The unOFFICIAL 2011/20012 Veteran's Group Build

RESlusher

 

usmcski:

...on that note, how do you all upload your photos?  The only ones I'm able to post thus far are on other sites, (I can't post from my own media).  What sites are you all using to link to?

 

Thanks for any/all help!

Ski

 

I use PhotoBucket.com; but Flikr is another option; both being free.  I make a separate album for each model as I start it and just upload the pics I take there then post 'em in my WIP thread.

 

You have to use a photo hosting site, like Slusher I use Photobucket. You can email your photos straight to the site if you use your cell phone, like I do, to take some pictures. Or you can upload your photos from a memory card or desktop. Easy to use. Then just copy the IMG code of the image to the text box in your reply and there you have it...

usmcski

...on that note, how do you all upload your photos?  The only ones I'm able to post thus far are on other sites, (I can't post from my own media).  What sites are you all using to link to?

Thanks for any/all help!

Ski

I use PhotoBucket.com; but Flikr is another option; both being free.  I make a separate album for each model as I start it and just upload the pics I take there then post 'em in my WIP thread.

Good to see people are gettin' busy. Feeling better Stik? I'm still fighting off some upper respiratory stuff but I've gotten some work done.

I have the paint down. Its a trick I picked up from one of DoogsATX's builds. I used to preshade, outlining each panel in black then lightly placing the base coat over the top. I've found Doogs' method to be a bit more forgiving and a little faster. I also find that my hand doesn't cramp as much when trying to trace precise lines. Any how, I just laid the base color down first, then used white to highlight the center of each panel. You can see in the picture that one side of the F-16 has the base coat and the other half has been highlighted. It does look ugly at first....

...but once that is complete and it looks as though your fighter has contracted some disease, you can put the thinned base coat back over the top of the highlights, like so....

Then I applied the gloss coat to prepare for decals....

I mix all the colors and eyeball them for correctness...so if something looks off, that is why. I think they look pretty close or close enough to me. I'm not a stickler for that sort of thing.

The decals came in right around Christmas, and I've applied them but I don't have pics of that quite yet. The guys from Afterburner Decals were really nice in sending me a sheet that they were able to track down...Can't thank them enough! Here they are....

They were easy to apply, and very thin. They blended well into the gloss coat and they should show no signs of silvering once I get the last gloss coat on it. 

What's left? I have to paint the ordnance and the wheels. Apply some weathering, shoot it with a dull coat and voila...

The countdown to basic training is down to 42 days!

...on that note, how do you all upload your photos?  The only ones I'm able to post thus far are on other sites, (I can't post from my own media).  What sites are you all using to link to?

Thanks for any/all help!

Ski

Stikpusher- I do have some in-progress shots, I just have to figure out how to get them off my iPhone and post them!  Once I figure it out, I'll put 'em up....

bondoman-Sorry!  The site they were originally posted on had the photos as HUGE files, I'll try to get future pics shrunk down a bit!

Semper,

Ski

Ski- scale down your photos. Old computers like mine can't boot them up.

Welcome to the GB Ski That Huey sure is a beauty... you would not happen to have any pics of the progress that got you to this point, would you?

Okay, I'm in!  I started this one in November, but she's been waiting on stencils from Maketar (they're finally here...)  Anyway, this started out as Panda's horrible 1/35th UH-1N.  Some of the work completed so far:

-Sanded off all the oversized rivets,

-Replaced the misshapen nose with the Cobra Co. update set,

-Completely scratchbuilt the inside of the doghouse and swashplate area,

-Cut out the incorrect 42 degree driveshaft cover at the base of the tail and replaced it with mesh,

-Stole the main rotor mast, swashplate, and main rotor gearbox from the MRC UH-1C

-Removed the stab bar to make it a SCAS Huey (Stability Control Augmentation System)

-Replaced the oversized Chaff/Flare housings with buckets from the 1/35 AH-1W

-Interior cabin/cockpit completely rebuilt 

...and a few other mods here and there.  Anyway, it's eventually going to depict BuNo 159202, "UV 30" from HMLA-267.  According to my Aircrew Logbook, she's the first Huey I ever crewed back in 2007.  She'll end up with a GAU-16 .50 cal and LAU-68 seven shot rocket pod on the port side and a GAU-17 minigun in the starboard door.  She sits on a custom base from 3 Wire Designs.  

Be gentle, she ain't done yet!

Semper,

Ski

Having 10 days off for the holidays I got to actually do model stuff on one of those! 

Gonna try to do some more work on it this weekend.  I've still got some of the turret to finish before I can paint it.

Sure is quiet in here!  Busy Holiday I guess.  The Hasegawa P-51D is underway - not much to show, but the pit is almost done.

Ken

Oh man, stay away from me with that! You got the short end of the stick...I got hit with sinus congestion and upper respiratory mess....nothing like snotting and coughing all over your model.

I got a stomach bug... What hit you Oddman?

stikpusher

No progress reports from me here. I have been under the weather for the past few days and have not felt up to any bench time.

That makes two of us....get well soon Stik!

Ok Ken, you are updated.

No progress reports from me here. I have been under the weather for the past few days and have not felt up to any bench time.

Stik,  looks like my TF-102 C&H conversion kit is a little slow shipping, so I'd like to add another build for now.  Please add a 1/48 Hasagawa P-51D to my list.  I've got her out of the box and just getting started.  Also, unless we get some really nice weather, I probably won't get either completed and painted until it warms up here next spring, but I'll post progress in the meantime.  Thanks,

Ken

Radio/Nav systems technician, AFSC 30170 - primarily fighter aircraft.

Ken

Thanks Ken! This is the steadiest I've worked on a model all year. I guess the fact that its going to be a gift is motivating me a bit more. I forgot how much fun modeling was for a while! 

I would love to be full time in the ANG as soon as a spot opens up that I can take. I'd love to get out of this cubicle if  I can. What did you do in the USAF/ANG? 

Keep up the good work, Jon.  I've barely got my start out of the box.  Good luck with your Basic Training.  Are you going full time with the ANG afterwards?  I did that years ago (many yrs ago) after USAF time and it was a great experience.  BTW, I like your avatar.

Ken

Fit the canopy on. Had to do some rearranging in the pit. If you glue the seat in the way it fits naturally, the canopy will not close as the seat will sit too high to allow it to close. I had to lean the seat back in order to get the canopy down. It may be declined at slightly more than a realistic angle but not terribly noticeable. I also had to move the HUD up further on the IP than what the instructions called for. However, the HUD looks nothing like what it looks like in real life. Had I attempted to create a more realistic HUD, it would have sat to high to allow the canopy to close again. You ask why I had to close the canopy? I didn't, I guess. Some builds I prefer to do so, especially ones that I have not spent a great deal of effort detailing the interior. Hence, close the lid...nothing to see here......

Sorry if the pics aren't very clear or detailed. I take my WIP photos with my cell phone as uploading them is quicker as I just email them straight to my Photobucket account. When she's finished, I'll use an actual camera.

Thanks,

Decal update:

Just got off the phone with Scott from Afterburner Decals. He said they sold out almost immediately of both separate sheets of Viper ANG markings! But he may have located a sheet from a distributor that he may be able to track down for me. Keeping my fingers crossed!

Yes, I'm curious to see how my upcoming military experience will influence my modeling. I agree that $20 for a 48 scale air plane is not bad. Its the Academy kit, and I believe its the first Academy I've experienced. Likewise, I prefer the cheaper models, which is why most of my meager stash is made up of Revell/Monogram kits and older Hasegawa's, Fujimi's, etc, purchased for mere dollars at various shows. On the other hand, you get what you pay for, which means a little bit more work in the end (ie fixing seems, gaps, poor fit, etc) but I'll take it for the price.

See, now you're getting the "insider" info about load outs. $20 for a 1/48 single seat/single engine jet fighter, with full ordinance, (Hasegawa???) is pretty reasonable. Of course I prefer my late 1990s prices of under $15 a pop...

Stik, I bought this kit from a LHS for $20 which was surprising considering most of their kits are overpriced, IMO. The fit could be a bit better but like you said, its a simple build and has gone together quickly without much of a fuss...and that is the sort of build I appreciate! Nothing like getting frustrated by a hobby that is suppose to be relaxing....

Any how, as far as the Mavericks go, that's why I was leaving them off. One of the Sergeants at the weapons shop on base told me that they find it nearly impossible to mount three bombs on the triple ejector rails any way and so they often only load two bombs a piece. I'll take his word for it. 

Plugging the holes with sprue is a good idea. I've noticed on this kit that all the locator holes are a bit over sized and still a bit visible after you've placed the part. Makes for a little extra work in filling gaps. 

Should be able to paint tomorrow I would guess...we'll see.

Oddman, I built the Thunderbirds release of this kit for Weekend Madness II a few years back. (did not finish it in the weekend due to improper planning on my part, but it was done in a week!) It is not a bad kit at all and a simple quick build overall. A great deal for the money. I think that I paid around $14 each for the two (Thunderbird and line bird)  I have. As far as ordinance goes, most pics that I have seen of Mavericks being carried on F-16s are on single rails and not the triple rail racks that thekit comes with. No worries though. 4 AIM-9s with fuel taks sounds like a good load out to me. I filled those pylon holes on mine using plugs made from stretched sprue and sanded flush.

Rob, apologies for my delayed response to your son's deployment overseas. My best wishes for your family's piece of mind and for his safe return after a successful tour.

Update...some more action on the F-16 and still haven't heard from Afterburner Decals. Been a little over 2 days so far since I emailed them my inquiry...its a one or two man show over there from what I can see so I'm not losing patience yet. Hopefully they come through for me!

Any how, the meat and potatoes...

The wheel wells. There is some detail but not much and would benefit from some AM parts or scratch building. For the sake of time, I will be doing neither! The pic also shows you a bit of a step I had to correct where the intake connects to the lower fuselage. Fun!

The landing gear struts are attached. These were an interesting conglomeration of tiny parts that the instructions were less than helpful in pointing out their proper placement.

And there it is with the pylons attached for the wingtip and outboard AIM 9's. I also attached the inboard pylons for the drop tanks. The middle pylons will be left off as the instructions call for Mavericks to be attached. However, in my time so far at the base, I've only ever seen the F-16s carrying Sidewiders...practice missiles though they may be....either way, I prefer the look this way.

A couple more fiddly bits and a correction here or there and she's ready to be painted with lots of different shades of gray. Stay tuned.

So I got a lot done on the F-16. I'm trying to finish it up by Christmas. I also tried to get a decal sheet from Afterburner Decals that had markings for the 177th Fighter Wing but they were apparently out of stock. Hopefully some one replies to my email soon about when they'll be restocked. Any way, this is how she sits now...

The kit doesn't have the best fit, but not the worst either. You can see some seam work that I had to do. I'll try to get a better shot of the 'pit as well. Not much to it...the instrument panel is a decal, which I don't like. I'd prefer the IP to be detailed in the plastic, but that's just me. Pretty much all that is left in construction is wheels and armament, then let the painting begin.

Update. I got some woodgrain down. looks good.

Still got a bit more work on the interior to do before i button it up, but were making progress.

If time permits I may add a second build to my list for this GB thanks to Squadron’s sale on AAVs this month.  The tractor shared ramp space with the vehicle I am modeling.  It was what can best be described as a hybrid-P7.  The hull, most of her anyway was an LVTP7 but had the RAM/RS suspension, bowplane, UGWS and EAAK.  It proved too costly to rebuild her, in-house or at the rebuild depot to 7A1 configuration, so she landed the next best fate.  We trucked her up to Edson Range to replace an LVTPX12, the precursor/experimental variant of the P7 that was made floatable and shipped to FL.  The PX12 was used in some air-to-surface missile test and was destroyed but, not before I got the data plate off of her.  The P7 is still used by recruits to learn and practice embark/debark on AAVs during boot camp.

Marked down to $23.99 from $69.99 I could not pass on Hobby Boss’ 1/35 LVTP7, kit HY82409.  Also marked down to $24.99 from $69.99 was Hobby Boss’ 1/35 AAVP7A1 RAM/RS with EAAK, kit HY82416.  Armed with the couple pictures I took of her while on the ramp and two new kits that did not cost an arm and leg I should be able to cobble my own 1/35 hybrid-P7.  I may call in couple favors to go take some new pictures of her too.

I've collected all that we need for now. Dad is looking for more photos from his time in the service, and he's got some 8mm film mom took from the stands during maneuvers.

My first kit will be the USS Intrepid, Revells 1/720 kit in honor of my dad.  I'm about to start winter break so I have 3 weeks of down time.  I need to finish the Munsters living room then I'll start on the Intrepid.  If I finish that with enough time, I'll do one of the F-14 kits I have, since that was the main airplane when I served and we had plenty on board when we went to sea and the ordnance I helped put together went off the catapult on these planes.  I also clearly remember having to walk through the hanger bay with F-14's tied down everywhere and trying to manuever through them and ducking under wings and misjudging and standing back up and smacking my head on the bottom of the wings.