Night Fighter Nut

Ok.  First off I think I posted earlier my using lead fishing weight balls and epoxy in the nose.  These current pictures show my use of aquarium plant weights, which are just strips of lead, and the places I glued them. 

Thanks NFN for the very comprehensive run down.

I had never thought about using plant weights. I have been using pinewood derby weights, but they tend to be bulky. The stips would have worked perfectly on the P-39 I just finished.

NFN: She looks good to me! I'm doing the same kit but not nearly as far along as you are. I looked at trying to add some stuff but other than a Eduard cockpit PE set I think I'm just going to build the thing mostly straight out of box.

Thanks for the tip on the canopy, I'll be on the look-out for that. And I'd been thinking of throwing out the radar gear in the nose and putting the nose weight there. If there's room I'll see if I can stuff it just behind it like you did.

Thanks!

Cliff

I have pictures of what I did with the nose if you would like them.  I thought I had already posted them.  That is the best place to put the weights.  As you are building this kit, do a lot of dry fitting and you will see all kinds of spots to put weights to include the nacelles.  The weight just has to be in front of the wheel line to be effective.  For the kit I'm building I had eduard inside and outside PE parts.  The vent parts are very good on the outside part...  I think the last picture I posted shows them. 

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Here is how I did it step by step...  Hope it helps.  :)

NFN: Sorry if I came off as unclear, yes I saw the photos you'd posted with the nose. And thanks for the additional ones of the fishing weights. I'll be giving this a try when I get the cockpit finished enough to close it up.

My apologies, I missunderstood.

Moving onto the nacelles.  Because the kit has one engine with the vents open and one shut, I bashed two kits together so that I could have both engine vents open or shut.  To do this I had to cut the ends off of one and swith it with another.

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 I needed to enclose the wheel well so after a bit of study I came up with this...

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I also cut out holes for scratch building the vents...

My brother built that kit in 60's (I think) I remember it as a large lump of black plastic with fingerprints.

You're doing some innovative work with it. Can't wait to see how it all comes out.

I got the gear on the Hellcat and some exhaust staining. I looked a quite a few pictures of Hellcats and it seems that no two had the same color stains. It is still a work in progress and any suggestions or critiques will be welcome.

I'm no expert but a lot of people swear by chalk pastels.  Some will use a diluted solution of paint and thinner or windex depending on what kind of paint you're using and shoot through an airbrush.  The best suggestion I could give is experiment.  You could go to your local library and see if they have back copies of FS modeller.  There are lots of articles in those old mags that deal with this by people better qualified.  :)

jbrady,

Loving the build. I really like the shading you have going on with that night cat.

Jbrady: Dang I was going to comment on your Hellcat before and forgot. She looks great so far! Great looking model of a beautiful bird.

Conundrum!

So...despite my best intentions, I've been so wrapped up in my 109 that I haven't started the Mosquito yet. But decals go on tonight, and after that it'll be going into the home stretch, so I should be starting pretty soon.

However...I picked up Cyber-Hobby's Bf 110D Nachtjager at the LHS today, and it looks really pretty.

Which would you all rather see? 

Also, anybody know if the Eduard stuff for the Dragon kit (I believe they made a 110 previously?) will bit the Cyber-Hobby? I'm contemplating a cockpit mask since I like being able to see and have things I'd rather spend my eyesight on than masking 110 canopies!

Doogs,

My vote is for the Mozzy. There are lots of 110's running around. I think you could do it justice.

That and I have one in the stash and I not above copying some of your techniques.

NFN: I've hear both good and bad about pastels. Seems that if you put them on before the finish coat they pretty much disapear. I've heard people say that they clump up and can ruin a model if you try to seal them. I've heard other people say to put them on last and leave them alone. They just don't seem to be the solution for me. I'd like to find a technique with either enamels or acrylics. I did this one with enamel... started with Model Master burnt metal, then a little steel, I dry brushed dark grey and then flat black. I'm at the point of don't know what to do next... afraid to ruin what up to now looks pretty good.

Doogs do the 110 !

some finished shots, thanks for all the kind words everyone hope I did it justice

its beerthirty now cya

Exceptional

jbrady

Exceptional

Yeah... What he said!!! 

The best I can do. The last peice was the left wingtip navigation light... it took a flyer off the tweezers and I can't find it. Tried to use Micro Krystal Klear not real happy with the results. Overall though a fun build and a good kit.

Next up is the Beaufighter MK VI... should be fun I know nothing about British aircraft.

jbrady, the Hellcat came out great.  I have one in the stash, I hope I can do half as good as you did.  Ever since I read Squadron's "Night Wings", I have been fascinated by the night Hellcats.  Ze Germans are lucky the Marines stayed in the Pacific!

Here is the P-70 as a couple of days ago.  I put it next to my P-38M to give it some perspective of size.  The tail was every bit as atrocious fit as the nose.  The wings, luckily, are pretty good, and won't require much filler at all.  It is finally looking like an airplane!  I love the lines of the Havoc.  It was a really pretty plane.

I will update the finished build page later today.

Cheers,

Greg

Greg thanks for the comments. What kit is the Havoc? I always wanted to build one of those. Looking forward to doing the night Beaufighter as soon as I finish the F4F I'm working on.

Damn first birdies are complete. I needa get a wriggle on...actually i just need some motivation. Ive been in a real model building funk latley.

jbrady, it is the AMT P-70 Nighthawk version in 1/48.  Italeri and RoG have re-issued the other Havoc variants, but not this one.  I bought a PSP display base today.  It is the Eduard one.

Cheers,

Greg

jbrady nicely done,getting the weathering right on that is a challenge that you dealt with nicely .top notch build!!!

Finally got started last night - nothing major, just gluing some of the bigger interior pieces, drilling out the necessary holes, blah blah.

I've also decided I'm going to go with the kit's cockpit and save the Aires for a later build. Got a later Mossie project I want to save that for, plus I'm kind of looking for a relaxing build right about now...

Trey: Wow! Another winner there. I didn't even know there was a 189 nightfighter till you started on her. Great job on the weathering, the engine, hey great job all around.

Jbrady: She looks good to me, congrads!

Greg and Doogs: Great stuff, keep 'em coming!

Afraid I've been a bit under the weather so I'm moving even slower than usual. I'm still in, hopefully I've get some photos up before toooooo much longer............................

added a few rivits to the fuselage...

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I think " added a few riviets" was quite the understatment!  Looking great!

Worked on the motors, tyres, and propellers...

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Also did the internal support for the cone window in the rear.

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TREYZX10R

Doogs do the 110 !

some finished shots, thanks for all the kind words everyone hope I did it justice

its beerthirty now cya

That was beautifully done.  :)

Hercmech

I think " added a few riviets" was quite the understatment!  Looking great!

yea thats like saying the elephant man had a little swelling

NFN thanks,still trying to wrap my mind around the time it must have taken to do those rivets

Gamera thanks ,it was an obscure version for sure

Manny thanks , research was a challenge on this one glad you like it!