War In The Pacific Group Build 2009 - 2010

Mick welcome aboard

Carlos I've had problems with the mm arylics before the thinner soes seem to help, if you can't find it try destilled water also.

Does anyone know what color the bottle behind the seat in the Wildcat should be?

Jason

carsanab wrote:

guys.....question...I was just spraying my Buffalo (boy that sounds wierd) first coat of grey. I'm using Model master Acryl....I think I have the paint thin enough but then it cakes up right away in my airbrush nozzle....so I get sputters and the flow stops. Its right after the first couple of sprays too...anyone else having this problem??? It seems to be with the MM acryls I dont have problems with Tamiya acrylics or any enamels.... Then it takes a half hour to clean the gunk out of the AB.... Thanks..

Carlos, I've had that problem, too. For the most part, Model Master Acryl thinner takes care of the problem. It could also just be old paint.

Just sprayed the blue...also MM acryls.....they are new paints as I just bought them a couple of weeks ago at the local HS.....at least I hope they are "fresh".

The blue didnt cake up as bad as the grey....it tooka little more time to build up....I m going to try the alcohol next time....I know Ive used it before but i dont reme,ber if w/ tamiya or mm...oh well...thanks all..

Carlos

jay12472 wrote:

Does anyone know what color the bottle behind the seat in the Wildcat should be? Jason

Jason Ive seen it different colors....I painted mine yellow..I have a SBD book with some color pics...shows a similar bottle in green....but a basic green...tell you one thing...once you close up the fuselage you will never see it...heres a couple of great pit shots that might help.

http://uscockpits.com/Early%20Fighters/F4F%20Wildcat.jpg

Carlos

Carlos, I had the same problem with new MM acryl. 90% alchohol thinned it, but I used too much and ruined the first bottle. MM says its ready for airbrush - no need to thin which was true in my case. The 90% alchohol does work for clean up though. I used MM for the neutral gray underside, then ended up using Tamiya for the OD top on my P-40.

Speaking of which, I finally got the color on the other day and sprayed the gloss last night. I'll get some pix up when I get some light. (Its dark when I get home now!)

jay12472 wrote:

Does anyone know what color the bottle behind the seat in the Wildcat should be? Jason

Jason given that you will barely be able to see it I would go with something a little eye catching like a yellow.  Something that will draw the eye when someone is checking out your cockpit.

Cheers

the Akagi is in the dock for repair, after a fall from my table... It will be continued soon...

In the mean time I'm building another carrier, the I-400 submarine carrier. Pics will follow soon, but Darson, you can write me down on that one too!

By the way, a while ago I made KNIL Buffalo in 1:48 (tamiya) and 1:72 (Hasegawa) Can they join too?

Another is a P-51 Mustang what did fly for the Dutch airforce in '45, also 1:72

By the way, Dutch Royal Marines captured the English fleet in Catham in 1667. I believe that's 108 years before the US-marines...

In mai 1940, 20 marines, just from school, stopped and hold the German army at the Rotterdam bridges for 4 days. Than a terror bombardment stopped the Dutch war...

Paul

Darson,

If you could use yet another participant to the group i would love to join with a RoG 1/48 B25 Bomber "Lazy Daisy May"...

Almost done with a 1/48 C47 i am doing for the Natural Metal Finish group build and would like to continue with another big'un

Cheers,

Richard

Richard, glad to have you here!

Been pretty quiet here this weekend, with a lot of people over at the Weekend GB.  I finished up my Corsair over there this evening, and am now back working on the Zero.  I finsihed up the prop assembly tonight, after masking and painting the red warning stripes and black faces on the rear surfaces of the blades.  A lot of masking, but I am very happy with the effect.

Thanks for the welcome Frank Just waiting for the go ahead from our host here and i'm off with the build. That's some flawless masking and spraying there btw.

Richard

Thanks Richard!

The rear faces of the blades were the most difficult, as the edges were curved along a curved surface.  Many trial and error pieces of tape!

By all means, feel free to start posting!  I am certain Darren (darson) will not mind.

Nice looking prop assembly there Frank...two things....

1.what silver did you use to get such a smooth finish...

2.thats a nice looking spinner there...where did you find such a great piece of hardware????

CS

carsanab wrote:

Nice looking prop assembly there Frank...two things.... 1.what silver did you use to get such a smooth finish... 2.thats a nice looking spinner there...where did you find such a great piece of hardware???? CS

Carlos- I used Alclad II for the aluminum, and the spinner came from a most generous Florida resident! LOL

Richie- Thank you very much!  I couldn't agree more- the props on aircraft always catch my attention before anything else.  Appreciate the kind words!

Frank that is one awsome looking prop and spinner.

Jason

Stopped by the HS yesterday to get some thinner and what would you know....walked out with one of those bent wing thingies with the Moto-tug...nice looking kit....I might just keep the elves working on allied planes....give them something nice to work on so they dont think all allied planes are like that beast of a Buffalo...

CS

carsanab wrote:

...walked out with one of those bent wing thingies with the Moto-tug...nice looking kit...

Mmmmm... Corsair.

Props on the prop, Frank, and the spinner is a winner!

Y'know how every model has a story of something you did that you never thought you would? Here's mine:

When I sprayed the gloss coat the other day, I set the model down on its belly on a piece of paper, then walked away to clean the airbrush. After, I sat down and was looking back through the posts and saw the photo of Charles' F6 standing on its nose and got that 'OH $*&#@!' feeling. I went to check and luckily that paper doesn't like clear gloss very much. I just had 2 little chips in the paint!

I'm hoping for an hour or two tonight to do some touch up and start decaling. 

Well I finally have some pics to post.  Work has been slow, just haven't been able to get time behind the bench.  Most of the interior of the big Trumpeter Avenger is complete, I normally shy away from Photo Etch but I felt the detail on the Trumpeter OOB was a little understated and couldn't justify the cost of the Black Box cockpit.  I've also included some pics of the Jills, rather, the problems I've been having with it.  It's just turning into "One of those builds"  Nasty step on the cowling, god-awful sink marks aft of the gunner that required a lot of filler, and of course, the thin superglue slips out of my hand and mars the port wing......Ugh.  Just one of those builds I guess:

Thank you Paul!

Stu- Excellent work on that Avenger, the PE really sets off the cockpit nicely.

I have spent the last couple of days weathering the Zero, adding a fairly subtle dark wash to the panel lines, some highly thinned black for exhaust and cordite staining, and some black ink for oil drips/runs. 

I was not quite sure how to weather the aotake gear wells and doors, and finally settled on a dark wash, followed by some dusty pastels and silver chipping to reveal the natural aluminum underneath.  I also masked and sprayed the blue and red weight stripes on the main gear doors.  So far, I am quite happy with how she is turning out.  Need to add some fuel stains on the drop tank, then a flat coat so I can continue with the weathering.  More to come!

Frank-Props on the prop! nice job of polishing it out. Wow....nice weathering job on the Meatball. keep it up frank.

Stu-The avenger is looking great. The IP & Radios look sweet. Is that colored PE??

Kannichiwa & Arigato-Jason

looking good there Fred.....almost done....nice job on the stains...

I'm getting ready to decal and weather this Buffalo if I can only get it put together....I got sub assemblies everywhere....I've had to repaint the rear canpoy twice...the first time the paint came off with the maskings, it went on too thick. Then the enigne came off its mount while doing the overall painting so I had to remove the cowling ring to glue it back into place...of course now I need to resand the seam there to get it right....Oh well Now it seems the engine is not sitting right in the cowling....I dont know it looks a bit off center...I might have to make it up when I attach the prop, force its centering. Boy this Buffalo has been a real beast to tame..

CS

I am finished my Academy 1/72 F4F-4 Wildcat.

 Had a blast building this little guy. Had no real issues with fit except I missed sanding a seam down right in front of the cockpit.

Completed it in about 8 days, 5 actual sittings. Pretty fast for me.

I used Tamiya acrylics on the exterior. Painted it using the tamiya paint scheme from the 1/48 f4f-4 kit. Mixed the paints according to tamiya instructions.

Anyways, here are some pics. In progress.

 A bit of a fit issue with the wings to fuselage. Had to fill with .10mm plastic sheet. Also the gear door fit like garbage.

I ended up painting over the view windows on the bottom of the fuselage. Forgot to mask them off. Luckily the acrylic just scraped off with no problem once it was complete.

The completed bird.

Shaded panel lines, highlighted afterwards with a pencil. Weathered with smoke from tamiya's weathering kit.

The antennae were made from stretched sprue. I drilled a hole in the fuselage to accomodate the antennae.

Again, I had a blast and thanks for letting me join. I can't claim to have the greatest skills, but I think it turned out pretty well :)

Mick

Stu the Avenger is looking SUHHWWEEEEET!!!!!!

Frank, I am really liking ur Zeke!!!!!!! Subtle but effective weathering! Topnotch work!!

Mick that i a sweet lil wildcat u have there!!! Looks just right!!

carsanab wrote:

looking good there Fred.....almost done....nice job on the stains...

Sorry Frank....sometimes I write faster than I think......

CS

Frank Great job on the weathering. Looks jsut right to me

Mick Nice looking wildcat looks really good with the wheels up

Stu Great job on the Avenger the pe looks really good as for the Jill she is coming along nicely can't wait to see how you tackle the big step

JAson