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

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 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

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 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

Outstanding work Nikola!

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

Cheers, 

Nikola

Hi gents,

Just a quick update on this slow developing project 

Decals and the second gloss coat done.

Next: Minor paintwork corrections, painting certain details, more filters, washes, chipping, exhaust stains... and all that jazz.

Again, apologies for the image quality. 

Thanks for looking!

Best,

Nikola

Outstanding...

Thank you very much Lawdog! Appreciated!

Cheers, 

Nikola

Nikola

 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! 

Yes this is a huge problem!! When I built mine, I put about 1.5 oz in each engine nacelles, and I put another 1.5 oz under the pilot's seat. I never did get that front gear down. I ended up replacing the clear peg anyway. I had considered weighting the nose as you did but I put a lot of work in repairing the radar system and I had always thought that was what made this aircraft unique so I didn't. 

The nose on your model looks opaque,  did you buy the opaque nose "upgrade" or is that paint job tricking my old eyes? That's the way they were in real life. (If they didn't paint them black or OD green.)

Hi Hilandr, 

It's all OOB. The radomes for both options came as regular opaque plastic. I just painted it.

Best, 

Nikola

Hi gents,

She has been salted and filtered with flat white. Then when the salt was removed she received another flat clear coat to get rid of salt ''fogging'' effect and an overall Desert Yellow filter.

She is now ready for exhaust stains, final gunk wash with Abteilung 502 Starship Filth, chipping and various final touches.

Thanks for looking!

Cheers,

Nikola

Hi B777, 

Thank you very much for your kind words! Much appreciated! Glad you like her so far.

She is definitely not an easy bird. :) 

Cheers, 

Nikola

Regarding weighting the nose, just do as Shep did-use a small bolt captured between the halves of the nosewheel, to secure to the base.

Hey thanks! I finally got started on mine and made a thread for my own progress.

Only the couple of prototypes had plain fiberglass noses. In action they were painted.

Hi guys,

Just a quick update - Ailerons and flaps installed, and exhaust stains made with a 50-50 mix of Tamiya Flat Brown and Rubber Black followed by Tamiya Buff.

As usual, apologies for image quality. 

So close to wrapping her up.

Thanks for looking!

Best,

Nikola

This is turning out nice. I like the looks of the Widow in OD/NG. I haven't built one of these in 30 years but there's a couple in the stash, and if I ever get around to building another, this is how it will be painted. 

ggatt_2

This is turning out nice. I like the looks of the Widow in OD/NG. I haven't built one of these in 30 years but there's a couple in the stash, and if I ever get around to building another, this is how it will be painted. 

 

Hi Ggatt,

Thank you! Appreciated.

Yes, the OD/NG scheme is very attractive on this aircraft, although the black scheme with red prop hubs really makes it a Black Widow. :) Got to do one of those as well one day. 

Best, 

Nikola

Hi gents,

Last update on the Widow before she goes into Ready For Inspection thread 

I have tried sponge chipping method for the first time, combining it with brush chip painting - I am not very satisfied with the result, but it turned out acceptable. I had better results with HS method. It is what it is, no further changes (might do some silver pencil details). Will have to practice a lot. 

Thanks for looking guys!

Cheers,

Nikola

You've got a great weathered finish there!

the Baron

You've got a great weathered finish there!

 

Thank you very much Baron! Glad you like it! Much appreciated.

Cheers, 

Nikola

So where did you fit 60g of lead in the nose of this bird?

Hi ManSkirtBrew,

All in the radome. I took fishing sinkers and cut them into small pieces so I could squeeze them in as many as I can.

I also put an additional small piece behind the radar support plate (between the plate and the cockpit). But I see you've glued the plate already. 

Best, 

Nikola 

Ah, I see. Since I modeled the radar, I was going to leave the dome off, or at least make it removable. Maybe I'll do a clear sprue under the tail for this guy.

Hi gents,

I lied when I said that the previous post was the last before the Ready For Inspection thread (the build is taking forever) 

Here she is with only the canopies, tarps and antennae left to be finished.

Thanks for looking!

Cheers,

Nikola

Hi gents,

I finally got the will to finish this bad boy so I started on the tarps (for the first time), as I said to cover all the problems with the canopy to fuselage fit and quality due to the kit being ancient and the molds being shot.

I mixed PVA glue with water (ratio completely arbitrary) and did a few test tarps with regular paper tissue. 

It looked ok, so I proceeded onto the model.

Next is priming and painting so I will see what I get.

Thanks for looking!

Best,

Nikola

Hi gents,

This seems to work so far - tarps primed and painted with Tamiya Buff base coat.

Next, dry brushing and weathering.

Best,

Nikola