**** DONE: GB-44 1/48 F-5E - Military A/C of post-war time

[Airframes]

Thanks chaps, and yes, around four hours to get all these on.
The gloss sealing coat has been applied and now fully hard. Hoping to get the clear semi-matt coat done later today, after moving hundreds of books and some furniture - re-arranging and tidying the lounge !

 

[Airframes]

Matt coat done and all masking removed.
The port upper wing needs another going over, as the varnish is a bit thin in a couple of areas, and some re-touching is needed around a small area of the exhausts - bit of paint bleed where the tape lifted. I'll get that done in daylight, possibly tomorrow, when I'm not trying to spray in my own shadow.
There's still some PVA to remove around the cockpit sill, and adhesive residue to clean away on the canopy and windscreen.
When that's done, the decals can be applied to the main wheel bays and belly tank, then fit the SIWAS and tank, do some detail painting and move on to the undercart and doors, then it'll be time to detail, paint and fit the seat, and start work on some canopy detail.

 

[Wurger]

 

[Crimea_River]

Very nice Terry.

 

[Wayne Little]

Good stuff Terry.....I got lots of stencils to look forward to on my birds too.....

 

[Airframes]

Thanks chaps.
Got the port wing clear coat done, and some of the re-touching. Busy with domestic stuff still, but might get a bit done tonight or some time tomorrow.
Pics when there's something worth showing .................

 

[Gnomey]

Great work so far Terry!

 

[Airframes]

Thanks Hugh.
No further progress I'm afraid - wrists and hands are too bl**dy stiff and painful. Darned frustrating, sitting here looking at the model, and unable to do anything !

 

[fubar57]

Good stuff Terry. While decals are my favourite part of the build, stencils....not so much

 

[Airframes]

Yep, stencils always seem to take time, and it's a case of "should I do them all, or ?".
As Karl mentioned re his RAF Phantom, there are lots on that bird. I did one around 15 years ago, and I think there were over 150 small stencils to apply, from a very detailed after market sheet.
Only got another 8 to do on the belly tank and pylon, so not too bad - when or if I can get my bl**dy hands to work !

 

[Airframes]

Getting there slowly, with the nav lamps painted and glazed, and the re-touching done. Hoping my hands work enough to allow me to fit the SIWAs later tonight, and start on the resin ejection seat, adding a little more detail. I think it'll be better to fit this at this stage, as it will possibly need a little adjusting.
Might have some pics later ..................

 

[Wayne Little]

Bring 'em on....!

 

[Airframes]

Sorry, hands weren't up to it. Maybe get some done tonight ................

 

[Airframes]

Heck, it's been a month since I did anything on this model !!
My hands and wrists (and most of the rest of my body !) have really been giving me trouble, but things seem to be easing off a bit now, and I hope to get back to it possibly later today, or tomorrow.
Got to do some fiddly stuff, starting with a test-fit of the canopy mechanism, to see if the completed canopy assembly can be fitted after the ejection seat, then add detail to the seat and paint it, and start on the canopy internal detailing. This will then be put aside until the landing gear, belly tank, brass guns and the missiles are sorted and fitted.
With a bit of luck, I might even get it finished by the extended deadline.

 

[Airframes]

A week later, and still no progress.
This isn't going to be finished by the extended deadline, as I'm still too stiff and in pain - can't even type without severe discomfort - and to cap it all, I now have a mild case of shingles !
I'll get back to it when I#m able, and up-date in this thread.

 

[Wayne Little]

Sorry to hear Terry....

 

[Airframes]

At last, I have just about enough articulation in my hands and wrists to get back to work on this, starting with the resin seat.
The later style seat, from Quickboost, is quite nicely done, and incorporates the seat harness. Although the G-suit hose, on the port side ( red arrow), is included as part of the casting, the central tail strap for the shoulder harness, and the pilot's oxygen hose, on the starboard side, are not depicted.
A strip of wine bottle foil was used for the harness strap, and the oxygen hose added, using a length of 0.6mm flexible hose from one of my MDC sets, both of these being attached with spots of CA.
The pics show the seat before and after the additions, along with the MDC hose pack. All being well, I should have this painted, detailed and decalled and fitted sometime tomorrow, and I'll post pics then.
I'm very short of available data for browsing at the moment, and there seems to be a problem on-line with my service provider, so I hope I can add more date by then !

 

[Crimea_River]

Glad you are back at it Terry and the adds look good. I suspect there's a lot more internet use in your area which is slowing things down. I'm getting that at times as well.

 

[Airframes]

Thanks Andy.
Yes, I guess there will be a lot more internet usage, with the lock-down here. I've certainly used it much more than usual, watching movies and documentaries etc, hence my use of my monthly allowance, with 7 days still to go before renewal !

 

[Wurger]