Ok, everyone. This GB is officially closed.

Noticed I said closed. If you have already started a project you may finish it. But I am not accepting any new entries.

So kustommodler1, you can still get your badge once your done.

You should finish your project before Oct. as I think I will do another one starting then.

The builds BTW have been really good to totally AWESOME!!!

One, last thing I'd love some feedback on how you feel this GB went? As it was my first one.

Anyway, that's it for now.

See ya

Scott

Sorry I didn't get my Airacobra done. Life got in the way, and I figured now that I can build for a bit, I'll finish the F-4 GB entry first.

I'm still gonna build it as a P-39 in Soviet service, I'll just start a separate thread on it as work progresses.

Thanks all, and everyones work looks great!!!!

Wow, quick build and she looks great!

And done!

Uh, at last. My first day of my summer vacation

 Primed. 

 Painted.

 Needs, bit more painting and weathering. I think I can finish this in time...

Hey

       Everyone

                      The builds have been and are looking great. I've decided to go ahead and close this GB on schedule which is June 30th. If you get a build entered before than or are currently on the list and working on a build you may complete it. But no NEW entries will be accepted after June 30th.

     Also, you will either have to get the badge from the first post or PM me if you finish after June 30th, as I will only check in about once a week or so probably.

Anyway, hope all your builds are going well.................

Scott

Gamera I am looking forward to seeing them

Thanks Vetteman! Now that she's off the bench I have some time to work on a couple of natural metal subjects I promised you.

Gamera I cant say it anymore eloquently than what Thunderbolt has said. I am well aware of the frustrations of a rotten kit, however me thinks you are being too hard on yourself.  My hat is off to you for sticking to it and ending up with a build you can be proud of.  Yuh dun good son

Thanks guys- despite my whining I was VERY happy with the way the paint came out.

And the Pe-2 is such an attractive plane even with a bad kit I think she looks sharp.

Thunderbolt379

Well, Gamera, for a kit that gave you a hernia to build, it doesn't look half bad! First impressions are the best, and the scheme, the finish, the diorama, have all come together to make this model really look the part. The weathering tricks are most effective, and the kit, for all it's undeniable drawbacks, has captured the aggressice stance of the aircraft. I say a big WELL DONE for sticking with a disheartening build and taming the beast in the end!

Cheers, Mike/TB379

Well, Gamera, for a kit that gave you a hernia to build, it doesn't look half bad! First impressions are the best, and the scheme, the finish, the diorama, have all come together to make this model really look the part. The weathering tricks are most effective, and the kit, for all it's undeniable drawbacks, has captured the aggressice stance of the aircraft. I say a big WELL DONE for sticking with a disheartening build and taming the beast in the end!

Cheers, Mike/TB379

Ok, she's done, aka I give up.

Sorry if I come off as complaining again but I wouldn't recommend this kit to anyone. I've built limited run kits by Classic Airframes and Azur but they're Cadillacs compared to this kit. I won't buy anything from Historic/Amodel again.

In fact I think if I randomly grabbed a couple of parts from each kit in my stash, tossed them all in a shoebox, and tried to assemble a Pe-2 from the results I'd have better luck.

1). Right fuselage warped. I tried to make them fit with putty and sanding but in person you can tell the fuselage is unsymmetrical.

2). Clear parts did not fit at all. I suppose this is partly my fault for not test fitting them before I painted the kit. Afterward there were several big gaps that I filled with Micro Krystal Kleer. I really didn't feel like putting and sanding off the paint scheme I'd applied.

3). Bombs were so poorly molded I didn't use them.

4). My fault here again that I lost the clear parts for the two oval windows in the rear fuselage. I'm just going to say that the maintenance crew removed them for some reason or the other. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

Still I love the sleek look of the Pe-2 and the kit still looks the part. And I'm very happy with the way the paint turned out.

Close up of the ill fitting canopy:

Scott-

I say don't "extend" it, but people who aren't done can still finish. I'm all for doing this group again next year, though I'm not sure I will be able to partake as I will be gone until at least April.

Vetteman: those figures are out of production? Wow, I'm glad I picked up mine when I did. One of the biggest excuses I have for maintaining a stash there- pick it up now since it might not be available tomorrow.

Scott: my Pe-2 is done more or less. I started to take photos over the weekend and the PE dive brakes on the portside wing fell off. I'll try to get her photographed and posted soonish.

Hey Scott  I will be hard pressed to get my MiG-3 finished by the end date so an extension would be a help to me, things were going pretty well up to the point of wing attachment, large gaps under the nose to take care of. I will post pictures of them later today. I also have an ICM Yak-7 I would like to build but wont be able to get to that build until close to the end of the year. So I am up for a rerun later in the year or even a long extension.

Hi,

      Everyone.

      It is getting close to the end of this GB.  The date set at the begin of this GB was June 30th as the end. So

this brings about a question:

Should we continue it?   Or end it?

If we end it, I would be happy to start another one this October. 

If we continue it. The question would be for how long?

Also, a third option could be to allow people who have joined to finish no matter what date. And just not take any more entries after June 30th.

All the builds have been looking great!!!!

See ya

Scott

Thanks Gamera I did look at the ICM aircrew set and I will get them if I can find another ICM MiG 3, sadly they are OOP and seem to be few and far between.

I am at a stuck point at the moment, the fuse to wing joint is really bad and at the moment I am trying to figure the best way to handle it. I am not sure if I did something wrong or if its a kit problem, hopefully a bit of sanding and very careful trimming will solve most of the problem.

Looking good Vetteman! If you should do the maintenance diorama the ICM Soviet air crew figures are excellent. Eduard does a pretty good set as well, but not as well molded as the ICM ones. 

I set the fuse on the wings last night and its sad the detail that will be hidden on this model.

I would really like to get a hold of 1 or 2 more of them to build and do a maintenance dio with one, have never done a dio before but this would be a perfect first for me. Frankly I was worried this kit might be over my head as it is not a beginners kit at all, but its coming along nicely I think.

Thanks Castelnuovo I put that in my how to notes for a tank build.

Time for some WIP pictures of my MiG-3. This kit does have some problems but I think I am going to look for another one to build, as what I have done so far I really like the kit for the detail. The kit doesn't have much in the way of locating pins so fitting parts together is really a challenge. I did have to move the coolant tank and the oil ( I think its the oil tank anyways) down from the small pin location about 1mm or .040 so the cowl would close. I also found the location of the exhaust stacks on the engine block  ( no location pins at all here ) is critical because they locate the engine and also align the fuse halves. Anyway here is where it is at now hope you like.

It looks like I can also display the model with the lower cowling on or off at this point so I may add some coolant lines, should look good with all the engine mounting tubes don't ya think ?

Gentelmen, thank you very much for your kind words. 

 Vetteman42, the tracks were painted first with Tamiya XF-56 metalic gray and then given a wash with Golden's burnt sienna (acrylic).

Cheers...

Castelnuovo: great job! I really like the fenders too, and good looking paint and weathering.

Castel-

Nice tank! I love the paint job. Has a very "field applied" look to it.

castelnuovo

Here is my humble Ivan finished.

 

AWESOME WORK!!!!

Love the camo. Beats basic D.Green any day.

See ya

Scott

Castelnuovo Nice Ivan I like Really like your weathering and the way you bent and beat up the fender liners. What did you use or how did you muddy up the tracks ? I have never built a tank and am thinking of trying one. I think the addition of the PE engine grill really did the trick too.

Here is my humble Ivan finished.

vetteman42

Stikpusher my hat goes off to you sir cant wait to see your figures as I cant paint them to save my life.

Vette, I am a long way from the skills of most of the figure modelers on here such as Manny, Doog, AJ, and many more than I can name. But I have fun with them and learn as I go. I used a Games Workshop shade of flesh for the base color and Vallejo Khaki for the uniforms so far. I am less than pleased with the results so far. The Vallejos in particular have a sheen to them that I don't like. But it is still early in the process and easily corrected.

More pics to come as progress is made.

Gamera thanks I spent a lot of time on that engine and yes I am going to model it with the cowling open or closed. Dont wish to hide all that work I put into it 

Kermit I knew I could count on you I guess you could say my lil pea brain was on strike after putting this cockpit together today, and yesterday and................ I thank you sir

Now for the proof of my endeavors here are some WIP pictures.

This was a rough cockpit to build and another kit in its self not to mention the PE. I still have to add the engine mounts but I think I will wait on that until I am almost ready to close the fuse up as I think things are gonna be a tight fit in there. Again thanks for the help Gamera and Richard.

Did i hear a call for help from Randy??? Kermie to the rescue!

Did a bit of googling and found a pic or three. They all show the seatbelts as light leather. Like this one:

Great work on that Mig Randy and a big hats off to everyone in the group. Just wish there was more time as i have an 1:48 IL2 Sturmovik that just begs to be built..... Sigh.... Ah well

Richard