Uncarina Posted April 4, 2020 Share Posted April 4, 2020 (edited) Since I finished my last Tamiya Viper back in 2017 I have wanted to build a more recent Block, and around that time I picked up the Model Maker stencil set for a Polish Block 52 with markings for the 2015 Tiger Meet. Now the time is right--thanks Patrick! I will be converting the Tamiya Block 50 to the Block 52 version. Many of you know much more than I do about the Viper (please keep me honest), but here is what I will need to do: 1. Pratt and Whitney 229 engine (I have the set from the Tamiya Thunderbirds release, and I am ordering a decal set for the carbon fiber petals). 2. This engine used the NSI (small mouth) inlet (I am using the GT Resin conversion). 3. The Block 52 had a larger nose wheel (I will be using a main wheel from the 1/48 UH-60, per Peter Fleischmann's Block 52 build). 4. Extended parabrake (I will either be able to purchase a PWMP set or scratchbuild). I first checked out the resin inlet from GT Resin, and I was impressed with the detail and fit. Next, on to the cockpit. Feel free to follow along! Cheers, Tom Edited April 5, 2020 by Uncarina Dutch Man, Out2gtcha, LSP_Kevin and 6 others 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Fleischmann Posted April 4, 2020 Share Posted April 4, 2020 (edited) Hi Tom! outstanding! This will be fun to watch- I love the Polish block 52’s- and the particular scheme you’ve chosen will look so cool. Looking forward to more! You are off to an excellent start! Also; You may be able to find an extended parabrake housing from the Academy kit. It requires a little fiddling; but It’ll work as well- cheers Pete Edited April 4, 2020 by Pete Fleischmann Uncarina, Martinnfb and Derek B 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenshb Posted April 4, 2020 Share Posted April 4, 2020 Scratchbuilding the brake chute housing is fairly straightforward - this is the one I built for the Chilean F-16 in Pete's book since the Wolfpack item was too small to fit (due to shrinkage). I used the antennas from the resin set however. The brake chute itself is not difficult to make from Magic Sculpt or similar epoxy putty. Or lead foil. Out2gtcha, Martinnfb, Pete Fleischmann and 4 others 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CZPetrP Posted April 4, 2020 Share Posted April 4, 2020 Good job. I will watch with interest Uncarina and Martinnfb 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dustiepal Posted April 4, 2020 Share Posted April 4, 2020 Here is a video of the build you are doing, hope it helps. Dave Uncarina, Out2gtcha and Martinnfb 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncarina Posted April 4, 2020 Author Share Posted April 4, 2020 Thanks Everyone! This is just the kind of support I need to give it my best. Pete, that’s a good idea as well—I’ll put in a request on the traders board. Jens, you did a great job, and failing a replacement I actually would enjoy the challenge of making my own. Cheers, Tom Martinnfb, Pete Fleischmann and Derek B 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lothar Posted April 4, 2020 Share Posted April 4, 2020 (edited) I'm hoping the front row seats haven't all be taken by now. Excellent choice of markings for this build. I had the pleasure to see a Polish Block 52 Viper in Tiger Meet markings at the meet at Cambrais: I'll definitely follow this one with immense interest. Lothar Edited April 4, 2020 by Lothar Derek B, Uncarina, Martinnfb and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncarina Posted April 4, 2020 Author Share Posted April 4, 2020 (edited) Thanks Lothar! That’s a beautiful photo. I am not sure if I can still source the Skunk Models conformal fuel tanks, but with or without them I love the look of this aircraft as well. Cheers, Tom Edited April 4, 2020 by Uncarina Lothar, Martinnfb and Derek B 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncarina Posted April 4, 2020 Author Share Posted April 4, 2020 1 hour ago, dustiepal said: Here is a video of the build you are doing, hope it helps. Dave Dave, thanks! I had seen this before, but it was a while. It shows me it can be done! Cheers, Tom Martinnfb 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncarina Posted April 4, 2020 Author Share Posted April 4, 2020 (edited) Just a brief update for today. I started on the ejection seat. One of the things I find oddly fun to replicate is the fuzzy seat cushions. Others have used PVA glue with resin dust, but I like to minimize my exposure to the latter. Something I found by accident was that Tamiya Pavement Effect texture paint works really well. It acts like stippled Mr Surfacer, but is odor free and thins with water. Here it is shown with the completed seat from my previous Viper build: While that dries I moved on to the rest of the cockpit, focusing on the left sidewall. Both sidewalls had slight ejection marks, which I removed with a fiberglass pen. Once this was done I scratchbuilt the canopy ejection handle and canopy lock mechanism: Cheers, Tom Edited April 4, 2020 by Uncarina scvrobeson, Pete Fleischmann, USMC Herc and 6 others 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kagemusha Posted April 5, 2020 Share Posted April 5, 2020 Lucky Model have the CFTs, I'll check my Sufa kit tomorrow, if I have the parabrake it's yours. Zacto make wonderful AIM-120's. ps. Great subject. Derek B, Martinnfb and Uncarina 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncarina Posted April 5, 2020 Author Share Posted April 5, 2020 (edited) Thanks, glad you like it, and thanks also for the kind offer. Alex (Helmsman) is very kindly sending me one already. That’s a great lead on the CFT’s, I just haven’t yet decided. Cheers, Tom Edited April 5, 2020 by Uncarina Kagemusha, Martinnfb and Derek B 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolf Buddee Posted April 5, 2020 Share Posted April 5, 2020 Cool subject Tom. Good reference material too. I have that same book in my library. Just what you need for your build. Cheers, Wolf Uncarina, Pete Fleischmann and Martinnfb 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martinnfb Posted April 5, 2020 Share Posted April 5, 2020 Pulling out the comfy chair :). Derek B, Pete Fleischmann and Uncarina 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncarina Posted April 5, 2020 Author Share Posted April 5, 2020 Wolf, Martin, I’m truly honored to have you attend! Between Pete’s book and Jake Melampy’s The Modern Viper Guide I am well served—but those detail photos. I mean, once you see them they cannot be unseen! Cheers, Tom Martinnfb and Derek B 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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