Tecnikit

Good idea. At this moment running in other directions. Superdetails for F-8 and later we will see, MIG-25.

Thank you very much. As you can see, it's a lot of work. That's why I talk about making the MIG-25 as "the model," not "a model."

I already announced that this year, in addition to superdetails for the Trumpeter Vought Crusader F-8 in 1/32 scale, We are preparing a high-quality 1/32 scale MiG-25 for 2026. However, someone mentioned that Trumpeter is planning its own 1/32 scale MiG-25 for 2027. For now, the decision has been made to focus on the numerous improvements to the F-8, as well as creating the RF-8 conversion. It's going to be such a large undertaking that it will take time to clarify whether Trumpeter will actually release it and, if so, when. From there, a decision will be made regarding whether to improve their model or create our own. ( with their model or not ) We've been studying for two years how to make a complete model with 3D laser quality, but the cost of the resin and the labor makes it unfeasible for even a minimum number of copies ( if we want to achieve a quality that more than compensates for the precision design effort and time ). This is... if you plan a.... model... 🤥... is fine. But if you want to make THE MODEL... 🧐... no. Therefore, if the quality of Trumpeter's fuselage and wings are good, it would be worthwhile to use their body to create a good upgrade. If not, we'll move on. Javier Povedano Tecnikit.com

2 Years of work. We make engines among other things, but the J-58 is a labyrinth of pipes. Here are the final pieces.

Here are the first parts already printed in series. You can see the quality of each part fresh from the printer. With surfaces free of skipping layers. All clean of supports but most still need to be thoroughly cleaned and fitted into their counterparts to ensure a perfect fit. The design system of building our own printing columns is a complete success. Printing the parts almost in mid-air with minimal pressure on the weakest parts. We continue printing. Take it easy. We are in the final step but the minimum print cycles are 15 hours to obtain 4 parts. Meanwhile... designing the first F-8 parts. Javier Povedano Tecnikit.com

Yes. I show you ours. Test in 04/2025. Only the compressor and the afterburner head. Now printing the first ones: Javier Povedano Tecnikit.com

This is an old B-25 that I have stored away somewhere. From Monogram and with something from Accurate Miniatures. With it, I wish all the modelers who make models because you want, because you like it, regardless of whether they are from this country or from another, regardless of whether they turn out well or not, or whether they are fashionable or not. Making them for the pure satisfaction of making them and with pure admiration for engineering. And especially to those who, lacking money, make their own scratch models, and most especially to the thousands of children who, lacking resources, even carve their planes out of pieces of wood, we at Tecnikit wish you a very, very happy holiday days and a happy 2026. Javier Povedano Tecnikit.com

We are showing the final version of the J-58 engine, which is now ready for printing without any further modifications. As you can see in the bottom image, the 1/23 scale the afterburner has had to be divided into 3 parts, not 2 as shown in a previous image in this thread. This was done to achieve the best possible quality in each section by minimizing the number of contact points for the print columns. In total, the engine will consist of 10 parts, 7 of which are shown in this image. This is in addition to the 4 hydraulic piston shafts for the nozzle panels, which are made of brass. The 1/32 scale version will not require as many parts. From here, the final printing for shipping begins. We remind you that with the new changes, each 1/23 scale engine requires approximately 40 hours of printing time. And due to their size, they cannot be printed in batches. Once again, a huge thank you to all the customers who have ordered this motor. First, for supporting us with your orders. And second, for your immense and exemplary patience. Javier Povedano Tecnikit.com

The final stage of the afterburner assembled. Ten details remain to be addressed after examining it with a magnifying glass. Some of them are painted white to indicate their position. As always, without sanding anything ruining details. The photo shows as is extracted from the printer. For many, this would go be right to shipping. Not for us. And thank you again to the customers for your patience. It will be rewarded. For us, every day is another day of financial loss. That's okay. It's about making the best possible parts, and that takes time. Javier Povedano Tecnikit.com

As we reported in a previous message, it will not be possible to develop the Mirage IV in 2026 for reasons beyond our control. We intend to develop a 1/32 scale MIG-25 instead. What is in development, and in this case finally in the process of completion, are the J-58 engines in 1/23 scale for the Black Bird SR-71. This limited series, sold out in its entirety, required a year of work to achieve the cleanliness and results we were looking for. We provide the latest photograph taken this Tuesday with the seventh and final support system, hand-made by us, which this time has succeeded, save for a few minor correctable details, in printing this enormous 17-centimeter-long compressor, intact with all the pipes in a single piece and with a unique cleanliness. As has been extracted from the printer after removing the supports and WITHOUT SANDING ANYTHING. It's important to note that we never send our pieces to customers with supports. It's normal, even though we know our models well, to break some exceptionally fine details when removing these supports. That's why we prefer to cover this possibility ourselves and deliver the model to our customers 100% breakage-free. Of course, this requires exceptional work time on models like this. But we've always worked this way. Once we ship these engines, including the 1/32 scale version orders that have also been sold, we will move on to the other engine held back by orders for this project. The J79 GE3 for the F-104A, F-104B, and which could be used for the NF-104A. Although technically the NASA F-104A used the 3B, the 3 is certainly almost identical to the 3B. Development of this engine was halted a year ago due to a lack of detailed documentation. It's possible we'll do some detailing for some of the aircraft we've already worked on. But what's certain is that we're turning our attention to new super-detailed 1/32 scale F-8E Crusader projects from Trumpeter. This aircraft has always been a beauty due to its strange, ramshackle shape. And we're convinced it will be another great success for the quality achieved, just as the exterior details of the Mirage III E were. This is the route outline. This doesn't preclude other developments. Thank you for your support !! Javier Povedano Tecnikit

We continue to struggle with the J-58 engine in 1/23 scale. We never send models with printing process supports to customers because it's VERY easy to break fine details when are removed. Even knowing the pieces it happens to us sometimes. So we prefer to deal with the breakages ourselves and manufacture a new model immediately if necessary. With the J-58 the huge amount of piping and details is making it an enormous task to assemble support structures that always work without breaking in the printer and while are removed. However, we are very close. Meanwhile, we have received a request from a customer that does not seem difficult to develop in the middle of the job list. We have been asked for our avionics compartment and exterior details of the Mirage IIIE but for 1/48 scale by a customer that already purchased them for the Italeri kit in 1/32 scale. They will be available this week in the store, although in pre-sale mode until we manage to print all the pending orders for the J-58. ( Real photographs of the avionic compartment detailset for 1/32 ) ( Real photograph of the power plug. Part of the exterior detailset for 1/32. ) In the case of the exterior details, could not be possible to include the emergency pilot rescue handle due to its size of a few millimeters in 1/32 scale, but we will try. Javier Povedano Tecnikit

As you know, it had announced the preparation and launch of the Mirage IV in 1/32 scale as a major target in 2025 and 2026. Due to unrelated circumstances, we have received a notification from Dassault Aviation demanding the withdrawal of any product or use of the Mirage IV name. I have tried to raise a discussion on the terms of a possible license, but there seems to be no interest on their part. The message refers to the prohibition of the express use of the Mirage IV name and object but not other models. However given that we have partial parts of the Mirage IIIE, and although it could get into a debate whether it affects or not, the Mirage IIIE parts are going to be withdrawn. Without discussion the best parts in the world in 1/32 for this model. As an exception, we will leave out of this recall the parts of the ATAR 09C5 engine, understanding that it is a completely different manufacturer's proprietary design. Since the recall notice has a 5-day deadline, they will be removed from the web store in 4 days. Regarding the Mirage IV, I am truly sorry. I am convinced that many Dassault Aviation executives and workers would have purchased the model. And that it would even have been an exceptional eye-catcher in the center of a boardroom table where to leave with open mouths dignitaries from all over the world. But unfortunately this is something that only modelers know. On the positive side, we are relieved of all our self-imposed workload obligations and can rethink new objectives. We will think of another machine. Javier Povedano Tecnikit

I think the same !! Going on ...

Hubert got there first 😀 That's good. While we produce the J-58 models, and finish the Mirage IIIE monographic and the J-79 engine, we announce that we are starting the Mirage IV project in 1/32 scale. https://www.tecnikit.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=page&id=31&language=en The model will be made as usual with 3D laser printing, but with a special manufacturing system that we are perfecting and that will allow us to reduce the cost significantly in the fuselage and surfaces. We will make slight modifications to the current ATAR 09C5 engine that we already sell to obtain the ATAR 9K variant that equipped the Mirage IV. In such a way that the model will include the high detailed nozzles and afterburners, and optional detailsets of the installed engine, in installation phase or exposed behind the aircraft. This will also allow modelers building Dassault Etendard IV, Mirage F1, Mirage 5, Nesher, Mirage 50, Cheetah, Super Etendard, Super Mystere and SE-212 Durandal models to detail their 1/32 scale models with this engine, nozzle or nozzle and afterburner. The landing gear will have metallic columns for the shock absorbers that will serve as internal reinforcement as we already did in the rear landing gear of the Mirage IIIE. It will also have other details that we can't reveal yet. It will of course include cockpit and landing gear well detailing as standard. 😉 Javier Povedano Tecnikit

Thank you very much Hubert ! Yes, it was a monumental job. And yes, I’ve been rounding the idea on the SR-71 for 2 years. But it would be a very time-consuming adventure. I keep thinking about it.