bad edd Posted January 14, 2008 Share Posted January 14, 2008 I just got my greedy hands on what i consider to be the best looking jet of all times...the Cheetah! Initially the short run from High Planes scared me, but a closer look revealed the excellent cast plastic parts and the multitude of goodies nicely packed in different bags. The box...doesn't say much. I photographed the plastic sprues from an angle, to better show the excellent engravings: Some resin goodies complete the model : the cockpit, front wheel tub, the air intakes , engine exhaust and the main wheels (a bit skinny) The cheetah used a MB.6 bang seat, i found two of them in another bag: A Mirage III generic PE sheet provides a lot of details, and there's also a little one for the flare dispensers: The landing gear legs are provided in white metal, also the Pitot tube and other small details: They look OK, but i think i'll use a plastic front leg, from a Kfir. Two vacuformed canopies are provided, a very good idea...in case i don't ruin one...i'll use the second for a Kfir CE conversion: The decal is excellent: Overall this is a superb multimedia short run kit, the only weak points would be the white metal parts and the so-so instruction sheets. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bad edd Posted January 14, 2008 Author Share Posted January 14, 2008 On to the construction: To my amasement, once cleaned and thinned, the wings and fin fit almost perfectly to the fuselage...i wasn't expecting this...almost no putty at all!!! The cockpit and front wheel tub went ok: The intakes were put, on the underside the fit was not so good: Some photoetched parts: I glued the canards and the ventral fin/fueltank/flares dispenser: That's it for today...tomorrow i'll be busy repairing the underside intakes area. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Quiddy Posted January 14, 2008 Share Posted January 14, 2008 Looks good. There was a lot of flash to get rid of. Good work. Wayne Beattie Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JackMan Posted January 15, 2008 Share Posted January 15, 2008 Wow! I love this! Please post more of your step-by-step construction pics + commentaries/opinions as I find them very useful. I have the High Planes Cheetah D & Cheetah C "Spotty" and I've always been afraid to touch it....becos of all that flash. Maybe I'll get inspired by your work Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Laurent Posted January 15, 2008 Share Posted January 15, 2008 (edited) Cool ! A High Planes build finally ! I've started building the same kit but it was older (no resin intakes, one vacu canopy, etc). The buid was put on pause mode because I lost the landing gear parts but I've found them back. As Bad Edd says the kit is buildable once that the inside of the wing parts have been thoroughly sanded (as the leading/trailing edges and wheel wells are way too thick). Edited January 15, 2008 by Laurent Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dragan_mig31 Posted January 15, 2008 Share Posted January 15, 2008 wow this is great cant wait to see this painted Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bad edd Posted January 15, 2008 Author Share Posted January 15, 2008 I worked a little more on the cheetah, improvised a front landing gear leg: I used the upper part of the kit with the lower part of an old Mirage IIIe from Frog. I scratcbuilt some air intakes on the underside: Sprayed a little Mr.Surfacer to better see the faults and carefully cut the vacuformed canopy. It fits quite nicely: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mmaker Posted January 15, 2008 Share Posted January 15, 2008 Looks great!!! Cant wait to see that beauty painted! :D Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rjwood_uk Posted January 15, 2008 Share Posted January 15, 2008 nice build so far!!! where can i get one of these kits from? i had never heard of high planes before. i love those little short run multi-media type kits! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mmaker Posted January 16, 2008 Share Posted January 16, 2008 nice build so far!!!where can i get one of these kits from? i had never heard of high planes before. i love those little short run multi-media type kits! Check for High Planes in http://www.aviationmegastore.com/?shopid=L...tion=adv_search Quote Link to post Share on other sites
regevmo Posted January 16, 2008 Share Posted January 16, 2008 (edited) Good work on such a beautiful aircraft Edited January 16, 2008 by regevmo Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Laurent Posted January 16, 2008 Share Posted January 16, 2008 Check for High Planes in http://www.aviationmegastore.com/?shopid=L...tion=adv_search Ordering directly from HPM may be cheaper: http://www.hiplanes.dragnet.com.au/new/hip..._pricelist.html 1 AUD = 0.45 GBP = 0.6 EUR Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bad edd Posted January 16, 2008 Author Share Posted January 16, 2008 I gave Cheetah the chair: I made a rig out of two toothpicks in order to do the ejection rings. The result: And the seats completed. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Laurent Posted January 16, 2008 Share Posted January 16, 2008 Where will the other four seats go into ? Two Cheetah Ds ? :blink: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bad edd Posted January 16, 2008 Author Share Posted January 16, 2008 "Where will the other four seats go into ? Two Cheetah Ds ?" No, i don't have the D... i painted them just in case :blink:) I have two boxes full of unbuilt Mirages III , V and F1... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Aggressor Supporter Posted January 16, 2008 Share Posted January 16, 2008 Looking good there. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mmaker Posted January 16, 2008 Share Posted January 16, 2008 Great idea that with the toothpicks! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Thommo Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 (edited) Very interesting build. I've done the High Planes Wackett (1/72) & Boomerang (1/48) in fact my Avatar is the Boomerang - they sure look rough as guts when you first open the box don't they <_< You cleaned yours up to fit well much better than i did - i used heaps of putty Edited January 17, 2008 by Thommo Quote Link to post Share on other sites
graham Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 Great looking Cheetah. I have an almost complete High Planes Mirage IIIO with the Reece Nose in RAAF colours ( just moved house before comleting it; still unpacking boxes) and also a 'Spotty' ready to build once I have full faith in the airbrush for the paint scheme. Sure, the High Planes kits are not shake and bake, but they are very detailed, accurate in shape and with a little effort build into great kits. Too bad I am moving away from 1/72 otherwise I would get more of them. Plus they are an Australian company so nothing like supporting locals!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Maxtype Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 That is a nice looking jet! The engraved detail is spectacular,I'd get one if it was 48th scale....... :) -Dave Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ChernayaAkula Posted January 18, 2008 Share Posted January 18, 2008 Very nice build! The Cheetahs sure are good-lookin'. But then again, what Mirage or Mirage-offspring isn't? <...> I have two boxes full of unbuilt Mirages III , V and F1... You're the man! The only thing better than a single Mirage is lots of 'em! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sabre Freak Posted January 18, 2008 Share Posted January 18, 2008 Nice trick for the ejection seat handles! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jwest21 Posted January 18, 2008 Share Posted January 18, 2008 nice work. I ordered the Spinners 48th scale conversion and now I cannot wait until it shows up Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dakleton Posted January 20, 2008 Share Posted January 20, 2008 nice work. I ordered the Spinners 48th scale conversion and now I cannot wait until it shows up I met John of Spinners last week in Cape Town. He has some amazing converison kits... and the quality is excellent. Where did you order your kit from? (If you don't mind me asking) On topic: I have most of the Spinners conversions in 1/72 and two High Planes Cheetahs. I will definatly be watching this thread. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jwest21 Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 I met John of Spinners last week in Cape Town. He has some amazing converison kits... and the quality is excellent. Where did you order your kit from? (If you don't mind me asking) On topic: I have most of the Spinners conversions in 1/72 and two High Planes Cheetahs. I will definatly be watching this thread. The Aviation Megastore. They have 2 left of each the D and the C Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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