3RD ANNUAL SECRET SANTA GROUP BUILD FOR AIRCRAFT

Hey guys,

I'm not going to be able to head this up this year, I'm sorry.

If someone would like to take over the reins, please PM me and I'll be glad to give you all the details and answer any questions.

I do thank everyone for their support for the last 3 years.

Jon

painklr wrote:

When do we sign up for the 4th Annual Secret Santa Group Build?  Should be soon

I'm in too .... I'm even eye-balling some kits over at Hobby Lobby's clearance rack ....

painklr wrote:

When do we sign up for the 4th Annual Secret Santa Group Build?  Should be soon

 Count me in!!

painklr wrote:

When do we sign up for the 4th Annual Secret Santa Group Build?  Should be soon

painklr wrote:

When do we sign up for the 4th Annual Secret Santa Group Build?  Should be soon

Anazing work, Dave!
I would have gone nuts, with that canopy!

Looking forawrd to see your progress, Steve. I'm sure it'll be an interesting build.

razordws wrote:

Holy Greenhouse!! That looks great!

Kevin

Dave,

With all the masking taken off - that kit is really impressive.  The canopies look great and you did a great job on the camo pattern.  I don't remember ever seeing one of these before - on this site or any other.  Very nice.

Chris

Very well done Dave, enjoyed looking at it in progress over at Reggie also. That is one sharp build and that greenhouse is fantastic. Overall a great build.

I thought I was going to drag up this build as I have finally got some progress on my build. I have the Dragon JU-88A6 balloon cutter that I got from Warhammer. The kit is overengineered and has tons of PE. Havent done much work with PE before so this is a bit of a challenge. I have built all the main components as the cockpit take a lot of planning and work.

I have to cramm all this into the cockpit and thats not even half of it not counting the PE. The first four stages are cockpit assembly but then in step 15 it showes more going into it, very strange and confusing. I have it all painted now and started on the PE so more progress should follow soon. Thanks for looking

Steve

Dave

Nice looking build. Glad you enjoyed it.  Hope the kit gave you many hours of enjoyment and little aggravation and hair pulling sessions.

Haven't been around much lately and not doing any model building, too many other things this summer.  But, hope to get started soon on trying to put some models together. 

John

Thanks Bossman.  Where is everyone???

Done!!!  Was a pleasant build, not Tamigawa pleasant but I certainly enjoyed it and I love the lines of this aircraft.  Enjoy.

Good thing I busied up that office because you can see EVERYTHING!!!

Many thanks to my SS this year, PaPa-John and of course to Jon for hosting as usual.  Thanks guys!!! 

I put the dark brown splotches on just a few minutes ago and managed to take some pics before I hit the sac. I'll let dry for a bit while I deal with the engines and landing gear and then slap some decals on.

All buttoned up and ready for paint.  I was really worried about the engine nacelles as they are the type that you have to glue together  with the landing gear trapped between and then slide them over the wing an into place.  The locator pins were not too helpful but luckily everything worked out and they look like they are half decently aligned.  Engine cowlings are not glued on yet as they will be painted seperately to allow the engines to be assembled after the painting is done.  Anoter thing about the old Italeri kits is that the engineering really doesn't allow for easy painting.

Great work Chris and Dave. Phantoms are my phavourite and yours is a beauty well done. Nice progress Dave its comming along nicely.

I was to start my build last weekend but only got to open the box and check it out and no build time yet. Guess its all Daves fault, hehehehehe

Steve

 Chris like I said "You've Got Talent" I can't get over how great it turned out. I may have to get me one! Great  job.

 Max.. super job buddy. Keeper going!

Zip

Chris, Thanks!  The Phantom turned out great and I like the markings you chose. 

Klaus, Thanks also!

Was away for a couple of days but major assembly is now complete.  Rudder needs some minor repairs before it gets glued on and the elevators are not glued yet either.  Canopy dry fit looks promising!    Just got to sort out the seams and mask the canopy and then add the engines (more on that later ).

You both made great progress on your models, Max and Dave.

And your Phantom turned out great, Chris!

Bravissimo Dave !

Nice job on that interior and the G-brothers - man that looks crowded !

Here's the wrap up pics for my F4-C.  I'm not sure whether to add underwing tanks or ordinance.  I probably will at some point.  I just realized after taking the pics that I still have to add the antenna along the spine - but other than that - she's done.  I had a nasty time with the front windscreen.  The plastic underneath had to be trimmed down quite a bit in order to fit it on and make it sit down right.  Other than that and the intake issues - this went together very nicely.  The detail in the kit is great - everywhere.  I actually like the raised detail. It shows up nicely.     

A little blue food coloring mixed with future helped to dye the front windscreen panel light blue.

This was a very nice decal set too - went on like a dream, opaque and in register - you can't ask for more !  I added some weathering with some acrylic washes that were just a few shades off the base color.

So thanks again to Zipmeister who gifted me with this sweet kit.  Hmmmm.. and I've stilll got a Prowler that I have to start yet !

It's like Christmas all over again !

Chris 

Raider, that is an awesome looking Dauntless and nice dio to boot. 

Chris,  the camo turned out great.

Radmax, love what you've done so far with the jug.

I have been picking away at the CA 311 and I amabout to closeup the fuse.  I have no reference picks of the inside so I improvised with misc. bits from the spares box to busy up the lackluster interior.  Wash is kind of messy yet but I'll clean that up a bit before I close it up.

Meet Giulio, Guido and Giuseppe

Avus wrote:

You're a modelling machine, Max. You're already working on a new model after completing that spledid Corsair! Great looking "office"!

Thanks, Avus! I've had a good amount of free time this summer. It's really the only time I can get an hour or two at the bench each night/morning. 

Thanks everyone for the compliments! I'm glad you all liked the cockpit. But now, I'm moving on to bigger, better things! Here's today's installment:

As you can see, she's about ready to be glued together! This is such an easy kit, I get all giddy. I love the color contrast of the P-47, it's almost pretty.

Very nice detail work man !

Chris

You're a modelling machine, Max. You're already working on a new model after completing that spledid Corsair!
Great looking "office"!

Hey guys I've begun my P-47M from Leadaas. Wow is this thing detailed. Best kit I've ever laid hands on. I actually had a hard time building the cockpit due to all the detail... I'd freeze up, not knowing what to hit next! The cockpit is just about done, but I couldn't bear it any longer and had to post pictures.

I added a set of photo etch seatbelts and some data placards thanks to Mike Grant. I will be adding a Quickboost K-14 gunsight and  wiring behind the instrument panel, as that area will be visible. Stay tuned!

Last night I finished the fuzzification process on the camo colors, added a little bit of color variation on the tan surfaces, and gave it the overall future coat in preparation for the remaining decals.

Here are the results:

And just as a side-by-side comparison here's the earlier point in the process from last week:

Things should progress rather quickly now if I can get the bench time.

Chris