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1/48 Great Wall P-61B Black Widow "Lady of the Dark" (Work in Progress...)

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  • Member since
    February 2012
  • From: Olmsted Township, Ohio
1/48 Great Wall P-61B Black Widow "Lady of the Dark" (Work in Progress...)
Posted by lawdog114 on Wednesday, October 7, 2015 2:52 AM

I'm going from one Great Wall to another. I must applaud them as their FW 189 was a pleasure to build with only a few hiccups and my friend couldn't be happier with it.  I've heard the FW189 was actually their first aircraft kit, so I was eager to see if GW had improved their design.  I also happen to be a huge P-61 fan so I have been really looking forward to this one.   Actually the Mongram version was the first model airplane I ever built and I've built two since.....sentimental I suppose.  I simply could not wait any longer to see how this GW kit stacks up to the old Monogram one, so here we go.  This one is the latest example which has all the "corrections".  It will be out of the box with only Eduard canopy masks to assist me. Maybe new props and tires but we'll see....

I started on the pit.  I think it looks great as is, but like the FW 189, there are sink marks all over in bad places.  I decided not to mess with them as they would be hard to remove and truthfully I don't know how visible they will really be when done.  I followed the instructions and assembled the seats and such then preshaded everything XF-1 Flat Black.  It should be noted that GW now offers color call outs which is an improvement over the FW189, where you were guessing on your own.  They recommend Zinc Chromate Green but I went with Gunze Interior Green which is my personal preference for USAAF cockpits.....green with just the right amount of brown.   

 

I then hand painted the details, like boxes hoses etc. GW includes a PE fret for seat belts so I used them.  The belts were painted XF-57 Buff and the buckles with a silver Sharpie.  After the seats were attached to the floor and everything was painted, all got a coat of Testors Gloss for the upcoming wash.  GW includes cockpit placard decals which I added.  I think they look great and add to the overall effect.  I may use these more from now on.  It got a Detailer wash and then everything was sealed with Testors Dull. 

.....and the individual dial decals was a nice touch too. 

I'm impressed so far GW.  I'm going to close this up soon then start on the double Pratt and Whitneys.  The only question is do I rig my own ignition harnesses or use the supplied PE versions which actually don't look half bad.  I guess it depends on how much will be seen in there.......

Joe

     

 "Can you fly this plane and land it?...Surely you can't be serious....I am serious, and don't call me Shirley"

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    March 2015
  • From: Streetsboro, Ohio
Posted by Toshi on Wednesday, October 7, 2015 3:10 AM

That is an amazingly detailed orientated start.  I'm looking forward to your WIP!

Toshi

On The Bench: Revell 1/48 B-25 Mitchell

 

Married to the most caring, loving, understanding, and beautiful wife in the world.  Mrs. Toshi

 

 

  • Member since
    September 2014
Posted by rooster513 on Wednesday, October 7, 2015 7:12 AM

Nice start Lawdog! You're right the detail in that kit looks great. I'm always impressed on how clean you are able to paint all the interior details. Something I'm working towards in my own builds. Looking forward to seeing more!

-Andy

GAF
  • Member since
    June 2012
  • From: Anniston, AL
Posted by GAF on Wednesday, October 7, 2015 7:19 AM

rooster513

Nice start Lawdog! You're right the detail in that kit looks great. I'm always impressed on how clean you are able to paint all the interior details. Something I'm working towards in my own builds. Looking forward to seeing more!

It's true.  Lawdog is the Master of Pit-fu...  Big Smile

  • Member since
    November 2010
  • From: Florida-West Central
Posted by Eagle90 on Wednesday, October 7, 2015 7:20 AM

Lawdog!  Wow!  That is a fantastic looking pit!!!  Great work!  Look forward to seeing this build!

Eagle90

 

 

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: SW Virginia
Posted by Gamera on Wednesday, October 7, 2015 7:23 AM

Heck yeah- Joe you're the Cockpit King baby!!! 

Will be following this for sure, I've got a 2/3rds finished Monogram P-61 and have been really thinking about picking this kit up now that you can find it a little cheaper than the release price. 

"I dream in fire but work in clay." -Arthur Machen

 

  • Member since
    June 2014
Posted by BrandonK on Wednesday, October 7, 2015 9:05 AM

Awesome work. I was looking at this kit yesterday and was wondering how it compares to the Revell kit, which I just picked up. I will follow this for sure. Great work on the Pit, as usual.

BK

On the bench:

A lot !! And I mean A LOT!!

2024 Kits on deck / in process / completed   

                         14 / 5 / 2  

                              Tongue Tied

  • Member since
    February 2014
  • From: Michigan
Posted by silentbob33 on Wednesday, October 7, 2015 9:46 AM
Very cool Joe! I love the P-61 as well and have the Monogram kit in my stash but I have to wait until I have someplace big enough to put it on display. I'll be following along.

On my bench: Academy 1/35 UH-60L Black Hawk

  • Member since
    September 2012
Posted by GMorrison on Wednesday, October 7, 2015 10:55 AM

Looking great so far. I'm watching too. I've got a couple of the Dragon 1/72 kits.

About the Mono kit, everything everyone has ever said is true. I built three over the years, it's good there's a better choice now.

One interesting weathering detail, that my F-in-L pointed out to me. His squadron in the ETO got them in later 1944 and they didn't get too dirty. But the tape used to seal up the gaps between the movable control surfaces and the airframe on the trip over took off the black paint when it was removed.

 Modeling is an excuse to buy books.

 

  • Member since
    February 2007
  • From: Brunswick, Ohio
Posted by Buckeye on Wednesday, October 7, 2015 11:18 AM

Another masterpiece in the making.  Will be following along, may want to tackle this kit myself one of these day.

Mike

  • Member since
    March 2013
Posted by patrick206 on Wednesday, October 7, 2015 2:07 PM

Joe

What a great start, this will be one BIG bugger and impressive when finished. I'm old enough to recall them flying back and forth from the factory to the test flight areas in the forties, I was just a little kid and didn't know exactly which airplanes they were, but I could distinguish their shape and sound.

Dynamite lookers and powerful sounding, sort of a high pitched whine was present on high speed descent, airframe drag noise I'd guess.

Thanks for the post.

Patrick

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, England
Posted by Bish on Wednesday, October 7, 2015 2:26 PM
Great work on the pit as always Joe, looking forward to seeing more of this.

I am a Norfolk man and i glory in being so

 

On the bench: Airfix 1/72nd Harrier GR.3/Fujimi 1/72nd Ju 87D-3

  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: Charleston, SC
Posted by sanderson_91 on Thursday, October 8, 2015 8:21 PM

Hi Joe! Very nice work on that pit!  Really looking forward to seeing this one come together.

steve

 

 

  • Member since
    February 2012
  • From: Olmsted Township, Ohio
Posted by lawdog114 on Saturday, October 10, 2015 2:50 AM

Thanks for the kind words everyone!  Yes, the Monogram kit is still nice but the glass does not fit at all.  I seems that the mold has shrunk over the years.  I suspect of you can find an original 1974 example it would fit better.  I have a still sealed one in the stash complete with the $2.99 price tag on it.  The kit is still buildable but it takes some effort.   The raised panel lines have never really bothered me.  All that aside though, this Great Wall kit is outstanding so far.  Not sure I'd pay the $80.00 MSRP, but outstanding non-the-less (I found this one on Ebay for 45.00 which is more like it).     

Anyhow, I'm in for an update.  I added the cockpit innerds and thought the IP sat too far back.  I moved it towards the yoke and reinforced the back at the floor it with a chunk of styrene. 

Evetything fit very well.  I think the steering yoke seems a bit oversized but maybe it was huge on these.

I turned my attention to the double Pratt and Whitneys.  These are an absolute work of art.  Separate push rods, exhaust pipes and this version has the corrected can-like gear box and magnetos.  Everything was painted separately then it was glued together.  On this one I went against my normal wiring practice and used the included PE wiring harness, mainly because I the liked the ring and leads.  These also didnt seem as flat and one dimensional as Eduard examples. My main complaint was that if you bent them too much they tended to snap off.  Those were replaced with fine copper wire. I then painted the wires XF-6 Copper, Testors Gloss coated everything, which was followed with a Detailer wash.  A shot of Tamiya Smoke then Testors Dull Cote and they were done.  (Note: Seam police...the face of the gearboxes will be hidden by the prop hub so I didnt spend time thereWink)...

I then started gluing the airframe together.  I did seam work on the center pod (note silver Sharpie marks) then the wings booms will be next.  The test fit of the wing to boom joints are outstanding.  So far this has all been a relaxing endeavor. Lets see how the glass fits first Hmm.....

Joe

      

 

     

 "Can you fly this plane and land it?...Surely you can't be serious....I am serious, and don't call me Shirley"

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    August 2013
Posted by Jay Jay on Saturday, October 10, 2015 6:02 AM

Beautiful interior as usual LD. 

I was holding off buying a P-61 because of the less-than-perfect kits out there, but I think I found one to get now , thanks to your post.  Where did you buy this one, if I may ask ?

 

 

 

 

 

 I'm finally retired. Now time I got, money I don't.

  • Member since
    May 2014
Posted by SubarooMike on Saturday, October 10, 2015 12:50 PM
Looks fantastic; well done

  • Member since
    January 2010
  • From: Nebraska, USA
Posted by CallSignOWL on Sunday, October 11, 2015 10:49 AM

you are one brave man. I salute you, sir! Toast

 

fantastic interior detail, though! Is that all just from the kit?!

------------------------

Now that I'm here, where am I??

  • Member since
    June 2013
Posted by bvallot on Tuesday, October 13, 2015 3:35 PM

Joe! Very nice!! I've been MIA for a while.  In a couple more weeks I'll be able to explain why... ;)  Great looking kit so far. I've been eyeing up the Great Wall line-up for some time now.  Glad to finally see one build up.  Looking great so far! =]

On the bench:  

Tamiya F4U-1  Kenneth Walsh

 

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, England
Posted by Bish on Tuesday, October 13, 2015 3:53 PM
beautiful work Joe, I really like those engines.

I am a Norfolk man and i glory in being so

 

On the bench: Airfix 1/72nd Harrier GR.3/Fujimi 1/72nd Ju 87D-3

  • Member since
    April 2015
  • From: New Hampshire, USA
Posted by UKguyInUSA on Tuesday, October 13, 2015 6:58 PM

Fabulous detailing work so far, Joe! Look forward to seeing more...have fun with the rest of the build!

Cheers,

Martin Smile

GAF
  • Member since
    June 2012
  • From: Anniston, AL
Posted by GAF on Tuesday, October 13, 2015 7:25 PM

Any word on the canopy, Joe?

  • Member since
    April 2005
  • From: Piscataway, NJ!
Posted by wing_nut on Wednesday, October 14, 2015 7:52 AM
Joe, as usual simply beautiful work.  Be careful though when not only posting pics with a seam but then calling it out so the seam police...
 Someday you will enter this is show and someone will start a thread days later about he they saw a photo of the thing in progress.  And how you left those seams and what a dastardly person you must be and how could you have possibly taken that prize for such shoddy work....
 
(Crank it up...)
 
The seam police, they live inside of my head
The seam police, they come to me in my bed
The seam police, they're coming to arrest me, oh no...
 
 The seam police, police, police...

 

(Hmmm... gonna listen to that today...)

Marc  

  • Member since
    March 2015
  • From: Streetsboro, Ohio
Posted by Toshi on Wednesday, October 14, 2015 12:16 PM

Wow, very detailed assembly, one word, Excellent!

Toshi

On The Bench: Revell 1/48 B-25 Mitchell

 

Married to the most caring, loving, understanding, and beautiful wife in the world.  Mrs. Toshi

 

 

  • Member since
    February 2012
  • From: Olmsted Township, Ohio
Posted by lawdog114 on Thursday, October 15, 2015 1:19 AM

Thanks everyone.  JJ, I got it off ebay for $46.00 + shipping, considerably less than MSRP ($86.00 at Sprue Brothers-----they need to lower their prices if they want to compete with eBay).  The earlier "uncorrected" kits can be found a bit cheaper.  Owl, The pit is out of the box.  GW did a nice job here.  GAF, they finally replied and said they had the piece, but no word on when they would be sending it.  Okay...you have it, how about sending it to me...lol.  head scratcher.....we'll see.  I ended up buyng another one off ebay (also reasonable) and if the new canopy does arrive, I add it to the new kit....no worries as it will get built. 

Wingnut, great tune.  Cheap Trick reference aside, no worries about the seam police or snitches as this is a commission build and will not be subjected to their scrutiny... Wink

Anyways, I have a quick update.  As you know I discovered the main canopy was cracked.  I'm not sure if I did it or it was like that. GW tends to use way too many sprue gates which can present issues.  Either way, as I said, I have an email in for a replacement and another kit on its way. 

In the meantime, I masked off the remainder windows to be added to the airframe before paint, a technique I used on the Uhu and liked (normally I paint them separately and add later).  I must have gotten the wrong Eduard mask set because the masks for the rear were too short.  I had to supplement with some Tamiya tape.  No biggie but weird since it says for the GW kit.  

I assembled the airframe and had zero issues.  I'm very pleased with the fit of everything so far.  Will I jinx myself if I say this has been one of the easiest builds ever.  Not even one wingroot gap!  Here we are before a shot of primer to check the seams.   

GW was kind enough to include a nose weight which fits in the radar cone.  This will keep it on its front wheels. It was secured inside with 5 minute expoxy to keep it from jiggling around and then the nose was Tenax'ed to the front.  Again the fit was great. 

As soon as a replacement canopy piece shows up I'll mask and add it.  Then it will be paint time..

I intend to paint on the red wing walk stripes.  I did it on my last P-61 and was pleased with how it turned out.  All I need to do is figure out how to convincingly weather a black plane.  I may start in the grey ranges and work up to black.....or vice versa Tongue Tied

Joe

 "Can you fly this plane and land it?...Surely you can't be serious....I am serious, and don't call me Shirley"

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    January 2015
Posted by BrandonD on Thursday, October 15, 2015 1:54 AM

Great job so far as always. Hopefully that canopy shows up quickly so we can see you get to paint on this thing. It really is gorgeous, especially the pit and the engines.

-BD-

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: SW Virginia
Posted by Gamera on Thursday, October 15, 2015 7:40 AM

Yeah I love those engines and the cockpit as usual for you is first class! 

Great to see her coming together. Crossing my fingers you get the replacement canopy soon. 

"I dream in fire but work in clay." -Arthur Machen

 

  • Member since
    February 2012
  • From: Olmsted Township, Ohio
Posted by lawdog114 on Tuesday, October 20, 2015 10:32 PM

Thanks guys.  Moving right along now.  The replacement kit arrived the other day and I horked the canopy piece out of it (wouldn't we know it, the canopy from Dragon showed up today---impressive customer service...A++++).  After it was masked and added to the model, there was a small gap at the front (see pic).  I filled it with Perfect Plastic Putty (awesome stuff) after I sprayed the interior green. 

I decided to paint in the P-61's distinctive wing walk stripes as I figured decals would tear.  I first sprayed the general area XF-7 Flat Red. I then sliced Tamiya tape strips to the proper width and while using the instructions decaling profile as reference, I added them thusly. 

I then preshaded the airframe, but since it would be black, I'm not sure why.............der!

Heres where I decided to experiment a bit.  For me black is an extremely hard color to weather convincingly, so I said, why not use dark gray instead of black and lighten or darken accordingly, all while employing my streaking technique?  Off I went....I started with an eyeballed mixture XF-24 Dark Grey and a touch of XF-1 Flat black.  I then added some XF-66 Light Grey and shaded various panel lines.

I added more XF-66 and streaked the wings, followed by more and lightened the control surfaces....

Time to remove the tape.....

The P-61 had distinctive heavy exhaust staining across the upper wings which can be seen in many pics from the era. I started with the XF-66 Light Grey then followed up with diluted XF-57 Buff.  I wanted it to be prominent.  I think this looks about right.

I added some random silver drybrushing and silver pencil chipping around the intakes and cowls.  I'm not one to go overboard on chipping as I think its easy to overdo. 

I'll clear coat it soon.  I'm waiting on Eduard Brassin tires and Quickboost props. 

Joe 

 "Can you fly this plane and land it?...Surely you can't be serious....I am serious, and don't call me Shirley"

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    June 2014
Posted by BrandonK on Tuesday, October 20, 2015 11:26 PM

Joe, I think you nailed the faded black just right. I also love the painted stripes, nice touch. You've given me some ideas for my widow when I build it up. I'll be using Vetor resin for the canopy on that since the kit one is said to be pretty bad. Hopefully, that will save me some greif. I too have thought about how to fade black, nice work, you hit it perfect.

BK

On the bench:

A lot !! And I mean A LOT!!

2024 Kits on deck / in process / completed   

                         14 / 5 / 2  

                              Tongue Tied

  • Member since
    January 2015
Posted by BrandonD on Wednesday, October 21, 2015 1:52 AM

Excellent paintwork, Joe! I will have to steal that technique, since it looks so fantastic.

-BD-

  • Member since
    October 2015
Posted by GazzaS on Wednesday, October 21, 2015 3:55 AM

Your paintwork looks great, and will inspire me on any black painted aircraft.  But for some reason, your black looks beown, and your red looks orange on my Ipad.

 

Best Wishes,

 

Gary

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