Hooray for Hollywood 2014 GB extended til July 4th

Looking good CMK

I think I'm almost ready to paint the frame of my Halftrack. The engine is just sitting in it

That engine really looks good.

checkmateking02

That engine really looks good.

Thanks CMK

I wasn't sure what color the engines really were, so, I found a bottle of MM gunship grey. It said tp paint the valve covers silver, so I went with testors engine silver. It doesn't say what color to paint the rest of the engine, so i figured that grey would be close.

I know what you mean, Ken, and I think you picked right.

I've been painting the engine for the Pfalz, and part of the instructions called for "aluminum."  I thought it looked too silvery, so I substituted some MM "anthracite," and I think it looks better.

Of course, the problem is that 3/4 of the engine will be hidden inside the cowling!

checkmateking02

I know what you mean, Ken, and I think you picked right.

I've been painting the engine for the Pfalz, and part of the instructions called for "aluminum."  I thought it looked too silvery, so I substituted some MM "anthracite," and I think it looks better.

Of course, the problem is that 3/4 of the engine will be hidden inside the cowling!

Do you mean Anthracite Gray Metallic? I really like that color. I've used it on a number of kits.

At least your Pfalz engine will be partly visible at first glance. I don't know how the hood/fenders are made on the halftrack. With any luck it will have hinges that actually work on the hood.

I was just looking at the instructions for the halftrack, I think they made it so you can't open the hood at all, or it just sits on there like most car model kits. Well thats not happening! It looks like a butterfly hood. I'll just have to see what I can do with that.

Check, that's coming along nicely.

Ken, nice start, that engine looks spot on to me. I plan on putting the Probe Droid together this weekend, I don't expect it to take more than an hour to build it.

Yup, "Anthracite Gray Metallic."  I'm not sure what I bought it for, but there it was and it looked good.

And thanks, Bish.  It's been kind of labor-intensive!

Well, whatever color it is, it's looking like an engine!  Good work. 

Ken: Just an FYI....from the color photo's I've seen and having gotten up close & personal with a few half-tracks, the engines were a semi-gloss black. I can post a pic or few if needed.

i use MMA engine gray for a lot of things, especially tires. it will flake off with pressure so sometimes need to be touched up. another GO TO color is tamiya acrylic metallic gray. not as shiny as steel or aluminum. i use it as a base for gun matal. with a blck wash it looks better than the gun matal colors.

WIP on 688 DALLAS and ALFA KONOVALOV from THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER older kit and the upper and lower hulls need some work along the seams.

ALFA is sanded and ready to prime.

the nest 3 pics are DALLAS; first taped and puttied, second with tape removed, third with putty knocked down w/acetone nail polish remover and ready to sand. the kit can be built as early boat or one with VLS hence 2 separate upper bow pieces and hence the additional putty

Nice work on the sub's wayne.

I got the Probot build today, took about an hour, so will get some pics later.

That's a lot of putty!  What kind is it?  I've never encountered reddish putty anywhere.

checkmateking02

That's a lot of putty!  What kind is it?  I've never encountered reddish putty anywhere

Most likely "Bondo Glazing Putty" - it's red!!

correct. it's 3M bondo. cheaper than squadron and lasts longer. i have been using it for years. this is more putty than i usually use for a seam but

this has to be completely round, no flat surfaces

there is a lop between the upper and lower hull and i needed to pack it in over a wider area than usual so i had enough area to feather the putty

using 220, 320, and 400 wet sand paper. will polish it with 600 and 1500 before priming and, when i am satisfied with the seams, will do a final 1500 sanding on the primer and a good washing before painting, i have to remember ships are less forgiving than armor with regards to surface prep.

Bick

checkmateking02

That's a lot of putty!  What kind is it?  I've never encountered reddish putty anywhere

Most likely "Bondo Glazing Putty" - it's red!!

Testors used to market "RED PUTTY" - best putty I ever used, too bad they discontinued it.

And isn't that the way, Greg?  Find something you like and works well, then they discontinue it.

I've been hearing good stuff about Bondo, and may have to try it.  Usually I just use gap-filling superglue.

Ken:  had another mishap with the Pfalz today.  One landing gear strut broke in two, the other has developed a stressed-plastic mark.  I applied the same fix as I did to the interplane struts, hoping to salvage the parts, but now I'll have to wait about three days for the cement to set up; then try to sand them smooth without cracking them again.

If this doesn't work, how about a 1/700 Tamiya model of the carrier USS Enterprise CV-6, from the 1976 film "Midway," with Charlton Heston, Henry Fonda and Edward Albert?  Not to mention John Ford's Oscar-winning "The Battle of Midway," from 1942--which features aircraft lifting off from Enterprise during the battle.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vi4HwxOZDJw

Sounds like your having real trouble with that build check. Fingers crossed it works out.

Got some pics of the Probe Droid. Its a bit hard to do proper progress pics of a kit that has the grand total of 10 parts, and that includes the 2 parts for the stand.

So here's the droid together and ready for some paint. I used some fine wire for the antenna's.

I should be able to get the paint on this week. Going to start with a base of gloss black. 

Those droids are creepy-looking; always reminded me of a spider.  It looks like it has plenty of detail for painting.

And, yes, the Pfalz has been a problem-child.  But if it is an ex-Roden kit, I've read for years that the parts are brittle and snap easily.  Since I have so much time invested in it, I might just buy another kit and scrounge replacement parts.  What has worked on it has actually turned out rather well.

I have often read bad things about Roden kits. I have had my eye of their early He 111's for a few years now, but always been put off. But if you want something bad enough, I guess its worth the hassle.

They are a bit creepy looking, I will agree with you there. There's deffo a lot of detail. I have some nice pics of the models use in the movies for reference.

CMK - Sure you can do that. Let me know how its going. Thats a great movie. I especially like the part where Matt Garth tells off his son.

Bish - I agree it is kinda creepy, And don't worry about not having enough WIP Pics, just post what you can.

I'm having problems of my own with the Dirty Dozens half track I can't seem to get the road wheel axles (the ones inside the track) lined up. I put it up last night and worked on the Jug for "The Longest Day" GB

A reminder - These don't have to be done until March next year. So just take your time. I have to remind myself of this quite often too. I was talking to a freind the other day she said "Why don't you just do one at a time?" I laughed and said I think most of us have at least 4 or 5 builds going at once LOL She didn't understand LOL

Thanks, Ken.  I'll set the Pfalz aside for now and pick up the Enterprise.  The Pfalz might still be salvageable in the future, so I'm not (quite) giving up on it yet.

Your Welcome CMK - I updated the front page by adding the Enterprise, But I also left the Pfalz. If you can't finish it, I can always delete it later.

Thanks, Ken.  I have a couple of photos left of the Pfalz progress I can still post.  Tomorrow I should have some time to see if the strut fix worked or not.

In the meantime, I dug out the Enterprise and took a look at it, so I will get going on that soon.

checkmateking02

Thanks, Ken.  I have a couple of photos left of the Pfalz progress I can still post.  Tomorrow I should have some time to see if the strut fix worked or not.

In the meantime, I dug out the Enterprise and took a look at it, so I will get going on that soon.

Cool, Can't wait to see the Enterprise. I've been thinking about doing a ship, but I haven't decided on which one.

I ran across an article on the internet where the builder kit-based a Hornet with an Enterprise to get a more accurate Midway version, so I think I'll try following his lead.  The builder is Gordon Bjorklund, so I will thank and credit him here.

I did my first ship two years ago, Ken.  I started with USS Lexington from Fujimi in 1/700.  I figured a carrier would be easier--not a lot of guns and little fiddly parts.

I returned to the Pfalz tonight, and managed to sand the repaired areas smooth.  Now I'm cogitating on a way to assemble the landing gear, and get it aligned properly.  Three little pieces and it has me stumped!!

I got a little bit more done tonight I mean this morning LOL Hope you all like it.

Ken: the HT is coming along nicely....looking forward to seeing it completed.

pyrman64

Ken: the HT is coming along nicely....looking forward to seeing it completed.

Me Too LOL Thanks

Looking good, Ken.