OFFICAL NO AFTERMARKET Group Build

I got the dive flaps all drilled out, but nearly took off the tip of my finger in the process! OUCH!!  That stalled me for only a little bit, but once the bleeding stopped and the bandaid was on, I continued to plug away. I've finished the P-40 cockpit, and am nearing completion on the Dauntless cockpit. The instrument panel decal in the P-40 was over-sized and took some trimming to get to fit onto the panel. Here are the cockpit pics, anything not tan was added by me.

OWL

Oh yes Owl I see from the pictures you are addicted to scratch building in a big way and in such a small scale no less. I just cant believe how much detail you were able to add, very well done indeed young lady.

Hi, my name is OWL and I have a problem..... I am addicted to scratchbuilding!!  

I was able to cobble together an entirior for the dauntless, and should be adding paint shortly. As many of you know, this Testors kit comes with no cockpit detail, just a couple of benches perched over a bare cavern which mummified and oversized pilots sit on....bleaugh.

Here is the entire scratchbuilt detail:

the kit guns were kinda pathetic too. I added what detail I could to make it passable, including the circular bench thing the gunner sits on. I could not figure out how to make 1/72 scale belt feeds, so I left those off.

OWL

OWL,

It becomes a long road from start to finish once a 'few' details are scratch built. Before its a affliction (like my condition) find a balance where kits are completed in a reasonable amount of time with just a few modifications from OOB.

Excellent added detail where there was none. When entering in contests be sure to list all the extra work & modifications.

fermis has a good balance as to how much to add. He usually just adds ignition wires to the engine and details to the cockpit such as seats, belts, control stick, fire extinguisher & sometimes gun / bomb sights.

Thanks for the tips on contests! I'll be sure to list all the work I did.  I do try to limit the amount of scratch built stuff...I don't really see any point in adding detail where it can't be seen.

I finished painting the SBD, and got all the cockpit pieces buttoned up on both planes. So far the fit on both of these kits is pretty good. The wings on the P-40 fit very nicely and don't require any putty! But the SBD has some gaps at the wing root, but nothing major.

OWL

I'm trying to get as much done on these builds before the holidays (tomorrow, basically) and I think I will be able to make the New Year's deadline I set for myself. I've detailed the gears/bays on the P-40 but decided to leave the gear bays on the SBD as is. Mostly due to a lack of tools needed to carve them out of the solid plastic and a desire not to slice off anymore of my fingers....

Only, I think the SBD needs to be changed to an A-24 Banshee. I accidentally broke off the arresting hook during sanding. I snipped off the kit-supplied wing pylons because they were terrible and scratched my own. you can see the difference in this picture: the kit part is on the left of the pic, my pylon is on the right side.

OWL

Owl, looks like your making solid progress on your builds, well done so far

Randy, buddy i have another change of plans...I've just started a Tamiya FW 190A8 to complement my Eduard A-5 and i'm building them both together, can you add the Tamiya as my entry for this GB please If you think it's appropriate then add the Eduard A-5 as well but it will be a crossover with RDIII and it's a profipak kit so it's fully loaded with extra detail, it is OOB though and i am adding ignition wires to the BMW radial

Owl looking good and you are moving right along too. I see you still have your digit wrapped, hope it feels better and you dont cut another on this build. Hate seeing blood on plastic.

Julez they will both work here just fine I will add them to the front page.They are both 1/48 scale right ?

I still have to post WIP pictures of my SH-60B, started it 2 weeks ago but am trying to get it finished by the 1st. So I have been building more than posting of late, I am a bad boy.

Yeah mate both are 1/48...Thanks for that Randy

Thanks for the concern, vetteman. My finger has stopped bleeding now, but I still have it wrapped up to remind me that it is injured and to not knock it into anything. The slip of the knife did break some of the dive flap, so I worked the slip up into battle damage!

Here is what I got done yesterday between last minute gift shopping, wrapping and making cards: I decided to add clear plastic to the SBD's wingtips, hollowed out the exhaust stacks and gun ports on the nose. I also added detail to the landing gear and scratched thinner landing gear doors. The kit ones were too thick and basic! IT looks pretty good to me. Now both kits are all ready for paint!

It will be a few days before I can work again, its the Holidays!!  Christmas Eve day is filled with visiting family and friends, a special dinner......and SANTA CLAUS COMES TONIGHT!!  

I wish you all a very merry Christmas!

OWL

Is it still open to join? I just got a 1/144 E-2C for christmas and I want to build it "in flight". My scratchbuilding would be "spinning props" built of a clear sheet instead of the kit props. BTW, that is the first time I even think about a groaup build. Merry Christmas and 'till next time

Paweł

Owl yep that is looking just like an SBD cant wait to see how it looks with some color on it

Pawel Ubetcha you can join us, never too late until the last day . I will update the front page right now and welcome to the group. This is your first GB ?? You will have a blast I hope, I find them lots of fun and a great way to make friends and learn. Who is the kit made by ?

How did everybody's holidays go? Anything to add to the stash?  I must've been a very good girl this year, because I got a lot of modeling stuff!

I finally got some time yesterday to work on the kits, and have completed painting on the P-40. It now has a layer of Future on it and while I am waiting for it to cure, I will be painting the SBD.

OWL

Owl,

You do not seize to amaze me miss owl. I particularly like the paintjob on the P40. Is that one brushh painted as well? If so i take my hat of to you. The fading on the darker brown is excellent!

Personally i haven't been doing too bad myself... Out always gracious and entertaining host has been so kind to help me aquire some acrylic talon paint and polishing powders by hawkeye's hobbies and this P47 has been the guinea pig. And i must say it delivered! See for yourselves:

I would dare call it my best NMF ever at this point. Hope you guys like it too!

After construction was done i used an ordinary can of laquer based grey primer from the local DIY market and used several misted coats of the talon paint. After this had cured i took a piece of 1200 grit sanding paper and lightly sanded my work. After this i applied another few mist coats and a heavier one. Concluded with the powders and rubbed it in gently with a soft piece of cloth.

Richard

that is very nice and shiny, kermit! What markings are you doing the Jug in?

Thanks, Kermit, and yes both the P-40 and SBD will be brush painted.

OWL

Allright ladies and gennulman!

For this christmas I got this model from my younger brother - touching!

To match other planes in his collection I decided to build it "in flight" - wheels up, props spinning (that's the scratchbuilding - I want to have transparent discs in place of the stock props). I also intend to skip the interior and do the windows "airliner style" - painted on.

Here's what I have so far:

The kit has excellent fit and needs only minimal amounts of putty. I do all the filling with Surfacer 500 and then I check the seams with gray Gunze paint to see if the filling came out right. I had to work some on the axle of the rotodome, since it fit too lose, hence the little black styrene disc - but now it seems to be working. The parting lines look good, although they are of course a lot too deep for scale. An airbrushed coat of grey paint will be next.

As said this is the first time I participate in a group build, let's see what it will be like. Thanks for reading and have a nice day

Paweł

That is looking good, Pawel. The smaller scales make for some cute little airplanes, dont they?

I've gotten the A-24 (SBD) all hand painted now with a coat of future in preparation for decals. You should be seeing the completed Warhawk tomorrow!

OWL

OWL,

Can't wait!!. Never knew they did SBD's in any other color than navy blue... Looks great ma'am

And to answer your question:

that is very nice and shiny, kermit! What markings are you doing the Jug in?

The paint job and markings are going to be completely fictional. I already chose a yellow nose and red/black striped tail and will mostly make and print out the noseart and stuff like that myself. Quite ambitious and i do hope i can deliver.....

Richard

CallSignOwl young lady I must say your brush painting skills are no less than mind numbing. I have only seen a few as nicely done as your P-40 and SBD have turned out Cant wait to see some decals on them.

Kermit man that there Talon really worked out well for you, that is one very smooth, even finish you have there my friend. You are worried about delivering your ambitious markings ?? I am not worried I KNOW you will deliver just what you say you will.

Pawel wow you jumped in with both feet auh runnin The micro mini Hawkeye is looking great so far, my eyes crossed just looking at the pictures so tiny. Looking forward to the next set of pics you post.

PS Owl if you ever get tired of the P-40 and SBD I will make room on my shelf for them

Oh no, vetteman, Im liking these little buggers. They're mine!

Decals are on the p-40! Im not able to fire up the airbrush at this time, so pardon the glossy look.

OWL

CallSignOWL

Oh no, vetteman, Im liking these little buggers. They're mine!

 

Decals are on the p-40! Im not able to fire up the airbrush at this time, so pardon the glossy look.

OWL

 

Miss Owl Just look at those pictures, you can't blame a guy for trying can ya ?? I mean I am hard pressed to paint well with an airbrush, an look at what you have gone an done.  Cant wait for the flat coat and the completed pictures.

Its actually kinda warm out today. Its been below freezing for a while now, preventing from using the Airbrush because I  have to use it in the garage. It has just been too cold!! But its actually 40-ish degrees out (Fahrenheit) which should be good enough for a quick spray session in the garage. 

These little birdies will finally be able to get their final flat coat! Here is a snapshot of the A-24 with decals:

OWL

Owl

I have been working  on my first helicopter build for a couple of weeks now, a SH-60B sub hunter killer.

I made seat belts with masking tape and I did add them to the rear seat too after these pictures were taken.

I added a few bits or wire here to make things look like they were indeed hooked up. I am assuming the bottle on top was for the pneumatically powered sonar buoy launcher. At least that's what the walkaround pictures showed.

Added a few pits and pieces in front of the instrument panel so it wouldn't be a see through type of thing going on there.

A shot of the crew cabin in the fuselage.

I scratched this from some evergreen, wire and foil, once it went into the cabin I couldn't get a shot of it with the camera. Came out well considering it was a first attempt.

Lots of filling and sanding with more to come as you can see. I am a bit disappointed in this kit as it is the most I have spent on a kit and I find that it has a bunch of fit issues. Right now I am having to fit each piece of crystal into the fuselage openings, they are all to large so lots of slow shaping and fitting is going on. Next will be the fiddly bits hanging on the sides of the fuselage, they will need some filling also. The rotorhead looks great though and I will be adding hydrolic lines to that sometime today.

Next I have a question and dont feel I should be the one who makes the call on,  so I am asking you all. I have an old Revel1 1/32 F-16C I want to do for the group and I wanted to build it gear up as it will be hanging from the ceiling. The kit doesn't have a pilot figure in it but I did find one from an Academy F-16 kit, would that be ok to use as it isnt AM ???

that helo looks pretty cool vetteman! I think it would be OK to use the academy pilot...it does come straight out of a kit box, doesn't it?

In other news...aribrushes are so finicky!    Grrrr, they make painting more frustrating than any stage of a build....but I achieved what I set out to do any way. The finished pics should be up soon!

OWL

Owl, vetteman42,

Great looking 'copter & aircraft!

Have made modest gains getting Chwat finished this year, what a long strange trip that has been...

I hope to get some WIP's posted later today and a year end completed model tally thread before the clock strikes 12 pm tomorrow night.

Jason

Vetteman,

Great work sofar my friend. Strange putty you are using being all pink.... my standard putty (revell brand ofcourse being european and all that LOL) is white... I am absolutely convinced that you will get it right given the patience you have with your builds. Also a primer coat before painting will show spot you've missed

OWL,

I'm getting tired of saying ohhh and aaaahhh with your builds.... But what can i say other than that.... Wish i had half your talent using paintbrushes even though i have honed my skills on that building model ships mostly a few years back.

If i might offer a suggestion, and probably one that will make your efforts even more impressive: I have learned through the years that you will get even smoother brushmarkfree finishes if you use thinned paint in multiple coats (two or even three). Not that i am offering hidden criticism...far from that even.

Just thought i might do a small inbetween WIP picture...

The main colored markings are on now apart from the OD anti glare...:

Also i have been paintshopping a bit with noseart and it is going fairly well... After some tinkering and pondering i have come up with "Too hot to handle" as a noseart text... just as a teaser

Richard

Thanks for the painting tip kermit!

Here is the completed pics for my three little birdies!!

A 1/72 scale F4u-1a Corsair from Testors. The kit was very basic, with only a solid plastic area to represent the cockpit. I cut out the plastic ans built a cockpit from scratch. To get an idea of how small this kit is: it easily fits on the palm of my hand. The kit came with both wings in the lowered position, but I decided to fold up one of the wings. This required slicing the original kit wings in half and boxing in the wing fold areas so you could not see through the wing. The kit-supplied arrestor hook at the rear of the plane was broken off during construction, so I built a new one out of a bent paperclip.

also cut apart the flaps on the wings and added rounded plastic to the edged to show them lowered. And NO, the wing on the model does NOT fold! So DO NOT try to bend it!!! ( I showed this plane to a group of friends and one decided to see if the wing really did fold...SNAP!! ) Additionally, I added detail to the landing gear. Everything but the main strut and wheel was added by me. I hollowed the area behind the cowl a bit to better represent where the exhaust stack would be.

I boxed in the wheel wells with thin strips of plastic to prevent a see-through effect in the wing. I also added the strengthening bars to the inside of the wheel well. The tail wheel well was also solid plastic that I cut away and added detail to. The wing-intakes were solid plastic that I cut out and added little plastic strips to.

I hand-painted this kit, scratched wing-fold detail, detailed the landing gear, boxed in the wheel wells, cut apart and dropped the elevators, and scratched built a cockpit on this airplane. I also cut out plastic on the wing tips and put in green and red colored clear plastic and sanded them to shape, representing landing lights.

That's a lot of work for such a small little plane!!

A 1/72 sclae P-40e (or Kittyhawk Mk.I) painted in desert camo. I hand-painted this little fella, too. These planes just look perfect with those shark mouths so I had to do these markings! I scratch built sidewall detail inside the cockpit, made seat belts out of tape, and hand painted the canopy frames. I added wire to the landing gear and made the strengthening frames for the wheel well out of thin strips of plastic.

And finally the A-24 Banshee. This is the ol' Testors kit, which has no interior. I built an entire cockpit from scratch, drilled out the landing flaps, added fin detail to the largest bomb, detailed the landing gear, made new landing gear doors, detailed the machine gun turret, drilled out the exhaust stacks and gun ports and hand painted the plane with Testors enamels (all tree of them had those paints).

OWL

Owl,

Impressive efforts and scratch building. Every modification looks the part and to scale, do enter them in a local contest when you get a chance. Unlike me you have the ability to keep the scratch building to a logical amount without wasted effort on unseen details. Good job!

Its almost the new year, would you post a thread showing your completed builds this year in the order you built them? I think the progression curve is really steep and it will show in a year end tally.