No, some months there are some truly incredible models in the Master Division. Our chapter has some serious talent there. The builds these guys enter at chapter level also are entered at various regionals and at nationals as well. And they place and win at those events as well. Consistently. I just try to learn and soak up all the techniques that I can off of those guys.

Simply a beautiful job, it's a shame that you had to compete against that PBY as I'm sure any other month you could've easily taken it

Yes sir... Alive and kicking

Really? 

Lol! I know where he can be found...

Gamera

I love your Marauder SP and want to marry it...

(sorry it had to be said...) 

I love your Marauder SP and want to marry it...

(sorry it had to be said...) 

Thank you sir!

As I said earlier, that is your best build (that i've seen) to date!

Thanks guys. I really do appreciate all the kind comments here. I poured a LOT into this project and for it to be so well recieved really feels good after all of that effort.

Very nice build, love the weathering you did.

Mike

Very nice. Authentic looking weathering and detail.

You shoulda gotten First place! You were robbed!

The B-26 and Monogram's kit of it are two of my favorite things.  (The others being brown paper packages and whiskers on kittens.)  Stik, you did an amazing job on that wonderful old kit!  It's just another reason why I love modeling those WW2 U.S. planes.  They have gorgeous nose art and the weathering possibilities are endless.  You really hit a homerun with this one.

Thanks for posting the pictures!

Eric

Stunning work....

Joe

She's a beauty Stik!!!  

Steve

Excellent work!

That "grease stain" on some of the panel lines is something from my "rushed" finish in the weathering. I used the Testors Enamel Stain, Dark Gray, which I had also used on my last build. But for some reason it did nor clean up as well this time and left some residue behind that became quite visible under the final flat top coat. It is quite in intentional. This is only my second project using the stuff and part of the learning curve I guess.... The stuff worked great on my last project and on the interior here was quite good as well. I can think of a couple possible reasons, but until I have more experience with them I can not say for certain what truly caused that look. Yeah that PBY is a real beauty!

Bob and Alfred thanks for looking in here ;)

I'm sorry.  I also wanted to share between my discombobulated thoughts how nice it is to hear the story behind a particular aircraft.  I always like knowing what it is I'm looking at.  Thanks for sharing. =]

(I started typing this earlier this morning but had to stop several times.  Here we go.)  Stik, this is a great looking B-26!  I do look forward to building some larger aircraft...especially some water conversions.  One thing I wanted to ask you and from other things you seem to know you might be just the guy to ask.  I noticed on your Marauder along the seams between panels how you gave it a wash that almost looks like a a grease stain.  I've seen this exact look on actual aircraft and I'm not sure what it's coming from based on where it is sometimes. Do you know what's causing the discoloration?

And how bout that PBY huh.  HOLY SH!T. =]

Very nice!

Stik-fantistic build with great attention to detail.

Tex, in the research I did for this, I came across so many Flak Bait builds that missed this small detail, or that small detail. I really wanted to get this one right. I am pretty sure that there are details that I missed as well, but with the available information that I found during the course of the build I did the best that I could. I am glad that you like this build and the background information.

MK, I can not begin to say how much that I truly enjoy being a part of this IPMS Chapter. I am truly blessed to have the opportunity here. Yes it's only a hobby, but to find such a group of guys to share that  same level of enthusiasm and learn from them really makes it a wondrful experience.

Eagle, thanks for the kind words. As far as placing or winning there goes, as Rodney Dangerfield would have said, "... tough crowd, tough crowd..." as he sweats and loosens his collar and necktie ;)

Stik!  WOW!  That is one beautiful build!  To see the completed build is amazing!  Congrats on the placing!  Should have been 1st!  

After seeing that I agree totally with you. That is amazing. Makes me wish I had a IPMS chapter around here.

Bravo stik!   That's a great model plane, it just looks so "authentic" man.  I really love the war-worn paint work and thanks for the wonderful details of the plane's history too.  That's the cherry on top for me! 

Gary

Brandon, this is really not that difficult a kit to tackle. I would advise picking a scheme without invasion stripes to ease your painting challenges. And it could easily be rescribed for a more accurate build. From what I read, the Marauder was the first production aircraft for the USAAF that had butt joined panels rather than overlapping skin panels. Of course I did not come across that tidbit until after it was all built and mostly painted...

Richs, I had no idea what that red was for, but I did see it on several photos so I had to add it there. A nice spalsh of color there.  Without the invasion stripes Flak Bait is really a drab aircraft with the grayed out stars and gray squadron codes.

MK, this PBY is what took 1st place. I sure can not hold any grudges. The presentation was quite impressive...

Excellent job Stik.  The "Beware Of Propeller" red on the nose gear doors is a nice touch.

I have built the PBY and it is a monster. If someone displayed a water take off then by all means they deserved 1st place.

Stik, holy cow. That is on my list of must builds and I have a HUGE set of shoes to try and wear to even think I'm gonna approach that nice of a build. Super nice!!!