JSI Tomcat - Super Detailing???

[A-10LOADER]

This shot shows some of the little details added to the back of the pallets, ( all 4 got the same details added. ) I closed up most of the large U shaped opening in the back end, drilled the small hole and, added the equipment data plates using sheet plastic. Thanks for looking.


Steve

[A-10LOADER]

Another small update for today, I did a little more work on the AIM-9's. I painted the 3 steel bands on the main missile body, painted the small steel band where the seeker head meets the warhead and, put some black paint in the Influence fuze windows. I will put a few drops of Microscale Kristal Klear in them to create the windows. Also added the argon bottle door to the warhead section as well.


Steve

[A-10LOADER]

I also got the GBU-16's ready for some paint work as well. The forward fins are moveable and just pulled right off. This makes life ALOT easier to paint the brown section of the CCG. These will get painted at the same time I do the brown bands on the AIM-9's.


Steve

[A-10LOADER]

Todays small update, got the radome of the AIM-7 painted and masked out for the brown bands on the AIM-7 and 9's. Hoping to get the brown and yellow bands shot on these guys this week as well as getting the brown on the forward section of the CCG on the GBU's. I also hope to get the inert MK-82's and tail fin assemblies painted, we'll see. Thanks for checking in on the build.


Steve

[A-10LOADER]

Made some headway this week, got the MK-82 LD's ( "SMURF KILLERS" ) painted and got the brown painted on the CCG's of the GBU-16's. Next up a gloss coating, some minor weathering and, flat coat.

[A-10LOADER]

[A-10LOADER]

Brown and yellow bands painted on the AIM-9's and AIM-7. I still have to paint the fins on the AIM-7 and add the proximity fuses to the missiles forward section plus some other small paint work prior to gloss coating them all.


Steve

[A-10LOADER]

Weathered, flat coated, parafilm masking removed and, some Tamiya clear red added to the light and the TCS pod is complete ( I just have to add a small antenna to it ). I'm really happy how it came out. Thanks for looking.


Steve

[A-10LOADER]

[A-10LOADER]

Small update, added the antenna to the TCS pod. I made this out of some extra brass sheet from my stash box. Now it's finished, thanks for checking in.


Steve

[A-10LOADER]

Small update but, progress none the less. Got the fins painted and sealed on the AIM-9's and AIM-7. I used Model Master metalizer paint " Titanium " and then buffed them out with a Q-Tip. After all these years of modeling this was my first time using metalizer paint, pretty cool stuff. It really is amazing how good they look once buffed out. Next up, a little more paint work to the missiles exhaust areas. Thanks for following along.


Steve

[[CAT]CplSlade]

I've not used metalizer myself, but will probably have to on the 1/32 B-17 kit because of the version it represents. The bottles say not to thin it; did you find that to be the case?

[A-10LOADER]

The metalizer itself DID NOT have to be thinned but, I did use the thinner ( the one for metalizer ) for the sealer.


Steve

[A-10LOADER]

Thought this would be a nice piece to display with the Big Cat when she is finished. I want to get a mask for it in time too.


Steve

[A-10LOADER]

[A-10LOADER]

[A-10LOADER]

Another small update, got the F-110 nozzles painted, and buffed, using Model Master metalizer paint, color " Titanium ". Next up a sealer coat and then I can mask off for the black. Thanks for checking in.


Steve

[A-10LOADER]

Today's update, got the fuel tanks gloss coated and got the Inert MK-82's weathered and flat coated. Slowly making forward progress, thanks for looking.


Steve

[A-10LOADER]

For some reason Photobucket doesn't seem to want to cooperate with me today. All these images, in my Photobucket library, were edited, cropped, etc. but, those images won't show up here !!?? Oh well, moving on .....

Today's update is all about finishing up the smaller sub-assemblies of the Big Cat, at times these seemed like small projects themselves. Here are the two forward pallets with the BDU-50's on board. The bombs are not glued on but fit snugly, so I can change the loadout from time to time. I also have the GBU-16's that need a little more work yet. It feels good to finally see all those hours of research, filling and sanding, priming, painting, etc. pay off. I am real happy with how the project is going so far and will continue to try and make SOME progress each day. Now that the NHL season is underway this will be tough. Thanks for following along and I hope you all are enjoying this as much as I am.


Steve

[A-10LOADER]

Another sub-assembly almost finished but, coming along nicely. The AIM-9's and AIM-7 along with their launchers and pylons. I still have some work to do to the missiles before I can say they're 100% finished but again, nice to see things coming together. Til next time


Steve

[A-10LOADER]

Checking in today and I see that the edited images are now here, weird ??


Steve

[A-10LOADER]

While some other parts are drying I decided to tackle the LANTIRN pod. This is JSI's version, beautifully done but, the heads laser window and FLIR are all wrong.

My reference photos show what they should look like.

I popped off the old lenses and sanded down the face of the FLIR ( there was some glue residue that needed to be removed ). I cut a new FLIR window out of an old notebook subject divider page that was about the right color and used an MV lens for the laser eye held in place with some blue tak. Once I got the MV lens and the FLIR window at the right spot I used a little CA glue to hold them in place.





On the left is the original JSI version and on the right is my updated version. Looks a lot better IMO. Now I can get ride of the seams and sink marks and make it look like it should. Thanks for checking in.

[A-10LOADER]

Today's update, look what showed up in the mailbox today !! A HUGE THANK YOU to Brian P. at FIGHTERTOWN DECALS for helping with out with these for the Big Cat project. Some of the parts are ready for decals so, I am excited to give them a try. Hopefully over the weekend I get a chance to use them. Thanks for checking in.



Steve

[A-10LOADER]

Good afternoon everyone,

Small update today to revive this thread. Decaled the tails today. It's been around 13 years since I've played with decals so it's taking a little bit to get back in the groove. It's also my first time using Fightertown decals. The decals are great, amazingly thin, more so than what I am use to, and they go down real nice. Since they are so thin you have to be very precise with your placement, which I learned very quickly. The skull and crossbones gave me a little battle but, everything work out thankfully. I will need to hit the skull sides again with more Micro Sol to get them to settle better in the seam at the rudder. Thanks for showing interest in this build and for checking in.




Steve

[YT]

Great work!