Thank you Mike, 

I had fun with this project.  I tried some new things with the paint and the finish on this one.  I know I'll never build a perfect model, but this is my best so far.  

Figures are tough.  Vallejo makes a nice set that makes it a little easier, but I'm thinking it'll always be a challenge.  Still, I think a decent figure or two adds a great deal to a scene.  

Cheers 

Chris

Teriffic job on the dio!

I sure wish I had your painting skills - for both the aircraft and the figure. Great job!

Gamera

Fantastic job there Chris on both the Zero and pilot!!! 

Sorry about the base but shouldn't take too much work (I hope) to knock up another one. 

 

Thank you Gamera,

It didn't take too much work to bust out another base, but it did take some time.  I used Woodland Scenics Fine Buff Balast to replicate the crushed coral airstrip.  The grass is WS Static Grass and Field Grass.  I added the grass to liven up the base as if the plane was at the edge of the flightline.  I think it worked out well, and it's pretty much the look I wanted. 

IMG_2351 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

IMG_2354 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr 

IMG_2364 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

IMG_2363 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

IMG_2362 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

IMG_2360 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

IMG_2359 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

IMG_2358 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

IMG_2357 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

IMG_2356 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

On to the next:

1/350 USS Cole DDG-67

Cheers! and thank you for following,

Chris

Fantastic job there Chris on both the Zero and pilot!!! 

Sorry about the base but shouldn't take too much work (I hope) to knock up another one. 

OUTSTANDING WORK, Chris!! Great job! 

I never thought about using my right arm to clean my bench. Might hafta give that a try once....... 

bvallot

I hope you still post a few pics once you get your base up and running.  

Thank you bvallot!  Yes sir, the polyurethane on the base is drying in the garage now.  I'm taking a simpler approach this time.  

Very nice Chris! =] I wish my first Zero looked as good. One day I'll have to get back around to doing a few Jap planes. I hope you still post a few pics once you get your base up and running. I'd very much like to see what you come up with.

Great looking Zero!

Wow, Chris! the Zero and the figure look fantastic! 

Devil Dawg

Just how in the heck are you keeping that work bench so clean while building a model???!!!! 

 

I use my right arm to push all of my paints, glues, brushes, tweezers, knives and sanding sticks to the far right side of my workbench.  Then I take pictures.  Then everything migrates across the workbench again.  I did just purchase a Yuuuuuge cutting mat, and it still has that new cutting mat smell.  

I finished my Zero.  My original plan was to get the base, pilot and plane together before I posted pictures.  However, the base warped like a Pringle's potato chip.  I only used one coat of polyurethane to seal the base, and I used a very wet mix of Celluclay for ground texture.  So, I'm starting over with the base.  It won't be ready for a few days.  This time it'll get two coats of polyurethane and no Celluclay.  

Here' my Finished Zero, sans base.

IMG_2336 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

IMG_2337 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

IMG_2338 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

IMG_2339 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

IMG_2340 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

IMG_2341 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

IMG_2342 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

IMG_2343 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

IMG_2344 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

IMG_2345 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

IMG_2347 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

IMG_2348 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

IMG_2349 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

Cheers 

She's lookin' good, Marine!

One question for you that I'm surprised no one has asked yet: Just how in the heck are you keeping that work bench so clean while building a model???!!!! 

bvallot - The red primer was a mix of Tamiya's Hull Red XF-9 and Red XF-7.  It was close to a 50/50 split.  I used reference pictures from the previously mentioned book to fine-tune the color.    

I may try that drybrush technique to obscure the size of the exhaust pipe walls.  I'll be away from my bench for a couple of days, so I'll have to finish the zero sometime next week.  

LawDog, you're right.  The figures are amazing.  Initially, I didn't even think about them.  However, I decided to build, paint, and display one after seeing them.  I'll have four left for my spares box.     

Hey, not a problem bud. Just sharing the love. =] I mention it here because just like you mentioned exhausts are a great place to start. And once you do, you'll start looking at all kinds of areas that need a little TLC here and there to ship-shape them into something more appropriate to whatever scale you're working in. 

There's ways of using color to diminish or highlight an object or shape as well. People do it with makeup all the time. To lower the profile of something, you're really looking to keep reflectivity down and make use (in this case) the dark as best you can. Dark as in color. So for something like exhausts what I would do in lieu of sanding late in the game is to make that lip as dark as possible without making it too sharp a transition that it still looks like its own shape. The idea is to erase the shape...prevent the eye from reading it well...keeping it dark and not allowing light to show it well. Just drybrushing a near black color or very dark version of whatever you've already applied to the interior of the exhaust. Maybe that can be of some use if you're interested.

Looking forward to the rest! 

Oh! and I meant to ask what color did you use to come up with the primer color for the Zero. I know you mentioned it earlier, but I figured I'd ask you while I'm posting. Thanks.

Yeah, I guess the scale thickness of the exhausts is about a 1/4 to 1/2 an inch.  That'd be a heavy exhaust.  Yes, you're right, I should be thinking more about scale thickness more often.  Exhausts are a great place to start.  Thank you for the suggestion and the input.  I'll scrape and file such things on my next project.  

Cheers 

Nice job Chris! She's shaping up into a beautiful Zero. =] If I can offer one quick tip it would be this. I noticed on your exhausts you can see how thick the plastic is from the how the kit part is molded. Certain molding processes can only make the plastic so thin and some parts might need a little help here and there. I learned this from a guy who owns a Hobby Shop near where I live and he used to judge a bunch of IMPS shows all the time. He talked a lot about the scale thickness of objects to me. Everything he mentioned afterwards was like one continuous Christmas string of lights going off. It seems very obvious once pointed out, but some times it is difficult to really see something you've been staring at forever.

So when it comes to something like the exhaust on your car or truck, you'll note that it's a very thin metal. To represent this at 1:48 would be virtually impossible to do with 100% accuracy as it needs to be razor thin, but we can get it most of the way there and make it work for us. Plenty of ways to get there and pull it off. Most times it's better to do it during construction so you're not messing up your paint and finish. Don't forget this can apply to anything. It could be a cowling panel or flap that is seen straight on--sand it down thin. It could be the trailing edge of a wing that's molded to thick--sand it thin. That's basically the take away here. =] I think what you've got is perfectly fine, but I wanted to offer some input in the instance that you're looking to make things pop a bit more. You seem like someone who goes the distance ;).

Looking forward to seeing her complete!

Love how she's coming along and the pilot ain't half bad either. 

Tuesday Night update,

Things are rolling nicely.  I completed a wash using Windsor and Newton's Artist Oil Burnt Umber.  I like the effect.  It just seems a little grimy.  It's most prominent on the green/gray underside, but it has a good effect on the green as well.  

IMG_2323 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

IMG_2325 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

IMG_2326 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

I finished the painting on the pilot.  

IMG_2328 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

Tomorrow, I'll use some pastel chalk and pigment powder to simulate exhaust and gun-fire staining.  

The base has been stained and sealed.  It just needs some simple ground-work.  It should be done soon.  

I stopped at the hobby shop after work today, and I was just going to get supplies.  However, I couldn't help it.  I purchased my next project.  It's a Trumpeter 1/350 USS Cole (DDG-67).   

Cheers !

^  OH NO!

I'm a Ford fan, and Penske racing was the only competitive team carrying the banner for a couple of seasons.  It wasn't until Steward/Haas switched to Ford that they had some support.  I agree about Kyle Busch, and I'm always hoping Danica's wreck takes him out.  

Saturday update,

I found a base, and I started to prep it.  It's from Michael's, and I think it's intended to be a clock face.  It's a wood circle at about 11 inches in diameter, which is about the wingspan of the zero.  It looks like a Hinomaru, so I used Minwax's Sedona Red stain to give it a red look.  I'll be putting some ground work on it.  I want to try to recreate the dusty airstrip at Buin, Bougainville as it looked in the summer of 1943.  

IMG_2314 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

I started painting figures in 1/35 scale late last year, but it's not easy.  This is my first attempt in 1/48.  I'd be lost without my Vallejo set.  I'm happy with how my pilot is looking so far.  The pilot still needs some paint for parachute straps and other details.  I guess it kinda looks like Lt. Cmdr. Saburo Shindo.  

IMG_2320 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

Now it's time for a 

Cheers 

ridleusmc

Brad Keselowski does the best burnouts.

Cheers 

He does some great ones, I'll give you that. Anytime Kyle Busch DOESN'T win is always a great race!!

I've heard a rumor that MOPAR will be back in NASCAR Monster Cup next year, and Mr. Brad will be driving one of them again. But, it's just a rumor......  

Looking really good!  I'm really getting anxious to get started on mine!

Thank you John, 

I haven't done much but apply decals.  I'll give it a day or two before moving on.  In the meantime, I'll work on the pilot.  

IMG_2303 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

IMG_2304 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

IMG_2305 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

IMG_2306 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

IMG_2307 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

IMG_2308 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

IMG_2309 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

Cheers 

Pretty darn nice, Chris.

Tuesday Night update:

I've been working a few things.  I've worked the tail light, wingtip lights, formation lights, canopy, antenna, propeller, and landing gear doors.  The landing gear are assembled, but I'll wait to attach them permanently.  The wing cannon barrels, aleron horns and pitot tube have been left off.  I've done some paint touch-ups here and there, so I'll wait a day before I apply a gloss coat for the decals.  I'm loving the way this bird is looking.  There was a slight imperfection of the paint on the spinner cone.  The imperfection created a small detent in the gloss aluminum.  I applied three small dots of my primer color in and around the detent.  Then I scraped most of the paint away, but I allowed some of it to smear.  Here's how she's looking tonight.  

IMG_2299 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr 

IMG_2298 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

IMG_2297 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

IMG_2296 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

IMG_2295 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

IMG_2294 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

IMG_2293 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

IMG_2292 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

IMG_2291 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

Cheers 

That's great LawDog, 

I'll be sure to watch for your Mossie.  I like Mosquitos.  They're interesting birds, and they look cool.  

Sunday and Monday I worked some little things.  It was all about getting some of the detail parts ready for installation.  I beat up the auxiliary fuel tank.  It got some scratches to mimic handling damage, but not weathering.  I doubt they had much chance to weather.  I added some paint to the antenna, landing gear struts, landing lights, and gun-sight.  

I had overdone the wear and chipping on the propellers.  They are aluminum on the forward sides, but flat black on the aft sides.  I removed the remaining flat black from the aft sides, and I repainted them.  Then, I used a tooth-pick to wear away some of the aft sides at the leading edge.  I don't have a before picture, but this is how they look now.

IMG_2287 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

I'm much happier with it now.  

Next up will be installing the antenna and the canopy.  I still have some paint to apply for the landing lights.  It's time to work some little things.  Decals will present a new challenge.  Some markings will need to be cut/torn where they meet worn areas of the paintwork.  

Cheers 

Saturday Night Update, 

I worked on the underside of the Zero today.  I decided to really beat up the area forward of the tail wheel.  It'd recieve some harsh treatment taking off and landing on an unimproved airfield.  Maybe I overdid it a little, but I like it.  

Tomorrow, I'll beat up the landing gear doors.  I think I'll use pencils to beat up the canopy frames.  I think I'll repaint aft side of the propeller blades.  

IMG_2282 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

IMG_2281 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

IMG_2279 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

^ Honestly Gamera, there are so many modeling books out there that are short of useful information.  This book is the quite the opposite.  There's a wealth of useful stuff in there.  The technique is fun.  I want to do more chipped birds!

Friday Night update, 

Model night!  Wifey has to work early tomorrow, so I got some good plastic time.  

I'm calling the chipping, scratching, and wearing done for the green parts of the bird.  I'll work on the grey underside tomorrow.  I added another variation to the process.  I run a metal scribe along the panel lines to wear them slightly.  I give it an extra couple of scratches at random panel lines to break things up .  The leading edges of the verticle and horizontal stabilizers got some wear with the polish compound cotton swab.  I'm pretty happy with the results.  

Brad Keselowski does the best burnouts.

Cheers 

IMG_2265 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

IMG_2266 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

IMG_2267 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

IMG_2268 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

IMG_2269 by Christopher Ridle, on Flickr

She's looking just amazing- I'm going to have to steal some of your techniques here. As I said I have that book somewhere, I glaced though it but haven't applied anything yet. You're convincing me!