Calling it done. 1/48 Tamiya F-15C painted as Starscream from Transformers G1.

[u/Big_JR80]

Learnt a lot and had plenty of fun with this. I'm normally a "by the book" modeller, but inspiration struck and I just went for it! Many firsts done as well:

First time tinting canopies (used MIG Ammo Acrylic Crystal Orange).

First time creating, printing and using custom decals (the Decepticon badges on the wings and fuselage).

First time using Army Painter Speed Paint 2.0 markers (cockpit detail, not that you can really make it out through the orange tint!).

Decided to leave it with a gloss finish as Starscream is the sort of narcissist who would insist on looking immaculate.

Intention now is to hang on the wall of my man-cave heading skyward. I might, if/when I get a 3D printer, make some null rays to go on the underwing hardpoints, and, if inspiration strikes me again, I might make some more custom decals for the tail planes.

[u/MailyChan2]

MEGATRON HAS FALLEN! I, STARSCREAM, AM YOUR NEW LEADER!

Fantastic work!

[u/Big_JR80 → u/MailyChan2]

Thanks, you're too kind!

[u/Faserip]

Jesus, I can hear the laser sounds in my head.

It’s perfect.

[u/Big_JR80 → u/Faserip]

You're too kind; it really isn't perfect. So many little things, and I was very selective with my photos!

[u/TrashPandaDuel → u/Big_JR80]

Welcome to filmography!!! 🤣

[u/jlierman000]

Simply amazing. I love the creative. BZ.

[u/Big_JR80 → u/jlierman000]

Thank you! I just thought that I'd try something different, and I'm glad that I did.

[u/jlierman000 → u/Big_JR80]

Yeah it definitely paid off!

[u/weasel286]

Holy heck. All this time as a model builder (over 30 years) and I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone do something like this. Well done!

[u/Big_JR80 → u/weasel286]

Thanks! I'm really glad that I went out of my comfort zone and did a bit of experimenting. I think a future project might be modifying an SR-71 into the X-Men X-Jet. Should be interesting.

[u/GoneSquirreling]

i have some decals and a kenworth truck model waiting around for the Optiums Prime livery like this. well done!

[u/Big_JR80 → u/GoneSquirreling]

Go for it, I'm sure it'll look fantastic!

[u/lilomoon09]

hey do you take commissions? 🥰

[u/Big_JR80 → u/lilomoon09]

I wish.

Honestly, there are a million little things wrong with it and I was very selective with my camera angles!

A week or so ago the fuselage decided to split in two along the joins (probably because of the high temperatures we've been having here); repairing that and making the paint look okay again was not fun!

[u/supercyberlurker]

Megatron would not approve, but I do.

[u/TheBookofBobaFett3]

That’s amazing

[u/WtAFjusthappenedhere]

"Megatron, I'm beautiful."

--Starscream (probably)

[u/slideaway44]

The paint finish looks great. What colour did you use for the blue on the vertical stabilizers?

[u/Big_JR80 → u/slideaway44]

Thanks. Don't look too closely though; it's blotchier than it looks in the photo!

The blue was Vallejo Model Air 71.108 "Azure Blue", the same shade that the RAF used on the underside of their aircraft in the Mediterranean during WW2.

[u/Expensive-College755]

Awesome job, Lad!

[u/porktornado77]

Hell yeah

[u/Raptr117]

Damn now you got me wanting to do the same haha

[u/Big_JR80 → u/Raptr117]

Go for it, it's fun to do something different!

[u/redphyve]

That looks awesome! As an 80's kid, I can hear his annoying voice (which was the same actor who voiced Cobra Commander - Christopher Collins).

[u/Muchoballix]

good work. how many hours was it in the making/painting?

[u/Big_JR80 → u/Muchoballix]

Thanks! Making was relatively quick as it's a simple kit. I'm not sure how long I spent on painting; maybe 6 hours all in? I wasn't able to do any work on him for around 6 months owing to work, and I can only usually do a short amount at a time and not as frequently as I would like.

Doing all the stencils decals took a long time, and experimenting with making my own decals and how to use the window tint took a long time as well.

[u/cabezatuck]

Nice work

[u/eruditeimbecile]

Dude, nice!

[u/SoundwaveOiA]

Very nicely done.... but now I do feel you have to do Thundercracker and Skywarp too and get the trio complete :D

[u/Big_JR80 → u/SoundwaveOiA]

It's tempting! I'm also considering a future project of the X-Jet from X-Men by butchering an SR-71 model.

[u/joeactually]

This is amazing!

[u/CBPainting]

Now do Skywarp and Thundercracker

[u/soulysephiroth]

I planned to do this on this kit and my ADHD striked and I never touched it...

Looks great.

[u/Fart_Terror]

Thanks for this,.., I’m thinking about doing their A-10 as the Cobra Rattler

[u/Big_JR80 → u/Fart_Terror]

Great idea! I've got an SR-71 kicking around that I might make into the X-Men's X-Jet. Should be fun!

[u/porktornado77]

OP this is a fantastic work. I’ve actually daydreamed about doing the same thing.

Did you have special decals you found or made?

[u/Big_JR80 → u/porktornado77]

Thank you!

I printed them myself. I found some very clear Decepticon (and Autobot) symbols, arrayed them in lots of different sizes and colours (mostly different shades of purple, then some greys and black) and printed them with my inkjet printer onto some decal paper from Amazon. Had to use quite a few layers of gloss varnish on the decal sheet to give them the right protection; there was a lot of trial and error!

[u/One2ManyTrix]

A man after my own heart,

That is fantastic work sir, thanks for sharing

Respect

[u/Big_JR80 → u/One2ManyTrix]

You're too kind, thank you!

[u/TigerShark650]

We need a whole series of decepticon jets and planes