F-45 "Mustang II" - Ultimate USAF Dogfighter

[Spino]

Well done!!!

Do you need more supplies of filler now? 

Yes, actually, I do!

[George the Cat]

Well done!!!

Do you need more supplies of filler now? 

Yes, actually, I do!

 

[Spino]

I started a new job today so I wasn't able to get much done on the F-45, but I did manage to get the second coat of paint on and redo some PSR that didn't turn out as intended.  I also added the weapons and printed up a pair of drop tanks.  The nose has been painted a darker shade of grey like you might find on an F-16.  At this rate, I just might need a day or two extension to get this one done for the GB, I wasn't expecting to start this job so soon 

You cannot view this attachment.

Here I set the model upside-down on my vice and dry-fitted the tanks.  Incidentally they are Gripen tanks, for reasons that will become more apparent in the backstory as well as the simple fact that I doubt F-16 tanks give adequate landing gear clearance on a plane this small.  The tanks will be painted grey, but perhaps a lighter shade than the rest of the model, not sure yet.

You cannot view this attachment.

[Spino]

Decided to paint the tanks the same color as the rest of the plane for sake of time.  Here's a couple of photos of the top side of the aircraft now that the PSR issues have been corrected and sprayed over.

You cannot view this attachment.

It really does look like a modernized Lavi or a mini Gripen/Typhoon.

You cannot view this attachment.

[NARSES2]

Best of luck with the job 

[Spino]

Best of luck with the job 

Thanks!  It's working out well so far, except for interfering with me completing my GB entry on time 

My canopy solutions aren't working, so unless the moderator gives an extension then I'll be out of the GB.  Unfortunate, but if that must be the case then so be it.  Close, but no cigar.

Here's the current state of the build.  The only issue is that I don't have plastic on hand that is the right shape for the canopy, and without a vacforming machine I can't make any that will be the correct shape.  That won't get here in time for me to finish this.  My attempts to heat-form a canopy using other methods are failing, so I think it may be time to move this thread over.

You cannot view this attachment.
You cannot view this attachment.
You cannot view this attachment.
You cannot view this attachment.

[kitbasher]

🤞 you're having better luck with the canopy moulding today.

[Spino]

Well my molding attempts have all failed unfortunately, so I ended up resorting to an old trick from my cardboard modeling days.  Believe it or not, cardboard used to be one of my primary materials for making models of all kinds, including aircraft.  The canopy issue was just as difficult to deal with then as it is now, but my solution for cardboard models was to use the plastic packaging from teardrop-shaped lightbulbs and hot glue to hold it in place.  Hardly the most elegant solution, but it worked, and that's what I've done here.  Unfortunately in the process of all this I dropped the model and caused significant damage to the tail, so I ended up printing a new vertical fin and having to redo the PSR on the thrust vectoring nozzle.  The good news is that it's almost all sorted out and ready for the finishing touches.  I just hope the hot glue job on the canopy doesn't get melted by the paint, that has been known to happen before.  I also had to raise the sides of the cockpit and lower the seating position to make the canopy solution work.  Next steps are repainting the areas that have been modified, writing the backstory, and adding the final decals once the paint dries.  It's going to be close, but I think I can still make it.  Photos to follow.

[Spino]

Well it's not super pretty but I'm calling it done.  Here are the final photos.

You cannot view this attachment.
You cannot view this attachment.
You cannot view this attachment.
You cannot view this attachment.
You cannot view this attachment.

[kitbasher]

Don't forget to post pics, etc, in the 'finished builds' thread, Spino.

[Spino]

Don't forget to post pics, etc, in the 'finished builds' thread, Spino.

Working on it now.

[kitbasher]

👍

[perttime]

The canopy worked surprisingly well 
I fear the surface finish on the airframe looks a little rough in the photos. That might detract points in the voting, however good the concept and shape of the Mustang II is.

[Spino]

The canopy worked surprisingly well 
I fear the surface finish on the airframe looks a little rough in the photos. That might detract points in the voting, however good the concept and shape of the Mustang II is.

Yes unfortunately with this being a one-week build I didn't have time to really correct that.

[kitbasher]

Kudos to Spino, this is the first GB I can think of where an entrant manufactured their own kit!