Absolutely Outstanding Doogs. Not only hats off to your skills but also to your efforts to punch it out. I bow in your general direction.

                                             Joe

Doogs, that looks incredible!

Congratulations!! Great Job. Turned out perfect..

It was an epic build session tonight, and I'm going to feel it tomorrow, but "Magic Carpet" is DONE!

Thanks guys.

Doogs: Not sure I would've tackled the "inner blades" on a 1/48 either. I painted the hub first, then cut some micro-strips of tamiya tape and wound them around. I like that OD you got going there. looks really good.

The prop was, by far, the most challenging part, so far. (Sometimes the "easy" stuff reaches out and bites me). I had everything all set, then got impatient with the yellow. I don't know how many kits I'll have to build to finally realize you gotta layer that stuff on very very lightly! So, I had to re-do one of the blades. Of course, that cut into the NMF I had under the black enamel. Some serious damage control.

Gamera: I fight the dust bunny war as well. I had to sand out some. One thing about Alclad is, it really works well in small  touch ups! Also, that mega paint booth I have has an insane fan on it. I don't know the CFM specs, but it's up there. I seal off my room several minutes before painting, foam pad under the door and everything. -- looking forward to your GB by the way. Tony is on the way!

Tom: Again your NM looks flawless, why do I always get dust and lint in mine?? Nice looking prop too.

Doogs: Gee yeah, you don't have much more to go there. Looking forward to your washes, what I've done on my previous NM builds was ok I guess but I'd like to try something new. 

Tom - prop looks great! I'm jealous...looks like the hub bits are a lot easier to paint than they are on the Razorback's Curtiss Electric toothpick blades. There's a small ring between the hub and the prop proper I've just had to ignore on both Jugs since there's no way I'm getting a brush in there without mucking something up.

Also, totally forgot, but I light-sheened the Bug last night, too. Kind of amazed how much the clear coats knocked down the variations in the OD...but I'm blaming the absolute crap Vallejo Gloss Varnish I used on this one...had great luck with it before, but this time around was a total failure. 

Doogs: That light sheen sure looks great!

The prop...

Thanks gents! I'm pretty happy with the way she's coming along!

Vance - honestly I've got no idea what's up with the NMF/OD combo. I don't think it's replacement parts (well, wings maybe) since it seems too deliberate (and the cowl ring doesn't fall along panel breaks so that has to have been masked). And this was a CO's plane, so who could have easily been personal touch. Whatever the case...it's definitely one of the most distinctive Jugs - especially Razorbacks - I've ever seen!

P38 - 2 AM my time...I'm very much a night owl, and get by fine on 5-6 hours of sleep (usually get to crash for a bit with the kids in the evenings, get up 6:30-7). But 4 would be pushing it!

Tom - Coated the whole plane with Alclad Light Sheen last night. Think my plan tonight is going to be 1 - sludge wash and wipe, 2 - tires, 3 - get undercarriage and bomb racks on, 4 - selective use of Alclad Matte, 5 - clear bits and blast tubes.

Thanks Guys! Shiner? Good man, Ed! 

Doogs. Excellent! Magic Carpet looks flawless. Nice, smooth finish! Did you already put on the various Alclad clears? Question: Do the Alclad clears affect the decals, when sprayed over?... My Sprue brothers order is on the way.

I used MM Insignia red, enamel. It was the closest match I could find, based on some red detailed WWII jug pics. I do plan on weathering the finish somewhat, so that will blend nicely. It's just hard to willingly knock down such a clean coat of Alclad! I plan on using some pastels and lightly, some oils, for weathering mostly underneath. Gear is almost done. Gonna do the bombs today. Finished the prop and canopy last night.  I'm getting close!

Come on P38! Get er out!

doogs.. dont forget to sleep... I saw your 4 am ??? FB post.. lol

Looking good in here.. !!

grrr.. gotta get mine out..

Looking good all around folks. DoosATX - unexpected extra day to yourself - BONUS!!! I love the look of that mixed-bag bird you're working on. So what;s the story with the NMF wings & camo on the fuselage? Field replacements??

Tom - Outstanding! What red did you use? When I did "Hairless Joe" last year I used MM Guards Red...way more vibrant than their rather dull shade of Insig. Red.

Joe - Glad to hear the wings are good and you're moving along! I've heard great things about Mr. Dissolved Putty but never been able to actually find any!

Excellent news on "Magic Carpet"...wife was going to take the kids to visit her parents this weekend so I could go to ModelFiesta. Well...she's decided to head out today, so I'll have the house to myself and a big, unexpected window in which to finish "Magic Carpet" in time to take it down to SATX. 

It's going to be dicey...still have a wash and all the weathering, undercarriage, wing lights, finishing off the prop, mounting the prop, drop tank...don't think the bombs'll happen in time though. 

Doogs and Tom-A round of Shiners for you gentlemen! Beautiful work on all of your builds. Being new to aircraft building, I have learned more from you two with this GB than from any other source. Thank you.

Tom - Wow, your Jug is really coming out outstanding. Your work is sure helping me stay encouraged. Also, I'm glad to see you asking alot of the same questions I've been having concerning clear coats and decaling on Alclad.

 Doogs - Thanks for the tip about the wing fit. I quickly test fitted and looks as though the fit will be fine.

 Progress on evening out my fuselage seam is coming along fairly well. Restoring lost detail is going to be the bigger challenge. You know, it seems that Mr. Surfacer 500 & 1000 gets a lot of press here, and desevedly so, yet i don't see as much about using Mr. Dissolved Putty. Man, I'll tell ya I find that stuff to be gold. It fills the larger gaps and sink marks very nicely. Although it shrinks a good bit when it dries the bonus is that it dries quickly and successive coats can be applied in very short order. It sands very smooth and any feathering issues it has I just touch up with some 500 or 1000.

                                                                                  Joe

Some progress today....

Brand new flaps?...

panzerpilot

Thanks Doogs. Stripes coming along, with a bit of first aid where the tamiya tape "leaked" some.

Looks like a visit to Sprue Brothers is in order.

I was curious about decal solutions over the Alclad. I don't want solvaset to end up making my Jug "fly".  "Jabo" looks really nice the way it is, but I need to suck it up and weather it a bit. I saw Fermis' jug. It looks amazing with the way he toned it down. A light dullcoat is what he said he used. How about the Alcald Klear over decals? Any idea if that would be too harsh? It's laquer, right? So, Future, then decals, then alclad clear may be a disaster? (Post Script) A visit to the Alclad site says decal solutions are ok over Alclad, just not "high shine". Also, the Alclad Klear is water based?)

Nice idea about the "sheen modulation". Perhaps an overcoat of Klear Gloss with various other mattes, semi-gloss, etc. as you mentioned. The few color pictures of Jugs I have been able to find, show that. Almost a light buffed look. I even thought about trying 0000 steel wool to cut it down some, in certain areas, but that may be a bit medieval.

The standard Klears are closer to enamels, I believe (bottle says "contains white spirits"), not lacquer. The Aqua Klear is water-based. I've tried it and don't particularly care for it, but the spirits-based stuff is amazeballs.

Thanks Doogs. Stripes coming along, with a bit of first aid where the tamiya tape "leaked" some.

Looks like a visit to Sprue Brothers is in order.

I was curious about decal solutions over the Alclad. I don't want solvaset to end up making my Jug "fly".  "Jabo" looks really nice the way it is, but I need to suck it up and weather it a bit. I saw Fermis' jug. It looks amazing with the way he toned it down. A light dullcoat is what he said he used. How about the Alcald Klear over decals? Any idea if that would be too harsh? It's laquer, right? So, Future, then decals, then alclad clear may be a disaster? (Post Script) A visit to the Alclad site says decal solutions are ok over Alclad, just not "high shine". Also, the Alclad Klear is water based?)

Nice idea about the "sheen modulation". Perhaps an overcoat of Klear Gloss with various other mattes, semi-gloss, etc. as you mentioned. The few color pictures of Jugs I have been able to find, show that. Almost a light buffed look. I even thought about trying 0000 steel wool to cut it down some, in certain areas, but that may be a bit medieval.

panzerpilot

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...

Looking forward to seeing those stripes! 

For "Magic Carpet", I used Alclad Gloss Klear Kote. Goes down thin and smooth and doesn't diminish the metal much at all. Not sure I'd be comfortable using it on a chromed-up resto job, but a war-weary fighter with oxidation issues? Totally. I'll be toning it down with Gloss, Light Sheen and Matte. I've actually been considering using different clears to get some "sheen modulation"...I've been noticing that a lot of period aircraft weren't uniform in their sheen...outside of Pacific and CBI planes that just went dead flat...might experiment with The Bug first, though. Or not. We'll see...

Oh...one more nice thing about the Alclad clears...you can use decal solutions over them.

Both look Sweet Doogs !

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.  

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

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...

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.

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!

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!

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!

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.

 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 

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.