Drones, The New Generation

[MichelC]

Hello everybody!

After the Komet I started, or rather, resumed this build of the MQ- 1.

You'll notice that this one has no pit and a simplified landing gear. In case you're wondering why I chose it after the Me 163.  

For those not familiar with the Italeri offering, let me show you what you get.



As far as I know the Italeri Kit is the same as the earlier Platz kit. Maybe somebody can confirm this.



Sprues are essentially the same as the RQ-1 with some additional parts for the weaponry (this I can confirm as I do have the other box too).





Decals sheet gives one 3 possible schemes.



A nice, straightforward little kit. There is a downside though, an orange peel texture to the styrene that has to be got rid of.  



A quick dry-fit to see how the bird will look like.







So there. A simple little kit of an 'aircraft' that's become so ubiquitous that it even features in Hollywood productions.  

M

[ChernayaAkula]

Yup, reboxing of the Platz kit. Lookin' good so far!  Who's it going to be operated by?

[philp]

Looking good.

I still need someone to make decals for the one I have started.  Been thinking of buying a nice color laser jet but still not too good with graphic programs so would be finding stuff and matching the size for a bit.

[MichelC]

Yup, reboxing of the Platz kit. Lookin' good so far!  Who's it going to be operated by?

It is Platz then, thanks. This Predator will be done with the markings found in the box: that's USAF 432nd Air Expeditionary Wing, Creech Air Force Base or 57th Wing, Nellis.

M

[MichelC]

The sensors turret has to be done before assembling the fuse. (There is an alternative, which is to cut off the flange that keeps the turret inside the hole in the fuse lower half so it can be attached from the outside but I decided to not go that route. I'll simply mask off the turret during painting.)

First some sculpting of the ball with #11 blade and micro drill bits.



Placards are bits of decals.



The dark glass of the main lens is a piece of photo film.



The smaller lens is an acetate disc colored with yellow clear paint.



The smallest lens was simply painted with successive coats of silver, clear blue and gloss varnish.









That's it for the detailing of the turret and most probably for detailing of this kit altogether. 

M

[James]

Cracking detail. Could never do work as small and neat as that. 

[Mossie]

Another one that I've got in stash and a nice kit oob.  You like 'em small!  Bede BD-5 next???

[MichelC]

Thanks James, thanks Mossie,

Next: pou du ciel, the armed version.

Just kidding...

M

[PR19_Kit]

Next: pou du ciel, the armed version.

Just kidding...

One would look good carrying a Grand Slam........... 

[kitbasher]

I've been tempted to get either a Predator or a Reaper but so far have not parted with cash.

Ever seen a Predator in real life?  Noisiest aircraft imaginable for its size!

[PR19_Kit]

Ever seen a Predator in real life?  Noisiest aircraft imaginable for its size!

They don't need to fit silencers for the crew 'cos they're a couple of continents away....... 

[MichelC]

Ever seen a Predator in real life?  Noisiest aircraft imaginable for its size!

They don't need to fit silencers for the crew 'cos they're a couple of continents away....... 

Yeah, plus they can take 5 any time they please, go outside stretch their legs, pay a visit to the coffee machine... 

M

[GeorgeC]

oops, fat fingers...

[Captain Canada]

Great job so far. The turret looks real to me !

[MichelC]

Thanks all for the comments. It's been a while since I posted last so here's what I've been up to, namely improving some detail and especially correcting the one fault of this kit: the warped V-tail.

You can see the curved lines of the V-tail here:



After a dip in boiling water and a night clamped to a straightedge things came back to normal.



However, the hot water dunking caused all the attachment points to shrink, resulting in awful sink marks. Even part of the trailing edge was gone. Fortunately, I have just what I need for such a situation: my home-made filler! What do you use when you need to add styrene back on? Styrene, of course.

I always keep on hand a jar of melted styrene.



Easy to make. After you're done eating the delicious German marmalade, just throw bits of sprue into the jar, soak with lacquer thinner for a day or two and there you have it! Semi-liquid plastic. Daub some onto the area that needs it and let it cure for 24H. 



After some trimming/sanding you can't even tell the difference between the original plastic and the filler.



BTW, the kit's ruddervators balances were gotten rid of from the start. I'll make new, better ones.



Next I tackled the bad fit at the rear, using the engineer blue method: daub some blue (black in this case) -- a felt pen works well -- onto one of the parts, press the two parts together, notice the now black areas on the non-blacked part, say "Ah-ha!" and then proceed to remove the black area with a sharp blade. Repeat. Many times. Until you have a perfect fit. Lengthy, I know, but you spare time not using any filler later on.



In terms of improvements, I opened up the vents and air-scoops:



The scoop on the starboard side was drilled out.



The lens on the nose was done by a simple groove by the kit-maker.



I improved this with a small disc punched out of a piece of photo film (from the old times before it all got digital, some of you might remember... lol)



The exhaust was made form a piece of hypo needle filed obliquely.



Dorsal antennas (lumps of plastic, yak!) were removed and replaced by new ones fashioned out of soda can. Very useful, soda can. Beer can works to. Or any other beverage provided it comes in a can. lol



The pitot and pitch instrumentation was scratched out of foil and bits of wire.



The fiddly bits will be set aside until after painting, of course. Here's another one of those: dorsal nav light made out of a piece of stretched clear sprue colored with clear red paint.



The wing-tips nav lights were done with pieces of stretched sprue as well. I took a manageable piece that I could hold easily, rounded off the front end, cut it to length and glued it immediately to the wing tip (the carpet monster in always lurking, lol).



Then, once it was in place, I trimmed the rear end to shape.



That's all folks for the moment. Back to work to get this thing together before the w/e. 

M