Official Natural Metal Finish Group Build II

Strange how we all have different experiences with different retailers. I wonder how much of the variability comes from the USPS...

In other news, I spent 2.5 hours last night doing this. Ugh. My eyes and back are KILLING me this morning. Also discovered a serious downside of vacform canopies that may keep me from going back that way except in rare cases - they're so thin that making out the frame lines can be really difficult. Didn't anticipate that!

Masking with bare metal foil up front seemed to go a lot better! I think for small, irregular panes it might be the way to go. Have to see how it paints up first, of course...

Tonight it'll be final detail construction (antenna mast and such), then masking the tails and priming for the yellow wings and rings. Getting closer to the NMF! At this point, I'm thinking probably Tuesday or Wednesday.

Great Pics Scorpiomikey!!  that has to be one of the best shots of the exhaust that Ive been able to find!

I'm not upset with Squadron, the original order arrived very quickly (even if it was the wrong item) and their customer service person I talked to was very helpful. I just thought the package would have been shipped by now....  

OWL

I guess the only real beef I've had with squadron is that when I'm looking for a particular product, they always have the highest price, but sometimes its the only place I can find the item

Just weighing in on the Squadron discussion. I placed regular orders with them from about 1997 onward for around ten years, and their service was first rate. I had packages go missing on about two occasions, one of them very large, and as I bought their standard insurance (which for .95c is a good deal) everything was replaced no bother. On a couple of occasions incorrect items were shipped and teir policy was keep them as a gift, and the correct items were dispatched free of charge.

Yes, their website is not quite as intuitive as it could be and I'm not fond of their search function, but I;ve come to work with it. I'd have rated their website at least as friendly as Lucky Model's in Hong Kong.

I've not placed many orders in the years since the US ended surface mail, as it's just too darn expensive -- the airmail takes the cream off all specials, and frankly the price of goods has got pretty expensive in the last few years, but overall my impression of Squadron is that they're still very much a market leader in the hbby.

Mike/TB379

I've ordered from Squadron a lot since the mid '90s and only had one issue over the years, which a simple phone call rectified quickly.  I only more recently discovered Sprue Brothers and have been ordering from them a lot lately, and am very impressed with their delivery.  Their prices are usually a little better than Squadron, but a lot of that is because I have to pay Texas state sales tax through Squadron but not through SB.

Nice pictures of the MiG, Mikey! I'm definitely going to save a few of them for reference.  

The foiling looks like it's working out great for you. Keep it up!

I've ordered from Squadron since the early 80's (that's 1980's for you college kids), and they've been very, very  good to me.  But I also understand that there are some very good online shops.  It boils down to what you feel comfortable with and what kind of history you develop with your suppliers.  I've heard great things about Sprue Brothers, but Squadron has given me great service for 30 years, they have a great monthly flyer, and they have great sales.  They still get my business.  Try their customer service.  They have some great people.  Rick.

Ok, so first up, some detail photos of a Mig-21 MF (the real thing) for whoever needs them.

As you can see its been pretty badly damaged over the years. Owned by a property developer as a marketing tool and a toy. plenty of 3inch strap damage(from transportation) Bits are missing. tires have been flat for years. Its been sold to someone, so its behind a fence and the guys at turners were highly unhelpfull. Oh well. hope these help someone.

Now for my model pics.

DoogsATX

Meanwhile, I placed an order with Sprue Brothers on Wednesday and got it today...

I am jumping on the spruebrothers bandwagon.  Their customer service is great and I find myself ordering from them more and more.....very fast shipping.

I just tracked my squadron order and it says it arrived at the local post office this mornning, so it should get to my college suite box soon.....i ordered last friday i believe

I understand your frustration when you live in the same state, i avoid the Australian mail order companies for the same reasons, 2 weeks to recieve an order from the next State annoys me but if i want to do an Australian subject it's the only choice....Have never tried Sprue brothers before....

redraider56

I'm not liking squadron muchany more either

I only order from Squadron when I absolutely have to. And even then half the time I just have my LHS order stuff for me. I can't stand their website, and despite promises of being notified when stuff ships, I've never received such a notification from them. It usually takes 8-10 days to get my stuff, and their only three hours away.

Meanwhile, I placed an order with Sprue Brothers on Wednesday and got it today...

I have no idea Redraider, I've never had any issues with squadron and normally recieve my orders in about 10 days where it takes usualy 14 days to get orders from Victoria or New south Wales...

I'm not liking squadron muchany more either

BTW, anyone know what the "DS!" means under the backorder column on my order?

 The following items have been shipped to:  MATT BOURKE                     
                                                                               
                                                                     Quantity                                  Quantity  
Item #          Description                         Ordered           Backorder   Shipped                
                                                                             
AN48655         YELLOW NOSE MUSTANGS PT1    1                      DS!                  1                       
                                                                                          
TD48453         P-51D MUSTANG COCKPIT SET     1                                               1
                                                                         

i just got a notification that Squadron has re-shipped out my order for Foil Adhesive....but I called them over 2 weeks ago!  Does it normally take that long to get a corrected order out?

OWL

redraider56

umm yea....no room here for anything in my tiny dorm room, so I have to wait until I go home every now and then to work on them

not even on your floor?!  LOL!  Have fun with school.

I didnt get much done yesterday ( I never do on Thursdays--very busy day) but I'll start on the detail in the main gear wells. They are pretty bare!

OWL

must...post...photos...too...lazy * collapses from laziness*

umm yea....no room here for anything in my tiny dorm room, so I have to wait until I go home every now and then to work on them

DoogsATX

Aggieman:

 

Monogram makes/made a Wildcat?

 

Absolutely!  While it was not as detailed as the Tamiya or HobbyBoss kits, it was a kit I built many times as a kid.  Folding wings were the big feature of that kit.  I actually have one of these in my stash along with a Tamiya and HobbyBoss.

 

Huh! I built a TON of Monogram kits as a kid and don't remember ever coming across a Wildcat. Pretty sure I built a Wildcat at some point, but I think it might have been a Testors?

Yes Monogram did produce a 1/48 Wildcat. It was sort of a hodge podge featuring some FM-1 details (folding wings and four wing guns) as well as cowl flaps from a F4F-3, a later non cuffed propellor, and no underwing oil coolers under fusealge windows or wheelwell or cockpit detail. Until Tamiya's F4F came along, it was the only game in town in 1/48.

DoogsATX: I have a 2 foot by 2 foot area on my desk that has my kit on it. Tools are scattered on my desk, but my tool and paint box have a shelf to set on....although right now they are on the floor under my feet.  I'm pretty used to building in a small area.   Back home, I didn't even have a desk. I just built on my floor!       if you look at my WIP pics, that green mat is pretty much all the area I'm using!

OWL

EDIT:  here is my work area at home. I'd pretty much just plop down in the middle there and work away!

CallSignOWL

aww, redraider56, don't let that stop you! I'm in college too, but just an hour or so each day of modeling still fits into my schedule!

What amazes me is that you have the space!

I remember my sophomore year in college I scored a "suite" with two friends, and I got the single room, which was I think something like 7 ft. by 8 ft. When I went to sleep, I had to put the pile of crap lying on my bed on my chair, and when I got up, I had to move it back to the bed. Because there was no where to put anything, and we weren't allowed to put shelves into the cinderblock walls.

I've never once missed dorm life. Still can't fathom how you manage to build though!

Thanks everybody, this is one of the tougher kits I have built so far. (well, out of the builds that I didn't just slap paint on and call it good!)  The plastic on the wing halves (top and bottom) was the usual thickness, so it required sanding down before gluing together. But after that, the trailing edges were still too thick for my tastes, so I sanded them down again. Looks a little better now....

jmabx:  I have the opposite fears, I guess. I'm afraid to start on the more detailed kits because I'm afraid I'll muck em up somehow!   My POV is that these bears are skill builders and I can take what I learned from them and apply them to the nicer, more expensive kits!!

aww, redraider56, don't let that stop you! I'm in college too, but just an hour or so each day of modeling still fits into my schedule!

OWL

Aggieman

 

Monogram makes/made a Wildcat?

 

Absolutely!  While it was not as detailed as the Tamiya or HobbyBoss kits, it was a kit I built many times as a kid.  Folding wings were the big feature of that kit.  I actually have one of these in my stash along with a Tamiya and HobbyBoss.

Huh! I built a TON of Monogram kits as a kid and don't remember ever coming across a Wildcat. Pretty sure I built a Wildcat at some point, but I think it might have been a Testors?

jmabx

Doogs - I'm starting to think that modeling is your full time job... and I don't mean dancing around in your skivvies!   Bravo for trying out the vac conopies! I've got a couple of S-3s I want to build that I have vac conopies for but I'm afraid to try.

If only! Unfortunately my day job keeps me way too busy to even think about that.

I usually hit the bench around 10-10:30, depending on when the kids finally fall asleep, and come in around 1. So two and a half, three hours a night or so. Sometimes I get a lot done. Other times...not so much. But I do try to take a picture or two as I'm wrapping up each night, otherwise I'd lose track of everything!

and btw this is the plane I'll be modeling

"Jasper Joker II" a yellow nose mustang flew by Lt. Donald F Vulgamore of the 361st FG

vetteman42

redraider56:

Seems I have a problem with joining group builds lately, but being in them helps with me completing the builds.  If I still can join, I'll have a 1/48 Tamiya P-51D that will be a crossover with the 8th AF GB

 

Redraider my apologies for missing your post  Of course you are welcome to the shiny side. I will update the front page with your build shortly. I have been keeping an eye on the 8th AF GB also with the hope I might have time to jump in there.

What I meant by "problem" is that I can't restrain myself from buying models and joining group builds (in the last couple months I bought 4 kits plus decals and AM goodies) , but now I'll keep busy, attempting to finish a diorama and then build 5 planes (3 bombers) before october of 2011, while on a limited time frame

I'm at college right now, so I wont be able to get back to modeling until my Christmas break

redraider56

Seems I have a problem with joining group builds lately, but being in them helps with me completing the builds.  If I still can join, I'll have a 1/48 Tamiya P-51D that will be a crossover with the 8th AF GB

Redraider my apologies for missing your post  Of course you are welcome to the shiny side. I will update the front page with your build shortly. I have been keeping an eye on the 8th AF GB also with the hope I might have time to jump in there.

I built the Monogram Wildcat about a year ago and IMHO it built up into a nice model with some work on the folding wings, I built them down and had some trouble with gaps and aligenment. In fact right now it graces my Doc's office.

If one is willing to work a bit more they are great for modeling on a small budget

Ibuild - The finish looks great on the old Jug! I absolutely love the way Alclad goes down.

OWL - Boy oh boy... that is one rough kit!   Glad to see that you're just diving right into it! Sometimes I get a little hesitant when a kit needs a good amount of work like that. Afraid that I'll screw something up but you never know until you try. Keep it up!

Doogs - I'm starting to think that modeling is your full time job... and I don't mean dancing around in your skivvies!   Bravo for trying out the vac conopies! I've got a couple of S-3s I want to build that I have vac conopies for but I'm afraid to try.

redraider - There can never be too many P-51s! I'm sure our great host will have no problems with you jumping aboard.

Small update. The canopy is attached to the Airacomet and the interior color has been oversprayed. This weekend she'll get the base coat of gloss black. I'm excited to be close to getting some Alclad sprayed on but I need to be patient as to not mess it up!

Monogram makes/made a Wildcat?

Absolutely!  While it was not as detailed as the Tamiya or HobbyBoss kits, it was a kit I built many times as a kid.  Folding wings were the big feature of that kit.  I actually have one of these in my stash along with a Tamiya and HobbyBoss.