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Post by mumbles on Sept 4, 2009 0:24:16 GMT 12
Thanks Joe! Well, I thought I would be done by now, but having programmed some reserve time into the schedule I have wound up using it all. Even during a power build like this life doesn't revolve around the work bench. With one build night to go, and the clock almost audibly ticking, here is the latest: Post decalling, the operational jets were looking far too clean, so it was out with the dark pastel: Once the dirt and grime was sealed I could finally unwrap the canopies to see if everything was where I left it and intact. Thankfully the answer is yes to both Intake masking also removed and found to have worked: Minus the undercarriage, here are the various bits and bobs to go on during the final assembly tomorrow night: Meanwhile, the third aircraft in the trio has finally acquired some paint: Given that it needs no stores, decals, or even proper masking it has been left until last...... Can kinda see the end from here, and hopefully all three will be squared away by Saturday morning
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Post by corsair67 on Sept 5, 2009 11:39:52 GMT 12
Gee Mumbles, they looking fantastic, mate. Very well done.
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Post by Craig Sargent on Sept 6, 2009 23:46:07 GMT 12
Got to see these in the flesh over the weekend at the Nats/Expo and they looked very good (including the all white one in the giant condom). Also good to put a name to a face and meet Sam.
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Post by mumbles on Sept 7, 2009 20:38:32 GMT 12
Thanks everyone for your compliments and support! I didn't think I was doing anything particularly special with this project, but now I am starting to wonder... Sorry for the delay in updating this, I was helping out at the show for the weekend, and kind of in recovery mode as well! Things certainly came down to the wire in the end, but luckily the wire that got caught turned out to be a number 3. wire instead of a barbed one if you get my drift! The build culminated in a marathon session that started around 7:30 on Friday night and finished somewhere around 4am on Saturday morning (about the time I started to get double vision! I figured that was a good time to down tools). After a couple of hours sleep a short session on Saturday morning rounded up the loose ends and the models were packed off to the show, which was fortunately only about a ten minute drive from where I live. Here is the cocooned Kahu with its final topcoat of fine white primer: With the green masked out underneath: About the last thing to do on the live Kahu was to add the various aerials that distinguish the upgraded aircraft. These I made from plastic sheet, visible here in white: By about 0930 on Saturday morning they were up to here (note the morning sunlight!): And about an hour later they had joined their siblings on the collection display table, showing the various schemes and configurations worn by the A-4 during its RNZAF career. I did the cocooned one more as a joke than statement of any kind, but it was a hit judging by the feedback I received: Unfortunatelly I ran out of time to get the sidewinders on the live Kahu, although it does have a pair of mavericks underwing. And then I relaxed. The collection picked up 2nd in class behind a collection of targets, erm tanks , although to be fair I think the class only had two entries at the national level. Really I was just happy to have them on the table and achieve the difficult task I had set for myself. I'll get some nicer portrait pics of the trio up in the next couple of days for your viewing pleasure. Thanks again to all the commenters and lurkers, you were a big help in getting this thing done! Right then, on to the next thing......
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Post by flyjoe180 on Sept 8, 2009 11:33:47 GMT 12
Sam, that is a beautiful collection and your finished trio looks fantastic. The time you have taken to build these in is amazing. I'm glad you got such high praise from the judges, the winning tanks must have been superb. You should do one more cocooned A4 for a giggle, with ripped latex and water inside it ;D Well done, it has been a pleasure to watch these models take form.
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Post by Andy Wright on Sept 12, 2009 22:39:03 GMT 12
Stunning, stunning work, Sam.
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Post by skyhawkdon on Sept 25, 2009 10:28:04 GMT 12
Very nice work Sam. Congratulations. The white one is a classic!
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