Looking good gents. Chomping at the bit to start my twin-engine FW machine, but I have some storage/display issues to sort out first. So of course, like any true modeler..... I've started on something else in the meantime?!??

Oh Vance... What are we gonna do about that? Well I am pretty sure that you build at a faster clip than I do. But we are ready for your build here when you are. Today I got the decals finished up and took photos, but ran out of time to get them posted on here. Either later tonite or tomorrow I will get them on here. Once again I am quite pleased with Aztec decals quality. I just wish that they did not do those two part decals for the user to apply and did it all on the sheet in production.

OK as promised earlier here are the shots with the completed decals. Just a little more colorful now. And the buzz/ID numbers (fictitious) Mexico's F-5E's have 4xxx and 45xx series ID numbers, so for my "what if" MAF F-20, I figured that 5xxx series would do...

Looking good Boss! Great looking Aztec Decals!

I think I got the famous Mig turquoise green down. Here's what I mixed up:

It ended up looking close enough:

The key is to get it looking more green than blue(turquoise). I used some chipping fluid to add scuffs in the cockpit tub:

And the seat:

Next up is dry brushing and some detail painting, along with adding all the color pe

Thanks Nathan. Oh I think that Soviet cockpit color looks right on! That is a beautiful detail set that you have there for your Fishbed. Commie or not, I do like Migs. Almost all of them look the part- as a fighter should! I am looking forward to see what you do with that front office.

Gee how did I miss your last post SP!?! Good to see the decals went down so well, not much left now.

Nathan: Looks pretty darn close to the photos I've seen.

I dont know how you missed the post G, but I am glad that you saw it eventually and liked the results. Yesterday I put on another coat of Future over the decals to seal them in and I did some detail painting on the rocket pods and landing gear. Today's plan is for the wash... Let us see how life co operates there...

Well I've got the wash on and lots of bit detail painting done today. Tomorrow is looking real good for nearing the finish line here.

So close now... Topcoat of Satin on... masks removed, finishing up detail painting and gluing final bits in place...

Hurrah! Looking forward to the finished photos!

OK, I am calling this one done for the purposes of this GB... Here in all her "What If?" Latin glory, Monogram's 1/48 F-20 (AKA F-5G) Tigershark... the ultimate development of Northrop's N-156 program which sired the T-38 Talon, F-5A/B/C Freedom Fighter (Skoshi Tiger),  F-5E/FTiger II and finally the     F-5G/F-20

and posed with her Argentine older brother, Mirage IIIEA

Great build Stik! I'm really diggin that camo. You did a great job on the lines. The rocket launchers really stand out on that frontal shot. Are you using Humbrol clear coats too? I hope I can build jets to the same standard as you guys here with more experience.

Thanks Nathan. Yes I used mostly Humbrol colors with only a few exceptions: white on the fin flash and missiles, green on the fin flash, aluminum in the speed brakes and wheel wells, weathered black on the tires, clear green and red on navigation lights, chrome silver on piston struts, and burnt metal on the afterburner nozzle. But all the main colors are Humbrol and I used their Satin clear for the final top coat. Thank you for the kind words and I am glad that you like it.

Hey SP, that's beautiful man! Love the camo and the panel lines look great. Big kudos to you sir!

Thank you for the kind words Gamera.

I was slacking off a bit on my responsibilites here on posting the completed builds to the front page. That is now corrected.

Gamera, your F4U was the Tamiya 1/48 kit, correct?

Yes sir, she is indeed!

Ok, I will fix that part later on.

I'm calling the cockpit done. It sure has been a learning curve for this WW II props guy. Figuring out what color to paint all these little switches and dials, and what order to glue things in. I had some trouble with the instrument panel being too narrow, so I had to glue a small piece of sprue to the side, then hand paint it the interior color. The rear bulkhead is also too narrow, and not tall enough. I'll have to add a small strip of sprue to the inside of the spine when it comes time to glue that on. The cockpit has been washed and flat coated, and is glued inside the fuselage halves. That part fit well. The resin exhaust also fit well into the fuselage, but this meant more weight was needed in the nose to make up for the resin. I'm gonna close up the fuselage halves for good tonight. Wish me luck. Here's the finished pit:

I added some lines of solder inside the canopy to represent the frame lines and the heating piping. It was a real pain but it turned out ok:

The nozzle. I know you can't see much down inside, but the thin edges and crisp detail make a resin nozzle worth it:

I think if I do another Eduard Mig, I'll go with Aires or some other AM pit. The Eduard Brassin just has too many fit snags for a newbie jet builder like me.

Oh that looks real good Nathan!

The lucky thing for us jet modelers is that there are more color photos of original cockpits out there than there are of WWII aircraft. Switches (and their safety covers) are pretty much commonly red, gray, black, or natural metal. Emergency handles are usually yellow with black striping.

Thanks Stik. Yes, no fancy modeling books on the Mig-21 for me. Everything I need is in reach of the keyboard and Google.

Nathan: Nice! Really love the extra work you put into the canopy and the great looking ejection seat.

Gentlemen,

All the builds look great so far.Due to an unexpected life crisis,my own modeling efforts will have to be on hold for the foreseeable future.I will check in every now and then,but won't be posting as much.Just wanted to give everyone a heads up on my lack of participation.

RW, I wish you a speedy and safe resolution thru your crisis! Hang in there buddy!

Yeah RW, I hope it's nothing too serious. Best hopes that your problems are in the rear-view mirror soon.

bump

OK fellas, just under 7 weeks left to go here until the end date.

Nathan, how is progress coming on your Mig?

GMorrison, how are your Mirage and Neptune coming along?

Bigua... Vance... Taxtp/Tony... Johan.... ajd3530...

My Mig is ready to prime now Stik. I've made good progress since my last update, just haven't taken any pics yet. I have some license renewals coming up this week, and I have been busy studying. Hope we hear from some other guys too.

Ok, glad to hear it. I look forward to your progress photos. It has been too quiet here lately.

Stikneros,

Mirage; mehh maybe later.

'Tune is ok but it got sent off to look for some 777...

I am jambing to finish the "Heroes and Villains" GB in two weeks. Shameless plug- check out my Captain Nemo.

After that its Ceviche and Pampas Barbacoa all the way, amigo!