Kitbashed Space Fighter

Madhatter · December 1, 2023

Greetings everyone,

Well, for the first time ever, I have actually completed a scratch built / kit-bashed subject of my own. Yep, I can now finally say that I have made a subject completely of my own imagination – as limited as it is.

This was not a years in the making thing either – it happened pretty quickly. A few weeks back, I saw a YT video on the X-47B UCAV and I thought – that’d be a cool space fighter. So I bought the 1/72 Italeri kit for cheap and as soon as it arrived, out came the styrene, glue and knife.

I stole 2 engines from an unfinished Venator, the tail fins and canards from a 72^nd SU-33, the front cowlings from an X-Wing, replaced the missiles with canons from my old BSG Viper, and added some details to the weapons bay (just a few wires and some odds and ends). The cockpit glazing is from a Japanese ferry kit I bought donkeys ago and it seemed perfect for the job.

I threw in some LEDs into the wing engines easy as. The rear part was a tad more tricky. I had to make a small light box behind the rear of the exhaust bit and cut out the rear wall. I used some PE radiator panelling from a Lamborghini Aventador set that I happened to have left over. It was glued onto the face of some sanded clear plastic sheet and Bob’s your Uncle. However, even though I have a nicely diffused engine, the PE panel had slipped down slightly without me noticing. I can live with it as you can’t really see it anyways.

As for the colour scheme, it’s a nod to the US Space Shuttles – no other reason than I think it looks cool.

That’s it really – nothing else to tell. Very simple concept and execution but I am happy with it. I’d be happy to hear your thoughts on it. I am very open to constructive critique.