Author Topic: Terrible Tornado Torture in 1/72 Scale  (Read 6761 times)

Offline Brian da Basher

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Terrible Tornado Torture in 1/72 Scale
« on: November 28, 2019, 06:02:49 AM »


Brian da Basher

Offline ericr

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Re: Terrible Tornado Torture in 1/72 Scale
« Reply #1 on: November 29, 2019, 03:22:58 AM »
 ;D

Offline Jeffry Fontaine

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Re: Terrible Tornado Torture in 1/72 Scale
« Reply #2 on: November 29, 2019, 04:48:41 AM »
Where will you place the spats?  :smiley:
"Every day we hear about new studies 'revealing' what should have been obvious to sentient beings for generations; 'Research shows wolverines don't like to be teased" -- Jonah Goldberg

Offline finsrin

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Re: Terrible Tornado Torture in 1/72 Scale
« Reply #3 on: November 29, 2019, 04:55:45 AM »
Where will you place the spats?  :smiley:

Spats save cost, complexity, weight of retractable landing gear !

Offline Brian da Basher

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Re: Terrible Tornado Torture in 1/72 Scale
« Reply #4 on: November 29, 2019, 09:01:10 PM »
I'm afraid things have only gotten more dire since...



 :icon_surprised:

Brian da Basher

Offline Brian da Basher

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Re: Terrible Tornado Torture in 1/72 Scale
« Reply #5 on: November 30, 2019, 02:48:50 AM »
Things have improved for my poor Tornado today.

I got the lower color on and the nosecone is finished.



Today's update is a bit thin because yesterday was a holiday. One mostly about eating. And boy did I eat!



Brian da Basher
« Last Edit: November 30, 2019, 02:51:35 AM by Brian da Basher »

Offline Brian da Basher

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Re: Terrible Tornado Torture in 1/72 Scale
« Reply #6 on: November 30, 2019, 09:31:48 PM »
I made a bit more progress on my terrible Tornado last night.



The top color is on and besides a few little flubs that need fixed, things are proceeding apace.



I'd originally planned a wavy demarcation between the uppers and lowers, but I think I'm going to just keep the straight line. I was also going to break up all that tan with some lighter sand squiggles for a two-tone scheme however I like it as is so I'm still not sure about adding a second color.



The burner cans are on. I was dry-fitting them and discovered they don't need glue. I always like when I can get away without troubling the Loc-Tite.

Next up things get a bit challenging with canopy framing which is mercifully minimal.

But first, I think I'll grab something to eat.



Brian da Basher

Offline Kerick

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Re: Terrible Tornado Torture in 1/72 Scale
« Reply #7 on: December 01, 2019, 01:37:54 AM »
Boy o boy, now I’m hungry!!
Nice work! Looking forward to seeing the finish for this.

Offline kitnut617

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Re: Terrible Tornado Torture in 1/72 Scale
« Reply #8 on: December 01, 2019, 01:44:28 AM »
Yeah!   :smiley: :smiley: :smiley:

I know someone who'd be very interested in this project Brian ----

Offline Brian da Basher

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Re: Terrible Tornado Torture in 1/72 Scale
« Reply #9 on: December 01, 2019, 03:03:59 AM »
Today the Tornado now wears a canopy.



I think the painting is done, although I'm considering adding some staining behind the tail APU (?) exhausts.



The models seems to prefer paintbrush massages to clamps and who could blame it?



And the nosecone is on!   :D



Oh cr*p.  :'(

Time for a snack while I sort this out.



Brian da Basher

Offline kitnut617

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Re: Terrible Tornado Torture in 1/72 Scale
« Reply #10 on: December 01, 2019, 03:52:50 AM »

Time for a snack while I sort this out.



Brian da Basher

Did you clear out the shelves at Costco or something    :P   ;D

Offline finsrin

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Re: Terrible Tornado Torture in 1/72 Scale
« Reply #11 on: December 01, 2019, 05:22:46 AM »
Them 1/144 B-1 wings dooo look fine on Tornado.  :smiley:

Offline ChernayaAkula

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Re: Terrible Tornado Torture in 1/72 Scale
« Reply #12 on: December 01, 2019, 01:09:40 PM »
Oh, so there's a wingless B-1 lying around somewhere? 1/72 F-15 wings would fit it quite well.  ;) Either keep it 1/144 or use a 1/72 bubble canopy (again from an Eagle?).
Cheers,
Moritz

"The appropriate response to reality is to go insane!"

Offline Brian da Basher

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Re: Terrible Tornado Torture in 1/72 Scale
« Reply #13 on: December 02, 2019, 03:49:56 AM »
I'm pleased how this Tornado is coming together. The kit was pretty rough but I've had worse.

Today's Tornado tale starts with the load-out.



Then I noticed the intakes still needed something.



After a cup of tea to get those little grey cells going



I came up with a solution.



I put a drop of white glue in the intakes and then dropped the black decal squares in.



The Tornado is getting closer to the finish line.

Brian da Basher

Offline ChernayaAkula

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Re: Terrible Tornado Torture in 1/72 Scale
« Reply #14 on: December 02, 2019, 05:08:39 AM »
Your little grey cells came up with a really neat idea!  :smiley:

Not to self: drink more tea! :icon_beer:
Cheers,
Moritz

"The appropriate response to reality is to go insane!"

Offline Brian da Basher

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Re: Terrible Tornado Torture in 1/72 Scale
« Reply #15 on: December 03, 2019, 04:05:40 AM »
Last night I got a little weathering on the tail.



I found a good reference photo to use as a loose guide.



I like the minimal staining which was achieved by a bit of blended dry-brushing with just a little of the top color at the end to touch it up.



Brian da Basher

Offline finsrin

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Re: Terrible Tornado Torture in 1/72 Scale
« Reply #16 on: December 03, 2019, 08:51:07 AM »
Oh, so there's a wingless B-1 lying around somewhere? 1/72 F-15 wings would fit it quite well.  ;) Either keep it 1/144 or use a 1/72 bubble canopy (again from an Eagle?).
 

Neat concept.  One of us BTSers otta build it.

Like touch of subtle weathering.  It works !

Offline Brian da Basher

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Re: Terrible Tornado Torture in 1/72 Scale
« Reply #17 on: December 03, 2019, 09:51:26 AM »
Oh the 1/144 B-1B did not stay wingless, in fact it was made wingless on purpose.

So I could fit 1/48 Skyray wings:



You can Get the Whtiepaper on it Here.

Brian da Basher


Offline finsrin

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Re: Terrible Tornado Torture in 1/72 Scale
« Reply #18 on: December 03, 2019, 11:21:17 AM »
Bomber mania Zowie  :-*
« Last Edit: December 03, 2019, 11:23:56 AM by finsrin »

Offline apophenia

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Re: Terrible Tornado Torture in 1/72 Scale
« Reply #19 on: December 04, 2019, 10:09:01 AM »
Froglord: "... amphibious doom descends ... approach the alter and swear your allegiance to the swamp."

Offline KiwiZac

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Re: Terrible Tornado Torture in 1/72 Scale
« Reply #20 on: December 04, 2019, 10:59:56 AM »
I thought the Tornado was a terrific concept but the Skyraybone...I’m annoyed I missed that, it’s beautiful!!
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Offline arctic warrior

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Re: Terrible Tornado Torture in 1/72 Scale
« Reply #21 on: December 05, 2019, 04:15:15 AM »
Nice weathering on the Tonka Tail!  8)
I really like that B1 with butterfly wings.  :icon_fsm:

Offline ScranJ51

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Re: Terrible Tornado Torture in 1/72 Scale
« Reply #22 on: December 11, 2019, 02:32:57 PM »
classy Tornado build Brian  :smiley:
Fast Jet, Fast Prop, Fast Racing Cars - thats me!!

Offline Brian da Basher

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Re: Terrible Tornado Torture in 1/72 Scale
« Reply #23 on: December 14, 2019, 12:43:29 AM »
The Tornado is a notable western jet fighter bomber.



Less notable are some of its sub-types, such as the Tornado XP.



This revolutionary aircraft featured variable-geometry wings and powerful jet engines as well as a contra-prop up front to optimize the "low-and-slow" approach favored by many strike aircraft.



Never built in great numbers, only one was ever produced to test this ground-breaking concept.



At the heart of this cutting-edge attack plane was a contractor hitherto unknown in aviation circles.



The Twickenham Tandems Ltd. firm was more famous for bicycles built for two but their decades of experience gave them the deep knowledge base to invent one of the most innovative aircraft drive trains yet developed.



This tandem chain drive came with optional pedals that could be attached to provide emergency power. Rarely used, crews discovered after they tested it that new post-service career opportunities opened up.



The Air Ministry was rightfully dubious but they green-lit modifying one Tornado in the pipeline as the XP test bed.



Just as the aircraft passed initial trials, a crisis broke out that would find it called into immediate front-line service.



A fierce group of armed desert nomads known as the Bandidiots were carrying out cross-border raids into territory under U.K. protection. While most gangs are easily dealt with by local authorities, this bunch of brigands was badder than most.



Intelligence was able to locate the area the Bandidiot leader, Caliph Khalif, called home. Since he was surrounded by innocent civilians, a surgical strike was called for so the Tornado XP was called for.



Now painted in desert camouflage, the aircraft was given a menacing shark's mouth as an in-joke. This led to it being called the "Sharknado" and the name stuck. The aircraft still wore a rather large 'P' on the tail which most assume means prototype but actually refers to the liability insurance carrier.



Caliph Khalif was a man on the move and rarely spent more than a few hours under the same roof. However, the RAF had it on good authority that their target might be stationary for longer than usual.



A half-hour before dusk, the Sharknado took off from the Al Fabreeze forward base. The plan was to swoop in under cover of the setting sun and bomb the enemy with pin-point precision.



The Sharknado arrived on schedule and caught the foe napping. The aircraft assumed attack position and came in low and slow.



At just the right moment, it unleashed its load-out of death.



The hidden hookah hut was obliterated in a hellfire of high explosives. The Sharknado climbed fast as the crew pedaled furiously to escape the blast and get the heck out of Dodge.



The crew were elated by their apparent success and were no doubt already imagining the mission marking on the side of their Sharknado.



Sadly, this would not be as it turned out Caliph Khalif wasn't home at his hookah hut, having stepped out to the local 7-11 to feed his munchies. This tainted the Sharknado's reputation and despite its adequate performance, it was never ordered into production.



Still, this not-quite graceful aircraft reminds us of what might have been had Caliph Khalif not run out of snacks and run out of his hidden hookah hut.



Brian da Basher
« Last Edit: December 14, 2019, 03:16:08 AM by Brian da Basher »

Offline Brian da Basher

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Re: Terrible Tornado Torture in 1/72 Scale
« Reply #24 on: December 14, 2019, 12:52:41 AM »






Oh wait, that's not quite right, is it?



That looks more like it.



The decals were all spares and the large square prototype 'P's are from a sheet for a 1/144 B-47.



The shark's mouth is from a 1/72 P-40, trimmed to sort-of fit.



The model was brush-painted by hand in acrylics, Model Masters Tan up top and Polly Scale Light Blue underneath.





It only took me a little over a week to put this together but I got delayed taking the final photos.



Once again I was able to use my large, vintage Airfix stand which is always a delight.



Here's the 'money' shots, U.S. penny for scale. I'd like to thank Bill for his kindness in sending me the Tornado kit and the Airlines Gannet that sacrificed its prop. I couldn't have done it without you!



I hope you enjoyed the Tornado XP and reading a little more forgotten aircraft history even if the so-called "experts" refuse to believe it and think the whole thing just jumped the shark.



Brian da Basher

« Last Edit: December 14, 2019, 12:57:34 AM by Brian da Basher »