Here is another one for the completed list.

1/72 ESCI F-104.

I didn't want to import Alclad so I went for normal Tamiya Chrome silver enamel and while on the wings.

The decals fell appart in the water so I needed to seal with Tamiya clear acryilc, worked like a charm and sticks down beautifully wit no solution needed.

I an very unhappy with tth front part of the canopy. The paint bleeded under the masking, I might remove the whole thing and redo at some stage.

To what side did the canopy swing open? It seems like the IFR probe might be in the way???

Did the 104 ever carry sidewinders on the wing hardpoints atall?

Thanx

Theuns

Theuns wow thats a nice Starfighter man You made that paint work well for ya for sure. I never had any luck with the tamiya metallic paints. How did you get the burnt effect on the engine panel, it looks really good. Thank you for joining the group with all your builds. 

The canopy on the F-104 openes up and is hinged at the rear so the probe was no matter. As far as the sidewinders I am not sure.

I will update the front page with your build this evening

Theuns - very pretty F-104.   

As a bit of info regarding that craft, I had a cousin who once told me that he transitioned to the F-104 from the F-86 without benefit of dual or simulator.  Said it was a smooth deal.  I thought that was kinda interesting.

Ken

Super job there Theuns! I'm impressed with the burnt paint over the engine as well

V-man: If you don't mine me posting this here it is a mostly NM P-47 I'm doing for Doog's Jug GB:

Col Gray young man I would say you are learning very well looks great so far. waiting for the ,markings next.

Red Baron now this I have never seen, a NMF P-40 !!! Didnt even know they were used, now I have learned something. Talk about looking cool !!!!!

Gamera do I mind you ask ???? Well let me tell ya I am very pleased you wish to post it here. Nice looking and very smooth NMF on it too. What kit is it ?

Theuns your third build for the group has been updated on the front page. Well done sir.

So when do we start round 4?........

Cheers

Casper the Chihuahua

So when do we start round 4?........

Cheers

Well I dont know Casper I asked a while back and there were no responses. If there is interest I will be more than happy for a NMF IV.

vetteman42

Gamera do I mind you ask ???? Well let me tell ya I am very pleased you wish to post it here. Nice looking and very smooth NMF on it too. What kit is it ?

She's the Revell Promodeler P-47N. Normally I don't do cross entry GB but if it's ok with you I'd be happy to here. After all I'm still following the GB even after finishing my entry, too much cool stuff to leave

Anyway I do have construction photos since I was taking them for Doogs P-47 GB:

I started decaling Wed. and am slowly making my way along.

Count me in! I'm doing a Classic Airframes Avro Anson Mk.1 1/48 in RAAF silver for the 1942 GB and a jug Trumpeter P-47N 1/32 for the Jugs GB.

Cheers

Vetteman,

You have to ask if we like another round?? I thought NMF GB was a universal constant...? Now youve gone and make me re-evaluate my religious beliefs...

Richard

Furyan

Heck.. my bad, I never thought the P40 was ever in natural finish with invasion stripes painted (euro mid '44) ..     

I don't think there were any P-40's in NMF with invasion stripes. I'm a bit of a P-40 fan, well a huge P-40 fan (ask Hans).

I've still got to do the P-40 in RAF markings and in USN markings...

Red Baron maybe there werent any NM P-40s but man it looks cool, have been picturing one with the shark mouth and markings all dolled up. Just might have to do one my self one day. Cant wait to see yours finished.

the real red baron

 

Furyan:

 

Heck.. my bad, I never thought the P40 was ever in natural finish with invasion stripes painted (euro mid '44) ..     

 

 

I don't think there were any P-40's in NMF with invasion stripes. I'm a bit of a P-40 fan, well a huge P-40 fan (ask Hans).

I've still got to do the P-40 in RAF markings and in USN markings...

Arhh yeah cheers Baron. Sorry guys but I just love historic aircraft over 'what if's' .  I just cant get my head around a NMF invasion striped one... sorry.  Model looks good though =)

The pannel over the engine hot section was actually just plain testors Titianium metalizer with Humbrol #56 alluminium brushed over it in vertical plain to simulate the effect.

Interesting about the canopy, I always thought it swung open to the side.

Theuns

Theuns you are right, I am wrong, have no idea what I was thinking. The canopy on the Starfighter did open to the side, hinged on the pilots left shoulder.  Check the link.

http://data3.primeportal.net/hangar/luc_colin3/f-104g_fx-47/images/f-104g_fx-47_14_of_39.jpg

Vetteman - I was planning on having nothing on the cowl, but it seems a little bland. I might have to put a shark face on it. But I'll come to that when I'm doing to the decals.

'stangs first coat on the underside done n dusted. Much masking to be done though.

This kit does come with a wheels down option and thats what I'll be using but to keep the detailed landing bays guts silver  free its good it also has an option for a covered bay (for painting heehee )

Baron,

Well done on the P40! Correct or not...i couldn't tell you but it sure looks the part!

Furyan,

Looks like a baby butt smooth finish! 

Guys,

I am calling my yellow wing wildcat done! Took me a while to finish her up but she turned out quite to my liking. I did tear a decal on the fuselage but managed to piece it together...these trumpy decals are razor thin and they didnt really like the micro set so all the other decals were applied without it. They went on without a problem.

Also i decided on not really adding alot of wear and tear since these cats flew around pre war so my guess is they were maintained a bit better as opposed to the wartime ones.

I do hope you guys like her too and i would love to come back again for the next round

Richard

Wow man, looks awesome!  GW.

The fine black line around the cowling.. a decal or you painted?   Nice work.

Beautiful job, Kermit!! 

That Mustang's looking real nice, Furyan! 

Ken

Furyan now thats lookin good enough for dinner man !!!!!

Kermit leme get my flight bag and take this one for a hop around the field man !! Nice smooth Talon finish and the yellow came out perfect. Always have trouble with that color. Those decals laid down nicely for ya too, have heard horror stories about them from others. Glad you chose not to dirty it up too, as all the prewar pictures I have seen of them show very little wear on the Wildcats. for a fine build.

Almost forgot, am updating the front page with your build now Richard

Furyan: Very nice smooth job you've got there!!

Richard: Never been a big fan of the looks of the Wildcat but yours looks terrific!!! Not that there is much I can say bad about any yellow wing, I think that scheme would make even an A-10 attractive. And really great job you did as well, flawless work on the NM and the yellow looks great (which by now I think yellow is the worstest colour of all to paint!!!)

Kermit,

That's a truly sweet build. I've got a F4F that I must put in Guadalcanal warpaint. But war is the enemy of art and I wish all aircraft were that fine to look at. It even makes a Wildcat look good. I must make that kit. I see AM makes a F3 - that would also be tempting.

We have another blue nosed Mustang? The first model I did about two years ago was a 1/72 Tamiya 51D which I hand painted in enamel - with a blue nose. Most people still think it's my best model because I didn't weather it. Not sure whether there were any blue nosed Mustangs in the war (color/marking guru Robert Archer considers the idea "fantasy") but there should have been.

Eric

EBergerud

 Not sure whether there were any blue nosed Mustangs in the war (color/marking guru Robert Archer considers the idea "fantasy") but there should have been.

Eric

Oh dear!  Yes indeedy there were my friend.

One of the most famous is the one Im making now. (Doogs here at FSM has also done a superb model of Meyers ride as well)  Lt Col Meyer  and his team flew for the mighty 8th in the 352nd Fighter Group. Some of the top scores were made from this out fit.

The 8th Air Force's highest scoring ace Lt Col. JC

Kermit - your Wildcat is absolutely beautiful!!  I'm not intending to be a smart a**, but just noticed that both ailerons are down.(?)

Ken

Bullet through a cable maybe   

Gives a bit of surface texture though, I like it.

Argh another mishap.. but not my fault this time.

The Tamiya AS12 is a spray can paint especially made for the bare metal looks like the Mustangs.. only thing is when it starts to run out it spatters like hell. Thght it had at least a good minute of so of painting left, I only had a small but to do. No, it spat big blobs of paint over the tops of the wings, really pissed me off to say the least. Had to wait till they dried and sand the area back. As well as that, I now need to buy a new can for a few seconds work and they ain't cheap.   Still happy but not impressed, Id rather use my airgun anyday but the AS12 is only in a can, grrrr 

Furyan - decant that stuff! Take a straw, cut it, put one end over the spray nozzle, the other in a paint bottle. Spray into the bottle, let it sit and outgas for awhile (if you don't AS-12 literally explodes), then spray it through the airbrush. You can even thin it down a bit with a high-quality lacquer thinner. That's how I've used it in the past.

Hey Doogs... yeah good idea, I shoulve done that in the first place but as Ive got only a small bit left Ill just use the can this time now. Ill deff do that next time though. Great idea.

Hey tbh Ive never used thinner based paint in my gun, are they hard to clean out afterwards?? Thanks for the heads up mate.