Dandiego Posted July 11, 2023 Author Share Posted July 11, 2023 So........... I have been working on the cockpits. Chad supplied a very basic tub and I have been adding details and consoles. Just some sheet plastic in the rear pit. A lot of guesswork really since this baby was never built. I have added some pennies for some extra weight, just in case. I will be adding some resin seats that are meant for an F-15. Dan Starfighter, Dekon, patricksparks and 8 others 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dandiego Posted July 13, 2023 Author Share Posted July 13, 2023 First tail. This has a long metal rod and a sheet metal tab to increase the strength of the joint. 5 min epoxy was the glue of choice. Dan Landrotten Highlander, themongoose, Martinnfb and 9 others 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Barry Posted July 14, 2023 Share Posted July 14, 2023 Fantastic. This scale so rarely does the what if's, prototypes and x-planes. Great to see them come alive. I started down the track of the Skyrocket XF5 but turned around when I could sense I might lose interest in the long run (converted project to my S2 Tracker). Perhaps if I enter a 3D printer-at-home phase like you have, I'll give more attention there. Mmmm. X-3 Stiletto??? Dandiego 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dandiego Posted July 14, 2023 Author Share Posted July 14, 2023 X-3......hmmmm. I have thought about an X-3. Smooth simple lines. But that is the rub. You have to really nail the shape, those simple lines have to be right on or it just doesn't look right. Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dandiego Posted July 15, 2023 Author Share Posted July 15, 2023 Here are the nuts and bolts of how I attach the tails. There is a metal rod and a sheet metal tab. Simple really but this adds so much strength to the joint. Dan Landrotten Highlander, LSP_Kevin, patricksparks and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dandiego Posted July 18, 2023 Author Share Posted July 18, 2023 Ok both tails on, puttied and primed. Canopy blanks have been filled with Bondo in prep for vacforming. And I have started to detail the forward weapons bay. Lots more to do. Dan Shoggz, patricksparks, Landrotten Highlander and 6 others 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dandiego Posted July 19, 2023 Author Share Posted July 19, 2023 (edited) Time to get the cockpit sorted out so that I can close up the fuselage. Here are the side panels and rear IP. I am happy with the result. I will make a few improvements. Rear IP definitely needs some more details. This one was to check the fit into the pit. And a few pieces in place. Since there never was an FB-23 I have had to guess what it would look like. The front cockpit is based on actual photos of an F-23. The rear pit will be based on an FA-18F. Hopefully a semi-close match as I am guessing that they were conceived in the same basic timeframe and therefore might share basic layout and components. Lots o fun. Stay tuned. Dan Edited July 19, 2023 by Dandiego Landrotten Highlander, patricksparks, LSP_Kevin and 4 others 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dandiego Posted July 20, 2023 Author Share Posted July 20, 2023 (edited) As I am working on the cockpit I am also adding detail to the forward weapons bay. I have designed some generic panels that will fit between the ribs in Chad's weapons bay. And a few in place. And the final rear IP. Dan Edited July 20, 2023 by Dandiego Dekon, patricksparks, Out2gtcha and 4 others 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dandiego Posted July 21, 2023 Author Share Posted July 21, 2023 (edited) Cockpit work continues. Here is where I am now. Most components have been printed. Both seats have been modified to fit the cockpit tub. Front IP. This is just a second rear IP cut up and rearranged to fit the smaller front cockpit. Didn't want to design a whole new part. A few more details still to install, but paint is near. Dan Edited July 22, 2023 by Dandiego Landrotten Highlander, denders, LSP_Kevin and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeroen_R90S Posted July 22, 2023 Share Posted July 22, 2023 That is cool! Dandiego 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dandiego Posted July 22, 2023 Author Share Posted July 22, 2023 Hey today is paint day. Got some flat white into the forward weapons bay and front gear bay. Final color will be gloss white. Some paint on the cockpit IPs. And last for today are the jet nozzles. These were a little hard to fit. They did not want to slide into place. So I had to cut a slot into the nozzle, pinch it in a little before it would fit. Dan waxdart, Out2gtcha, denders and 7 others 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeMaben Posted July 23, 2023 Share Posted July 23, 2023 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dandiego Posted July 23, 2023 Author Share Posted July 23, 2023 Cockpits painted and installed. Forward fuselage halves glued together. Dan denders, Landrotten Highlander, Jim Barry and 4 others 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dandiego Posted July 23, 2023 Author Share Posted July 23, 2023 Aft and forward fuselage sections have been joined. Oh my. Dan blackbetty, waxdart, Fanes and 6 others 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_Kevin Posted July 24, 2023 Share Posted July 24, 2023 Amazing stuff, Dan! And I have an even greater appreciation for it now. Kev Dandiego 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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