TOP SECRET Aurora Hypersonic aircraft.

seadude · October 16, 2015, 05:10:01 PM

Final pics of the Anigrand 1/144 SR-91 Aurora kit. I still have to add decals, but I'll do that later. When I finish building and painting all four Aurora type kits, then I'll do all the decaling for them together as the final chore. In one of the pics of the bottom view of the SR-91, you'll see 4 steel colored cylinders in a row all next to each other. Those are the turbo compressors as mentioned in the instructions. Also in another pic of the top view of the SR-91, you may be able to see the unusual shape of the front windshield. As mentioned in the instructions, this is a retractable windshield, i.e. - similar to perhaps what the XB-70 Valkyrie bomber had I guess? Now...........next, it's off to work on the Lockheed SR-72!

Oh, and one other thing, the last pic shows the 1/144 scale SR-91, SR-71, and SR-75 all next to each other for size comparison. Sorry the SR-75 is upside down. But the landing gear is too fragile to support the weight of the model.

seadude · October 17, 2015, 06:24:15 PM

Oh my God! Where do I even begin?

Before anybody goes and buys the Fantastic Plastic SR-72 model kit, please read below the problems I have encountered so far. Using the below instruction sheet as a guide, I've had the following problems:

1. The Intake and Exhaust splitters are a wee bit too wide and do not fit into the engine channels.
2. Be very careful of the nose tip! It is very delicate. I had a bit of flash to remove from the tip and I accidentally broke off 1/2 mm off the nose tip of the aircraft.

3. The Lower Fuselage Insert was a VERY tight fit. And at times, it even kept popping out on me. I had to use quite a bit of CA glue to keep it down.
4. Engine Covers: Worst parts EVER! I dry fitted these to see how they'd look and words can't even describe the horrors I found.

I'll have to show pics either tomorrow or Monday. Let's just say that LARGE amounts of puttying, sanding, and filing will be needed.

5. There are no panel lines which would help to demarcate painting the slightly darker leading and trailing edges on the aircraft. If there's no lines or anything, then I'm not going to bother masking and painting the darker edges.

seadude · October 18, 2015, 07:49:44 PM

seadude · October 20, 2015, 01:17:19 PM

And final pics of the Fantastic Plastic SR-72 aircraft............almost. I'll add decals later after all four Aurora aircraft models have been completed and painted. This kit is totally FUBAR!

What a piece of @#$%! I've gone as far as I can with it with my eyesight and abilities. If I get _______ by the judges or other modelers at a contest, then so be it. I did the best I could. I would only recommend this kit to very experienced and advanced modelers. As I mentioned previously in another post, there's no panel lines that would help in any way to demarcate painting the leading and trailing edges which are supposed to be a different shade grey color. If there's no "lines", then I'm not going to mask and "guess" how wide or long, etc. the leading and trailing edges are and trying to make sure they are even and match up. The lettering on the display base I still have to paint yet.
In other news, I ordered the display base and a large decal from Amazon yesterday. The very last pic will give a rough idea of how big the display will be. At least 24" inches wide x 36" inches long. With documentation being on the far right of the base.

sandiego89 · October 20, 2015, 01:38:57 PM

Wow, tough bugger there. I would go ahead and make an educated guess on the demarcation lines on the leading/trailing edges and paint them up- it really adds to the model like the Penetrator and the early A-12's. Just be consistant, and it is WHIF so no-one should say you got it wrong....

Keep it up- almost there

NARSES2 · October 21, 2015, 07:03:16 AM

Concorde'ish rear end on that SR-72

seadude · October 21, 2015, 12:45:22 PM

Progress so far on the 1/72 Testor XR-7 Thunder Dart........

Landing gear - Done
Landing gear bays - Done
Cockpit - Done
Pulse Detonation Wave Engines - Assembled. Needs painting.
Aircraft Main Fuselage - Assembled. Needs painting.
Cockpit canopy - Needs painting.

After I got the XR-7 off of ebay, I noticed the decal sheet was damaged in the box. I don't have any spares either. Frankly, I'm not too worried as most of what was on the sheet were thin red lines decals which I tend to avoid like the plague since putting on long lines of decals can be very problematic for me. I can never seem to get them straight.

I have plenty of other decals from various subjects in my spares box. I'll think of something else in order to make this bird more colorful.

seadude · October 23, 2015, 02:46:15 PM

Progress so far..........

1. Still waiting for supplies to come in that I ordered for the display base.
2. Just had a new idea today for making the display base.

May have to get spray paint tomorrow.
3. Will probably start decaling some aircraft tomorrow.
4. Trying to figure out a display stand for the SR-91 Aurora. The model sits so low that there's only 2-3 mm between the bottom of the aircraft and the worktable surface. I need to raise the aircraft somewhat so the underside is visible.
5. Still waiting for a display stand that I ordered for the SR-75 Penetrator.
6. Need to make 5 name plaques for the five models I have.
7. I forgot to put nose weight inside the nose of the XR-7 Thunder Dart. So now I need to attach something small like a piece of rod underneath the aircraft at the back end to prevent the model from tail sitting.

8. Finish writing and printing all display notes and historical documentation.
9. Still waiting for some extra decals from Anigrand.
10. There's something else, but I forgot what it was.

seadude · October 24, 2015, 07:58:38 PM

PREVIEW!

I bought a 24" inch x 36" inch black acrylic sheet to use as the display base. Now don't worry, the models will still be viewable against the black acrylic.

I bought a special decal to lay on the acrylic, but I'm keeping that secret for now.

But tell me what you think so far. Any suggestions for re-arranging the aircraft and/or informational signs in better positions? I'm open to suggestions. In some pics, the acrylic looks a little dusty. I have to wipe it yet. The models don't really have much in the way of markings. Please read here for more info. -
http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic,41361.0.html

Any other ideas, suggestions, or tips that people have?

To Do list:

Quote from: seadude on October 23, 2015, 02:46:15 PM
Progress so far..........

~~1. Still waiting for supplies to come in that I ordered for the display base.~~
~~2. Just had a new idea today for making the display base. May have to get spray paint tomorrow.~~
~~3. Will probably start decaling some aircraft tomorrow.~~
4. Trying to figure out a display stand for the SR-91 Aurora. The model sits so low that there's only 2-3 mm between the bottom of the aircraft and the worktable surface. I need to raise the aircraft somewhat so the underside is visible.
5. Still waiting for a display stand that I ordered for the SR-75 Penetrator.
~~6. Need to make 5 name plaques for the five models I have.~~
7. I forgot to put nose weight inside the nose of the XR-7 Thunder Dart. So now I need to attach something small like a piece of rod underneath the aircraft at the back end to prevent the model from tail sitting.
~~8. Finish writing and printing all display notes and historical documentation.~~
9. Still waiting for some extra decals from Anigrand.
10. There's something else, but I forgot what it was.

seadude · October 27, 2015, 03:18:38 PM

DONE!.........Well, almost.

WARNING.......The information and pics below are classified TOP SECRET! Violators will be exterminated!

The below link shows the black acrylic sheet decked out with a Top Secret decal I bought on Amazon, plus red striped warning tape used around the edges.
https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5702/22340331180_1ac6a9743a_b.jpg
The really bad thing about the red striped tape is that it is reflective. It's actually red and silver striped warning tape I got at a hardware store. So anybody trying to take a pic of the display might be in for a shock, especially if they use the camera flash. But that might be a good thing since this project is Top Secret after all.

And most military base signs you see in real life do say PHOTOGRAPHY IS PROHIBITED.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/725/21907118473_782175869b_b.jpg

And the final pic below. The aircraft still aren't done yet. I'm still waiting for more decals from Anigrand Craftswork to arrive, hopefully this week. And I'm waiting for another aircraft display stand I ordered from Amazon. As always, please tell me if any improvements should be made, or if the aircraft should be re-positioned, or anything else.

I'm not boring anybody, am I?

Captain Canada · October 28, 2015, 07:01:28 AM

Boring us ? No way ! I'm just sorry I've missed this thread for the last wee while. I think us lot have a definite advantage over the regular pundit whom will see the display, having been treated to the builds. I think it would be a good idea to include a wee booklet or some print outs anyway, of the undersides, with all of the unique engine configurations. Very cool stuff.

I think the display looks good the way it is. I was thinking the SR-71 might look better on an angle instead of in the centre, just as it's got more lines than the other birds, and place one of the flying pie pieces there

But having said that, it kinda fits in the middle in this whole scenario eh ?

Love the -75, I'm picking that as my favourite of the bunch. Mind you, I do find the SR-92 very intriguing, especially the cockpit layout.

seadude · October 28, 2015, 10:05:51 AM

QuoteI think it would be a good idea to include a wee booklet or some print outs anyway, of the undersides, with all of the unique engine configurations. Very cool stuff.

I've thought about adding extra pics or other information, but I don't want to crowd the display and/or table too much. As for the undersides of all the craft, the Blackbird (middle) and SR-72 (lower right corner) are on stands. The SR-75 (upper left) and SR-91 (lower left) will also both be on Trumpeter stands that I ordered from Amazon. As I mentioned in previous posts, the SR-75 has very fragile landing gear and cannot sit on it's wheels. The bottom of the SR-91 is only 2mm above the surface of the display, so I want to put that aircraft on a display stand so the bottom can be seen. I don't plan to put the XR-7 (upper right) on a stand. With it's landing gear down, it's high enough as it is.

QuoteMind you, I do find the SR-92 very intriguing, especially the cockpit layout.

You mean the SR-91, right? The SR-72 (lower right corner) doesn't have a cockpit. Lockheed envisioned the design to be unmanned and remote controlled. The SR-91 (lower left corner) has a cockpit windscreen kinda similar to that on the old XB-70 Valkyrie bomber. It's a windscreen that is retractable and lowers into the body of the craft.

Captain Canada · October 29, 2015, 10:54:59 AM

Ya the 91 ! And good point about the display, it is busy enough as it is and as you say, feel free to bend over and have a look as the undersides are visible

zenrat · October 30, 2015, 03:31:33 AM

That looks very good.
My only comment is that while the red/white striped tape and the top secret sign will attract attention they are possibly too eye catching and detract from the models. How about putting piece of tracing paper or frosted clear plastic over the whole thing to tone it down a touch while retaining the impact?

seadude · October 30, 2015, 07:21:56 AM

Quote from: zenrat on October 30, 2015, 03:31:33 AM
That looks very good.
My only comment is that while the red/white striped tape and the top secret sign will attract attention they are possibly too eye catching and detract from the models. How about putting piece of tracing paper or frosted clear plastic over the whole thing to tone it down a touch while retaining the impact?

Nice thought, but it's too late now. Got a model contest tomorrow that I am taking this to. Got the other Trumpeter aircraft display stand in the mail today. Will also be finishing decaling today as the extra Anigrand decals I ordered finally came.