DL:

That F-16 has some very interesting lines. The design looks solid to me. Consider it a prototype and finish it. Then build a second one with the changes you mentioned. I have done a few "prototypes" myself. My current rendition of the F-16 is to gain some experience on this particular model then improve on the following Fleet clones. I may end up replacing this one later. I think you are on the right track on improving the looks of the original.

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- Raúl
NAR #88644
SAM #230
EAC
CAT
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RR,

Check out this post.

Number 12, pics 4,5.

https://forums.rocketshoppe.com/sho...t=Fighter+Fleet

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If it flies, I can crash it!

I see many "jet fighter" inspired models there: an F-4, F-18, F-104, the F-16, F-15, an F-8 (I think) and others. Cool collection back then. Do any others have survived to today? The upscale undecaled Pegasus caught my eye as I just finished a 1:1 Estes Pegasus (#0805) with some custom decals... no motor mount as it is a shelf queen for now.

Your rendition of the F-18 looks cool as well as the F-104. I have slowed down a little with my build. still experimenting with 3D printed doodads (missiles, fuel pods, bombs...)

The picture of the Mach-10s on a table was taken by a friend of mine. My Mach-10 is the unpainted one. It was not ready to paint when we decided to go up to northern Maryland for a day of flying rockets at our favorite, recently plowed and poohed, hay field... I miss those days.

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- Raúl
NAR #88644
SAM #230
EAC
CAT
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RR,

The Tomcat Swing-Wing Glider no longer exist due to one wing not swinging into glide position and it cork screwed into the ground and exploded, smashing the N/C and the windshield.

The A-10 glider got crushed by somebody's unwatched child while I was launching a rocket.

I still have all the rest are still in my fleet.

I'm not sure which you think is an F-8 unless your confused about my A-7 Corsair II.
It's grey and white with a larger version above it on the top of the couch.

The F-18 is my design and the F-104 is a downsized Fatcat rocket.
Both are documented on this forum.

If your interested in cloning any of them, I'll help any way I can.

Daniel

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If it flies, I can crash it!

It has been a while since the last build update, two months and four days to be exact. Since then I have been sidetracked with family, travel, and work but have been able to move along with the build "inch by inch"... Not sure if build pics are interesting but I am ready to post a few to track the progression here.

After the paint was sufficiently cured, I wanted to polish the paint in preparation for the decals. On the forward section of one of the fins you will notice how rough the paint is. After using 3M Finesse-IT II and a microfiber cloth to polish that section, see the difference on the second picture. I polished the entire model and it resulted in a smoother finish, great for decals.

I also decided to add a black painted section to the nosecone. I sprayed a white coat first to reduce the paint bleeding and it worked to an extent. I later (before applying decals) used 3M to clean up the edges after removing the tape.

After polishing the model I prepped the table for the tedious chore of applying the decals, then I realized I had made a mistake... the upper fin was larger than the decal. No problem, I just carefully cut the top portion to the desired size and it worked great!

Attached Thumbnails

               

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- Raúl
NAR #88644
SAM #230
EAC
CAT
_____________________

Decals were recreated in what I call the "poor man's graphic software"... PowerPoint. Then the decal sheet was saved as a PDF at 600dpi and printed on clear decal sheet on an old and trusty Canon MX860. After 24hours the sheet was covered with a few coats of Rust-Oleum clear, which is the only decent clear I can find locally.

Decals went on well over the polished paint. Most of the decals are "custom" to make the model more interesting, as one friend commented offline. Most of the custom decals were inspired from pictures of the real F-16.

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- Raúl
NAR #88644
SAM #230
EAC
CAT
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The yellow rocket cradle is one I made last year at the beginning of the pandemic. I wanted to get the Estes one but the mail to my location was suspended until "further notice"... this forced me to learn basic 3D skills and, after looking at the one from Estes, I created my own parts with my 3D printer. My version is about 2 inches longer than the one offered by Estes and it works well with the Estes rockets stands I already had.

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- Raúl
NAR #88644
SAM #230
EAC
CAT
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Wow, that looks really sharp Raul! Good job!!

Earl

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Earl L. Cagle, Jr.
NAR# 29523
TRA# 962
SAM# 73
Owner/Producer
Point 39 Productions

Rocket-Brained Since 1970

I wanted to paint the canopy with Tamiya Silver but knowing that clear coating silver can be a disaster in the making, I decided to experiment with what I had available: Clear Pledge/Future and Rust-Oleum Clear. The order of the coats were documented on the spoon handles. Results: no reaction of any kind from the clear coats. But it looks like all the ones with the Pledge/Future as the last coat have a smoother finish and shinier look than the ones finished with Rust-Oleum.

NOTE: both clears can be "polished" with 3M Finesse-It II.

So far I have painted the canopy but have not clear coated the model.

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- Raúl
NAR #88644
SAM #230
EAC
CAT
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Canopy here in silver. I like the way it looks but it still does not have a clear coat.

As for the ordinance, I wanted to paint them on lighter tones of gray to distinguish them from the rest of the model. After searching all kind of places locally (I am in Bogota, Colombia, for now) I find two light tones of gray: one for the missiles and darker gray for the fuel pods. I have clear coated them with Future/Pledge in order to apply some decals to it...

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- Raúl
NAR #88644
SAM #230
EAC
CAT
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