Moments of Zen

[DogfighterZen]

Talkin' bout!!!

It looks like F-16 HULKAMANIA and stuff...  it's like it's the beefiest, most "solid" badass Viper variant. 


All the giblets you glued on this round help, too. Lookin like the business. 

Glad you like the beastie, brother.
All the humps, lumps, bumps and giblets make it look vey busy indeed, i love adding these smaller details, always a fun part of the build for me.
Been working on the pitot/nose tip area because the Hasegawa kit is showing it's age, and this is one of the spots where it shows best, the pitot is very simplified and the hole on the fuselage is also a bit worn out, creating a big difference in profile from the nose to the pitot tube, just looks too blunt so i put the part in place and cover the area with the magnificent substance known as Sprue Goo...



I know that the F-16E does not have the normal pitot tube on the nose tip, it has a much smaller one on the side of nose, just under the left side AoA probe, but i wanted to keep the normal one as i did not scribe the F-16E's radome line.
The RACR AESA radar doesn't seem to have problems with the pitot tube, neither does the F-2A so i wanna have the normal radome/pitot assembly.
I was also forgetting that i have to finish the cockpit before i mask the canopy and attach it. Also decided to use the rest of the giblets available in the sprues, which weren't to be used on the OOB E variant.

[DogfighterZen]

Well, i'm back at the bench... been very busy and with lots of other things on my mind to take care of so i took a break...
not that i didn't have time to do some modelling but i just wasn't feeling like it and just pulled back till i got the urge to get back at it,
and that happened today.
I wanna get the F-22 and F-16E finished and move on to the PoAF F-4 PhantomII in the colonial wars.
So, i got the F-16's canopy and intake masked up so, the rear part of the canopy was glued in place and it's now ready for primer.



The F-22 is still waiting for masking to paint the edges of the control surfaces and radome and, there's rain in the forecast for tomorrow...

[DogfighterZen]

Well, i'm back after almost 3 months... My life's changed a bit so i had to adjust to new habits and schedules so it took some time to get things going on the bench again.

Last week i felt the need to do some modelling and i've managed to start masking the Revell F-22 Raptor i had going, and i've finished it last night. Didn't waste time and sprayed some XF-19 and took the masks off a few minutes later. Came out clean, so i'm happy with it.
Still have to mask and finish painting the vertical stabs, which i chose to do in two sessions to make it easier. Also, there's more masking to be done on the engine nozzles and adjacent areas, which will be done tonight.

The Hasegawa F-16E has been sprayed with the same XF-19 to serve as undercoat and waiting for some color... will probably leave it like that till i finish the Raptor.

The plans for a PoAF Phantom are still in my mind cause i still have 5 months to get it finished for the GB in the Portuguese forum so i'll try to get that one going soon.

It feels good to be back at the bench doing something, missed it quite a bit during the last few months, but life has been busy and getting better so i can't complain. 

[TheChronicOne]

That's a shame you was busy because we had an F-16 Group Build while you were gone. That'll learn ya to be AWOL. 

[DogfighterZen]

That's a shame you was busy because we had an F-16 Group Build while you were gone. That'll learn ya to be AWOL. 

Ok, no excuse for me. I've been away for way too long. Got a lot of catching up to do, although i've been checking in almost every week but didn't have enough time to read and comment. Now, you are being mean... It would be a crime for me not taking part in a Viper GB... 
Like i said, life's been busy but it's all coming together. New girlfriend and new album from the band in the works so, things are sure looking good. I now have everything sorted out on terms of schedules so i have time for some plastic in my life. And i have to go catch up on all the work that's been done during these months so i'll be around everyday.

[zenrat]

Hey dude, good to see you drop in.
Keep us up to date about the music would you.

[NARSES2]

Good to see you back Zen' 

[DogfighterZen]

Good to be back home, guys! 
It was a necessary absence, not that much changed but i do have a new person in my life so i had to adjust to that. Also had to spend some time at my parents house to help my mom out while my dad was in the hospital to have a cancer removed from his intestine. Surgery went well and the doctors were able to fully remove the whole thing. Even better was the fact that he didn't need chemo or radiotherapy after that so, all's good with my old man.
He'll just need to do routine check ups to make sure it stays that way.
The band is also back in action as we're composing a 3rd album. The band's complete again with a new bass player and my brother back on the drums after being away for 6 years, to take care of my 2 beautiful and wild nieces.
Fred, i really appreciate the interest, mate!  I'll keep you guys up to date with the band's progress but it's all still in the pot, slowly brewing so it comes out as good as we can make it.

[DogfighterZen]

Just to prove i've actually been working... 



Rehearsal night tonight so tomorrow i'll get back to masking the engine nozzles area.

[TheChronicOne]

Ahhhh yes, masking marathon. 

[NARSES2]

Really good to hear that life has turned the good corner for you, and I'm touching all the wood possible while I say that 

[DogfighterZen]

Ahhhh yes, masking marathon. 

Yup, you can say that again!  Gonna try to mask so more tonight to see if i can paint it tomorrow morning. Would like to finish this one soon cause i really wanna make a start on the Revell Phantom.

Really good to hear that life has turned the good corner for you, and I'm touching all the wood possible while I say that 

Thank you, Chris!  My dad's health really got me worried but it's all good now. And i have to admit i've been lucky enough to find quite a gem of a girl. She even wants to go to model shows with me.

[PR19_Kit]

i've been lucky enough to find quite a gem of a girl. She even wants to go to model shows with me.

A pearl beyond price, marry her quickly! 

[zenrat]

Are women allowed to attend model shows in Portugal then?  How cosmopolitan!

[NARSES2]

I went to a local wargaming show the other week and the wives and girlfriends were manning the refreshments stand. Home baked cakes all for charity  The cakes were absolutely  I think their "stand" got more attention then anyone else's