Revell P-61 Black Widow

I could not see the pictures for some reasons.....Any how I wish you a speedy recover from your injury and will find comfort in this hobby. I bought the same kit 2 weeks ago and plan to build it some time in next couple months...

Be prepared for some frustration.  The Revell P-61 is an old kit, known for various fit problems.  I built one recently and had to do a lot of "improvising."  But it will result in a decent model if you take care.

Yep this is a "tough" one especially the canopy.  I wanted to make a closed canopy and I made such a mess of it that I re-bought  the model to get a new canopy

Wishing you a speedy recovery!

I would love to see your completed P-61!

Yes, I've already have found some issues with the two halves of the fuselage.  I can imagine what kind of obstacles would arise.  

My canopy (Forward, pilot side) was melted.  Why, what, when, and whom made the error on my canopy is of no concern to me.  All I wanted was a replacement canopy, I just received a email from Revell in regards to my melted canopy.  I should see the new one in two weeks, I'll update everyone on how this went well; or not.

Thank you!

Here is the partial build of my P-61.  As you can see by the photos, it was a challenge to make everything fit and square.  The P-61 was put together with extreme discipline, several clamps, and a huge amount of putty.  

After the partial assembly, I took some time to look it over and contemplate my P-61 build, it seems to be going in the right direction.  As always the case in any hobby, it was extremely fun to get this far.  If I've learned anything thus far that pertains to a hobby is that, there are no correct ways nor an incorrect way to assemble a project such as this.  The main factor is; "I'm having fun"!  Here are some highlights to this  evenings assembly.  

Thank you,

Toshi

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looking very nice so far.

It is looking nice. Thats a bad kit though. I've built two of them, and if it were to come to another, I'd go with the Great Wall kit.

Try dry fitting the main canopy now. You may want to split the pod halves apart and stick in some shims. Both of my canopies were way too wide.

I will definately take your advice and look into it.  I'm already having trouble aligning the radome nose cone to the fuselage.  Thanks to Testors putty, I think I can feather it in.  I think my next model kit will be a Tamiya P-51 Mustang.  I've read that the Tamiya kits are fantastic, and the details are superb.  

I haven't seen the Great Wall kit, but it's gotta be better than the old Revell.

We have a member building it (the G.W.H. kit) over at Genessis and it's a far superior kit to the Revell. There has been a little putty involved but nothing at all compared to the mess that the Revell kit gives you. He says the build was rather easy and quite enjoyable.

If you have a choice of building a second one in the future the G.W.H. kit is the one you should get next time from what I can tell. The only experience I've had with the Revell kit was a horrible one long, long ago, in a galaxy far, far... Seattle 1989. lol

I've read rave reviews on the GWK Widow.  I've even seen that the radome nose cone is made of clear plastic just like the actual full scale aircraft.  I didn't find out about these other products until I purchased the Revell/Monogram kit.  I guess at the very least, I can be nostalgic at best.  Thank you for the read and reply!

Toshi

I've heard and read nothing but good things in regards to the GWH Kit.  I guess there's no comparisons between the GWH to the Revell/Monogram Widow.  I'll do my best in completeing this project to the best of my abilities, it's nostalgic to say the least.  I have invested in the Eduard interior and exterior photo etch items, my next purchase for this kit will probably be two complete resin engines, rubber tires with the correct tread patterns, and aftermarket decals.  Since this is my first build after a 40 year haitus, I've have had to invest a substantial amount of funds in order to start building scale models once again.

I do enjoy the challenges that the Revell Widow kit has to offer yet, at times it can be frustrating at best.  When I encounter this, I turn to my other hobby of which is the collecting of Football cards.  I'll go back and forth on this issue, a hobby should be enjoyable and not stressful.  Currently, my issue is the radome nose cone connected to the fuselage.  The gap is huge, I'll have to utilize Testors putty and feather the gaps in.  Once that's completed, on goes the wings and the nacelle pods.  If all goes well, I'll put a nice coat of Testors primer, followed by flat black, and clear coat.  I can then add the decals with the decal solution and weather the Widow with Tamiyas weathering kit, it actually looks like a women's compact case.  I'll attempt the sea salt technique of which I've read about and seen on YouTube with a final clear coat.  I'm hoping for this to be completed by May or the begining of June.  Wish me luck.

FYI: If by chance I've missed any steps whatsoever, please feel free to direct me in the correct preparation and process, your input is most valued!

Toshi

I just pray and hope that I'll get the project done.  LOL!

Just FYI the nose was a fiberglass shape. In certain backlit conditions there have been photographs that seem to show the antenna, but it's rare and usually on a prototype. If you are building a black one, it's painted black.

The one engine in that kit actually isn't so bad. It can use some help, but it's not a bad starting point.

Another glitch is that the port engine, the one thats closed up, has closed cowl flaps, while the starboard one has open flaps. Thats bogus, they should both be open.

Evolution to a P-61 Black Widow,

This is my progress of the P-61 thus far.  Before I continue on, I just purchased these items via eBay.

4" photo etch bending tool (The ones with two screw downs at each end).

After Market Decals (Moon Happy).

Eduard Canopy Mask

Metal Landing Struts

Vector Resin Engine and Cowlings

I've also made an earlier purchase on a Eduard interior/exterior photo etch.  This was a major investment in regards to a $38.00 Black Widow purchased from Hobby Lobby, and not to exclude building materials/paraphenilia for the purpose in assembly of the P-61 and future projects that will come to my attention.  

Through nothing more than excitement, I know I went way overboard pertaining to my budget.  Luckily, Mrs. Toshi approved my purchases and supports my new endeavor.  One can only hope that this model will prove to Mrs. Toshi and I that all of this was worth the effort.

Some of the issues I've come across thus far is the assembly of the two halves of the fuselage.  My other issue is the radome nose cone.  With extreme patience and discipline, I was able to putty the inconsistency and feather in the huge gaps via wet/dry sanding.  As you can see, the primer tells the truth in regards to fit and finish.  I must emphasize that no matter the obstacle large or small, I am having so much fun, and in this hobby or any other for that matter, having fun is part of the equation.  

Here is what I was able to complete last night!  Thank you forum members for the read and reply.  

Toshi

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Ah, thank you for clarifying that nose cane issue.  I agree that the stock engines are decent, but once I saw the after market resin engines, I was hooked!  What makes the engine purchase valuable is the fact that the copwlings are both in the open designation.  Thank you for the read and reply.

Good moves!

Thank you, your support is greatly appreciated!

I've built the Revell offering and have the Grand Wing kit in the stash.

The GWH kit is leaps and bounds better in all respects of buildability.

If you opt to go for it, the Tamiya P-51s are awesome.  You won't be spending a lot of time puttying and sanding.  I'm also a fan of the Tamiya weathering kits.  If you find you've overdone it, just use a water-dampened makeup applicator (ask Mrs. Toshi to grab you a small package of 20-40 the next time she goes to get makeup, they work great) to remove what you've applied and try again.

You mentioned using the salt weathering technique with your clear coat.  I don't know that you'd see any difference after removing the salt as the clear coats have no pigment unless you are going for small shinier spots and other flatter spots?  If you are looking for color variation you might base coat in flat black, apply salt, and then go over with black with a few drops of grey mixed in to lighten it.  When you remove the salt, you'll have a mostly lightened black coat with some darker splotches where the salt was.  If you prefer mostly darker with some light splotches, reverse the order and do lightened black, salt, then flat black.  

It looks good thus far!

Groot

Wow, thank you for your insight, I will definately apply what you've mentioned.  For the first time in my

Iife, I'm going to utilize a airbrush for this particular model.  Since I'm a novice at this, I purchased the very inexpensive Testor all in one airbrush kits.  This should be fun at best.  If I do well with the airbrush, I'll probably get a Iwata airbrush and a piston style air compressor with a tank.  I can use the Iwata airbrush and compressor for the Tamiya P-51.  Thank you for reading and the reply as well as the information you've given me in regards to weathering the P-61.

Toshi

Now you've got me excited in obtaining a GWH aircraft kit.  Thank you for the read and reply!

Toshi

I built one of these many moons ago. You may need some lead for the nose....I did.

To Sarge USMC,

Yes, I recollect that I utilized led fishing sinkers when I also made this kit many moons ago as well.  With this build, I'm going to utilize the clear plastic crutch that is inserted in the radar mans rear cockpit that came with this scale model kit.  Thank you sir for the read and reply, your input is greatly appreciated.

Here is an update of the P-61 status.

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These are some of the aftermarket products I have included for this build.

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I'm still awaiting the propellers, metal landing gears, and the aftermarket decals.