Author Topic: Sidetrack F-35 ---- Finished  (Read 20162 times)

Offline kitnut617

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Sidetrack F-35 ---- Finished
« on: April 14, 2014, 05:48:07 AM »
OK, I voted for this so I'd better join in ----  >:D

I expect many of you have heard of the Sidetrack Sea Harrier but if you haven't it was to be an AEW type aircraft with no offensive capability other than detect and inform.  Lonewulf Models does a conversion which is to convert a Sea Harrier FA.2 into the Sidetrack Sea Harrier.

Someone (Thomas Wier) over on the 'Airfix Tribute Forum' had built one and in his introduction to his build, he mentioned that the system was also earmarked for the F-35 had it proceded with.  Well, I've decided to do an F-35 version and as it the system was aimed at the RAF/RN Joint Harrier Force (or whatever it's called now for the F-35 program) it will be a Brit operated one.  And as they flip-flopped from F-35B to F-35C and back to the F-35B, I'll use the Fujimi 1/72 F-35B kit.

I had originally thought about doing it as a Two-Seater and asked Evan for some input which he kindly did.  But for the Two-Seater I've got to give it a bit more thought and I'll do it at a later date with another kit because I don't think I'll get it done for this GB.  For this build I'll do it mostly OOB, with the radome pods added to the wing tips and some appropriate decals.

Top pic (sorry about the quality) shows what's in the box, second pic is the wingtip pods and third pic after I had glued the engine and lift fan together and into the model.  Why you get all this is beyond me as you won't see any of it except the tailpipe.  You can see through the lift fan from top to bottom though but there's no details in there.  I've decided to upgrade the bang seat with an Aeroclub MB Mk.12 (or was that a Mk.10 ---) as the kit seat is very basic.

If all goes well with the build I may attempt another, a Harrier T-10/12 with the wingtip pods (hence the four pods in the bag)

Bottom pic is of the Sidetrack Sea Harrier for those to see what this is about, the model being built by Mike Embridge (I think that's his surname) who goes by the name of 'grumpyoldmodeller'

« Last Edit: June 26, 2014, 11:37:56 PM by kitnut617 »

Offline kitnut617

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Re: Sidetrack F-35
« Reply #1 on: April 14, 2014, 05:57:06 AM »
Oh!, the Fujimi kit (although has very nice recessed panel lines), has a mass of rivet heads which follow all the panel edges and all over the wing too.  I'll fill the whole lot in as I already know you can't see anything like that.  Also the kit is a 'snap-together' type so a lot of work will be done to easy the fitting of the parts as they don't click together very well.

Offline Tophe

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Re: Sidetrack F-35
« Reply #2 on: April 14, 2014, 07:03:09 AM »
Interesting! Go on! :)

Offline taiidantomcat

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Re: Sidetrack F-35
« Reply #3 on: April 14, 2014, 07:13:41 AM »
Standing by  :)
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Offline kitnut617

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Re: Sidetrack F-35
« Reply #4 on: April 18, 2014, 03:02:44 AM »
Progress --

The Fujimi kit goes together quite well although because it's a 'Snap-Together' type, you do have to make sure the parts join together properly.

I despensed with the weapons bay as the bay doors will be in the closed position (top  pic) as the bay would hold all the AEW equipment.  What that would look like I've no idea anyway.  Bottom  pic shows the fuselage/wing halves, the tailplane, the fins and nose cone all glued together.

Offline kitnut617

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Re: Sidetrack F-35
« Reply #5 on: April 18, 2014, 03:07:40 AM »
I painted up the cockpit using colours that appear in the Airfix Harrier GR.9 box, then applied the decals to each panel (top two  pics).  What's missing is the internal canopy frame, I'll have to make something up.  Bottom pic shows the seat (which has to be painted yet) and with the canopy on.

Offline kitnut617

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Re: Sidetrack F-35
« Reply #6 on: April 18, 2014, 03:09:07 AM »
Another problem is the 'see-through' effect where the exhaust nozzle is, I'll fill that in with some styrene card

Offline kitnut617

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Re: Sidetrack F-35
« Reply #7 on: April 27, 2014, 08:28:53 PM »
A little bit of progress, got the office all done except I need to paint the safety belts on the seat. And most of the airframe is glued together alone with the Sidetrack pods.  I made up some pylons like how they appear in one of Greg's pics and decided to use a pair of F-18 tanks.

Offline kitnut617

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Re: Sidetrack F-35
« Reply #8 on: April 27, 2014, 08:34:22 PM »
But here's a problem I've found with the kits of the F-35 I have.

In the pic below you can see three sets of wheels, the top set is from the new Italeri F-35A, the bottom set is from this Fujimi kit I'm using. The middle set is an aftermarket set done by Armoury.

As you can see, some difference in interpretation of what can be seen in the RW.  Generally though the two kits of the F-35 have been very close to matching each other.
« Last Edit: April 27, 2014, 08:36:32 PM by kitnut617 »

Offline taiidantomcat

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Re: Sidetrack F-35
« Reply #9 on: April 27, 2014, 11:15:26 PM »
First off your progress pics are looking extremely cool, and it is a thrill to see it come together

Secondly, I am totally  jelly of your multiple F-35 kits  :) Which wheels are you going to pick?
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Offline kitnut617

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Re: Sidetrack F-35
« Reply #10 on: April 27, 2014, 11:36:03 PM »
Thanks TC, I'm going to use the Armoury ones, looking at my pics I took of the F-35B down in Yuma,  they do seem to be about right.  The others will go in the spares box for a future project (which I haven't even thought about yet  ;D )

The front wheel still looks a little large to me, but the Italeri front wheel is way, way too small.
« Last Edit: April 28, 2014, 12:32:44 AM by kitnut617 »

Offline kitnut617

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Re: Sidetrack F-35
« Reply #11 on: April 28, 2014, 12:38:47 AM »
Here's a pic of the modified pylon, which is actually from an F-18 (top pic)
The Fujimi kit cames with this neat decal sheet (bottom pic), I've made a copy of it and will cut out the camo patterns to use as a templates as I like this idea.  I'm going to use colours which the Airfix new tool Harrier GR.9 has on it's instruction sheet though, H156 and H164.  The Fujimi decals I'm going to use on the F-35A which will be done as a Canadian one.

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Re: Sidetrack F-35
« Reply #12 on: April 28, 2014, 02:49:36 AM »
Coming along nicely.
All hail the God of Frustration!!!

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Offline kitnut617

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Re: Sidetrack F-35
« Reply #13 on: April 28, 2014, 03:06:12 AM »
Thanks Greg,

You don't have to worry about this kit being a tail-sitter, the main gear is so far back there's plenty of plastic in front of it to keep the front end down.  Which makes me think about the real thing, the engine has to be a massively heavy lump ----

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Re: Sidetrack F-35
« Reply #14 on: April 28, 2014, 03:48:22 PM »
Which makes me think about the real thing, the engine has to be a massively heavy lump ----


Kinda...

Length: 220 in (5.59 m)
Diameter: 51 in (1.29 m)
Dry weight: 1,701 kg / 3,750 lbs

« Last Edit: April 28, 2014, 04:08:19 PM by GTX_Admin »
All hail the God of Frustration!!!

You can't outrun Death forever.
But you can make the Bastard work for it.

Offline kitnut617

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Re: Sidetrack F-35
« Reply #15 on: April 30, 2014, 11:06:51 PM »
I've been playing around with the camo scheme using the patterns found in the Fujimi kit, as I said the colours are what Airfix call up for their new tool Harrier GR.9.

I quite like the look of it ---

Offline taiidantomcat

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Re: Sidetrack F-35
« Reply #16 on: May 01, 2014, 05:04:04 AM »
Nice job!! Fine scheme  indeed, that was a good choice
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Offline kitnut617

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Re: Sidetrack F-35
« Reply #17 on: May 01, 2014, 06:23:48 AM »
Thanks TC --

Offline kitnut617

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Re: Sidetrack F-35
« Reply #18 on: May 01, 2014, 09:38:19 PM »
Here's a link to 90's article in Flight International kindly provided by Chris Gibson, which is where I originally got the idea for this project.

http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1997/1997%20-%200676.html?search=sidetrack


Offline kitnut617

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Re: Sidetrack F-35
« Reply #19 on: May 02, 2014, 04:03:56 AM »
I've decided that this will be an 801 Sqn aircraft, so I've made up some checkers for the rudders(top pic)

Sometime ago (can't remember when) I got hold of the SAM Publication sheet for some Harriers.  Can't remember if I bought the sheet or it came in a SAMI issue but there's no placement instructions included with it.  I was thinking of using the checkers here but they didn't fit very well.

Offline kitnut617

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Re: Sidetrack F-35
« Reply #20 on: May 07, 2014, 10:31:41 PM »
Hmm! well I hit a bit of a snag --- while painting the wheel bays and air intakes white  --- the white hasn't come out white  ---- it's cream colour ---- WTF!!!!

Offline taiidantomcat

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Re: Sidetrack F-35
« Reply #21 on: May 08, 2014, 01:38:41 AM »
Hmm! well I hit a bit of a snag --- while painting the wheel bays and air intakes white  --- the white hasn't come out white  ---- it's cream colour ---- WTF!!!!

 ??? Thats weird!

I would just weather the hell out of the wheel bays if you don't feel like repainting them. The intake could be trickier thats usually pretty darn clean
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Offline kitnut617

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Re: Sidetrack F-35
« Reply #22 on: May 08, 2014, 02:18:11 AM »
I use Humbrol enamels mostly and the flat white I used as a primer was white but when then I used satin white for the overcoat, and it came out cream colour.  Almost a brand new tinlet too, thoroughly stirred as it had been standing around for a few years.  I didn't use the gloss white because I've already found out on another model it's goes yellowish.

I'll try giving it another coat using acrylic gloss white and see what happens.

Offline kitnut617

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Re: Sidetrack F-35
« Reply #23 on: May 10, 2014, 12:49:19 AM »
Little bit of progress --

I've got the 'see-through' rear fuselage filled in

Offline taiidantomcat

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Re: Sidetrack F-35
« Reply #24 on: May 10, 2014, 12:59:10 AM »
Nice fix  :)
"They know you can do anything, So the question is, what don't you do?"

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