Galactic Empire SHOCKWAVE
 

Not really, it's of course the Elite Aerosports Shockwave.

Thought I'd post a few pics of my Shockwave make-over. There are some really good build threads on here already so this won't be a build thread.

In the summer I picked up a new Shockwave kit from EA in scheme #33.
http://www.eliteaerosports.com/wp-co...33-001-001.jpg

Over the next few months I sanded down the original paint, primed and painted it's new scheme. Inspiration came from the bargain bin at Target when I randomly came across a Star Wars TIE fighter pilot. I really like the color combo of the CARF Mclaren scheme found on a few of their sport jets so that was the color pallet.

Big thanks to Elite Aerosports for the support before and more importantly after the sale. The quality of the components that come with this kit are high quality and frankly often overlooked. When you add them into the package price you really see the value.

The paint is PPG shop grade base and clear, and I went with a final matte finish to be a little different. Hopefully it won't be too challenging to maintain over time.

Power won't come from Twin Ion Engines (where the TIE acronym comes from) but rather a Kingtech K210.

I will post some pics of the install once that is complete, but for the meantime here are a few pics with color on. I can post some pics of how it got to this point if guys feel that would be of interest.

Nice! What is the bottom like?

Thanks Dave. I forgot to take a photo of the bottom yesterday when I had it assembled. Here is a picture during painting. The bottom is completely orange with the exception of the Imperial logo in the location where the traditional Shockwave bullseye is.

Very nice Sean!!!

Nice, however atmosferic imperial pilots (groundhogs) use a slightly different gear.. yours use a space suit and helmet (vacheads). Even so your shockwave looks great!

That's friggin awesome! I really dig it.

Great original scheme.

Very nice. Is it Deltron? And what was it like to put on the matte? I have used flexed and flat (2060) but I think you used something different?

Quality. Good contrast, well worth the effort. Winner!

And did you really sand the paint off? Nightmare

Curious, was the airframe not available in white?

edit, nope, not available in all white....

Man coolest sport jet paint job ever!!! Nice!

WAY COOL! I Love it.

Thanks Matt. No, it's not Deltron this time. I decided to try PPG's shop line and quite honestly I think it sprayed just as nice as Deltron from about a third of the price. I used 620 acrylic urethane clear with 6265 fast hardener. in the base coat I used JR505 fast reducer. All from the shop line.
I sanded all the clear to remove the orange peel and level it over all the paint transitions (a smooth result that I really like about base coat / clear coat systems). This was to about 1000 grit. Then I used eastwood 2k matte clear for a light even coat over the top. then some sealer and that's where i'm at.
Hope that answers your curiosity?


No I really didn't sand it all off. I sanded the whole airframe yes, but only about 320 grit. The areas I really focused on were the paint transitions. even though it's painted in the mold, you can still feel a very slight change. I spent a lot of time at this stage because I didn't want any evidence of the old scheme showing through later. Some sanding, then priming and sanding and it was on to color.
Sanding also gave me the chance to clean up any seams and a few other small blemishes.

I think it may be as a special order. Yes it would have saved some time, but it still would have needed some bodywork. I think when you decide to repaint something you expect there will be some extra elbow grease required.

I should make it pretty clear that as stock this airframe is pretty nice. It took some counseling after I started sanding it to keep my sanity and not second guess my decision.

Here are a few pre paint pics.
I also cleaned up the seams on the tanks as I wanted a horizontal color change, not vertical. Also filled in the molded panel lines to smooth them out.

Close up of the smoothed out tanks.

Yes thanks. I really cannot get DBC (deltron) at all anymore here in California. I used some HOK I had laying around since 2000.

I tried once leveling off the mask lines. I did a calculation, and to do it on my new bandit would have added 1-2 pounds of clear. So you seal over the matte clear, I did not know that? I really like the look of the matte clear, I was really thinking about it on my new plane but I got scared.

Maybe when I paint my new FAA drone registration number on I will re-clear it :-(

Awesome paint work!

This jet is basically the same size as an Ultea Bandit.... Correct?

Hi Sean, it looks really cool. I want one.

Now I know why you and Kirk get along well. Both of you love stripping the painted arfs!:)

Behzad

hi
nice plane.
you also have a bvm rafale right?
I have one too brand new and needed some help. Live in wayne right next to you. I'll pm you

Sean,

I love the new paint and your skills are off the hook!! Keep up the good work and keep posting your projects, its always a pleasure to see talent hard at work.

Dirk

Bad azz scheme Sean.

Behzad, you should try "stripping" an arf sometime. You get to know all of those curves before you redress it :D

Kirk

Appreciate it if you could give more details and pics if possible of the little silver buttons you are using for the hatch release buttons on the canopy.

I've looked and can't seem to find anything similar.

Thanks!

Sean is using the Seacraft canopy latch:

http://www.dreamworksrc.com/catalog/...anopy-Lock-Red

Kirk

Thanks Jethead for checking the thread. Kirk is correct, that is what I used, minus the flange plate it comes with. Took some effort to get it lined up and working well, but now it's working well and makes taking the canopy on and off really simple.

here are a few pics of the shockwave in the sun this morning. Equipment install is going smoothly.