Author Topic: Project Arrow - 1/144 F-117 to 1/72 AFV  (Read 5501 times)

Offline Brian da Basher

  • He has an unnatural attraction to Spats...and a growing fascination with airships!
  • Moderator
  • *
  • Hulk smash, Brian bash
Project Arrow - 1/144 F-117 to 1/72 AFV
« on: February 21, 2019, 04:51:24 AM »
Starting off with this (your box art may vary):



Actually, I'm not sure what the box looked like. Mine came in an anonymous bag.

I swiped the wings and tail feathers years ago, which left me with this:



Strategic styrene surgery successful, the halves were glued together.



Now to sort out some parts...



That blue thing is the cap from a can of shaving cream. I just had a feeling I'd find a use for it someday. It makes up most of the turret.



The green piece is an engine nacelle rear end from a 1/72 Airfix HP 0/400 which was topped off with a spare wheel well and a hubcap. The nib of a 1/72 bomb half was used for the radio housing in back.



I'll add the BFG up front and the radio antenna in back once I get it all assembled. I like to stick on the most vulnerable bits last.

Here's how it looks sitting on the hull.



And a rear view:



It took me a while to find the right wheels for this but I think these from a 1/72 YB-35 will work even if the flat part on the bottom looks like trouble.



The large drop-tank half is going to be the drive-train housing underneath. Old sprue will be used for the axles.

Stay tuned.

Brian da Basher

« Last Edit: February 21, 2019, 08:22:19 AM by Brian da Basher »

Offline Old Wombat

  • "We'll see when I've finished whether I'm showing off or simply embarrassing myself."
  • "Define 'interesting'?"
Re: Project Arrow - 1/144 F-117 to 1/72 AFV
« Reply #1 on: February 21, 2019, 07:50:40 PM »
OK, this is looking wildly different! :icon_surprised:

Cool! 8)
"This is the Captain. We have a little problem with our engine sequence, so we may experience some slight turbulence and, ah, explode."

Offline Kerick

  • Reportedly finished with a stripper...
Re: Project Arrow - 1/144 F-117 to 1/72 AFV
« Reply #2 on: February 22, 2019, 01:39:51 AM »
This will surely be a one of a kind! I’ll be watching.

Offline Brian da Basher

  • He has an unnatural attraction to Spats...and a growing fascination with airships!
  • Moderator
  • *
  • Hulk smash, Brian bash
Re: Project Arrow - 1/144 F-117 to 1/72 AFV
« Reply #3 on: February 22, 2019, 09:22:01 AM »
I did a fair bit of work on the F-117 to AFV today.



That big main gun is spare from a 1/72 Me-410.



The piece that attaches it to the turret is a prop shaft retainer.



Left-over springs from a 1/72 Airfix W.W. 1 tank were used for the turret and side machine guns.



I used 1/144 prop shaft grommets as the side machine gun ports. The thing on the front is a small bomb re-purposed as a headlight.



That beefy front bumper was made from bits of sprue with some attachment points left on.



Another one of those spare Airfix W.W. 1 tank springs is on the bottom of the wire antenna which is actually made of wire.



The tow rings were left-overs from that Airfix W.W. 1 tank.



The wheels aren't glued on because they need painted first. Speaking of paint, that's what's up next.

Brian da Basher
« Last Edit: February 22, 2019, 09:24:53 AM by Brian da Basher »

Online finsrin

  • The Dr Frankenstein of the modelling world...when not hiding from SBA
  • Finds part glues it on, finds part glues it on....
Re: Project Arrow - 1/144 F-117 to 1/72 AFV
« Reply #4 on: February 22, 2019, 02:26:36 PM »
Geeze what a kitchen sink mix !
Now see that any scale F-117 can have a future in any army.  Hmmm....
A breakthrough in kitbashing concepting.  :smiley:

Offline LemonJello

  • MARPAT Master
  • Member number 100...WooHoo!!!
Re: Project Arrow - 1/144 F-117 to 1/72 AFV
« Reply #5 on: February 22, 2019, 09:25:27 PM »
This is about six flavors of awesome! Really some ingenious re-use of multiple scale parts. 

Offline Brian da Basher

  • He has an unnatural attraction to Spats...and a growing fascination with airships!
  • Moderator
  • *
  • Hulk smash, Brian bash
Re: Project Arrow - 1/144 F-117 to 1/72 AFV
« Reply #6 on: February 23, 2019, 04:59:50 AM »
Thanks, fellas! I've had this one in the planning stages for a couple of years now although only in general. I still had to sort out a few things (like raising the turret and the wheels & radio) as I went along.

Project Paint Shop has begun and the first coat of Olive Drab is drying as we speak.

Fingers crossed for when I get to the Archer dry transfer stage for the main markings. Ulp!  :icon_crap:

Brian da Basher
« Last Edit: February 23, 2019, 05:01:41 AM by Brian da Basher »

Offline apophenia

  • Perversely enjoys removing backgrounds.
  • Patterns? What patterns?
Re: Project Arrow - 1/144 F-117 to 1/72 AFV
« Reply #7 on: February 23, 2019, 07:51:33 AM »
This is about six flavors of awesome! Really some ingenious re-use of multiple scale parts.

Seconded! The results are totally unique. Brilliant  :smiley:
Froglord: "... amphibious doom descends ... approach the alter and swear your allegiance to the swamp."

Offline ed s

  • An outstanding, creative builder.
Re: Project Arrow - 1/144 F-117 to 1/72 AFV
« Reply #8 on: February 23, 2019, 09:41:44 PM »
Brilliant conversion. Looking forward to the finished project.

Offline andonio64

  • Fio Piccolo's understudy
Re: Project Arrow - 1/144 F-117 to 1/72 AFV
« Reply #9 on: February 23, 2019, 11:14:13 PM »
Beautiful vehicle coming out of your mind Brian!!!
It's very nice!

I sit down and wait for the remainder of the work!


Offline Robomog

  • ...had a very bad experience with [an] orange...
  • Would you buy a used kit from this man?
Re: Project Arrow - 1/144 F-117 to 1/72 AFV
« Reply #10 on: February 24, 2019, 10:15:41 AM »
I really did not see this coming, I suppose th acronym AFV should have been a bit of a clue but it completely passed me by.

Really visionary kitbash Brian, looking forward to the finished article.

Mog
>^-.-^<
Mostly Harmless...............

Offline Brian da Basher

  • He has an unnatural attraction to Spats...and a growing fascination with airships!
  • Moderator
  • *
  • Hulk smash, Brian bash
Re: Project Arrow - 1/144 F-117 to 1/72 AFV
« Reply #11 on: February 25, 2019, 05:00:50 AM »


Conceived after U.S. entry into W.W. I as a "trench assault car", the Armored Arrow was seen as a faster, more maneuverable replacement for the unreliable tanks of the day. Its mission was to clear a path through enemy barbed wire, pillboxes, machine-gun nests and mine-fields for the infantry.



Built by the Pierce-Arrow Motor Car company, a firm not known for armored vehicles, development was painfully protracted.



Not completed by the Armistice, the project languished until revived in the 1920's when the U.S. Army began to see the Armored Arrow as a viable alternative to the aging French Renault tanks of Great War vintage.



The new trench assault car became a victim of early mission-creep and was seen as a multi-role platform capable of almost any task in the Armored Corps except perhaps KP.



Powered by a 'Sliberty S-12, a development of the famous Liberty 12 cylinder engine, the Armored Arrow was potently armed, featuring a 2 inch main gun and four .50 caliber machine guns mounted in pairs in the turret and in remote-controlled side barbettes. The driver's cab featured slitted armor plate panels that could be lowered in less hostile environments.



The trench assault car's first test under field conditions occurred during the 1928 war games held in Okeechobee swamp where troops called it the "Alligator" for how menacing it appeared when emerging from the muck.



The Pierce-Arrow Alligator's next test was in chasing down the Mexican revolutionary bandit El Chalupa Loco and it was in the hot, Southwest desert border towns where problems began. The multi-role trench assault car was undone by its unreliable power-plant. The 'Sliberty S12 was unable to perform even after all that Okeechobee swamp muck was cleaned out.



This would set a pattern of aborted missions that would continue for the rest of the Armored Arrow's time in service. Various cures were tried, even switching to higher-grade fuel but nothing seemed to work.



Only 17 Pierce-Arrow Alligators were ever made and the last three were immobilized to take part in repressing the Bonus Army marchers in the summer of 1932.





Those last three trench assault cars consumed their vitals upon starting, belching funereal clouds of black smoke signaling their ignominious demise.



While initially promising, the Pierce-Arrow Alligator turned out to be just another disappointing dead-end in American armored car development.



None survive today and the only remaining artifact of this once proud fighting vehicle is a rough, short fun run model kit of which only one was ever sold, late at night long after closing in the darkened parking lot of the East Liberty Big Lots.



Brian da Basher
« Last Edit: February 25, 2019, 05:58:07 AM by Brian da Basher »

Online finsrin

  • The Dr Frankenstein of the modelling world...when not hiding from SBA
  • Finds part glues it on, finds part glues it on....
Re: Project Arrow - 1/144 F-117 to 1/72 AFV
« Reply #12 on: February 25, 2019, 07:27:42 AM »
Mechanical issues aside,,,  sure looks formidable and scary.  :smiley:
Headlight and driver & turret vision slits perfect touch.  Wheels & tires make Project Arrow "Alligator" look zippy fast.
« Last Edit: February 25, 2019, 07:33:05 AM by finsrin »

Offline andonio64

  • Fio Piccolo's understudy
Re: Project Arrow - 1/144 F-117 to 1/72 AFV
« Reply #13 on: February 25, 2019, 03:02:03 PM »
Hi Brian, I love this small alligator!


Offline Aeroplanedriver

  • Newly Joined - Welcome me!
Re: Project Arrow - 1/144 F-117 to 1/72 AFV
« Reply #14 on: February 25, 2019, 03:16:46 PM »
Absolutely LOVE this!  One of the more creative builds I've seen in a while. 

Offline Robomog

  • ...had a very bad experience with [an] orange...
  • Would you buy a used kit from this man?
Re: Project Arrow - 1/144 F-117 to 1/72 AFV
« Reply #15 on: February 25, 2019, 04:25:16 PM »
Finished vehicle did not disappoint!

Wonderful mashup of kits.

Mog
>^-.-^<
Mostly Harmless...............

Offline Old Wombat

  • "We'll see when I've finished whether I'm showing off or simply embarrassing myself."
  • "Define 'interesting'?"
Re: Project Arrow - 1/144 F-117 to 1/72 AFV
« Reply #16 on: February 25, 2019, 11:53:19 PM »
My Kingdom for a better engine! :'(

Cool build, BdB! 8)
"This is the Captain. We have a little problem with our engine sequence, so we may experience some slight turbulence and, ah, explode."

Offline elmayerle

  • Its about time there was an Avatar shown here...
  • Über Engineer...at least that is what he tells us.
Re: Project Arrow - 1/144 F-117 to 1/72 AFV
« Reply #17 on: February 26, 2019, 12:06:00 AM »
Way cool combination of parts to achieve a harmonious (except for the engine) whole.

Offline Frank3k

  • Excession
  • Global Moderator
  • Formerly Frank2056. New upgrade!
    • My new webpage
Re: Project Arrow - 1/144 F-117 to 1/72 AFV
« Reply #18 on: February 26, 2019, 01:02:17 AM »
It looks like it belongs in the opening scenes of "Things to Come"!


Offline arctic warrior

  • Newly Joined - Welcome me!
Re: Project Arrow - 1/144 F-117 to 1/72 AFV
« Reply #19 on: March 02, 2019, 03:44:36 PM »
Way cool and menacing. Those tyres just makes it look real.  ;D