Weekend Madness 2012

Kugai, looks like you posted just before me!  The last post I saw before I posted is you saying you had 40 minutes to go!.

Great work on the Tigershark!  I LUV the black paint job and the panel wash!  Sweet looking jet dude!

BTW, I didn't know the Tigershark was used by communist countires....

Oh my gosh Kugai!  Talk about finishing at the bell!!  I added the last part, the antenna, at 10:15 PM, exactly 48 hrs after starting!!  WHEW!! 

25 minutes to take photos (I took a lot, but only posted a few), cleaned my airbrush (can't have paint drying in it) and then uploaded to Photobucket....here you go!

Wow, is my workbench a total mess!!  Its a DISASTER!  Guess I know what I'll be doing tomorrow after work!!

Okay, here it is, with a few minutes to spare, posted after midnight only because of relaying through PB.

How are everyone else's projects coming along?

By the way, some of you may have noticed the parts for the old TIE interceptor kit in the background.  As I mentioned, one of the boys wanted to participate this week and the other will be later.  While I had parts for the GB drying etc. I was helping by doing a parallel build to show him the steps on my copy of the same kit instead of just verbally giving instructions on how to start using the techniques he was interested in trying, so that almost ended up being a 2-fer on the GB.

He didn't get it done in the 48 hours, but given that he hasn't even really tried much in the way of painting a kit let alone doing any masking before this project, I'd say he didn't do badly at all.

40 minutes to go for me.  Looks like I'll have my traditional "last shot of dullcote at the bell" thing going and have to give a few minutes to dry before posting pics.  Got the wash done and cleaned up, so just a little weathering powder on the engine to go and then the dullcote.

Great work guys, keep up the intensity. Every step is that bit closer to completing.

Cheers

Tony

Got the painting done except for a little touching-up and have started the decals.

I'm going to give these a little more time to dry and see if the film clears up a bit.  Hopefully I won't have to add the extra step setting solution, since that would add more drying time and delay adding the dullcote.

Good to see that everyone's moving along.  I've got a little over 4 and a half hours left and, as usual, it will be close.

On to the WIPs...

Final assembly and primer...

Flanker Medium Blue on the belly...

And getting the final colors lined up.  Tamiya Flat Green on the nose and to be added to the tailfin to add more to the "MiG" look, Tamiya SG Black will be the topside color to tie it in to the look of the Top Gun movie MiGs.

So, from here I'll at least have time for the decals.  We'll see how that goes before I commit to a sludge wash on the belly and maybe some weathering powder on the engine nozzle.

Thanks Tony!  I would have used the kit tracks, but why waste a perfectly good set from another kit?!

and she's got paint on!!  Straight Tamiya XF-62 Olive Drab.   Its dark, but its only the base coat.  In a couple of hours it will look totally different!

Those tracks do look a lot better Ernest. Lucky that you had a set that you could use. It's coming along pretty well, hope you make it.

I did get the clear coat done before work this morning, and also managed to paint the wheel wells also.

All set to do the decaling tonight.

Cheers

Tony

Looks like there's more progress going on with Kugai and Tony!  Gan we get it done on time?!?

Last pics on the M5A1 before paint.  All the parts installed except MGs and antenna, lots of small gaps that needed filing with Mr. Surfacer 500.  Once cleaned up its hitting the paint booth  to get sprayed with exciting U.S. Olive Drab!

Oh, when I was removing the tracks I remembered that Tamiya did a crap job with the M3/M5 vinyl tracks....the guide honrs are positioned wrong!  The guide horns (teeth) should link each rubber pad to the next, but with Tamiya they're just at the side of the pad without linking to anything!  In real life this would just fall apart!  So I stole the tracks from an Academy M3A1 since I have some workable AFV Club tracks for that kit.  

I tried the Academy tracks and they not only fit the sprockets and suspension, they fit much better overall than the Tamiya kit tracks!!  YAY!

Here's the midnight photo. That's it for tonight.

The green is darker than this shows.

Cheers

Tony

Good progress on the Tigershark, Kugai. That will be interesting when its done.

I've finally got it masked and got the green down. I was going to stuff about trying to mix up some Kawanishi Green, then tanked it and went for Tamiya IJN Green, as per the instructions. It's certainly a dark green.

I'm going to try and mask the stripes on the prop and get the sprayed tonight, but that will just about see me out. At least all the colour is sprayed then.

I'll try to get the clear coat done before work in the morning and come back tomorrow night for decals et al.

It might mot be to schedule, but at least its in the spirit of it.

Cheers

Tony

Kugai: coming along nicely.  I always thought the F5/F20's were cool looking aircraft.

Okay, here's more WIP.

Cockpit with paint, followed by decals and sludge was done...

Fuselage, wings, and tail assembled...

And close-up of the cockpit before and after adding the Interior Blue-Green for that "russian" touch...

More to come soon.

Ernest: Looks good.  Wish I was that far along.  Uhm....looks like you're missing the forward lifting lugs on the front-sides of the turret.

Tony: I know what you mean, I was thinking of a 3-tone camo, which will take 4-5 hours to do, including drying time.  Then I'll have to let it sit for a day before putting on the turret, national and unit markings from Archer Fine Transfers.

I'm 90 minutes from my deadline, and I know I can't finish in time. I haven't been able to get back to the bench since my morning update. Lots of family time today, whish is a good thing anyway.

Still no upper surface green etc. My problem now is drying time. I need to spray the green let it dry, clear coat, let it dry, apply decals, let then dry, flat coat, let it dry, finish weathering and attach undercarriage etc.

I had planned to get the green down in the early afternoon, but it's just after 8pm and I've still got to finish masking.

I'll keep going, maybe I can still finish tonight.

Cheers

Tony

corvettemike

I wouldn't use the built one, he's been a stand alone on a base for a long time now. I'll figure something out, I'd try the Tamiya 1/48 M8 Greyhound but I build so dang slow due to my disabled back (sitting for long periods kills me). 99% even though I hate to spend the $$$ I'll probably do the Mobieus Dark Knight Batman. My LHS is getting a shipment on Thurs after next and I need boxes so I'll grab it then.

The 3 remaining in the vignette would be good, since you haven't started them, so if you decide on that idea then .

Had some setbacks dealing with the cockpit, but it did help me decide on the paint scheme.  Since the decals for the consoles proved that the film was discolored as well, I decided to go with the Top Gun "MiG-28 variant" idea using decals from a Foxhound kit that vanished.  Instead of the all-black look, I'll add some touches from the Russian planes I've seen, such as the green radome and tail marking, along with one of the belly colors used on the recent MiGs and Sukhois.

Pics coming once I get a little more work done.

Kugai

corvettemike

If it doesn't matter to you I already built one of the figures long ago, I have a Dragon USMC in Khe Sahn set with 3 figures left in it. I might try to do a small vignette with that...

Are you talking about making the vignette with just the remaining 3 figures or including the built one?  If you're going to only use the 3 that are unbuilt, especially in a vignette that would involve more than straight-from-the-box work added, I guess I would consider that to be no different from having parts left over ( the built one being like unused weapon pod options in a plane kit for the GB ) that are set aside and used for something else.

Looking good Greg!  Can't wait to see the Puma all done!

24 Hr Update  10 PM San Francisco time has assembly of the M5A1 almost done!  I just need to add a few more small parts.  Some weren't on the instructions but in the photos just now I noticed some open holes....???

I'm going to replace the kit 30 cal MGs with some AM parts I have in the spares box.  I"ll add those last.   If I have the energy to complete assy I might get the OD base paint on tonight!

Ernest: your Stuart's coming along nicely! BTW, the old Testor's Puma is actually Italeri's and not quite as accurate as Dragon's recent release.

Tony: your Shinden/George is looking good.   Maybe next Weekend GB I'll pick a 1/72 kit.

Well, I've been delayed...again.  Took 3.5hr nap, got up for the Iowa/Michigan game & promptly went back to bed after setting the DVR.  I got up a little before 4pm, got defunct, ordered dinner from Outback and watched The Raven with Household-6 while we had a nice dinner.  After that, I watched the Wolverines devour the Hawkeyes 42-10!  During the game, I made some progress on the hull and turret.

I pre-painted the suspension and the underside of the fenders before installing them.

Currently watching Von Ryan's Express on the Military Channel while adding the fiddly-bits on the hull.

taxtp

Kugai - what colour is the aircraft under those 'yellow' decals ? I hope its not white !

Mostly Light Ghost Gray, with FS Light Gray on the belly.  The letters are supposed to be white over that and I could deal with letting the sun lighten them up after this weekend, but the fact that the area around is also so dark is what has me contemplating an alternative paint scheme of some type with decals pulled from another kit.  I doubt the discoloration on the clear part of the decals will fade.

I'm waiting for the masking to dry on the cementing surfaces of the cockpit, to be followed by glosscote, decals and wash to add depth before closing up the fuselage, so i still have some time to mull it over.

I think we were both typing at the same time Ernest, that's looking great. Good progress.

Kugai - what colour is the aircraft under those 'yellow' decals ? I hope its not white !

Cheers

Tony

Good progress chaps !

The only filler on the George is at the wing to fuselage join, and a couple of little tidy us with CA for ejection pin marks and the like.

Like Buffle, I took a six hour break for some zzzzzzzzz.

The morning spray session is done. The underside grey is on, the prop has been sprayed orange-yellow. The undercarriage has been sprayed aluminium. There are only four parts remaining on the sprue now.

I don't have a photo right now, things are a bit wet. That was a useful 3 hour session anyway.

Cheers

Tony

Looks like you had a rough start this morning Kugai, but it seems you have things well in hand!  All's that left is to "git er done"!

Making progress on the M5A1!  Lower hull done (except for a couple of fiddly bits that I'll add at the very end), tracks assembled using the hot nail technique ( and fitted on, upper hull started:

The upper hull just snaps onto the lower hull....a neatTamiya feature (due to the old motorization molds).  This will come in handy for the tracks and those sand shields!

Looking good, guys!

Okay, after sleeping through the alarm and getting a later start than planned, here's the "on the tree" parts pic and the primered sub-assemblies.  I also had the intakes on the fuselage halves, but forgot to get a pic.

And finally, the decals that may cause an issue.  Veeeeery yellow.  The letters on the big "F-20" ones and #5 and #6 are supposed to be white.

Tony - The Shiden is coming along nicely!  Looks like that kit builds up pretty well!

Greg - Your Puma is inspiring me to get one of those kits!  Maybe for the next Weekend Madness GB?!?!  The suspension for those 8 wheels does look a bit intimidating though....  BTW, about that "postcard" setting on your camera....what does it do?

After a 5 hr snooze and a quick breakfast of cold cereal, I was back at the bench at 8 AM!  I noticed that there were some noticeble gaps that needed filling before mounting the bogies so spent some time on that issue.  While waiting for the putty to dry I started working on the upper hull and managed to get a bit done.  After sanding the putty it was back to mounting the suspension assemblies, but those bogies defied my efforts to mount evenly, requiring a lot of plastic surgery to make straight (sort of).  After that, I needed a break so here I am with the update!. I'll post pics in a bit!

Good progress on the armor guys. I hope you can get it done.

It's half past midnight here, so I have 21 hours left.

I've just finished construction, and will give it a quick wash before hitting the sack.

It's gonna have to be a big day tomorrow.

Cheers

Tony

Ernest: your Stuart's coming along nicely.  Looking forward to the updates.

Okay...I've finally finished STEP 4....

Next step is adding the fenders and then Step 6 is adding forward hull/fender stuff (water/fuel cans, tools, front bumper, etc) - I'll be replacing all the tools with Tamiya OVE parts.  When Household-6 awakens, I'll be able to put paint on the inside of the fenders before installing them.

I'm still undecided about what unit to mark this PUMA as.  I know of five (5) units that were issued 234/2's:

• 1.Kp/PzAufkl.Abt.130, Panzer "Lehr"
• 1.Kp/PAA2, PzDiv.2
• 1.Kp/PAA7, PzDiv.7
• PAA20, PzDiv.20
• 1.Kp/SS-PAA1, SS-PzDiv1"LAH"

I think I'll add the inner stowage pins and call it a night.  Michigan plays Iowa and I'd like to catch the game at noon.  GO BLUE!

I'm using an old 2004 Nikon Coolpix 5000.  I read the entire manual and there's nothing about enabling time/date on the actual image itself, just setting both so its recorded with the image data.....  I also tried my back up Vivitar Vigicam 7340 (a cheapie) and it will allow date, but not time.

Anyway, 3 hrs of work and this is all I've managed to do...

Suspension components done.  Tomorrow morning they get putty sanded and then installed on the hull!   

Time now for some

corvettemike

If it doesn't matter to you I already built one of the figures long ago, I have a Dragon USMC in Khe Sahn set with 3 figures left in it. I might try to do a small vignette with that...