MONOGRAM MAFIA II GB

bbrowniii

Hans wrote:

"If anyone's confused by the stuff above, don't sweat it... Just crack open the cement, and open the box already... I got new pain meds today and they ain't half bad when ya wash 'em down with a Nyquilada... "

I'm not sweatin' it, but I AM confused...

The way it is written, it reads like the ranking system is for dio-builders only. What do us schulbs who only build kits get? Are we forever consigned to be an "Associate" or can we, too, get made?

....actually, you can be a foot soldier or Don, depending on what you wanna do. I think the minimum to "be made" is still only two kits. ...Am I reading it wrong??? (wouldn`t be the 1st time) 

bbrowniii, your pilot is looking a bit Tom Cruisey....

Hans wrote:

"If anyone's confused by the stuff above, don't sweat it... Just crack open the cement, and open the box already... I got new pain meds today and they ain't half bad when ya wash 'em down with a Nyquilada... "

I'm not sweatin' it, but I AM confused...

The way it is written, it reads like the ranking system is for dio-builders only. What do us schulbs who only build kits get? Are we forever consigned to be an "Associate" or can we, too, get made?

Alright fellas... last weekend was pretty productive for me and I made some good progress on the A-4. I've built, painted, and installed the 'pit and the pilot. The fuse halves and the wings have been attached:

I began work on the landing gear and got the back stilts on but then my 4-year old son, who I am building this for, annonced that he wants it flying, so off they came.

As I said, since it'll be airborne, it needs a eagle eyed, steely nerved pilot, ready to rain fire upon the VC.

All in all, the kit is OK. Once I decided to have it airborne, I realized how poor the attachment points are for the gear doors. There are also a lot of gaps. Most of them will be easy to fill, but I do have to admit that since this is going to get abused by my son, I probably won't go to great lengths to make everything perfect.

FIVE builds to get to consigliere, eh? Along with a super-special yet-to-be-determined badge?

Time to get on that F-102!

Check the Roster Post, y'all.. Did some new typing in there..

Down Hans.... you can put your sharp teeth away. The seller isnt asking $30....

No, he's asking more...  He listed the opening bid at 30.00 and got it..  Started at 30.00 and a cherry Ebayer (member less than 30 days) bid on it at the seller's starting bid.  Look at the bid history...  Listed at 30.00 by the seller, and the bid was 30.00.. Then he (the Cherry bidder) likely set his max bid at 30.00..

Bidder	Bid Amount	Bid Time
	Member Id: i***w( 0 )	US $30.00	Feb-07-12 13:49:58 PST
	Member Id: i***w( 0 )	US $30.00	Feb-07-12 13:49:09 PST
	Starting Price	US $30.00	Feb-04-12 10:01:44 PST

http://offer.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewBids&_trksid=p4340.l2565&rt=nc&item=270907230166

One seller, one bidder... 

Ah well... At least the shipping's included.. That guy has sold at least four 1/32 Monogram Grumman Gulfhawk/F3Fs since July... Think I'm gonna watch him...

Hans von Hammer

Stuff like that really pizzes me off... I know that you can ask whatever you want for stuff on Ebay, but this is outright stupid... Buying a replica of an original Monogram Four-Star is about as good an "investment" as buying a replica of any artwork you care to name..  This seller sorta makes it known that it's a re-release, but he's deliberately vague about it..

I almost got suckered in by that box-art too... Perhaps that's why it bothers me when I see it..

But not 30 bucks-worth... Buy the 9.00-dollar one and sink the extra 21 bucks into some Plastruct and Evergreen... 21.00-worth of Evergreen and Plastruct will give you a helluva start on a well-stocked Scratch-builder's bench...

Down Hans.... you can put your sharp teeth away. The seller isnt asking $30.... There are two bidderss that drove that price up..... Most likely someone whom didnt read the listing in its entirety, saw the bad-@ss retro box art, got excited, and then bid too much.

I had something similar happen to me about 6 months ago. A seller listed a 1980 B-36 kit that was missing several small key parts. At the time the normal sales range of that kit in average opened condition was $27-$35 + shipping. I bid my $15 because that was a fair price for a "scrap kit" and its spare parts value. 3 minutes left in the auction two IDIOTS... no make that MORONS went into a bidding war and made the final price $33.

Dontcha just know the winner had buyers remorse on that one!  

ColGray

I would like to join with a 1/48th P-80. Itll be my first mongram kit.. so i cant wait :)

Wait no more, Colonel..

lajntx

For all those interested in this sort of thing, and it fits your budget, I found this little gem on ebay the other day while shopping for B-36 parts.

It`s a 1994 reboxing of Mongram`s 1/48 of a U.S. Navy TBF Avenger Torpedo Bomber unopened and boxed in a replica pre-1970 vintage boxing.

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270907230166&ssPageName=ADME:X:RTQ:US:1123#vi-desc

 

Here is the same model in 1/48 in a different boxing that is also sealed that is considerably cheaper

Stuff like that really pizzes me off... I know that you can ask whatever you want for stuff on Ebay, but this is outright stupid... Buying a replica of an original Monogram Four-Star is about as good an "investment" as buying a replica of any artwork you care to name..  This seller sorta makes it known that it's a re-release, but he's deliberately vague about it..

I almost got suckered in by that box-art too... Perhaps that's why it bothers me when I see it..

Revell/Monogram started the “Selected Subjects Program” (SSP) original box art series in '93-94 or so...

Thought I'd stumbled across a real "treasure" (it was priced at about 6.00 then) in a hobby shop back in '95 or so, with a Monogram M29 Weasle kit... Only upon looking at the box end-panels carefully did I find the copyright date of BOTH the original and the current date...   Initially, I thought, "Damn! He don't know what he's GOT here!", lol..

Then as I wandered around, I saw more of them, like the TBF, T-28, M48 Patton, and the M34 Duece, plus car and ship kits, and thought, "Aha... Well played, Monogram.. Well played.. Grab those nostalgia bucks, lol.."  They even included reprints of the original, English-only,  instruction sheets...

Bought the Weasle and the Duece anyway, but was disapointed that it wasn't the proverbial, overlooked kit in the hobbyshop that the owner forgot about from it's first release in 1960 or the like.. Did get a nice feeling of nostalgia though.. Guess that's worth a little...

But not 30 bucks-worth... Buy the 9.00-dollar one and sink the extra 21 bucks into some Plastruct and Evergreen... 21.00-worth of Evergreen and Plastruct will give you a helluva start on a well-stocked Scratch-builder's bench...

dupes

... I see that on the first page I'm still listed as having a 3rd "TBA" to complete?

Yeah, don't sweat it.. Unless... You up to it? See.. One kit only gets ya in the door and "participant" badge.. To get made, you need two, and three to be a Button Man...

lajntx

troublemaker66:

 

That`s it for now...thanks for looking!

Len

 

 

When I first saw that picture at a glance I thought it was a Gruman F9F-2 Panther and was going to ask where was William Holden and was he about to go bomb the Bridges at Toko-Ri ?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grumman_F9F_Panther

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bridges_at_Toko-Ri 

For all those interested in this sort of thing, and it fits your budget, I found this little gem on ebay the other day while shopping for B-36 parts.

It`s a 1994 reboxing of Mongram`s 1/48 of a U.S. Navy TBF Avenger Torpedo Bomber unopened and boxed in a replica pre-1970 vintage boxing.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270907230166&ssPageName=ADME:X:RTQ:US:1123#vi-desc

Here is the same model in 1/48 in a different boxing that is also sealed that is considerably cheaper:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Monogram-Navy-TBF-Avenger-model-airplane-kit-1-48-scale-MIB-NEW-SEALED-/220949982440?_trksid=p4340.m263&_trkparms=algo%3DSIC%26its%3DI%252BC%26itu%3DUCI%252BIA%252BUA%252BFICS%252BUFI%26otn%3D15%26pmod%3D270907230166%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D6210080015617946154

troublemaker66

 

That`s it for now...thanks for looking!

Len

When I first saw that picture at a glance I thought it was a Gruman F9F-2 Panther and was going to ask where was William Holden and was he about to go bomb the Bridges at Toko-Ri ?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grumman_F9F_Panther

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bridges_at_Toko-Ri 

Hey yoos guys...

I started my Su-25 and, overall, it`s a nice kit. The fit is decent if you TAKE YOUR TIME with it. A real weak spot on this kit is just behind the engines, where the fuselage attaches to the tail....here`s a pic of the spot I`m talking about...

...nothing behind that seam support-wise so I glued some scrap bridging that joint on the inside of the fuselage. Also had to weigh down the nose...used a 1/2 oz.  fishing sinker.

Didn`t bother taking a shot of the `pit...basic as can be and just doing an OOB for this build.

Also, been working on the 109 and Panther. I may have wrecked the paint on the 109 because of my lack of patience...started to weather but found out the hard way that the Future wasn`t fully cured..oops. Didn`t make the same mistake with the Panther...I`m letting him sit for several days before I even look his way!

That`s it for now...thanks for looking!

Len

I would like to join with a 1/48th P-80. Itll be my first mongram kit.. so i cant wait :)

lewbud

stikpusher:

Here is my first choice. Originally a 1970 vintage Monogram kit, I picked up the 1993 dated re issue off of e-bay several years back. A 1/32 Apollo Command and Service Module kit.

 

 

Stik,

Nice choice.  There is some aftermarket stuff that will really make that kit pop.  A resin interior and hatch is available from Real Space Models www.realspace.com .  A great photoetch set is available from New Ware http://mek.kosmo.cz/newware/nw002.htm .  A good all around book on the CSM is available here http://spaceinminiature.com/books/about.html and some fantastic photos can be found here http://www.retroweb.com/apollo.html.  I have no affiliation with them other than I have bought these items in the past and that they are in general all around great guys in the space modelling community.  Now for my entries: the Willy Ley Passenger Rocket in box scale and the 1/72 X-15.  While I realize that this is a benevolent dictatorship, I'm in the group that says give Dupes his due.

I don't have the funds for any AM stuff, so any and all add ons will be out of my spares bins or scratch built. Thank you for the photo link.

Shoot, I was already shopping around the local farmer's markets for horse heads...

Although I see that on the first page I'm still listed as having a 3rd "TBA" to complete?

Hans von Hammer

Sheesh...

Nobody gets any points, ya goms...

All that counts is "Finito" or a variation thereof...

I just gave Dupes a virtual elbow for fun..

Now...

Mind if I be charge again?

Hans von Hammer

What scale is the UH-1?

Hans... you is da man...

What scale is the UH-1?

Sheesh...

Nobody gets any points, ya goms...

All that counts is "Finito" or a variation thereof...

I just gave Dupes a virtual elbow for fun..

Now...

Mind if I be charge again?

Do335 WIP

A quick update before the game and more bench time.

I have already had to make one concession as the cheap Testors brushes of today seem unusable, I have some old ones somewhere from the 70s. While they are not great brushes they are at least usable. I am currently using a 3 pack of Atlas brushes from the hobby shop. These are pretty decent but not truly great brushes.

I started off by mixing 50% White and 50% Black for a base Gray. I also mixed 50% Yellow and 50% Blue for a base Green. I will use these as I go in the paint mixing process. The gray is very close to RLM 66, maybe just a touch light but I decided to use it anyway. The Green is very close to RLM 70 as it is as well.

Following are some sprue shots. I tried to highlight the data inside the wing for a pic with a marker and get a shot of it, but with the camera I have that was a no go. It reads: Copyright 1974 Revell Made in USA. I am guessing this was molded after the merger, but before things went to China. It does say on the box, that the box is printed in China, and it was packaged in China, with contents made in USA.

If you look at the spue shots closely you can see there is a heap of flash on this bad boy. That seems to be the way the ball bounces some times.

I painted the cockpit with my 50/50 Gray as that seemed close for RLM 66 instead of the black that the instructions called for. I also mixed up some tan for the belts and then darkened this up to brown for the head rests. After letting this dry overnight I hit all this and the interior sides of the fuselage with Testors Dull Coat to get a flat look.

A couple of pics of the finished cockpits. I wish my camera would take better close up pics, but that is about as good as it gets.

Again nothing real fancy on this one. No gizmology or scratch building, but I will be make up for that with the P-40B conversion. Now it is time to get back at it while I am watching the game.

ok,, Hans, here are my 2 entries...

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

stikpusher

Here is my first choice. Originally a 1970 vintage Monogram kit, I picked up the 1993 dated re issue off of e-bay several years back. A 1/32 Apollo Command and Service Module kit.

 

Stik,

Nice choice.  There is some aftermarket stuff that will really make that kit pop.  A resin interior and hatch is available from Real Space Models www.realspace.com .  A great photoetch set is available from New Ware http://mek.kosmo.cz/newware/nw002.htm .  A good all around book on the CSM is available here http://spaceinminiature.com/books/about.html and some fantastic photos can be found here http://www.retroweb.com/apollo.html.  I have no affiliation with them other than I have bought these items in the past and that they are in general all around great guys in the space modelling community.  Now for my entries: the Willy Ley Passenger Rocket in box scale and the 1/72 X-15.  While I realize that this is a benevolent dictatorship, I'm in the group that says give Dupes his due.

I'll throw in an say give Dupes his points,  I've seen that Intruder in person at our club meeting just this past Wednesday.. and I'll vouch for him ..

Pics of my 2 entries sooon !!

Hans von Hammer

You watch.. Somebody will use that photo to prove that you don't need weights in he nose of the kit...

 

No, they`ll use this one to argue that there is  NO  need to re-inforce the wing spar:

 

 

bbrowniii

That was a good save, TM. Nice little ME-109. Which kit is that... I think I've got one in my stash.  Actually, I think I might have put it as one of the builds for this GB!!

Keep up the good work!

That was a good save, TM. Nice little ME-109. Which kit is that... I think I've got one in my stash.  Actually, I think I might have put it as one of the builds for this GB!!

Keep up the good work!

Hi All,

 Got alot done on the me109..that I may,or may not get credit for...now about 90% done. I stated in an earlier post that I fore saw no trouble with this kit so naturally, while sanding, I knocked the exhaust manifold into the sealed fuselage..DOH! Had to drill a large hole in the nose to retrieve and reseat it...what a PITA! At least I can hide the holes behind the prop and spinner. Here`s a few pics...

The holes I had to drill...

Sprayed 2 coats of Future so I`ll let it cure for a couple days then weather. I airbrushed the wing cammo freehand but masked the fuselage. Used Tamiya paint for all. Thanks for looking!

Len