bughunter Author
Because I have to wait for the A-10 due to circumstances beyond my control, I started thinking about a new project. After all the black on the Blacksnake, I needed something colorful as a counterpoint, and there was this brand-new kit sitting there. I took a look inside the box, but that wasn't the end of it...

Wolfpack has released a beautiful limited edition of the Golden Eagle prototype based on the Academy T-50 kit, supplemented with masks, decals, a small brass photo-etched parts plate, a brass-turned sensor holder, and two small 3D-printed antennas.

A new, attractive instruction booklet, which is based on Academy's drawings but has been supplemented with small color photos of details from the original and is printed in high quality.
Speaking of photos: Does anyone know of any detailed photos, especially of the landing gear and wheel bays? Unfortunately, there isn't much to be found online 🙁

This could turn out to be a jet with a different metallic finish than usual (I have three shades of gold ready to go). I'm looking forward to this project!

Perhaps some of you would like to look over my shoulder again?

Ben M
What an interesting prototype.

Christoph Kunz
OK, I will take a look too.

bughunter Author
Welcome mates!
Ben, the kit was released often from different brands (see the timeline), but often in the usual grays. This gold caught my interest!

Bernhard Schrock
I see it, but I don't really believe it yet: bughunter builds another jet! Of course I'm there, especially since I've built exactly the same type. Looking forward to a next top model.🙂

Kesa Tiho
Another day another model it seems. Can't wait for the result seeing as it already looks good

bughunter Author
Welcome Bernhard and Kesa!
Bernhard, is your build here online? I have not found it. Any hint about the kit? I found one little bug already with dry fitting.

Bernhard Schrock
bughunter: See here.
Rokaf T-50B Black Eagles - complete | Album by Yellowwing (1:48)
Curiously, I had not created a project, only an album that I hardly found myself again. 🙂 I have now adjusted everything.
It's been twelve years, I can't remember how it fit. I can only remember that I was amazed at how well the large-scale decals could be processed.

bughunter Author
Danke 👍 Yes, I checked only your projects.

bughunter Author
I completed a not that easy task: the complex pitot pipe for the nose of the Golden Eagle.
It consists of a turned and milled brass rod and five PE parts. For more robustness I decided to solder them. It is not easy as the flags are very close to each other.
After breaking off another flag while cleaning up, I was about to drill holes and solder wires! But a second try works.

bughunter Author
A little jump to the other end of this bird - the nozzle is done.

BAT21
That's an impressively painted thrust nozzle.

Robert Podkoński
A little late, but taking my seat here 😉

bughunter Author
Welcome mates!
For the nozzle I used white MRP primer inside (I have made good experience with this especially on resin) and painted with a MRP linen paint, because it looks like the original photo. Oil paints on top. Inside masked and primed black outside, eXtreme Titanium, masked and painted with different eXtrme metals and Alclad paints in thin layers.

Alec K
Late as well, taking a seat.

bughunter Author
Nice to see you here Alec!

gorby
Even with you reminding me I'm still late to the show. I'll have to sit a few rows back. 😄

bughunter Author
Welcome on board gorby! Here we have enough space for all visitors 🙂

bughunter Author
Another first for me: sanding seamless intakes. My other jets provides round parts in the kit. It takes time, but with putty, and a primer/sanding loop it is possible.
I didn't want to take the easy route, like the guy on YouTube who closes one end, pours in white wall paint, and lets it run out again.

bughunter Author
I have implemented a solution that will optionally allow a pylon and a tank to be attached under the fuselage at a later date.
The tank was also acting as paint mule, as the manual say to use C173 "Fluorescent Orange", which is totally wrong in my eyes for the stripes and the tank. According to all the pictures and the color drawings in the kit manual it should be a bright red with a orange touch.
Mr Paint has not only great paints but also a good customer support. So I ordered MRP-002 and I'm very happy how it looks. I hope my photos do justice to the color.

Alec K
Agree, the red looks better ( y )

Guy Rump
Looking great, following. 👍

Maciej Bellos
Following. Great work on the seats, the intakes, the exhaust, well, everywhere!

bughunter Author
Thank you very much mates and welcome here!

bughunter Author
Today I experimented with four golden paint shades I have now in my stash.
AK Xtreme really needs a black base. Black is also helpful for the others. I have to prime the model in white because of the white and red parts.

Also on different photos of the real one the gold looks different. It would be nice to get this shade:
media.net-maquettes...Golden-Eagle-01.webp
media.net-maquettes...Golden-Eagle-09.webp

I will check tomorrow again in daylight, but I tend to use Alclad. It is also the best to work with, good coverage with less coats.
The eagle decal is a different story ...
EDIT: Gunze has also C9 and MC217, and I found MC217 in my stash too. Was not aware it this, but it is a polishing paint. So there is the risk to wish the metal pigments over the other paints, so I should avoid this type.

Bernhard Schrock
Moin moin. You are right: MC 217 is a buffing product but mixed with clear varnish f..e. sealer of Testors produced a very fine result. II use this product exclusively for gold, for years. For example, for this Gloster racer.
Gloster VI | Project by Yellowwing (1:48)

Stephan Fässler
Well off into a new project my friend, looking 👀 golden

Alexander
Taking a seat too for this interesting subject! 👍

bughunter Author
Welcome mates, thank you!
Bernhard, regardless of the fact that I needed to try out a clear coat that worked, I also sprayed MC217 onto the wing. But I don't like the color for _this_ project, as it has a very reddish tint (I know there is a term "Red Gold"). It's hard to describe.

Interestingly the Wolfpack manual recommends Gunze C9 or better MT315 Super Gold. IPP comes from South Korea. I never heard of it and only found it here (but not available and no airmail allowed due to lacquer):
hobbyeasy.com/en/dat..a76rfmoxigoegn4.html

Now in daylight I would say Alclad or Gunze SM202 are the best match.

Guido
Grabbing a seat for inspiration 😉

Dave
Not sure if helps any. But after looking at photo of real aircraft. I might have chosen tamiya titanium gold. Which has a hint of yellow and brown in it. Used it on my miller high life race car build. Sprayed over a white background.

Ludvík Kružík
A new project and... another jet plane. Looks like I arrived just in time. 🙂

bughunter Author
Thank you for your recommendation Dave! I found your car build, but it looks a bit pale or faint? May be this is related to the pictures, but I found also more photos with Google for this paint and that looks in same direction. It also depends which photo of the original you use for comparison as the paint depends heavily on light.
Welcome Ludvík!

Dave
No worries, still taking a seat and watching this build.

bughunter Author
One question mates, especially on the jet experts:
Are there any resin wheels?
There is a set in the database: T-50 weighted wheels (Royale Resin R115, 1:48) but that brand is out of business. As some parts seems to be common with F-16 or other jets, may be some other wheels fits here?

Alec K
Can't help here unfortunately, but very nice progress 👍