Here some pics of the new Tone

This is a much nicer and more detailed kit

Jason

Gsp that cockpit looks aswome!! I have one of those kits and hope mine comes out half that nice.. What version of the Kate is it?

Jason

Getting Ready to Join the Fuselage halves and thought I would post some WIP pics

 The cockpit left side.....

 Cockpit right side ...

Top view front ....

and top view back.

 More later. Out.

Hmmmm, Guadalcanal 2? Or maybe a longer more inclusive Solomons GB next year? Something to ponder. Anyways no real progress to post on my work so far. Still waiting for PE set to finish up, but I did start work on the foremast. I need to do some adjusting on it to have it sit where it looks right in my eye.

So now a historical update today- I should have done these all along Today is the 67th anniversary of the Battle of Santa Cruz, the last equally matched carrier battle between the USN and the IJN. Shokaku and Zuikaku squared off against Hornet and Enterprise. When it was over Hornet was sinking, Enterprise and Shokaku damaged, and the last of Japans's experienced Naval Aviators had been decimated.

vetteman42 wrote:

M1 A1 A2 Tanker Are you going to build your Wildcat for the group ? I believe Joe Foss flew with Jefferson DeBlonc. That would be too cool !

Nope, I'm doing Tamiya 1/700 Suzuya for this GB. Will save the Wildcat for later. Maybe Guadalcanal GB #2?

Scott

Stikpusher good ya had me worried I dun sumpthin wrong there. I do like that badge ya know had to finish so I could claim it

Jay12472 thanks for you complement. The dull coat did worry me because it toned the weathering down so much but as the light changes so does the look of the model.

Randy the wildcat is well done the weathering turned out great , I think the flat pulled it all toghether

Jason

Thanks for the complements guys, gotta admit I am very happy with this build. It will be going to a Navy Seals vet from New Orleans after I show it off a bit.

Stikpusher Hope I didnt jump the gun on the badge, if I did I am sorry about that.

M1 A1 A2 Tanker Are you going to build your Wildcat for the group ? I believe Joe Foss flew with Jefferson DeBlonc. That would be too cool !

Kermit It was your pushing and shoving to try the water colors that made this paint job come out so well. I thank you sir. 

Randy,

AMAZING Wildcat! I am truly impressed. Mine did not even come close to this one... I love the weathering, wich i think is not overdone in any way. My words for it would be subtle but very effective and lifelike. Every new model i see coming from your bench is better every time

Keep up the good work my friend

Richard

Like I said in the Soviet Union GB Randy, one word: AWESOME!!!

This is one of the kits I have waiting in the stash. I got the Joe Foss markings for it, too.

Scott

Randy, your Wildcat looks first class! I think the top coat toning everything down relly blends it all in nicely! Congratulations on completion, and on being the first member of this GB to cross the finish line! I can see you have already added the GB badge to your slide show.

Beautiful work.

Gspatton44 Yes it has been a fast build for me I am used to building Revell and Monogram kits that take a month or so. This Tamiya kit is a sweet one, only ran into one problem with the gear bay doors not fitting well at all. Hope I dont disappoint with the pictures

Here are the final build pictures, it seems that the final dull coat toned down the weathering some, actually quite a bit, but some still shows in the sun light.

I hope I did the F4F-4 Wildcat justice it is my first historical build.

This aircraft was flown by Lt. Jefferson DeBlonc of the 112 VMF during the battle of Guadalcanal, on his first combat mission a few months after flight school. If memory serves me right he shot down 2 enemy aircraft with in 30 seconds after discovering he had a fuel leak. He didnt have enough fuel to get back to Henderson so he ditched the plane and was rescued by some friendly natives. Lt. now Capt. DeBlonc claimes he knows the value of his life, because he was traded by the natives to friendly forces for a 10lb sack of rice. You can catch his story on the History channel show Dog Fights. The courage of those guys amazes me there is no way to thank them enough for what they did and for what they do now.

EDIT I just watched the Battle for Guadalcanal again and got the story right.

At the time of his first combat mission Second Lt. Jefferson DeBlonc had only 10 hours flight time in the Wildcat. His squadron was on a mission to protect some bombers that were bombing Japinese supply shipping. He discovered he had a fuel leak but decided to continue his mission knowing he wouldnt make it back to Henderson Field. He shot down 5 enemy planes that day before he himself was shot down over the ocean, by an Oscar. He was rescued by some natives who bartered him to friendly natives for a 10 lb sack of rice. Sorry guys I got it wrong the first time but had to correct the story.

Satch - Good Luck!

Vetteman -That was quick! Great looking AC. Can't wait for more pics.

Update on my build. Just about ready to button up the cockpit and join the fuselage halves. I am going to take a couple of pics with one or the ohter sidewalls tacked on to give you guys a look before the fuselage goes on. Once I put them together it will be a little hrder to see all the detail. I will try to get these before the weekend but I have but I have a big licensing test in Sacramento Fri and Sat so I might not make in time.

The AM P-400 is officially underway! 

Also, not pictured, is the Eduard PE set.  I went and bought the Revell P-400 to get the decals for the unit I am modeling.  Wish me luck!

 Satch

Guys I just finished up the F4F-4 Wildcat, but I want to take the finished pictures in natural light so hopefully the colors will show up better. Its dusk here so pictures will have to wait until tomorrow.

Heres a teaser for ya

M1 nice start on the Suzuya I just started another tone as my fujimi tone is not working as nice as I would like

Jason

Here is another WIP from my Tamiya Suzuya kit. Used my brand new Fujifilm J38 to take the pic too.

See ya

Scott

And I also like that it is subtle and not overdone.

Vetteman the chipping and paint has come out very nice

Jason

Thanks Kermit those water colors worked out great dont ya think ? And thanks for telling me about them, and talkin me into trying them. Yes I am building the Constitution it is the Constructo kit, made the mistake of following the instructions to plank the hull, had to tear it all off and do it again. Came out much better the second time. I can email you a few pictures if you like. BTW this is my first wooden ship, I did build the Revell version back when I was 18.

The Wildcat is getting close to being finished, I am trying a bunch of new tricks on this one and am hoping it does come out well. So with out further auhdoo some WIP pioctures for ya.

I want to try some salt chipping so started with a base coat of silver, but decided from the chipping I have seen on real aircraft more painting was in order after adding the salt over the silver paint.

So I added a coat of yellow green primer and more salt becfause you dont see only the aluminum in chipped paint but the primer too.

Painted the bottom sky grey mixed with white per Tamiya instructions, didnt seem to lighten the grey much though.

Masked the bottom and shot the top again per Tamiya instructions, lightened Med Blue.

The paint chipping worked out well I think, the silver really shows up in the pictures but the yellow/green primer doesnt show up well at all. I will take finished pictures in natural light maybe that will help them to show up a bit more.

A bit of fading and weathering before I shoot on some future for decals.

I got the decals on lastnight and will add another coat of future this afternoon so I can dirty her up a bit more. I did have to use Micro Sol to get the decals to lay down, in fact on the sides I had to hit those decals 3 times. Its the first time I have had to use the micro sol they just did not want to lay down, they look pretty good this morning though. Anyway I should have it finished in the next couple of days. Thanks for looking and comments are welcomed, sugestions are too .

Hi guys,

Took a little peek just now after Vetteman mentioned his wildcat for this groupbuild... Stunning work my friend. Already commented on the pit wich is great but i also have to mention your work on the engine. Very impressive!

By the way,.. you never mentioned you are working on wooden ships as well! What Connie kit are you building? The constructo? It's a whole different ballgame but sniffing wood is highly addictive innit?

The little seagulls came out nicely too. I have two of those giants (arado seaplanes) to finish myself for my 1:350 Bismarck.... german camo in 1/350 will be challenging to say the least...

Great work gents!

Richard

Oh nice touch Bondoman go and set it on that humongus penny, you should really have dusted the table off first though. Looks like 3 boulders next to the penny with the Seagull on it

Well the Wildcat is ready for the airbrush so if this rain stops I will be seeing if I can make this look all beat up and used. I will post piuctures as I go.

Bondo thats some great work on those very little planes

Jason