Thorvics'Blog

[Thorvic]

Cheers Guys, had a quiet but enjoyable 50th, being this time in January I tend not to see friends & family as they are all busy getting back to normal after the Christmas break so big birthdays are generally a none event, especially now the previous generation have all passed on. However my neighbours who are close friends made sure we celebrated, culminating with an Italian on Saturday night. It was nice to be off work and it did allow for a bit of modelling time but didn't get as much done as I thought I would.

I have however managed to assemble an Airfix Phantom FG1 and got familiar with its construction and areas to be wary of. This one will be real using the OOB decals but the next one to follow soon after will be PC/Whiff if the decals concept works out OK that Kit is trying to sort out. I managed to get the first one painted last night, so once that's varnished I can start decaling, but with the stencils involved it could take a while  .

I managed to get all my initial kits to get me started , I will probably get more during the year but I have my first dozen to keep me busy for some time 

I don't mind as not a lot else due out in this next year so far and this and the Atlantic/Starling 1/700 HMS Ark Royal IV were originally scheduled for late 2017, so its a mad January followed by a relative quite year (I hope) which should allow me to crack on with building a bit more                                                                                                 

[PR19_Kit]

......so once that's varnished I can start decaling, but with the stencils involved it could take a while  .
                                                                                             

Geoff's not kidding, well over HALF the decal sheet is stencils!!!! 

[Thorvic]

......so once that's varnished I can start decaling, but with the stencils involved it could take a while  .
                                                                                             

Geoff's not kidding, well over HALF the decal sheet is stencils!!!! 

Yes but on having seen XT596 close up at Yeovilton, she is one of the first F-4K (actually a YF-4K) and is still in her original scheme and the stencils are quite apparent when you have proper look.

Still some painting to finish off on my first build before I can start on the decaling, but I expect it will take a couple of nights at least just doing the stencils by sections   

[zenrat]

Phantoms do seem to have more stencils than any other aircraft.
Worth the hassle though IMO.

[NARSES2]

Phantoms do seem to have more stencils than any other aircraft.
Worth the hassle though IMO.

Especially Japanese ones for some reason ?

I have to be honest, but I really do only use those stencils I consider essential (my definition of that term varies dependent on my mood  ). Sometimes in 1/72 I feel they can distract from the actual model it'self, especially on the aforementioned Japanese Phantoms.

[zenrat]

Phantoms do seem to have more stencils than any other aircraft.
Worth the hassle though IMO.

Especially Japanese ones for some reason ?

I have to be honest, but I really do only use those stencils I consider essential (my definition of that term varies dependent on my mood  ). Sometimes in 1/72 I feel they can distract from the actual model it'self, especially on the aforementioned Japanese Phantoms.

True, but I feel one should go the whole hog at least once.

[Thorvic]

Real ones will get the stencils and some of the period project ones to blend in, however later schemes will be minimised as need to try and keep some sanity.

The FAA are not too bad as they are black on EDSG, the JASDF ones are worse as they are more visible on the grey fuselage.

Just had a snoot at Hannants and the Eduard future releases has etch and mask sets listed for the Airfix Phantom FG1 for March, so will need to see if these will include the missing intake vents or not.

[Thorvic]

Managed to do a bit of detail painting on the Phantom last night so now ready to decal, however whilst the office was quite toasty with the heater on and window shut the gale lashing the window and buffeting the house just made it feel colder than it was. I did dig out the decal sheet, the paint guide and the stencil guide then realising that my eyes felt tired after a long day the prospect of even starting to place 280 decals just got the better of me and I decided to call it a night as my other builds will require some spray work and there was no way I was opening the window for extractor fan !!!!

Will look to start the decaling tonight and do it in areas at a time marking off the completed ones as I go, I'll probably only be able to manage an hour at most and by doing it in sections I reduce the risk of dislodging others whilst handling the model to place fresh ones. Should hopefully keep me sane  .

Spotted Hasegawa has now earmarked its F-35B for a March release in Japan, so I may well get one of those when they come out to try out and see how I get on. If its like the F-35A then shouldn't have an issue with raised panels anymore with decals used highlight them where necessary. It specifically says US so expect USMC markings only, however we will probably see a UK specific issue along with a Japan based USMC if not already in the initial kit and no doubt a (Whif ?) JMSDF boxing - I'm saying Whif at the moment but news came out at New Year that Japan are earmarking their new Izumo class DDH for adaptation to STOVL carrier (DDH my arse the ships are the same size as Ark Royal IV in terms of length and width although hanger space is somewhat less !!)

[kitnut617]

It should be noted that photos of 'in-service' F-35's don't show any of those squiggly panel tape lines

[Thorvic]

It should be noted that photos of 'in-service' F-35's don't show any of those squiggly panel tape lines

Which makes all the models done with those panels as raised panels really redundant now so we could do with either OrangeHobby retooling their F-35C or hope that Hasegawa get round to doing it. Its a bit frustrating that we haven't seen more new F-35 kits for the B & C variant.

I wonder if we will get external weapons on the Hasegawa F-35B or will we have to await another kit with the Weapons bay, external pylons, gun pod and weapons then await yet another weapons set.

[kitnut617]

It should be noted that photos of 'in-service' F-35's don't show any of those squiggly panel tape lines

Which makes all the models done with those panels as raised panels really redundant now so we could do with either OrangeHobby retooling their F-35C or hope that Hasegawa get round to doing it. Its a bit frustrating that we haven't seen more new F-35 kits for the B & C variant.

I wonder if we will get external weapons on the Hasegawa F-35B or will we have to await another kit with the Weapons bay, external pylons, gun pod and weapons then await yet another weapons set.

Well I've said it before here, even if you used the very thinnest decals for the panel tape, they would still be over-scale. I've got a bunch of close-up photos of one of the USMC F-35B's when I saw it at the Yuma Airshow back in 2013 (posted some pics on the forum too but we all know what's happened to them), and even though the camo was pre-in-service and showed the panel tape, the whole finish is as smooth as a baby's butt, not the slightest hint of a raised tape ---

[PR19_Kit]

I wonder if we will get external weapons on the Hasegawa F-35B or will we have to await another kit with the Weapons bay, external pylons, gun pod and weapons then await yet another weapons set.

Wouldn't external weapons rather negate the 'stealthiness' of the machine? 

[Thorvic]

I wonder if we will get external weapons on the Hasegawa F-35B or will we have to await another kit with the Weapons bay, external pylons, gun pod and weapons then await yet another weapons set.

Wouldn't external weapons rather negate the 'stealthiness' of the machine? 

Stealth is only part of its capability package, for penetrating enemy airspace to hit a high value target using internal fuel & weapons. However CAP duties, close air support etc the Aircraft will use an external load to increase range, endurance and firepower as not all weapons earmarked can be accommodate within the smaller F-35B weapons bay. The stealth effect is diminished as a result but they still have relatively smaller radar profile in comparison.

Thus it would be nice to see the external pylons and the gun pod included at some stage, Orange Hobby and Academy did include them in their respective F-35C and F-35A kits

[Thorvic]

Well I started decaling my first Airfix Phantom, started on the undersides and got 8 on last night before giving up on it as it was about 10pm and some of those stencils required fresher eyes and wits than mine were at that time. I will persevere however just need to take time and then seal them in place before doing the sides and upper surfaces.
Despite its foibles I still enjoyed this new Phantom and will be build quite a few more in the coming months, some real, some PC/Whif 

It was blowing a wintery gale again last night so couldn't switch to spraying my next Merlin interior and I fear its the same again tonight, so may be more a case of chilling out and focus on the modelling over the weekend instead.

Still got quite a few Helicopters to build as well as Phantoms plus I still have some ships to do when I feel the urge again.

[kitnut617]

I wonder if we will get external weapons on the Hasegawa F-35B or will we have to await another kit with the Weapons bay, external pylons, gun pod and weapons then await yet another weapons set.

Wouldn't external weapons rather negate the 'stealthiness' of the machine? 

As Evan (elmayerle on the forum) has said many times, it's not a ""stealth"" fighter. It has enhanced low observability. And Evan should know because he worked on the project.  He also said that in the first stage of any conflict it would only have what it can carry in the weapons bays, once the initial operation has been successful, the follow-on operations would see them become dump-trucks (his explanation of it)