OFFICAL NO AFTERMARKET Group Build

oddmanrush

Out of curiousity, why do you ask? Is silvering noticeable in my pics Decaling is still something I'm not that well versed at.

Hi Jon,

No, not really, that's why I've asked

Jeremy hi, and thanks.

I've used steel mesh that we used to use for filtering (in my previous workplace, but I really don't know what they were filtering; possibly powder paint). PM me your address and I'll ship you a strip; I still have more than I can use.

Cem.

Oddmanrush now that's what I am talking about a very well done A-4 Skyhawk . The preshading came out very well, and a nice crisp paint job, I cant see any decal troubles on your build at all.  I like your idea for a base and will have to try that. Your build is on the front page, let me know if I got anything wrong. Again a model you can be proud of.

Plasticaddict now you have me feeling like a beginner on my MiG-3 build. You have done some OUTSTANDING work on yours. The pit is truly top of the line work, and the added detail in the intakes and guns really make the model.  May I ask what paint you and color you are using for the russian blue ? I cant find anything even close to it.

Kermit Yup surely does look to be a Spit you have there Cant wait to see it weathered and Kermified. BTW I like the camo very much, it is spot on

Eatthis I am liking this, lotsa iron on this bird to be sure. Its gonna be an eye popper me thinks.

Jmabx glad to see the Flamingo back Thats a slick trick for the elevators, thanks for showing us, it looks much easier than what I have done in the past.

Richard thanks! I usually give the decals several coats of microsol until it looks the way I like it. I'm still fairly uncomfortable with decals but I"m learning. I also found out that applying pressure helps after applying the microsol really helps snug the decal and eliminate silvering.
Really nice looking Spitfire so far. You're right, it does look clean but nothing a wash won't help. Sorry to hear the wheels fell off! Believe it or not, as soon as I finished up the skyhawk, I set it down on the table while I dug around in one of my draws for a plaque to make the base. I looked up and the A-4 was leaning to the side. Some how the right rear wheel had just fell off. A little aggravating but nothing some CA glue couldn't fix.

Eatthis nice progress on a very interesting subject. I was confused by the loadout at first, being different on both sides, until i saw the blue tack holding the weapons. I think the loadout on the port side with looks best as well, though I'm not at all familiar with the plane.

Jeremy thank you sir. This is really my first successful preshade. Normally I apply the top coat too thick and the preshade is virtually invisible. Glad to know I"m improving. The base is made from a simple oval plaque. The concrete is foam core board glued to the top and textured with wood putty, scored to look like concrete pad, then painted grey and dry brushed. I added a few oil stains for character.
Nice work as well! Very clever way to spruce up the elevators.

Wow heaps of great work going on, well done Gents

Woohoo... too much going on here!!!   Let's see...

Kermit - Nice cockpit going on there and the paint looks good! Sometimes I have to rub down the edges between colors after pulling up the masking. I like to use a toothpick to take down the edge.

SF - Amazing stuff man... especially on that tiny little target!

Cem - Looking real nice! What did you use for the mesh on the rad and intakes? It makes a world of difference.

Jon - Your Skyhawk looks perfect!  I really like the preshading. How did you make your base?

eathis - That Cf-109 looks ready to party!   Jag style sidewinders will be cool!

I whipped out the Flamingo again and decided to mess with the elevators this time around. When I built the cockpit, I pushed the rudder pedals to the side and the control sticks forward so that I could play with the control surfaces. Here's how this session went... about an hours worth of work to do both elevators!

Here's what we start with.

First order of business is to cut up the elevator. I used my saw to scribe both sides in the lines until it fell apart. Then it gets a good clean up with a file and some sand paper.

Now, here's where it gets good!   I cut out the part number tags from the sprue...

... glued them back to back and, with a fair amount of liquid cement, I squished them onto the back side of the tail and filed them to shape.

Next, I took the edge of my file and carefully made corresponding notches in the other half.

 And place them together.

Now I have myself some posable elevators. They ain't fancy and they ain't pretty but they sure are a heck of alot better than what I had before! Hope you enjoy 'em!

heres some progress shots of the cf109

im going to try to make a revolving bombay with 2 aden cannons (off a sea harrier) and some kind of ammo drum assy

anybody know where i can get the xtradecals what if part3 for this in the uk i can only find it wholesale

im thinking the loadout should be arranged as it is on the port wing not the starboard what do you all reckon??

il also put 2/4 sidewinders on top of the wings ala jaguar

Ok, WIP update time here...

The past week i have been working on spraying the camo. Took awhile because i gave each coat a day to cure. For some reason i decided on enamels....

The future coat i sprayed after spraying the green (did that before the brown) has flaws here and there because of the tamyia tape tearing it up at places but i noticed that it becomes less appearant after scratching it a bit with my fingernail, ever so carefully ofcourse LOL.

At this point i am still deciding on how to progress next....drybrushing...washes.... maybe both.... Bottom line is i think that, at this point, the model looks to "clean" to me... Will keep you guys posted ofcourse on what i do.

Less nice is the fact that all the wheels were knocked off during the masking, spraying and respraying during the course of the week... The Landing gear assembly is really fragile and not really froggy proof i'm afraid.... hope i can solve this by simply regluing them or use CA....

Thanks for watching,

Richard

Jon,

Your work is outstanding! I really like the model and what you have done with/ to it I don't see any silvering myself and your decals look fine to me. Personally i usually apply two coats of set afterwards with maybe an hour inbetween. If bubbles or silvering still persists i have a very very fine needle type tool that the ladies use for their card making hobby. I simply riddle the decal with tiny punctures and apply set again. Never failed sofar

Congrats on a stunning build!

Richard

Cem, thanks! I'm glad its finished but I almost don't want to give it away. I tried two different techniques for the decals. One I tried to just use microset, both before and after applying the decal. This worked ok, but silvering was still visible, even with a gloss coat. Weird. The second method I learned from this month's FSM from the Doog's article. I applied microsol before and after application and then used pressure with my finger and a paper towel to press the decal as close as possible. This worked perfectly and virtually eliminated silvering.

Out of curiousity, why do you ask? Is silvering noticeable in my pics Decaling is still something I'm not that well versed at.

Jon hi,

Great work, congratulations!

I like the base and crisp paintjob around the intakes. Have you used microset for the decals?

Cem.

Ok, two things you'll notice in this post.
First, the A-4 is finished!!!
Second, I'm terrible at photographing my models.

Well, in short order, here she is....

This is the small base I made...

Hope you all enjoy it! I will certainly stay tuned to this build as there is some excellent stuff going on that I can't wait to see.

I know the IL II Stormovick had skis for winter operations, also the successful twin engine medium bomber...I believe there is a kit featuring it on skis.

The AM decal sheet I have for my IL I Stormovick has the version on skis, I have not decided which set to use as the kits a long way off on the priority list. (Group Builds on the go!) The IL I Is the single seat Academy kit, once I decide I will give away the rest of the decals.

SuppressionFire

If I can ever speed up my building process Russian aircraft on skiis is a subject I would like to model

Yeah!

That would be really neat. There are a few 1/32 resin kits with skis (all pre-war German though) from Silver Wings but they are bit expensive.

I might try a 4th MiG3 with skis ... a "what if ..." sort of project ...

Cem.

Quick reply!

Looking forward to the captured versions, somehow I am thinking those camouflage schemes are more complex...

If I can ever speed up my building process Russian aircraft on skiis is a subject I would like to model, it seems winter scenes is my thing (Living in Canada eh) so it will be a natural progression. Also the heavy weathering they often are pictured with is neat-o-cool!

Now that I am on the topic I have a 1/32 Stuka 'Cannon bird' out west that is planned to have a whitewash finish... one day!

SuppressionFire

... which scheme are you planning to paint yours?

Hi,

Thanks for your compliment!

This is the first of the 3 MiG3's I will build and it will be painted white - but the original paint on this particular plane (named Za Rodinu) was white not green, so this wouldn't actually be a camo scheme

The other two will be: German captured (repainted and flown with CT+SV markings) MiG3, and the legendary "Striped 27".

Cem.

Clem,

Outstanding work on the Mig 3! Your extra effort detailing the cockpit was worth the labor!

I always liked the winter camouflage applied to Russian WWII aircraft, which scheme are you planning to paint yours?

Great Work Guys some excellent work going on...

Randy, thanks mate, my 109 is 1/48 Tamiya..

Hello folks,

Sorry for not posting for a while; it is desert hot these days ... we're simply burning, and that doesn't help with one's appetite for building.

Nonetheless, I did some work on the MiG3.

In the meantime, congratulations to everyone for their effort, I really enjoyed going through all of them.

vetteman, sorry about your PC and welcome back!

Ok, here's the lastest from me:

The cockpit is installed and the fuselage is closed.

For all major intakes steel mesh used, replacing original parts.

... and the original gun barrels replaced with brass pipes cut from larger injector needles ...

And that's about it for now.

Take care!

Cem.

Been getting some bench time in & up to old tricks!

Those that may have followed my thread regarding the 1/48 scale Sherman might recall scratch built periscopes being added through the hull....

Well its possible in 1/72 scale as well!

Once again the dollar store goggles get used for the 'Panzer glass'  This time the thickness of the lens becomes the correct width for 1/72 scale. I started by sanding a flat side, progressively until 1000 grit wet then 1200 wet. A hobby saw cut a sliver a bit larger than needed, then this cut side was sanded the same.

Multi-tasking the picture the radio's have been spiced up,as the seats. 'Posts' are glued through the hull to add them after paint, the punch set made 'cushions' for the round ones, the brass bit will bend 90 degrees for the back rest.Held off painting the cushions as its easier to glue on after paint.

Next shows the periscope through the hull, the rear facing one is behind the engine divider! NP as I can just add a vision part on this side & let the periscope run a random length behind the dividing wall. the Doog's thread showed a adjustable stand along the wall? The adjustable part is the hitch off a 1/144 scale aircraft tow bar, the rod is a handrail off a 1/72 scale T-34. Seen in gray plastic is a first aid box? sounds good to me...

After the front vision glass is fit the next step will be adding the tie down loops on the exterior, they will be CA glued inside & sanded smooth. Who knows? Paint by the end of the week if all goes well...

Julez72 sure cross overs are accepted here and welcome to the group. I will get you on the roster, I just need to know is the kit a 1/48 scale ?

Oddmanrush that Skyhawk just keeps looking better and better each time I see it, you are doing some very nice work there.

Suppressionfire YES ! I like the rework much better, I have that same problem scratch building. Build it then tear it all out and do it again, with much better results. The shells are looking good too, I need to save my nickles and get me one of those punch sets.

The A-4 is looking better Oddman.

As for wether-or-not on scratch-building stuff that won't be seen, I personally do my best with scratch-building the details, and will give the hard to see areas a convincing and buisy look.

 I don't use after-market for anything, so I can buy more styrene and kits, which leads to more scratch-building, and more skills (Of course, this after-market part-phobia has to end soon... Mabe I'll give one a shot one day, mabe...)

If I can ever remember them, I got several photos of the dumpster car. (I keep forgetting them.)  I'll get it done soon.

I agree. I'll scratch build something even if it isn't visible. Especially in a GB forum. If I know its there, and a few other people know its there, nothing wrong with that. I will not, however, drop cash on aftermarket parts if they will not be visible. That is a waste of time and money, in my humble opinion.

Either way, as far as I know, the judges actually take your model apart, examine the interior, piece by piece, then glue it back together again. Speaking of judges, you planning on entering a show with the Hetzer?

oddmanrush:

SuppressionFire the interior is lookin' good! Are you just going' to have hatches open or are you going to make the top of the fighting compartment open up in the same fashion as the Doog's article? Either way, great work, can't wait to see it finished.

Actually in a sole act of defiance I plan on just having the hatches open, not much will be seen and its comforting to know you fellas' know the detail is there. Yes scratch building is my favorite aspect of the hobby, regardless if its visible or not. 

Besides don't contest judges have X-ray vision + micro robotic cameras they send inside models? Though so...

Kermit and Railfan, thanks for the comments!

SuppressionFire the interior is lookin' good! Are you just going' to have hatches open or are you going to make the top of the fighting compartment open up in the same fashion as the Doog's article? Either way, great work, can't wait to see it finished.

Here is just another small update. Decaling is complete, as far as I can tell. Let me just say that for an excellent kit, the decals SUCKED. Some were the wrong size, or the wrong color. The decal placement instructions were inaccurate, if they showed me where to place them at all. Most of my placement was based on actual photos. The decal sheet includes the tiny stenciling, like 'Hot Air' or 'Danger' and 'No Step' but it doesn't provide a location for any of these, so I left them off for now. The sheet also mismatched BuNo's. If I had used them, they would have been incorrect as the tail code read 1705 and the complete BuNo read 151715. Should have been 151705. Good thing I didn't use 'em!

What a pain. But now I can focus on getting the weapons aboard and weathering. Then she'll be done.

Everything is looking great so far. I'm finally getting to see the A-4 getting ready for a launch off the deck, and I'm starting to get an idea on how to scratch-build a tank interior. Everyone is looking good.

I can relate to the lack-of-progress you are having Oddman. I have not been too productive lately for some reason or another. I'll try to get everything re-started and running soon.

I have the dumpster mobile painted, but not much more progress beond that.I'll try to get photos up soon.

OddmanRush, Suppressionfire,

I'm not worthy.....

Richard

Finally took a day off to get some quality bench time in!

Started scratch building the interior... Then found the Doogs thread & decided to scrap this and start over.

The back wall between the fighting compartment & the engine will drop down from above. The reasoning is the top will need to be more accurate as its more visible. Also decided to scratch the plates above the tracks out of styrene sheet as the kits were too thick.

The bottom was a bit rough so added sheet styrene to the floor instead of putty filler. Scratched the drive shaft & transmission, also the steering brakes. This will drop in as it will be painted panzer gray and the interior white. (just like Doog's) Poor boy lathed some 75mm ammunition out of styrene rod. Tried the new punch set & was really impressed! The discs would make great rims for the ammunition, maybe for the ones stored above as the floor stowage sits upright & they will not be seen.

Well its good to see this build is still generating interest and gaining new members!

Kermit the Spitfire is looking really good! I like the map case, an addition I likely forgot to put in the P-40. Live and learn, that's what these builds are for, no? I also like the work on the engine detail and seat straps. Keep it comin'!

Well, you said you wanted more Skyhawk, so here it is....

Not much of an update, I seem to be moving slower than normal. Which may be a good thing since its actually looking better than most planes I put together. You can see I've put a semi-gloss coat on it with some Pledge with Future Shine. I don't airbrush it, I just brush it on. Don't feel like dealing with the AB clean up so I don't even bother shooting it through the AB. I've got most of the decals in place. Another couple of stars 'n bars and some tiny stencils and the decals with be finished. The BuNo on the tail is 6570. It is not an actual bureau number from VMA 211 as far as I know.
I'm building this plane for my friends dad who flew in VMA 211 during Vietnam but he has no recollection of his BuNo so I used the years of his service, 1965-1970. The modex on the other hand, is correct. CF-23 was his bird's number.

In researching his BuNo I found something out. I contacted the Squadron Duty Officer of VMA 211 who keeps the roster of the unit. Though he couldn't provide me with the correct number, he told me that a pilot who spends at least a year in a squadron will usually fly all 20-23 of the squadron aircraft, which would also include his own assigned bureau number. I didn't know that pilots mixed and matched aircraft. I thought they flew their own, unless of course it was damaged or lost, etc.

Any way, hope you like it. There is still a ways to go as I still have to paint the stores and weather it.

Randy, what is it with your GB's that make me want to join huh?????

I was going to see if i could do a crossover with my latest NMF mustang but i'm useing SS decals...Anyways i've hit a brick wall with my BoB GB ME110 and i'm going to change that build for a 109E so if a crossover is allowed i'll do a Tamiya 109E OOB with some scrathced seat belts....

Kermit your Spitfire is coming together very well, I am really liking the fact that you are building it with the side panels off. I like being able to see all the work you did on that engine. Your scratch built detail really stands out there, the oil and coolant lines are perfect IMHO

Eatthis great thanks for joining us, your build sounds like it will be a real challenge, cant wait to see your progress. The front page has been updated with your build.