USMC GB : Now until Sept 2015

Thanks I think I have it figured out.

Well, I've been moving kinda slow on this kit since it's for a friend and I finally decided to give this kit the Nav light treatment that I gave my P-47. I cut out the "molded" in lights and drill a small hole in the corner where I apply red and green paint. Then I cut and mold clear sprue to fit the notch and glue it in with CA. I then trim and sand, polish and all that to make the affect complete.

When the light is viewed from above or below it is clear, when viewed at any other angle they look like real lights. It's a neat trick and really helps the wings look so much better.

This first image is a different plane but you get the idea. The rest are the F4U.

Looks great Brandon. I can't seem to get that nav light technique to work. I can't seem to get the clear part to stay in place with CA glue. Gonna give it another go on my next build till I get it right.

Okay so now I have the pictures down but now when I try start a new post it is posted in the Group Build general.  How do I post in this group build, what am I missing?  I have gone through the directions.

Jarhead..not sure..u just need to post just in the next thread after my response using the 'use rich formatting' feature then insert the pics using the tool

So this will be the jet that I am building and I have the cockpit done and will have pics this week.

WOW Jarhead! You nailed it! It looks so real! 

Seriously though, I'll enjoy the pics when you get them up.

Jarhead, was that F-18 picture taken at Iwakuni? The buildings in the background look like some of the ones I remember from when I was there back in 1989.

Progressing right along. I was worried that all the little cargo would be a PIA but it was actually fun even in 1/72! The Black Dog sets are so nicely detailed and add to some realism to the basic kit.

The only short coming to the Black Dog set was this area where the rear cage is visable. The set didnt have it, so I clipped the Revell pieces off and placed them. Wish I had a good before pic.

The nice thing about armor is that the pin wash doesnt have to be neat. The dirtier the better, within reason!!.

Cool piuc of the F-18 thanx. I just shot the light grey on my F-18 and am happy to see the top grey has a very slight blue tint to it. I was wondering about that.

Theuns

That tank's sweet Travis...that extra gear is propelling that build into awesomeness....very cool

Completed builds have been updated:

Rob, Jibber, MAC, Rigidrider, and PJ....your builds look spectacular...if there is anybody else I missed who has completed it, let me know, but I just read through the past 12 pages so I do not think I missed any.

In addition, Theuns you have been added to the roster and Jarhead you have as well. Modelcrazy, I updated your build to the Osprey....again if I've missed anybody let me know...

I appreciate you all not letting this group build die in my absence, something i've seen happen to many other gb's when their respective hosts had to take some absence. The fantastic work that has been and continues to be done in this thread is an encouragement for me to get my butt back down to the workbench.

Rob has done a bang up job stepping up to the plate.

Yes he has!

Well guys, after many hours of tediously pouring over the Corsair I finally have her in primer. I used Alclad black primer and microfiller. I haven't had a chance to look for flaws yet but I didn't see anything glaring while I was laying it down. There are a lot of individual pieces on this bird and they all have to be painted seperatly and then installed. So, I have a ways to go, to say the least.

It's really looking good Brandon.

Big Welcome Back Josiah, we all kept the home fires burnin' in your short absence!!

Brandon K ... tip  on the lights is appreciated. They do indeed look real!

Travis... your tank is  looking amazing. The little extra details bring it to life!

Doug

They were.

I have the basic colors on and I am rather pleased with the look. As soon as it is dry I will do post shading and weathering to reduce the "plastic" look

I need to move with this build, I entered it in next weekend's comp!

Theuns..what brand and colours of paint did u use?

Bottom grey is Humbrol 129 and the top is modelmaster dark ghost grey, I didn't have US compass grey.

Theuns

I gave the whole kit a good going over to look for any flaws that needed fixed and I actually didn't find any. So, once I had the Zero in the sun drying I hit the Corsair with a tack cloth and began laying down 3 coats of Mr Color 14 Navy blue. It went down without a hitch give one, I dropped one of the drop tanks and it is now all dusty. I'll let it dry and hit it with some 6000 grit, prime and shoot it again, no biggie. The paint went down exceptionally well I I have so much better luck spraying Mr Color Vs Tamiya. Perhaps I need to look at thinning Tamiya more to get it to dry more slowly, like I have to when spraying Mr Color. Hmm.

Anywho, I will give the bird a few days to cure and hit it with some clear and move on to decals.

Love the precision of your work Brandon...well done thus far.

So this is my cockpit, it has been six months since my last kit so I am still trying to get into it.   I will try to improve my picture quality on the next round.

Very nice Theuns.

Brandon, the blue is looking real good I love those corsairs.

Jarhead, Those figures and the cockpit look real nice [tup][tup]

I wanted to dirty her up a little, but darn it looks like it was washed with an oil rag!! I went way to stupid with the weathering......ah well let's just say it is a work horse Hornet.

Theuns,

That is perfect! Don't change anything. That looks amazing man! I would be proud to display that and only wish I could achieve those kind of results.    The 18's are workhorses. The ones you see in pictures are all prettied up and not on front line service for the most part.

Steve

Kind words Steve, thanx

I have not seen a real F-18 "by eye" so I thought they might take a battering on deck

Here in South Africa we rarely get to see the cool toys you guys see all the time at shows and such.

Our JAS Grippens fly so little due to "costs" they don't get the chance to weather. Then I must say the SAAF did always go out of their way to keep operational aircraft very clean.

Theuns

Just for interest sake. I used chalk pastel powder on a fine brush to do the streaks, and shading. I find I have more controll over it than pre shading.

Theuns