YF-23 Black Widow - FINISHED!

[DogfighterZen]

So, i finally decided to start work on another one of my "Holy Grail" kits, the 1/72 YF-23 kit that was initially released by Italeri, then reboxed by Revel, which is the box i'm using on this build, in 1994 by Tamiya and the final boxing was released by Testors, still during the 1990s.
I spent a long time looking for this kit on Ebay and managed to buy 3 boxings, the Tamiya, Revell and Testors, so i have all of my ideas for the YF-23 backed with plastic to do build them.

This first build will be the normal one, i just love the look of this beast so, like with the F-16XL, i wanna have one as it was built... But that doesn't mean it won't be a whiff. I've got a few ideas for the scheme and markings but i'm still deciding which will be done. No problem as i'm expecting that it will take quite a bit for me to get to that stage, there are a few things that have to be done before it's even close to painting.

Work started today, while i was spraying the XF-69 nato black on the F/A-16W, i remembered that i could save some time so i got the top fuselage out of the box and sprayed it too. I included the F-16's fuse in the pic just for a size comparison...



So, now that the Black Widow has been released, there's no way of putting it back in the box... Hoping to get the rest of the cockpit assembled and painted today.

[Captain Canada]

Nice. Thanks for the comparison pic she is a biggy !

[DogfighterZen]

 
It did get me thinking that i'll have to reorganize the model display shelf  in the shed to make room for it, when it's finished...
Yesterday i only got to assemble the ejection seat, will try to get something done now...

[DogfighterZen]

Ok, after putting this bird aside to finish the F/A-16W and then the One Week GB, which was a very unexpected and spontaneous build for me as i wasn't planning on entering the GB.
It was just a coincidence that i happened to finish the F-16 on the first days of the GB so it was just a matter of choosing a simple kit and scheme, although the type of scheme was a first for me.

So now, opened up the box again and suddenly remembered what i had finally decided on doing to this model, being the worst of the 3 Italeri mold-based kits that i possess, because of some sink marks which lead me to believe that they're a clear reason for the kit to have been discontinued and never reboxed again.

The worst is on the wings, there are a few sink marks that have to be fixed, although not very serious, they're visible, and because of that, i've decided to elect it as my first test of engraving the panel lines on the whole kit. Looks like this will be a long term build...







There's also a small depression or scratch on the top of the fuselage, looks like maybe the mold wasn't properly clean or something was left inside the mold when they made this kit...



This is what's been done so far just some paint on some bits, nothing assembled yet...



So, i'm going to start by doing some changes to the kit and when the cut and glue is done, i'll move on to the panel lines, seems easier to get everything lined up on both fuselage halves but we'll see.

[kerick]

I'll be watching this as I have plans for a F-23 build when I can get a hold of one for a reasonable price.....

[DogfighterZen]

I'll be watching this as I have plans for a F-23 build when I can get a hold of one for a reasonable price.....

I know what you mean, it took me quite a while to find my kits, and quite a few Euros too, if i sum up the costs.
My idea for this first build follows the thought: " What if Northrop revised the YF-23's design to be more maneuverable, before the Dem/Val phase of the ATF competition?"
Will include some changes to the airframe itself but will still be closer to the YF-23 prototype than to the EMD F-23A.
The second build will be the F-23A, with all the upgrades it would've had, and the 3rd might become the NATF-23... I've got the kits and options to build, now i just have to build them. I'm glad that managed to wait til now to build this, cause i'm much more comfortable with my modelling skills now, and this is a "holy grail" kit for me, so i wanna do a good job.
I was lucky enough to be able to buy the kits when i found them on ebay, wouldn't have had the chance to buy them now.
Anyway, real work starts tomorrow, first mod will involve some cutting on the engine areas, i'm giving it 2D TVC nozzles...

[DogfighterZen]

Well, on my last day of vacation, instead of starting by cutting, i got the Scribe-r blade out of the bag and assembled it to use with Trumpeter's rescribbing tool..



Started on the bottom fuselage, which had more lines than the top and will be the less visible so, if any big mistakes occur, it'll normally be out of sight...
Didn't go so well, i started by following the raised lines as guide with the Trumpy tool, it took a bit till i got the hang of it and some lines came out a bit nasty, then i started using the Scribe-r tool and although it's a sharper tool, it's also harder to use but the lines come out better than with the Trumpy tool. Anyway, the crooked lines will be puttied over and rescribed.



I guess that practice will make it easier, cause, although i'm used to rescribing lost panel lines, this is different and harder... but i'll get there.

[zenrat]

I've come to the conclusion, through trial and error, that in 1/72 at least i'm better off drawing the lines on in pencil that re-scribing them.
Those look pretty good though.  Better than I usually manage.

Next time you go to the dentist ask her/him if they have a spare dental pick.  I have one donated by my dentist, Dr Sweary which has the tip at 90 degrees to the handle which is ideal for light scribing and cleaning out panel lines.

[DogfighterZen]

I've come to the conclusion, through trial and error, that in 1/72 at least i'm better off drawing the lines on in pencil that re-scribing them.
Those look pretty good though.  Better than I usually manage.

Next time you go to the dentist ask her/him if they have a spare dental pick.  I have one donated by my dentist, Dr Sweary which has the tip at 90 degrees to the handle which is ideal for light scribing and cleaning out panel lines.

I've never explored many options on panel lines cause i think they're way out of scale on all 1/72 and smaller scale kits. Even on bigger models, too...
I know that it's all to make it easier to show detail but as we all know, on most real aircraft it's hard to see panel lines unless you're very  close to it and it's a really worn and dirty plane. I began thinking more about it when i started using AK's panel liner wash.
Some of the panel lines i've inscribed look like they're a bit too deep and too wide, and i'll have to be more careful with the first few passes of the blade so it will make a straight line without deviating from the raised lines already on the kit, and also, be more paciente and do it slower... 
I'm also going to start using the scribing templates i've bought last year, maybe not on this kit as it has raised lines to guide the blade but on future builds i will.

Here are my trenches, next to the Airfix Spitfire F Mk.22 sprue...

[jalles]

First off, I'm super excited to see what you do with this after your F/A-16W Block 70 (which was awesome). 

I've never explored many options on panel lines cause i think they're way out of scale on all 1/72 and smaller scale kits

While that might be true, I think they look good.  I'm sure my panel lines are always too deep and wide, but I think they add interest.

[DogfighterZen]

First off, I'm super excited to see what you do with this after your F/A-16W Block 70 (which was awesome). 

I've never explored many options on panel lines cause i think they're way out of scale on all 1/72 and smaller scale kits

While that might be true, I think they look good.  I'm sure my panel lines are always too deep and wide, but I think they add interest.

Thank you for the generous words and interest, my friend!
It will look different, i can guarantee that, but i know some will find it a crime... And i can understand that because i love the original layout but i've had this idea in mind for so long and i believe it will also look good so, i have to do it.
The panel line issue is not a big deal for me but the fact is that i  was motivated to learn how to scribe panel lines properly because of your Mig-37 and a few other builds i've seen, especially one of a stealth F-15, which is also an amazing build. https://goo.gl/images/LIlFHl
I also think they add interest to the model, even if they're out of scale, it really doesn't bother me much. I've built a a Matchbox J-29 Tunnan and a Kinetic twin seat Viper and the panel lines on the top fuse of the Viper are pretty much Matchbox-like, wider and softer than most of the lines i've scribed on this one.
I kept saying no to myself every time i thought of doing it, by fear of ruining a model, but now that i've had a bit of practice rescribing lines on other builds, it's time to bite the bullet!
That said, haven't done anything on the model today, been chilling out on the couch watching documentaries after a very hot, long and hard day's work after 2 weeks of vacation. 
I'll try to do something tomorrow...

[DogfighterZen]

Ok, back to work on this baby... here's how the panel lines came out on the top fuselage...



Could be better but i think they're ok for a first go...
So today i finally got to work on fitting the lower 2D TVC nozzle parts...



There will be some strip styrene going in those gaps but i think i got right spot...

[jsport]

Beautiful just beautiful

[DogfighterZen]

Beautiful just beautiful

Thanks! It's still like that, haven't done anything else, been very hard to find time and motivation these last few weeks because i'm so tired when i have the time to work on something...

[DogfighterZen]

After a couple of weeks with no modelling done, i tried to do some work on this today but didn't do anything besides looking at it... 
Did find some issues i hadn't addressed before like the intakes... the kit provides parts to blank off the non-existing intake ducts but these are just too close to the front of the intakes and i decided to leave them out.
This means i'll have to come up with a way to make the S-shaped ducting and fan blades for both engines... the intakes also need work, i want them like they were on the real thing.
So, no work done but at least i know what i'll have to do next...whenever that happens...