F-16X 'Advance' - FINISHED!

[silverwindblade]

Sadly I do not possess an airbrush, all of my painting is of the hairy stick variety.

[perttime]

so... painting through a mesh might not be practical.

For camo, one of my favorite approaches is trying to break the shape of the object into pretty big panels of somewhat contrasting colors, so that none of the colored areas really looks like an airplane part. Like "splinter camo" but so big that, for example, a wing has two or three color panels that are NOT shaped like a wing.
An instructor told us during my conscript service: "Don't make it look like a truck that is wrapped in camo nets. Make it look like it isn't a truck".

[silverwindblade]

So, as there was a break in the rain this morning and I had some time, I sprayed an undercoat on the F-16X, and did a little more work alongside my F-111.


I added a few bits and pieces more to spice things up - just a circular antenna for a GPS-type system, and some kind of airspeed sensor or something.


I've also added a targeting pod under the nose, as I like the way it sort of distorts the clean lines a little, and makes it look a bit more functional, but keeps the form and mean look.


And this is what she'll be carrying as well. I'm figuring the cluster bombs may double up as CBU-97's, or they can just be regular cluster bombs? Either way, it should look good.

I'm leaning towards some variation on either a Ferris-style scheme, or an aggressor-type camo pattern. I also have a fondness for winter camo schemes... or maybe two-tone blue?

[Sauragnmon]

If you're looking at mesh or other methods, you can always acquire a sponge brush easily enough, and then you just dab the paint on with the sponge, which won't mess with the mesh.

Aside, there is an interesting Kickstarter I pledged on that might be of interest.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/805848592/anarchy-models-hd-stencil-system-for-camo-and-deta

[Captain Canada]

Looking good. You sure like 'em armed to the teeth eh ?

[silverwindblade]

I always think that warplanes don't look right unless they've got a load of stuff hanging off of them.
That said, that loadout might change a bit, as I got some wizz-bangs donated by a friend I went to visit over the last few days.
I'll keep you all posted - had a few ideas for the scheme while I was away too!

[silverwindblade]

Hokay, I'm in the painting and assembly stage right now. Some of the weapons have changed after receiving some nice odds and ends from a friend. But, after getting to this stage, I've realized I don't have the right mounting rack for the Litening pod. I got a couple of the F-16 Specific ones in Hase weapons set D, but I have absolutely no idea where the heck they've got to o.0

Soooo... before I hack up the F-15E one I've got, does anyone have a spare part Z8 from Hasegawa Weapons Set D?

[Captain Canada]

Looking forward to it !

[silverwindblade]

Aaaaand, thread-cromancy mk.2, go!
Since the light is back, and so is my enthusiasm and modelling space, here's an update on this beast.

I was kindly donated some targeting pods and their mounts by another forum member, which I immediately put to good use, along with some of the weapons donated by my friend from oop north. As such, I got to work painting and mounting both, and in painting the aircraft itself.


I've managed to get around to attaching all the ordnance and gadgets. The LANTIRN pods are on (though a little wonky!), and look great. I also put on a nice-looking Israeli glide-bomb that my friend donated from a Barak kit he had. I matched it up with a Maverick on the other side, as the asymmetic loadout looked good.
The downsides have been that the landing gear is extremely weak, and has broken. I'm waiting for the glue to set right now so that I can pop it back on its' wheels. One of the maingears came off when I was inking it.


The plane looks good with the weathering done, and the panel lines picked out with pencil, as I've found that the best method for myself so far.
All it needs now is some decals and varnish, and it's pretty much done. Just need to hope that those gears hold. Otherwise I might have to look into metal landing gear instead.

[Captain Canada]

She's loaded alright ! Looks awesome.

I'd suggest backing away from the subject tho, so it's not all blurry and we can get a better idea of what's going on !

[silverwindblade]

Yeah, my camera-fu is terrible. I'll try and take more pictures next time, so I have better quality ones to choose from.

[Captain Canada]

The second one isn't too bad ! I always complain about other people photography, and then I see my own and shudder.....I think I get too close as well. So a wing or the nose is in focus but other bits blurry. That's why I think stepping back a bit is the key.

[silverwindblade]

Well, this has turned into an utter disappointment. I was at the stage of decalling, and things were going great. Then one of the main landing gear units - which have been an utter pain in the @$$ through this whole project - sheared through in multiple places.
They're far too thin and delicate to repair by glue or pinning, and due to shoddy fit and the surgery needed to get the kit together, if I tried doing it 'in-flight' I'd have to remove so much to do any PSR, it'd be a strip-and-repaint job.

I've kind of lost enthusiasm for this now, mainly due to shoddy engineering on the part of Italeri in their design of the landing gear. I'm going to strip it down for parts, and then when I can acquire another F-16 (whenever that may be, due to my financial situation), I'll try it again.

[DogfighterZen]

Sad to read this last post... it's a shame, it's looking so good, hope you get to finish it.

[silverwindblade]

Well, I purchased a Hasegawa F-16 and a set of metal landing gear (metal gear?!) as a replacement, and I've started it as a slow-burning side project while I finish a couple of other things off - so it'll be coming back soon!