GregWise Posted September 22, 2009 Report Posted September 22, 2009 (edited) This is the Grand Phoenix kit (1/48) I still have lots of work left to do I plan on detailing the rear cockpit deck and I need to figure out what to do for a replacement canopy. So far I scratched out a FOD cover for the intake to hide the nose weight, added guns and pitot tube made from hypodermic needles, fabricated a new IFR probe and removed large sections of plastic just to fit the beautiful resin parts. Edited October 4, 2009 by GregWise
Daniel Koss Posted September 22, 2009 Report Posted September 22, 2009 That's looking awesome Greg. Can't wait to see her with paint on! Is that tape on the probe?
ghodges Posted September 22, 2009 Report Posted September 22, 2009 ONe of my favorite planes! Looks like things are coming along nicely. I also admire your choice of adding the nose weight and hiding it with a FOD cover. It's practical and neat! Keep us posted on your progress. GIL
Glynyrd Posted September 23, 2009 Report Posted September 23, 2009 I absolutely love the FOD cover. Glenn
Dick Montgomery Posted September 24, 2009 Report Posted September 24, 2009 Cockpit looks awesome! Are you doing a "build" article for the Journal on this one?
rossjr Posted September 24, 2009 Report Posted September 24, 2009 She looks great! So what's wrong with the windscreen that your have to replace it? Get damaged, wrong shape, too thick????
Dreamsof51 Posted September 25, 2009 Report Posted September 25, 2009 Looking good thus far. I finished the Firefly kit they produced a while back and I was impressed by the quality of the resin cockpit parts. I've wanted to built this kit as well and now have a good excuse to find one. Keep the posts coming. Chris
GregWise Posted September 25, 2009 Author Report Posted September 25, 2009 Daniel- the tape has beeen sealed in a thin coat of CA glue and represents a attachment cover. Gil & Glenn- The intake would not fit and was not IMHO worth the effort. I used lead 'tape a weight' see picture below. Dick - I'm not sure on how to submitt a article for the journal but I would be more than happy to ... s**t I would like to get in on the freebees handed out for doing reviews. Ha! Rossjr- the canopy looks like a old pepsi bottle from 1963. I'll post pictures when I do the fix. Chris so far the biggest problem was the fitting the resin gearbay into the wing. After looking at a few online builds I decided to approach it a little differently. I basicly cut out a rectangle around the opening (bottom side of wing) the plastic is very thick and sanded the ++++ out of it untill it was thin enought to pass as the metal skin and glued it back into place. Gap filled with CA then I thinned down the resin itself and only then did I sand down the upper wing. I plan on adding a little more plumbing and clean up work. I will most likly rebuild or scratch out new gear doors as they are totally missing the inner details. Pitot tube picture included.
ghodges Posted September 25, 2009 Report Posted September 25, 2009 Greg: you can save yourself some work in the wells. Most of the pics I've ever seen have middle and inner doors in the closed position. Evidently they seldom bleed down, even after loss of hydraulic pressure. In fact, I had to search forever to find ONE pic that showed the middle doors, which are hinged along the front edge, in a down position. Anyway,there's an "easy-out" if ya want to take it! GIL
GregWise Posted September 28, 2009 Author Report Posted September 28, 2009 made new canopy/windscreen, bits and pieces
ghodges Posted September 29, 2009 Report Posted September 29, 2009 Excellent work! Nice detailing on the rear canopy deck including the "screw" actuator, as well as the detailing on the door interiors. Your skills are showing (again) ! GIL
Daniel Koss Posted September 29, 2009 Report Posted September 29, 2009 Wow, utterly fantastic work and craftmanship. I really like the way the canopy turned out.
Dreamsof51 Posted September 29, 2009 Report Posted September 29, 2009 Very impressive. This looks like one of those grind your way through it kits but you feels great when your done because you know what it took to get there. Really enjoying the updates. On another topic what kind of camera are you using? Its my least favorite part of doing reviews. Chris
GregWise Posted September 29, 2009 Author Report Posted September 29, 2009 On another topic what kind of camera are you using? Its my least favorite part of doing reviews. Chris it's about 5 yrs old now but its the old Kodak Z740 easyshare.
Daniel Koss Posted September 30, 2009 Report Posted September 30, 2009 I hate to drift off topic, but I have one of those and can't seem to get the clarity, with the close ups that you do. What settings are you using? Back on topic, wonderful work, can't wait to see a coat of paint!
GregWise Posted October 4, 2009 Author Report Posted October 4, 2009 painted, decaled, futured and ready for more bits and finish coat. Daniel- I just set it on SCN. sometimes I use the timer which I did not do with these 2 pictures.
ghodges Posted October 6, 2009 Report Posted October 6, 2009 That's looking absolutely lovely! 50's-60's USN planes have the coolest schemes! Who's decals did you use? GIL
Daniel Koss Posted October 7, 2009 Report Posted October 7, 2009 (edited) That looks awesome, beautiful scheme. Edited October 7, 2009 by Daniel Koss
VonL Posted October 7, 2009 Report Posted October 7, 2009 Love the 'pit and the scratch details. She's lookin' sharp. RAGE ON!
ghodges Posted October 31, 2009 Report Posted October 31, 2009 Hey Greg? Did you finish the Fury? You look close, but I thought you also mentioned that you'd hit a snag or were taking a break. I know I'm looking forward to seeing this one soon. Thanks! GIL
guaguachong Posted November 1, 2009 Report Posted November 1, 2009 looks good. even through i do not know anything about this plane. it looks like F-84 but not exactly the same. the kits looks not as good as tamiya, and i believe you spent much time and energy for it. good job.
GregWise Posted November 3, 2009 Author Report Posted November 3, 2009 Hey Greg? Did you finish the Fury? You look close, but I thought you also mentioned that you'd hit a snag or were taking a break. I know I'm looking forward to seeing this one soon. Thanks! GIL well she is still on the bench... now placed behind a 1/72 revell schnellboot, 1/48 CA TA-4J Skyhawk, Tamiya F4F Wildcat and a nearly completed Hasegawa A6M-3 Zero (all of which have been doing the workbench shuffle). The windscreen was compromised by a faulty masking job and now frosted...on the inside...and I really haven't got the stomach to redo that work. I really need to finish up these projects before I pull out any more.
ghodges Posted November 3, 2009 Report Posted November 3, 2009 Greg: I can vac a copy or two of the windscreen from my Grand Phoenix kit and send it to ya if you'd like. Email me at: slowhandshodges@bellsouth.net and let me know. Cheers! GIL
Kent Posted December 1, 2009 Report Posted December 1, 2009 Nice! What type of clear plastic did you use? Is that drape formed? Excellent results. Kent
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