I've actually got some pics I need to post.  I laid down the initial paint yesterday, and I must say it's looking good.  I was going to try and get some stuff up today, but it just didn't happen.  Thanks for asking!  To answer your question: Soon, very soon ;-)

=]

Looking forward to seeing it! Hope it's still a fun build for you.

Sorry guys...  I took a  bad fall a few years ago that's really screwed my shoulders up.  I'm looking at a second surgery on my right one in a few weeks, and my third one over all.  Add that to a nasty case of diabetes that doesn't help the matter, and well... I have good days and bad ones, which might help explain the gaps in between postings.  Not looking for sympathy, just trying to give an explanation...  So, Devil Dawg, yes... it's still a fun build for me, though I'm having to stand back and think about how to approach a few things at this point....  

That said, I've been able to get a few things done, mainly sanding, reshaping and re-scribing, priming, and laying down the initial coat of paint.  Here's a pic of the priming and pre-shading:

For the paint layers I worked from light to dark, using Tamiya's white with a bit of base added.  I'm thinking about maybe going back over it add a little grey to it, but I've not decided.  For the intermediate shade of blue I mixed Tamiya's Sky Blue and Medium blue, and for the darkest blue I mixed Tamiya's Sea Blue and Medium Blue along with about 25% of their Base to give it that oxidized look.  

This pick is a little darker than the actual shading...

I'm a bit stumped on the decals right now.  I can't decide whether to try and make stencils for the roundels or use what came with the kit.  I'm having to go with an existing paint scheme that shows that the two insignias on the side (at least) where painted over with a lighter shade of blue.  This makes sense if you look at the original black and white pictures.  Unfortunately, my contact at the university was not able to make an accurate re-creation of these.  I'm also thinking about using the decals and going over the borders with a wash of blue...  Hopefully, I'll make up my mind in the next few days and pull the trigger (the real hard part) on it, so I can wrap this baby up...  Any ideas would be helpful.  Thanks, as always, Raymond

Sorry to hear about your medical issues Ray.  I'm glad you could make it back for some bench time.  I'm liking the paint so far, especially the fuel staining that was on 883. Only thing I would do is make the lower wingfold a hard line, that is unless you have a pic that shows otherwise.  I would just use aftermarket decals, its the easy way out.  You could always try those Montex masks for the insignias too.  

Joe

That's lookin' swell, Ray!

Looking good, Ray!

And sorry to hear about the medical issues.  I can sympathize.  Sometimes you just have to push through it.  Good luck!

Gary

Dittos, Ray. Sorry to hear about the shoulder. I had no idea about that when I asked if the build was still fun. Sometimes, when I get deep into a build, it kinda gets "unfun" for me, and I have to put it away for awhile, then come back to it. So, I was just wondering if you were feeling the same way with this build..... Anyways, I hope that the docs take good care of you. You will definitely be in my prayers for healing.

And that Corsair is lookin' mighty fine!!

Ray, if you're unsure about the cutting a mask to paint the insignia this go around...you could just move on through and put down your clear coat of future or what have you and place your decals down.  Later, when you've put the flat on to seal everything...just tape off what you want to look a little different and paint those strips.  When you're happy with what you see, hit it with the flat again. =]

Just a thought.  I've made a few last minute adjustments that way and they've worked fine for me.

Britt, I've got a couple of workable ideas.  I have one a go this afternoon, and it worked okay.  I actually just copied the decal sheet onto a testers white decal paper, cut a little white bar stencil, then airbrushed the boarder.  I actually liked the effect.  The trouble I'm having is cutting the roundels out to my satisfaction.  What I may do is use the actual decals.  The boarder and bars are separate from the roundels. So, what I'd do is apply the boarder and bar, the lay down a layer of clear, then either hand brush (with an extra fine brush) the blue, or mask then air brush the blue.  What do you think?  

Raymond: Hope you're feeling better soon. The Corsair looks terrific!

Thanks for all the replies guys.  As far as my health goes...  I'm good with everything.  Perhaps, I'm used to everything, is more accurate.  My diabetes is hitting my joints, add an addiction to arrowhead hunting in a river with 30 ft banks, and a rather clumsy fellow... Well, you get the picture :-)  Again, the only reason I brought it up was explain the gaps in posting, so no worries.  But thanks for the well wishes all the same.  It means a lot to belong to a community that cares about its members.

Lawdog... I'll see if I can't define that line a little better.  I actually did a little to good job of sanding things down prior to priming.  Those lines kind of disappeared.  Oops.  Lesson learned for next time ;-)  I actually went back and added some more to the fuel stain and it really looks good now.  As far as the just using standard decals... Believe me I've thought about it, but I like the idea of having the differences in color.  Honestly, I'm probably over thinking the problem all the way around.  See my post to Bvallot........

Devil Dawg.... No worries, and I know exactly what you're talking about.  Right now, I've been more stumped by how to handle the roundels and make them look good, than anything.  I'm hesitant to go much further until I have it figured out... But I think I'm going to pull the trigger, win, loose, or draw, tomorrow or the next day.  

I hope to have some more pics up soon...  Ray

Lookin' good!! Aint a thing wrong with it from where I'm sittin' !

Amazing looking effort so far Rymond, looking forward to the next update!

Same here, Raymond - looking forward to the next update!

This is really looking pretty good so far Ray.  Have you considered weathering the upper wing surfaces any more than that?  Or is that still on the way?  Also, I really need to finish putting up pictures of the underside of my corsair for you.  I'm sorry I've neglected it.  I've been trying to get this light box up and running but between buying a house, work, and getting married, it's kinda had to fall to the side for the meanwhile.  Perhaps I'll just snap some quick ones to get something up here for now.  It may give you something else to consider in your painting/weathering steps.  

Keep 'em coming Ray!

Hi,

That's not "Frank" (did you mean Chris?) Magee standing on the starboard wing of #883 -- that's Frank Walton, the Black Sheep's squadron intelligence officer.

Beautiful work so far Ray. I'll be to looking forward to some updates also.

Britt, I haven't even started the real weathering yet, so yeah...  She'll age quite a bit here very soon.  No problem on the pics...  When you can, or if you can.  You gotta keep that new bride to be happy, ya know.

Drew, you very well may be correct.  I had looked at so many pictures for two days, that I obviously crossed the names somewhere.  Both Magee and Walsh were at this photo shoot.  Magee had a cap on (though standing on the starboard wing) and the picture of Walsh that I've seen he didn't...  That doesn't mean he didn't put one on.  I thought the site I pulled it from said it was Magee, but I've slept since then and I can find it. Thanks for the heads up...

I'm making some headway, so more pics are coming soon....  Again, thanks for the replies!!!  Raymond

I was finally able to figure out what to do on the roundels, though with some serious issues with the OOB decals.  I had actually made a copy of the decals provided with the kit, using Testers decal paper.  Then, after shooting a layer of clear coat, I went over the red border with a dark blue.  I decided that sense this was easy enough, I'd just use the actual decals, repeating the process once I'd placed them on the plane.  I don't know if it was a bad batch of decals, or if they were old and had degraded, but three of the four insignias disintegrated.  One when I put on a coat of Microsol (which I was able to fix), the other two while I was just trying to put them on.  I ended up having to take them all off, and do some touch up to the paint.  I talked to Bvallot to see if it was something I did, but I had done everything he suggested, other than leaving them in maybe a minute or so longer than he suggested.  So, I decided I'd just use the blue boarded insignias and reverse the process, taking them out a little sooner.  I have up after the first one fell apart before I could even get it off the paper.  I then went back to my original plan with the Testor's copy and it worked great!  I had to do a little touch up, but no biggies.  I did use the roundels, which are separate, though I had one of them try and fall apart on me.  I created some numbers and ta da...  

I did go back and retouch up the red by doing some dry brushing around the boarders, to help bring out the contrast of colors brought about by them painting in the blue with what they had on hand.

After getting this done I felt comfortable in adding the flaps and rudder.  I've used a mix of the intermediate and sea blues that I mixed to show a different rate in fading.  

That's where I'm at for now.  I'm hoping to be able to wrap things up pretty soon on this one.  As always, constructive criticism or suggestions are welcome.  Thanks for taking a look, Raymond

Not bad at all Ray!  She's coming along.  The 1:48 scale is much easier painting with...ain't it!  =]  

I think your undersurface blue is a little too dark still.  Are you referencing something in particular for that color?

That Corsair is looking very nice indeed, always been my favorite WWII fighter. 

A lot of PR photos were taken of Boyington with various members of the squadron as he neared breaking the top score record, just prior to his being shot down. According to my references, the photo you posted shows Frank Walton on the wing of #883 talking to Boyington. Chris Magee is in the famous photo showing Boyington sitting in #740, trading kill markings for St. Louis Cardinals baseball caps..... Jim

Thanks for the heads up jb.  Like I said, I had looked at so many pictures in an attempt to figure out what was going on with the boarders, and was so concentrated on that, I combined the two names.  If I remember right, I had just looked at the pick of Magee, then did a search on Walton.  I've slept since then though...  

Britt... Yeah, I've thought about going back and dry brushing in some light blue to help with the contrast.  The one color photo from the same time frame shows it's a bit lighter.  So, I think I break down and do it.  It's an easy fix...  The pictures really don't bring the red out as much as it is in reality though...

Speaking of being deep in Black Sheep lore, I'm a PC gamer and am still a member of an online Delta Force Black Hawk Down squad called The HalfBreeds (THB). Anyways, the whole squad is divided into 4 different companies - Alpha (Fast Attack), Bravo (Sniper), Charlie (Defense), and Delta (Assault).

Anyways, I am responsible in suggesting our badge to represent Black Sheep for Delta Company - which I am a part of.

The squad still active to this day yet I haven't returned to the battlefield in years. They know I'm what you call the Lost Black Sheep of the company. Someday, when the time is right, this black sheep will return to his flock to lay down the fire. LOL!