The Unofficial Airfix Modellers' Forum

In this thread construction of SR-71's will be built. Builds to begin June 15 to July 31st

Jssel (Jeff) Revell 1/72

Marky Italeri 1/72

Kitaholic Academy 1/72

All builds on this thread.

Today is the start of the SR71 build. I should have pictures up in the morning.

Will have mine up after work today, looking forward to this

Ok here we go

Academy box and contents





Eduard brass, Wolfpack SR-1 seats and Rocketeer decals for "Ichi Ban"

Here is the start of my build. The Revell 1/72 kit.



The Innards:



The start always seems to be the cockpit area and here it is. With black plastic I chose to dry brush the highlights medium grey. It is test fit into the top fuselage half.



There are few parts to this kit and the fit is so-so. The top fuselage half forms a lip that the lower half rests against. And filler will be needed. A plus to this kit is the D21 Drone included. A decision must be made as to mount it on the airframe or rest it in a maintenance stand. A separate nose piece adds to fit issues. The decals look thin and in register.

Well, Kit, you look ready to go. I like the photoetch set.

I missed the warm up to this one. The SR-71 was simply a breathtaking achievement. Good stuff, I shall try to follow this.

Sorry chaps, got distracted by the Sea Fury and Nautical GB's, will get cracking asap.

Started work on this now

Eduard says to remove certain areas so I painted them white so they show up

Inside of the u/c bays for brass replacement


Spurious head plates


Various parts of cockpit to remove, shot also shows how bare it is


Inside of the main gear doors has to come off. Larger doors are fully replaced, just as well looking at the ejection marks


Brass parts being added to cockpit. The white part to remove at the rear of the cockpit is a mounting support so after checking fit I decided to just cut a notch for the new nose gear bay to fit


Head plates gone


U/c bays cut out

Bit more work done on this

There's nothing behind the flame holders in the exhaust, so I cut a couple of discs out to go behind to stop the see-through look. Then just in case I printed off a couple of turbines from the net to stick on the discs so at least there is something there.


Installed the brass wheel wells and the cockpit after painting but forgot to take pics before closing her up. DOH!! As you can see the upper and lower fuselage halves take a bit of persuasion to stay together. Two sessions to get both sides done as I need to get more clamps.


Eduard panels don't look too bad, at least better than what comes in the kit


Wolfpack SR-1 seats painted up and ready

Nice Kit. I have an update with pics in the morning.

Quick update today. Have the fuselage halves together. This process shows much filler and sanding taking place to get a good seamless fit. Also the leading edges have mould bumps along the edge that needed removal.

Lowers:



Uppers:



I am liking this kit even with all of its roughness. Things are shaping up.

Historical note: Clarence Kelly Johnson grew up in a town about 10 miles from me. In later years he donated many of his papers to the library there. He came and went without notice. My local Band of Pirates built a display of model of aircraft he designed.

Great starts to your respective kits boys.

The printed turbine fronts are a genius idea.

Just to update, I have started my Blackbird but other things are taking priority, mainly my Aunty memorial Lanc, Spit and Hurricane. However, now the Sea Fury SKGB is done there is a space on the bench for the SR-71 to resume. Pics to follow!.