Hi guys,
I’m currently working on Academy’s 1/48 MIg 29 UB FULCRUM. I’m thinking of replacing the round potrusion (lens cover for flir) and replacing it with a clear sphere, I was thinking of a plastic or glass bead with the same dimension. Any ideas, suggestions, tips??
Thanks for you help!
Manny Prego
I’m not sure what you’re trying to accomplish, but a FLIR system does not have any see through lens or windows. The lens the USAF used were a gerainimum crystal (sp?) I believe, that allowed the IR energy to pass. Otherwise the standard glass used for television type systems would be like a solid wall due the it being all one temperture. If you go the crystal route., I believe the ones I worked with and saw were gold in color. Hope this helps.
Don[alien]
Try a chrome or gold color bead of the appropriate size. I remember the IR sensor
on the F-102 (Shoehorn) was silver with an oily looking sheen to it.
Ray
Yeah, I’ve noticed on these IR seekers – that Soviet one looks like it belongs on an F-101B from the early 60s. But those spherical lenses look like the color of some vacuum tubes. They look glossy black from a distance, but up close they are…hard to describe. It’s like a metalized glass, that reflects a sort of rainbow sheen, like something that came out of the back of an old TV set. I once got almost close to the effect on my F-101B by using a small blister from, I think, an old 1/144th B-29 or B-25. I painted it from the inside using gloss black, a touch of gold and a smidgen of brown. When it’s installed, carefully buff in clear plastic exterior. Now, can somebody educate me: were these built-in seekers slaved to the early Sidewinder heads? Or did they scan for “hot” targets? In other words, did you go to this instrument after you saw the target, or was it used to find targets. The latter sounds unlikely, given the short range of IR weapons technology then, and, to a degree, now.
Thanks!!
Everyone…very, very helpful.
Regards,
Manny