Academy 1/32 F-16I SUFA

[Greg Kimsey]

Uh...what? What's a birdslicer?

James what's your take on weapons and aircraft in maintenance? No trying to steer Greg one way or another, I think it would be cool to see open panels and weapons waiting to be loaded.

That is sort of the scenario I am contemplating. Weapons on trollies (or whatever you call them. Israeli mens and wimmens working on the plane here and there. Fuel hose connected to the...fuel port. The battery charger connected to the...battery port. And so on. Gotta say that in a sing-song way (knee bone conected to the...shin bone) for that to sound right.

 

[Greg Kimsey]

@moonpuppy, what is the cart thingy at the bottom that looks like it has the black lines going to it?

 

[jknaus]

Uh...what? What's a birdslicer?

James what's your take on weapons and aircraft in maintenance? No trying to steer Greg one way or another, I think it would be cool to see open panels and weapons waiting to be loaded.

The birdslicer is what we call those blade antennas before the windshield. I think thats a universal term, but maybe its just Canadian. Named such because if you take a birdstrike on the nose, well you get the idea.
While I find it very cool to see panels open, its not something I usually do. I dont agree with weapons loaded and panels open as maintenance is never done on a loaded aircraft..
James

 

[jknaus]

@moonpuppy, what is the cart thingy at the bottom that looks like it has the black lines going to it?
View attachment 161993

I've never worked on a 16 so have no idea, but to me it looks like its a test set.

 

[moon puppy]

I only worked on the B52 so no idea what that box would be. Agree with James, probably a test set.

 

[Greg Kimsey]

I have spent several hours this morning looking for 1/32 or 1/35 figures for my diorama. I need mechanics, men or/and woman. Anyone have a source?

 

[Greg Kimsey]

I absolutely suck at Googling! I am trying to find a bomb trolly for a 1/32 scale. There HAS to be one. I found one print file for $80!?? Are you kidding? 80 effing dollars for a print file? Maybe I can challenge my scratch building skills and see if I can make one. Do any of you know what I should build if it comes to that? I have downloaded a few photos. Where would I find size specs for something like these?

 

[Impisi]

have you looked at scalemates?

 

[jknaus]

You would have to see what type of trailers the Israelis use, although I would think Air Force ground support vehicles. I found this place and although the prices are a bit high for me with exchange rates, maybe not bad. One interesting kit which you might find useful is the MJ-1.

1/32 Ground Support – videoaviation.com

Anyways there is 3 pages of ground support equipment.
I think maybe the MKU-12 cart would be the best bet, I think thats what we use or at least it looks like what I have seen. I imagine it would be used by the IAF also but again I could be wrong. I'm not seeing anything in 3d files yet though.
James

 

[jknaus]

If you have a printer this fellow has a few pieces of ground equipment in 1/48 which you could enlarge. Not sure of the quality of his design though so you would need to look at it https://cults3d.com/en/users/roblack/3d-models

 

[moon puppy]

OMG! No you can't use US Navy weapons trailers for a USAF aircraft! Blasphemy!
Google search gives me this, I was probably tested on this 40 years ago but it doesn't jog a memory. Probably lost in some of those slow brain cells that didn't keep up.

MHU-226 Munitions Handling Unit
MHU-12/M Munitions Handling Trailer
MHU-110/M Munitions Trailer

Hasagawa has a munitions handling set but I think it's only in 1:72.

 

[Greg Kimsey]

OMG! No you can't use US Navy weapons trailers for a USAF aircraft! Blasphemy!
Google search gives me this, I was probably tested on this 40 years ago but it doesn't jog a memory. Probably lost in some of those slow brain cells that didn't keep up.

MHU-226 Munitions Handling Unit
MHU-12/M Munitions Handling Trailer
MHU-110/M Munitions Trailer

Hasagawa has a munitions handling set but I think it's only in 1:72.

How about on an IAD plane? Is it still Blasphemy or downright skullduggery?

I will look those up, thanks Bob!

 

[Greg Kimsey]

This is the inititial building of the radar compartment, adding shelves and reinforment "I" beams

Next came building the radar components and figuring out what color wires to use and where they should go.

I glued the front bulkhead in place. It needs some tidying up

There is some detail painting to be done, but overall I think it is going to look OK.

 

[moon puppy]

Wow, excellent scratch building!

 

[Greg Kimsey]

Little more progress. There is supposed to be a part that goes around the inside front edge of the nosecone. I had it for sure, but I can't find it now. So I resorted to make the closure thingys. Here is the reference

And here is my attempt to replicate

Somehow I made one less mount, so you can see the raw form on the popsicle stick. I cut thin brass sheet to 3mm wide x 20mm long. I punched a 1mm hole for the screwhole, then used pliers to bend to shape. I used Bob Smith Maxi Set superglue to hold them in place. The interior of the cone is painted copper, though you can't tell it from the photo. I have added wires to the instruments inside the cone. I will wait til the very end to put the cone on the plane. They arent the neatest or most consistant pieces, but neither am I.

 

[moon puppy]

Dig it!

 

[Greg Kimsey]

Hey guys, what about the centerline and wing fuel tanks? Do they stay in place during maintenance?

 

[moon puppy]

Others would know better than I, B52s didn't have drop tanks, well ones that were removed often, if ever. But I think they could be there depended on what level of maintenance is going on. I see an image out there of them doing an engine swap with tanks on, maybe they need them for weight and balance but I'm sure they wouldn't be fueled.

Sure, knock yourself out.

 

[Greg Kimsey]

Ok, I will leave them on. I assume, since they mostly stay on that they are as weathered as the plane; while ordnance on the trolly is usually somewhat clean? Did I get that right?

Others would know better than I, B52s didn't have drop tanks, well ones that were removed often, if ever. But I think they could be there depended on what level of maintenance is going on. I see an image out there of them doing an engine swap with tanks on, maybe they need them for weight and balance but I'm sure they wouldn't be fueled.

Sure, knock yourself out.

 

[moon puppy]

Yes weapons would be very clean.