Shawbury Tactical Fighter Wing

[winchweight]

Righto then. A few of us have decided that these models represent such good value and perform so well, that we will form the STFW. There will initially be about 8 of us, each with a unique colour scheme, but all showing the STFW flash on the tail.

So, here is a quick blog of the asembly process, plus a few minor mods that I'll make as I go along.

Firstly, when you open the box you are greeted by loads of white polystyrene foam, and EDF and tube with brushless motor attached. There's also an ESC, canopy and a huge sticker sheet.

The foam bits are simply epoxied together thus.

I added the supplied reinforcement under the pivot for the all moving tail, but added some thin ply on the top as additional support (on advice)

When I assembled the fin, I added a couple of cocktail sticks too, just for strength.

The canopy comes ready bonded to the hatch cover, but I separated mine, to paint inside and add a pilot. the pilot is a 1/16th scale from Pete's Pilots (eBay)

Link for pilot

Pilot

[winchweight]

The black stuff wwill be removed in time, and the structure painted instead.

And ultimately this should be the finished product..... ish

the model is now receiving it's first coat of Tamiya grey primer from aerosol. I have tested it, so fingers crossed the model won't be in a polystyrene pool when I go back to it. I intend airbrushing the other colours on, and will use Tamiya acrylics.

[birdy]

This should be interesting...

[winchweight]

It does look that way, doesn't it. He's not, there's too much coaming in front of him is all. I'll look at trimming it down a tad.

Run out of primer... Off to LHS tomorrow. This model takes a lot of paint to get a finish.

[Tim Mackey]

Shaun...why not consider PolyC and ultra light tissue before painting ...or am I too late ?

I tend to use this on all my foamies these days as it really helps to avaid hangar rash with no real weight gain. It could potentially reduce it actually..... as the paint may go further.

[winchweight]

Sadly, the paint is well into the laying process. Good idea though, as I suspect this one won't have a long life, being more inclinded towards short and very exciting.

[winchweight]

Well, haven't done a great deal as the weather brought the family around. But I have managed to get the base colour for the upper surface done (Tamiya Wooden Deck Tan), using post-it notes to mask off the grey lower side. I also added a 3/4 floor to the cockpit, widened the opening and test fitted the pilot.

Halfway up the tail fin is a moulding dimple that'll have to go in order to get the fin right.

I should also mention, I covered the bearing in the tail section with a blob of blu-tac, both sides, to keep the paint out.

[Alex Hasell]

LOoKING GOOD  cant wait to see it finished well done mate

[winchweight]

I even have a friend making up the decals for me including the tail dragon!

[Alex Hasell]

its good to have friends

[birdy]

But only when you find them useful.

[winchweight]

Friends are always good to have, not only when they're useful.

[birdy]

I ment to say that in a jokey kind of tone. Only it just doesn't seem to come out that way on the forum.

[birdy]

Sorry I haven't quite got the hang of quoting.

birdy wrote (see)

But only when you find them useful.

[winchweight]

 No worries.

[winchweight]

Ok then, as promised I removed the black edging from the canopy and removed the residual glue using white spirits. I then masked it off and primed it in grey, before shooting the base colour. I then added it to the fuselage and airbrushed the second colour on using tamiya acrylics. Ignore the uneven look, it's still drying

Once dry, I'll add colour 3, a green-ish colour.

[Richard Sharman]

Fascinating to see the paint job emerge! Please post more photos as it proceeds!

  And have you kept a check on the total weight before/after painting ?

[winchweight]

I didn't, that'd have been a good idea. Not sure I want to know

[birdy]

Surely it can't add too much weight.

[Alex Hasell]

have you ever read a paint tin label FL/OZ is the weigt think about it Birdy you paint your wall at home the tin starts heavy when your done and paint has gone the tins pretty light right?

So the only place the weight is, is on th wall a thought for your day

[winchweight]

Well.... my mates just blasted aerosols over theirs and it didn't seem to affect performance so I should be fine.

But it is a thought for the future.

Point to note - if you are assembling this kit with a view to customising the paintwork, then there is a moulding flash on the port side of the fin that needs to be filled with a lightweight filler. It's about the size of an old 5p.

i have just seen my new vinyls for this model. They look incredible!

[Phil Winks]

The effort your putting into this shaun is definatley paying dividends just hope its life isnt to short cause you can bet ya shirt it'll be exciting. on the subject of paint weight it'd be interesting to find out how much of the weight of the paint simply evaporates as it dries

[winchweight]

Cheers Phil. There's not too much effort really, to be honest. Just a bit of paint and some new decals. I'm still a scale modeller at heart so can't simply leave things stock. 

[Phil Winks]

I know what you mean shaun cant help but add little details to my models makes them your own

[winchweight]

Trouble is, then you become attached to them and it really hurts taking them home in a bag!