MONOGRAM MAFIA II GB

Alright everyone, I'm calling the P-39 Done.  Build #3 is in the books, or, it's in the thread now.  This was a fun build.  I definitely enjoyed it.  There's something about the lines of the aircraft that I like.  This airplane has parts from 4 different kits:  The obvious Monogram P-39, the Eduard P-39, Arii P-47, and a random bomber that I scavenged MG barrels from.  Here's the completed product..

Maybe I'll take the camera out and get some pics later.  These are just cell phone pics.  Anywho, I guess I need to come up with 2 more builds.  What to do, what to do..  Hmm..  Enjoy!

Mike

@ HvH I have a couple of flavors of graphics software. If you have went as far as you can go with MS Paint but it just needs anti-aliasing (fancy term for straight lines on the diagonal) You can send them to me and I can clean them up and send them back.

With regards to the AVG birds and weathering. These were some of the nastiest things to fly. There was very little time for clean up by the ground crews. #47 was supposedly cleaned up by R.T. Smith before he took it over after #77 was written off, and that bird was still dirty. Some of the AVG planes do show streaking on the wings from the guns, granted it isn't as heavy as most modelers do, but it is there. Also the AVG planes may be good candidates for dot filtering. They had some heavy fading, a good layer of overall dust and grime, with dirt on top of that. One would have to go pretty far to over-weather one of the AVG planes late in its service life.

And speaking of FNG's, I showed my son some of my pics from this build and he showed an interest in modeling. So I got him some tools and some paints and 2 "starter" kits, both Revellograms, the P-47 Razorback that we are building together and almost done with, and a P-51B for him to solo on. I have been rather surprised at his enthusiasm, but upon reflection since kids don't build models now, I guess it would be like showing one of us Antiques a game boy back in the day.

Now I gotta quit yakking and get back to the bench, I still got at least one model to complete to make my "bones" and I don't want to let the chance slip by, since about all I build are Revellograms.

Gettin' there, Owl... Love the way you made the detail pop on the undersides, and the wheel-bay detail too..  Yer gittin' to be quite a Gizmologist indeed..   Steel wool is one of my favorite tools, too... I use it a lot with dents in aircraft skins (make a dent by slicing a chunk outta the styrene, then rub steel wool on it until it feathers-out. Really works well after "bouncing" a 1/4" Round steel-cutter bit in a motor-tool around the various areas that would likely get dented)... Also works well for depicting the aluminum patches that were pop-riveted on to cover any skin damage from bullet and AAA shrapnel... 

(I think folks forget to show previous repairs on aircraft that are being modeled as having had dozens of mission in harsh climates, with maintnence performed under primitive shelter & working conditions..  Even a blind pig will find a truffle now and then, and the AVG pilots were no exception to picking up a stray hit now and then, lol..)

Not sure about dot-filters though... That technique's a little heavy-handed for aircraft (as are a few of the wash/dry-brush techniques) as, while armor gets filthy, airplanes merely get dirty.. It's strictly your call, though... I ain't sayin' , "Don't do it", just saying that I probably wouldn't... I like the control I get with pastels.. Dot-filters, like diamonds,  are forever...

Although, upon reflection, there are certainly areas of the aircraft that could benefit from it, areas like aft of the main and tail-wheel wells, cowl-flaps, tires, and exhaust... I'll wait and see how yours looks before I try it, lol.. Anyone else use dot-filters on A/C? Lemme see it..

Just a "head'sup", BTW..  Powder-stains from blast-residue would be seen on the fuselage aft of the fifties, but the .30-cals wouldn't do it..  'Cept the shell/link ejection-ports, that is (don't remember if the model has those molded or not though)...

Gun muzzles that protrude from the wings more than an inch or three don't stain the wings, nor muzzles that are inside blast tubes, ala P-47/F6F...  You and the rest probably knew that already, it's just a reminder...

Thanks, gang...  In case I didn't mention it before, I'm really pleased with the numbers and kits the FNGs "makin' their bones" with here...  Proof-positive that these old babies will still turn heads at the ball... 

Now for a "problem" I'm facing..

I've gone as far as I can with MS Paint (Can't slant text on an angle), I can't find a free copy of "Picture It!" Express, which was my preferred phot-editing software program, and I ain't buying PhotoShop... Just ain't got the jack, wampum, scratch, bucks, dinero, or the looonnnggg green to aquire it...

I still haven't got a "Knock you out" badge design, but I never fear! I have an idea..

What I'd like is anyone that wants to, send me, via PM your design(s)  for the MM ll GB... I want two separate designs, one by and for the returning Mafiosos, and one by and for the first-timers...

Only guidelines are that they must include the Mongoram Logo (any era) and they have be a "mafia-feel" to 'em.. They also need to be "badge-sized", although the original design submitted can be of any size, but remember that a lot of detail will be lost when the badge is sized to a siggy... The text will read, "Monogram Mafia II" and  "2012" somewhere in the badge and needs to be easily seen when the badge is thumbnail-sized on a place like Photobucket... 

More than one badge design can be submitted, since there are differant "ranks" to be awarded along with the individual badge...

I apologize for asking y'all to do yet another freakin' thing, but I'm just flat outta ideas...  My "creativity-gene" musta went recessive again...

So, gimme some designs! (Remeber, PM only.. I don't wanna choke the thread with design chit-chat until after they get narrowed down)...

sending well wishes your way Hans! Hope everything gets back to normal for you soon.

On my end, the top and bottom of the plane had been painted, but work kept me too busy to do much else. A day off from work led to a bit of progress.

I took some steel wool and buffed down some of the little ridges that popped up along the camo lines, and it also served as a way to highlight all the raised detail and give a scuffed/weathered appearance to the paint. Anywhere I buffed too deep and reached plastic, I took some base camo paint and touched it up. I figured the ground crews would do paint touch ups as well so I was OK with the contrast. I also added silver to the engine panel bolts and along the wing root. This should be toned down after weathering.

after that, I glossed and added decals

Im not much farther than this, just added some dot filtering to dirty it up.

Hans, take the time that you need.  I think we can cover things for you for a bit.  Obviously the Mrs. is more important right now than some guys on some internet forum.  Hopefully everything works out for you both.  

Hey gang..

I've been MIA for a few days, my wife had another "issue" and I had to stay at the hospital with her 24-7 for a few days...  All is well again though, and I'm back home..

The Stearman hasn't prgressed at all, but then again, none of my builds have, lol.. Haven't had the bench time available, and it'll still be a few days before I can... But I will contiue to check in and see what's happening.. I'll try to get the roster updated ASAP, and get a thread started in the forums showing these beauties...

Out..

I remember my dad and brother building the Titanic way back when I was around 10 or so.  They did that while I worked on Monogram's USS Arizona.  I lived in Hawaii back then overlooking the harbor.  I think I'm going to have to pick up the Monogram Arizona on my next trip to the hobby shop. 

Those old kids just take me racing back to my childhood.  Nowadays I'm a WW2 U.S. aircraft builder but back when I was a kid, I just built anything and everything that was given to me!  Cars, ships, planes, you name it.  I think that's why I'm am ardent Monogram (and Revell) fan to this day.

Eric

I think my first was an old USS Fletcher.  It's nice to change up once in a while as it keeps things different.  I was thinking my next kit would be a car but now I'm thinking I should get a ship or sub.  I don't have any of those.

68GT

That ship came out great Eric!

Many, many thanks, Ed!  This was actually a fun one to build for lots of reasons.  First, it was my first ship build in about 28 years!  I think I was around 14 years old when I built the USS John Paul Jones.  Building this Titanic made me snap out of my comfortable norm and realize how fun models are in general and they didn't always have to be U.S. aircraft of WW2.

Secondly, this was the first time I ever made my own decals.  I used them to replicate all the windows on the upper decks.  It really adds greater depth to the kit overall because there are no representations of the windows and doors whatsoever otherwise.

Thirdly, this was the very first time I airbrushed Floquil paints.  I had always used them to paint little things like tires and anti-glare panels.  I just hand brushed them.  But now I got to experience how nicely they work through my airbrush as well.

The rigging was lots of fun as well.  I found the thinnest wire I could possibly find and the results were far better than I had hoped.  One other little girl in the school also did her project on the Titanic but her daddy didn't build her a model to add to her display.  That's borderline neglect!  LOL!

Eric

That ship came out great Eric!

Hi guys!

Here's my contribution.  It's the old Monogram Titanic that I built for my daughter's interest fair project.  She did all the report writing and research while I built the model.  I like how it turned out but I think I'm going to go back and add randon "lights" in the port holes (ie. "tiny drops of yellow paint").  That would kind of break up the black monotone on the hull.

Here it is sitting on her shelf surrounded by some of her favorite objects. 

I had a little difficulty getting the decks to fit properly but I blame that mainly on my inexperience with ship models.  I build 99.9% airplanes.  This was the .1% that was different.  LOL!

Enjoy,

Eric

[View:/themes/fsm/utility/:550:0]

Made a little progress on the Night Lightning....

...using the pilot and radar officer on this one...primed up in Tamiya Khaki...

Will post more pics soon. Thanks for looking.

Len

Lots of nice lookin builds here.Gonna go ahead and post pics of the 2 kits I intend to use.Although it's gonna be awhile before i can start due to wheat harvest then the lil wifey thinks I need to remodel a couple rooms.

Most likely be end of summer before I get much building started.Until then I will a bystander

Hey gang,

Been missing in action for awhile now...added requirements and deadlines with the army reserve and regular work on the street......

Hans, great to hear that you and your wifey are on the road to recovery....seems like when it rains, it pours...

Great builds guys, love checking in and seeing how the build is going; keep up the good work: many of us lurkers need to live vicariously through your efforts!!

TAD

Ed, looking good!  

I've got a bit of an update for the P-39 as well.  The end is in sight!  Since my last post I did all the major construction.  Then I had to head away for work. Since my return, things have gotten a bit better.

Before I left:

Ok.  This shot ^ shows the gun pods.  The Monogram kit doesn't come with pods, so I figured I'd improvise.  If you remember, my Arii P-47 didn't have any bomb racks.  They were donated to a P-39 and after some sanding, became gun pods. As long as they look the part, right?  This is where I left off before I had to go away for work for a while.  Since I've been back, here's what's happened.

I did say that I was going to do something a little different with this one too.  So, with an OD over NG finish, what could be so different about it?  It's not going to be American.  It's not going to be like the Airacobra that's been showing up in the background of some of the photos either.  No, this one flys on baguettes et fromage!  Il est francais!

Spinner and prop blades were donated from the Eduard P-39Q (The Russian one in the back).  Nice to have spares in the box.  So, this is where she sits now.  Almost there.  Little more paint, some more weathering, to go with the RUBBER CEMENT technique that was used already.  Not going to be long now.  Hope you enjoy!

Mike

Finished one Eagle and the other is not far behind.

And here is the second Eagle.

troublemaker66

I`ve decided to add another kit to make an even 4...P-38 "Night Lightning". It`s the good ol` Monogram "J" kit.

That`s all for now.

Len

Outstanding Choice..  That's one thing I love about that kit, it gives the beginning modeler a real chance to work on his basic skills by modifying the J to an M-model..   Wish that Monogram was still "Monogram"..

We were getting a lot of Stripers over here in Raritan Bay but now there are so many blue fish I kind of gave up on them.  Gave me some time to do some more work to the Eagles though.  I'm up to waiting for the sludge wash to dry on them.

Ok.. Back to the Stearman.. And a shameless "Bump"..

Good start on the Airacobra...you better watch it`s not a "nose sitter" with all that weight...not sure how strong the kit gear is.

The nose gear is rock-solid on the 'Cobra, Len...  Hard part for me was getting enough weight inside, AND being able to leave the gun-compartment open..

mike_espo

Is it too late to join?

Would like to enter my Revell 1/48 F-86D  Sabre 62nd FIS O'Hare Field 1957.  

I think this kit was released in 2001, so I am not sure if it is OK.

No, the Saber Dog isn't eligible, sorry...  The original (and reboxed) Monogram F-86 kit is, as well as it's counter-part, the Canadair Saber, is if building a Saber is your thing.. Kit's have to be originally released prior to 2000..

 As for joining up, sure, but be advised that the absolute, drop-dead, stop-what-you're-doing-right-now date is 31 Jan13..

Is it too late to join?

Would like to enter my Revell 1/48 F-86D  Sabre 62nd FIS O'Hare Field 1957.  

I think this kit was released in 2001, so I am not sure if it is OK.

swingr1121

Stik, Len, nice progress.  Keep it up!

Len, we left out of Shark River Inlet and went north, around Asbury Park.  I had one hookup that I wish I would have seen near the boat.  Set the hook and listened to the drag scream until the line snapped.  Whatever it was, it was big.  Next time.

Sorry for the minor hi-jack...back on topic.....

Stik, Len, nice progress.  Keep it up!

Len, we left out of Shark River Inlet and went north, around Asbury Park.  I had one hookup that I wish I would have seen near the boat.  Set the hook and listened to the drag scream until the line snapped.  Whatever it was, it was big.  Next time.

I`ve decided to add another kit to make an even 4...P-38 "Night Lightning". It`s the good ol` Monogram "J" kit.

There is a bit of surgery to add the radar operator`s compartment to the cockpit.....

...naturally, it`s not as easy as it looks...

I tried for about an hour to sit the radar compartment in the hole I cut out but no matter what I did, there was this gap. Got it as straight-looking as I could and glued it up.

 Filled the gap with a bit of card and CA (above). The part is tacked in there, will make permanent when the top and bottom come together. I have a good bit of filling/sanding ahead of me.

 ...ah, if it were so easy....

...what I`m shooting for...(below)...

That`s all for now.

Len

Beautiful work on the cockpit swingr!

Well I finally got some OD onto my H-13.

Not much, but its progress...

swingr1121

Let's get this thread back to page 1 where it belongs...  We're going to do it with..  PROGRESS!

After a nice fishing trip on Friday (Stripers are here, Len!),

 

I finally got started on build #3!  Cracked open the Monogram P-39 Airacobra.  Going to go with something a little different for this one.  You'll see when it's nearing completion what I mean.  As for now, Got the pit painted and assembled:

 

Added some wiring behind the panel.  Never tried it before and I gotta say, I like the result:

 

Yeah, I went all artsy with the pics.  Oh well.  To keep this thing from being a tail-sitter:

 

After that I closed up the fuse halves and that's where it sits now.  Hope you enjoy!  

Mike

Good start on the Airacobra...you better watch it`s not a "nose sitter" with all that weight...not sure how strong the kit gear is. Send me a fillet down in an old model box....

Len

Let's get this thread back to page 1 where it belongs...  We're going to do it with..  PROGRESS!

After a nice fishing trip on Friday (Stripers are here, Len!),

I finally got started on build #3!  Cracked open the Monogram P-39 Airacobra.  Going to go with something a little different for this one.  You'll see when it's nearing completion what I mean.  As for now, Got the pit painted and assembled:

Added some wiring behind the panel.  Never tried it before and I gotta say, I like the result:

Yeah, I went all artsy with the pics.  Oh well.  To keep this thing from being a tail-sitter:

After that I closed up the fuse halves and that's where it sits now.  Hope you enjoy!  

Mike

Just splashed a little paint on the interior spaces of my FW-190 tonite while the Hurricane is drying on the paint bench.  This one will be a SOB (sorta outta box)  Have true detail wheels and a PE instrument panel that represents the front better than the kit decal.  As soon as I find my usb cord for my camera I got pics.