Revell 1/72nd SR-71 w/D-21 Drone

[Matt308]

Nice Work!

Man thats small!

You mean this one? It's just the camera angle causing a distorted vanishing point. She's actually fairly large. Keep in mind we're talking about a 100ft long 170,000lb airplane here. The model is almost 17 inches long.

[Catch22]

Very nice!

[Matt308]

Looking into the color scheme, I have noticed a wide variety of weathering. It is unfortunate that most of these retired Blackbirds reside outside and suffer the effects of sun, wind, rain and dust. Many look rather shoddy. Others appear to have been somewhat sloppily restored, with unit/aircraft number markings removed and given the appearance of having been painted.

On the up side, this does allow me a little more freedom in my weathering approach. Most all of these birds were hangered due to the technology sensitivity to prying eyes, intensive maintenance to maintain operational readiness and I suspect to help protect the radar absorbent paint. Thus the main culprit of wear was the intense head generated on the leading edges of the airframe. This appears to be somewhat subtle even in the worst cases, as the pics that I have found tend to show a rather 'clean' airplane. Looks like a based coat of flat black mixed with some grey for desired effect, with a slighly lighter color for the nose section and various panels. Should be fun.

[Wurger]

[Airframes]

Your dead right Matt! Actually, it wasn't black. The RAP was more of a very dark grey, with a slight hint of blue on some panels. Overall, the colour varied slightly, due to the differing base materials and the 'thickness' of the 'paint' coatings. Hopefully, this will be visible in the stuff I send you, but, the description above is from what I remember when I saw one live, at a distance and close up, when it was operational.
Terry.

[SoD Stitch]

Keep up the good work, Matt! I've got a 1/48th SR-71 and YF-12A I've been meaning to get around to for YEARS; maybe I'll get started on it this weekend (yeah, right!). And you're right, they DO get really weathered. the only SR-71 I've seen "up close & personal" is the one on display in front of the Castle AF Museum in Atwater, CA; it's been sitting outside for 10 or 12 years now, and it looks pretty bad, right down to the bird excrement all over it (yes, it's quite sad to see such an exotic a/c in such bad shape). Here are some pic's I took of it a few months ago, if it helps you any; the lighting's not so great, but it was the best I could do with a second-gen digital camera:

[Matt308]

Thanks, Airframes. And you too, Stitch, for the pics. I'm off to the store tonight to see if I can find some Future/Klear.

What are you guys using to glue clear parts? I have always used Elmer's White Glue, but it's adhesive qualities are not very good with plastic. Superglue works okay, but you have to be REAL careful about not crystalizing the clear part. My biggest concern is masking the window and punching it through into the fuselage after I have glued and puttied the cockpit. Any thoughts?

[B-17engineer]

For me this works I use regular model glue but on a tooth pic or I strip a copper wire and carefully put some on. Might want to try it on something else first or I am sure someone else will give a better idea

[Matt308]

I've done that too, B17. Just have to be REAL careful to use it very sparingly, otherwise you will haze your clear plastic.

[SoD Stitch]

I've done that too, B17. Just have to be REAL careful to use it very sparingly, otherwise you will haze your clear plastic.

I'm told (though I haven't been brave enough to try it yet!) that if you "dip" the clear parts in Future first, the superglue won't fog them. Like I said, I'm afraid of ruining something, so I haven't tried it yet . . . .

[Matt308]

Yeah I read that too. Perhaps Wayne or Airframes can answer. This is the whole reason I want to get the Future at the store! I've always read about it, but have never tried it. I also read that you can spray Future over your model as your sealing coat prior to applying your decals and this will minimize silvering. I also read that if I drink Future, I will be thin again, my member will grow longer and I will become rich beyond belief.

[B-17engineer]

But if I get some glue on the cockpit window....I just use Goo Gone......It works wonders

[Matt308]

What the heck is Goo Gone?

Goo Gone -- Household Cleaning Magic

Sounds like its similar to Simple Green. I don't think that you are going to remove hazing with a degreaser little buddy.

[B-17engineer]

Right.......you use it when you have like.........went glue and you notice it is too much. Thats when u use it. If its already dried your......your......model is going to look awful....like the pilot vomited over the cockpit

[SoD Stitch]

Yeah I read that too. Perhaps Wayne or Airframes can answer. This is the whole reason I want to get the Future at the store! I've always read about it, but have never tried it. I also read that you can spray Future over your model as your sealing coat prior to applying your decals and this will minimize silvering. I also read that if I drink Future, I will be thin again, my member will grow longer and I will become rich beyond belief.

ROFL!

Good one, Matt!

I have "dipped" clear parts in Future but, like I said, I haven't been brave enough (yet!) to put Superglue near them. And, yes, you can use Future as a clear coat instead of laquer; however, I don't have a airbrush, so I haven't tried it yet.

I'm going to have to try drinking it! Maybe my hair will grow back!