War In The Pacific Group Build 2009 - 2010

Charles nice job so far on the Hellcat. I've built a few arii/otaki kits and the are nice.

Paul glad to hear the disaster was adverted.

Stu nice job on the tony, in such a short time frame

Jason

So here's the challenge.  Doing the rigging on the Pete made me remember why I don't do biplanes and the Dauntless is all but done.  I have a 3-day weekend and the better half is out of town.  Sooooooooo:

I decided I would start and finish 1 kit in that 3 day timespan.  I picked the Hasegawa Tony that I had mentioned earlier.  This would be a totally out of box build, no time for aftermarket goodies or scratchbuilt extras.  I didn't even stop for seatbelts since the only canopy option is closed.  I got an early start this morning and as of 4:37PM this afternoon I have:

• Painted, washed, weathered, highligted and completed the cockpit
• Completely assembled the plane
• Sanded and filled all seams
• Masked the canopy (This is one modeling skill I'm happy to turn over to Mr. Eduard and his fine canopy masks.  I do hate masking canopies!)
• Primed, preshaded, and painted with Alclad aluminum and Tamiya yellows and JA gray
• Sealed with Tamiya Clear. 

When the clear has had enough time to cure I'll mask the tail of the fuselage and spray the red.  This will be a bit tricky as it's curved and I've had hits and misses (More of these) when masking metal finishes.  C'mon Tamiya clear!  Do your thing!

So if everything goes like it should, I will slap the black anti-glare strip and JA Army green camo done free-hand, decal, and finish tomorrow.

 When I was younger (I think we all did this) I would buy a kit and have it built and on my shelf later that afternoon.  As I grew up I spent more and more time fiddling with tiny details, aftermarket accessories and scratchbuilt goodies that no one ever really saw.  It's nice to just take a breath and build a kit the way the manufacturer ment you to.

After an afternoon yesterday of kicking myself, walking away mad, and a few stiff shots, I'm happy to report a disaster averted!

I sprayed the interiors with MM acrylic yesterday. I had it all thinned just right and the whole day to work on it, so I got set up and sprayed a coat which didn't cover at all. No big deal, I figured - just wait a few minutes and do a second. So about 15 minutes later I hit it again and to my horror it started beading and puddling!

My second mistake: I usually use Tamiya acrylics and thin acordingly. I decided to try MM acrylics which (as the directions clearly state) dont require thinning!

My first mistake: RTFM stupid!

So at this point I'm having visions of stripping and starting over. After a few dozen rounds of self abuse I decided the best thing to do was have a drink and figure out how to strip the parts. (This is where the reading the manual part actually occured.)

A few hours later I went back to take another look at the parts and found that the paint had actually settled down nice and flat! The coverage was non-existant and it looked awful but it WAS flat. So this morning I figured I'd try a coat full strength over the top.

It worked! It's not the best looking job I've ever done but it isn't bad. After shading and highlighting it should be OK.

Tomorrow is an all day tailgate / baseball game so I'm hoping to get the cockpit finished and pictures up Monday.

Charles, its looking great. I know what your saying about those cheap kits, sometimes there more fun than the expensive multimedia jobs. You seem to get more of an achievement out of making them great. From what i can see your well on the way. Bob hit the nail on the head with the window probs. If you dont have any styrene and you only want a little wedge of the stuff to fill the gap, why not justslice a piece of the sprue. You can get a fair shaped wedge from the sprue if you angle the scalpel right. If its too thin, cut another and layer them. Once dry, sand flat. Simple. Hans von Hammer would love me for giving out frugal tips LOL.

...Guy

Mucker, that Hellcat is coming along mighty fast, and looking good to boot.

Jason, the Oscar looks spot on.

Guy, the Kyofu looks good and battered.

Nice job on the chipping.

Karl

Hope it works.  It's a shame you aren't a bit closer-I'm building quite an inventory of Evergreen styrene strip stock in various sizes/thickness to fill the gaps on the AMTech P-40 and would be happy to share.

Good luck decal shopping.  Always fun to find that 'right set' of decals.  And enjoy your weekend.

Cheers

That's not a bad idea, Bob. I never thought of building up the fuselage section/ I don't have any plsticard, but I can always stretch and glue styrene sprues. Then a little putty or Mr. Surafacer and the gap should be gone.

I appreciate the advice...I'll give it a whirl.

It's like that on both sides, with the large gaps being the rearmost part. The rest of the window seal can be hidden with white glue.

we're heading out for the weekend, so unfortunately no progress  until next week. If I'm lucky I may be able to get to Wings Hobby shop and find some decals...

Charles-you're right-it looks like a Hellcat.  I agree with you-the inexpensive older kits, although not 100% accurate according to the rivet counters, are a blast. And they leave a lot of room for scratch building and adding extra detail, from a total cost standpoint.It's easier for me to justify a resin seat, some PE & new decals if the kit was dirt cheap to begin with...

As far as the gap at the rear of the canopy window pane, how about some thin styrene strip stock, glued to the fuselage where the canopy meets...or a narrow strip around the back side of the canopy, if needed.  Is the gap around the entire canopy or just that one area?

I'm off to such a quick start oh the Hellcat that I feel like Guy, only with less talent!

OK, for those of you who have never built an Arii or Otaki kit, let me give my my sales pitch. I love these kits. Let's start with the negatives:

• It's not Tamiya or Hasegawa on terms of fine detail
• It's basically accurate overall, but rivet counter will tear it to shreds
• decals aren't the best

That being said, there are so many good things about these litte kits:

• Simple construction...hey if I can throw a kit together in about a week, this is a 2 day kit for most
• decent EXTERNAL detail with engraved lines
• Cheap: most can be found for about $10 or less at shows (The Hellcat cost me $10 with  Edurad PE, resin flaps and a resin engine
• The fit it relatively good
• They are FUN. I've enjoyed all of their offerings I have built so far and they all pretty much confirm to my comments

So, here's where I am.

Here you can see why the more serious builds or rivent counters would want either AM parts: not too much detail on the insides:

The over all shape and exterior detail is pretty good:

I will have to fill the wing root seam on the underside:

And where I am goingto need to hear your insight is the canopy glass: You can seethe gap between the aft-most window pane and the frame. What do you think would hide this: Kristal Klear? Future? White Glue?

All of this was done in two nights, no more than 4 hours total, including time waiting for paint to dry.

Bob, Jason, thank you very much!!! Bob the rigging wasn't as bad as it may look honestly. SLOW and steady work with a #80 under a mag lamp, swiping the elastic in ACC, poking it in the hole, threading other end through corresponding hole, pulling taught and anchoring with more ACC. All 12 strands and 24 holes done that way. I really love this knitting-in elastic, it is dead straight every time with tension, and tension is what the real things were built to do so it also adds a bit of strength. Quite strong too i might add.

Guy, I would love to take you up on that offer one day.

Thanks for the invite Guy.  Hopefully one of these days the wife & I will be able to explore the world.

As far as Cash in the Attic, I have to admit that it is a bit cheesy at times (most).  I miss the old BBC classics like Monty Python, Good Neighbors, Fawlty Towers...that type of comedy.  But it beats watching infomercials in the early morning....

LOL, Bob, I cant believe you watch that stuff. I spose weve had it since forever, im just wondering what America did to Britain to deserve us shipping it out there? Ive said this before and ill say it again, if you or anyone comes to the UK, give me a shout and ill more than happilly put you up, be it on a sofa or wherever, Your all welcome,

...Guy

Thanks all for the kind comments.  Now comes the fun part-fitting the fuselage together and to the wings.  After some test fitting, I think I'm going to have to stuff some styrene strips in to minimize the gap.  However, I will need to try to maintain the proper wing dihedral...could be fun....NOT! 

Will post progress pics as progress occurs....unlike Guy who has his staff working around the clock.......and I would like to get across the pond and visit Great Britian someday.  I've been watching entirely too much daytime BBC TV while I've been on my 'unplanned sabatical'  Cash in the Attic is turning into one of my favorite shows....

Ritchie the floats look great.

Bob That pit is great I have to get into using PE

Jason

Woah Bob, that pit looks stunning. Theres something about a P.40 that really gets the juices flowing. Looking forward to seeing more. As for my Corsair. Give us a chance man, Ive just started on a Reggie Aero MC.200. I need at least a day or two on that one

Your all welcome to come over and have a look, you never know you may stay a while LOL.

...Guy

Guy-looking forward to progress pics on your Corsair.  I have a Tamiya Corsair in the stash...might even break it out for this GB.  You should have your's finished by tomorrow, right?

Ritchie-great work on the floats.  That rigging would be enough to scare me away.  Can't wait to see more.

Finally got the interior done on the P-40E.  Ended up using an Ultracast seat, without belts and adding PE belts.  I hate working with PE belts. Also used some of the Eduard Zoom kit for this build.  The interior side panels really didn't need any help, but the kit IP was a disaster.  No detail to it whats so ever.  Such are the challenges of the inexpensive OOP kits...

Couldn't get a good photo of the IP, but trust me...the PE is much better than the kit version.  With a little luck, I should have it buttoned up and primed by the end of the weekend.  Now to decide which plane from the 49th to build.....

I found it on Amazon, but have been too lazy and too broke to order. All of my spare change goes towards styrene, resin, paints  and very thin metal. I haven't forgotten, though!

Oh yeah, i should have metioned a few select comedies. I have the series on DVD now. Soooo funny. Did you ever find it over there?

...Guy

Luftwoller wrote:

. I have practically no interest in any TV apart from cartoons (Simpsons Futurama Family guy etc) and anything war related.

Now what about Father Ted?

simpilot34 wrote:

Guy with those bits I don't think you will have any problems doing Frank proud!!! You have gotta love that BEAUTIFUL engine!!!!! Well I have the other float rigged and have post shaded!!! First time doing that!!! Have the equipment to do such things in this scale now so thought I'd give it a go! Did the stabs as well. Will be putting the top wing halves on soon and then will try and get the lower scoop an cowl to play nice. Getting there little by little, feels good to see some visual progress!

Richie, it looks like youve got the post shading down great. The key is (That youve grasped admirably) is to keep your mix very thin and build it up as you want it. My only critisismette would be, on the tailplanes, aim between the raised ribs. They are the bits that should be darker than the ribby bits. But thats no biggy. Its looking great.

Your Highness, there is only one of me im afraid. Id love to have a twin, or a triplet but im afraid theres just me. As for my building speed, well, ive thought about this. I have no children to take any of my attention. I have a few close friends, but im not a huge party animal. I drink but at home rather than down the pub. I have practically no interest in any TV apart from cartoons (Simpsons Futurama Family guy etc) and anything war related. My girlfriend loves watching anything on TV so shes happy while i model. I have 2 dogs that get a fair bity of my attention. So while the situation is as it is currently, im indulging in what i love. You never know, things may change and i wont be able to do as much. But while i can i will. Im also a bit of an obsessive with stuff, so this hobby is great for me with the research side of things and all the different elements of the hobby. I love it. You lot are pretty great too.

...Guy

Guy with those bits I don't think you will have any problems doing Frank proud!!! You have gotta love that BEAUTIFUL engine!!!!!

Well I have the other float rigged and have post shaded!!! First time doing that!!! Have the equipment to do such things in this scale now so thought I'd give it a go! Did the stabs as well. Will be putting the top wing halves on soon and then will try and get the lower scoop an cowl to play nice. Getting there little by little, feels good to see some visual progress!

Guy, adding the resin to an already beautiful kit + your skill is going to equal a masterpiece. Do you have a color scheme picked out already?

I'm conviced you are actually triplets, the way you can completely some many builds so quickly. Both the quantity and quality is simply mind baffling. Come clean, Guy, errr, I mean Guys!!!!

Charles, i think the build looks great on both backgrounds. If you fancy sending it to this side of the Atlantic for a bit of dirtying Im sure i could fit it in

I like the look of this Corsair. From what ive read and seen, it doesnt seem to need a resin cockpit. But you know me, i cant leave the aftyermarket stuff alone....soooo... Ive ordered,

Gotta try to do Frank proud,

...Guy

Charles it still looks the same to me even with the different background, I mean it still looks AWESOME!!!!!

Guy, really looking forward to see what you do with an already good kit!!!!

Thanks Darren!! It has since been touched up. Will post some more pics very soon as I have now gotten the other float attached and they are both post shaded with straight Tamiya IJN Green which is a very slightly darker shade than the Gunze IJN Green, and will have been rigged as well.

aboard Scott!!!! Looking forward to your build!!!! Don't see them often enough!! Yes, a P-400 was not a P-40 with a Zero on its tail.

I just realised that I had an email from Scott (M1 A1 A2 Tanker) letting me know that he is building the 1/48 Eduard P-400 so reinforcements are on the way.

Cheers

Guy, Jay & Mucker I bow to your respective modeling talents, in the words of Kung Fu Panda I am blinded by your sheer awesomeness . I'll be marking you guys as complete on page 1.

Scott (M1 A1 A2 Tanker) yes the build is definitely still open so welcome aboard mate. Let me know when decide what you plan on building although as Bondo said we are in definite need of some allied air power around here.

Richie that spray job of yours would have been perfect if it wasn't for that little bit of over spray. Really nice job considering the scale you're working in.

Cheers