panzerpilot

Really fine work, Doogs. I like the "new" shading technique. Setting the bar very high, per usual...

Yeah I really like it, too. Was worried about that fine line of not covering enough vs. covering all the pre-shading as I've done in the past, but having it more or less everywhere gives a lot more leeway. I've decided I'm going to adopt it for the OD on both aircraft, but with slightly different approaches (for some reason I want "The Bug" to be a touch greener than "Magic Carpet")...also think I might toss some XF-4 into the mix on MC, since you can see some chromate peeking through a bit just under the canopy in the photo...

Well, big night for "Magic Carpet" last night. 

Let's start with a pre-shade. Mix of Tamiya Flat Black, NATO Black, Dark Green, with some dashes of XF-4 up by the cockpit sills:

Next I loaded up a 2:1 mix of Tamiya Olive Drab and Khaki Drab and went to work. Here are the results:

Hoping to gloss tonight, decal tomorrow. Can I get this sucker done in time for the 18th? Fingers crossed!

Tom and Doogs - Your Jugs are really looking nice. Top notch indeed. I'm liking the effect your getting there Doogs. Also, Thanks for the link to the P-47 book. Quite nice. 

 As I've been following along with your Alclad and primer applications I've concluded that I'd best do a bit of testing and practicing prior to putting the rubber to the road. So, I dug out a "stunt" model from the stash to sacrafice for the good of the order. I guess it's more about which primer to use more than anything as there seems to be a wide array of opinion on this. I have Alclad Black and White primer, your standard Tamiya white and gray as well as Ace Brand enamel gray out of a rattle can. Thus I'll do a bit of experimenting. Also develop a better comfort level with spraying Alclad with my Badger Patriot. 

 I've only managed to make minimal progress lately. Got all the parts ready for the Tamiya Yellow-Green(Yellow Chromate), A set back was encountered when I went to start assembly on the engine. Much to my dismay the kit engine has an ugly seam and flash all the way around it espacially the fron bank of cylinders. Thus, some metticulous and careful scraping and sanding is required. I have the Quickboost engine for this kit at my disposal yet it presents its own set of issues. First, it does not fit into the cowling and and subsequently requires the removal of the resin block from the back of the engine and the removal of the alignment ring from the kit bulhead. Thus when it comes to gluing the resin engine to the bulkhead there is some very careful aligning necessary. So, for the moment I'm working on both. Unfortunately, much of the beautiful QB engine would be hidden inside the cowling and not really into removing a panel from the cowling on this particular build. I've added a few pics to illustrate the issues.

                                                                Joe

Thanks Joe. Yeah, those engine seams can be a bear for sure!

Top notch, Doogs! Looks really sharp.

Here's my latest progress. I still have the stripes, gear, prop, canopy and bombs to go...

Doogs-I love how your shading is turning out! It looks so easy too, thanks for showing us step by step how you are applying this. You have made me want to try one like this as well. If you could put me down for another build (told 'ya I liked Jugs) I would like to do a Revellogram razorback in "Miss Second Front" markings. My Tamiya will change from "Chautauqua" to "Passionate Patsy" (I love the markings and colors on this one) and "Chautauqua" will be a P-47N from Revell. Thanks!

Tom-Simply beautiful work you are turning out my friend! Paint is amazing, can't wait to see some stripes on her.

Joe-Good luck on your build.

Sorry I have not been posting anything recently, I had a massive computer meltdown and my hard drive is toast. My Academy is completed and I have just started preliminary work on the Tamiya. I hope to have the computer problem resolved this weekend so I can put up some pics by Monday. Have a good weekend guys.

Thanks, Ed.

It's been a very enjoyable build. I am cutting out the position light placement today with a saw. This, to use the clear part, "clear" green and red lights. A few more shaded panels (ammo panels), and i'm gonna get the prop done today. Also, I've learned to wear a cloth glove when holding her. Bare hands tend to pull paint off along the leading edge.

Looking forward to your pics!

 DoogsATX, The preshading looks pretty good. I like the varied shades rendered, looks very convincing compared with the photo. The grey underside photo's show it better than the darker OD does. Anywho, the masking looks great as well.

 Panzerpilot, The subtle shade differences in the panels turned out great. Very smooth!

  Joe, That QB engine looks nicely detailed, it would be a shame to hide all that under the cowling.

Tom- Are you having paint flaking problems because of the primer or is it just the nature of alclad? I wonder if you guys are putting clear on it before taping for the other colors, I have only used alclad chrome in the past for some Corvette wheels so my knowledge of it is very little.

Von Sisco

Tom- Are you having paint flaking problems because of the primer or is it just the nature of alclad? I wonder if you guys are putting clear on it before taping for the other colors, I have only used alclad chrome in the past for some Corvette wheels so my knowledge of it is very little.

I think it's just the nature of it. I had been holding it by the leading and trailing edges. That being said, I had some paint flake off a bit along the leading edge when I pulled off some tamiya tape. I have not been putting any clear over the finish because I don't want that to take away from it.

Basically, I had put a very light coat along the leading edge, so I think that was the root of it. I had no problems in areas, along the fuselage and wings, which had a heavier coat.

Sorry for the late start... just unboxed the kit this weekend.  Ran into a serious problem in early January trying to finish a 1/32 109 E-7 (Eduard Balkans kit) with a bad dihedral that showed up after the wings were fit.  It looked good in test fitting, but a disaster after the weld-on set.  I may have to try the dangerous step of applying heat to get them to bend upward, but I was disgusted enough that I've set it aside to get into the work I signed up for in this GB.  That Eduard kit has been a nightmare from the go, and I was so happy to unbox the big Trumpeter D-30.

No pictures yet... just snipped out all the cockpit pieces and sanded out the sprue joins, plus gluing the few pieces that can go together before component painting. 

One question, though... for those that have dealt with the trumpy film guages behind a clear IP, how did you mask the guage glass?  The other two trumpeter kits I've done (262 and Mig 3) had the instrument faces punched out of the clear dash, so there wasn't anything to mask.  One online reviewer said he used elmers glue for a liquid mask, and one punched them out manually.  Neither of those sound really appealing, but I suppose I could try the elmers trick...

i think i need alclad in my life. im afraid of NMF. 

NervousEnergy

One question, though... for those that have dealt with the trumpy film guages behind a clear IP, how did you mask the guage glass?  The other two trumpeter kits I've done (262 and Mig 3) had the instrument faces punched out of the clear dash, so there wasn't anything to mask.  One online reviewer said he used elmers glue for a liquid mask, and one punched them out manually.  Neither of those sound really appealing, but I suppose I could try the elmers trick...

That sounds like a very dumb way to design an IP. I'd go the Elmers route. I've also heard that the Eduard PE IP for the Trumpybolts is something to behold if you want to go that route...

Got started on the decals on Friday night. Major markings done. Still have to do all sorts of stencils left to go.

Progress went slow Friday...just too friggin' cold. I can work in the garage down to about 42, 43. Below that, the floor heater just can't keep up. Friday it was 31. Last night wasn't much better, but my sinuses got angry so I took a night off. Pretty much lost any chance of having MC ready for ModelFiesta on Saturday. Sigh...

Since I'm no longer racing the clock I'm tempted to throw olive drab at the Revellogram tonight and paly with decals later...

randypandy831

i think i need alclad in my life. im afraid of NMF. 

Yes, you do! Don't be afraid. I was hesitant at first, because it seemed really complicated. It really isn't. One thing I like is that it is premixed and goes on just right. From my experience, it just involves more sanding than other mediums. Wet sanding with micromesh, was my technique. It actually dries pretty quickly as well.

Looking great Doogs!..

"The Bug" got the Olive Drab treatment tonight. This time I used a bottle of Gunze Mr. Color OD and WOW...I used Gunze last year on my 1/32 Bf 109E-7, but I guess I forgot just how nice it sprays!

Had an idiot moment when I loaded the paint into the airbrush, forgetting I'd left the needle out of it. An hour's thorough cleaning later...

After the way this paint went down, I'm looking forward to ModelFiesta this weekend more than ever, since Hill Country Hobby had a full rack of the stuff last year.

Randy: Alclad is great stuff! I've never had any real problems with it. Getting the surface prepped for it can be a bear though. Every gloss coat I used orange peeled until I tried Model Master acrylic black with a little retarder added. If you can get a smooth shiny surface the Alclad itself seems almost foolproof.

Doogs: Super job there, you're moving right along!

Sprayed the Alclad on the Promodeler P-47N yesterday. Few rough places that I'm going to try to clean up but overall mostly happy with the results. Camera repair shop told me they have a backlog and it will be two to three weeks before they get to me so I won't be posting photos for some time - sorry  

 Doogs - Very Very Nice looking Jugs.

Randy - I can relate. Although I'm a bit apprehensive shooting my first NMF with Alclad it certainly is easier with the expertise and encouragement from the fellow modelers here.

 I made a bit of progress this weekend despite battling a nasty cold. Got everything painted and set in place for the fuselage to slide together. No doubt, the engineering Tamiya put into this is simply outstanding. I mean what a pleasure to be able to set the cockpit, wing spars , engine bulkhead and supercharger in aligned and snug and just apply a little Tamiya liquid and she slids right together, Nice!

                                                                       Joe

Just so everyone knows, my parents comp fried and Im not sure when they will get it fixed so I wont be posting any pictures till it is fixed. I wont put pictures on my moms laptop either so you'll have to wait.

Doogs, I'm really geeking out over Magic Carpet, what a beauty! You've sold me on that preshading technique. The Revellogram is coming along great too. What did you use for a clear coat on MC? It has just a little bit of sheen, not too much. Thanks!

Von Sisco

Doogs, I'm really geeking out over Magic Carpet, what a beauty! You've sold me on that preshading technique. The Revellogram is coming along great too. What did you use for a clear coat on MC? It has just a little bit of sheen, not too much. Thanks!

Thanks! I've kinda sold myself on the preshade as well! Though I think it worked out better on the Revellogram than on MC. 

I'm using Alclad's Gloss Klear Kote on Magic Carpet...the DSLR shot on the blue background is straight-up paint, but the crappy iPhone shot with the decals going on shows the gloss clear. I'll be toning it back with light sheen and matte clears when all's said and done.

DoogsATX

"The Bug" got the Olive Drab treatment tonight. This time I used a bottle of Gunze Mr. Color OD and WOW...I used Gunze last year on my 1/32 Bf 109E-7, but I guess I forgot just how nice it sprays!

Had an idiot moment when I loaded the paint into the airbrush, forgetting I'd left the needle out of it. An hour's thorough cleaning later...

After the way this paint went down, I'm looking forward to ModelFiesta this weekend more than ever, since Hill Country Hobby had a full rack of the stuff last year.

The best place to get Gunze, especially if you're ordering a bunch, is Hobbywave.  They use a flat shipping rate of $12 per order (not item), so the cost is quite a bit lower than SprueB once you get past half a dozen bottles, plus their selection and stock level is better than any other site I've seen.  They only sell Mr Color so they sell it all, including the really exotic ones such as the crystal and multishade lines.

I love spraying it, though setting up the office venting when I do is a pain. 

 Aww, For the love of Pete!! There be a heavy price to pay for impatience, over confidence and generally not paying attention, Slid the fuselage halves together and began Weld Oning. Beginning at the engine bulkhead and working my way across the top. Flipped her over to find that the supercharger did not fully line up and thus preventing the fuselage halves to fully meet. Surgery with the Xacto got me together but the damage was done. The halves did not fully line up flush thus leaving a nice healthy ridge nearly all the way around. Fortunately I live by a daily creed, "Stop living in the problem and start living in the solution." Thus off the Pity Pot and out with the Flexi-file, Mr Dissolvd Putty, Mr. Surfacer 1000 and masking tape and set to the task at hand. It's going to take a bit of time but I believe I will salvage the model and my pride.

                                           Joe 

Joe - sorry to hear it! That supercharger plate is one of the few weak spots of the Tamiya Jug, IMO. I secured mine during and early test fit using some Gator's Grip. That way I didn't have to think about it when I came back around to securing the fuselage. I'd pay careful attention to the wings going forward if I were you. If the fuselage is out of whack, it may be doing something to the wing spars.

Morning update:

"Magic Carpet" - All the markings are down! Have to admit, I was somewhat disappointed in the Zotz decals. They're not as bad as Tamiya, but they're still relatively thick and still showed a tendency to silver in places. On a plus side, you can move them around pretty freely for awhile to get proper positioning, so they aren't the kind that just suck down and that's all she wrote.

"The Bug" - Got a start on the decals. They're weird. Quite thin and tough. But man do they stick. There's NO adjusting them once they're on the plastic unless you totally lift them off. Also, the cowl flap decals. Completely out of size with the actual cowl flaps. After this pic I decided I hated them and pulled them off. Once the other decals are placed, I'll mask and paint them on. Hardest part will no doubt be matching the red in the mouth...it's not insignia red but has a slight brown tinge to it. Fun!

DoogsATX, I'm impressed with the everything. Outstanding work. Sorry to read that you didn't make your self imposed deadline, but I am enjoying the post. I really like the looks of Magic Carpet. Like the sharks mouth on "The Bug" too.  Looking forward to updates!

Mobious

DoogsATX, I'm impressed with the everything. Outstanding work. Sorry to read that you didn't make your self imposed deadline, but I am enjoying the post. I really like the looks of Magic Carpet. Like the sharks mouth on "The Bug" too.  Looking forward to updates!

Thanks man! The deadline was always a bit of a long shot (maybe if I'd tagged the date back when I started the build...), but yeah, losing a night killed my chances I'm afraid. Still...these two are starting to think they can see light at the end of the tunnel. Looking forward to getting out of decal hell!

Decals are all on...in the end the Revell decals were kind of depressing. White slivers on the borders of the national insignia, off-register yellow on the tail code...the aforementioned way-wrong-size cowl decoration.

For "The Bug", I stole the no step squares from the Tamiya sheet. The gun numbers came from the Zotz sheet, which unhelpfully included two "4 3 2 1" sequences rather than "1 2 3 4" and "4 3 2 1". So I cut one up and rearranged. The Tamiya gun number markings went on "Magic Carpet".

Having the two of them side-by-side also really illustrates the differences in the Gunze OD (Bug) and my Tamiya concoction of 2/3 Olive Drab and 1/3 Khaki Drab (MC). Even cut with that much Khaki Drab, the Tamiya is still far greener.

They both look great! Did you overcoat 'Magic Carpets' NMF with anything? I saw you mention you were gonna use alclad's clear gloss? I am trying to decide if I need to to get the deals to set better, or just leave it as is.

I am finishing "Jabo's" Stripes. I went with enamel, instead of acrylic hoping for a slightly richer color. I've also finished the prop. Pics soon...

I've got Lucky all primed and searching the seams for imperfections.

Doogs: Yeah I can see the difference now, still both look great! And it's funny (not funny haha but funny as in strange) that you had problems with the Zotz decals. First sheet I used went down great, even with some giant decals and layering. Second sheet I've used with my Zero I've had problems with, both silvering and not settling down perfectly as well.

Satch: Looks great! From the photos she seems plenty smooth for the NM coat to come,

Tom: Don't keep us waiting- pictures man!

I need to touch up a few places in the NM on P-47N '2 Big and 2 Heavy' but am overall pleased with results. Hopefully I'll get her masked and the trim painted this weekend. Sorry Doogs but at the rate things are going I may have her done before I get my camera back. The shop is now telling me I may have a month before they get to it.