Small Scale Military Headquarters

It took awhile but I finally got that nose-job started!

See what I mean about thick? The good part is the cavity in the nose is great for the radar tray.....the bad news is the nosecone is useless.

The underside of the canopy is getting rails and the ejection rocket bottles. Then the rear decking and the canopy actuator system.

The front windscreen has been cut out to remove the half-moon clear piece from the dash up to the frame. I have no idea why the moulded it that way because it certainly serves no purpose....Mongo only pawn in game of life!

Wow, Same blue tape! I heisted mine from work! And I must commend your neatness of your work area. Normally I'm a neat person but damn, my construction area and masking methods are "Russian" looking...or maybe "Ghetto Fab" - I'm really not a messy person. haha! I looked at the "Walkaround" book and noticed the ejection bottles and the thingys underneath the rails. DAMN, I didnt realize how thick the cone was. I mean, when I sawed off the panels for the Fuel Boom, you will notice that I encountered that problem with the internal post that holds the top and bottom fuselage togeher. I had to dremmel as much as I could out. So this presents a double edged sword for me. First, the fuel boom is already installed but I think there is room for the sliding radar equipment tray. Situation Report:

1. Is there any way to hollow out or thin the inside of the cone?

2. I haven't gone to the model shop yet but I will look out for any possible replacements for the cone. Hopefully it'll be 2-3 mil thick.

3. I don't have much on the inside rails of the cockpit. I may add those with the white bottles later.

4. I erased Lt. Blueballs...errr FireBall Jackson from the Sides... I may erase the Plane Captains name off the landing gear door and put some other name on there as well.

5. I think its called the AN/ALR-67 Radar Warning Reciever. The humps on the top dorsal exist on the actual plane but I do not thing the actual system exists because from what I read, Budgetary Constraints prohibited the installation. Gotta love those overpaid bugnholes in Congress! hehe... I'm either going to make thouse from dowels or FIMO...not sure yet.

6. I have what I believe is close to 1/18 if not large of a Vulcan Gun. Granted, it's not the M61 but its still cool. I'll post a pic of it later.

7. I still have to draw the dimensions for the LGBs per request of one of the members on here. I'll sketch up the basics for the actuator for comparision and reference.

Lastly, VERY IMPRESSIVE WORK I'm def. putting rear view mirrors on the canopy. I'll keep you posted on any random projects I decide to work on if any. I might paint the image of some hottie chick on the nose of my plane... I was thinkin of namin' the plane Kylie (after the actress haha not the singer) or Mistress Lauren...or Miss Ashley...haha!!! Now I'm getting outta control here!

If you want Ghetto Tech work benches, you should see mine. These pictures were actually taken in my Sergeant's Police Office (notice the Stalker Radar manual under the nosecone)...and the truth be known my office is a dumping ground and extra storage space. You want work bench clutter?


As for thinning out the nosecone...not possible dude. It's very thick plastic covered by a thicker piece of rubber that is glued on. Gotta be between 1/4th to 3/8ths inch thick. I'm only keeping the cone for a master to vacu-form later a replacement. You should have seen the fits I had just sawing through that thing!

There's More clutter on that desk than all the traffic at O'Hare! or Fifth Avenue! I like the random assortment of things on the table. I JUST set off the Smoke detector when I was 'baking' the molds for the Radar Warning Receivers. It stinks in here haha!!!! I'm sure the neighbours are fricken pleased. Like they say: Git R Done! I have things thing in the books called Option 612. Tell you more later. I'm going to check on my burnt moldings ...whewwww...

PS....Sar'nts Police Office? They let you build models on the clock there? Thats dope man! haha! I always wanted to bring in my projects to work since we have an impromptu shop there.

R

Folkwulfe

WOW mate brave taking that step after what Rob`s told me.

Though must admit I truely do wish you the best on getting this project done Should be bloody awesome

WOW all that`s at your work desk,either a very quiet town or you have a GREAT control of the ppl there

Oh BTW I love the "Figure in the Bottle",seems apt being at a Police Station.......LOL

Ja
Steel Bonnet

OK...little misunderstanding, but let me correct a little. The pics of the nosecone were taken in my office (didn't have the time to take them at home so I brought them in and photographed them there). The work bench is at home. They're not too crazy about letting me work on the models at work, but I can display to my heart's content. Models and figures line the walls between certificates and posters (I hate a sterile office). There's not alot of other things I can do in the office because it IS very busy there. The department has a great overtime budget and I make full use of it. But it's a college police department and it isn't as busy as the municipal (did federal law enforcement for 20 years...had enough of that) but I enjoy the more community oriented policing we do. The office decoration is a good ice-breaker when I have people in my office. There's probably between 5 or 6 grand worth of custom and one-of-a-kind kits and figures in my office (occassionally one of the officers will add a Barbie....I call it a USO visit) in both 1/6th and 1/18th scales. Everything from an accurate 1/6th OH-6B Cayuse in Vietnam colors with crew (won second at a GI Joe convention) to a 1/18th OH-58D Kiowa and dozens of 1/6th pilots, police, swat, and firefighters. And that's just the office!

Somehow or another this got double-posted......Waiter? Check please!

Dude, that 1/6th Little Bird is sick...What color was it originally? I have the stealth Black one somewhere in a box, opened and put back due to space. I'm HIGHLY impressed with the custom rear seating areas and the M-60 set up. Are the seats cloth? What other changes did you do to it. I think I got my Little Bird probably before or around 2000 I'm guessing. Wow...so damn long ago. Again, props to you man!

PS My workbench is a $20.00 TV Tray from Target err TARZHAYYY. The tools I've been using are in a small Model Box (you see it in the pics I've posted..its a 1:1 scale Smoke Grenade) and a grocery bag filled with scrap plastics! Like the latest INXS track goes... "It Ain't Pretty...."

R

Folkwulfe

Well either way mate that`s an impressive lot to have at work I bet it`s an Ice breaker...LOL
As for the OH-6 WOW that is beautifull You truely have captured that. So was it the Fire Brigade or Police helo here or were you one of those lucky to have a NAM version?
The way you have it geared up & kit stowed on it & layed about,just makes it truely feel so very real Well done mate

Just the attention to detail is incrediable,I`d hate to think what actually won the contest in front of this.

Ja
Steel Bonnet

Mig29...That Littlebird started life as the same as you have...jet black. I have the Vietnam version too, but got really angry when I realized they took the "D" model and repainted it in Army scout colors (Miss Clauwd IV)...totally not right. My black bird had the sagging rotorblades and the weak skids problems (among others) so I started to cutting, gluing, reshaping...etc. Changes?....where to start? The tail was changed to a V tail, the main rotor was scratch built of brass tubing and changed to 4-bladed hub. The interior bulkhead between the front and aft bays was cut out and the aft bay was revamped to include a new rear bulkhead, new floor with tie-downs, rear seats (brass tube frames and hand-sewn canvas cloth). The "hump" in the rear deck floor was covered with wood and made to look like an ammo box. Belted ammo was glued on to and a row of smoke grenades cut in half covered the bottom nicely. Seatbelts and shoulder harnesses were added to all seats. The real pain was the instrument panel...I had to redo everything from a photo of the real-deal. Turned out nice, but I almost went blind putting in all the dials and switches...and there's a bunch! Rudder pedals and alot of detail painting later.....then I got started on the crew. Ever try and find Vietnam era flightsuits used by the Army...or body armor? A converted M-60 bungie'd to the doorframe, all metal skids, a brass bifuricated exhaust and VIOLA! It was easy...cough cough gag gag!!! This will give you an idea of "in progress" work that was done.

Just a little more to add....The side rails are almost ready for paint and the plumbing. Cameras and associated wiring are also being added.

And just checking everything for fit including the rear actuator tray at the back of the canopy. Next I can work on the mechanisms.

You might still be able to use the nose...check it out:



What do you think?

and yep...

WOW the extra photos of the OH6 are fantastic
You & Rob will have the most accurate F/A-18s at 1/18 scale.

Rob,
WOW mate that F/A-18 with nose open & radar is superb What scale is that one?

Also a M60E shorty Very Nice Real or Airsoft??? or just a mock up?

Ja
Steel Bonnet

JA,

The Model is 1/32 scale...FORMERLY the largest scale of F/A-18 but the largest for all other aircraft. I got the pics from a very good reference site called Aircraft Resource Center. They have a wealth of information and pictures of peoples models. Check it out!! You won't be disappointed. There is a guy on there who has the same bbi plane and suggested that I submit mine as well. I took him up on it and sent in my info last night. Should be interesting. I'll let you know when they post it.

I put that pic up because I know Folkwulfe felt (as did I) that the cone was too thick but lookin at this, I'm beginning to wonder... However I ought to look at other reference material before making conclusions...

The M60E4...its airsoft... The real thing is like $25,000 which is...errr... a lot of British Pounds Sterling man!!!! yikes!!! I spray painted a lot of the parts Ultra Matte Black because it had the goofy cheap shiny plastic look to it. I wanted to look sinister ya know!

R

Must admit now seeing that beautifull 1/32 F/A-18s nose section. I think it`s very possible now with the 1/18th BBI one That`s my 2 cents anyway

Please DO Let us know how this site takes to your 1/18th Hornet I`m really interested.
As i`ve heard when it comes to troops & armour,the smaller scale guys complain there toys,shouldn`t be allowed. Then the put downs "my sons got these,kid stuff isn`t it". Though only a few year ago clugs turned there noses up at 1/6th which is now a common site in some modelling clubs.

As for the M60E4,WOW as an Airsoft weapon yea pretty nifty & yea the real deal in Great British pounds would be LOOOOOTS LOL
Though the spray paint job certainly makes it killer & gets rid of that silly orange muzzle you guys in the US have to have on yours.

Ja
Steel Bonnet

Hey JA,

Well to those who dis or trash out any toys or 1/6th scale...well thats close minded thinking - Especially when they fail to consider what possibilities can be done with custom work... I try to think outside of the box and take the unconventional approach to things or take the path least traveled. It's more fun the way! Well we can look at this way...

As the legendary SAS say: WHO DARES WINS.... and

As our Delta Force (or the alleged incarnation thereof) would say: NOUS DEFIONS (We Defy!)

I tell you, progress would NEVER be made or Innovations discovered if people kept thinking conventionally, ya know?

Damned the Torpedoes...Fulls Speed Ahead!

Oh yeah... I was thinking of what other airsoft stuff I got...well I made a working Battery and Compressed Air Operated Rocket Launcher and I have a Claymore Mine that I'm gonna post on here. It's perfect for those pesky solicitors who knock at your door at ungodly hours of morning or night! heheh... BOOM!!! hehe


R

No way dude....the picture of the 1/32nd A/C is great, but what you're looking at is the I-beam frame that strengthens the connection between the cone and the nose of the A/C. The cone itself is really thin and made of fibreglass, resin, and carbon fibre. If you look at the BBI cone, it's HUGE and very thick inside. It also weight's a ton and would strain the hinges when open. That thick rubber coating is heavy....and the inside's are UGLY!!! I can do better.

Oh...nice job on the E4....looks real from the pictures (I was going to ask for your ATF license #)...and you were right about like minds. I have a line on an AK-47 (post ban Romanian) and should have it in-hand by Monday. I hate the wooden stocks, so the first upgrade will be polymer (black) stocks and pistol grip. Then an Pitcatinny rail on top of the receiver, and an Eotec for point-and-shoot ability. Nope, not Airsoft...real deal 7.62X39 (semiauto of coarse). It's a real sweet shooter...out to about 300 meters then the bullet drops off. Pictures when I have it.

Alright Folkwulfe...here is the drawings after the fact. Since the unit is fully assembled and the linkage bar is virtually impossible to remove without breaking it... I did the measurements as close as possible and as I remember them. The measurements are going to look wierd because I'm not a rocket scientist or whatnot and I do things pretty ghetto style... The base unit of measurement is 1/16th of an inch. Here goes... (click center mouse wheel to maneuver image left or right)

Rob,

I hear you on the thinking outside the box mate
Not sure i`f i`m really one of those though I do think ALL forms of Modelling/Custominzing SHOULD be pushed & not just the traditional Paint mini static figures types. I did that as a child for christ sake,this is pure evolution for me.
My first paintings & customs were at 1/72 & 1/6th Action Man),then 25mm (Metal minitures),then 1/35 & 1/18th (Action Force & Star Wars,then GI JOE),then 1/6th with the new Action Man & Hasbro,then 21st,then of course DML & BBI,etc at the same time some 1/18th.

Now I`m Just PURELY 1/18th scale (as it`s Now at the point of being 1/6th style but smaller (Just check scopeUK`s Navy SEAL custom ) any brands & types inc diecast.
Now scopeUK`s a Guy thinking out of the box & Truely delivering on the figure part
Yet there`s a lot of 1/18th who don`t like soft good at this scale,I don`t see why as it`s SPOT ON.

Though then again there are those at 1/18th who truely believe ONLY Traditional Star Wars articulaion counts & then those who say "O" Rubber band Joes are the only types that count.
Sad that they limit themselves when the possibilities are endless is what I say

Still each to there own I suppose. For me the likes of ScopeUK,Your Good self Rob,Tomd,Surreal,MarauderJohn & many more are the true heroes for our scale pushing it & more importantly giving true Inspiration

As for Special Forces Motto`s Aussie SASR "We DARE" sums you guys up for pushing the hobby`s limits IMHO

Ja
Steel Bonnet