discussion Chris' 1/144 Trumpeter Chengdupalooza WIP

[Steve-the-Duck]

Okay, more Chinese MiG-alikes, as an adjunct to the GB, rather than specifically part of it, before the next planned actual additions (off a long possible list!)

These are pretty much OOB, with the usual lumps and bumps and vents and such additions, built as much as possible before painting
So, left to right (top to bottom), they're going to be an Iranian Chengdu F-7B, Iraqi Chengdu F-7M, and J-7GB August First display team (complicated masking, again!)

 

[flyjoe180]

The family expands, off to good starts on these Chris

 

[Neil]

That's what I should have called the GB! Migapalooza!

Soon, you'll be making these from muscle memory; no need to read the instructions.

 

[Steve-the-Duck]

That's what I should have called the GB! Migapalooza!

Soon, you'll be making these from muscle memory; no need to read the instructions.

Oh you think of that now

 

[Steve-the-Duck]

Initial paint schemes on, and a dash of shading and highlighting. The enlarged from reality pics show where touch-ups are needed

So, that's two different blue-greys for the undersides, and two different, each, of the sand, green and browns for camo.

Plus, the multi-scale transfers from Heroics and Ros now here to add next



And so begins the laborious masking job for the August First team job
Managed to pic up some AK flexible masking tape at a the RE Museum Model Show at the weekend (and didn't get around to entering the build competition), and I have to say, not altogether impressed
The white stuff I've used previously has better adhesion, as does standard Tamiya stuff. Not that I'm committing the blasphemy of saying that AK stuff is over-rated, being the go-to for most people, buuut...

One product does not a whole range mark

 

[Steve-the-Duck]

Well, that took less time than the first, and I still didn't just put a big mask over the thoing and then m ark and cut it to shape, which would have saved even more tim e
Maybe I won't do the full five Olympic display team...

'I'm blue, dubbah-dee, dubbah-doo...'

Had to fit a new hose to my airbrush, then clean it out twice, and then end up brushing the underside

We'll see how much touch-up is needed in a couple of days...

 

[Neil]

Oh you think of that now

You are inspirational; what can I say

 

[Steve-the-Duck]

You are inspirational; what can I say

Glad to be of service
Consistently!

 

[Steve-the-Duck]

So, the main inaccuracy in the Trumpeter F-7s is the undercarriage.
For a start, they're moulded at full extension, rather than on the ground compression, so I have to take off a couple of mil on each one

The second, is the nose-wheel leg

On the left is the kit leg, on the right, my modification

This is one of the best photo references I have, and that's the Revell 1/72 F-13 nose wheel leg.
The Trumpeter leg has an oleo bracket which the leg doesn't have, and the little device/valve thing, is on the wrong side
To get the right compression, I should really bend the leg back a little, but we know how well that will go
!SNAP!

 

[Steve-the-Duck]

Well, this time around the masking has been less than successful, despite careful applying, pushing down and overspraying with light varnish to seal. Used the same stuff as last time, mostly Tamiya, with only a couple of bits of that new AK stuff I picked up
Not that any proper touch-up is an insurmountable job

 

[Steve-the-Duck]

The Iraqi/Iranian pair are coming along fine

Markings are Heroics and Ros, which went on a treat, now using my non-water method of just soaking each individual piece with a brushload of Humbrol Decalfix
Even though I got a set of Mark1 Arabic numerals, I've done all the numbers freehand with a 0.1 fineliner pen. As they're mostly invisible on the brown and green camo, I can get away with a lot!
Next will be a matt overspray, wheels and canopies on, and they're done

Two slightly different J-7s (to paraphrase Viv Stanshall)

 

[Neil]

The first one is a little unfortunate, but as you said, a bit of touch-up and luckily, 1/144 - it's not going to be too much.
The Iraqi/Iranian pair are looking good

 

[flyjoe180]

All looking good there Chris. The touch ups on the blue and white model shouldn't take too much to rectify