on the bench while I contemplated that Tamiya Flat Aluminum finish. After fiddling with the PCM 1/32 Fw 190A-4 a bit, I am back on the F-5E and adding the yellow fuselage and tail bands of the 425th TFTS. I've never used the larger decals from Kitty Hawk before and I am pleasantly surprised! For such large decals, they're strong enough to be manipulated, but thin enough to conform to complex surfaces without any decal setting solution. I haven't seen aftermarket decals conform like these. While the yellow color looked off to me on the decal sheet, it looks just right over the silver (aluminum) paint. Photos soon. Harold and LSP_K2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HobbyZoneUSA Posted June 22, 2018 Author Share Posted June 22, 2018 More progress on the Kitty Hawk 1/32 F-5E Tiger II - the USAF and 425th TFTS decals are in the process of being applied. I'm working the markings a few at a time to avoid accidentally touching the markings while they're drying. Gazzas, johncrow, sandokan and 4 others 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
themongoose Posted June 22, 2018 Share Posted June 22, 2018 That tail sure looks like they laid down well. Can't believe how well it went over all those curves. Just a little paint inside that cavity and you're all set! How translucent is that yellow without all the light/flash for the picture, can you see the black behind it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HobbyZoneUSA Posted June 22, 2018 Author Share Posted June 22, 2018 That tail sure looks like they laid down well. Can't believe how well it went over all those curves. Just a little paint inside that cavity and you're all set! How translucent is that yellow without all the light/flash for the picture, can you see the black behind it? There's silver paint behind the decals. They are a little translucent though - if you look at the last photo of the dorsal spine, you can see where the black from the side bands is showing through the saddleback decal. But you're right, I am very impressed with how these go down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1to1scale Posted June 23, 2018 Share Posted June 23, 2018 Looks pretty good, although, seeing those, I think I would now decide to paint the yellow bands. HobbyZoneUSA 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HobbyZoneUSA Posted June 23, 2018 Author Share Posted June 23, 2018 Decals are done on the Kitty Hawk 1/32 F-5E, time to add the final details and arm the aircraft! MikeMaben, LSP_Kevin, Mr b and 5 others 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HobbyZoneUSA Posted June 30, 2018 Author Share Posted June 30, 2018 (edited) So now the F-5E is sitting properly on its landing gear now that the main wheels are complete. I was a bit surprised that the tires had no tread on the nose and main wheels, but I'm not waiting for aftermarket on this build. The aircraft is powered-up, so the gear doors and speed boards are all closed. The main gear doors have the piano hinge detail on them, both at fuselage hinges and the outer hinges for the small doors. They don't fit. At all. After filing the inside of the all of the hinges with a microfile, the hinges were finally able to interleave together. Don't forget to remove the fairing off the starboard main gear door for the chaff/flare dispenser if you're backdating your aircraft. Here we are test-fitting the externals. The external wing tanks are ready for paint, the LAU-3 rocket pods are dry-fitted to the outboard pylons, and the SUU-20 going on the centerline is painted and waiting on the bomblets to dry. Just a little more work to do before we can declare this project finished! Edited June 30, 2018 by HobbyZoneUSA MikeMaben, sandokan, LSP_K2 and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hubert Boillot Posted June 30, 2018 Share Posted June 30, 2018 Very purdy scheme. A quick question, if I may. Do you intend to do anything about the mismatch at the rear end of the yellow decals ? Hubert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HobbyZoneUSA Posted June 30, 2018 Author Share Posted June 30, 2018 (edited) Very purdy scheme. A quick question, if I may. Do you intend to do anything about the mismatch at the rear end of the yellow decals ? Hubert I didn't think so initially, but I went back and did a little work to align the black bands as best as they'll get. This build was really a test of the buildability of the model and to try out a few techniques before I build the other two I have waiting. So far, this has been a great build and backdating was a non-issue, but next time I do a 425th aircraft, I'm painting those bands. Edited June 30, 2018 by HobbyZoneUSA Hubert Boillot and Out2gtcha 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr b Posted July 1, 2018 Share Posted July 1, 2018 Almost there. Looks good with the pilot in there.... Interesting to note the rocket pods ? We're they given in the box ? Rgds Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hubert Boillot Posted July 1, 2018 Share Posted July 1, 2018 I didn't think so initially, but I went back and did a little work to align the black bands as best as they'll get. This build was really a test of the buildability of the model and to try out a few techniques before I build the other two I have waiting. So far, this has been a great build and backdating was a non-issue, but next time I do a 425th aircraft, I'm painting those bands. Makes a lot of sense for your stated purpose, Michael. With this great build, you have demonstrated two things : 1) that the kit decals conform pretty well to these complex curves, and 2) that expecting a faultless fit with decals is still probably asking a bit too much. Keep it coming Hubert HobbyZoneUSA 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HobbyZoneUSA Posted July 1, 2018 Author Share Posted July 1, 2018 Almost there. Looks good with the pilot in there.... Interesting to note the rocket pods ? We're they given in the box ? Rgds No, the kit comes with 2 x AIM-9B or AIM-9L (though this bird mostly flew with AIM-9J), 2 x AIM-7 (never carried), 2 x Mk.82, and 2 x Rockeye. Since I am doing a training bird, I used the LAU-3 rocket pods and SUU-20 bomblet dispenser from videoaviation.com. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr b Posted July 1, 2018 Share Posted July 1, 2018 No, the kit comes with 2 x AIM-9B or AIM-9L (though this bird mostly flew with AIM-9J), 2 x AIM-7 (never carried), 2 x Mk.82, and 2 x Rockeye. Since I am doing a training bird, I used the LAU-3 rocket pods and SUU-20 bomblet dispenser from videoaviation.com. Thanks for the clarification. Nice load out planned ....rgds Out2gtcha 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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