Revell 1/32 Phantom 2 WTD 61 "flight test" wip

[Irishaernut]

As summer gives up trying here in Ireland I am going to get started on this kit.
I went on a bit of a frenzy in a local model shop sale.
But this jumped out as I have adored phantoms , and they are by far my favourite aircraft with the victor.

When this arrived I noticed how big the box was. And then how big the model was.
This is going to be fun.
I also have very little modelling equipment. Just a knife , filler and some rattle cans and a few old enamels.
So I will try and do this as best I can.

[Andover]

Now that is a very sexy livery.

[Irishaernut]

Right so I've started this ,
This is big and my work space is a badly lit ikea knee high coffee table .
I have brushes and humbrol rattle cans and very little talent.

Now the excuses are out of the way, the box is huge even compared to the 1/32 mossie box.



And the seats compared to a brush




Some painting of the seat done pics to follow
When I have more completed
Steve

[iaint]

I'll be following this build with interest, I've got the 'Blue Rhino' boxing of this kit, complete with blue moulded sprues

[Niallxg]

Another one who will be watching with interest.

[Irishaernut]

Well some new enamels has made my life easier on starting this one , but the paint doesn't always stick.
Some of you mention washing the spruces , how do you do this , warm soapy water?
Is this to improve adhesion ? Presumably this removes whatever is in the plastic , mold release agent etc?

So here's my entire kit for modelling, two shoe boxes





And the start of painting the seats and tub parts, also the two tone for the inside of the cockpit but I have a feeling this won't be lined up with the tub instrument panels in the end .




Cheers Steve

[Irishaernut]

I have been slow to start but things have started.
As per usual I have problems with not having the right tones of paint or the ability to scratch build amazing pieces in the cockpit.
But I have made a start and have a question I have completed the cockpit without the decals but instead with painting.
Do folks think the decals or some of them improve the dials ?













So what do you think ?
Should I go with a few dial decals?
Or is the paint enough?

Steve

[Irishaernut]

I went with the decals but only after closing the two fuselage halves ( bad idea)
They worked out ok and it was my first use of decal soft that worked.
The front under carriage bay was a bad fit and no amount of model clamping or bands would fix it place so filler will have to fix it.

What do people use to rescribe panel lines , and what guides your hand ? Tape ? Ruler or some technique ?

Anyway here's some updates .





Wings and fuselage together


Some cockpit sills added, basic but I'll get them looking weathered




Cheers Steve

[Fumbles]

Sorry I have not seen this thread till now... good choice in adding the decals. The cockpit looked a little empty without them. All in all though, the build is coming along rather nicely. Regarding the re-scribing... I use one of these--> http://www.walmart.com/ip/10202-Scribing-Tool/37307584
For the guide I use a flexible plastic ruler. This way I can wrap it around parts of the fuselage when needed.

I'll be watching this one as I bought the same kit at RIAT for £18 and will be on my next to build list.

[Irishaernut]

Thanks for the info fumbles,
I'll be trying to get something like that .
As for the fill there might be quite a bit to do on this , as with most big kits there's some warping of the parts.

But I'm gonna take my time with this one .

[Irishaernut]

This project is moving along and I am trying to take my time to do things to the best of my abilities .
As sometimes I can get distracted and give up and just throw some thing together.
So now I have joined the main fuselage to the wings and cockpit and added the intakes.
The undersides are a bit gappy but hopefully I can blend them with putty.

So to kick of a few photos of where I'm at.
Any help comments or critique would be welcome.





Steve

[Seafurysmith]

Hi, interesting thread, I have this on my workbench at the moment, a lot of work but worth it. Seen the aircraft at Wittmund on static display and fly in. Hope it goes well.........

[Seafurysmith]

Here she is flying in to Wittmund on the Thursday before the show in 2013. As you can tell the weather was truly awfull!

[Irishaernut]

Thanks seafury it is a bit of work alright , there are a few joins which are very difficult to align.
But the detail is ok and it will be an interesting decal battle and paint job.
I am moving onto the engine nacelles and Turkey feathers now.

What orange are you using and I presume it's airbrushed on?

Are you doing a wip , if you want you can update on this .

Cheers Steve

[Seafurysmith]

Hi Steve, the orange is simply a plastikote spray (rattle) can, gloss orange, bought off ebay for a couple of quid. Not over looking forward to the main decals so using the tailplane as a trial run. Time to get back into it...................
Mark

[Irishaernut]

Cool I have decided to use some of the graffiti cans from work which is slightly lower pressure.
And seems to be the right tone.
And yeah I'm not looking forward to the decals.

But so far I'm loving the huge size of the model.

[Irishaernut]

Well got a good bit done today, and was going to spray on the Orange as well but the type of paint I was going to use didn't work out.
I had some orange gloss graffiti paint which I had used before but it is too thick , so I will have to wait while the right paint arrives in the post.
I'm also thinking of just having the two drop tanks and no centreline tank or weapons , but exactly as it is on the box and in the photos I have seen of it in real life.
Some of my filler and putty work didn't work out to well but I have go it as far as I can to smooth and blended.

Going to start in the other parts that need spraying now .

Any tips comments , criticism welcome.

[Niallxg]

Looking good.

Just one comment - while she didn't carry weapons at the Wittmund Phantom farewell event it did carry the pylons inboard of the fuel tanks - https://www.flickr.com/photos/nxgphotos ... 412442755/

Hope it's of some use.

Niall

[Irishaernut]

Thanks Niall I think I will go for that as it's the best look I think.
I am starting to see that the decals are going to be the thing that makes this or break this build.
I will get back to it when the Orange arrives.

Thanks

[Fumbles]

Looking pretty good.. You got the seams down pretty well, the gloss coat will hide a few of the dips here and there. I was looking at my kit the other day with the massive decal sheet. I think I'll be slicing up the biggest decal and putting them on in stages. I really don't trust the size of the bottom decal to be put on in one go! I'm not sure if you'll like to do that yourself... but it is just an idea.

[Irishaernut]

Yeah fumbles I might have a go at slicing them up, would you cut them in strips or into manageable squares and triangles??

As for the seams, I have just noticed that they are fairly visible, so I think I will get out the sanding stuff before I go gloss on this .

There are a few joins which were well off , no matter what I did they have steps in them , particularly the designator pod and the intake cowls.

But it's sheer size and the fact that's it's a phantom , keeps me interested.

[Irishaernut]

Well just 2 shots from last night of taping off the line for orange, and one of the gone wrong orange.
I'm going to prep a little more before starting the Orange



The strange graffiti paint with its wavey finish



Nice Matt black

[Georgeconna]

nice work, picked one of these up from Marks for a bargain E34.00!! I will keep a close eye on progress.

[Irishaernut]

Yep that's where I got this , great price.
I have had a shot at the paint and although there was some bleed I fixed it with the brush.
I found it hard to get the paint on even with a humbrol rattle can but its not a bad finish.

I am not working on the smaller parts and painting them up but I have used almost the entire can as it's such a big beast

I get some more close ups soon

[Seafurysmith]

Here are a few shots of some recent progress on my example.



First main block of colour now done after a lot of masking. Canopy added and tailplane finished ready for fixing.







I intend to do all the main decals and then spray the remainder black. I have found the decals on the tail plane fairly thick and need a bit of soaking to release. Be warned they don't seem to adhere too well and I already have damaged a bit in handling so need to get the gloss black out! All in all a lot of work but it seems to be progressing now.