US CARRIER AVIATION GROUP BUILD 2013

That is a very good kit ajd. I built it when it was a new release way back in the 90s. It also comes with a choice of weighted or unweighted main gear tires. Even hollowed out exhaust pipes. Add a seat harness and some better decals and you have all you need for a winning build. The Hobbycraft F4Us are probably some of their best 1/48 kits.

That looks like a pretty straight forward build there. At some point after this next year I may build another Pacific War plane.

Thanks Greg! It took alot of work on both of the fuselage roundels to get all of the air bubbles out and to lay down flat. There was a surprising amount of silvering on the letter/ number combo decals and I fixed that with a light dry brushing of ground up black pastel. Took the sheen right away from that nasty silvering. The fact that they silvered at all was a shock cuz these were some good decals. Laid right down perfect and were nice and thin!

Stik, I hear you re the 1/32. Sometime in the middle of my hiatus, (perhaps 30 yrs back???), I built a 1/32nd F-15E. It was  my first and only build as an adult ('til early this year). Still have it in my office, still in one piece, and the detail is fun to look at for sure! Going to have at another 1/32 when I have a few more builds under my belt. :)

Was it difficult to leave your overseas builds behind? I would imagine it would take some ingenuity and creativity to build while stationed overseas with what I would assume to be limited tools and supplies.

Joe, with every shot I notice something else to admire. This one, it is you excellent decal and weathering technique on the starboard fuselage star (senior moment on what those are called).

Welcome ajd! Keep the coffee stocked up and looking fwd to watching your progress.

Thanks Clemens! I think the only thing missing from the pic is the fork sticking out of it!! LOL

Welcome to this GB, ADJ!

She's looking great, Joe! I can't wait to see her completely finished!

Stik: Great work on that 'pit!

Ok fellas! This thing is finally taking some real shape here! I now just have the aerial antenna to rig and the ammo belts for the flexible .30 cals to install. I'm going to go ahead and display the aircraft with the plastic canopy piece when I submit a final photo in a few days but am going to order a vacuform canopy so that the pilots sliding canopy piece doesn't appear "piggy backed" onto the fixed canopy section. This is where I'm at right now:

I was going to brighten the pic up but after I did it took away from the attention to the bird so I left it a dark background.

Welcome aboard ajd!!! Can't wait to see this one built! Can we see a pic of all the parts on the sprues laid out? I've been itching to add a Corsair to my stash for some time.

Thanks Greg. 1/32 kits are lots of fun and offer such rich detailing potential. I built several 8 years ago when I was deployed overseas, including one of these Skyhawks, but left them all behind when I can home. Those builts re ignited my interest in 32nd scale aircraft, the last of which I had bought and built in the late 80s.

Hey Stik, I had to go back to page 1 to refresh my memory and figure out what all that detail is about. Hasegawa 1/32nd, eh? Looks like plenty of nice detail to work with, and you have it looking good so far.

Look fwd to seeing this one move along. I like 1/32nd, haven't built one in decades.

Cant wait to see more!!!

Not at this time. If I can get ahold of something like a Model Technologies set for this kit that has the things like the canopy locking hooks I will get that, but the kit cockpit really does not need PE. I am going to be using some individual instrument decals on the panel though, since it is almost ready for that.

Looking great so far stikpusher! Any PE slated for the cockpit?

I see that you saved the working bomb yoke 

Well here is the latest on my A-4. A bit more detail work in the cockpit

Thanks stikpusher! There are some shortcomings but this has been a trip down memory lane build and I'm playing both sides of the fence on authenticity and good ol' Monogram "tried and true" original stuff. So far its been pretty fun I've gotta say. Sometimes I remember back to when I first built this kit "way back when" and just chuckle.

Damn that looks fabulous Mustang! Almost there! Makes me want to do another..or at least finish mine...

Thanks for explaining further, Joe. Wow, really looking good, mate!

Ok everybody. I'm not done but the finish is now in sight. All of the things you see on this thing now I have had done for quite some time now while waiting on decals, paint, washes and all of the clear coats to dry out. I still have to weather the exhausts ALOT, install all of the guns and ammo belts for the rear, finish up fitting the canopy pieces, install the elevator/ stabilizers , install the tail hook, install the pitot tube, top dive brakes and rig the aerial antenna. All in all that aint much. Any ways here's the latest,

Why thank you Joe! The good thing about these forums is the fact that you really never stop learning!!

Joe, you have done an absolutely masterful job with Doug's technique. That looks great.

Greg

Would you mind telling me one more time which dull coat you are using, and mixing with a bit of grey? 

Thanks Clemens for you support and comments as well bud!

She's looking awesome, Joe!

That truly is a huge difference, Joe. Looks fantastic!

Thoughtful of you to post the before and after in the same post. Can see the change so much better than backtracking to the right page then back here.

Would you mind telling me one more time which dull coat you are using, and mixing with a bit of grey? I like your results much better than the white-ish appearance I got from both too much Vallejo matte varnish and then on attempt two, with probably too much MM clear flat acryl.

Todays update is my adding the bleached effect to the paint. Man , What a difference. Here's an earlier pic with just paint and decals from a similar angle:

and one after the dullcoate/ gray mix for the bleached effect:

Looks like its off to the subtle isopropyl alcohol application, painting and installing some of the final details and we are off to unmasking all of that hidden detail!!

Ah, thanks. I'll go back and refresh my memory. It's tough getting back in the game and learning new stuff with a feeble memory. I try to soak it in all at once and that doesn't work, takes time and practice, as we all know.

He explained it while showing us some pics of his Bf 109 (The same one he posted some pics of today)

Oh oh, I hope Doug didn't already explain it to me. Me and my memory.