Mighty 8th GB 1-Nov-2010 - 31-Oct-2011

Dang...notice another thing

The small grille on the lower cowling under "Jasper" appears to be plated over in this photo but I dont really feel like filling this in on the model

I may get some pictures up myself.  I should resumre painting on the Mustang this week, focusing on the natural metal. I had to order a vacuum for canopy for it though since it has a slight incorrect shape and doesn't sit right on the fuselage.  I also figured out why the seat was too high.  I had a canopy from an old Revell kit on the bench and must've used that when fitting the seat because I tried it yesterday and it clears the seat lol

redraider56

I know the feeling.  I've only been working on the fighters since Christmas, but my B-17 has been going on for 4 years now

Ok, perhaps i'll stop complaining. Mines only been going 5 weeks. Will get the pics up in the m orning. The caste comes off on Wedensday, just in time for me to start on the intricate PE bomb bay.

I know the feeling.  I've only been working on the fighters since Christmas, but my B-17 has been going on for 4 years now

Sometrimes it can be best to just leave it, especially when its not that big an issue. I know the feeling about being anxious to get the build done, i feel like the B-17 has been going ages.

I thought I dry fitted before I installed, but something musta gone wrong.  If I tore it outta there now I'd just be asking for trouble.  I probly could, but I don't want to risk messing it up more.  More dry fitting is showing that the open canopy isn't being interfered with, so I think everything will work out.  I'm anxious to get this done, so if I can avoid doing something that will mess itup I will

O bugger. I bet alot of us have had that at least once. One of those things that reminds you to dry fit next time.

Is there no way the seat can come out and be trimmed from below.

Ran into a little problem with the Mustang yesterday.  I was dry fitting the canopy to see how it sat and it turns out I installed the pilot seat too high up and it interferes with the canopy.  I carved a little bit off the top to see if that would help but it didn't all that much.  I plan on having it open though, and it doesn't seem to interfere with the canopy that way.....hopefully I'm the only that notices when I finish it   Other than that I'm getting close to paint for both planes, I just need to stock up on some OD

Thanks for checking in Scorpio. Will be nice to get this GB going again for the last 4 months. I am sure you will do a good job on the kit. Look forward to seeing it.

Hey guys, just letting you know im still perservering with the stang. I went at it with a different outlook (of just build each bit as it comes to you, dont get overwhelmed) and its coming together alright. Its a shocking kitm, but i think once its done it will look semi ok. Im contemplating wether to use the kit wheels (poorly molded vinyl) Or get some AM stuff.

redraider56

If you're looking for an AM cockpit for the P-51, I'd recommend True Details. IIRC it was only around  $12-15  and it's a definite improvement over the kit cockpit.  Used it myself and it turned out pretty good

That's a good idea. I've not been entirely happy with either the kit cockpit, or my effort on it. And I could salvage some elements (seat, mostly) for use elsewhere.

If you're looking for an AM cockpit for the P-51, I'd recommend True Details. IIRC it was only around  $12-15  and it's a definite improvement over the kit cockpit.  Used it myself and it turned out pretty good

I love Aires cockpit. I have to resist buying them for kits that don't need a new pit.

I have only ever used a badger AB, i just have a 150. So no idea why one AB would spray a certain paint differantly to another make.

Bish

Well its you that has to be happy with the end result, so if you think it needs changeing, then i would go ahead and do it. Rather that than regret it afterwards when it's to late.

O i always make typos, i am just grateful for haveing a spell checker.

I may just do that. Course, then I'd have to do something to replace the ganked pit. Aires?

Also wanted to add that the Interior Green was done with Lifecolor. My awful results with the stuff and the Dauntless were pretty much non-existent this time around. The stuff shot pretty well through my H&S, to the point where I'd have no qualms using it in other applications. 

It's weird, but I think the H&S just plays a lot nicer with acrylics than either of my Iwatas. And I have no idea why.

Well its you that has to be happy with the end result, so if you think it needs changeing, then i would go ahead and do it. Rather that than regret it afterwards when it's to late.

O i always make typos, i am just grateful for haveing a spell checker.

Thanks Bish. I think I may be judging it harshly, especially since I've got the masterful Eduard PE set for Tamiya's big Spit sitting right next to it on the bench. But I can't help but think that the kit IP + some Airscale IP dials and detail painting would've created better results.

Also...YIKES for those typos and such in my post. That's why I should never post before I've had at least a cup of coffee!

That IP looks ok to me, thoguh to be fair i don't have anything to compare it to. That seat is very nice. Some good progress, despite the ratty problem.

Well, the weekend was a bit thrown off by the discovery Saturday night that a ratty old chair my wife's insisted on keeping in the garage (she was going to restore it one day) was literally ratty. But I set out glue traps and caught what I'm pretty sure is the last one last night!

Anyway, not as much progress as I'd hoped, but here's some shots of the Mustang's pit at present.

Overall? Not impressed with the Eduard instrument. I'm actually tempted to pull the kit IP out of another -51D I've got in the stash.

The Ultrascale seat and the rest of the cockpit are coming along quite well. The radio wiring is made from small Ultra Wire painted with Vallejo Offwhite.

Ultracast is slowly becoming my one of my favorite AM companies.  I used the spinner too and it is a definite improvement over the kit part

Doogs I saw in another thread you were contemplating filling in the wing panel lines....I would say go ahead and do it.  I did it with mine and it adds an interesting touch to the plane, plus painting the wings in a silver laquer nicely breaks up the NMF finish.  I read that the panels were filled in the factory and then when the planes were shipped overseas it was up to the ground crews whether or not to keep them that way;  some left them as is, some stripped the wings down to the bare metal.  Your call, but I would say go for it

As for me, I got quite a bit of work done on the Razorback last night.  Lost track of time and ended up working on it til 2 in the morning.  Nothing pic worthy yet though, unless people want to see plumbed landing gear

One thing i have not done, or intend to do, is buy a kit for a GB. I have only entered them with kits i already have. But i have entered so many GB's, i haven't been able to finish many Dio's. So once thios GB has finished, i have 2 more to do, then thats it for a while. From then on its one GB at a time.

Nice to see you have got started Doogs. I have learnt to very much looking forwards to your builds. For a moment, i thought that was the cockpit for thsi kit, i was going to say that was bloody quick. Your right about those seats, a bit of a difference.

I learned the Group Build lesson awhile ago.

Thing is, I was approaching it the way I was approaching BUYING kits, not BUILDING THEM. So it was like...sure...four kits for Ostfront, four for 8th AAF, etc. 

I've started just committing one build per GB...even that's excessive sometimes...but then I add others as I go.

Speaking of...kicked off the P-51 last night. Spent most of it prepping stuff for priming and filing off certain bits to accomodate the Eduard PE set.

Don't figure there's much point in showing sprue porn of the Tamiya 'Stang, but I do have some resin to show off:

First - the Ultracast seat versus the kit part. There's just no comparison.

Second - the Ultracast spinner. The difference is more subtle, but the prop blades that come with it are spectacular.

Only problem...the Ultracast spinner doesn't have a hole in the back, so there's no way to mount it. I solved this by taking the back of the kit spinner, holding it to the back of the resin one, then drilling through that hole with a 3/32 bit. Funny...first time I've ever been able to use an actual normal power tool in modeling!

And...it mounts up great!

Next choice is going to be whether I just go with MM enamel for interior green, or given Lifecolor a second shot. I've always fought with the stuff, but the last and only cockpit i airbrushed with Lifecolor came out pretty solid...

That's my problem exactly.  All my current builds are about 60-70% each and when I get done with those I'm tempted to pull out of every group build I'm in cuz I keep entering builds and keep piling up the kits but feel pressured and never get anything done

Thats one reason i now only build one at a time. That over spray can get every where.

I think the problem with doing GB's is that if you get into to many you end up trying to build to a dead line. Then it becomes less like fun and more of a chore.

Well I'm getting back into the swing of things now.  I did some work on the P-47's landing gear today: painting, decaling and adding brake lines.  Once I find my micro mesh polishing kit I gotta go over the entire plane since the Jug was one of the many items on my bench that caught overspray when I was doing the yellow on the Mustang.  Slowly but surely things are starting to pick back up

I have sort of had that as well red. The wrist has slowed it down, but i have found it hard to get motivated. I was the same last year after i went away for 3 months. I would have thought being away from the desk would have had the opposite effect. But this last couple of days, i seem to have got my MOJO back, and now i am really being slown down by the injureing. But i think i have got more done this week than i have in the last 5. Will have some pics up this weekend where ever i am at with it.

I've really been slacking on my builds that last couple months.  I keep buying kits, but havent been doing much in the way of building.  It seems lately that the mental image of the build being finished is more compelling that the actual building process and nothing is getting done.  Both my fighters are still sitting the way they were 6 months ago. But, like others, life has been throwing quite a bit my way and I'm just trying to get things sorted out right now

Yes Bish, life does have a tendancy to rear it's ugly head into our hobby time now and then. We all can relate, trust me!! Looking forward to seeing any builds that can be mustered, it's all inspirational!!

Thanks j, i know building models can never be a precise art when it comes to timing. I'll have to take a look ot your B-25's. Its always nice to see good builds where ever they are.

Bish... I will kick off the Beech UC 43 in a couple of weeks. The two B 25's I'm building for the NMF Build and Too Many Props Build are more involved than I thought but I haven't given up on this build yet.

Thanks guys, will be nice to get some builds going.

Doogs, once i get some paint on the 17, i will get it onto the weathering GB. Part of the problem could be that weathering is one small part of the whole process. so if people are only posting updates on the weathering, it can be over with quickly. But the idea is a good one as it will give people some good ideas.