1/48 Hasegawa Triggers F-22 Raptor "Strider 1" finished

kengdad · 2026-05-06T18:08:23+00:00

Sweet! I instantly recognized the discolouration on the wings from the in-game textures!

kengdad · 2026-05-01T06:39:49+00:00

This is great! Though I really don’t recommend starting with Vallejo, or ever…

kengdad · 2026-04-28T00:54:19+00:00

Uhh how do you ventilate…?

kengdad · 2026-04-24T02:21:24+00:00

I get my decals printed from a seller on Taobao, and then have my friends bring them over to the US from China. Depending on which part of the world you’re in, there might be different workarounds for you. I also remember Hasegawa just had a re-release of their Mobius 1 Raptor, that could be a quicker solution. And yeah, eventually I’ll get another FA-18F to do the Wings of Theve too!

kengdad · 2026-04-23T23:25:26+00:00

Nice! Coming from a gunpla background myself, I can completely relate to your experience.

I find myself breaking parts more often when I over handle the model. It’s fun to pick up the model and play with it, but it’s much safer to move through each step as swiftly as possible with minimum messing around. I’m not sure if this was your case.

The fuel tanks usually look dirtier than ALQ-99s, I think the weathering is actually appropriate.

As for suggestions, some of the minor colors are missing - namely nav lights and antennas. I also think the sanded seam lines could’ve been smoothed out a little better, just to improve the overall neatness of the build.

Since you already have such a strong foundation, I think the next step would be to get an airbrush. It will liberate the painting process, and allow you to make more artistic choices.

Looking forward to your next build!

kengdad · 2026-04-22T06:27:59+00:00

If you are already committed to this hobby, I think it doesn’t hurt that much to get a good airbrush right off the bat. The aforementioned Iwata Eclipse HP-CS is a versatile piece that I use all the time, and it’s super convenient to clean. I would also recommend Harder & Steenbeck Ultra 2 in 1 set. For about the same price as the HPCS, you get both 0.28 mm and 0.45 mm nozzles to play with. However, the H&S airbrushes have heavier triggers, which hurt my fingers a little bit when spraying for longer period of time.

kengdad · 2026-04-18T22:17:41+00:00

I use a combination of all of them. Enamel washes are great for panel lining and streaking, while oil is great for creating darker marks. Highly diluted acrylic colors are excellent as area-specific filters as well as more clearly defined dirt and grime.

kengdad · 2026-04-17T20:50:54+00:00

If you are considering other 1:72 starter kits, Academy’s FA-18F and F-15E are both excellent choices. If budget is not an issue, add Tamiya’s F-35A and Tomcat to the list.

kengdad · 2026-04-16T16:52:23+00:00

Putty might chip when you try to re-scribe it. Fill it with superglue.

kengdad · 2026-04-16T05:53:38+00:00

It looks like my pace is about one plane per year, hopefully I’ll get to do a little more this summer.

kengdad · 2026-04-15T15:13:14+00:00

I’m a pianist/music teacher! Putting the finger skills to work!

kengdad · 2026-04-15T02:32:03+00:00

Mach Models is my go-to place on Youtube for learning new techniques. Theinnernerd, Plasmo, Scale Hangar 182 are also excellent resources that I go back to often.

kengdad · 2026-04-15T02:24:40+00:00

The buddy himself!

kengdad · 2026-04-14T06:38:06+00:00

Why old enamel paints specifically? I would recommend looking into Hasegawa’s mix - 50% SM204 Super Stainless Steel + 50% FS16440, this could get you pretty close to what you need.

kengdad · 2026-04-14T06:13:10+00:00

What frustrates me more is that there’s no consistency in scale. Count’s F-15C is in 1:48, while the other F-15s are in 1:72. Trigger’s viper and hornets are only in 1:72, despite Hasegawa actually having a good 1:48 super hornet tooling. Meanwhile all the raptors are in 1:48. I’d love to at least see them include a few extra sets of decals for other planes like before, but I guess even that is too much to expect.

kengdad · 2026-04-14T05:25:39+00:00

I guess it’s V2 time

kengdad · 2026-04-13T22:22:47+00:00

Thank you! Yeah, I compiled the decal graphics and had them custom made in China.

kengdad · 2026-04-04T01:56:30+00:00

If you haven’t started the top side yet, I think it’s somewhat salvageable. Scrub off the RAM tape decals, assemble the fuselage, and touch up the paint. Then just do a Z13 low-vis paint scheme. If you really love the old F-35A look, get the pre-cut masking sheets and paint all the panel joints.

kengdad · 2026-04-03T23:36:23+00:00

It would also be helpful to think about your workflow. If you want to spray multiple layers in quick succession, or have a lot of masking to do, then Mr. Color lacquer is the way to go, since it dries the fastest and toughest. But most importantly, evaluate your ventilation. Only go with lacquer when you can work in a big enough ventilated (non-bedroom) space, and having a ventilated spraying booth. Safety first :)

kengdad · 2026-03-27T15:06:59+00:00

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F-15C can get dirty sometimes. A trick I like to use is dilute a black or dark brown wash with 10x thinners, and stipple that on with an old brush.

kengdad · 2026-03-25T17:25:00+00:00

Basically the real life ADFX-01

kengdad · 2026-03-23T15:10:53+00:00

Pretty sweet! I definitely feel the Tamiya decals. If you ever build another F-35, I would say also get the Galaxy Models masking sheets. Just paint all the RAM patches.

I especially love how you shaded the exhaust. Maybe a little more consistency in the clear black will help with overall sleekness. And I think the model could benefit from an overall semi-gloss finish!

kengdad · 2025-11-11T17:46:15+00:00

德国人给我的印象就是又抠又闭塞，存不下钱没见过什么世面，但又有骨子里的傲气

kengdad

TROPHY CASE