Reasoned:  Lovely!!!  The P-51 and the Spitfire are the two most beautiful airplanes ever built.   Ya done good!!

Okay Owl, I submit my Mustang's for your review.  Both 1/48 P-51D's one Revell, one Tamiya.  Thanks to some decals from Hammer & advice from fermis, I was able to build both out, I present Big Beautiful Doll (Revell) & Miss Marilyn II (Tamiya).  Good thing these weren't my first models... they may have been my last.  It was my first attempt with Metalizer paints (interesting stuff). 

Medicman71

Thanks Howard. I use Squadron White and have had good success with it. Course i've only done one kit since getting back into the hobby. Do you know what the difference is between the two?

Further proof that this forum is a great place to learn.  I'm using Squadron Green, too, but I've also got some Testors Putty to experiment with.  Every build is an experiment to see what works and the comments here really help.

Howard: really look forward to further photos.  That's a great looking build.

Thanks Howard. I use Squadron White and have had good success with it. Course i've only done one kit since getting back into the hobby. Do you know what the difference is between the two?

Medicman71

Looking good so far Howard. What do you use for filler?

I use the old standby Squadron Green stuff.  Mainly because it's what I've used for many years and very familiar with. It drys quickly , sands easily. Although, because it sands easily , it's easy to over sand . The filler is softer than the surrounding plastic and when working joints like on the Bulldog, you usually have to do a second coat over the low spots. Really isn't a bad idea to do a skim coat over most fillers anyway. This one will probably need to be primed to check for any missed low spots before final paint . 

 Again, don't let this discourage anyone from the Williams Bro.s kits. They are fun builds and of subjects you don.t often see. One of the planned reissues is the Laird Solution racer . Can't wait to add that one to my stash.

Howard 

Looking good so far Howard. What do you use for filler?

Looks like a course in filling and sanding.  Its really going to look great when its finished. 

Very nice Owl.  The A-10 is one heck of a warplane. 

 I've got some update pics to share. 

First , an excerpt form the kit instructions. then some pics to show what they mean. Builds more like a limited edition kit. Which (in a way) it is.

You can see all the fit and fill issues. Although , I built the Williams Bro.s Gee Bee R-1 and the Z many years ago amd don't recall this much fit problems. I also have on deck ,the Williams Bro.s Wedell- Williams racer and it seems like it will be a much better fitting kit. Don't let this scare anyone away from one of there models . They build into very beautiful models . even if it takes a bit more work . 

Besides , look how cool this thing is going to look.

To get an idea how small the racers of the day were, with big engines mounted to them, the Hellcat is 1/48 while the Bulldog is 1/32. yet both models are approximately the same size.  

 Back to more filling and sanding.

Howard

Great stuff folks!

Esp your Maus Mike, the camo looks good and yeah I hate those 'fiddly bits' tracks though the Maus is nice in that the skirts cover the upper run.

 Nice work on the Warthog Owl. Mines the Revell as well. I'm gonna get some aftermarket stuff for mine. Stuff such as replacement intakes for the engines, new cockpit and weapons, and an update set to make it as close to the current standard as can be done. Still hunting for decals though.

kermit

Dear Miss Owl,

I was just wondering,... Is the designation for the F22 "Raptor" by any chance referring to the "velociraptor" dinosaur, made famous by the jurassic park movies? If so, i guess it would qualify for the GB? I just happen to have Revell of Germany's offering in 1:72 scale in my stash.... Trying to clear it out a bit you see.

Btw, Looks like revell's warthog in 1:48 isn't it? I started one myself a while back but stopped just because of the delicate seamwork/ sanding... Might wanna pick that one up too again.....

Richard

Interesting question regarding the F22. I would think, because the logo has the head of a predatory bird, "raptor" refers to our feathered friends and not the dinosaurs.

my kit is indeed the Revell kit. It says so on the company stamp!  There are a few seams to clean up, but I think the blade scraping worked fairly well for me. How far along were you on the build? Previously started kits are accepted, you know.

Dear Miss Owl,

I was just wondering,... Is the designation for the F22 "Raptor" by any chance referring to the "velociraptor" dinosaur, made famous by the jurassic park movies? If so, i guess it would qualify for the GB? I just happen to have Revell of Germany's offering in 1:72 scale in my stash.... Trying to clear it out a bit you see.

Btw, Looks like revell's warthog in 1:48 isn't it? I started one myself a while back but stopped just because of the delicate seamwork/ sanding... Might wanna pick that one up too again.....

Richard

Ms. Owl, the Wart Hog is coming together beautifully.  Good work on the seams!!

Looking forward to more photos.

Here's an update on the Warthog. Ive gotten the main assemblies together, and used a bit of putty. I had to take care when getting rid of the main seam on the fuselage because there is a lot of raised detail in that area. Damage was minimized by using the back edge of a hobby knife to scrape down the seam marks. The knife offered much more control than sandpaper. The red stuff is the Bond putty I used to fill in the gaps.

OWL

Mike, nice finish! Your dunkelgelb looked a tad too light before, but I think it looks nice now, blended and complimented by the dark green and browns you have there. Also nice how you posed it by the Sherman, like a Mastiff next to a Chihuahua....and finally, great 229 reference. Keep up the good work.

As for me, I've not had much bench time so the Jaguar sits dormant. I'm already about two weeks over due for another GB....

Life....

All of you are too kind.  Thanks.

Wow Maj Mike, it sure doesn't look like a rust bucket anymore!   I really like the finish on it, even if it's not the perfect "dunkelgelb" (whatever that is)

very nice job loveed the pics .

Ron

MAJ Mike

 I consider every model a WIP, so I'll tinker with this for a while yet.

The finished work never  matches what was in my mind's eye.

Every kit is an experiment,  

Ain't it the truth!!!

 Nice work MAJ Mike. Dang!, those Germans built some wild stuff . What a monster!

Howard

Very nice Maj Mike!!! Looks great. I really like the number on the side too.

Yes, it was free-hand.  I'm still a beginer with the airbrush.  The kit was really a simple build except for the track pads and fitting the side skirts.  Thanks for all of the positive comments.  I'm still not at the skill level that I see displayed here.  

Thanks for looking.

and the award for "First Completed Build" goes to... MAJ Mike! Congrats on a nice tank. I do like the camo pattern. That was free-hand, Im guessing? 

Last of the Maus:

I got caught up in "the groove" this weekend, finished (mostly) the Maus, but I neglected to takestep-by-step photos.  Sorry 'bout that.   I consider every model a WIP, so I'll tinker with this for a while yet.

The finished work never  matches what was in my mind's eye.

Comparasion of size with a Sherman M4A3:

Every kit is an experiment,  Thanks for your interest.

well, I have glasses, so I dont know about unaided...  But no optivisor, that was done by holding up the cockpit into my clear zone: less than 6 inches in front of my face where I dont need glasses to see.  But I think I did go cross-eyed for a while there!   

CallSignOWL

daddy1: that is some outstanding detail! 

MAJ: The Maus is coming along nicely. Dont worry about the pre-shade. Things dont weather in precise lines, but at different rates.

Thanks.  I normally use flat black for a primer coat, it tends to "pop" the detail when I paint the later coats of paint.  Just thought I'd try this.  I think I'll go back to flat black primer unless I want to use the red/brown in the color scheme.

I really admire the detail work on the pilot and his "office".  Nicely done.  Do you use a magnifier or are your youthful eyes up to the task unaided?

daddy1: that is some outstanding detail! 

MAJ: The Maus is coming along nicely. Dont worry about the pre-shade. Things dont weather in precise lines, but at different rates.

More Maus:

Crude attempts at pre-shading.

Needs practice.  Every build is an experiment.  Will proceed to final paint and decaling.  Mke it a good day. 

Wow!  Howard that's really looking great!!  My Maus will, in no way, measure up to your build.  The talent i see displayed in this forum among the various threads is truely impressive.

Looking forward to more photos.

CallSignOWL

 

MAJ Mike:

Here are the parts for the suspension.

 

 

 

 

dang that's a lot of parts!  Nice to see you trucking on with the Maus

 Got some update pics on the Bulldog.

 First I glued strips of plastic for the stringers, then primed with flat white.

Made a copy of the IP decal then punced out the inst. faces for an overlay of the IP to add some relief. 

Cockpit showing IP with overlay in place. 

Using Testors flat white with a couple drops of  light tan for a "linen" look, Painted the inside of the "fabric" covered areas. Then a wash of water based red acrylic to give a look of the exterior red bleed through.

Then the metal areas painted MM aluminum.

Finally , paint the stringers with wood.

A few pics of the completed cockpit , by itself, fuse. halves together, then with the wing center section mounted.

The Pratt & Whitney R-1340 parts tree. 

 I have been running across a fair amount of flash and other problems associated with kits reissued from old  molds.  Nothing that basic skills can't handle. This Odd Animal is gioing to look cool.

Howard

the real red baron

MAJ Mike:

the real red baron:

Sehr schon zu sehen, dass Warzenschwien entlang OWL kommen. Schon Tank MAJ konnte ich nicht machen so etwas! Miene bauen kommt entlang bald, ich hoffe, finden eien job OWL und viel Gluck mit, dass die deutschen Finale!

 

Danke (I think).

 

 

its called german  

Ahhhhhhh!   So it wasn't Serbo-Croatian.