TJTX

As I slowly creep towards completion of the Bardahl Mustang, I started contemplating the next build. I fondled my Wingnut Dh2, Special Hobby Tempest, and Fisher Panther, but ultimately felt the pull in a different direction. I've been wanting a jet to haul around to some contest since I tend to live in the prop world lately and this kit has been pulling on me since it arrived. I decided to go with the Academy F-16I Sufa. I got this from Peter awhile back for an amazing deal and was absolutely shocked with how much stuff came with it. Wolfpack cockpit, Aires wheel well, Wheeliant wheels, Wolfpack exterior set, Isracast bombs, and I've added the Zacto intake. I am tremendously excited about this build and I'll start work on the cockpit while the Mustang dries. So far, I'm blown away by the fit of the resin cockpit. The hope is to have it ready for Nationals in San Marcos, but that will be a tight window.

Cant believe I missed this, and I just saw you the other day too and I didn't say anything! Happy birthday buddy.

I love it. I've always wanted to build a Greek bird to dirty it up and yours is another stunning example of how well that can be done.

Now I'm feeling the build is taking a step forward. It's really starting to look like a Mustang and I'm oh so close to paint. One last thing to figure out is a pitot tube.

Thanks guys. This build has really opened my eyes to building more civilian and racing birds. Wanted to try the decals.

Go Mark go!

Happy Happy birthday

Haha! Jet guy's crazy brain guessed correct for once. That makes up for the infamous Felixstowe bleed air curfufel....

I know this might be my "jet" brain kicking in but.... apu exhaust? Did the modify the postwar lancs with an apu to be more self sufficient away from home? Didn't B-29s have a crude form of an apu as well?

Wing is on. Initial priming looks promising. A touch of filler on the leading edges and over the nav lights, a bit more work on the recognition lights, some rescribing and I'll be happy with the wings. From here I can work on finalizing construction and looking towards paint.

Absolutely beautiful. I'm on a bit of a racer kick myself right now and this is one I've been wanting to see built up. Yours looks absolutely perfect.

Also the nose is pretty much wrapped up. Now I can look towards mating the wing and dealing with the drop tanks.

Every time I think I have the areas need filling done, I realize they aren't quite right. So, round 1000 of filling and sanding the ejection chutes and recognition lights. I will say the gun ports were relatively easy to deal with.

Now that sounds like a fun afternoon.

Back home from my first week flying for the new company. I absolutely love my new job and the company I fly for which is always a plus. I decided on a grey for the gear and gear wells and got all those parts painted. Then I closed up the wings and installed the gun ports. Now I need to keep working on cleaning the wings and remove the gun ports, and nav lights. Brady, I will be building mine on the ground. If I build another racer, which I very much want to do, it will be in flight rounding a Reno pylon. For the flaps, I honestly haven't decided yet. Since the pictures I am leaning on have them up, I will probably end up with them built in the up position. I also started work on the hard points. I am just going to scratch build them myself. **I have realised that making resin copies of the prop is out of my skill set right now. If there is someone who can help cast them since a few others have asked for a set I would greatly appreciate it. If not, I have all 4 built up that I need.

As a professionalpilot, I'm not sure if this saddens me, or impresses me...... How in the hell did he get it up there in such good condition?

I need to check out those paints.

Brady, your absolutely correct. This airplane never stayed the same long. I'm working mostly off the two pictures where it is sitting in the dirt wearing the Skyraider tanks. I've started work on the tanks but haven't gotten to how I'll mount them yet. I'm planning on building the hard points out of plastic strip. Yes, these are AMS resin tanks as that was the only place I could source the 150 gallon ones. They look absolutely amazing as well.

Time to shake ya tail feathers! Tails wrapped up, with everything on. I'm currently working on the gear wells getting them ready for paint. I'm also continuing to work on wings and modifying them. I feel like I'm not making progress but I know it'll come together.

It's funny, you guys are echoing exactly what people looking at the diorama in person where saying. It didn't do well exactly because of the boats speed and the unclaimed pair of legs. The Work quality was good, but the story just didn't mesh well.

An awesome kit, and my second entry for 2020 nationals!

Just playing around a bit.

I was able to get the main wheels painted and built up, along with painting the exhaust stack covers NMF. I then assembled a few of the nose parts with glue, then placed all the nose parts on to make sure my alignment is good. I'm a happy camper! Tomorrow I plan on painting the exhaust stacks then I can start closing in on wrapping up the nose.

Back home. No pictures but worked on the cowling and cockpit this afternoon. I've decided completely OOB except for paint mask do I can enter this into OOB category at the local contests. Just a nice fun build with a focus on painting and weathering. I'll try and get some photos later in the week.