1944 Group Build

Allen: nice job on the rockets.

Bob: The LCVP is coming along nicely.  Just curious, but how hard would it be to fill in those gun tubs?

Rob: your paint job on the Lancaster just WOW's me.

Pyreman, I'll eventually be filling the tubs with figures for the diorama I'm planning.  However, after I got it all together I realized that there was no deck for the gunners to stand on...oops.  I think what I'll end up doing is giving them sprue "stilts" so that they will be standing at the right level.  But if I were to fill them in, I don't think it would be that hard to make some sheet styrene blanks to fit inside.

Bob: I was actually asking about blanking in the openings. If it's not to difficult, I like to build it as the one that's in the reference pics I linked to.

Oh.  Yeah it shouldn't be difficult to put blanks in.  Just take the part you want to blank and trace the circle on your styrene, cut it out and glue it on.  

Seeing as I'm on spring break I thought I'd take some time and preshade my LCVP.  I saw an interesting technique here that I thought I'd try.  I'm not nearly as good at airbrushing as he is, and for some reason I can't get a very fine line with my airbrush so I'm not sure how well it turned out.  We'll have to see how it looks after I paint the grey on.  

Preshade 1

Preshade 2 (for some reason the camera didn't pick up the brown very well)

Also, my Academy machine guns came in today .  Here they are compared to the kit guns, I'm really glad I bought them.

SB: Oh man, that is just looking awesome. As far as your preshading goes, regardless of the width of your lines, I believe you will be rather pleased with the results. Especially with the streaking you did down the sides. That should yield an excellent effect. I've seen it done a few times on here and I have always been impressed. The Academy MGs are definitely an improvement and should definitely enhance the already fantastic work you have done so far. Keep it coming.

Allen: I changed your entry to the Tiffie. You did one hell of a job on those rockets!

Greg: Nice looking work on your Sherman!

Bob: Very good looking scratchbuilding and pre-shading! The Academy guns sure are a major step up from the kit parts!

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/4zkp7hvrgbcd7gd/D-qPNsG9ym#lh:null-Laffey%20Enhanced%20vo%203.wmv

This really has nothing to do with this build, but heres a video that was sent to me on a Kamikaze attack(s) in 1945 on the USS Laffey near Okinawa.

Terry

Preshading is done. I'm beating this up pretty good figuring that s P-47C still around in 44 was well used.

Bob it's looking really good, are you adding any docking bumpers. I tried for hours to tie my own that turned into a bust so I used the provided set of plastic, but actually they didn't paint up to bad. Theres a company that sells a set but I thought it was a little pricey, I can find that if you're interested. Those MG's are going to look great and the pre-shading will be awesome.

Terry

Nice work guys, lots of pre shading going on means paint is soon to follow.

Jibber: I'd like to tie some up, but I don't know the knots or what I should use.  If you wouldn't mind sending me a link I'll decide if I want/can spend the money.  Hopefully I'll get some paint put on in the next couple of days, been a busy spring break so far.

http://thachweave.tripod.com/products.htm

Here's my link.

Terry

Bob I've built tall ships for a long time and I know a lot of knots so I thought I could just tie up some of these bumpers, but in this scale I just couldn't get it. The line you need to use is just to soft, but these AM bumpers look great albeit a little pricey.

Thanks for the link, they do look good and you're right about them being a bit on the pricey side.  With the figures, obstacles, and other diorama supplies I might not be able to swing those prices...I'll just have to see what I can score at the IPMS show at Wright-Patterson AFB next weekend.

Bob: you a native of Ohio?  I'm in Columbus.

Niles, Michigan actually.  I usually go to the show in Kalamazoo, but they didn't have one this year.  Somehow, I talked my wife into making a weekend out of going to Dayton and to also see the Air Force museum.  

Bob, Greg, I live in Trenton, Mi. Do you know of any shows in the area or how can I find a schedule. Everything around here is RC or Star Trek etc. I wouldn't mind driving a couple hours to one.

Terry

Jibber, the ones I find are on the IPMS website.  There's a contest/show in your neighborhood in early May.  

I got around to painting the LCVP tonight, and I'm a little disappointed in my photography skills as I just can't get a good picture tonight that really shows the preshading.  You can see the panel lines in the picture but the streaks are a little harder to see.  Looks really nice in person though.

sb, The LCVP looks pretty dadgum from here. I can see some of the results of your preshading and it looks great.  

Bob it's looking great and thanks for the show info. I need one bad…..

Terry

Got a little bench time today. Have the lower neutral grey painted. Purposely made recognition stripe on one stab different from other to look like a replacement.

Looking good John.

Bob:  I love how the pre-shading shows through a wee bit!

John: Looking really nice there! I do like me some nicely painted P-47s!

John, Looking very good so far. I like the take on the recognition stripe.

I had some time tonight so I got the LCVP ready for decals, have most of the stowage assembled and painted, and I got the machine guns together.  I really like the Academy guns, a lot of detail in a small package.

Wow, bob, those are nice. You did a great job painting and detailing them.

Nice work on those bob.

Nice looking MGs, Bob!