Air Campaigns
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OFFICIAL: Air Recce Campaign
phantom_phanatic309
#372
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United Kingdom
Joined: March 10, 2010
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Posted: Friday, March 11, 2016 - 07:59 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Great subject Mike! I will follow it with interest.

My subject is a big leap in time as it will be the Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk.

Wiki says:
The RQ-4 is an unmanned (UAV) surveillance aircraft. and performs a similar role as the Lockheed U-2. The RQ-4 provides a broad overview and systematic surveillance using high-resolution synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and long-range electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensors with long loiter times over target areas. It can survey as much as 40,000 square miles (100,000 km2) of terrain a day.

The Global Hawk is operated by the United States Air Force. It is used as a high-altitude platform covering the spectrum of intelligence collection capability to support forces in worldwide military operations. According to the United States Air Force, the superior surveillance capabilities of the aircraft allow more precise weapons targeting and better protection of friendly forces.

I will use the Italeri 1/72 kit for this campaign.
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The kit is a rebox from the Platz kit.

Part count of this kit, without weapons and cockpit, is limited, only 36 parts are present on the sprues, so I hope for a quick build. The number of parts doesn't say anything about size though, as the RQ-4, like the U-2, has an enormous wingspan (+50cm in 1/72 scale).

A size comparison with a Mig-15 of the same scale:
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For sure, the most interesting aspect of the RQ-4 is its technology (which is impossible to model), because most of these machines are looking pretty boring, mostly overall grey. However, I found the picture below, which allows me to play with some 50 shades of grey:
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Jelger



Interesting build, I don't think I've seen one done yet. And I can honestly say that I did not know they were that big!
nico37
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Indre-et-Loire, France
Joined: May 23, 2011
KitMaker: 651 posts
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Posted: Sunday, March 13, 2016 - 03:20 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Hello Nico, glad you can be with us.
The Alouette is a lovely and useful helicopter, most welcome - and "classic plastic" always a fun challenge.



Thanks a lot Jonathan for your comment

cheers
nico
md72
#439
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Washington, United States
Joined: November 05, 2005
KitMaker: 4,950 posts
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Posted: Friday, March 18, 2016 - 01:14 AM UTC
My week for almost making progress. Found the box all of my decals were packed away in. Decals for the Phantom were in it. Now I need to find the instructions. Does anybody happen to have a set of instructions for the Fujimi 1/72 RF-4B, or any other Fujimi 1/72 early F-4????
tinbanger
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Ontario, Canada
Joined: February 04, 2008
KitMaker: 2,507 posts
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Posted: Friday, March 25, 2016 - 01:54 AM UTC
Update on my entry:-

b17-peter
#392
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Hessen, Germany
Joined: January 09, 2013
KitMaker: 696 posts
AeroScale: 608 posts
Posted: Wednesday, March 30, 2016 - 04:43 PM UTC
Hi everybody,
after a break of campaigning I'm back for this interesting one!
Here's my entry, got this very old kit last year at an exhibiton. It awakes memories of my youth when these "ugly" airplanes were droning around in Germany. I always liked the distinctive silhouette with the radar and the triple fins



b17-peter
#392
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Hessen, Germany
Joined: January 09, 2013
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Posted: Thursday, March 31, 2016 - 12:31 AM UTC
...making good progress today..not too many parts anyway

See you later
b17-peter
#392
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Hessen, Germany
Joined: January 09, 2013
KitMaker: 696 posts
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Posted: Saturday, April 02, 2016 - 03:06 PM UTC




...moving on...more painting to do before I can start with the decals. I wonder how they will do being so old..?
Cheers
JClapp
#259
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Massachusetts, United States
Joined: October 23, 2011
KitMaker: 2,265 posts
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Posted: Saturday, April 02, 2016 - 05:36 PM UTC
That is looking splendid already!
It is an interesting looking aircraft isnt it?
Has a distinctly organic, animal look to it. They must have been a joy to fly.
c4willy
#305
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Christchurch, New Zealand
Joined: February 01, 2006
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Posted: Wednesday, April 06, 2016 - 06:35 AM UTC
Hey guys does this qualify? Not technically a recce aricraft but it did contain cameras and radar etc. It's AmTechs Aria alots aircraft from the Apollo missions. (KC135 in 1/72nd scale no less!)

JClapp
#259
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Massachusetts, United States
Joined: October 23, 2011
KitMaker: 2,265 posts
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Posted: Wednesday, April 06, 2016 - 06:57 AM UTC
Yes definately, a radar tracking aircraft is welcome!
look like a very cool kit!
c4willy
#305
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Christchurch, New Zealand
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Posted: Wednesday, April 06, 2016 - 08:34 AM UTC
It is pretty cool! Has a floor throughout but no consoles or anything else inside, it's 560mm long and has a 580mm wing span. So pretty darn big! Not quite sure where I'm going to put it once done!
MichaelSatin
Staff MemberCampaigns Administrator
AEROSCALE
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Colorado, United States
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Posted: Sunday, April 10, 2016 - 12:50 AM UTC
OK, I'm making a start:

 photo DSC00623_zpsrq7zhxyn.jpg

 photo 20160402_111346_zpsnypsfj75.jpg

I actually forgot to take a picture before I stated painting the wood. This is definitely a new build.

Michael
JClapp
#259
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Massachusetts, United States
Joined: October 23, 2011
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Posted: Monday, April 11, 2016 - 01:13 PM UTC
Hi Michael, good to see another box opened.
We have a very interesting range of aircraft now, from WWI to current high tech, single engine to four engine.

I go a start on my project to night. The dry fitted airframes are quite promising. The panel lines are nice looking and not too deep. The overall shape is maybe a little chubby, but Im not going to measure.

The ancient Otaki/Arii jet fighter kits are greatly coveted by 144 enthusiasts. In fact I just paid $24 for another Vigilante, so I have decided to build them in pairs.
They look good, but they do need some work to complete. the cockpit has to be opened up and completely scratch built. I have ordered some Martin-Baker ejection seats from a Shapeways designer of my acquaintance, and then I will carve a tub shape out of solid lead. The engine intakes are nicely formed, but they are just open holes into the empty cavity, so I'll have to develop something to go in there. the wheelwells are also a blank slate.

fortunately there are lots of good prototype photos on the internet, and some good books as well.
SHAKY962
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Buenos Aires, Argentina
Joined: May 21, 2012
KitMaker: 765 posts
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Posted: Wednesday, April 13, 2016 - 01:19 AM UTC
Jonathan the vigilants look good!
StukaJr
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California, United States
Joined: April 26, 2010
KitMaker: 346 posts
AeroScale: 292 posts
Posted: Friday, April 15, 2016 - 01:06 AM UTC
Put my order in for WnW Roland C.IIa - should start within week's time.

Has a wireless radio, aerial tube and morse key on the interior. Will probably build with empty bomb racks, maybe sans (or made removable) observer's gun. Add camera and glass plates and we've got an observer


c4willy
#305
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Christchurch, New Zealand
Joined: February 01, 2006
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Posted: Saturday, April 16, 2016 - 02:22 AM UTC
Nice! I'll say one thing for WW1 planes to make it a recon bird all you need do is provide your rear gunner/observer a camera and et voila recon bird!
c4willy
#305
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Christchurch, New Zealand
Joined: February 01, 2006
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Posted: Saturday, April 16, 2016 - 09:18 AM UTC
Sooooooo guess what arrived by courier late last week.... yup you guessed it the Aria Alots Amtech kit. Here are a couple of pics to give you and idea of the size of this kit.







JClapp
#259
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Massachusetts, United States
Joined: October 23, 2011
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Posted: Saturday, April 16, 2016 - 03:52 PM UTC
That's a lot of plastic alright!
b17-peter
#392
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Hessen, Germany
Joined: January 09, 2013
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Posted: Saturday, April 16, 2016 - 08:28 PM UTC
Hi there,
I'm going ahead with my Grumman. Decals are completed, they were quite ok for being decades old




The canopy parts are a little tricky to install, because the canopy consists of three separate clear parts. Two are mounted already, the third needs some working yet
b17-peter
#392
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Hessen, Germany
Joined: January 09, 2013
KitMaker: 696 posts
AeroScale: 608 posts
Posted: Saturday, April 16, 2016 - 08:33 PM UTC
The radar housing has no locating details in the assembly instructions which are btw rather rudimentary
But somehow I'll get it fixed to the fuselage Cheers everyone and have fun

P.S. There are some fine kits on the benches, mates! Go on
JClapp
#259
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Massachusetts, United States
Joined: October 23, 2011
KitMaker: 2,265 posts
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Posted: Monday, April 18, 2016 - 07:26 PM UTC
The Mohawk is looking good Peter. I think you will be the first to finish.

I have made a space for cockpits in the Vigilante's.


The rear cockpit windows are not marked in any way on the model, so I just cut them freehand judging from photographs. I will glaze them with Klear, after painting. I am not doing open canopies, so there wont be much to see in there anyway.

also shown a sprue of Shapeways M-B bang out seats. They look pretty nice. I have enough for many models now.
md72
#439
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Washington, United States
Joined: November 05, 2005
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Posted: Monday, April 18, 2016 - 09:47 PM UTC
Great News, I found the instructions for my Fujimi RF-4B!

OOPS, now I don't have any excuses for not working on it.
spaarndammer
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Noord-Holland, Netherlands
Joined: January 28, 2007
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Posted: Wednesday, April 20, 2016 - 12:11 PM UTC
Great work is shown in this campaign.

Unfortunately, I didn't do much work on my Global Hawk, as I was lucky enough to have business visits to Germany and a great trip to the country of Mr. Tamiya (lots of hobbyshops over there, simply amazing!).

I hope to do some work next week on my oversized "prying eyes".



Jelger
c4willy
#305
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Christchurch, New Zealand
Joined: February 01, 2006
KitMaker: 1,673 posts
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Posted: Saturday, April 23, 2016 - 09:29 AM UTC
I've been reading up on the dreaded KC-135/EC-135 wing droop, it would appear according to Paul Boyer (see here) that the droop is caused by trying to get the lower wing halves to join. If you glue the upper wing and lower wing together and then glue this to the lower wing stubs and the fuselage you get a gap of a couple of MM. Trying to pull the wings together has the effect of pulling the wings down into the droop. He's built a couple and had no ill effects using this method. So I think I'll approach it in a similar fashion and see what happens.

Still debating exactly which version to build and just how much in the way of avionics I'm going to install in the fuselage. There is a substantial amount to cobble together.
Kanguroo
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Vietnam
Joined: May 07, 2006
KitMaker: 416 posts
AeroScale: 89 posts
Posted: Tuesday, April 26, 2016 - 08:41 PM UTC
Hi everyone,
I start my kit, a Russian Fencer with recon version.



Regards,
K.