[Tomcat Tweeker]

Hi Guy's!! Here's the next one on deck... Decided to do the ATARS Bird instead of the Vikings D because of the challenge the decals will provide (And I only have 1 Kit at the moment. HINT HINT)... And If it turns out ok.. IT will look COOL!!! This one will take a bit longer. I will be lucky to complete in 2 months...



One thing I need confirmation on from our Mods.. The ATARS Birds did NOT have the duel chaff buckets??

Well.. On w/ the build!!!

Dave

[CraigSargent]

That's correct - single buckets. And also of note. The tiger stripes should be a very dark grey (gunship IIRC) not black. One of the few errors with TwoBobs decals I've found.

[otis252]

Well, we've seen the props, now let's see what he can do with the jets!! Tomcat Tweeker has done tons to inspire me. Keep those USMC birds coming.
Chuck

[Spongebob]

Quote

The tiger stripes should be a very dark grey (gunship IIRC) not black.

Not necessarily...a co-worker was a WSO in 224 from the timeframe of that sheet. We had actually talked about it. According to him, 224 went through many iterations for paint schemes over a 4 year period due to a string of CO's that hated each other's (and the JO's, and the corrosion shop's) paint schemes - black stripes, gray stripes, black tails, orange rudders, etc. all came and went several times.

His comment was that everything other than the gray tiger stripes "was very, very gay and not befitting of a war machine".

Spongebob

[CraigSargent]

Interesting to note - thanks for the info. Having said that, every image I have ever seen of the Bengals tiger-strip ATARS bird has always been dark grey (gray). I have yet to actually see a picture of the aircraft with black stripes, doesn't make it wrong I guess, just yet to see it.

Even the reference pics provided on the TwoBobs sheet show it as a dark grey and not black - you can see the distinction in the photos between the colour of the stripes and some of the other markings which actually are black.

[Spongebob]

He said the black was the first stab at a tiger striped bird, just before he got there and did not last long due to poor reviews in the squadron.

Spongebob

[Tomcat Tweeker]

Thanks Guys on the heads up on the stripes.. I'd like to say that I would be re-painting them individually, But That would take forever... I may experiment with maybe overspraying w/grey to tone down the Black.. But.. It should still look pretty cool black... I HOPE!

Thanks Again

Dave

[Tomcat Tweeker]

Just a Quick Update. (No Pics) Been a busy week with the real Job and just have been real burnt out!! Man it's hit 45C already here and it's only June!!! Anywho... I just realized that I had some wing folds from G-Factor.. So I'm messing w/ them at the moment.. So far so good!! Hope to post some stuff tomorrow!!

Dave

[Rampage55]

Tomcat Tweeker,
How ever you decide to do the tiger stripes I'm sure they will look cool.

I'm curious as to how you find the G-Factor wing folds to work with.
Looking forward to seeing some pics.

Mark

[Tomcat Tweeker]

Well A Quick Update before hitting the rack....

Have the wing folds rough cut in.. They are pretty nice.. Not that bad at all.. Fortunatly there are cut lines on the inner surfaces of the wings so there is no guess work on where to cut.. Then its just a matter of trimming out the kit hinge detail and fine tuning the fit before gluing the wing halfs together.. The Ultra fine tuning later.. But not much... Well here's a few pics..

Thanks For Looking
Dave

[Tomcat Tweeker]

willieself, on Jun 9 2007, 03:23 AM, said:

That looks good so far!!!! Dave is this te same buld we talked about the other day??

Thanks Will! Yea its the same one... Still haven't started the Pit yet..

Dave

[David Walker]

The wing folds look great. I've looked at the G-Factor website a couple of times and considered picking up a set of the wing folds but haven't gotten around to it yet. Seeing yours makes me think I ought to grab a set.

This post has been edited by David Walker: 12 June 2007 - 05:53 PM

[Tomcat Tweeker]

Thanks For the comments guy's!! Now some more progress



















Thanks For Looking!

Dave

[otis252]

Looking great as always, keep the updates coming.
Chuck

[Tomcat Tweeker]

Bit of an update... She's painted and the decaling has commenced!! Having fun with this...

Thanks for looking
Dave

[Rasczak]

Looking awesome!

[SSgtd6152]

I know you can do it, but how do you get the cockpit in?

Good luck with the decals!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

[Tomcat Tweeker]

Thanks All!! I ran across a build thread by Dave Roof on the same acft.. He too used the BB pit and had a method of putting it in after painting and decaling.. Saves the hassle of masking... And in my case... I hate pits... So I gave the method a try before gluing together the Fuselage and it will work... So the pit will be the last hurdle.. We'll see..

Thanks
Dave

[Tomcat Tweeker]

A Little more decaling done!! Takin' some time, But task is going well... These decals ROCK!!



Dave

[Rasczak]

That is coming out great.