OFFICAL NO AFTERMARKET Group Build

Eatthis I like it a lot The TSR2 looks well used but not over done so much that it looks neglected. The cannon in the belly really makes it look intimidating to say the least. Gotta love the what if aspects of your build.

Supressionfire your tank just keeps getting better and better, love all the extra detail and work you are putting into it. The figure looking out the ( for lack of a better word ) port hole is a masterful touch.

Sorry for the double post

Eatthis I have to comment on your preshading after looking at the pictures trying to decide which one to post on the front page. Your preshading did work out very well indeed, I can see it especially on the top of the wing, very faint but its there and really adds to the used effect I believe you were shooting for. May I request a picture from the side but a bit higher than the one you posted so it will show off a bit of the top of the wing along with the side shot ? I think a shot like that would do your build justice and show it off much better.

vetteman42

Sorry for the double post

Eatthis I have to comment on your preshading after looking at the pictures trying to decide which one to post on the front page. Your preshading did work out very well indeed, I can see it especially on the top of the wing, very faint but its there and really adds to the used effect I believe you were shooting for. May I request a picture from the side but a bit higher than the one you posted so it will show off a bit of the top of the wing along with the side shot ? I think a shot like that would do your build justice and show it off much better.

like this?

i like this shot it shows the weapons off nicely and if i had any idea whatsoever how to use photoshop it could look semi realistic with a better fore and background

Eat,

I always request a few out door pictures as I feel the natural light looks best on models. A concrete driveway or back drop would add to the realism as well. If not possible or too busy then no problem.

vetteman42,

Thanks for your kind words, Chwat is taking a lot longer than it should which is ok. I like to feel I put it all into each and every build, always there are a few mistakes, lessons learned and new techniques in the process.

Here is the completed MG 34, I figured I best post this one as the lower VVV picture is a bit confusing. General thinner on the remote mount, I may scratch a drum magazine before paint.The barrel is a hypodermic needle flared at the end, mounted in Dremel and turned against a stainless pin to heat itself from friction & flare.

Geez, you guys are just cruising right along, and some real stellar work to show for your time, too. I've been nibbling away at the Albatros, but the livingroom reno has taken precedent - still, I hope to have some additional progress pics up soon.

Eatthis yeah I like that one much better,( the first picture) I will get it posted on the front page soon as I can. The second pic really shows of her firepower.

Supressionfire that is some nice work on the gun for sure, I am going to have to remember that trick you used to make the barrel.

Ruddratt jump back in when ya can been missing seeing your work.

Eatthis I have updated the front page with you build, again I have to say very well done

I love that this GB is still plugging away!

Eatthis your TSR-2 looks great! I saw the other one you did in Japanese markings. Both are really fine looking! Very unique subject too.

SuppressionFire how's that Hetzer coming along, hmmm? More pics!

thanks for the comments lads the jap tsr was my 1st ever plane and the interceptor was my 4th plenty to learn but progress is being made :)

 iv started another whiff build
in the late 90s when it became apparant that the us navy intended to retire the tomcat the uk made a bold and unusual request for a few non combat ready cats to be leased to the raf. this request was promptly turned down not to be deterred the british labour government made a bizzare but in hindsight brilliant discission and asked baroness thatcher to try to persude the us goverment to reverse the discission. she arranged what can only be described as a private air display by the legendary red arrows using 9 in service tomcats needless to say the americans were bowled over by the sight .

 6 months later thatcher manadged to not only procure a dozen f14s but was also able to persuade the americans to provide them free of charge  on the understanding that they be stripped all sensitive hardware ie radar and weapons system etc and britain agree to pay the us to rebuild the fleet from the ground up thereafter the us would service and maintain the entire fleet
when asked by journalists how she was able to get the americans to agree to such an undertaking she just grinned and said "persistance dear"
 unnofficial sources in america claim tha thatcher terrorized and bullied american diplomats to the point where they wouldve signed nearly anything so long as she promised to return to the uk!

work began in 2005 the underbelly was filled in flush all the avionics and weapon systems were removed as was the tailhook and all other non military equipment the end result was a cleaner airframe that had been reduced in weight by over 25% from the service aircraft which gives the red arrows supercats steller performance and even with a full fuel load it still has a power to weight ratio exceeding 1:1


heres the only progress pic so far

oddmanrush

SuppressionFire how's that Hetzer coming along, hmmm? More pics!

Ha ha! Interesting you should ask, I had a 1/144 scale 38(t) on the bench and the girlfriend became angry that I was starting another model without finishing the Hetzer! Good woman for sure...

The figure is red oxide primed and ready for paint! The periscopes are done with a coat of Future, cured & ready for foil & paint. The MG 34 looks off the hook! I may add a bit more flat black as a base coat of silver had a wash of flat black & clear blue acrylic over it.

I prefer to base coat flat black, followed with a dry brush of silver then the wash. Due to the fine cooling vents I decided to skip a step to avoid excess paint build up. I will show you fellas the preferred method done on a 1/48 scale .50 BMG.

The barrel is a hypodermic needle, cocking handle & grips are wood.

Ok here is the MG 34. Is it too silver? I will leave it as is unless comments say other wise. Tanks!

SuppressionFire I know how you feel. My wife gets angry when I stash another kit when I've got so many I've not even started. For what its worth, yes, I think the 32 is a little too silver. It could just be the photo but it definitely looks more silver than black. I like the look of the .50 though. Again, just my opinion. If you like it, leave it!

oddmanrush,

Agreed. I will darken up the MG 34 with a flat black wash over a coat of flat dull clear. The edges can be highlighted with a pencil crayon for the wear areas. I just wanted to avoid a base coat of flat black as the mount needs to be brush painted Panzer Dunkelgelb '43 (Flat yellowish sandy color)

Tanks oddman, your honest reply has helped.

Supressionfire  I have to agree with Oddmanrush it is a bit too silver, the 50 though looks to be spot on the mark IMHO.

Tanks again fellas!

The MG 34 is a long way from becoming mounted on the Hetzer, right now I am trying to get the rest of the interior together to close up the hull upper & lower sections. The figure inside & periscopes have taken center bench. Need to scratch build 'scissor' type & the gun mono scope. 

Regardless the MG 34 will get another session, worst case scenario a dip in thinner and a fresh start!

..time passes..

Well the thinner bath softened the plastic to get a 'fresh start' Some details were lost and had to be re-added.

The figure is painted & installed! The 'window' will need to be larger as not enough interior is visible.

Time to get this guy back to page 1.

Been plodding along with the Albatros. I used the kit buckles but replaced the harnesses with lead foil and rolled a needle file across it to add some texture......

There were no control levers included in the kit, so I needed to scratchbuild those guy. I used stretched sprue and various size styrene rod....

...and here's where she sits at the moment....

Hi Vetteman42,

  Yep these build groups are addictive! I think my Trumpy ME262 1/32 could qualify for this build. Are already started allowed in?  No after market on this as I thought the quality of the kit was good enough to stand on it's own.

Here is work in progress

So far the scratch has been add ons to the gun bay and the right nacelle.  I have also added hydraulic lines to the nose wheel and will do the same for the rear wheels when I fit them.

Cheers

ruddratt,

Nice work, the harness looks awesome. Shame all the interior and engine work will be covered up, are you planning to have a access panel open?

As for my project its been a long week at work (working Saturday as well) and I hope to dig in on Sunday to get more finished. One the bench are scratch built periscopes for the final interior touches. The radio set needs gauge detail & Future lenses. Once the hull half's come together it will be time to scratch build the skirt armor. Cut a base out of a 12" x 12" black granite tile in a 'Star of David' shape as a tribute to the ones who stood up, fought & died during the Warsaw Uprising.

Well I just spent the last 2 hours trawling through everything i've missed. What can I say but some great stuff . Way to much to mention individual sorry (actually my braid is to numb from to much reading crossed with wow pics)

As it is I still cant decide on what to build and I'm about ready to start. I have two kits I want to do alot of scratch on, only problem is I want some AM stuff for them as well eg. I dont really want to be scratching 50cal door guns in 48 scale (CH-53 GS ISAF), I'm nowhere near that good) which leads me either doing some simple mods on my 1/72 Me P.1099 or bringing my 1/48 WAH-64/AH-1 Longbow up to speed

Andrew

Ruddratt the Albatros is really coming along nicely, all the exrat work and scratch build is paying off big time. I am truely impressed with your work and cant wait for more pictures.

Supressionfire I am so looking forward to more pictures of your build, I also love the idea for a base you have come up with.

Casper I am going to allow your build, it is a bit farther along than I like to see but you have done quite a bit of nice scratch work. So you are listed on the front page and I hope to see more of the big 262 soon. Thanks for joining us.

I gotta get started in the big F-16 soon.

Thanks Vetteman,

     I was hope I wasn't being to cheeky asking to be in on this build so far advanced.  Glad you like the model.

So right engine interior now painted (will weather whole aircraft when intact)

Model has been seamed and sanded

Primed;

and a rough pass over the panel lines

I have a nice oil paint wash I have made that really will bring out the panels and highlights when the model has been fully painted decaled.  That's why there is not too much close detail on the pre-wash.

...and finally a coat of RLM76 Light Blue

Casper the Chihuahua,

Your Me 262 is looking great! Excellent work with the engine detail. Our host (vetteman42) is very easy going, Henry Fonda's character on 'Easy Rider' is loosely based on him! Im sure he is cool with late starts.

Vetteman42,

I am very eager to tackle the base further yet am holding back to get the Hetzer finished! The 38(t) GB its in has past the deadline and in the future I hope to somehow speed up my model building process! Once again the amount of time invested is loco-crazy for a 1/72 scale tank kit. I will post pictures later today of Chwat' on the base. I plan on scratch building the street scene which most pictures of the vehicle were taken.

Ok I best get some bench time in, I need to moderate time in these forums as recently its more than on the bench! All good as 'hell week' at work is over.

Casper, very nice work on the 262 so far!

Randy, SF, thanks for the kind words my friends! SF, there are 2 removable panels, one on each side of the engine, so fortunately a lot of that detail will still be visible. The cockpit opening is a fairly good size too, so much of the interior work will be seen as well.

Thanks Suppression, although I plan to heavily weather the engine with black/brown/umber oils for that greasy engine look. Weathering can be a great way to mask bits that didn't quite go according to plan

BTW anybody got any advice for masking circular sections ie, round tips of noses, nacelles etc.? I was thinking thin strips of masking tape as these will be easier to bend out of the straight line as they curve around the fuselage.

I've tried using Maskol but that is still like trying to paint freehand as well.

Casper the Chihuahu,

Cut out circles with a circle template, artist supple stores sell them. I would spend a bit extra and get a metal (stainless steel) one as my plastic one sometime gets nipped with a #11 hobby blade. The template has enough holes that one will fit your needs.

Had a few hours today to get some bits accomplished on Chwat. Here is the progress:

Scratch built the loader's periscope & the 75mm gun sight. Very small 'tops' will be CA glued to the stainless steel uprights after the Future has cured. They are cut & sanded from good old light blue dollar store swim goggle lenses. The tiny can shaped bits of paper is a Zig Zag rolling paper CA glued to a metal pin, cured then cut with a #11 blade. These are CA glued to the bits for eye pieces and will become the sun shades for the upper parts. 

Here is the tile cut to make the base. The center will have a scratch built street scene including part of the post office wall that eventually fell on Chwat ending it. The outer triangles I thought of placing pictures from the uprising including one of Chwat, the mechanics that fixed it, and a few resistance fighters. Behind the post office I would like a plaque briefly describing the 63 day struggle.

The thought bubble became bigger to see inside better. I will have to name the guy inside. The mechanics that fixed Chwat are named in the web site, I am thinking they will be the two figures in the vignette.

Supressionfire that is sweet looking man. I cant wait to see this project come together, really like the idea of it. Hey I dont think the "thought bubble" could have come out any better love it.

PS a very interesting use for zigzags too will hafta remember that trick. I have been using water pipe screens for radiators on my builds or anything that needs fine screening.

Whoa!!!! Holy moley, SF!!!  Just when I think I'm getting the hang of all this scratchbuilding stuff, I take a look at what you're doing and realize just how far I still need to go. That is REALLY impressive work, and inspiring as well !! Very very nice!

Jason, outstanding work buddy, love that figure man i couldn't do a 1/35 figure that good and yours is in 1/72, very impressive....

Ruddrat, i'm totally speechless, awesome detail

Julez72,

Thanks, the figure was difficult to pose then when I thought it was ready I realized he was too tall for the interior! Original plan never thought of adding a interior figure, if so I would have made the floor a lot thinner. Needless to say he was cut apart and shortened a second time.

Ruddrat,

Tanks! Adding scratch built detail is additive, I do not recommend this as time spent doing so really lowers model output! (This was supposed to be a quick build between projects)

vetteman42,

At this stage the project pulls me towards completion. I can't explain just a lot of hours are spent building in the depths of my mind before actually hitting the bench.

Anyhow a hour or so was spent getting the clear parts CA glued to the periscopes after aluminum foil was added to the larger ones and acrylic aluminum paint. The idea is to reflect as much light inside to 'illuminate' the work so it will be noticed.

My girl friend asked if I was working on another kit & if that is all I accomplished....

Here is the kit loader's periscope next to the scratch built one.

Left to right:

#1 Rear facing periscope. #2 75mm gun sight. #3 Left side radio operator's periscope. #4 Loader's. #5 Driver's 'block'

Hi Everyone,
Congratulations on a really interesting GB, it's a great idea and really interesting to read through.

I have a question...does the 'no aftermarket' also extend to decals ? I have a conversion in mind that I would do myself, however it's a racing car and I would need aftermarket decals to complete the new liverie once I hack the plastic.

Thanks

Tony