Nikki

1
December 30, 2014
Awaiting the start!
2
February 17, 2015
A simple tool for the vacuum cleaner when sanding resin
3
February 17, 2015
4
February 17, 2015
5
February 17, 2015
A nice mask
6
February 17, 2015
A start in the wrong end of it.
7
February 17, 2015
Test fitting the kits can in order to figure out the resin.
8
February 17, 2015
Yes, I've already broken off one locating stud.
9
February 17, 2015
A comparision between the kit styrene and the Aires resin
10
February 17, 2015
A comparision between the kit styrene and the Aires resin
11
February 17, 2015
A comparision between the kit styrene and the Aires resin
12
February 17, 2015
And the detail far in that isn't detailed at all on the kit part
13
February 18, 2015
Test fitting the pit
14
February 18, 2015
The front needs a little work
15
February 18, 2015
Removing one location tab in the front.
16
February 18, 2015
The same goes for the other side
17
February 18, 2015
Removing excess resin
18
February 18, 2015
The same goes for the wheel well.
19
February 18, 2015
No margins here
20
February 18, 2015
The same goes for the wheel well. I can't remove more styrene...
21
February 18, 2015
The fit is good now
22
February 18, 2015
The front office sits right now.
23
February 18, 2015
24
February 18, 2015
Plenty of room for lead now.
25
February 18, 2015
The front looks great as well.
26
February 18, 2015
removing the kit hud with the help of a Tamiya Scriber.
27
February 18, 2015
And it's gone.
28
February 18, 2015
Test fitting the resin hud.
29
February 18, 2015
Some filler is needed.
30
February 18, 2015
31
February 19, 2015
Sanded the front so I can do a proper test fitting.
32
February 19, 2015
Looking doable.
33
February 19, 2015
This side will need a bit more putty.
34
February 19, 2015
Loking like a proper cockpit now.
35
February 20, 2015
The crude thrust reverse mechanism have to go.
36
February 20, 2015
A bit crude but it wont be seen in the end.
37
February 20, 2015
Test fitting the cans
38
February 20, 2015
39
February 20, 2015
For Holger! See I think I've got enough paint for it...
40
February 21, 2015
I must say that the details is nothing short of exquisite on the air brakes.
41
February 21, 2015
42
February 21, 2015
43
February 21, 2015
But then I'm met by this BOO BOO by Aires! We'll see if I can remove the casting block and add the rivets again. Otherwise I'm gonna go with the kit air brakes that actually is rather good even if they're shorter than the Aires ones.
44
February 21, 2015
The bang seats is sanded down so they fit in the pit. Now I need to scratch new ejection handles to them as they're broken from the start and with no bits left in the box to glue back.
45
February 22, 2015
Removing the air brake from the casting block and scrape as much as I dared of the idiotic extra resin.
46
February 22, 2015
Tamiya tape as protection while I sand down the air brake.
47
February 22, 2015
The result.
48
February 22, 2015
Unmasked again.
49
February 22, 2015
DYMO tape as a guide.
50
February 22, 2015
Not good but It'll have to do as I'm afraid to break the air brake if I press harder, it really feels brittle. But look at the next BOO BOO from Aires considering that the air brake is shorter then the air brake bay.
51
February 22, 2015
The usual chaos!
52
February 22, 2015
A slight mishap with the saw on both air brake bays but nothing that isn't fixable. I don't think you have to remove the casting block from the bays but it saves weight.
53
February 22, 2015
Test fitting one air brake bay
54
February 22, 2015
Hmm
55
February 22, 2015
Hmmmmm
56
February 22, 2015
Grrrrrrrrr
57
February 22, 2015
This looks like a tight fit that very well could go south rather quick. Safest bet is to go with the kit air brakes.
58
February 22, 2015
Nothing more to remove from the can as well...
59
February 23, 2015
The story so far...
60
February 24, 2015
A little more surgery on the resin parts and I get a positive test.
61
February 24, 2015
I'm not sure about part 6 & 7 along the side of the cockpit. They're in the way for the windshield.
62
February 24, 2015
Here you can see it better just how much the will interfere with the windshield.
63
February 24, 2015
Look at these lovely sink marks, three on each side of the cockpit...
64
February 24, 2015
Yet another successful offering to the Model Building Gods!
65
February 24, 2015
Time for a bath
66
February 24, 2015
All cleaned up...

Comments

30 December 2014, 12:40

Holger Kranich
Hey Urban, ya wanna know it, hu?
That looks awesome to me! But why not in your scale?😉
Damn this is an abolute complete set! 😄

30 December 2014, 13:17

Urban Gardini
It scares me but I eventually must leave the shallow water in the pool and learn to swim in deep water as well.

30 December 2014, 13:24

Urban Gardini
Plus, If I get rid of this beast there's gonna be more room for 1:72 kits...

30 December 2014, 13:25

Holger Kranich
I always like to build different scales, at first i was only into 1:72 but after my first big scale i was definately hooked!😉

30 December 2014, 13:51

Augie
Ooooo someone save me a seat I wanna watch 😄

30 December 2014, 19:52

Urban Gardini
For you Augie I reserve one of the VIP seats!

30 December 2014, 20:33

Augie
Thanks Urban 🙂 your too nice to me

30 December 2014, 23:47

Matthias Weiss
Looks like a hell lot of work!! This will be great...

31 December 2014, 02:35

Holger Kranich
I hope, i´ll get a VIP seat, too...😉

31 December 2014, 07:21

Acki
I'm in. Pass the beer and popcorn.

31 December 2014, 21:06

berni
Hi Urban, a Huge Enterprise. I wish you Lucky 🙂 👍

18 February 2015, 10:52

Urban Gardini
Thanks mate!

18 February 2015, 10:54

Alistair Brand
Watching with interest. Good luck!

18 February 2015, 22:50

Przemek Przybulewski
I will watch with interest. I'm planning to do the same and I'm wondering how parts will fit.

18 February 2015, 23:04

Urban Gardini
Thanks mates!

18 February 2015, 23:29

Holger Kranich
What a damn amount of additional work! But the result shall be rewarding!
And how does it feel to build such a big block of plastic?😉

19 February 2015, 08:32

Urban Gardini
It feels like a big block of plastic...

19 February 2015, 10:10

Igor Zdorovyak
grandiose project

19 February 2015, 11:02

Urban Gardini
I hope I'm gonna be able to finish this one before midsummer this year but everything is so big compared to what I'm used to.

19 February 2015, 11:29

Holger Kranich
You will need a lot of paint, compared to your recent builds😢

19 February 2015, 12:16

Urban Gardini
Oh yes! I've got four fresh Lifecolor bottles for this one...

19 February 2015, 12:23

Holger Kranich
Do you have a mask for sanding resin or do you do it like me and sand wet?

21 February 2015, 20:40

Urban Gardini
Yes and no! I've got a mask that I'm keeping forget to use. I try to use the saw as much as possible and use the vacuum cleaner frequently and when I sand I do it with slow strokes but I sand dry.

21 February 2015, 21:00

Holger Kranich
Yeah, safety first!😄

21 February 2015, 21:13

Urban Gardini
True! It's a new experience to tackle replacing resin parts. It's one thing just adding some resin stuff and a whole new world here with a lot of work to get it right and a lot of guessing. But the detail is stunning on the Aires resin.

21 February 2015, 21:18

Wim van der Luijt
Just looked at all of this resin madness....loving it all. I'm tuned in for the rest of the build!

24 February 2015, 07:03

Urban Gardini
Thanks mate! I believe that "resin madness" is indeed the correct term here. I hope that I won't let you down.

24 February 2015, 10:51

Urban Gardini
That gives one week of building at yet not one piece glued or painted so far on this build but I did manage to get some blood on the resin so it looks good for the future.

24 February 2015, 22:19

Augie
hey urban.. its not resin madness without some blood 🙂

24 February 2015, 22:29

Urban Gardini
True and it's as it should be...

24 February 2015, 22:34

Steve Wilson
...
"I ate his finger with some fava beans and a nice chianti"...
Sorry Urb, I couldn't resist it...(((😄 )))

24 February 2015, 22:42

Urban Gardini
No, I don't use my Dremel on the resin. GWS saw, exacto and beutyshop nailfiles is what I use on the resin.

25 February 2015, 00:38

Urban Gardini
That's ok Steve!

25 February 2015, 00:39

Acki
First blood! Get well soon!

25 February 2015, 06:21

Derek Thompson
What detail on those cans, drool, drool! Any photo etch involved in the project?

25 February 2015, 07:17

Steve Wilson
...
This happens to me when I cut my finger...
[img1]

25 February 2015, 08:04

Steve Wilson
...
Speaking of Razors have you tried using a Mini Razor saw with assorted blades???

25 February 2015, 08:10

Urban Gardini
That cut was healed to the next day, just a matter of letting it bleed a bit and then just wipe it off with the thumb on the same hand and keep going..

I've got a Dremel but I feel that I've got more control going by hand.

Not much PE involved in the build, just the fret that comes with the Aires cockpit.

I'm quite fond of the PE mini razor saws and use them quite a lot.

25 February 2015, 09:04

Urban Gardini
True that as there's no technique that is absolute for all modellers. For a new builder it's a bit trial and error in order to find out what techniques that works best.

25 February 2015, 09:40

Gareth Windsor
A little late Urban but I'm pulling up a chair and watching the rest of the show. Looking good so far. Will there be more blood?

17 July 2015, 14:58

Urban Gardini
Thanks mate! There could be more blood as there's a lot more work to do yet, especially as there's not been any work done on it since the last update. An eight year old promise got in the way plus I've had quite a lot of ache as well but I hope to be able to continue soon.

17 July 2015, 15:59