Official Natural Metal Finish Group Build

Randy, that's a most delightful 104, you nailed it in every way! It's amazing to think it's the old Hawk/Testor kit, you built what was missing and finished her to a high standard. The foil came out very well and the blueing of the burnt metal areas is remarkable! Top stuff!

Cheers, Mike/TB379

Been away for a week and hope to make some progress today! Decided the front wind screen is best vacume formed so am in the process of scratch building a master to use. I won't fuss with rivet details just concentrateing on correct shape and fit. Modified the rear 'bubble' by dropping it about 2 mm lower and sanding down the bump just behind the frame. Referance pictures confirm the Trumpeter canopy wasn't correct and sat to high. (probally to compensate for the thickness of the clear plastic) Rivet detail will be captured in the foil

Hey Randy - nice job on your Starfighter. The NMF looks great as does the engine heat shield panels. I also like the scratchbuilt items you added in the cockpit and landing gear areas. That's something I want to start adding to my builds. I chuckled when I read "a surprisingly clear canopy" - only because it wasn't till my last two builds that I got canopy results that looked acceptable. I bet you'll have fun with that Revell F-14A. I remember building that kit decades ago.

For one reason or another, I haven't gotten around to looking at most of this group build's posts, including your posts about the Starfighter. Now that I'm at the NMF stage of my build, I think I'll have time to go through the numerous pages of this thread. It will be something fun to do while my Alclad coats are curing. I'm looking forward to hearing how everyone put together such beautiful builds.

Nicefit,

There is great knowledge to be found in this years NMF group; lots of different techniques and approaches used providing you with lots and lots of inspiration. Suggest you allocate some time reading through the posts, you won't be sorry

Sooo....

I have ordered decals for my mig, along with a P47 thunderbolt (must be one of my all time NMF favs...) in 1/48th scale, but judging from the reactions i can assume people want to see a kermified B17 in 1/ 48th even if it's an F version...?

Richard

Now thats some nice work Vetteman42! The whole build looks flawless! Truly great work.

Stikpusher, Kermit, Thunderbolt, Nicefit and Raptordriver, thank you gentleman for your kind words on my finished build, and for the encouragement I got along the way from you all. Means alot to me after a build like this one, started thinking I would never get it finished.

Richard I did build Testers P-47 Thunderbolt awhile back and like the Starfighter found the fits good only needed a bit of filler around the wingroots and tailplane. The lack of cockpit detail makes the clear crystal a waste unless you do some scratch building or go the AM route. Wheel bays are the same way lacking detail and you will want to thin the bay doors, they are way thick. The engine front is good with a little help needed, plug wires and such. My only real complaint with the kit is the raised detail is quite tall and heavy. I did enjoy building it and BTW it was my first NMF build (Hint Hint Richard ). Overall for the price not a bad kit really.

Supressionfire welcome back :) there are some fine interesting builds here and a bunch of methods to choose from. So read on and jump in.

Had some nice weather over the weekend.  Got some exhaust stains and a sealer on.  Now its raining, so I guess I'll have to wait to put on the semi-gloss coat to make it look used.

Exhaust Stains Left and right:

Since radials are dirty engines, had to do some on the top as well

After the semi-gloss, just need to add some small bits and pieces and I can call her done.

B17, that looks just like the one I saw flying around here today. It looks like out of Long Beach airport (the old wartime Douglas plant where many were built) there was a NMF B-17G flying around. Too bad I was driving in the car and could not hear those lovely radials.

Major progress on my F-84 today. First off I sanded and polished up the fuselage seams, then rescribed the few panel lines that were lost (minimal due to a nice fit originally). Then I added the wings.

Once those were dry, I added the tailpipe and the horizontal stabilizers. Once all those parts are dry tomorrow I will clean up the seams for those areas.

Now she is looking like a Thunderjet!

Oh My we have 2 sweet builds going here.

B17Pilot I really like your exhaust stains they are very convincing, not too heavy nor too light. The dirty cowlings on top are a very nice touch also. May I ask what you used for the stains ? I will write the weatherman and see what can be done about the weather being more favorable for your project. I want to be adding this one to the front page.

Stikpusher nice to see you back here and making progress. Man the Thunderjet is looking good I know its going to be a stunning build. Too bad though that your cockpit is hidden in there. It was really nicely done.

Cant wait to see both of these builds finished guys.

Vette, I realized that once I got it all together. Not gonna be able to see much except up close and personal. But, at least I can pose it with the canopy open so more can be seen.

B17Pilot,

That' s indeed a stunning and beautiful paintjob on that fortress! Well done and hats off. Stains and trails look very lifelike too. Randy' s comment makes me think of this pic i have in one of my downloaded PDF' s:

War weary B17 sometimes had really pronounced exhaust trails on the wings....

Stik,

Your thunderjet is coming along very nicely indeed. Looking forward to seeing more of your progress sir.

Richard

This one is going to be fun fun fun!

Today i have received my order of the decals for the Mig15 and the Academy P47D (26) in 1/48th scale. Now.... for twenty bucks i must say i am very pleasantly surprised with the detail and ,most of all , the clean flash free sprues of this kit:

It offers two finishes OOB: the one on the boxart, which is in OD but also a NMF one:

I do like these decals, even though i never had really good experiences with academy' s decals... That rabbit cracks me up Not too sure about the red and white tail yet...

So...

Randy,... I just took another look at my Mig and i am inclined to want it stripped and repainted before i use the decals. Therefore i would like to put on my pouting puppy eyes and kindly ask you to replace the mig for this T-Bolt on the first page for the time being...? (*pout*)

Richard

Vette: Thanks!  The saying here in Texas is this: "If you don't like the weather, wait 24 hrs"  Low and behold its suppose to be 60 and sunny today.  Hopefully I can get the semi-gloss on after work before the sun goes down.

For the exhaust stains, I used MM Exhaust metalizer paint.  Its designed for airbrushing only (but you can use on small areas with the brush) .  Just thin a little and stray in the direction of airflow.

Kermit Whats this ?????  are you tellin me we dont get a MiG-15 ??? But then again that Academy P-47 looks pretty cool. hummmmm MiG ??  P-47 Ok Richard the coin toss came up heads so the P-47 it is. However may I kindly request a picture of your finished MiG-15 ?

PS Richard thats a great picture of the B-17. I am gonna stash that one in my files for a future build. Gotta do a 17 one day ya know. 

Richard your build is changed Cant wait to see it my friend

Nonono... that cute lil Mig is all but forgotten. In fact, i have done some paintstripping/ repainting and decalling on it today I just placed it lower on my to do list... Ofcourse you will get your pic.

Having had some time off from work due to circomstances in the health department i have had some good modeling time so my T-bolt is coming along nicely sofar. Pit is painted and installed and joined with the fuselage and wings. Used my usual method of revell acrylics, drybrushes with enamels and a black wash:

Like i said, pretty cute lil pit for a twenty buck kit i' d say. Certainly the next pic will show you a nice surprise for that kind of money: removable armament reloading hatches. Doesn' t even look half bad imho...

And finally a pic of how she is residing on my workbench as we speak:

While the kit itself has decent detail and virtually no flash on the sprues whatsoever, the join between fuselage and wingroots could be somewhat better and will require some filling and sanding fun later on...

Hope you like her sofar. Thanks for watching

Richard

Kermit sorry to hear you are having a bit of a health problem and hope it gets better soon. I am pleased to read I will still be seeing a pic of your MiG-15, what I did see of it was really nice and looked forward to seeing it finished. The P-47 is looking great, I really like what you have done with the gun bays. Looks like a very nice kit BTW

Richard, hope everything is going ok for you and get over the health issue!!!

Some excellent work going on here guys!!!! Not able to join in........yet........ but have been meaning to drop in and see whats going on. Looking forward to seeing more!!!!

Thank you all for your kind words. Starting to get alot better now. At least the bleeding headache is gone

Just dropping by with a mini update to tell the gaps and cracks are filled and sanded up on my jug. Also added the intercooler flaps. Basic fuselage construction is now finished and today i will continue on the engine... For todays pic i have added a quarter dollar in the picture.

Have a great weekend!

Richard

Kermit lookin good there guy. But I gotta ask where you got that oversized quarter, thought this was a 1/32 scale build.

Randy,

I WISH.... . The thunderbolt has always catched my attention more so than the " glamour" of the P51; just as much as i prefer a hurricane over a spit any day. Call it a weakness for the " workhorse"  plane... If i can get my hands on a nicely priced jug, i will certainly buy it. This Academy kit however is in 1/48th scale

Completed the initial construction, painted the engine, masked the canopy and assembled it all together. The NMF layer has just been sprayed on. Pics to follow soon.

Richard

Kermit couldn't help myself nope I couldn't. Just had to give you a hard time. Cant wait to see the next set of pictures Richard.

PS I will attempt to be a good boy now

I am finished my Tamiya 1/48 P-51 D. I have had some camera issues, and I have not been able to post a WIP since the cockpit photos. I have enjoyed my first NMF plane. I used Alclad II polished aluminum, although I did not use Gloss Blacl base, but just "Black", and it would have no doubt came out glossier if I did, but that was the only black at my LHS. I also used some Eduard cockpit PE as well as the canopy masks. The greatest problem I had was with the decals. With acrylic paints, I would Future over it before applying them, then another coat after- it seems to hide them well- but these stand out- and I could not crop out the transfer film in all of them close enough- any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks

Rob

Maxfax wow ! That is one fine Mustang ! The finish came out great and the weathering IMHO is spot on, not over done at all. Your cockpit looks great too, a very well done P-51D to be proud of. The only thing I can say about the build is I think I would have been just a bit heaver on the exhaust staining. I will post your completed build on the front page in the morning. Thanks for joining in the group and I hope to see you in the next NMF group build Rob.

I had the same decal problem on my NMF mustang but not on the P-38 or the F-104 and I didn't do anything different on any of them as far as future then decal then future to seal everything up. 

PS I will attempt to be a good boy now

....Resistance is futile....

Maxfax, That' s a beautiful mustang you' ve built there. Very well done indeed. I love the pit and choice of finish you built and i don't see any problems with your decalling from my point of view here. Only thing i could say was that i agree with Randy about the exhaust staining (you want to curve it towards the wings as well due to airflow).

Hope you' ll try another NMF in the group (hint hint hint)

Richard

Echoing Kermit -- Maxfax that is one beautiful Wild Horse. I built that kit last year and loved every minute of it, I have another to do shortly, and always look forward to adding another to the shelf.

The paintjob and decals look spot-on, that's a very proud bird!

Cheers, Mike/TB379

Thanks to all for the great comments!  I picked up a Tamiya P-47 D on the week-end at a model show, but I'm not sure I could get it done by the end of this GB- perhaps it will have to wait until another time.

How do I include the GB badge on my profile?

Thanks

Rob

Nice looking pony Rob!!!

Maxfax your fine build has taken its rightful place on the front page. Again thank you for joining the group and sharing your build. I see you do have the badge in your signature but I am not sure how you get it into your profile, maybe one of the other guys here can help you with that.

Ok, update time...

Finished paintwork on the thunderbolt and hope to wrap up the decalling tomorrow while the future coat sets overnight. Still have to retouch some area's and scrape a little edge of paint away here and there but overall i am quite pleased with this model. Especially the canopy is of the same quality as the one on my Academy Sabrejet i did earlier. Kinda makes up for their decals

Also decided to add a flat belly droptank and two 500 pound bombs. They are painted and ready to be added after the decalling is done (afraid to knock em off...)

See for yourself:

Thanks for watchin' boys

Richard