US CARRIER AVIATION GROUP BUILD 2013

Clemen's I am afraid I am going to drop out of this GB. I have been giving my commitments a lot of thought and have decided to trim down a bit so I have the time to build my kits properly and complete the ones I commit to rather than rushing builds and missing deadlines.

I would rather have my name taken off the list than just be another un started build. Sorry I can't take part, and I wish you all the best for the rest of the build.

Thank you Greg. I won't be doing anything wazzoo.... just paint, wash and drybrush to make it pop as best I can. Yes that is a resin seat by Quick Boost. The second product of theirs that I have used. I am always so impressed by their items. Simply gorgeous stuff!

Ed, good to see you back at the F-4. Looking good. Cleaning up the exterior is where I'm at on my current build too. (not my favorite stage at this point of my re-learning curve).

Stik, that's gonna be an awesome cockpit. Your shots of the resin (I presume) seat have me wanting to try one. A lot. Oh how I wish I could be looking over your shoulder as you paint that office, and especially the seat.

Thank you Greg. I have been wanting to get to this project for awhile, but had too many others going. 

68, your F-4G is coming along nicely. I have somewhat wanted to do one in the Green experimental camo scheme that VF-213 wore over Vietnam for a short time. Probably one of the most unique USN F-4s to be found.

So here is my progress so far- only build work, no painting. Cutting out the kit seat base left some gaps in the cockpit floorboard, so I filled in the parts that would be possibly seen with some strip styrene last night and sanded them smoothe today.  I bought some AMS rounded drop tank tails for this build, which just so happen to come with what they call a bonus "throttle". Now comparing that throttle to photos of an actual A-4E throttle show no resemblence to the real deal. The real Scooter has a very basic set up and the AMS one looks like a modern HOTAS type like you would see on a Hornet, Harrier, or other post Vietnam aircraft. But, that throttle does look better than the kit supplied control stick top and is "close enough for government work" for replacing that item. So I used the more accurate kit throttle, cut off the top of the kit's stick, and replaced it with the AMS part, after hollowing out the base for a better/stronger join. And I glued the rudder pedals in place.

I also assembled the Quick Boost bang seat... what a beautiful piece of work! In addition to the face curtain and between the legs activation handles, there were also a few other appendages needing to be attached. I am looking forward to painting this up. The seat is exquisitely detailed with belts and all.

Now here is everything placed together for a preview...

More to follow in the next few days...

Some great work going on here.  I haven't posted in a while and forgot were I left off so here are some shots of my Navy F-4G.

stikpusher

Well I finally kicked off my build this afternoon. Noting really worth photographing yet. I started some basic work in the cockpit. I am using a Quick Boost ejection seat so I had to cut out the base of the kit seat frm the cockpit floor where it was molded on. Thank goodness for the motor tool...

Good! It's been too quiet here, looking fwd to watching your progress, Stik.

Well I finally kicked off my build this afternoon. Noting really worth photographing yet. I started some basic work in the cockpit. I am using a Quick Boost ejection seat so I had to cut out the base of the kit seat frm the cockpit floor where it was molded on. Thank goodness for the motor tool...

Yep, that metallic effect looks really nice! Good work!

checkmateking02

Good looking metallic effect.

Indeed! Thanks for taking the time to explain how you did it. Helpful info for those learning how to do stuff. Like me. :)

Good looking metallic effect.

I also glued the front fuselage together and did the old Squadron putty and acetone trick to smooth out the panel lines. Added some bb's to the nose cone and in any open area to prevent tail sitting. That's all for now!

Thanks for all the kind words guys, it is truly appreciated! I am always amazed by the work YOU all do. A little update, as I have finished the engine. I used Tamiya flat black and bare metal silver then gave them a wash of flat black and gunmetal. The nozzle received a drybrushing of clear blue and clear orange to give it depth and color.

Very nice detail work, Ed. I also very much like your instrument panel.

Was fun to see your cockpit come together via your progress pics.

Yup, your work looks excellent, Von Sisco!

Looking good, Von Sisco- love that IP.

I agree with Bish: Very nice work!

Some great looking work there von, love the pit.

Finally, here is the wheel bay. I painted it gloss white and picked out a few details with silver and flat white. These planes were kept it exceptional shape, so only a light covering of grey to give some panel depth.

Here she is all together. I'm pretty happy with it overall, alot better than slapping decals over the gauges and calling it close enough!

Here is the instrument panel all done and drybrushed.

I didn't know if I wanted to use the standard ejection seat or go with the Martin-Baker (which most Demons had switched over to) but in the end the kit seat won out. I guess I like the look of it. The Demon at NAS Pensacola has a foam insert for seat padding so I replicated it with Crayola clay pressed onto some cheesecloth to give it texture. True details seat belts were added as well.

Ok, I finally have an update on the Demon. I want to try and slow down and enjoy the build as well as put to use all of the techniques I have learned on the forum. Patience is not a virtue for me, so we will see how that goes! All the interior was painted Tamiya Sky Grey and then washed with black. Some selected pieces were done with Promodeller wash light dirt to give a little depth to them. Then a drybrushing of Tamiya Dark Grey was added.

Control surfaces have been detailed and installed, some oddly placed ejection pin marks had to be repaired. Normally I would have skipped this, but like I said I want to take my time and "step my game up".

Shiv, great looking Cutlass! I love those weird old birds, got one in the stash to do a Blue Angels version and I may have to move it up on my to do list!

Thanks for the kind words everyone. Ya some interesting aircraft came out in the later 50's and early 60's

Shiv,

  I love those odd ball 50's jets.  I'll get around to my favorite jet F3H Demon sometime,  I think I have 2 of them in my stash someplace.

John

Beautiful Cutlass, Shiv.  

That is a good looking aircraft, shiv. Nicely done.

And I finally got to see how the red under/around the leading edge slats played out!

That really looks great,  shivinigh.  What nice work you did with the assembly and painting!  It's extremely attractive.

Hey Shiv, great job on the Cutlass!  Looks awesome!

Eagle90

Looks good to me, Shiv. Nice model there.

I've seen pics of the Cutlass before, but never from the angles you included. That was one interesting a/c design, for sure.