1/48 Tamiya F4F-4 Wildcat VF-3 "Jimmy Thach" (Finished)

That is looking sweet! 

Joe, when do you get time to sleep with all these builds being built. Amazing work as always.

UnwaryPaladin

That is looking sweet! 

 

Thanks..

damouav

Joe, when do you get time to sleep with all these builds being built. Amazing work as always.

 

During the day, I work the graveyard shift. Thanks for the kind words Damian. 

I can't get over the level of detail and paintwork in those offices of yours Joe. A level of modeling to aspire to....

Very nice that is a great kit to build.

So that's where the Thach Weave came from, I had no idea. Very cool!

What kind of camera are you using LD? Your pictures are always consistently clear.

mustang1989

I can't get over the level of detail and paintwork in those offices of yours Joe. A level of modeling to aspire to....

 

Thanks Joe

Tickmagnet

Very nice that is a great kit to build.

 

Thanks Tick

Mopar Madness

So that's where the Thach Weave came from, I had no idea. Very cool!

What kind of camera are you using LD? Your pictures are always consistently clear.

 

My I-phone believe it or not. It takes way better pictures than my Nikon ever did. 

learmech

Lawdog, Roughly what is the mixture ratio you use for your cockpit colors? Thanks

 

Its always different and I just eyeball it. I'd say about 70 Olive, 20 Yellow-Green, and 10 Khaki. 

tempestjohnny

One day I'll be half as good as this

 

Don't sell yourself short Johnny. You are just as good. 

Nice looking pit as usual lawdog.  This is a great kit - did one last year.  I cracked my canopy right at the end and fudged it.  One of my first attempts at black basing - my overall tone came out too dark - much to learn.  Looking forward to your finished build.

Joe, looking good brother! You've got quite the eye for color. Me? I just read the bottle and slap it on. You're over here playing Mr. Mixer with Tamiya paints haha! Hmmm who's looks better??

keavdog

Nice looking pit as usual lawdog.  This is a great kit - did one last year.  I cracked my canopy right at the end and fudged it.  One of my first attempts at black basing - my overall tone came out too dark - much to learn.  Looking forward to your finished build.

 

Keavdog, I've found that black-basing goes the wrong way for what has typically been prescribed for us modelers, that is lightening the colors for "scale effect". It also doesn't look great on darker colors, like what I tried to do on my A6M5. I've found it's better to "marble" the paint using variations of the base color or complimentary colors and then doing a top coat. I'm pretty happy with how my Mustang is turning out using this technique. 

Sorry for the hi-jack, Joe!

Lawdog,

Your painting technique in the cockpit is exceptional.  I would love to be able to get to that level of finish.

keavdog

Nice looking pit as usual lawdog.  This is a great kit - did one last year.  I cracked my canopy right at the end and fudged it.  One of my first attempts at black basing - my overall tone came out too dark - much to learn.  Looking forward to your finished build.

 

Thanks John.  I've had that happen recently on my Hobby Boss Wildcat.  Fortunately I had a Squadron replacement.  I'm personally not a fan of the black-basing technique, for that reason, so don't feel bad.  I came up with what I call a reverse black-base to mock it.........lol.  

RadMax8

Joe, looking good brother! You've got quite the eye for color. Me? I just read the bottle and slap it on. You're over here playing Mr. Mixer with Tamiya paints haha! Hmmm who's looks better??

 

 

keavdog

Nice looking pit as usual lawdog.  This is a great kit - did one last year.  I cracked my canopy right at the end and fudged it.  One of my first attempts at black basing - my overall tone came out too dark - much to learn.  Looking forward to your finished build.

 

 

 

 

Keavdog, I've found that black-basing goes the wrong way for what has typically been prescribed for us modelers, that is lightening the colors for "scale effect". It also doesn't look great on darker colors, like what I tried to do on my A6M5. I've found it's better to "marble" the paint using variations of the base color or complimentary colors and then doing a top coat. I'm pretty happy with how my Mustang is turning out using this technique. 

Sorry for the hi-jack, Joe!

 

Thanks Max.  No such thing as a hi-jacked thread.  That's what they are for. 

Real G

Lawdog,

Your painting technique in the cockpit is exceptional.  I would love to be able to get to that level of finish.

 

Thanks G

I'm going back and forth between this and the P-40.  The Tamiya Wildcat pretty much falls together, no issues. 

While gluing the wing halves together, I accidentally melted one of the fifties beyond repair.  I ended up drilling them all out and adding brass tube barrels.  I suppose it looks better anyways.  

I gave the frame a preshade then got going on the stars courtesy of Montex.  I used Tamiya tape to seal the masks from seepage.  Almost ready for paint.

Very nice work Joe.

Glad to know I'm not the only one that's done that!

damouav

Very nice work Joe.

 

Thanks Damian

Mopar Madness

Glad to know I'm not the only one that's done that!

 

Ha!...yeah, I always find a way to mess something up. 

Looking great, Joe. I just got one of these for Xmas. I'm stoked to build it. I'll use your build as a guide.

BK

Looking good as always, Joe. You make the recovery on the gun barrel melt look so easy and painless.

You mentioned an F4F was one of your first kits upon return from hiatus. Was it the same Tamiya kit?

This looks like fun, my first thought was the F4F that was fished out of Lake Michigan and painted to represent Butch O'Hare's ride. When I have to be at O'Hare, it makes it all worthwhile if we end up passing by. I always stop and admire it.

Thanks for the inspiration, maybe a nice Tamiya kit of a subject I have some interest in might be a funk-breaker.

BrandonK

Looking great, Joe. I just got one of these for Xmas. I'm stoked to build it. I'll use your build as a guide.

BK

 

Thanks Brandon. Easy kit, you'll love it. 

Greg

Looking good as always, Joe. You make the recovery on the gun barrel melt look so easy and painless.

You mentioned an F4F was one of your first kits upon return from hiatus. Was it the same Tamiya kit?

This looks like fun, my first thought was the F4F that was fished out of Lake Michigan and painted to represent Butch O'Hare's ride. When I have to be at O'Hare, it makes it all worthwhile if we end up passing by. I always stop and admire it.

Thanks for the inspiration, maybe a nice Tamiya kit of a subject I have some interest in might be a funk-breaker.

 

Thanks Greg. Yes, it was perhaps the third or fourth build when I returned. I built Joe Foss' cat. No clue what happened to it. It's the perfect kit to break out of a funk with. 

I'd love to see the O'Hare replica someday.