1/48 Kinetic F/A-18

Post by **Fridgy** » Mon Feb 13, 2017 3:53 am

So it turns out that I can't be arsed fixing the light

Gave the gear legs and bays, cockpit and ejection seat s coat of tamiya x22 this afternoon in prep for a few decals on the seat and gear legs and a wash on the pit and the gear bays

Doing my best to keep this thread updated but issues at work are seriously doing my head in

Sapping my mojo a little, but doing my best to leave all that crap at the door when I go into my modelling room. Trying to do at least 1 thing most afternoons/days to keep it rolling along

Post by **Bissyboat** » Mon Feb 13, 2017 1:58 pm

I agree with the above. Nice detailing.

Post by **Fridgy** » Tue Feb 14, 2017 8:45 am

Some more bench time today
And going with my "do at least 1 thing per day" motto

I got some details washed in the gear bays, the front strut and cockpit.

And got the decals down on the seat

Until next time people's

Post by **Fridgy** » Tue Feb 14, 2017 9:02 am

And the main gear

Post by **Bissyboat** » Tue Feb 14, 2017 11:48 am

Very nice pin wash on the gear bay and wheel wells. Coming along nicely.

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Tue Feb 14, 2017 3:54 pm

Awesome stuff
Nice gear!!

Post by **Fridgy** » Tue Feb 14, 2017 11:51 pm

Twokidsnosleep wrote: Tue Feb 14, 2017 3:54 pm Awesome stuff
Nice gear!!

Bissyboat wrote: Tue Feb 14, 2017 11:48 am Very nice pin wash on the gear bay and wheel wells. Coming along nicely.

Thanks guys, it's nice to get some positive feedback when your mojo is lagging behind

Post by **Fridgy** » Thu Feb 16, 2017 9:24 am

Today's update

had some success making some FOD covers. Yoghurt foil burnished into the intakes then covered in Tamyia basic putty, still need to add more putty to fill some of the gaps

Got the cockpit in place

Dry fitted the upper and lower halves
Going to have some gaps to fill on the leading edge extensions

Got the main gear bay in place

and the intakes on, some gaps and a step here to take care of as well

And finally,trying the Krystal Klear trick to make a landing light lense

Post by **Bissyboat** » Thu Feb 16, 2017 11:20 am

Good and steady progress all the way.

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Thu Feb 16, 2017 4:03 pm

Absolutely great!!
Keep working away bit by bit, little by little.
Looking fantastic!!

Post by **Fridgy** » Fri Feb 17, 2017 4:04 am

Yay for me!

RDO today!

Got to spend a decent amount of time at the bench today

Got my Eduard PE belts done.....they don't look to bad if I do say so myself

all in all quite happy with my $7.95 investment

Also got some PE vents in place (Photo Etch gods were smiling on me today it seems)

Some PE on the wings

Various antenna's on

Gave the wheel hubs a dirty up

And the lense for my landing light turned out not too shabby

What I didnt take photos of.....
A) Clear parts for the Nav lights have been painted with clear red and green respectively
B)Have filled the seam and gap on both left and right intakes
C) Added more putty to one of the FOD covers to close the gap

Today was a good day

As always comments, hints, tips and criticism is welcome

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Fri Feb 17, 2017 4:12 am

Nice to hear and see things are going well
Seat looks fantastic as do those vents. PE use is really going to make this shine
RDO???? Something day off???

Those B-stards at HLJ have this kit on sale and keep tempting me with e mails.
I must resist or I will be sleeping in the yard soon, maybe in a spray booth

Post by **Fridgy** » Fri Feb 17, 2017 4:44 am

Twokidsnosleep wrote: Fri Feb 17, 2017 4:12 am Nice to hear and see things are going well
Seat looks fantastic as do those vents. PE use is really going to make this shine
RDO???? Something day off???

Those B-stards at HLJ have this kit on sale and keep tempting me with e mails.
I must resist or I will be sleeping in the yard soon, maybe in a spray booth

You know you want it....... and I think the a/b model that has just been released comes with Canadian decals....

Rostered day off.
I work a 40 hrs week and get paid for 38, so once a month I can just have a day off

Post by **Fridgy** » Fri Feb 17, 2017 4:47 am

Twokidsnosleep wrote: Fri Feb 17, 2017 4:12 am Nice to hear and see things are going well
Seat looks fantastic as do those vents. PE use is really going to make this shine
RDO???? Something day off???

Those B-stards at HLJ have this kit on sale and keep tempting me with e mails.
I must resist or I will be sleeping in the yard soon, maybe in a spray booth

The eduard belts look so much better than the kit supplied one.... sorta glad I lost it now....

Really happy with how they turned out, major boost to the mojo have have it turn out well.
The stainless steal CA applicators make things so much easier too

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Fri Feb 17, 2017 4:53 am

I gotta wait a bit on the kit. Trying hard not to buy anything at the moment.
I have it marked for about $100 and then there is all the aftermarket.
Will build a couple 1/72nds, maybe that will kill my mojo for Canadian Air Force aircraft
Kinetic has real nice 1/24 th Bubletop and Razorback P47's as well....mmmmm must stop looking

Finish what you have,Scott

Post by **Fridgy** » Fri Feb 17, 2017 4:57 am

Twokidsnosleep wrote: Fri Feb 17, 2017 4:53 am I gotta wait a bit on the kit. Trying hard not to buy anything at the moment.
I have it marked for about $100 and then there is all the aftermarket.
Will build a couple 1/72nds, maybe that will kill my mojo for Canadian Air Force aircraft
Kinetic has real nice 1/24 th Bubletop and Razorback P47's as well....mmmmm must stop looking
Finish what you have,Scott

Nothing wrong with a bit of window shopping

And there doesn't seem to be a lot of AM required apart for the belt for the seat... and possibly the decals

Am I helping??

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Fri Feb 17, 2017 4:59 am

Fridgy wrote: Fri Feb 17, 2017 4:57 am
Twokidsnosleep wrote: Fri Feb 17, 2017 4:53 am I gotta wait a bit on the kit. Trying hard not to buy anything at the moment.
I have it marked for about $100 and then there is all the aftermarket.
Will build a couple 1/72nds, maybe that will kill my mojo for Canadian Air Force aircraft
Kinetic has real nice 1/24 th Bubletop and Razorback P47's as well....mmmmm must stop looking
Finish what you have,Scott
Nothing wrong with a bit of window shopping

And there doesn't seem to be a lot of AM required apart for the belt for the seat... and possibly the decals

Never been good at the look but don't touch thing.....when it comes to model kits that is

Post by **Fridgy** » Fri Feb 17, 2017 5:01 am

Twokidsnosleep wrote: Fri Feb 17, 2017 4:59 am
Fridgy wrote: Fri Feb 17, 2017 4:57 am
Twokidsnosleep wrote: Fri Feb 17, 2017 4:53 am I gotta wait a bit on the kit. Trying hard not to buy anything at the moment.
I have it marked for about $100 and then there is all the aftermarket.
Will build a couple 1/72nds, maybe that will kill my mojo for Canadian Air Force aircraft
Kinetic has real nice 1/24 th Bubletop and Razorback P47's as well....mmmmm must stop looking
Finish what you have,Scott
Nothing wrong with a bit of window shopping

And there doesn't seem to be a lot of AM required apart for the belt for the seat... and possibly the decals
Never been good at the look but don't touch thing.....when it comes to model kits that is

Yeah I hear you on that...... the pe belts are a prime example.....

Post by **Fridgy** » Fri Feb 17, 2017 11:19 am

Update 2 for today....

Got the fiddly arse boarding ladder assembled

The intakes sanded down and smoothed

Flaps in position

She is starting to look more like a hornet now

Post by **Smiffy** » Fri Feb 17, 2017 11:28 am

Great work so far Mick.

Post by **ElCapitan** » Fri Feb 17, 2017 11:36 am

Enjoying watching this come together!

Post by **Fridgy** » Fri Feb 17, 2017 12:39 pm

Ok so the instructions are crap when you get to the point of hard points. No part numbers listed... its a big treasure hunt.... I suppose it keeps the brain matter working

Post by **Fridgy** » Tue Feb 21, 2017 9:05 am

Not much done lately, work and a 2 day migraine saw to very little bench time

the few things I have managed to get done....

got the gaps filled and sanded on the LEX

Got the hard points mounted and decided finalised the load out

and got the gaps filled around the nose (yet to be sanded down though)

and as you can tell by the photos, got the wheel bays masked and cockpitoff with blu tac

she is going slowly but so far I am happy with her

Post by **Fridgy** » Tue Feb 21, 2017 9:20 am

Just a note on the load out, I have chosen the following:
Wingtips (station 1 & 9): Aim-120C
Station 8 & 2: AGM-88
Station 7 & 3: GBU-38 and GBU-12 (one on each twin ejector rack)
Station 4: AAS-38 FLIR
Station 5: (centreline) 330 GAL fuel tank
Station 6: AIM-7M

As mentioned before in this thread the instructions really let this kit down. Very little in the way of instructions on putting the racks and missiles/bombs together.
Also the kit seems to be missing the decals for the AGM-88's

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Wed Feb 22, 2017 2:44 am

Keep on going, you are doing great with or withought instructions
Besides, instructions are just someone else's suggestions on how to do things
I REALLY want to get the RCAF version of this..but must resist a bit longer

Post by **SolventSolution** » Wed Feb 22, 2017 2:52 am

Looking good

How did you mask the bays and cockpit?

Post by **Fridgy** » Wed Feb 22, 2017 3:53 am

Twokidsnosleep wrote: Wed Feb 22, 2017 2:44 am I REALLY want to get the RCAF version of this..but must resist a bit longer

Come on scott. ... join me on the dark side... water is quite warm.....

SolventSolution wrote: Wed Feb 22, 2017 2:52 am Looking good

How did you mask the bays and cockpit?

It blu tac..... not sure what else it's like... maybe panzer putty, not sure I've never used it
Its a blue putty like substance that is tacky and you can use it to hang posters etc

Post by **Fridgy** » Thu Feb 23, 2017 2:06 am

God damn it!
Don't you just hate Flicking through the instructions and finding 1 piece that you have failed to attach to your already completed landing gear bays?

Oh well good thing I was planning on giving the missiles a coat of white paint today... will just include that bit and hope I can get it installed without to much damage to the front gear bay.....

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Thu Feb 23, 2017 2:50 am

Alright, just for that use of our lord's name in vain I am NOT buying this kit...oh dear, hurting my religious eyes with such vulgarity

Ya and if you believe that BS,I have a bridge and some swamp land to sell you

I am closer to this

than anything holy....although my grandmother used to call me a blessed lamb when I was little

Gotta wait on the 1/48 until things blow over with the spray booth and ,ahem, six other kits I bought
But I waaaaaant it!!!!!!

Post by **Fridgy** » Thu Feb 23, 2017 3:17 am

Oooo

I like bridges... tell me more!

Does the swamp come with its own creature or do I need to supply my own??

Post by **Fridgy** » Thu Feb 23, 2017 3:21 am

Twokidsnosleep wrote: Thu Feb 23, 2017 2:50 am Alright, just for that use of our lord's name in vain I am NOT buying this kit...oh dear, hurting my religious eyes with such vulgarity

Ya and if you believe that BS,I have a bridge and some swamp land to sell you
I am closer to this than anything holy....although my grandmother used to call me a blessed lamb when I was little
Gotta wait on the 1/48 until things blow over with the spray booth and ,ahem, six other kits I bought
But I waaaaaant it!!!!!!

There are some fitment issues Scott but all in all so far nothing that isn't a deal breaker... when, and you will notice I said when not if, you get the kit you will find if I can over come them then you should find it a breeze

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Thu Feb 23, 2017 4:34 am

Fridgy wrote: Thu Feb 23, 2017 3:21 am
Twokidsnosleep wrote: Thu Feb 23, 2017 2:50 am Alright, just for that use of our lord's name in vain I am NOT buying this kit...oh dear, hurting my religious eyes with such vulgarity

Ya and if you believe that BS,I have a bridge and some swamp land to sell you
I am closer to this than anything holy....although my grandmother used to call me a blessed lamb when I was little
Gotta wait on the 1/48 until things blow over with the spray booth and ,ahem, six other kits I bought
But I waaaaaant it!!!!!!
There are some fitment issues Scott but all in all so far nothing that isn't a deal breaker... when, and you will notice I said when not if, you get the kit you will find if I can over come them then you should find it a breeze

Everyday I get an advert for the kit, it is unreal. Today I got an email from Ammo that they are carrying those kits

I need to just be independently weathly and not worried about debt........maybe Trump can adopt me

Nahhh, if I had everything my eyes desired instantly, then I would likely never appreciate it or build a single model again.

Oh and I don't know about finding it a breeze, I live by this motto

...and I seem to have limitless boundaries

Post by **Fridgy** » Thu Feb 23, 2017 9:04 am

Had a mental health day today and spent some time at the bench

Boarding ladder painted

Missiles and bombs

Got the pe handles and mirrors painted and attached

The canopies masked with tamiya tape

Got the wheels together and on the legs.... Ive been spoilt with tamiya kits and their 1 piece rubber wheels

GAPS!!! And a step.....

No idea how I'm going to attack that???

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Thu Feb 23, 2017 11:05 pm

Oh Shite I see what you mean
Does the bubble clear part fit down well to the back part of the windscreen??
What are you going to do pose-wise..open or closed canopy??

Post by **Fridgy** » Thu Feb 23, 2017 11:14 pm

Was going open canopy

Thinking possible cut the very front of the clear part off with my new razor saw and just using putty to fill the gap and get a smooth join??

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Fri Feb 24, 2017 1:19 am

I want to think on this a bit
not give a knee jerk "just do this" response

Post by **Fridgy** » Fri Feb 24, 2017 1:21 am

Twokidsnosleep wrote: Fri Feb 24, 2017 1:19 am I want to think on this a bit
not give a knee jerk "just do this" response

Cheers Scott

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Fri Feb 24, 2017 1:22 am

I am happily heading out of work so my brains on GTFO of here mode

Post by **Fridgy** » Fri Feb 24, 2017 1:45 am

Twokidsnosleep wrote: Fri Feb 24, 2017 1:22 am I am happily heading out of work so my brains on GTFO of here mode

I can relate... im on my last job now, just waiting for a relay to energise and im outta here

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Fri Feb 24, 2017 2:29 am

I am assuming that space is for the fuel filler and a cover goes over it??

Gonna PM you back so as to not clutter up your thread

Post by **Fridgy** » Fri Feb 24, 2017 8:37 am

To fix the step between the windshield and nose I have sanded the front edge down on an angle and added some putty. I'm hoping once the putty is dry I can sand to contour so that it looks half respectable

Post by **Bissyboat** » Fri Feb 24, 2017 9:57 am

Looking good mate.

Post by **Fridgy** » Sat Feb 25, 2017 7:24 am

Ok so I have filed filled and sanded back the step and gaps....
Need to shoot some primer at it to see how it looks, but to my eye it's not looking too bad
Judge for yourselves and feedback is welcome

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Sat Feb 25, 2017 3:33 pm

Good repair work there

Post by **SolventSolution** » Sat Feb 25, 2017 8:11 pm

Looks good. I had the same issue with a revell super hornet I just built. I didn't do nearly nice of a job you did.

Post by **Fridgy** » Sat Feb 25, 2017 9:38 pm

SolventSolution wrote: Sat Feb 25, 2017 8:11 pm Looks good. I had the same issue with a revell super hornet I just built. I didn't do nearly nice of a job you did.

I did see that on your build...
Makes me wonder why they both have designed the nose that way?

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Sat Feb 25, 2017 9:50 pm

LHS not carrying kinetic kits
That was my justification to buy there and avoid shipping costs

Post by **Fridgy** » Sat Feb 25, 2017 9:52 pm

Twokidsnosleep wrote: Sat Feb 25, 2017 9:50 pm LHS not carrying kinetic kits
That was my justification to buy there and avoid shipping costs

Its on sale at the online hobby store I use.....

Just saying

Post by **Fridgy** » Sat Feb 25, 2017 9:57 pm

I will just leave this here for you scott

Post by **Fridgy** » Sat Feb 25, 2017 10:04 pm

Or you could go big......

But Geez that's bloody expensive

And not much difference in CA $282.43