Secret Santa GB back for 2015-16

I've been making progress on the Spit, I assure you! .  I took pics of the cockpit before I sealed up the fuselage halves.  I  have started working on the lower wing section.  Eduard has a seemingly complex, multi-part arrangement that makes up the landing gear wells.  As daunting as it appears everything clicks into place with Tamiya-like efficiency.  Right now the components are waiting on a bit of weathering before the wings are added. 

If you've never built an Eduard Spitfire before I encourage you to do so.  They are simply amazing little kits.

I treated myself this Christmas to the Mk VIII Profipack so I'll be interested in your opinions on final fit and finish.  Can't wait to see yours.  I bet it'll look great.

ALMOST ready for primer!     The airframe is about 80% recessed panel lines; however, the center float is about 90% raised.  I was able to mask off the raised detail on the fus and clean up the seams with no problem.  The float needed a bit of sanding which obliterated the raised detail.  No probem. It only took me about 50 minutes to scribe the center float with my new, AMAZING, UMM scriber.   I have to scribe two lines on each of the wing floats today, and then she will be ready to have the wings, center float, wing floats, and horizontal stab attatched today

Well Brandon, it looks like this may just be like that F6F.  So my current build is just about finished so I cracked open the Ta 152 and gave it a good cleaning and once over.  One of my favorite parts of any build is the initial fitting.  I extract the wings, fuselage, cockpit tub, and tail plane and assemble them with tape to get a sense of what I'm up against.  This one seems to fit well with exception of the wing roots which have a bit of a gap.  This gap may be an allowance for dihedral when its all said and done so I'm not too concerned.  Here's a couple pics.  I know what you all are thinking... the answer is "no" I am not a professional photographer! 

Mopar Madness

Well Brandon, it looks like this may just be like that F6F.  So my current build is just about finished so I cracked open the Ta 152 and gave it a good cleaning and once over.  One of my favorite parts of any build is the initial fitting.  I extract the wings, fuselage, cockpit tub, and tail plane and assemble them with tape to get a sense of what I'm up against.  This one seems to fit well with exception of the wing roots which have a bit of a gap.  This gap may be an allowance for dihedral when its all said and done so I'm not too concerned.  Here's a couple pics.  I know what you all are thinking... the answer is "no" I am not a professional photographer! 

 

 

 

So next weekend I'll roll my sleeves up and dig in!! 

 

 

 

Dang. ! I gotta get mine built. Looks too cool.

BK

Chad, I'll be watching this one for sure!! Looks like a good kit from what I can tell; I hope it is. I still have not heard from the USPS regarding the MIA Ta-152, its probably sitting in some warehouse somewhere collecting dust now, or some sticky fingered individual is sitting at his bench building away at it!

Right now my posting updates has resulted in me commandering my sons Chromebook since my computer decided it didnt like the hard drive anymore and puked it out. Still waiting for recovery disks to get me back up and running again. So, until then, I'll be kind of limited on posting pics or updates.

Ouch!  I bought a new Asus laptop last year for that very reason.  Yeah, I'm thinking your sticky fingers theory is correct!  

Just an update on my progress on the M8 Scott.  I wanted to show you the tank painted in it's base coat, but I just discovered I am out of Olive Drab. Order a few bottles on-line and should they should be arriving by Friday. 

This is my first Tamiya tank kit.  There were a few issues with seams on fitting tightly, but a little putty took care of it.

I purchased AFV Club workable tracks, T36E6 late type. (my first set) for the M8, but I my be regretting it.  The instructions shows to use the guide horns to fasten the track links together but not to use glue.  Well the guide horns will not stay in place whenever I pick it up the whole assemble comes apart.  I think I am going to have to glue the horns on with slow drying glue and then get them on the model and get them set in the form that I want and let them dry.

Anyway here are few pictures of the assembly and after priming.  Will post again after I get the M8 painted.

Marcus

Sorry for the quality, I was using an old Ipad.

Finally got some progress done on the Merc after a busy couple of weeks. Finished the majority of the engine assembly. Did some light washes and plan on weathering a bit more before I call the engine done:

Added some PE detail to the brake disks:

The disks need a bit of tidying up but should look pretty good when painted.

Finally, plenty of sanding of seam lines and ejector pint marks on the body pieces and primed:

Thanks

Dave

MM, that M8 is beginning to look like a tank. Give us shots of those tracks, I'm curious to see where the issue lies.

djj, the Benz is really starting to look real nice. I suspect this one will be a stunner.

BK

Thanks BK

Did a little weathering on the engine. My first attempt at weathering and quite pleased with the results:

Dave

Really starting to look like somthing Dave.

Djjeavons, Those brake cooling ducts look awesome! 

   Finally got the primer on lastr night!  Only a week late...   I still have pictures to post, I just have to get them off my phone and onto my computer!

The Spitfire should be ready for priming soon.  I masked the canopies last night.  Up next some polishing.  My seams look good, but that first coat of primer will be revealing.  The only issue I have with the Eduard Spit is the upper cowling.  For some reason they decided to provide it as 2 pieces.  This can leave a seam right down the middle.  The surface detail on these pieces is beautiful so you really have to watch your alignments and create as small a seam as possible, lest you sand off all that great detail.

I've been pluggin' away on the F-84. I don't have update shots yet, but should later today. I've been sanding and polishing the surface in prep for Alclad Highly polished aluminum. This one should, I hope, shine like a mirror.

BK

Ok, here's my update for now. I have the majority of the plane polished. I have a few trouble spots to work on yet, but it's mostly shiny.

You can see the reflection of my work light in the wing and not in the stabilzer as I have not sanded or polished it yet. I'm hoping this thing will have a fully polished skin when done. 

BK

BrandonK

Ok, here's my update for now. I have the majority of the plane polished. I have a few trouble spots to work on yet, but it's mostly shiny.

You can see the reflection of my work light in the wing and not in the stabilzer as I have not sanded or polished it yet. I'm hoping this thing will have a fully polished skin when done. 

BK

 

What grits did you use to get to this point?  It's beautiful!

I start with 1000, then 2000, 3000 soft, 4000, 6000, then I use my dremel with a rag wheel to really make is shine. 

BK

BrandonK

I start with 1000, then 2000, 3000 soft, 4000, 6000, then I use my dremel with a rag wheel to really make is shine. 

BK

 

Thanks!  What speed on the Dremel?

I use the slowest speed it has and the rag wheel is about one inch. 

I tried these, but they burn the plastic, so DONT use them.

I then used this type and have had great results and they will remove minor scratching if you work an area for a while. 

BK

Those builds are coming along quite nicely guys!!  The Ta 152 cockipt is complete.  The dials on the instrument panel are kit supplied decals that were cut out and placed individualy.  The single silver plaque on the starboard switch deck is a Mike Grant decal.  All other color is hand painted.  Eduard Super Fabric seatbelts will be added prior to cockpit installation.

MM that looks AWESOME! I love the detail work. What did you use to cut out the decals? What size of brush do you use for painting the dials and switches? I've just picked up a pack of new brushes, some with super fine points, but I also have found that sometimes just a standard toothpick can work just as well for painting these details.

Thanks buddy!  I use a 20/0 spotter brush from Princeton Art & Brush Co. for the buttons and gauge dials (when I'm not using a decal).  I'm absolutely sold on these brushes and their dirt cheap too!  I only use Vallejo Model Color for this type of application.  I dip the brush in their Airbrush Thinner prior to putting any paint on the brush.  Decals were cut out with a new #11 blade and a steady hand!  MicroSol and Set finished the job.  Then a drop of Future in each gauge. 

MM, that looks awesome. And thanks for the tip on the Princeton brushes. Cool!

BK

Thanks buddy! 

Well, the polishing is done. This took hours upon hours to do. I mounted the wings today and now I am that much closer to paint. This is shaping up to be one sweet little kit.

BK

All of the major parts have been assembled.  Put on the base coat and painted the tools, spare tracks, ammo, etc.. 

Next step is putting on the clear coat, decals, tracks and then weather.  Oh just remembered, I purchased a storage set for the M8 from Verlinden Products.  I never done a storage set before.  Would it be better to glue everything in place first and paint or paint the parts first and then glue the in place?

Will post as soon as I have something more.

Marcus

@Marcus - I really like that M8.  I'm kind of wanting to look at getting one for myself now!  Theres a lot of detail on that little guy.

@Brandon - That is a serious showroom shine!  Will there be a metallic finish on that bird?  Does the polish assist in the metallic process?

Marcus, the M8 is looking really cool. I like it alot!!

MM, It will be a polished finish. I know Alclad shines pretty decent just over the styrene and even better over shiny parts. SO, the hope is that it will be like chrome. I'm going for a restored show plane with this one.

BK