Revell 1/48 P-61 Black Widow, "Midnight Mickey" - Work in progress

Thank you very much Cbaltrin. Much appreciated. Glad you like it so far! :)

Cheers, 

Nikola

Outstanding work Nikola!

Hi ManSkirtBrew,

Don't worry about the issues and enjoy the build. It is a very interesting aircraft to model and learn from. You've got nothing to lose. I too gave up on great expectations and I am just having fun. Usually great results come from this kind of attitude though, as one focuses on the process itself instead of the end result. :) 

My advice so far would be to be patient with this one, clean all the parts and dry fit everything, even couple of times, and have filler ready. :) 

Also, you will need a lot of lead in the nose so you don't end up with a tail sitter. Although they provide a clear post in the kit, I didn't like that, ditched the radar system entirely and filled the whole thing with lead. Almost 70g! 

Looking forward to seeing your build! 

Cheers, 

Nikola

I just got the same kit for Christmas this year! Reading your thread has me really excited to get started, despite a little fear of the fit n' finish problems.

I'm still very new to the hobby, so I feel like it's going to be a good learning experience, and my expectations are properly lowered for what my final product will be like

I'm planning the Moonlight Serenade version myself, as much as I hate to delete the turret on top.

Hi Lawdog, 

Glad you like the progress so far. Appreciated.

Also, coincidence or not, I like how you used BJJ terminology, as I am a practitioner. :) 

Cheers, 

Nikola

Hi Hilandr, 

Thanks for the tip. Much appreciated.

As I admitted in one of my earlier replies, I was lazy with the research on the details and kind of saw this as another experiment with my complementary pre-shading method more than anything, since the kit is not great. Just wanted to make the cockpit more interesting by introducing silver to the hoses. I am sure that that's just one of many color mistakes I made, haha. 

However, I am waiting for two HobbyBoss 1/72 scale kits to arrive and will put more time into research. Your suggestion is well noted.

Best, 

Nikola

Hi CapnMac, 

Glad it brings good old memories to you. It really is a timetravel kit, haha :)

Cheers, 

Nikola

This post continues to be a trip down memory lane for me, as I remember building this kit when it was in the Monogram box, and being very much daunted by the glossy, four-page Shep Payne diorama included in the box.

I remember skipping the red decals and simply painting the upper surfaces red and masking off the red stripes on one of the all black-versions.  That would be about 1980, before we had chipping medium, AM accessories, and the like.

Yes and the big O² bottle on the other side was yellow. 

Also, on the starboard side panel details you painted the in-flight O² supply hoses for each crew position silver,  when in fact they were actually flat green.

.

Nikola

Hi Hoss, 

Yes, it has a lot of fit issues. No wonder why it became a notorious kit. Very fun subject to build though. :)

Thanks for the encouragement! :)

I finished all of the filling and sanding work, so now off to priming. Yay! :)

 

Cheers, 

Nikola

 

It looks like you're beating that bad boy into submission. I like the tarp idea. Great solution. Certainly better than ripping all the hair out of your head trying to get that fit.

Hi Tempestjohnny, 

Thanks a lot! I am glad that you find my method interesting. Appreciated!

I think that it opens up a lot of possibilities for interesting color interplay, but one should be careful and keep it subtle so it doesn't look unrealistic.

Cheers, 

Nikola

Thanks Gary!

We'll see how this outcome handles the next steps of washes amd filters.

Cheers, 

Nikola

Thank you Jeaton! Glad you like it. :)

Best, 

Nikola

Very good.  The sunlight brings out the shading very well.

Gary

Nice effect, very convincing fading look.

Hi gents,

Update on the Widow:

She received a second set of very thin coats (85%, thinner) this time those being Tamiya XF-59 Desert Yellow. I chose to lighten the OD with a yellow since OD is actually a mixture of yellow and black. 

The first couple of photos are taken outside in daylight and the rest is from the study. This is as close as I could get to showing what I actually see in reality without taking fancy photos. 

The effect of complementary pre-shading is subtle, but I think that it does add richness to the color scheme of the model. 

Criticism and comments are more than welcome!

Again, thanks for looking!

Cheers,

Nikola

Hi gents,

Here she is with the first set of thin coats of base color (Tamiya's XF-62 Olive Drab) over the complementary pre-shading scheme.

I think that the color variation should be subtler so I might go with a couple of more thin coats of OD or go straight to filters and do it that way.

I will decide on that when I see the model tomorrow in daylight. 

Apologies for the image quality.

Thanks for looking!

Cheers,

Nikola

Hi guys,

Priming and complementary pre-shading finished:

1. Primer - Vallejo German Dark Yellow Surface Primer 73.604

2. Complementary pre-shading - Tamiya XF-7 Flat Red (and darker shade of it made by mixing with XF-1 Flat Black) and X-16 Purple.

3. Highlights - Tamiya XF-55 Deck Tan

Next step: Base colors - Tamiya XF-62 Olive Drab and XF-53 Neutral Gray.

Thanks for looking.

Cheers,

Nikola

Tanker-Builder

Oh Boy;

 Now I know why when I had my Vac-U-Form by Mattel everyone wanted canopies. I have built that kit twice in the original Black Moldings. I don't remember that drastic a set of fit issues. It's almost as if the clear plastic shrunk catostrophicly!

 Why? Who knows?

The molds are worn out

 

Oh Boy;

 Now I know why when I had my Vac-U-Form by Mattel everyone wanted canopies. I have built that kit twice in the original Black Moldings. I don't remember that drastic a set of fit issues. It's almost as if the clear plastic shrunk catostrophicly!

 Why? Who knows?

Hi Hoss, 

Yes, it has a lot of fit issues. No wonder why it became a notorious kit. Very fun subject to build though. :)

Thanks for the encouragement! :)

I finished all of the filling and sanding work, so now off to priming. Yay! :)

Cheers, 

Nikola

Wow - those fit issues look challenging. It's looking good though -- keep charging. 

Hi Brynn, 

So far I only heard of vacuforming and have no idea how it works. It sounded complicated to me. :)

Now that you mention it, I will research it a bit and maybe try it on future builds if needed. 

Thanks for the tip!

Best, 

Nikola

Hi Gary, 

You said it man, a lot of work on this one! :) 

The subject is what keeps me going, as I love this aircraft. :) When you get over the kit quality and forget great expectations (speaking for myself and my average skill level), it's actually very fun to build, but one really needs patience which I often lack these days having two little kids, haha. I kind of see it as fun practice. We'll see how she turns out in the end. 

I recently oredered two of Hobby Boss's 1/72 widows with which I expect no trouble and just fun :) 

Thanks for the encouragement! :) 

Good luck to you as well! Looking forward to seeing your work! 

Cheers, 

Nikola

Nikola,

Thanks for tackling this project.  I think you're doing a fine job. 

I recently broke mine out and began cleaning up the parts for preassembly.  It's a 2012 version, so it's got some work.  I received this as a present a few years ago, and although I thanked them heartily, I kinda looked upon it as having gotten a Fruit Cake for Christmas.  A lot of work for little reward.  Well, we'll see how she goes!

Good luck on your continued endeavor!

Gary

PS> I can see the images just fine.

Can't see the new pics

Edit. All set can see them now