War In The Pacific Group Build 2009 - 2010

Thanks Sean.  This one is turning into a good challenge.  For example, I've salvaged thru the spare parts bin and found the better detailed drop tank from a previous Hasegawa P-40E build that I used the bomb on.  Cha-ching!

Arki-I agree.  Having build the Hasegawa P-40 before (and one in the stash, courtesy of a HobbyLobby markdown), the AMTech kit is a great alternative to the higher priced Hasegawa kit.  I can't believe the retail prices for them.  I can add a lot of extras for what a normally priced Hasegawa P-40 would cost....and still have some change.  Shame that AMTech went by the way side.  I would hope that someone would find the molds and market the E version, like Hobbyboss has done with the F/L version & Italeri with the N/M.

And next time I bid on one on eBay, I will ask if it comes with the 'corrected' fuselage!

Thanks to everyone who commented on the Pics. I am glad you liked them.

Bob - I looks like to me you will have that P-40 whipped into compliance in No~Time

I have a stack of the AMT P-40 varients myself stashed. One of my most favorite kits, and the Posters that comes with the P-40E is really cool also

Well said.  They're not flaws, they're opportunities!  Built 3 or 4 AmTech P-40's, so been there, have the t-shirt.  Bummer you don't have the later production runs with the replacement fuselage.

Frankly, I like the AmTech P-40's considering they are fairly inexpensive and look like a P-40 when done.  Certainly putty skills are required however.   

Good luck!

Thanks for all the encouragement guys.  I really appriciate it. Putty went on last night-I might get a chance to sand it down tonight.

Arki-I believe this is one of the early models-it has ALL the flaws...errr...opportunities to practice my modeling skills pointed out in the ModelingMadness review kit review.  Come to find out it is missing the British exhaust & engine covers.  Another eBay "Buyer beware".  Of course, that's not as bad as the AMT P-40N I picked up on eBay, sealed with retailers sticker and missing the complete fuselage!  Tried working out something, i.e., contacting the seller, but no replys.  Live & learn.  Anyway, I have another AMTech P-40E in the stash....purchased before I did a detailed reading of the Modeling Madness review and it is an early production run.  Oh well.  Problem I'm having now is that I'm fighting the urge to order the Eduard PE kit for this build.  In for a penny....in for a pound...

Cheers

Bob good job making that correction, would scare me way to much to try that

Jason

Bob, every AmTech P-40 I've purchased and built had a replacement fuselage in the kit to fix that very issue.  Did yours not have that extra fuselage? 

If not, perhaps you have an early boxing before they caught the problem.

Sean, those are some excellent pics of very important things!!! Thanks for sharing with us!!

Bob, that does look better already!! Once filled and sanded, will look like a bought one! You need breaks from life like this!! You're doing fine!!!

Sean: Excellent pictures. Very appropriate for this GB.

Carlos: That's AWESOME! By the way, you haven't told me your secret for making such realistic looking "wood" yet! Also, please tell me that isn't a Mitsubishi F1 kit on your bench...

Bob: Hang in there. I've seen that kit built up nicely before.

Charlie- Love that Seiran, well done!  From the photo, I can't really tell about the port wing upper roundel being out of register.  It looks like distortion from the curvature of the wing to my eyes.  I would call it a big success, thanks for sharing!

Sean- Thanks for sharing those pics, especially the period photo.  You must be very proud of him.

Bob- You are a glutton for punishment my friend!  Looks like you are taking it in stride and winning the battle.

 Hey Summit, thanks for sharing. Very cool stuff.

 Hey Bob, Nice work realigning that tail section. Looking forward to seeing updates on one of my favorite WWII aircraft.

Thanks for sharing some memories with us Sean.  Hopefully you have many more to share.

Against my better judgement, I've decided to build the AMTech P-40E instead of the Hasegawa kit.  Short story-I need to challenge myself while I'm job searching.  Althought the Hasegawa kit is somewhat challenging (tail insert and multiple 'plugs'), the AMTech will require a lot more filling & sanding-a lot of bad seams & fits. 

First I did a quick dry fit-nothing too bad.  The gap between the wing & fuselage should clean up when glued together...and provide the proper wing dihedrial (sometimes my spelling is worse than my modeling....)

I made the mistake of purchasing the kit on eBay first and then researching.  Had I researched first, then I probably would not have purchased it.  AMT/Ertil did the same thing as Hasegawa-different tail sections for different models.  However, AMT chose to do the assembly in the molds during production.  For the initial run, there was a mismatch.  Hopefully you will notice it here-

I probably could have gotten by with it, but I would know that it was there.  Therefore, I decided to seperate the tail and reattach.

I filled the undersection with SillyPutty for support, taped it down and took the x-acto to it.  I probably should have tried the cotton sewing thread technique for a smoother cut.  Oh well, live and learn.  Here is the fuselage after I attached a strip of support styrene behind the fuselage and reattached the tail.  The seam is pretty bad, but nothing that can't be corrected with some Squadron putty & some serious sanding...and a little rescribing..

Ended up putting some styrene in the engine side cover openings...hopefully I can start work on the interior this weekend.  Side panels have good detail...seat has molded in belts (to be removed) and does not include the tube frame-I think I can fabricate that from wire or styrene.

If nothing else, it takes my mind off of looking for a job for a few minutes.....

Wow O Wow there has been some Really Fantastic progress in the last 9 days. I went and spent a week with my Dad. While I was there he sent his "Sea Chest" home with me for safe keeping (?)   Anyway I have possesion of all his Naval Uniforms, Ribbons , Many Pictures ect.

In the theme of this GB , I thought these folowing pics may be of interest . (least It gives me something to post until I break sprue)

And one of my all time favorite pics ~ BB-56 's Crew just a few months after being Commissioned !

Yep I can find my dad in the lineup..

Great Job! The wooden dolly really adds alot to the finished plane

Jason

bobbaily wrote:

Nice build Charlie.  If you hadn't mentioned the decal problem, I would have never noticed.  The wood base adds a lot to the build also.  Very nice work.

Well the Seiran is 99.9% finished...I just waiting for the elves to finish painting the side ladder ..sure was a nice kit inspite the crappy decals...you might notice the closest wing hino...you can note the register off center...also the horiz stablizer stripes broke so some creative weathering took care of that. Only got this one pic...battery ran out...will get some more shots out.

Comments always welcomed.

THat's good news, Karl...I'll be watching for more pics.

Calling Stikpusher..I just purchased a lot with 3 Otaki Hellcats and some resin & PE goodies. I hear the Otaki kit is a nice, simple kit. HOw do you find the build so far? I'm curious to hear your hands-on experience. Personally I've liked the Arii/Otaki kits I've built or seen before, but I've not seen the Hellcat kit up close before...

Thanks for the encouragement guys.

It was the very top layer of metallic that lifted, leaving the layer below intact.

The black gloss coat even survived my sanding of the metal coat above it!

That being the case I applied a coat of Future last night, then buffed out any marks such as dust tonight.

I've just hit it with another coat of the Gunze metal coat, and it's sitting curing on my desk.

So it looks salvageable.

Think I'll give the post it notes a try, either that or de-tacking the Tamiya tape first.

Karl

Hey Karl...

Sorry to hear about the tape...I just used metalizers for the first time a few months ago. I was worried about gloss black being too slick too so I used tamiya's semi gloss in a spray can...worked great...no lifting it seems to have a bit of teeth to hold the metal even after a goof on my part..still I feel your pain..

 Carlos

Karl- Man, that's a bummer about the paint lifting!  I can imagine your frustration over that one.  Hope you are able to get it sorted out and back on track soon.  I have heard wonderful things about the 1/48 Tamiya Zero, but have not gotten myself one yet.  I have the 1/32 kit, and a month before the 1/48 version was available, I had purchased three of the Hasegawa kits.

Jason- Like your work so far, isn't that Tamiya NATO black good stuff?  I love it.

Jason, I like the effect so far! Keep the pics coming!

Karl, a bummer about the paint job. I've had that happen before and have narrowed it down to two things: either I didn't let the acrylic black and future cure long enough (48 hours minimum), or I did a poor job of using "plastic prep" on the surface prior to painting. I'm not sure if these apply to you, but hope they help.

Take a night off, have some Pusser's Navy rum, and you'll be ready for the repair tomorrow!

KJ200 wrote:

The really annoying thing is, I tested this on an old Revell Fw190, and it worked fine with no lifting! Obviously that gloss black was just too slick. Karl

What a great model, keep at it I think it's a good subject. Gosh were's the USN when we need it???

Karl, sorry to hear about the paint misfortune! Hopefully it can be mended without much heartache. You can do it!

Jason, the Oscar is looking great! Love the subtle fading!!! Yes, the black does look good, the whole enchilada looks good!!

 Karl, I'm curious about the lifting. I've had similar problems masking over acrylics. I can relate to the trouble this causes, and still clueless as to why.

 TempestJohnny, Sorry about calling the Kingfisher a US floater, I read you're detailing this one in British markings. Looking forward to seeing one of her Majesty's floaters!

 Jason, Looking very good, the shading looks great.

Here are a couple of pics of what i got done.

I'm trying to add a little color differnce to try and make it more intresting. I still have to go over everything with the base color thinned downed, and see how everything turns out.

The black is nato black decided to gice a try and see how it looks, right now I like the look of it.

Jason

Daywalker wrote:

I seem to recall someone else asking me to put together a toot on how I do Tamiya tape seatbelts.  I do not think I ever did though!   I am off this weekend, so I shall put one together and post it over in Aircraft.

I will be looking foward to this

KJ thats to bad, do you have to sand everything back or can you just touch them up

Jason