Alex Posted October 29, 2023 Author Share Posted October 29, 2023 After 15+ hours, 326 stencil decals, and a dozen insignia decals, this phase of the project is DONE. I'm not the first person to gripe about this aspect of building modern fighter jet models, but once it's done you reflect that the stenciling adds so much realism to the final product that we should just be grateful that companies like Foxbot go to the trouble to produce these sheets (and at a very high level of quality for the Foxbot decals). These photos were taken after I has shot a coat of flat over the decals, obviously, which has flattened/blended them and the camo paint to a pleasing degree. The only slight gripe on the decals is that the white on the aircraft numbers ("41") is not totally opaque, so the camo peeks through just a touch. Forewarned (e.g. on my upcoming Frogfoot) I'd make a stencil and pre-spray a white background for them. ROM, patricksparks, Fanes and 11 others 13 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_Kevin Posted October 30, 2023 Share Posted October 30, 2023 That looks fantastic, Alex! Kev Martinnfb and Alex 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_Ray Posted October 30, 2023 Share Posted October 30, 2023 Beautiful! Alex and Martinnfb 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncarina Posted October 30, 2023 Share Posted October 30, 2023 (edited) Awesome work! Not sure if it’s cost effective, but a second decal set’s “41” laid over this could help. Alternatively, you could make a stencil from a second set and spray over the translucent decal, then sell the second sheet. Cheers, Tom Edited October 30, 2023 by Uncarina Alex and Martinnfb 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scvrobeson Posted October 30, 2023 Share Posted October 30, 2023 Great to see that you got through all of the decaling. That's a ton of stencils to have to apply, it looks like you did a great job on it. Can't wait to see what happens next Matt Alex and Martinnfb 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Posted October 30, 2023 Author Share Posted October 30, 2023 8 hours ago, LSP_Kevin said: That looks fantastic, Alex! Kev 8 hours ago, LSP_Ray said: Beautiful! 8 hours ago, Uncarina said: Awesome work! Not sure if it’s cost effective, but a second decal set’s “41” laid over this could help. Alternatively, you could make a stencil from a second set and spray over the translucent decal, then sell the second sheet. Cheers, Tom 7 hours ago, scvrobeson said: Great to see that you got through all of the decaling. That's a ton of stencils to have to apply, it looks like you did a great job on it. Can't wait to see what happens next Matt Thank you gentlemen! What’s up next is some little things like running lights, then final assembly! She’s close now… scvrobeson and Martinnfb 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Posted October 31, 2023 Author Share Posted October 31, 2023 Prototypically complicated Soviet landing gear. Seems a shame to cover most of it up with gear bay doors, but that's how the real 'uns are. In that shot you can also see the really poorly rendered under-fuselage pylons that came with the kit and the bit of centerline seam that I failed to do well. Not fixing stuff on the bottom at this juncture. Forward LG already partly hidden... Fanes, LSP_Kevin, LSP_Ray and 8 others 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martinnfb Posted October 31, 2023 Share Posted October 31, 2023 Joy to follow Alex 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Posted November 1, 2023 Author Share Posted November 1, 2023 Standing on it's own feet for the first time! And thus confirming that there's enough nose weight, so I can go ahead and glue the radome on... patricksparks, chukw, LSP_Ray and 5 others 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncarina Posted November 1, 2023 Share Posted November 1, 2023 You really are bringing this to life Alex! Cheers, Tom Alex and Martinnfb 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Posted November 1, 2023 Author Share Posted November 1, 2023 All bombed up. I glued the pylons on, but the Storm Shadows stay in place nicely just with their brass rods slipped into the pylons, so I'm leaving them that way in case I ever need to remove them. The only other ordnance is these characteristic dual-rail missile launchers on the outer wing pylons. At that point on the slender sweeping wing, the only ordnance that they can carry is the lightweight AA-8 Aphid heat seeker. Figured I'd give our guy a few of them in case any Russian Flankers show up to interfere (although an AAMRAM would be infinitely better in that situation, if only they had been integrated to date, but AFAIK no joy on that). Shoggz, Martinnfb, scvrobeson and 5 others 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Out2gtcha Posted November 1, 2023 Share Posted November 1, 2023 16 minutes ago, Alex said: All bombed up. I glued the pylons on, but the Storm Shadows stay in place nicely just with their brass rods slipped into the pylons, so I'm leaving them that way in case I ever need to remove them. The only other ordnance is these characteristic dual-rail missile launchers on the outer wing pylons. At that point on the slender sweeping wing, the only ordnance that they can carry is the lightweight AA-8 Aphid heat seeker. Figured I'd give our guy a few of them in case any Russian Flankers show up to interfere (although an AAMRAM would be infinitely better in that situation, if only they had been integrated to date, but AFAIK no joy on that). Fantastic! That really does look terrific. The digital schemes look great on the Eastern block airframes. Alex and Martinnfb 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Posted November 1, 2023 Author Share Posted November 1, 2023 21 minutes ago, Out2gtcha said: Fantastic! That really does look terrific. The digital schemes look great on the Eastern block airframes. Glad you are liking it. It's a bunch of work to paint, but I am pretty pleased with the outcome. I have a MiG-29 and an Su-25 in the stash that will both probably get their version of the UAF grey-tone digital camo, so it'll eventually be a nice little collection... Martinnfb 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scvrobeson Posted November 2, 2023 Share Posted November 2, 2023 It looks fantastic Alex! Can't wait to see you complete the last few steps and get this one done Matt Alex and Martinnfb 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aigore Posted November 4, 2023 Share Posted November 4, 2023 Looks fantastic! I have the very same model planned..... so not looking forwards to masking that digi-cammo! Alex and Martinnfb 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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