The Official 1942 70th Anniversary Group Build

Smash- That tank is superb! The roundel is a real eyecatcher too. Thanks for the detailed description, I will have to go back and take notes for myself.

Geratic- Good to see you get going in here! Looks like excellent work so far.

Thanks, Budd

Sub: is it too late to join in on the fun?  I was working on the Italeri (1/35) Raupenschlepper-Ost for the Weekend Madness GB, but I'm won't be able to finish it in time.  Since the RSO was first put into production in 1942, I thought, maybe, it would be appropriate for your 1942 Group Build.

How far along are you on it? I hate to be stingy, but only to be fair to everyone else. If you aren't too far along on it, we will be happy to have you!

Thanks, Budd

Probably too far, for this GB.

Sub: How `bout a Tamiya (1/35) Vierling 38 in transport configuration?  I'm planning on starting it this friday, in conjunction with the Weekend Madness GB.

Welcome aboard!

Main colours are done, along with pre-shading applied to the bottom and post-shading on the uppers.   Decals are also on, though did skip a few stencils on the bottom as there was just too many of them - even in bigger scales I've never seen this amount.    I think spent close to five hours applying them.   Currently still in it's gloss finish, hence the noticeable sheen.

regards,

Jack

Lookin' good... though kinda shiny!

This is where the finish is at now...

Ran out of Testors dullcote, so tried some flat varnish from Lifecolor.  Bottle directions indicate that water can be added.  If you are familiar with Tamiya's flat base, this stuff results in pretty much the same look and can easily end up looking too chalky and any pooling will likely dry white.  

On my second attempt, I added a few drops of future in the airbrush cup, and also cut down the product 50% with plain tap water.  It laid down good, but I think it's still too flat.

regards,

Jack

jgeratic1

This is where the finish is at now...

Ran out of Testors dullcote, so tried some flat varnish from Lifecolor.  Bottle directions indicate that water can be added.  If you are familiar with Tamiya's flat base, this stuff results in pretty much the same look and can easily end up looking too chalky and any pooling will likely dry white.  

On my second attempt, I added a few drops of future in the airbrush cup, and also cut down the product 50% with plain tap water.  It laid down good, but I think it's still too flat.

regards,

Jack

Len

It's supposed to be a desert bird, if I remember correctly, right? If that's true, it looks really good and faded from all that sunshine!

Yes,I agree.  Jack, at least from the picture, it looks pretty darn good!

Thanks guys for the positive comments.  

This particular Spitfire was indeed based in the middle of the Mediterranean on the tiny island of Malta. Back then it was a very hot spot in more ways than one.  

I managed to cut back some of that dusty look by mixing a small amount of future with water and brushing it on with a hairy stick.  Overall not much left to do, still have the prop and exhaust, along with close to about a dozen detailing/touch up colours  to add via paint and weathering powders.

regards,

Jack

Great looking Spitfire again, Jack.  Certainly doesn't need much more done to it.  Outstanding as is.

Thanks cmking02, glad you like it.

The only other AM product are the resin exhausts from Quickboost, which are finer and crisper, along with some open detail at the ends.   For now they have been sprayed with ModelMaster's burnt iron, but once attached to the aircraft will apply some weathering powders.  I also scratch added some 0.5mm plastic rod for the pipes at the rear of each exhaust stack.  This helped funnel warm air into the wings to aid in preventing the guns from freezing at high altitude.  

.. and here's a close up of my attempt at depicting the oil loss typical of merlin Spitfires:

regards,

Jack

Wow! That`s alot of oil ! That`s normal for that aircraft?  Looks like he took a bullet in the oil tank....

...that said, you did a fine job with the streaking. Hate to be in the plane behind this one...lol.

Len

"If there ain't oil under it...."

Yeah, I've seen pictures of spits that looked about that grubby. Funny how something can look so overdone until you look up photos of the real thing.

Normally once an aircraft returned from a sortie, the ground crew would wipe her down.  It's possible some photos are of aircraft that have accumulated the loss of oil over an extended time due to being in constant combat.  Then again, here is a modern day photo of a Mk. IX that was still flying in the 90's:

Here is the specific photo I used as reference, a still from a movie clip.  Only afterwards when done, did I realize the photo was flipped ... oh well, when looking at various underside photos there does appear to be somewhat a variety of patterns.

regards,

Jack

Just amazing to me that they leak so much and still stay in the air...lol.

Yuck, that's disgusting . Nice job to represent it though.

I've started my  AFV Club 1/3501942 Gato Class Sub. I'm done with sticking plastic, now for the etched brass . It's a big vessel, much bigger than the U-Boats I've built in the same scale

Cheers

Tony

I started the Tamiya Vierling 38 last weekend....  Here's some pics.

thanks for looking

Interesting subject Greg.

Here's a bit more of the Gato.

Cheers

Tony

Hey, Tony....you gonna paint her pink?!

I don't know how you ship guys do the brass stuff in that scale

Calling this one done.

To re-cap, this is Sword's 1/72 scale Spitfire Vc trop.  The specific aircraft markings are from Xtradecal X72-161 The Battle for Malta RAF set, but I did use the kit's stencils.

The yellow codes were characteristic of 185 Squadron.  A decade old SAM publication states yellow was chosen because at a distance it blended well into the dark earth and midstone scheme.  Xtradecal also portrays the aircraft as such.  The more recent Osprey publication on Malta aces is different.  It retains the yellow codes, but is finished overall in some sort of blue-grey scheme.  As a compromise, I've introduced the unknown blue-grey (possibly extra dark sea grey) only to the nose area.  I also added a very faded look of this colour on the wing and tail surfaces via weathering powders of the appropriate colours.

One of several pilots that flew BR294 was Canadian Wilbert Dodd.  He actually flew this particular aircraft to Malta off the carrier Eagle during Operation Bowery, March 29 1942.  This Spitfire was eventually struck off charge due to extensive damage from actions of July 1st and 2nd.

regards,

Jack

Saw this in the Aircraft forum, so I repeat  here:  a beautiful job.  I really like the way you've harmonized everything--camou, weather, oil streaks.  It is an outstanding accomplishment.

WOW! Jack......just.....stunning......WOW!!

I didn't realise it was 1/72 earlier Jack, that is a great job in that scale. My congrats to you on it.

Whilst researching the colour scheme for my Gato overnight, I found that USN Submarines were painted according to 'Measure 9' in 1942. Measure 9 was dull black overall, although the hull below the waterline could be in whatever anti fouling paint was current.

The profile of USS Wahoo in Squadron's 'Gato Class Submarines in Action' shows the whole hull to be in dull black, so in the absence of other information, that's the ship I am depicting. There ewere no hull numbers, so it's down to the weathering now.

The conning tower's of these Gato class boats evolved throughout their long service life, and were modified during their service career. THe conning tower of the USS Wahoo in August 1942 matched that depicted by this kit.

Cheers

Tony

Here is the finished thing, USS Wahoo, August 1942. These AFV Club kits are really nice. I'll do a few more I think. It's wearing 'Measure 9' camo, or dull black.

Cheers

Tony

Thanks fellas, always good to hear feedback on a completed build.

Tony, man you made quick work of the Gato. The finish looks really great, and appears you have given the right touch to this well known class of sub.

regards,

Jack

Very impressive Gato, Taxtp.  Very sharp-looking.  Good work!