Official Natural Metal Finish Group Build

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

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!!!!

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

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

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

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. 

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

Randy,

Congrats on what turned out to be a really really sweet starfighter. I really like these markings you chose (and the story behind you picking it). Your build shows the effort and hard work you have put into it. Well done me matey arrrr!

Looking this good i have to ask you: I know you have done a few of these testors kits. How do you feel about them in terms of looking like the real thing/ fitting of parts....blah blah? I saw their mustang and thunderbolt on a local hobbyshopping site and must say that the prices at least are very very interesting. 

Whatsnextwhatsnextwhatsnextwhatsnext???

Richard (who gets the hint to build the B17 first)

Vette, your Starfighter looks VERY nice! And yes I did handpaint my instrument panel. A basecoat of Flat Black, then dry brush with ivory over the instrument gage dials. Some ares in red based on a few cockpit photos, then Testors clear glue on the dials for the glass faces.

Stikpusher I ment to ask, did you hand paint your IP ? Looks really good however you did it.

Kermit I have seen a few NMF B-17 models and leme tell ya they looked really sweet and hey who says you cant do a what-if anyways. Most all my builds are what-if's. Man looks like I am commited to host NMF Part Duce

Ok guys I am finally able to call The F-104c Starfighter finished. The markings are from the 497th TFW George AFB, California. As I told in an earlier story I chose these markings because they were so friendly at George when I got flight following with them. I also chose the aircraft as my first jet build because my Father worked on them when they were in development at Lockheed, later I made parts for them as a machinist. I also got hold of a 1/48 Revell F-14A Tomcat I want to build for the same reason, we both worked on them. But that will be a differant story, now back to the Starfighter. Here she is and I hope you like her.

Now for showing off a bit of scratch building. This has been my first serious attempt at this fine art.

The ejection seat thru a suprisingly clear canopy

And the really big experiment the stainless steel foil used around the engine heat shield panels

I want to thank you all for your kind words, and helpful opinions during this build. I know I drove a few nuts with questions.

A couple of the F models where stripped of paint, upon conversion to a VIP transport aircraft for Generals, you could do that, but anyway, its your to paint it any way you want.

Of course you could get a G

B17Pilot

Hey Kermit -  If you decide to do a NMF B-17, be sure you have plenty of paint.  Mine took over 1 1/2 bottles of the MM Alunimum Metalizer paint, but these big birds sure stand out with there NMF!

Totally agree there B17Pilot. My C47 in 1/48 took almost a whole spraycan of metal paint too... Well aware of it, thanks

The only problem, and i have notified our host of this  (and he approved...), is that the B17 in 1/48th that i have in my stash is the RoG "memphis belle" kit, which is/ was a B17F. Well informed modelers will now raise their eyebrows as the B17F for the most part never received the NMF finish... So in a way this would be a "what if" bomber if i decided to go for that project.

Richard

Hey Kermit -  If you decide to do a NMF B-17, be sure you have plenty of paint.  Mine took over 1 1/2 bottles of the MM Alunimum Metalizer paint, but these big birds sure stand out with there NMF!

Thunderbolt - Thank you for your comment on my build. The Revell instructions indicated FS34092 so that's what I applied. I didn't see your post until after the FS34092 was already on. Btw, the green color that my post was asking about was the not the upper fuselage color, but rather, the green color that is part of the checkboard and front spinner, which is not the same as the upper fuselage color.

Vetteman - Thanks! Funny thing is that I HAD to paint the red stripe as a decal was NOT provided for this paint scheme. (Red stripes are provided for the all-metal Big Beautiful Doll version shown on the box art.) Decals were provided for the black stripes on the wings, but I choose to paint those as well.

Kermit - Thanks!

All - I painted the FS34092 upper fuselage color and prepped the rest of the plane for the NMF finish. The prep work included going over the surfaces one more time with plastic polish and cleaner. The plastic polish gives a great, smooth finish BUT almost too smooth for masking tape to adhere. I'm having difficulty masking the red stripe (this is a re-do because part of the mask lifted) and the green/NMF border on the underside of the plane. Once I can get the tape to stick, I will seal the mask edges with some Future.

Hats off and attaboys to both Stikpusher and Nicefit! That's the better pit work and that paintjob on the stang is going to look gforgeous! Can't wait to see the progress pics; nothing better than look at good modeling during my morning coffee.

While i am on a "Mig vacation" i have been pondering over a next NMF project... Right now i am very busy on my 1:72 submarine for the sub GB but there's always some time left on the side for my NMF models. Would love to do a thunderbolt or B17 in 1:48...

Richard

Stikpusher that office is looking really really good and that ejection seat is a prize. I really like the way you have the harness hanging. Looking forward to seeing more, and am glad to see you making progress.

Nicefit Oh I am liking the markings you have choosen, and I like the fact that you have decided to paint the red stripe especially. I have seen the decal stripe done but think the paint will look much better for some reason. Nice to have you back and making progress too. Oh and the antiglare panel on that one should be OD if memmory serves me right.

Fuselage is glued together. Tomorrow morning I will start working on sanding and filling the seams. Starting to look like a Thunderjet now...

Hi Nicefit --

This is a marvelous subject, one I've had a hankering to do for ages, the markings of the 343rd may very well be some of the most attractive Mustangs ever carried.

She's looking good! One item you might double-check, I'm sure the upper fuselage was standard WWII USAAF Olive Drab (34079) -- this is the paint reference given by AeroMaster on sheet 48-739, which features markings for this squadron.

Cheers, looking forward to seeing this one come together!

Mike/TB379

PS: I got a coat of metallic on my Thunderjet a few days ago, it should be hardened off for handling by now, will post a pic asap.