Dr Sprue's 1/72 Revell SR-71 Blackbird

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Dr Sprue's 1/72 Revell SR-71 Blackbird

Post by DrSprue »

OK guys, yup, lets try another kit for this forum. Maybe I can finish this one being we have a bit more time (thank you Neil)!
For us intermediate guys, or even beginners, this time frame is perfect. Not to mention as well those that work like I did a few years ago, 60 hours or more a week! Three or four months would go by in a flash. OK, my build presentation.

Here we have the classic .... the fastest strategic reconnaissance aircraft, even to this day.... of all time! The...

Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird
Image

I will be building this from my old 2001 Revell/Monogram - #85-5810 kit in my stash. I bought this from my Local hobby shop here in Massachusetts at that time as well for about 20 US dollars. It will be out of the box, with no additions other than maybe a new set of decals being that they are a bit old, but Ill find that out when I try them. I will use the skunk works logo as well from that set.

I will also be trying to make some kind of base for it too and never did that before so anyone with a good Idea about that please reply if you can. It will be on the ground on its wheels, with maybe the small drone siting next to it on a landing strip of some-kind.

Here is the box.
Image

And the instructions as well if you want to follow along: (including the decals)
https://www.scalemates.com/products/img ... ctions.pdf

Both of these were scanned in for the scalemates website a while ago as well by myself. Man, ya gotta love this bird. I will also be getting some detail tips from this squadron book I bought a while ago too from my LHS. Thanks Dennis!

Image

The next couple posts (before the build) will be the history of this bird and a complete sprue layout. Why sprues?
(because I am Dr Sprue.. :lol: )

Thank you for stopping by and looking! :hi:
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Re: Dr Sprue's 1/72 Revell SR-71 Blackbird

Post by Tomcat64 »

Great to see you joining in on this one Tony and hopefully the longer play time will allow you to take your time and enjoy the build process in your own time :cheers2:

Will be sitting in the front row for this :pop:
Cheers, Neil

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Re: Dr Sprue's 1/72 Revell SR-71 Blackbird

Post by Fridgy »

I do love me some blackbird action
She is in my top 5 aircraft
Too bad she doesnt have bomb bay doors.....

In the front row for this.... someone pass the :pop:
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Re: Dr Sprue's 1/72 Revell SR-71 Blackbird

Post by chief5437 »

great choice Dr, gotta love the sr71, amazing piece of engineering! :th: :th: :th:
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Re: Dr Sprue's 1/72 Revell SR-71 Blackbird

Post by Jens »

Very nice choice there!!!

I've also got a 1/72 SR-71 Blackbird on the bench but it's such abysmal quality that I lose interest every time I go at it... It's the Italeri #145.
I tried for months to get hold of a Testors 1/48 but the only ones I could find were in the US - and at fantasy prices, so the cost for shipping it to me just made it too expensive, like silly expensive, so I gave up in the end.

I've been trying to drum up some interest for a high quality 1/32 or 1/48 Blackbird for the last 8 months in hope someone would make one but no luck so far, but if enough of us ask for it then there's at least a slim chance?!

The SR-71 is the most exciting, mysterious and fascinating plane ever built if you ask me and it's such a shame there are no descent kits in production...

There was a limited run 1/32 vacuum formed kit made a decade or two ago but they are unobtanium as well.

I'm looking forward to see what you make of yours!!! :th:
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Re: Dr Sprue's 1/72 Revell SR-71 Blackbird

Post by Twokidsnosleep »

Let her rip, we are all here watching and happy to help and encourage
:pop:
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Re: Dr Sprue's 1/72 Revell SR-71 Blackbird

Post by TommyKillander »

Wow!

I got the infamous Italeri #145 in my stash waiting for me to man up and get started :D
After reading what Jens wrote I'm not super-eager to do it :lol: :D

Anyway, great choice of subject. It's mind-boggling that this aircraft is more than 50 years old and no massproduced aircraft can touch it even today. :crazy:

Good luck with the build !

:pop:
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Re: Dr Sprue's 1/72 Revell SR-71 Blackbird

Post by DrSprue »

Image
Thanks guys, so glad a few of you are interested in this very awesome "sled". I think all of us know about this cool plane.
Man it is so amazing. Enjoy!

Creating The Blackbird . . . . . . (Most taken from Lockheed Martin's website)

It was May 1, 1960, and the Cold War was heating up. Gary Powers’ U-2 aircraft was disabled. Hit by Soviet surface-to-air missiles, the plane fell from 70,000 feet to 30,000 feet before Powers could release himself and bail out of the damaged cockpit.

At Lockheed’s advanced development group, the Skunk Works® in Burbank, work had already begun on an innovative aircraft to improve intelligence-gathering, one that would fly faster than any aircraft before or since, at greater altitude, and with a minimal radar cross section. President Eisenhower deeply valued the strategic benefits of the U-2’s airborne reconnaissance during these tense Cold War times. And now the call came from Lockheed’s customer in Washington to build the impossible – an aircraft that can’t be shot down – and do it fast.

“Everything Had To Be Invented.”
Kelly Johnson, one of the preeminent aircraft designers of the twentieth century, and his Skunk Works team had a track record of delivering “impossible” technologies on incredibly short, strategically critical deadlines. The U-2 was but one example. The group was known for its unfailing sense of duty, its creativity in the face of a technological challenge and its undaunted perseverance.
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This new aircraft was in a different category from anything that had come before. “Everything had to be invented. Everything,” Johnson recalled. He committed Skunk Works to succeed in its toughest assignment to date: to have the innovative, challenging, envelope-bursting aircraft flying in a mere twenty months.

April 26, 1962 - Maiden flight of the A-12 Blackbird.
[youtube]psdtKHyefwA[/youtube]

The speed of the new aircraft was to exceed 2,000 mph. Other planes of the era could, in theory, approximate that speed but only in short, after-burner-driven bursts. This new plane needed to maintain a record-setting speed for hours at a time. At such velocity, friction with the atmosphere generates temperatures that would melt the conventional airframe.
Image
With anticipated temperatures on the aircraft’s leading edges exceeding 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit, dealing with the heat raised a host of seemingly insurmountable design and material challenges. Titanium alloy was the only option for the airframe —providing the strength of stainless steel, a relatively light weight, and durability at the excessive temperatures.

Titanium, however, proved to be a particularly sensitive material from which to build an airplane. The brittle alloy shattered if mishandled, which meant great frustration on the Skunk Works assembly line, and new training classes for Lockheed’s machinists. Conventional cadmium-plated steel tools, it was soon learned, embrittled the titanium on contact; so new tools were designed and fabricated—out of titanium.

While friction would generate incredible heat at the leading edges of the aircraft, the ambient temperature outside the cockpit window would be -60 degrees Fahrenheit. Skunk Works’ Ben Rich spent untold hours tackling the problem of how heat could be dissipated across the entire airframe. Then he recalled a simple lesson from one of his university courses: Black paint both emits and absorbs heat. The aircraft was painted black, and soon earned its name: “Blackbird.”

The original Blackbird was designated the A-12 and made its first flight on April 30, 1962. The single-seat A-12 soon evolved into the larger SR-71, which added a second seat for a Reconnaissance Systems Officer and carried more fuel than the A-12. The SR-71's first flight was on December 22, 1964.
Image

A Stealthy Pioneer
Reducing the size of the Blackbird’s radar image meant an even further reduction in the likelihood that the plane would be perceived and shot down. Though the initial test results were good, rumors of Soviet radar advances led the U.S. government to ask for an even smaller radar profile.

Surfaces had to be redesigned to avoid reflecting radar signals, the engines moved to a subtler mid-wing position, and a radar-absorbing element was added to the paint. Then a full-scale model of the Blackbird was hoisted on a pylon for radar testing at a Skunk Works’ secret location in the Nevada desert. With tests carefully scheduled to avoid Soviet satellite observations, the results were impressive: The Blackbird model, more than 100 feet in length, would appear on Soviet radar as bigger than a bird but smaller than a man. The team had succeeded in reducing radar cross section by 90 percent.
[youtube]QjCNBFS5CwE[/youtube]

Rising To The Challenge
The pressure mounted to deliver the Blackbird to service on October 27, 1962 when, at the height of the Cuban missile crisis, Air Force Major Rudolph Anderson was piloting a U-2 reconnaissance mission over Cuba and suffered a fatal injury from a Soviet surface-to-air strike.

Skunk Works responded, diligently and creatively persisting through the many problems that arose as flight testing pushed the envelope. Breaking records nearly every time it flew, the Blackbird achieved a sustained speed above Mach 3 on July 20, 1963, at an astounding altitude of 78,000 feet. The challenges kept coming: Zipping across the sky at 3,000 feet per second, the rules of navigation needed be rewritten. Visual references for conventional flying—highways, rivers, and metropolitan areas—were rendered obsolete, giving way to mountain ranges, coast lines, and large bodies of water.

Image

Piloting the Blackbird was an unforgiving endeavor, demanding total concentration. But pilots were giddy with their complex, adrenaline-fueled responsibilities.
Image

At that speed and altitude, even the best air defense systems had no hope of catching the Blackbird. When anti-aircraft weapons were fired, a warning light glowed red on the control panel. But that would typically be the last the pilot would see of the attempted attack, as surface-to-air missiles consistently missed wildly, exploding many miles from the intended target.

The records set are many: The Blackbird was and remains the world’s fastest and highest-flying manned aircraft. On its retirement flight from Los Angeles to Washington in 1990, to its final resting place in the Smithsonian Air & Space collection, the plane flew coast to coast in 67 minutes.

Most importantly, the aircraft delivered on its strategic responsibilities, providing the United States detailed, mission-critical reconnaissance for more than two decades. Only a select few know the true extent of the role the Blackbird’s intelligence played in the Cold War. But its legacy as a game-changer will be admired for generations.

Image

Image
Image

Lockheed Martin - Creating The Blackbird

Thank you for stopping by and looking! :hi:
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Re: Dr Sprue's 1/72 Revell SR-71 Blackbird

Post by Jens »

TommyKillander wrote: Sun Mar 11, 2018 5:22 pm I got the infamous Italeri #145 in my stash waiting for me to man up and get started :D
After reading what Jens wrote I'm not super-eager to do it :lol: :D
The Italeri SR-71 is a kitbash. Someone made the rear half and someone else made the front half so you're stuck with raised panel lines on one end and normal panel lines on the other half so you have to pick one and sand/scratch accordingly. This isn't so much of an issue since the fit between the halves is so terrifyingly bad that you need to dig out the big tools anyway...

But apart from this the kit isn't bad because the shape is pretty good (let's not forget that it is an Italeri kit after all so you can't expect much to begin with) and you should be able to beat it into submission. I just haven't been motivated enough so see it through yet... ;)
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Re: Dr Sprue's 1/72 Revell SR-71 Blackbird

Post by Willem »

That retirement flight stat is just amazing......67 minutes east coast to west.

:cheers2:
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Re: Dr Sprue's 1/72 Revell SR-71 Blackbird

Post by TommyKillander »

Jens wrote: Sun Mar 11, 2018 9:20 pm
TommyKillander wrote: Sun Mar 11, 2018 5:22 pm I got the infamous Italeri #145 in my stash waiting for me to man up and get started :D
After reading what Jens wrote I'm not super-eager to do it :lol: :D
The Italeri SR-71 is a kitbash. Someone made the rear half and someone else made the front half so you're stuck with raised panel lines on one end and normal panel lines on the other half so you have to pick one and sand/scratch accordingly. This isn't so much of an issue since the fit between the halves is so terrifyingly bad that you need to dig out the big tools anyway...

But apart from this the kit isn't bad because the shape is pretty good (let's not forget that it is an Italeri kit after all so you can't expect much to begin with) and you should be able to beat it into submission. I just haven't been motivated enough so see it through yet... ;)
It sounds like a project when I'm not under any time pressure... Besides, I have other plans for this SiG, just need to finish off my Yak-130 first ;)

:cheers2:
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Re: Dr Sprue's 1/72 Revell SR-71 Blackbird

Post by aur0ra145 »

Such a cool airplane. Ben Rich (the guy who took Kelly Johnsons job when he retired) wrote a book called Skunk Works: A Personal Memoir of My Years at Lockheed which is awesome. Really digs into how Skunkworks functioned and how they tackled the different airplanes they produced to include the SR-71, U-2 and F-117.
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Re: Dr Sprue's 1/72 Revell SR-71 Blackbird

Post by DrSprue »

aur0ra145 wrote: Mon Mar 12, 2018 12:19 am Such a cool airplane. Ben Rich (the guy who took Kelly Johnsons job when he retired) wrote a book called Skunk Works: A Personal Memoir of My Years at Lockheed which is awesome. Really digs into how Skunkworks functioned and how they tackled the different airplanes they produced to include the SR-71, U-2 and F-117.
Oh cool aur0ra, Just googled it and it looks very interesting. On my wish list!

Image
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Re: Dr Sprue's 1/72 Revell SR-71 Blackbird

Post by Tomcat64 »

Great intro Tony!

Just out of interest where did the photo right at the top of the thread come from? Absolutely love that shot!
Cheers, Neil

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Re: Dr Sprue's 1/72 Revell SR-71 Blackbird

Post by DrSprue »

Tomcat64 wrote: Mon Mar 12, 2018 4:42 pm Great intro Tony!

Just out of interest where did the photo right at the top of the thread come from? Absolutely love that shot!
Thanks bud!
Do you mean the banner with the lockheed sr71 pic? or the shot with the A-12 going up?

For the banner, I just searched the net for SR-71 logo's, found one and cropped it in a way and made it tiny for a nice looking banner. Just wanted the intro to look like a cool presentation at the start. The rest of what I did I got from Lockheads website and some wiki areas, and basically remapped it for this ISM posting views for all you guys to enjoy. Most all from here. https://www.lockheedmartin.com/us/100ye ... kbird.html
Had a problem with Lockheads 2 test movies, but I found the same ones with a search on youtube!

When I was younger I always wished I could have worked for Lockhead or even the Skunkworks division. I have no aircraft knowledge training and graduated in a different field and stuff. Plus I am not that old, it was just a love of that stuff they were doing when I was young and of course, even now. I think all of us do in our hearts love anything that has wings or rockets.... and can exceed Mach 3!! hehe!.

(speaking of the SR-71 kits!! Wow just found this.... http://www.findmodelkit.com/search/luce ... 0Blackbird)
And of course so many more in scalemates... man what a great site!
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Re: Dr Sprue's 1/72 Revell SR-71 Blackbird

Post by Twokidsnosleep »

Ok, time to see some sprues lose their hold on parts
Pitter patter let's get at her!!!
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Re: Dr Sprue's 1/72 Revell SR-71 Blackbird

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Twokidsnosleep wrote: Mon Mar 12, 2018 6:20 pm Ok, time to see some sprues lose their hold on parts
Pitter patter let's get at her!!!
Ok Ok Scott....ggezzzee your so impatient!

Image

Ill start with this one small engine nose piece and try to do another part each day for a while to give you a real good Idea of all the parts I have in my kit! One by one....... from this entire kit...... one by one.

each day... one by one. :P

Yanno Scott... ISM does not stand for International SPEED Modeller.... :eeek:

:lol:
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Re: Dr Sprue's 1/72 Revell SR-71 Blackbird

Post by Twokidsnosleep »

Ha, made ya start!!!
Now stop researching and keep building!!!
Kind of like shoot first, ask questions later :D
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Re: Dr Sprue's 1/72 Revell SR-71 Blackbird

Post by DrSprue »

Twokidsnosleep wrote: Mon Mar 12, 2018 9:49 pm Ha, made ya start!!!
Now stop researching and keep building!!!
Kind of like shoot first, ask questions later :D
haha! Yea, ya did bud. Yup, Ill be putting up my entire sprue layout tomorrow, Just finished the pictures this weekend so still need to add in some text and you can see whats in this thing. Not too much and Im sure it will be easy but when It comes to painting it, Ill be asking you and others whats the best way to approach that. Like I said a while ago.. Im Dr Sprue.. NOT .. Dr Paint! :lol:
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Re: Dr Sprue's 1/72 Revell SR-71 Blackbird

Post by Quax »

Looking forward to see how this develops, I think from your description its going to be somewhat.... involved! :shock: :x

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Re: Dr Sprue's 1/72 Revell SR-71 Blackbird

Post by Tomcat64 »

DrSprue wrote: Mon Mar 12, 2018 5:19 pm
Tomcat64 wrote: Mon Mar 12, 2018 4:42 pm Great intro Tony!

Just out of interest where did the photo right at the top of the thread come from? Absolutely love that shot!
Do you mean the banner with the lockheed sr71 pic? or the shot with the A-12 going up?
Thanks Tony - it was actually this one I was looking for but now I've grabbed the link properly I can see it was from the Lockheed website! :doh:
Image
Great to see you've made a start on this too :)

As you know from our previous discussion I've got a load of books on the SR-71 so feel free to ping me if you're looking for something that's not in your own collection :th:
Cheers, Neil

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Re: Dr Sprue's 1/72 Revell SR-71 Blackbird

Post by DrSprue »

Oh great Neil that one! Yea I love that pic as well and thanks Paul, yup, I dont think this will be a difficult aircraft to build, not only because I am an intermediate guy coming back into the hobby but Monogram made this a bit easier than many of the other ones out there by other companies.

Image

SPRUE LAYOUT PRESENTATION
Ok guys enuff foot-ling around. Lets show all the sprues in this cool kit, I got almost 2 decades ago. Then I can start building this skunk works sled and we can see what an aircraft looks like when it gets ready to travel over Mach 3 in airspeed!

1st, even though there is a copy of the instructions from scalemates (that ill put below) that I made on that website, here is a copy of the top page from those instructions for a cool intro into the plane that Revell / Monogram presented. Notice the date.
Image
(See these instructions for more detail if you would like) Here

Sprue #1 - Top of fuselage
Image

Sprue #2 - Bottom of fuselage
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Sprue #3 - Cockpit, Nose and tail, wheels, etc
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Sprue #4 - M21 Drone, vert stab, engine bits
Image

Sprue #5 - Canopy glass
Image

Decal - dimmed to show the white areas a bit more
Image

Just in case, because I love to photograph sprues, here is a collage of the reverse side of these sprues (below) in the event anyone would like to see that other side. May be useful in a way because this is were the injector pin marks, flash, etc may appear. Note: If you click once on any image, Flickr will access this image on its site and If you click again, you will get a close zoom effect and can pan around closer to this image as well. Thanks Flickr!... and without advertisements too, like that other guy?? hehe.

Reverse sprues
Image
Image

Well thats it for today. I already jumped the gun in the instructions by starting the M-21 Drone. It gives me a tiny mule to experiment with as well and what to expect with this SR71. I am not sure if I am going to mount the M-21 on top of the SR71 or put it on its base nearby. Not even sure about a base as well. Please... any feedback or opinions about this or the build.. please reply. I am open to any thoughts or ideas about building this kit, especially its painting! Thank you.

BTW: The pilots are cool as well and I will install them. Unlike conventional WWII pilots having full human face details, these pilots, being ones that almost went out of the atmosphere, have full spacesuit like gear so they will be easy to paint and will look great.

Lockheed Martin - Creating The Blackbird

Thank you for stopping by and looking! :hi:
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Re: Dr Sprue's 1/72 Revell SR-71 Blackbird

Post by Stokesy44 »

Come on Doc! Hurry up and build it Sir. Cant wait to see this coming together..... :dance:
Its been tried and tested, it works! So don't blame the system if you're no good. :doh:
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Re: Dr Sprue's 1/72 Revell SR-71 Blackbird

Post by bfrd »

You may want to take extra caution when removing the forward canopy "glass". The harder clear plastic has been known to crack instead of cutting, and the sharp point is primed to get split off. Not that I would have any first-hand knowledge of that. :oops:
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Re: Dr Sprue's 1/72 Revell SR-71 Blackbird

Post by DrSprue »

bfrd wrote: Tue Mar 13, 2018 3:44 pm You may want to take extra caution when removing the forward canopy "glass". The harder clear plastic has been known to crack instead of cutting, and the sharp point is primed to get split off. Not that I would have any first-hand knowledge of that. :oops:
Good Idea Matt, it is a funny glass, especially the front oddly bent one on this kit. When I cut the very thick one from my hurricane (that is still on the shelf) I lightly used the exacto knife on the edge near the rim and then broke it clean. That one came out fine. I have also in the past cracked one of those from some other older kit and they do snap easily!
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Re: Dr Sprue's 1/72 Revell SR-71 Blackbird

Post by Jens »

DrSprue wrote: Tue Mar 13, 2018 2:53 pm SPRUE LAYOUT PRESENTATION
Ok guys enuff foot-ling around. Lets show all the sprues in this cool kit, I got almost 2 decades ago. Then I can start building this skunk works sled and we can see what an aircraft looks like when it gets ready to travel over Mach 3 in airspeed!

Sprue #1 - Top of fuselage
Image

Sprue #2 - Bottom of fuselage
Image

...
I have to say that the Revell kit has a better hull construction than the Italeri one I've got because you have to attach the front 1/3 to the rear 2/3 and you have to be creative trying to make those seams disappear... Lots of filler and sanding...

Your build thread has inspired me to want to dig mine up from the bottom of the corner of shame and just get it done and over with so as soon as I feel inspired enough I will give it a go!

I only wish there was a well made larger SR-71 kit out there... I'd happily pay £100 for that!
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Re: Dr Sprue's 1/72 Revell SR-71 Blackbird

Post by DrSprue »

Jens wrote: Wed Mar 14, 2018 1:46 am I have to say that the Revell kit has a better hull construction than the Italeri one I've got because you have to attach the front 1/3 to the rear 2/3 and you have to be creative trying to make those seams disappear... Lots of filler and sanding...

Your build thread has inspired me to want to dig mine up from the bottom of the corner of shame and just get it done and over with so as soon as I feel inspired enough I will give it a go!

I only wish there was a well made larger SR-71 kit out there... I'd happily pay £100 for that!
Good luck with it Jens. I saw the sprues of that 145 and it looks like fun. I am sure I will be doing lots of filler and sanding as well. Old Revell kits dont seem to be as nice as the newer stuff that is available today, but then again.. that is a major part of our hobby. Have fun with it and please post it!
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Re: Dr Sprue's 1/72 Revell SR-71 Blackbird

Post by DrSprue »

Stokesy44 wrote: Tue Mar 13, 2018 3:10 pm Come on Doc! Hurry up and build it Sir. Cant wait to see this coming together..... :dance:
Thank you bud, yea already started to work on the M21 Drone. Seems to be a tiny version of the SR71 so it will give me an Idea of making it fit, building it on the tiny stand and its painting process and needs, kind of like a painting mule. I'll post that in a few days as well.
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Re: Dr Sprue's 1/72 Revell SR-71 Blackbird

Post by Tomcat64 »

DrSprue wrote: Wed Mar 14, 2018 6:13 pm
Stokesy44 wrote: Tue Mar 13, 2018 3:10 pm Come on Doc! Hurry up and build it Sir. Cant wait to see this coming together..... :dance:
Thank you bud, yea already started to work on the M21 Drone. Seems to be a tiny version of the SR71 so it will give me an Idea of making it fit, building it on the tiny stand and its painting process and needs, kind of like a painting mule. I'll post that in a few days as well.
Now you're just teasing!! :tongue:
Cheers, Neil

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Re: Dr Sprue's 1/72 Revell SR-71 Blackbird

Post by DrSprue »

Tomcat64 wrote: Thu Mar 15, 2018 11:35 am
DrSprue wrote: Wed Mar 14, 2018 6:13 pm
Stokesy44 wrote: Tue Mar 13, 2018 3:10 pm Come on Doc! Hurry up and build it Sir. Cant wait to see this coming together..... :dance:
Thank you bud, yea already started to work on the M21 Drone. Seems to be a tiny version of the SR71 so it will give me an Idea of making it fit, building it on the tiny stand and its painting process and needs, kind of like a painting mule. I'll post that in a few days as well.
Now you're just teasing!! :tongue:
Haha! No Im not Neil. Thank you for making me laugh tho bud. The kit is large and looks very simple compared to others and many that you guys do, but this is very hard for me with issues that many of you know about. This will take me a lot longer than most would see as a month long build. I bet some of you could slap this Revell together in a weekend. I was able to do this once too. Add my extreme OCD into this, my age, vision issues and current painting system ATM, I am amazed I can last this long.

The time frame you have made for this Neil actually will fit the way I can build now. I am so thankful for that too. Sorry fellow modelers if your looking for being entertained by me on a daily basis with continuous builds, go see the pro's that exist on this forum. I am not one of them. I do love reading about all of your awesome work on ISM making this stuff. To be honest I just love aircraft, rockets, their history, all of the pictures about that on the net along with books and finally making small representations of them for myself.... Not the other way around. :violin:
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Re: Dr Sprue's 1/72 Revell SR-71 Blackbird

Post by Tomcat64 »

You take your time and enjoy it buddy - that was the whole idea of the longer run time!

Don't let these hooligans bully you :D

We're all right behind you... that sounds kinda creepy... don't let that worry you... :shifty:
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Re: Dr Sprue's 1/72 Revell SR-71 Blackbird

Post by DrSprue »

Tomcat64 wrote: Thu Mar 15, 2018 3:54 pm You take your time and enjoy it buddy - that was the whole idea of the longer run time!

Don't let these hooligans bully you :D

We're all right behind you... that sounds kinda creepy... don't let that worry you... :shifty:
No problem bud! I am enjoying this so much. I just hope you all don't mind me being so slow with doing a build, especially with pure text only interfacing here, where everything is on today, and gone tomorrow, as these forums are structured. Its just the design tech in me that wants to take time to make this an adventure for me and to share it with all of you.

Its not just about the model. I was into designing stuff for "Shows and Events" back at Lego systems almost 30 years ago and have worked for a game company as well. Mostly doing electronic stuff for them. Was very close to how plastic models and parts were done and did some stuff to control them.
So to me this is more than just plastic... its dreams and imagination. :dance: :banana:
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Re: Dr Sprue's 1/72 Revell SR-71 Blackbird

Post by Stokesy44 »

I'm sold. Just been out and bought a nice comfy armchair, pipe and slippers.

I'm settling in for the long run and looking forward to savoring the build as you go. I'll have a nice brandy at the ready so when you post I'll kick back, take a sip, swirl the liquid round the glass and say, Mmmm, that Sir, is looking very nice.

Go at your own pace good Sir, we aint going anywhere :th:
Its been tried and tested, it works! So don't blame the system if you're no good. :doh:
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Re: Dr Sprue's 1/72 Revell SR-71 Blackbird

Post by Fridgy »

Stokesy44 wrote: Thu Mar 15, 2018 5:42 pm Go at your own pace good Sir, we aint going anywhere :th:
Ive got an ultra sound and xray to go get done.... :nena:
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Re: Dr Sprue's 1/72 Revell SR-71 Blackbird

Post by DrSprue »

Stokesy44 wrote: Thu Mar 15, 2018 5:42 pm I'm sold. Just been out and bought a nice comfy armchair, pipe and slippers.

I'm settling in for the long run and looking forward to savoring the build as you go. I'll have a nice brandy at the ready so when you post I'll kick back, take a sip, swirl the liquid round the glass and say, Mmmm, that Sir, is looking very nice.

Go at your own pace good Sir, we aint going anywhere :th:
Thank you so much kind sir, poor me a glass as well! :banana:

OK did a small bit of work on the M21 drone this week and smoothed a few other parts in the cockpit area and the SR71 nose as well. For some reason, sanding parts from the sprue's just got very easy these days and I dont know why? (cough, cough, Ultimate, cough, scott, cough) hehe!!

Just started using PPP (perfect plastic putty) on a small fin seam as apposed to squadron green (which Ive used in the past) and it seems very nice and easy. Got it a few months ago, so still getting the feel of it. There were two massive holes in both pilots chests from the molding process so PPP worked its magic there as well.
Image

This weekend and next week, I hope to try a little paintwork on some of the drone areas and maybe do some painting on the two pilots.

Thank you for stopping by and looking! :hi:
Last edited by DrSprue on Sat Mar 17, 2018 2:00 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Dr Sprue's 1/72 Revell SR-71 Blackbird

Post by Twokidsnosleep »

WoooHoooo he is modelling!!! :banana: :banana: :banana:
I like the bottle of Dr Sprue Glue...you could sell that commercially with such a name
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Re: Dr Sprue's 1/72 Revell SR-71 Blackbird

Post by Quax »

what do you mean you haven't finished this yet?? :jd: :lol: :lol: The SR 71 is so iconic, it deserves taking time with!

cheers

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Re: Dr Sprue's 1/72 Revell SR-71 Blackbird

Post by SkyPainter303 »

Ha, I was tempted to pick up this one at Michael's yesterday using my 50% coupon. I didn't want to look like a copy cat. :)
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Re: Dr Sprue's 1/72 Revell SR-71 Blackbird

Post by Stokesy44 »

SkyPainter303 wrote: Tue Mar 20, 2018 12:52 am Ha, I was tempted to pick up this one at Michael's yesterday using my 50% coupon. I didn't want to look like a copy cat. :)
More like great minds think alike! Go on, go for it! :th:
Its been tried and tested, it works! So don't blame the system if you're no good. :doh:
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Re: Dr Sprue's 1/72 Revell SR-71 Blackbird

Post by DrSprue »

Stokesy44 wrote: Tue Mar 20, 2018 9:27 am
SkyPainter303 wrote: Tue Mar 20, 2018 12:52 am Ha, I was tempted to pick up this one at Michael's yesterday using my 50% coupon. I didn't want to look like a copy cat. :)
More like great minds think alike! Go on, go for it! :th:
Yea SkyPainter, please join me if you want to.... This way because I will be taking my time to build it, I could learn from you.. of course thats if I follow you on your build which I definitely will no matter what you make. :thumb2: All of you guys have been helping me so much in this hobby more than you can imagine. :dance:
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Re: Dr Sprue's 1/72 Revell SR-71 Blackbird

Post by Jens »

A shame you guys aren't building the Italeri #145 because then I can sit back and watch you figure out how to solve the plethora of issues I've discovered... :wtf:

I'm eagerly awaiting to see how things turn out!!! :th:
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Re: Dr Sprue's 1/72 Revell SR-71 Blackbird

Post by 1975GinjaNinja »

Enjoying this, could I ask about the panel lines on this model? Are they raised or recessed?

Ta, and keep up the good work,

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Re: Dr Sprue's 1/72 Revell SR-71 Blackbird

Post by DrSprue »

1975GinjaNinja wrote: Wed Mar 21, 2018 1:00 pm Enjoying this, could I ask about the panel lines on this model? Are they raised or recessed?

Ta, and keep up the good work,

Nige
Great question Nige, a picture is worth a thousand words, so here is a close shot of the fuselage. Both raised and recessed as this craft should kind of be really, but there are many rivets on that craft in real life as well but many pictures do not show them from afar and none on on this model. Raised near the outside of the fuselage and center, but very deep recessed ones along the inside of the wings as would be expected.

Image<--- deep recessed panel lines
. . /\
raised panel lines
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Re: Dr Sprue's 1/72 Revell SR-71 Blackbird

Post by Tomcat64 »

You didn't finish it yet?? :lol:

Great to see you cutting plastic again Tony - will be sitting back with plenty of :pop: and maybe a tipple or two if Stokesy will share his brandy!
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Re: Dr Sprue's 1/72 Revell SR-71 Blackbird

Post by Twokidsnosleep »

Tomcat64 wrote: Sun Mar 25, 2018 10:01 am You didn't finish it yet?? :lol:

Great to see you cutting plastic again Tony - will be sitting back with plenty of :pop: and maybe a tipple or two if Stokesy will share his brandy!
He’a Been quiet the last couple days...you ok Anthony???
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Re: Dr Sprue's 1/72 Revell SR-71 Blackbird

Post by DrSprue »

Twokidsnosleep wrote: Sun Mar 25, 2018 3:57 pm
Tomcat64 wrote: Sun Mar 25, 2018 10:01 am You didn't finish it yet?? :lol:

Great to see you cutting plastic again Tony - will be sitting back with plenty of :pop: and maybe a tipple or two if Stokesy will share his brandy!
He’a Been quiet the last couple days...you ok Anthony???
Yea fine dudes... Now that spring is coming back to us in Mass and even warmer this week, the wifes to do list is starting to grow very large...

hmmm do I need to say more. :shock:
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Re: Dr Sprue's 1/72 Revell SR-71 Blackbird

Post by Twokidsnosleep »

DrSprue wrote: Sun Mar 25, 2018 6:25 pm
Twokidsnosleep wrote: Sun Mar 25, 2018 3:57 pm
Tomcat64 wrote: Sun Mar 25, 2018 10:01 am You didn't finish it yet?? :lol:

Great to see you cutting plastic again Tony - will be sitting back with plenty of :pop: and maybe a tipple or two if Stokesy will share his brandy!
He’a Been quiet the last couple days...you ok Anthony???
Yea fine dudes... Now that spring is coming back to us in Mass and even warmer this week, the wifes to do list is starting to grow very large...

hmmm do I need to say more. :shock:
No. No you don’t :cry: :( :?
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Re: Dr Sprue's 1/72 Revell SR-71 Blackbird

Post by demarcation »

Looking forward to following this Tony :pop: Good luck with the build!!
:cheers2:

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Re: Dr Sprue's 1/72 Revell SR-71 Blackbird

Post by pourquoi61 »

Sorry but I am a bit late to this build Doc, looking great. :th: :th: :th:
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