My 1:18 Thunderfighter build

ASC Mclaren

Well-Known Member
I am posting a build thread on my second Thunderfighter from paperaviation.de. I always liked the Thunderfighter, never had one as a kid, so I was thrilled to find it online. I built it without modification first time out, with the intention of a 1:18 build. I had a request (as a noob, it is in fact my most requested build) to post this. It has languished in paper purgatory for over a year. After joining the board and seeing what all the other builders are doing, I am finding motivation to finish this build.

I modified the size in paint, I found that I couldn't save the size changes, so I must modify the files every time I open them. I increased the size 178%. Parts 1 and 6 I had to tile. After laminating the pages together, they warped. The warpage is why I used balsa stiffeners. If I were to do it over I would have tiled the part 1 and 6 pieces onto a large enough cardboard base.

The cockpit is the paper-replika.com Jedi fighter cockpit, enlarged and doubled for the tandem set.

If you do want to follow this, I am honored, but be aware; I build at the speed of continental drift. Maybe that will change?
 

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inky

Member
This is looking great so far, love the way you combined the Jedi fighter cockpit with it.

What did you use to glue the pages together? I use to just use Elmer's glue but that made the pages warp like yours did. Now I use 3M spray adhesive. I just spray a lite coat on one page and then place the pages together, then I use a hand roller and role back and forth on the page and it presses the pages together tight and I never have any warping. Hope this made sense, I am terrible at explaining things.
 

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Z

Zathros

I build so slow that I have seen new species develop. I build so slow that I have experienced the Sun Rise and set iin what seems sminutess.

I use two glues. The one I like the most is ZIP DRY glue for paper. Acid free and does not wrinkle, dries clear. You can glue plastic to paper with it (put tiny holes in the plastic for anchor points). It does not come apart, gets tacky fast, so the parts hold themselves together. Michael's Craft stores carries it around here I am sure other stores carry it, or you can order it on line. It has withstood the test of time. I build a 26" long ship with it and everything has stayed in place these 3 years later. I also use UHU glue. It is finer in viscosity, works great, but does not set up as fast. Holds fantastic once it is dry. I always get liquid glues. I never use sticks or sprays . I get really bad asthma from the Sprays. Even if I do it outside. I have attached a picture of the glues to make it easier to identity. Neither of the glues will cause ink to run and they do no moisten paper.

ASC Mclaren, your ship looks frakkin' awesome!!
 

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ASC Mclaren

Well-Known Member
Inky, I had for some inexplicable reason not thought to use super 77. I use it at work for shadow box foam, and I used a similar adhesive to leather wrap my mustang dash, a pillars, etc. I'll experiment with that for large areas.

Zanthros, Thank you for the tip on zip dry and uhu. I will get some very soon, I spent all my allowance this paycheck.

I have been using elmers white for nearly everything. I use super glue for transparencies, and balsa.

Thank you for sharing your tips!
 
Z

Zathros

.......................................................

Zathros, Thank you for the tip on zip dry and uhu. I will get some very soon, I spent all my allowance this paycheck.................................
Thank you for sharing your tips!

Boy I sure do know that feeling! My 84 year old mother, who is very technology oriented, brought me a "Silhouette Cameo paper cutting machine" for my Birthday and it should arrive in 4 or 5 days. I really hated her buying me this but she really insisted. My Mom was a seamstress during the day all throughout the 1960's and early 1970's but at night, she built Gyroscopes for Hamilton Standard. We weren't exactly what might call middle class by any standard, but we weren't poor and for some reason, in 1966, I thought everyone had a color T.V.. We had ours for nearly 3 years! My Mom said it kept her from having to take us to the movies. In any event,this meandering statement is trying to say that my Wife considers this "gift' ...."it". As in, forget about getting any new toys (tools) or anything you need (computer parts, electronic tools). Nobody in the world needs this device as far as she is concerned. I'm sure to prove her correct, but it will be fun failing! :)
 

dlazarus6660

New Member
My TF

My TF is the same size as your TF on the right. What paper weight did you use for the nose cones. I used #110 and it buckled. What weight paper are you using on the 1:18 scale?
I use paint for printing and would like to see your sheets you print to get an idea how its done?
I'm currently converting a TF into a model rocket.
Great job,KUTGW!

Daniel

Could you post this build in this forum too?

http://www.papermodelers.com/forum/
 

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Rhaven Blaack

!!!THE MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN!!!
Staff member
Administrator
Moderator
I am quite impressed and amazed with the size of this build. You are doing a fantastic job.
I like how you Incorporated the Jedi fighter cockpit interior with this model. It does work well. It gives it a more "UPDATED" look.

Right now Revell-fan is finalizing the design for the cockpit interiors for the Thunder Fighter and will be sending them to Martin Seanger for approval and release.

I will be following this thread carefully.
 

ASC Mclaren

Well-Known Member
dlazarus, I have built using 110# almost exclusively. I rolled them into cones, I think using a sharped pencil. Then I glued the cones, waiting till they dried and then inserted the guns, I almost inserted toothpicks, instead of the blunted tips. I am interested in your rocket conversion. Are you keeping the thrust angles as designed? how about the recovery system?
Oh, I posted over on your thread on PM, where I'm Kingjason14...

Rhaven, I saw the cockpit alpha build, and I really like the instrument panel and shroud. I am lusting over those parts, and to see the tandem panel, if any. I spent some time deciding whether to build some A-1 or F-14 looking cockpit, or a more '70 accurate cheesetastic affair. After seeing the Jedi cockpit, I went with that, so I guess I split the difference...
 

Rhaven Blaack

!!!THE MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN!!!
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Administrator
Moderator
Rhaven, I saw the cockpit alpha build, and I really like the instrument panel and shroud. I am lusting over those parts, and to see the tandem panel, if any. I spent some time deciding whether to build some A-1 or F-14 looking cockpit, or a more '70 accurate cheesetastic affair. After seeing the Jedi cockpit, I went with that, so I guess I split the difference...
When I first was designing the cockpit interiors for both the two-seat and four -seat (QUAD) cockpit interiors, I did use canon photos and screen shots of the two-seat cockpit (that I got from other people), but I used the cockpit interior from the A-6 Prowler for the basis of the four-seat (QUAD) cockpit interior.
Ravell-fan though, was able to find accurate screen shots of the four seat-seat cockpit interior for the QUAD fighter and we used that instead.

Ravell-fan and I are trying to keep it as close to canon as possible.

Like I said, you are doing a fantastic job and the Jedi Fighter Cockpit interior does look good and compliments the fighter quite well.
 
Z

Zathros

I have a 1/18 scale Jaguar XKE Model that would look nice parked next to that!
 

ASC Mclaren

Well-Known Member
Rhaven, you are right, canon is king.... and I'm thinking....
Kjev, I started collecting 1:18 die cast cars in the '80s, and I have some armor and aircraft (including a F-14) in 1:18. A UH-60 is due out very soon! But the reason I choose 1:18 is that it matches all of the figures that I had as a child :)

I built some the other night:
 

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ASC Mclaren

Well-Known Member
Zanthros, I have an F-104 pilot that would look great in a Jag XKE. Right now he's kicked back dropping quarters and waiting for a Thunderfighter
 

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Rhaven Blaack

!!!THE MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN!!!
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Everything is looking GREAT so far. BTW, if you deside to build another Thnder Fighter at this size again, go to Kinko's and have them print everything out for you on larger paper and that way you do not have to piece together the parts that were cut in half.
I like the pilot kicking back and dropping quarter.
I am going to be rebuilding two of my Thunder Fighters soon. When I do, I will be adding more detail to the engine exhausts, as well as some of the panelling.
I will show the detail in a build thread, of course.

Keep up the GREAT work. I look forward to seeing how it turns out.
 

Kjev

Active Member
So (slightly off topic), 1:18 is roughly the scale of 3 1/2 inch action figures (like GI Joe and Star Wars guys?)
 

Tirick

Member
They are a bit closer to 1:20, but yes, essentially. Great build, BTW, I never had one of these as a kid either, but they were awesome.
 

Rhaven Blaack

!!!THE MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN!!!
Staff member
Administrator
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They are a bit closer to 1:20, but yes, essentially. Great build, BTW, I never had one of these as a kid either, but they were awesome.
Welcome to the club my freind, that is one of the many reasons why I got into paper modeling, so that way I could have models like this.
 

ASC Mclaren

Well-Known Member
I did a bit more building yesterday. I tried out the Uhu and Zip Dry glues. They are different enough from white glue that I need to mess around with 'em some more. Anyway:
 

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Revell-Fan

Co-Administrator
Staff member
Administrator
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I am quite impressed and amazed with the size of this build. You are doing a fantastic job.
I like how you Incorporated the Jedi fighter cockpit interior with this model. It does work well. It gives it a more "UPDATED" look.

Right now Revell-fan is finalizing the design for the cockpit interiors for the Thunder Fighter and will be sending them to Martin Seanger for approval and release.

I will be following this thread carefully.

Right! Great work! I'm looking forward to seeing the finished model! Keep it up! :wave:
 
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