owl: Great job on Lambie II! I'm very impressed with how it turned out. We have a lot of folks doing great builds, but, IMO, you win the "most improved" award. That first Mustang you did seemed like such a struggle but now you crank out this beauty with ease, and with another bird soon to follow. Amazing!

kermit: You are quite prolific in the build department. I can't believe how quickly you are putting your Texan together. I'm SO embarrassed mine isn't finished yet (although I'm very close!). Your plane's front office looks sharp and the foil is laying down nicely. The raised detail on this kit is definitely showing through well. So nice to see another Texan taking shape. Can't wait to see the finished product!  

Btw kermit, on your AT- 6 Texan you might want to glue the firewall (#14) to the fuselage before gluing the engine (#13) to the firewall. This is ensure proper alignment of the engine. I did as the instructions indicated but there was some misalignment due to the amount of "play" allowed when mounting the engine to the firewall. Lucky for me I was able to pry the engine from the firewall and try again.

Thanks nicefit!  Do I get a special badge for being the most improved?  Just kidding!  But the contrast between that first mustang and this one is phenominal. I am really happy with how my skills have improved.

Speaking of which, the Tamiya 'stang is now ready for decals! I finished up the foiling after I had settled back into my dorm room. This will actually be my last kit for a while. We are planning to move in late Feb/March, and models pack up so much better when they are still in their nice easy-to-stack boxes.

OWL

I had a look at the Mirage today. I even clipped some pieces from their sprues and test fitted with Blu-tak. Ejector pin marks everywhere and also some bit errors in parts. I'll need to invert this shelf

at the back of the cockpit. Instead of 2 small steps with the large one behind it, there should only be one large step. If I cut this shelf off and turn it around it should take care of that. A beautiful resin seat comes with this kit along with some truly awesome coloured PE. Will need to be heaps of scratch added as well. The HUD on the cockpit dash needs work and there needs to be some metal grilling towards the front under the canopy. I found some PE brass train steps that have the right scale and should make a good substitute.

Cheers

I_AM_THE_GREATEST

can i join using the revell/monogram b-25? Im almost done. I just need to paint and do decals on it.

I AM THE GREATEST I havent been allowing builds past 50 or maybe 60% completed to join up. It sounds like you are way past that point so I am sorry I cant allow the B-25. You are more than welcome to join with another build if you feel so inclined, and you are most welcome to post pictures of your B-25 here if you wish to.

Kermit Man you are one FAST FREAKING FROGGIE !!!!!!!!!!!!! You just finished 2 builds and are in the finishing stages of the T-6. I am willing to bet, even though they wont let you take glue or paint on your pond hopping trip, that you are dry fitting model parts on the "Tray"  Your foil work looks superb too my friend.

Owl thats another sweet looking 51 you have going. I love they way they look with a nice foil covering on them. We will miss seeing your builds here on the forum, and I will be looking forward to your return to the bench after the move is finished.

Hummmmm a badge for the most improved huh, might hafta work on that one.

Casper looks like you have your work cut out for you on this build too, cant wait to witness the transformation.

I know I have been a ghost on this GB, just popping in to lurk on occasion. But today my Thunderjet was moved to the head of my to do builds and progress was made. I completed adding all the decals. Mainly stenciling at this point. During the last decal session, several of teh stencils were disintegrating so I had coated the remainder with Micro Decal Clear as a precaution. Even so I still lost a couple today in spite of this. I suppose having the decals sit in my garage over the past  year or so I have been workign on this build took its toll on them. Several needed an application of Micro Sol afterwards to hopefully get them to snuggle down correctly. But the last major hurdle on this kit is done. Next is touch up painting, top coat, weathing, clear parts, and fiddly bits. My goal is to have it done by the end of the month. I'll get more pics posted soon.

if i cant use the r/m b-25, i guess i can try one of the little 1/144 planes. I was looking at the enola gay. I have always wanted to do one of these little things. I just need to order it. I will post WIP progress pics of my a-10 and the b-25.

vetteman42

 

Casper looks like you have your work cut out for you on this build too, cant wait to witness the transformation.

Yeah it's mostly a good kit, I mean it has a wicked resin ejection seat, great coloured PE but a lot of the details and fit on the Heller parts is not good. They even chucked the canopies in the same bag as the other sprues without one extra so both sections have a slight scratch on them from rattling around in the bag.

Oh well can't complain, it is gonna be a sweet kit to work on.

Cheers

Kermit and Owl: Dang, I'm going to have to try some foil someday. I've been using Alclad and nothing else but the foil looks great.

Casper and Stikpusher: Great stuff, looking forward to seeing them more update photos.

Well, I did get another model pushed off the bench (in a figurative sense thankfully) and that pushes me futher to getting back to the long neglected B-29...

All done with my 1/48 Revell AT-6 Texan. Since my last post, I completed the assembly, added a dark gray wash in recessed areas, applied a coat of semi-gloss to tone down the finish, and added a (droopy) antenna wire. I'm not sure what I'll build next, but I am thinking about a shiny USS Enterprise NX-01 that I have in my stash. Since it doesn't qualify for this GB, I'd have to post on the Sci-Fi forum. Then again, maybe else something will grab my attention at the LHS.

.

That's a lovely plane you have there Nicefit! That finish was created with paint? In the picture showing off the belly lights, it seems you missed the company stamp on the elevator there....???

All the decaling is finished on my second Mustang! Due to weather I was unable to get outside pictures. Since it was a gift, I personalized it with the recipients name as nose art. I hope you guys enjoy "Mary's Mustang" 

OWL

Nice Fit, I like how you left the mold date stamp on the elevator. I like doing that on my R/M kits. Sort of a tip of the hat to old times for me.

Owl, your NMF builds are getting more and more impressive. It appears that you and the Mustang get along well!

Well here is my Thunderjet with all the stencils in place. Talk about lots and lots of little decals. Even the drop tanks, pylons and bombs and rockets (the latter two which I did not use) have all the proper stenciling.

Nicefit and Owl: Great stuff! Fantastic job on the NM.

SP: Lookin' good! Slap some landing gear and a canopy on her and looks like she'll be done.

Nicefit love your T-6, thats a flawless finish you have on it and I really like the markings you used. The fact that you painted the stripes on instead of using the ill fitting decals really makes it a top notch build. I hope you had as much fun as I did building mine, its really a sweet little kit.

CallSignOwl You are in mustang country and it comes naturally that you would do them so well I would think. Mary's Mustang is a fine addition to your collection. Love the markings, blue nose, but what really stands out to me are the yellow wingtips with the blue, very cool looking. Nice work on the lettering on the nose too, did you make a decal or hand paint it.

I will get the new builds on the front page today Nicefit and Miss Owl

Stikpusher to be honest I have been looking forward to your Thunderjet for a long time, its really a cool airframe. Those decals must have driven you crazy with there being so many of em geeze. Cant wait for the finished pictures which appear to be close at hand.

I finally got some paint on the Mustang. I sprayed a light coat of yellow on the nose and rudder yesterday to see how good/bad the coverage is and it aint too bad considering my limited airbrushing skills.  I'm gonna lightly sand with some high grit sanding pads and then hopefully the nose and rudder will be done by tonight.  Bad news is, I got back to college on saturday so I'm not sure how much I'll get done before then.....I don't wanna rush it, especially with the NMF finish so we'll see how it goes

Redraider56I will be looking forward to seeing pictures when you get them. There is plenty of time so no worries.

CallSignOwl and Nicefit the front page has been updated with your finished builds.

vetteman42

CallSignOwl You are in mustang country and it comes naturally that you would do them so well I would think. Mary's Mustang is a fine addition to your collection. Love the markings, blue nose, but what really stands out to me are the yellow wingtips with the blue, very cool looking. Nice work on the lettering on the nose too, did you make a decal or hand paint it?

Thanks Vetteman!! I had a fun time figuring out the foil on those 'Stangs. The hardest parts were the wing roots--a bunch of curves to work with. The lettering on "Mary's Mustang" was hand painted.   

OWL

Ok, got the step inverted at the back of the cockpit, a little more accurate now

I forgot how big a bird the Mirage 2000 was! This kit is 1/48 and it is almost as long as my 1/32 ME262!

I'm picking up my Testors SR-71 1/48 today and that is about 28 in long. Now that's longer than my 1/32 Starfighter!

Crazy stuff...

Cheers

CallSignOWL

 

  The lettering on "Mary's Mustang" was hand painted.   

 OWL

Yes those wing roots are challanging to put it mildly, I think if one can foil those well, and the rest of a P-51 they can foil most anything.

 I've been gone from here for so long, I missed a bunch of great stuff!!!

Got another one to squeeze in here, if ya'll don't mind!

1/48 Airfix EE Lightning with a bunch of goodies!!! (twas a secret santa gift from Swanny's site)

The Cutting Edge pit is amazing, just added a couple wires to it.

That's all for now. Got most of the plane together, sprayed the tail and spine with white and the canopy and anti-glare panel in faded black. Hopefully I'll get some shiney sqirtted tonight!!!

Got some shiney squirted!!!

I used shades of MM Metalizer Aluminum (non-buff). Starting with a darker shade overall ("Aluminum" with a couple drops of "Burnt Metal"), then straight "Aluminum" to fill in some panels, just like you might do with any color that you'd want to show a bit of weathering.

Decals coming tomorrow! (later today, I guess....technically......I don't sleep, so every day is the same day for me!!!)

Nicefit thanks for joining us was a pleasure having you, there is plenty of time if you should want to jump back in here. I will be watching the Weathering GB

Casperthat tiny tub looks like it wanted some delicate cutting done, and you pulled it off very well. Dont know if I would have had the nerve to try that.

Fermis your EE Lightening is in without question. Nice work on the pit, and it looks like you and your new air brush are becoming the best of friends. I like the NMF you have achieved with it. It still boggles my mind how fast you can build em.

With the supplied PE and a bit of scratch building, the back of the tub is starting to busy up a bit

A base coat then some colour and it starts to look good. Once I have picked out some details with silver dry brush and washed it in some light oils it should start to look respectable.

A bit better than the bare plastic supplied in the kit.

Cheers

I should have taken this shot when the oils had fully dried but I think it looks ok.

I've just given the resin seat a nice soapy bath, rinsed and it's now drying in kitchen paper.

Once the seat is in and the instrument panel is attached it should start to look pretty good.

Cheers

No pics yet, but I definitely making some progress. Since I decided to fill in and sand smooth the panel lines on the wings, I used Testors metallic silver to replicate the aluminum dope applied in factory to the wings. After that dries I'm gonna spray the black theater stripes (i dont trust the decals) and black wingtips and then finish off the yellow nose and rudder

be careful when you are masking over the NMF paint, redraider, tape pulls it up easily and otherwise mucks up the finish.

Casper, that little cockpit is outstanding! Cant wait to see more!!!

Fermis, you are very quick builder, and how do you paint so well? The airbrushing, for me, is one of the more stressful parts of the build. Your cockpit, too, is amazing.

OWL

Finally some pics. The wings are lacquered up, the nose and rudder are done, and the flaps are foiled (I'll foil the ailerons later).  I should come close to finishing up the paint before I leave for college sunday

Note: The yellow looks drastically different under different light so if it seems to light or bright, that's why

I was a little dubious of the coloured PE at first. It sorts of looks printed onto the metal (I realise this is exactly what they do) but it looked sort of grainy like it was a cheap inkjet printer) But once the painted parts interact with it and it's all in the right place then it looks good;

The oil wsh on the back of the cockpit has dried and it looks quite effective

and here is a shot of the instrument panel.

Cheers

Oh and here's what the pit looks like all put together;

Cheers