MIG Killers II Group Build 11/08-11/09

WarHammer25 wrote:

Beautiful Rand! Awesome job on the Bug. The finish is just amazing. I would say that did indeed top the F-8. Can't wait to see what you do with the F-4.

Thanks for the warm words Hammer!

Here are some more pics that came out a better than the first ones.

I am going to take a break from modeling for awhile and get everything I need for my next project... VMFA-333 Shamrocks, AJ201, Marines F-4J. The only Marine Phantom to score a Mig Kill.

Enjoy the pics and comments are very welcome.

BUG IS FINISHED! VFA-81 Sunliners AA401 MIG KILLER. Flown by Cdr. Marc Fox, January 17, 1991, Operartion Desert Storm.

Aint she a Beauty! I think this definately one of my best builds to date. I think I also topped my Monogram 1/48 F-8E Crusader. I elected to represent this plane as she was before she was launched for her mission. Decals are CAM for VFA-81 and Hi-Decals F-18 Data. I exclusively used Polly Scale Paint and airbrushed then did a wash that look almost 3 hours to get right. Flat finished using Krylon Clear Matte spray. I am very happy with how it turned out.

Enjoy the pics. All comments welcome.

Update Report:

Decals are DONE! Thank the styrene godz I didnt toss it in the trash with all the trouble I had with the decal set. All that is left to be done now is a wash. weathering, final assemblies, clear flat coat and she will be finished. I am aiming to compete my Bug by this weekend or next week.

This BUG looks awesome! I cant wait to show it off. Pics coming soon.

Paul,

I think it's just the one set I bought because I too have never had problems with them before, but note they are 1/48 scale decals. Just before I posted this I put one of the walkway decals on and it tore in 3 places as soon as I took it out of the water. I was able to still use it and with a lot of MicroSol I was able to repair it without the tearing being visiable to the naked eye. The film is so thin that even touching them they will rip. Just going to be very careful and go as slow as possible as I put them on. 

dupes wrote:

Air Master Modeler wrote: I am having fits of fustration with the CAM decals I bought for it. The carrier film is VERY VERY thin and easy to damage if your not careful. Is that SOP for CAM decals? Or just an abberation with the set you're using now?

I think it's just the set cause I have never had problems with CAM decals before. The carrier film is alot thinner than it should be and very fustrating to set into position when I use MicroSet. I should be able to slide them into position with a brush and they are not sliding right without adding water to the model surface. I am having to float them into position with water before I can use the MicroSet or Sol on them.  

Air Master Modeler wrote:

I am having fits of fustration with the CAM decals I bought for it. The carrier film is VERY VERY thin and easy to damage if your not careful.

Is that SOP for CAM decals? Or just an abberation with the set you're using now?

btp2k2 wrote:

Holy crap! I found one!!!! I finally found a clear cockpit for my F-15C! Of course, it came at the expense of buying a whole new kit....oh well! Now I can do my hometown squadron...the 318th FIS as well

WTG Paul!  Glad you got it going now. Looking forward to seeing the finished products.

Holy crap! I found one!!!! I finally found a clear cockpit for my F-15C!

Of course, it came at the expense of buying a whole new kit....oh well! Now I can do my hometown squadron...the 318th FIS as well

Thanks Hammer,

Just wait till you guys see the rescribed panel detail I did for this Bug when I do the wash to bring it all out. You guys will think its a Hasegawa kit and not a Revell kit.

Right now decaling had begun. I am having fits of fustration with the CAM decals I bought for it. The carrier film is VERY VERY thin and easy to damage if your not careful. I can see it is going to take a few days to a week putting the decals on and getting them to look right. On the bright side the MicroSet and Sol are doing their job making the decals look painted on. I am going to go at decaling this Bug very slowly. I almost damaged one of the squadron insignia decals on the vert stabs.  

So far its looking great. I'll post more pics soon.

Rand: Very nice F-8. It does look as good as any Hase or Tamiya kit.

Dupes: Sounds good. I will be looking for a PM in the future. Thanks!

Thanks Dupes,

Revell-Monogram kits always look better after you rescribe panel detail. When done right they look just as good as any Hase, Academy or Tamiya kit.  

AMM - you put that Crusader together out of the grumpy old Monogram kit? Bravo! Looks great...nice 'pit.

Warhammer - I'll get that decal sheet out sometime soon, will piece out the markings you're looking for and PM for an address once I get an instruction sheet scanned.

Hammer,

Thanks for the kind words. I did a bit more detail painting to the nose and added radom tan and painted the nose tip steel and also painted the nacel rings steal. Everytime I add a bit painted more detail this Bug just keeps looking better and better. I am getting excited and anxious to get this Bug finished. Tonight I am giving it a coat of Future to get it ready for decals. So far I am really liking the way its turning out. This may yet be my best looking build to date and may beat out my Monogram 1/48 F-8E Crusader. Pic of my Crusader below.

Rand: Even though the pics aren't the greatest, your Bug looks great. Keep it up!

Dupes: I don't need them right away. Whenever you have time to do it is fine. I haven't even opened up the parts bags in the box yet. Just so I have enough time to finish my F-4 within the time frame. Thanks!

I wish my girlfirends cam took better pic and I need to get my own cam for sure.

Anyway, next steps on my list of things to do is some more exterior detail painting then she get a coat of Future. After Future has cured decals will go on and then she gets a light wash and weathering. Next final assemblies will go on (bombs. missiles, landing gear, ect.) and a coat of Clear Flat sprayed on to finsh her and she is done.  

I have already started getting prepared for my Marines F-4J Mig Killer. I will be using the Monogram 1/48 F-4J Mig Killer kit.  I got an Airwaves 1/48 F-4J Cockpit PE set. True Details F-4J tires and the decal set I needed on the way. I was going to build it for my girlfriends dad but being an old Marine Jarhead he wants a Tank instead.. LOL. So I will be building this to add to my own collection.

AMM - looks good so far...waiting to see updated photos. What's the next step in the paint process?

Warhammer25 - how soon do you anticipate needing those decals? I can certainly part them out for you as soon as I get some time.

I was finally able to get some airbrushing done today and OH BABY, my Bug came out great! I think this is my best paint job to date. I'll post some pics a bit later. Its just came out so well I have to show it off. I am very impressed with how good it looks.

 EDIT

Here are the first pics. Pics are not that good and it was not my camera so please be kind.

btp2k2 wrote:

Air Master Modeler wrote: Paul, Try Sqaudron.com and see if they have the Falcon vac form canopy for 1/48 F-15.   I don't think that would work as this is a 32nd scale F-15

Sorry , It looked 1/48 in the pic.

Air Master Modeler wrote:

Paul, Try Sqaudron.com and see if they have the Falcon vac form canopy for 1/48 F-15.

I don't think that would work as this is a 32nd scale F-15

No, I don't need a scan dupes. I have the profile in one of Osprey's Phantom Mig Killers books. I was planning on building my F-4C as 64-0776 on the gun kill mission complete with the SUU pod. I might be interested if you are willing to piece that particular aircraft out.

Can't wait to see pics of the Bug and the F-4J. 

Dupes,

Is the F-4C that Lt. Colonel Robert Titus (64-0776) flew when he got the gun kill with on that sheet by chance?

Looking forward to pics of your Bug...as well as that F-4J!

Just got a hold of a decal sheet called "F-4C Gunfighters" from Fox One - great sheet comprising seven different 4-C's, all SEA scheme from a unit with multiple MiG kills. If anyone is interested in one of the sets, I'd be happy to piece one of them out. Let me know!

Paul, Try Sqaudron.com and see if they have the Falcon vac form canopy for 1/48 F-15.

Now as for myself, I finally got some painting done. I've hardly been able to work on my Bug since early January due to snow and temps below zero here. Its finally warmed up and the snow and ice are melting so, I got some long awaited work done this week. I got some sub-assemblies painted and done and was able to get a primer coat on yesterday and some preshading done today. Hope to finish the Bug soon and I'll post pics of the finished product.

My next project is going to be a Marine F-4J Phantom II MIG KILLER VMFA-333 Shamrocks AJ201 Buno# 155526 from the USS America 1972. This particular Phantom is the ONLY USMC Phantom to score a Mig Kill in Vietnam. I am going to build this Phantom for my girlfriends father who is a former Marine and has a shelf dedicated to the Corps but, it I think it needs a Marine Phantom wiith FANGS. Sempri Fi! Long Live the Corps!

Got some work done on the F-15C.....

I am still in desperate need of a clear canopy. The smoked one just won't cut it.

Big Mike - sorry about your accident! Stuff like that always sucks...never good for modeling motivation.

Got together this weekend with the aforementioned fellow that's big into a/c pics - he's getting a bit older, and decided that his stash was too big...so he "unloaded" a few (like 12) kits on me, several of which fit this GB to a T! Phantoms and Hornets galore all with the right markings! Will be pawing eagerly through them to see what really grabs my interest.

Good day gents

Remember me. Sorry i have been so quiet here but i ran into a slight problem with my build, i am building the 1/32 F-86, so i was doing some work on it and i bumped a full bottle of tamiya extra thin cement over and it went all over the body of my F-86 so before i put it in the bin i put it aside and did some work on other builds so now i must fix the one side of the plane and rescribe, what fun.

Mike

Just an update:

I've managed to get all the rescribing done and assembled the fusalage together. So far its going pretty good. We have have some nasty winter weather with 6 to 8 inches of snow and hardly any sunshine til today so I have not been able to do much work since my last post. I am hoping the weather improves and I can start getting my Bug ready to primer paint this week sometime.