Republic RF84F Thunderflash in 1/48

[Jim R]

Hi Tony
The IP looks great. That sort of scratching looks simple but takes a great deal of time.
Jim

 

[yak face]

Ive made a start on the ejector seat on this now. The kit seat is a representation of the AMI seat as fitted to early thunderstreaks snd thunderflashes ( later export models used a Martin Baker seat ) so is perfect for the National Guard markings im intending to do but incorrect if you wanted to do the kit in the supplied european schemes. Anyway its an accurate shape if a little simplified so off we go adding some little bits to tart it up a bit. Ive added the curved sides to the armrests from thin aluminium ( tea light candle) and cut out the sides of the seat.Plastic card has been used for the cushions and the shield over the head rest and a piece of guitar string is going to be the prominent oxygen hose fitted between the footrests and black wire for the other cables . Once its painted ill be adding a set of eduard ww2 US seat belts as these are very similar to the ones used on this seat .

 

[yak face]

Seat finished now , it’s far from perfect but it’s fine under a closed canopy . The cockpit tub has also been painted and a throttle added. I’ve also been fitting the cameras and adding the lenses from circles of holographic confetti to give the optical coating look.

 

[boatman]

Very nice work Tony on the seat looks very realistic
chris

 

[Jakko]

That confetti is a very good idea. The seat also looks very impressive.

 

[flyjoe180]

Nice job on the seat Tony

 

[Fernando N]

Very neat work on the seat and camera’s Tony .

Thanks for the confetti tip too.

 

[yak face]

Cameras all fitted now and lenses sorted with confetti . Ive fixed the clear window on the port fuselage side as its the only one that fits from the inside before the fuse halves go together. The rest of the windows go in later. The cockpit tub has had a bit more painting done and the instrument panel has seem some paint too. The control column has been fitted and the tub is now ready to be glued into one of the fuselage halves, then I can get the fuselage together.

 

[colin m]

Good old silver plastic - that takes me back. The build is looking splendid, great seats / pit.

 

[boatman]

Good old silver plastic - that takes me back. The build is looking splendid, great seats / pit.

YEA I aggree with Colin the cockpit control panels look great keep up this great work
chris

 

[yak face]

Little bit more done on this one . I’ve added the two strakes to the back of the splitter plates and fitted these to the inlets on the wing . The kit would have you fit them to two locating pins on the fuselage but a dry fit showed this would hold the splitter plates off ,so the locating lugs were cut off and the plates added to the wings instead. The wings have had the spoilers added top and bottom from the Airwaves PE fret , and the fuselage has now been glued together. Next up the fuselage seams then it’s on to fitting the wings and canopy.

 

[yak face]

Fuselage has now been glued and the camera windows have been fettled and glued in. Ive very carefully scraped/sanded the seams while trying to retain the raised panel lines. The gunsight reflector and glass have been added from holographic confetti cut to size and ive made a canopy release handle ( yellow bit) The seat has now been glued in and the canopy added which will be masked later.

 

[scottie3158]

Tony,
Lovely detail work

 

[Steven000]

That cockpit looks very detailed indeed
Nice progress

 

[yak face]

This one is coming together a bit faster now . The many camera windows have been fettled and masked off , the canopy has been done also and I’ve now got the wings, elevators and underwing pylons fitted . Fit was great ,only needing a slight smear of Vallejo acrylic putty on the underneath wing joint . Next up is a Quick prime with Halfords finest grey then a gloss black primer base coat .

 

[yak face]

Halfords grey primer on and the only thing that needs any attention is a smear of acrylic putty on the rear canopy joint. Next is a quick rub over with some very worn 1200 wet and dry then it’s having the black gloss base coat before the Vallejo metal color .

 

[JR]

Tony lovely work on that seat, think the use of the confetti was brilliant.

 

[Deleted member 7181]

That Halfords primer certainly does the trick Tony. Do you use the regular or plastic one?

 

[yak face]

That Halfords primer certainly does the trick Tony. Do you use the regular or plastic one?

Just the bog standard grey acrylic primer Andy ,it always gives a great finish , cheers tony

 

[Deleted member 7181]

Thanks Tony.