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

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.

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

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.

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?

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.  

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. 

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.

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.

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.

Wow! Great finish! That was pretty speedy, too.

You're killing me...now all of the F-18's in my stash are calling my name yet again!

Dupes,

Thanks for the kind words. Once I had the decals and the wash done the rest of it went together PDQ. I was a bit suprised myself at how fast I was able to finish it.

Dude you can build my wingman VFA-81 AA410. Kick some tires and lite the Fire!!!

Now on to my to my VMFA-333 Mean Marines Phantom II Mig Killing Machine!!! WOOOOOOO!

stikpusher wrote:

I just saw this GB the other day. I am very intterested due to the dates and am finishing up two other GB projects currently. I have a partially completed Monogram F-8 that I was planning on marking as Cdr Bellinger's Mig killer. Since it is already started (a long time ago, then sidelined) is it eligiable, or does it have to be an all new construction?

Yes it is eligable! Partially built kits of Mig Killers are welcome to enter. Come on aboard Stik, we'd be glad to have ya.

Air Master Modeler wrote:

Dude you can build my wingman VFA-81 AA410. Kick some tires and lite the Fire!!! 17Jan91 VFA-81 N.Mongillo   F/A-18C/163502 AIM-9M MiG-21bis IrAF

Do you know if anyone makes markings for your wingman's bird?

Stik, WELCOME ABOARD!!!

I also did an F-8 in the same markings as VF-162 Cdr. Bellingers plane about two years ago. My kit was a very old 1/48 ESCI kit from the 70's and it came out really good. I summited pics to ARC and they published it on their web site.

I cant wait to see your's. I love the Monogram 1/48 F-8 kit and built mine as VMFA-122 Crusaders.

Air Master Modeler wrote:

Dupes, Thanks for the kind words. Once I had the decals and the wash done the rest of it went together PDQ. I was a bit suprised myself at how fast I was able to finish it. Dude you can build my wingman VFA-81 AA410. Kick some tires and lite the Fire!!! 17Jan91 VFA-81 N.Mongillo   F/A-18C/163502 AIM-9M MiG-21bis IrAF Now on to my to my VMFA-333 Mean Marines Phantom II Mig Killing Machine!!! WOOOOOOO!

Dupes,

Look for the same CAM decal sheet I used. It had VFA-37 and 81. You will have to make the BuNo. decal yourself and cut the 401 decals to make it 410.

OR 

You can also look for the Repliscale sheet #48-5032 which has all the marking for VFA-81 AA410, 401 AND 403. All low-vis. http://www.habu2.net/vipers/viperdecals/48/decals48rsall.html

Stik,

Are you aware that Cdr. Bellinger was the 1st, US Navy pilot to score a MIG kill in Vietnam? I cant recall what type MiG he shot down but he is indeed credited to having scored the first US Navy kill in the SEA conflict.

I did a coat of SG White yesterday... not too happy with how it turned out on the lower fuselage. Will have to get another session in later. Here are a couple shots just to show how it is starting to look. The wings and stabilators are just in place for the pics and not glued on yet. And I have to scratch a new IR sensor for the nose since I lost the original kit part. Not close to being done, but better that before....

Stick, The Crusader looks good and seems to be coming along nicely. Try masking off the entire bottom fusalage and lift the tapes edge just enough to get blending look between your colors. This is how I did my Crusader when painted it.

Give it a try.

Right now I am in slump. Since moving to my new apartment I've had no motivation to work on my Phantom. I have got very little work done on it and not sure when I will get back to it. At this time I am still settling into having my own place. I hope to break this slump soon.

Finally getting some time to work on my big F-15.

I got the wing roots filled and sanded today, I am going to go over them with Mr. Surfacer 500 to get them nice and purdy looking. I also attached the forward fuselage and nose cone today. I am going to get it sitting on it's own legs tonight to get an idea how many sinker weights to add. I hope to be able to post a pic or two tonight or tomorrow.

I finally found someone with a spare clear canopy, so I don't have to deal with the smoked one now

The A-4C continues to move up the "to do" pile!

I've scored a bunch of kits with appropriate MiG-killer markings lately...going to be many of them on my shelf here in the semi-near future.

I just picked up the R/M 1:32nd F-4E "MiG Killer" kit. I am going to get started on it as soon as the F-15 is done.

I am going to use the Two Bobs "SEA Heroes" sheet to make BuNo 69-7551, credited with a MiG-21 kill