Revell Ar 555 Complete page 5

Nuthin' but the good stuff!! You're work is amazing as always Bish. I've been giving some thought to display bases for my builds but it does take up some valuable display space. One of these days I'll have to give it a shot.

Thnaks Joe. ye, the base does take up more space, and of course you have to add the extra for vehilces and so on. But i just prefer doing dio's and even if not a dio, i prefer the idea of a base. Apart from anything else, it saves having to handle the model if you are moving it. I just try and cut the base as small as possable and avoid big open areas.

Great job on the paint and decals Bish. That is one unusual looking plane! The vehicles look super detailed and will add interest and a sense of scale to the dio.

I also like using a base for the models but the down side is the additional space they use up. In the past for a tarmac, I used Elmers glue brushed on the base then lightly sprinkled with fine sand to add texture. When it dried overnight, I brushed on acrylic craft paint to soften the texture then airbrushed concrete color paint to blend things in. 

Thanks PJ. There is actually nothing extra adde to those vehicles, they are all pretty nice as they come.

Interesting idea of the texture, i might have to try that one.

And remember your suggestion for putting the bomb and trolley in a pit.

Bish

...i use a thin cardboard with a slightly rough surface on one side that i have a regular supply of. In this case its the cardboard inserts that come with Eduard PE sets. The inside of kit box lids and the outside of the box also works.

Thanks, Bish, I was looking for a reference to the material you used.  I have a similar base project in the works, and I'm using the backing from a writing tablet.  That was one I remembered from Shep's "Tips" in the B-17 kit, when I was a kid.

I love the camo pattern!  I think I'm going to steal it for a Maschinen Krieger subject

Was that the Monograme 1/48th B-17 with the crash dio. I built that myself back in the mid 80's and its that which got me hooked on dio's. Wish i still had that booklet that came with it.

If you do, i hope you will post some pics. I have been trying to think of otehr builds i can use this on.

Almost at the end of this build and once again i have run into the biggest problem with 72nd aircraft dio's, figures. But more on that in a bit.

It was now time to add the final bits to the aircraft. For the bomb lifting cables i used some fine wire and made the clamps that attach to the bomb with some styrene strip.

On the bomb, i added some lifting loops and an H type locking mechanisim. It wa sthen painted field grey and given a coat of clear semi gloss.

I could then fit the bomb into place. The open hatch was also fitted.

On top, the engines had been added as well as the forward turret. There is a large gap under the front of the guns so again i use some styrene sheet to close that off.

The vehicles are also complete.

And then the base. Remember i sad that the trolley would fit under the aircraft. famous last words. It didn't. So, plan C. Only option was to follow PJ's suggestion and put it in a bit. This is what the US did to load the bombs on the B-29's. Speaking of which, i was watching a video of the loading of one of the A-Bombs and the trolley used is exactly the same as the one i have here. It seems that kora have just copied that and made it German.

So, i did consider making another board, the 3rd one. But then i remembere it was only 18mm MDF under the cardboard. So, after marking it out, i took my trusty hammer and chisel, first time i have used that combination in a model build, and made a pit. I lined it with cardboard concrete and a sheet styrene metal floor for the lift.

So, just a few bits to finish, the wheel chocks, tool box and a couple of other bits. But the problem. 72nd ground crew figures are pretty thin on the ground. WW2 Luftwaffe are the best covered, but even then there are not many. And i seem to have exorsted my supply of usable figures even allowing for altering some. And the revell and Presier sets seem to be unavalable anywhere at the minute. So i am a bit stuck.

I think i may have to finish of the last few bits and then put to one side until i can source at least a Revell figure set.

Thanks guys.

Rob, it may be a bit of a wait, depends if i can get my hands on those figures. Thats a lesson for stashing.

I have enjoyed following this.  I just love the look of that plane, and I don't know how you manage to make 1/72 vehicles look so good.  Well done model jedi.                     gk

Thanks knox, though i do prefer Sith .

Its not to bad when your dirtying them up, and i only needed to make them look well used but not worry about lots of mud. I just wnated a nice contrast between the old war weary vehicles and the new stat of the art aircraft.

Ok now. A Sith Lord.  Starting to understand why you are sooo good at the dark art of weathering.  .         gk

Bustin' out with the common hand tools eh Bish?  Man this thing looks like a million bucks pal and I like the idea of the hoist cables for the bombs. Nice touch!

mustang1989

Bustin' out with the common hand tools eh Bish?  Man this thing looks like a million bucks pal and I like the idea of the hoist cables for the bombs. Nice touch!

 

lol, ye, i just have to remember they are not to be used to smoothing out seams, not a good idea. The cables seemed the obvious choice, i did a lot of loking into how Lancatsers were bombed up and took a few tips from there. But it looks like i am stalled for a while right up at the finishing post. The Revell and Presier figure set are not in stock anywhere. Even the Preiser site does not have them, so i can only guess that are OOP.

BUGGER.

Nice recovery on the loading pit, well played!

If I may offer a suggestion, I'd add a couple more seams from the edge of the pit to the nearby seams, as if the pit were cut into an existing ramp, and some of the surrounding concrete was damaged and repaired.

Thnaks baron, and you may have somthing there. It does look like it cut into an existing airfiled rather than one map with the pit in mind. Would you go for black, as if tar was put into the cracks.

That's a good idea, but if anything, to make it look "fresher" than the surrounding concrete, newer construction, if you know what I mean.

Bish

Almost at the end of this build and once again i have run into the biggest problem with 72nd aircraft dio's, figures. But more on that in a bit.

It was now time to add the final bits to the aircraft. For the bomb lifting cables i used some fine wire and made the clamps that attach to the bomb with some styrene strip.

 

Bish - 

I see what you mean by "wash"....that looks amazing!! Everything stands out and grabs your eye. This is one AWESOME build and dio. 

the Baron

That's a good idea, but if anything, to make it look "fresher" than the surrounding concrete, newer construction, if you know what I mean.

 

Ye, i get what you mean. I'll look into that, i have a bit of time. I may have sourced a set of Revell figures, but won't know until Sunday.

Hunter

 

Bish

Almost at the end of this build and once again i have run into the biggest problem with 72nd aircraft dio's, figures. But more on that in a bit.

It was now time to add the final bits to the aircraft. For the bomb lifting cables i used some fine wire and made the clamps that attach to the bomb with some styrene strip.

 

 

 

 

Bish - 

I see what you mean by "wash"....that looks amazing!! Everything stands out and grabs your eye. This is one AWESOME build and dio. 

 

Thnaks Hunter, and as i mentioned in your thread, i dry brushed first and then did a fine pin wash with a very fine brush.

Just stumbled onto this Bish,beautiful work. Strange looking bird reminds me of a Klingon ship. By the by what became of the Osprey?

Thnaks templar, ye it does a bit doesn't it.

And don't worry, i have got and added the wheel chocks i was waiting for and just have to add a couple of touches to the figures before ading them. Should have pic of the Osprey up by the weekend.

templar1099

Just stumbled onto this Bish,beautiful work. Strange looking bird reminds me of a Klingon ship. By the by what became of the Osprey?

 

lol I call it a Martian ship but it also looks like a Klingon craft. Great job on the wash Bish. It pops out the molded detail.

Thnaks PJ, and thanks for the input on the pit idea. I reckon you were being sneaky there and knew i was doing to have to do this

Awesome finish, Bish. That is just way too cool. The vehicles are awesome as well and the bomb pit is a nice touch. Super neat.

BK

Thnaks BK. Hopfully i can get those figures off e-bay on Sunday and then i can wrap this up.

I too just happened to discover this WIP.

Outstanding workmanship as usual, Bish. Really looks great and it will be nice to see the finished dio once you get the figure situation sorted.

Thanks for taking the time to let us follow along with this one.

I must look into that black basing technique, looks neat.

Thanks Greg, glad to have you on board. The black bashing is rather nice and certainly something i will do again.