I couldn't get things ironed out yet, but I di upload these pics to Photobucket for now.

Here she is, my 1/72 scale F-86F "MiG Mad Marine" for this Group Build:

I think I'm now eligible for the Wall of Fame.

Thanks guys for looking in and thanks for hosting such a fun Group Build.

Well, guys, we have five completions so far and more approaching the finish line, this is turning into a very healthy GB!

Duke -- lovely Sabre and you've been added to the Roll of Honor! I dated your completion for the first post where you mentioned it was finished.

Model Geek and Simon L -- great work on your respective builds and I'm very much looking forward to seeing them when they're rolled out resplendant in their fighting colours.

Vetteman42 -- the DML Ho 229 is a spectacular model -- are you sure you wouldn't like to enter it in this build? There's five weeks regular time remaining, but overruns are always welcome!

Dr Wind -- Welcome aboard, sorry I didn't get back to you sooner, I'm only just starting to get pulled together after illness and an overseas trip. By all means, please enter your build, I would be delighted to host your return to the hobby after so long!

I will make an effort on my Meteor, I certainly want a completion for this build myself!

Cheers, gents,

Mike/TB379

Beautiful work to all the completed kits.  I really enjoyed the P-59, it is not a common subject.  My favorite has to be the Saber though.  I have always thought that the F-86 is one of the most beautiful planes of all time.

Thunderbolt I wish I could join up but I dont expect to receive the kit until mid December, and you know how slow a builder I am . From what I have read about the Dragon 229 it will take me at least a couple months to complete, probably will take longer to be honest. LOL the MiG-3 took five months.

Duke that is one sweet Sabre you have built,  glad you got the picture thing sorted out so we could see it. What did you use for the NMF ?

I see how crimped on time you are there, Randy -- yup, it wouldn't be much of a starter for this GB. Never mind, there'll be others coming along that I'm sure the 229 would fit nicely in, tailless aircraft, stealth types, Luft '46 and so on. There might even be an Early Jets II!

Cheers, Mike/TB379

PS: At least you finished your MiG, I didn't get any further than spraying the interior blue...

Duke: wow, looking good! Love the nice even job you did on the NM and the decals add that spark that sets her off from the pack.

Mike: sorry to hear you've been ill, I'd just assumed that you hadn't been around because you've been busy. Hope you're feeling better for Christmas.

BTW: The Vampire is together, now trying to get a smooth fit between the canopy and fuselage. Being a short run kit it doesn't really fit that well, think the model may be about 30%-40% putty and Mister Surfacer by now. Anyway, not sure if I'll make the deadline but most of the hard work should be done by now barring any painting mishaps. Cross your fingers. Will try to post photos soonish.

Duke - Great looking Saber. Omitting the yellow stripe decals didn't diminish the end result. Congrats on seeing it through to the end.

As for me getting very close to the finish line with the Fury. Wash is done, decals on, flat coat, check. Just lading gear & weapons to install. Maybe this weekend pending the "honey do list"

Hi All:

Just came across this Group Build and wonder if it's too late to join up ? ..

I've looked at all the pages and pictures and am mightily impressed ... fabulous work one and all ...

If not too late to get 'in', I'd like to toss my hat in the ring and go for it ...

Thanks,

Pepper

Hi Pepper -- I reckon it's never too late! If you can dive into a project and get her along to the finish line around the end of the year (and overruns are fine too) then by all means come aboard. Just let me know what kit, what scale, and special details, and I'll add you to the leaderboard.

Cheers, Mike/TB379

Hi Mike:

I've a Revell 1/48 F-84G Thunderjet that I'd like to add to the mix ... no special details - box stock ... no resin, PE or AM details ... (I'm from the old school - bring on those old Aurora kits, sez me :-) ...

Everything fits nicely and I do believe I can finish up within the time limit ...

Pepper

PS  This will be the 2nd try at getting this particular a/c finished ... 1st one was accidentaly knocked off the table and then stepped on ... ouch !! ...

Hi Pepper,

I have that one in my stash and it looks very impressive in the box -- I've heard it's particularly accurate, better than the Tamiya where the details that make it a -G are concerned. I'll be watching with great interest!

Adding you to the leaderboard right away -- welcome aboard!

Cheers, Mike/TB379

Thunderbolt379

Hi Pepper,

I have that one in my stash and it looks very impressive in the box -- I've heard it's particularly accurate, better than the Tamiya where the details that make it a -G are concerned. I'll be watching with great interest!

Adding you to the leaderboard right away -- welcome aboard!

Cheers, Mike/TB379

Hi Mike:

It's a very good kit in spite of it's age ...

I've decided to change models for this build though, as I am finishing up a Thunderjet for the 60th Anniversary-Korean War group build and I want to take on something different ...

So, I'm going to build a SabreJet (F-86F-30) in 1/48, by Academy ...

Thanks,

Pepper

No probs, Pepper, have changed the listing on page 1.

Cheers, Mike/TB379

My apologies for being so late in replying.

Thanks Thunderbolt for adding me to the Hall of Honor. I also appreciate backdating ti to when it was actually finished.

Thanks Screaminhelo. I also love the Sabre. Something quite lovely about that bird.

Thank you vetteman. The NMF was Tamiya Gloss Aluminum in the spray can. Took me four attempts to get it right.

Thanks Gamera. I'm glad I finally got that Aluminum to lay down right.

Thanks Model Geek. I agree, it looks great even without the stripe.

Now that I'm done, I'm looking forward to seeing all your great models finished as well guys. Keep plugging man!

Slow progress on my P59-B Airacomet for this group build.  Was in a 1:700 frame of mind this past holiday weekend, and that's where my time and effort went.

Here's the kit's box, front and back:

[View:/themes/fsm/utility/:550:0]

I've been aiming to build the orange US Army test version of this aircraft featured on the left side of the box.  My goal for this build is to get some experience with pre-shading and weathering, so a single color, non-metallic version of this plane is perfect for me.  As a practice build, I won't be making any effort in the cockpit; heck, even Bare Metal Foil masking efforts on the canopy are a first for me.

Here's the build's status at the moment:

[View:/themes/fsm/utility/:550:0]

Major sub-assemblies glued up with basic cockpit installed and interior parts painted.  Used Model Master Zinc-Chromate in the cockpit and wheel wells, but expect to use Tamiya for the rest of the job.  Cockpit glass has been masked with Bare Metal Foil, which worked well for me once I learned to really bare down during burnishing, and then painted the interior color.  Will get a second coat of the exterior color during final painting.

Not real happy with my fit of the underwings on either the leading or trailing surfaces.  I sacrificed the fit of the top of the wind for the fit of the bottom, then brought out the Squadron putty, which will now need sanding.  On other builds, I've tried smoothing the putty with acetone (nail polish remover), but it lifts the putty more than smooths it in my experience - someone will have to advise as to technique, timing, or other process or product.

All suggestions/encouragement welcome.  I'm here to learn!

DrWind -- great start! I've been most impressed with these Hobbycraft P-59s and am pretty sure I'll be building one at some point. is the NATC version natural metal or gray??? I look forward to seeing this one come together!

Cheers, MIke/TB379

Doc: Looks good so far! The orange paint is going to look really cool.

Hi All:

I picked up the Dash 30 F-86 Sabre Jet this morning and am ready to dive in ...

Looks like a good kit but will reserve judgement until I get into the build ...

Just finished a RNAF Sea Fury by Trumpeter ... the worst kit I have built since the old 79 cent Aurora WW i models ... nothing fit - parts were missing and it took an inordinate amount of time to build and finish ... and ... this is 1/72 scale to boot ...

I don't believe I'm going to plunk down the bucks to buy another Trumpeter kit any time soon ...

Anyhoo, here's a picture of the Sabre jet box ... I'm going to finish it in South African air Force colors as seen in Korea during the Korean War ...

Cheers,

Pepper

Gamera, sweet i get to see another one of your cool builds come together, looking forward to seein some paint buddy

DrWind, Nice start you have there, i was eyeing that kit off at the LHS the other day...Very tempting

Tbolt, Mike.........maaaaate...can i change my build???? Can't seem to pick up the Aardo for some reason but on the flip side i've been working on a Tamiya ME262 for the last week and moving quite quickly...If it's ok i'd like to switch to that one

Julez, buddy -- 'course you can! I'll fix up the first page when I have a chance, probably tomorrow. Always a pleasure to see a 262 come together!

Cheers, M/TB379

Thanks Mike.. It will be the B version with the twin 30mm guns and bombs, i'd like to try my hand at squiggle camo on this one...I read an article in a magazine about using maskol liquid mask through a needle to get the squiggle pattern so i'll be trying that method....

Dr Wind - Looking forward to seeing the orange on the P-59, something you don't see very often.

As for using acetone with putty I have done so with varying degrees of success. Seems to work OK for me on mating sufaces such as a wing root. I think this is because there is an angle there that kind of holds the putty in place. I lay down the putty and immeadiately follow with a Q-Tip soaked in acetone. On flat surfaces it seems to be more problematic.

I've come to perfer super glue. It dries rock hard and can be sanded and polished to a glass smooth finish. It is also superior in my opinion for scribing lost details. Hope this helps.

Pepper - Looking forward to seeing another colorful Sabre.

Gamera - Can't wait to see paint on the Vampire.

As for me I will finish the Fury this weekend. All that's left to do is paint and install the refueling probe and pitot tube.

As promised yesterday the Fury is finished! I was really happy with the results. The kit is great, I didn't make any major mistakes,and with some extra work my paint job turned out better than any I've done to date. Here's some pictures.

VERY well done, MG -- that finish is superb, the panel line accenting is subtle and realistic and the decals went on beautifully. The bullpups look great and the model captures the stance of the Fury perfectly.

I'll update page 1 when I get home from work tonight.

Cheers, Mike/TB379

Thank you very Mike.

Cheers to you as well

Tom: Sharp looking Fury! Really like how the white and grey are set off by the colourful intake and tail.

Page 1 updated with Model Geek's beautiful Fury, and Julez's change of subject. We have six completions so far and it looks like we're going to have several more!

Cheers, Mike/TB379

model geek

As promised yesterday the Fury is finished! I was really happy with the results.

Model Geek - that is GORGEOUS !! ...

pepper

hey, I just realized that I have another Early Jet that I started while this was going on. Even though it is started, can I submit it for this Group Build as well? I'll be finished with it soon.It is the Revell 1/72 scale F-9F Panther.

Here are pics of it when I started it. Cockpit first:

Wings and tail:

Here it is with wings dry-fit to the fuselage and the tail attached:

If you don't want to accept this into the Group Build though; I'll understand and will post no more pics of it.

Thanks for considering another one.