Hooray for Hollywood 2014 GB extended til July 4th

Thanks, I am half way through the directions now, but I still have 8 more pages to go. I decided to assemble as much as possible before shipping it to the paint shop. It's all pretty much the same color "Grey". This is a difficult kit. I have left my comfort zone with it. But, I'm loving it. I swear if the parts get any smaller, I'm going to invest in a microscope LOL

more pics tomorrow

Optivisor, Ken!  I got one years ago for detail painting of miniatures; now I can't do without it!

Here are some photos of the reluctant Pfalz.

First, the slot in the rear fuselage was too narrow to accommodate the tail, so I filed it bigger, and (to my surprise) it worked.  Apologies for the fuzzy picture.

I finished painting the engine.  Not sure about the accuracy of the bronze color I used on the pipes.  I did it mostly for contrast.

I used MM's anthracite metallic on the lower area, Floquil's gunmetal on the cylinders, and Humbrol Fiery Bronze on the piping, then applied a thin black acrylic wash.  Unforunately, everything below the piping will be hidden down in the cowling,

Finally, the fix for the landing struts seemed to work, so I test fit them to the fuselage.  I assembled them using a full-size diagram on the instruction sheet as a template.  Still don't know if they'll attach to the fuselage with the proper alignment.

CMK that looks good. I took ime a few minutes before I realized what the engine was leaning against. LOL Wow that is really tiny. The parts on my 48 scale kits are small enough. I couldn't go any smaller

Thanks, Ken.  Yup, it's a Dr Pepper bottle cap.

Fuzzy pictures???? I solved that problem by buying a small tripod. Extended, It's around 6 inches high and about 4 inches high when its not extended. Wal Mart has them for about $7 or so

Thanks, Ken.  I think my problem was not letting the camera have enough time to do its "auto-focus" thing.  My camera is an old Kodak that used to belong to my daughter.  I think she used to have a tripod for it.  I'll have to ask her.

Just checking in to see how everyone is doing.LOL

Here are a couple from the Dirty Dozen Hope you all like them.

Still here, Ken.  Making slow progress on the Pfalz.  Even managed to start the Enterprise by detaching parts from the sprue.  Have to clean them up, and that would be too booorrring to post photos of.

Looks like you are making tracks with the half-track, though.

half Track is coming on nicely. I think I will get the black on the Droid this weekend.

More progress on the Pfalz.

Sanding the fuselage seam and the wing-to-fuselage seam eliminated the little molded-in strap between the landing gear struts, so I grafted in a piece of plastic and blended it in (hopefully).

I glued the engine inside the cowling.  Not much of the engine is left showing.

Made the seat belts and harness from masking tape, with a touch of gold on the ends, from a gel pen.

Assembled the cockpit.  I used acrylic craft paint to replicate wood grain, applied over MM's "Wood" enamel.

Two views of the seat harness installed, and ready to position into the fuselage.

I used MM's "Leather" on the seat, so I thought those little white specks might just be highlights from this sort-of glossy color.  Turned out they were dust particles, so I have since done some housekeeping with a paint brush.

Thanks for looking.

Looks like the Pfalz and the half-track are coming along nicely.

Wish I had something to show, but you don't want to see pictures of plastic filings.  Really, all I've been doing recently is filing and sandpapering on the bottom of this saucer!  And I was a bit under the weather last week (strep throat).

Well, I have started work on some of the secondary hull parts (I got bored with filing).  Maybe I'll have something to show tomorrow.

Gary

Filing and sanding; sanding and filing.  It can get to be a draaag.

CMK - The Pfalz is starting to take shape.

Gary - Hope your feeling better Strept  throat is painful, I've had it more times than I wanna count

I've taken a couple of days off. But I should be back at it again tonight

 Hey everyone,

CMK - That MM Leather might be just the ticket for the seats in the HT. I'll have to do some research for that. If I can find anything on it.

Everyone's builds are looking great. I seem to have put the P-47 on the back burner for now. I'll post more pics tomorrow, oops I mean this evening. Another sleepless night for me.

Have a Good one everyone.

Nice work there check, I like the seat belts. I am with you on the filling and sanding.

me too. the ALFA has 2 small seam spots to touch but the 688 is stripped down for the second time so i can re putty and try again. same with VIRGINIA ssn. oh picked up the MYSTIC dsv which was in RED OCTOBER.

Thanks, fellows!  I appreciate the comments.  I am behind on posting photos, but I actually got some paint on the thing yesterday.  The tricky thing will be masking around the landing gear struts.

Hi everyone,

I painted the insides of the engine compartment black last night. Will take pics this evening.

BTW - If anyone needs to buy a new mouse, don't buy the verbatim brand. I bought theirs in February and the scroll wheel won't work now

To seek out...

Captain's Build Log, Stardate 1306.27.  Just when you think work is progressing at a frenetic impulse, it suddenly slows to a crawl and minor things become major.  A massive undertaking to reshape the bottom of the saucer section is underway, engendering a complete overhaul of plans.  When I inquired of my Chief Engineer why this change was being instigated, he replied, "Ah!  Don'na ya know it'll make the ship go faster!" then walked away.  In retrospect, considering there is no friction in space, I think he was joking... though he did later mention putting racing stripes on the sides for the same reason.

Okay, it seems everyone is getting something accomplished, except me.  Time for another update!

The upper saucer has been sanded smooth, and the "impulse accelerator" (I just go with it) has been filed and reshaped.  Still needs some touch up work, but it's getting there.

The bottom of the saucer has been the hold up in this operation, as it is undergoing "intensive" sanding and filing.  It still isn't done.  I filled in the three dimples on the bottom with putty and sanded off the grid rings.  They'll be rescribed once the sanding is done.

Tired of using a file, I decided to start reshaping the secondary hull, which included building a new hangar bay door and reshaping the hull around it with putty.

This is coming along nicely, and the doors are about ready for test fit and installation.  The piece of plastic will go behind the doors in the hull to fill in the gaps.

That's about it for me.  Thanks for reading!

Gary

PS>  To answer an earlier question, this is the AMT/ERTL model USS Enterprise, although this one is from 1980 vintage and had undergone some changes.  The fit on this model is terrible!  And that may be why I'm modifying it so much.

Also, if you want to see what I'm trying to follow as a build guide, take a look at this thread.  I don't think I'll worry about the lengths so much. 

http://www.hobbytalk.com/bbs1/showthread.php?t=388623

Nice going, Gary.  Lots of work for the chief engineer here.

I've still got one from AMT I built back in the fall of 1979.  I keep it hanging from the ceiling in my office, and it does get comments.

I recollect that it involved a lot of filling and sanding.

First star to the right, and straight on till morning.

(or, was it "left?")

Gary, Just be glad you don't have to work with a bunch of convicted killers. LOL

Here's the latest on the halftrack. I think its almost ready for the paint shop

Looks great, Ken

Very nice, Ken!

Hopefully, this will be the final painting step for the fuselage assembly. 

I felt I had to install the landing gear before painting, so I could use liquid model cement to hold the parts in place.  There isn't much "gripping area" there, between the pin on the strut and the locator hole on the fuselage, and I wanted a solid join that wasn't going to fall off.  After letting the cement dry for a couple of days, I was pleasantly surprised at the strength of the join.  And the struts that broke and were repaired have held up well too.  So far, no problem with them--but then, it's not finished yet, either!

Of course, all this complicated masking and painting, so I did a general coat of black first on the nose; then masked and did the blue undersurfaces.  But that got blue paint on the black paint, especially on the landing gear; so I masked the blue and will re-shoot the black, and hopefully that will take care of it.  I used poster tack on the bottom fuselage.

Underneath the masking tape, the tail and rudder area is painted white.

Thanks for looking.

Thanks Guys,

I've had a couple of problems ie I can't get the air tanks to fit. There just isn't enough room for them behind the transmission along with everything else that needs to be in there. I'm thinking I'll have to leave them out. It will be hard to see in there anyway.

CMK -

i'm glad yours seems to be working out for you. I'm anxious to see it done

Thanks, Ken.  It's been a challenge, but I'm glad I stuck with it--and that the fixes for the broken pieces actually worked.  

I wonder sometimes if kit makers actually build what they produce--otherwise you'd think they'd realize when there isn't enough room for all the parts to fit.  

Just noticed I'm nearly out of MicroSet.  Not enough for all the lozenge decals to cover the Pfalz.  I'll have to order some more, and work on the remaining pieces until it comes.  Maybe a week to get it in?

Managed to get all the paint on tonight.  Will post a photo when it's dry, tomorrow.

checkmateking02

Thanks, Ken.  It's been a challenge, but I'm glad I stuck with it--and that the fixes for the broken pieces actually worked.  

I wonder sometimes if kit makers actually build what they produce--otherwise you'd think they'd realize when there isn't enough room for all the parts to fit.  

Just noticed I'm nearly out of MicroSet.  Not enough for all the lozenge decals to cover the Pfalz.  I'll have to order some more, and work on the remaining pieces until it comes.  Maybe a week to get it in?

Managed to get all the paint on tonight.  Will post a photo when it's dry, tomorrow.

I've wondered about auto designers. one car my Dad had needed a new starter. When he went to take the old starter out of it, he couldn't get at one bolt. he had to cut a small hole in the floorboards to get his ratchet on it.

What does the microset actually do for the decals? I've never used it

MicroSet is a wetting agent, that you brush on the model, then put the decal on top of it.  It helps the decal settle in and over details.  

Once the decal is in position, you put some MicroSol on top; it's a solvent that sort of "melts" the decal in place.  It helps prevent "silvering."

It can be tricky, especially MicroSol.  Using too much can ruin the decal, especially if you try to move it after applying, plus it works on some decals, and won't on others.  It can destroy some brands of decals, and not others.  These days, I've learned to use it sparingly--which is why I have more Sol than Set left.  Normally, I let the applied decal sit for an hour or so, then use only a little MicroSol on the top.

There are similar decal solutions out there, but I've only ever used the Micro products.

Here's a link:   www.microscale.com/.../merchant.mvc

I use Micro set and sol all the time. As check says, you have to be careful. It softens the decals and so can make it more fragile. I only use Sol, which is stronger, for decals that are one very irregular surfaces.

Check, that's coming on nicely.

Another question What is silvering?