This is a test

Great start!  I envy your neat work area Mike.

Gary

Howdy Mike,

Test received loud and clear. I use Photobucket as my image hosting site too, and it has been good to me.

Keep those pictures coming!

Best, Marty

Gary and Marty,

I'm glad the "test" worked.

I'll be going very, very slowly on this build - mostly because I have medical issues to address for the next couple months but also because my skills regarding painting, weathering, decaling are sorely lacking and I'll probably screw up lots of things along the way. Just in case this F3F-1 turns out to be a "practice" model , I've an F3F-2 also by Accurate Miniatures waiting in the wings of my stash . So, don't expect pictures in the next few weeks.

Gary,

Although my "work" area may look organized, it's very small. The wide angle of my zoom lens just made it look bigger than it actually is.

Posting pictures on this forum is rather intimidating considering the outstanding aircraft model images I've seen posted on this site but, what the heck, my pictures may give viewers a clearer view of the difference between a novice and an accomplished aircraft modeler .

Mike

Welcome back to the hobby, Mike!

I have just recently retired and hope to actually scratch on some plastic soon.  I now work for the wife's Home Improvement Co. full time!  

Mike,

I know what you mean about intimidation when looking at all of the wonderful work that goes on here. I was petrified early on to post anything up lest my best work be skewered as unworthy.  The guys (and gals) here are VERY supportive.  We were all beginners once, and most of us remember that and work to encourage those who are new, or newly returning. We've got a lot more in common than differences.

My method is to have a goal for the build: In this one, I want to learn to weather, or how to fill seams. In my latest, I'm using PE and masks instead of decals for the first time.

One of my goals a few years ago was to end up with a model that looked better than the photo of a completed model on the cover of the box. I'd like to believe I was successful, but I've never asked anyone for an unbiased opinion. (Disclaimer: the kit was Heller from the 80's ?? and what was state of the art then can't compare with today).

Keep on building!

Here's an update.

I'm debating about whether or not to throw this model in the trash when I'm finished but I think I'll keep it just to remind me of where I was when I got back into trying to build plastic aircraft.

My goal, as differentiated from others' more demanding goals for themselves, is to just complete the kit and then figure out which of my skill sets is A) lacking, B) needs improvement, or C) give up the hobby. I'm going to rule out "C" simply because, at some points along the building process it relaxes me, at other points it infuriates me, but it does pass the time (during gloomy Oregon winters) with a reasonable measure of pleasure .

I've already broken the landing gear arm on one side and, fortunately, found some parts on eBay (sprues "A" and "C" for $1.00 + $3.00 shipping ) which have saved the day - for now. I had to do a LOT of delicate repositioning, filing and sanding to get the landing gear arms to fit properly. They may not fit perfectly correctly as they sit but they're good enough for me right now.

Attaching decals has made me concentrate more than I remember doing in graduate school! I'm essentially a lazy guy and it's good for me to attempt delicate tasks from time-to-time that require some measure of concentration and patience. Maybe after about a dozen more aircraft models from my stash under my belt I'll begin to develop a reasonable technique for applying decals - maybe.

I can see dozens of mistakes and areas that should have been worked on further (and better) when viewing the photos I took of this model as it stands now. Live and learn .

At any rate, here's where I am just now for your viewing amusement.

Mike

Mike, everything looks good to me. The cockpit looks great. Good job on the yellow wing. That's a very hard paint color to do well. I'm doing my first BMF finish now and it doesn't look as good as yours. Guess I'll have to strip it off and try again.

Keep up the good work and keep posting those pics.

Jim 

Thanks Jim.

As far as the yellow color goes, I used Model Master 4683 - Chrome Yellow. It seems like a reasonable match. No mixing, blending, etc. I don't use enamels anymore so whatever is closest to the actual aircraft color that I can find in acrylics I use.

I'm having lots of problems since I posted my last update. I screwed up the stabilizer braces - I couldn't get them to fit in the area on the tail like they're supposed to, I broke one, replaced it with an extra part I have, attempted to paint it on the model - big mistake - and painted over the number "0" on that section of the tail. I tried to wipe off the paint before it dried but I just ended up smearing it around. I think I'll have to use another number "0" decal.

Also I lost part PE96 - the little front ring site that goes on the gun sight assembly to the carpet monster. The instructions say to glue the part - with attached extra piece of metal - to the gun sight assembly first, then, after the glue has dried, carefully break off the extra piece. That sounded too risky for me so I separated the part from the extra metal first. Another big mistake.

I'm going to continue to try to put this bird together but, as I mentioned above, I now consider it a test mule. I'll build another ship after this, then I'll get back to another aircraft - and someday, the F3F-2.

Oh well, it's still fun.

Mike

Here's an update on my test mule.

I am nearing completion. I've learned a lot!

 I still have to attach the canopy and get another windscreen - I broke the kit windscreen which did not come with the pictured cut out for the gunsight. In my zeal to attempt to fix that defect I tried to use my Xacto knife to cut a slot in the windscreen. All I did there was split it into two sections which, after some failed attempts at gluing back together, I threw away.

I lost PE part #96 to my not following directions as I've already explained. I've had some interesting experiences in trying to attach decals - some successful, others not.

I'll let some of the update images explain my screw ups. I still have the cabane and flying wires to attach along with the wing radio antennae and the pitot tube. I've spent an amount of $ that I'm too embarrassed to mention in order to get a windscreen replacement for this "test mule". I should have it Saturday when I will try to finish my F3F-1.

I really hope that my posting this sloppy work does not annoy most of you expert modelers but I thought it might show the "human" and learning curve side of an "old guy" who's trying to get back into this hobby.

Mike

I think that's a great looking model.

I do like how you presented your comments.

Thanks G-J.

I'm having a devil of a time trying to attach the PE that the kit has for cabane wires. I bent the one for the starboard side so badly that I consider it a total loss. I've spent a few hours trying to substitute EZ line for those wires. I've got the starboard side done so I guess I'll get to the port side over the weekend. I must learn to take all the time required for a decent job - that's part of my problem - too impatient .

My main problem, not counting my shaky, old hands, is that I just need to build a few more (maybe 5 or 6) aircraft to get the feel of it again. I've 27 aircraft in my stash so choosing a few to work on is not a problem. Getting to them all before the grim reaper gets to me is another problem entirely .

Mike

Well, I've screwed it up more than I thought I would. C'est la vie. I guess my thought about doing 5 or 6 more aircraft ought to be ammended to a dozen or two more aircraft before I begin to get the hang of it.

I post these pictures in the hope that, down the road, sometime while I'm still kicking, I'll be able to post an image of one of my finished aircraft kits that's not completely and utterly embarrassing .

At least I now see a few areas where I could have helped myself out by checking lengths and attachment points. As she stands my F3F-1 is a visual testament to ridiculously poor modeling skills. They will, I hope, in a reasonable amount of time (say a year or two?) become developed enough so that I might look forward to being able to aniticipate as well as have the confidence to correct difficult (read "tricky" for me) steps in the process.

My sincere apologies to Accurate Miniatures and all sight sensitive modelers everywhere for the images of my botched Grumman F3F-1 .

I ruined my super expensive replacement windshield - I just couldn't get the masking right. I completely ruined the flying wires - which, according to what I've read, are the part of the Accurate Miniatures kit that saves the day ....... not for me . I bent them pretty much into uselessness by the time I was finished installing them. They did NOT fit the way I thought they should - BUT, when I finally read that one is supposed to bend the wires a bit - I suppose at one of the attachment points - before installing them, I figured I just have to read and plan a few things out ahead of time in the future.  I bent the cabane wires so badly I threw them away and used EZ line. So many things went wrong I can't enumerate all of them. Suffice it to say it is, as I thought it would be, a "practice" plane.

My next post in this forum won't be for a while since I want to develop a reasonable skill set for aircraft (or any styrene modeling subject with PE, clear parts, masking involved, etc.) before I offer a completed kit for your perusal.

Mike it looks good to me, and honestly I would've only caught one of boo-boos, that's a good looking barrel you built