F&M Mark 2 Colonial Viper

Shadowknight

The first thing that I wanted to do was to add a 1/4-20 threaded insert to support a panavise. The base that was provided was great, but I wanted a panavise to provide maneuverability to the model.



After adding it, I somehow felt a need to reinforce it. In my mind, it just made proper sense.





I then joined the two halves together and puttied and sanded the seams.







That's all I have for now. More to come.

moffeaton

Good stuff! Yeah, I alway WAY over-reinforce my mount points, too.

Shadowknight

Thanks Jason. I started thinking about the stress that would be on the mount point and figured it was the best thing to do. I always worry about mount points.

I added the nose and the rear and did the usual puddy, sand, rescribe and prime.





I will be closing up the landing gear sections to make this a flying version.

MML

Following this thread for sure!

Any plans to light it?

Shadowknight

Lighting it is the plan! It will be a slowish build though. I have limited time to build this.

Shadowknight

I connected the parts for the left and right mid sections engines:





Then I sanded down and added the engine detail sections for both sides.



Next, I cleared out a section for the top engine lights:



And then I test fitted them:



Does anybody have any objections to adding this cluster of LEDS for an engine due to safety or heat reasons???

Until next update...

TridCloudwalker

It seems excessive for a single engine, but it shouldn't cause any problems. Are they all one color, or did you do a ring of blue with white in the middle?

Can't wait to see this build progress. I'll eventually get around to starting mine.

Shadowknight

All the LEDs are clear. I did mess with a blue light in the middle after reading your post, but it just looked off. From what I'm seeing on the screen, the engine color is clear/white lights. As for them being a bit overkill, there not superbright and I plan on being able to get to them after the final build. That way, if I think it's too bright, I can make changes.

Update:

I puddied, sanded, and primed the mid section engines:



I then decided to start closing off the landing gear section since I'm making this a flying version.



I used the landing gear doors supplied with the kit and modified them to fit.





I primed it and found out that I am going to have to puddy and then scribe a new, straight, upper line for the door to make it look nice and tidy. I'm very happy with the raw results of the upper door so far.



Thats all I have for now.

JohnLogan

Looking goiod, Dude!!

Shadowknight

Thanks.

I have been working on this sporadically and I have a few updates.

I built a section in the side engines to accept the LED housing that I will use to light it, and blacked it out for light leaks:



I closed up the front landing gear bay:



I added the front cowl to the upper engine section:



I then made a channel, a rather messy channel, in the wing to accept wiring:



I drilled out the tips to accept LEDs:



I soldered the LEDs together:



I soldered the wiring to them, added liquid electrical tape (first time I used it and I like it), and glued the wiring in place:



I closed up the wings:



Here you can see where the LEDs sit in the wing. I will be using the Red tinted clear tips provided with the kit for the marker lights on the wings, so I set the LEDs back a little.



Light test:

BrundelFly

I have to do the same thing...not looking forward to it

Shadowknight

I managed to get my hands on a few Red 3mm LEDs without the usual raised lip in the back of the LED. That made fitting it in there much easier.

Guy Cowen

Great work TJ, always going that extra mile to make things look cool as hell.

Looking forward to more mate.