EF-2000 Typhoon Rebuild

mchoo2005 · May 04, 2010, 05:44:09 PM

I posted this topic on another forum (eScale Models), and was pointed to this one by one of the members of that forum. Since I'm planning to rebuild this badly built Typhoon into what if bird, I thought it would be fitting to post a thread here too....

This project is intended as a distraction from my main one (which is currently a Revell F-22 Raptor), so it might take a while for me to finish this. In fact, I can't even promise regular updates. It is also quite likely that I may never finish this project.

Alright... the subject/victim is my very first foray into scale modelling: Tamiya Warbird Collection (a.k.a. Italeri) EF-2000 Eurofighter Typhoon. Being my very first model, the build quality was EXTREMELY BAD! The fact that the kit was a typical Italeri kit didn't help....

I will try to salvage/convert this bird with the least amount of effort possible... In fact, I'm planning to retain all the original parts (there will be no aftermarket parts), and reuse any left-over parts I have from other kits, including decals. At this stage, I'm not even planning to rescribe any of the panel lines.

Here are some samples of BEFORE pics showing how much work is in store for me:

I've been working on this thing on and off for the past week or so. Somehow, the fuselage came unglued from the wing section, which is a good thing, because it allows me to work on this model better. It probably "knows" that it's about to get a bit more lovin'!

A couple of nights ago, I decided to start filling the gaps with Tamiya Basic Putty (thinned with nail polish remover). Left the putty for 24 hours to cure, then started wet sanding last night. Started with 400 grit, 600 grit, then down to 800 grit, and in some cases to 1200 grit. When I was satisfied with sanding, wiped the fuselage and wings with a rag, and left 'em for about an hour to let the leftover moisture to evaporate. I then sprayed a thin coat of Tamiya Fine Surface Primer. Here are some pics after spraying the primer. Some parts require a bit more putty and sanding, but I reckon these parts already look much better than the original state.

Note the misaligned section between the "spine" section and the vert stab root... I'm going to leave it there. Trying to "fix" that might make it worse.

Lost some panel lines during sanding, which I don't think are noticeable enough to warrant rescribing.

By the way, you might notice that both canards broke off.... I will re-attach them with metal pins/needles.

Now.... can anyone provide any suggestion for colour scheme? Something that is not gray...

Cobra · May 04, 2010, 07:37:00 PM

Have you Considered trying a Scheme of Silver & White,White for the Body and then Tiger Stripe or Mask off Areas and Paint them Silver, like some kind of Demo Aircraft? just an Idea for Your Consideration. Dan

mchoo2005 · May 04, 2010, 09:05:18 PM

Hmmm... sounds interesting... it's a bit hard for me to visualize though. Do you have a picture of something similar?

Cobra · May 04, 2010, 09:49:38 PM

something similar to this:http:/acecombatskies.com/uploads/gallery/1205895830/gallery_16_32_15160.jpg hope this helps.Dan

mchoo2005 · May 04, 2010, 10:12:39 PM

VERY NICE! The tiger stripes will be a bit of a challenge to do though.... Lots of hours masking with Blu Tac.....

I'll definitely consider it.

Cobra · May 04, 2010, 10:47:12 PM

i thought you'd like it. there was plane in the Same Game that was what You're working. it was from a Squadron called 'ROT'! i was Nervous about showing you that Scheme because it looked more Complex in Colors & Markings! stay cool

Dan

beowulf · May 05, 2010, 01:32:02 AM

welcome aboard, Mike Thumbs Up

like you i hate grey schemes......im sure if the guys here dont give you plenty of ideas, a quick nosy round will give you plenty of inspiration

Quote from: mchoo2005 on May 04, 2010, 05:44:09 PM
It is also quite likely that I may never finish this project.

unlikely......ive found whiffing to be more and more addictive, not just the modelling but the research and back story creation too.....think you will find that once you start you will want to make progress to see how it turns out in the end

mchoo2005 · May 05, 2010, 03:52:17 AM

Quote from: beowulf on May 05, 2010, 01:32:02 AM
like you i hate grey schemes.....

Well... "hate" is too strong a word.

Occasionally, I don't mind building fighters using official operational colour scheme. Even better if the official colour scheme involves breaking the "traditional" two-tone gray.

Quote from: beowulf on May 05, 2010, 01:32:02 AM
unlikely......ive found whiffing to be more and more addictive, not just the modelling but the research and back story creation too.....think you will find that once you start you will want to make progress to see how it turns out in the end

My comment about the possibility of not finishing was more because of the state of the subject/victim, combined with, what I think, rather lack of modelling experience, skills, and patience on my part. The last one is, I think, by far, the "deadliest"!

I'm already frustrated by my "main" project atm (Revell Raptor - full thread is in both eScale Models and ARCforums).

Jschmus · May 05, 2010, 04:54:34 AM

Not to criticize, but shouldn't this be in "Current Projects"?

mchoo2005 · May 05, 2010, 05:16:07 AM

Quote from: Jschmus on May 05, 2010, 04:54:34 AM
Not to criticize, but shouldn't this be in "Current Projects"?

Oh crap...... I thought it was....

I must've inadvertently started this new thread/topic in the "wrong" forum....

Moderator/Administrator: would you mind moving this thread to the right forum, please?

mchoo2005 · May 15, 2010, 07:31:31 AM

Right-o.... Have been working on this kit on and off for the past couple of weeks... very slow progress.

Went to a few shops to get ideas for the "base". At first, I wanted to find some kind of clear plastic rod, but can't seem to find any, so I finally decided to use this cheap camera tripod. Only cost AUD $2.

I then went to a local hardware store (Bunnings) and bought a pack of 12x 1/4" dome nuts.

Next, drilled a hole on the lower fuselage, and glued the dome nut. I used Tamiya cement, reinforced with liberal amount of 2-part Epoxy bond (Selley's 5-minute epoxy, or something like that). Forgot to take the pic of the nut covered with the epoxy bond

Left the dome nut a few days to let the epoxy bond to fully cure.

That was a few days ago.....

Tonight, I decided to glue the top and bottom fuselage halves together, and applied TONS of Tamiya Basic Putty (thinned with nail polish remover).

I'm gonna leave this a week before attempting to sand off the putty....

In the meantime, I'm gonna finish the Revell F-22, and perhaps start working on a pair of F-16 aggressor birds.... Let's see....

mchoo2005 · May 18, 2010, 01:46:18 AM

Been chipping away on this... Couldn't wait a week, so decided to start sanding the Tamiya putty off.... Found a couple of places where I had to touch up with more putty.... Did that... Re-glued the jet exhaust, applied more putty between jet exhaust and fuselage.

Thought I'd motivate myself in continuing with this project by seeing how good this plane would look mounted on the little tripod.

So, I carefully screwed the tripod on, then took these pics:

Should've covered the jet intake..... oh well...

John Howling Mouse · May 18, 2010, 06:59:41 PM

That tripod's a nifty idea. Keep plugging away at this, Mike....it'll be worth it in the end!

Captain Canada · May 18, 2010, 08:58:26 PM

Nice work so far ! Gotta love the new Typhoon....

mchoo2005 · May 22, 2010, 07:59:41 PM

OK... I've had another think about what colour scheme to use on this Typhoon. Although I initially wanted to paint it with some kind of aggressor scheme, I'm not so sure anymore. Instead, I'm seriously considering using some kind of unusual "demonstration" scheme...... Considering painting some kind of tiger stripes, at least on the vert stab (making it almost like "Tiger Meet" bird), but I'm not so sure what the easiest way of painting the tiger stripes without completely losing my patience!

Any ideas?

Cheers!