1944 Group Build

That's looking really nice there Check, I like the look of the turrets.

I made a start on the 251 on Mon, should have some pics ready before the end of the weekend.

Thanks, Rob and Joe.  The ship has two more islands.  After that, the complicated stuff will be finished.

Just amazing masking and painting CMK. It's looking excellent.

Epic checkmate...just 'dazzling'!! Keep up the good work!

More masking:

But some progress, too--partially finished island structure:

And main gun turrets:

And some test fitting--nothing's glued down permanently yet:

Thanks Bish

Nice job on the V-1 ken, looks good on the trolley.

Thanks SS, I think the !st picture will be nice on the front page

Thanks again everybody

The V-1 is looking quite lovely, Ken! What pic do you want me to post on the front page?

Thanks guys

I found some cool videos on you tube The guy goes by QDC and he evaluates different kits. He does a lot of armor, He does a few other things as well. He did a B-29 . After he finished it, He hung it on the wall. I would have never thought of that. So, Thats probaby where the B-52 will go.

Good work on the V-1, Ken.  Nice little trolley, too!

Right on Ken, very cool V1 . I see that GIGANTIC B-52 in the background...I did that one years ago..it needs its own room, it's so huge!! Again, well done on the rocket bomb!! 

Thanks Joe, I plan on the B 52 after I finish the B17s and the B 24

Hey Ken, That looks all good to me. Really sharp work. Congrats on your completion. I have to say I'll be interested in watching you build that big B-52 I see in the background when you get around to it.

I thought this would be the 1st one finished HA HA Well at least its not the last one. Thats what happens when things get pushed to the back burner. I'm calling it done for now. I'm going to try my hand at building a launching ramp for it.

Bloody fantastic Piers!! Love PTO aviation!!

Thanks everyone.

Bish, please use the photo on the base.

The base is for an Airfix Vampire trainer that I will present to a colleague next week. In the meantime I am using it to photograph a number of my 1/72 planes on!

Thanks again

Piers

Piers, that's a great looking build. Its a really nice paint job, defiantly something we don't see much. It looks greta on the base, do you want that one for the front page.

Congrats on your completion.Your Wildcat turned out simply fantastic Piers. I really like your Atlantic scheme. You don't seem to see that often enough. I also admire the base you made there. That really compliments your great build. Thank you for sharing build and modeling skills with us. It has been a real pleasure.

Great work Piers, your Hellcat looks great!

Outstanding Wildcat, Piers.  Great job with the paint and weathering.  It's a little gem!

Well CMK, I can't match nature, but here is the finished product from me:

White prop cuffs were the thing in the Atlantic apparently.

Aerial is EZ line, CA glued into some brass tube on the tail.

The weathering underneath looks a bit overdone on the model, but better in the photos.

Happy with how it came together.

So thanks to Bish for hosting, thanks to everyone for the kind comments, and I look forward to keeping track of the rest of the builds.

As for me, I am off to the Auto group build to do my first car since I made my wife a model of her Honda Civic in 1992...what could possibly go wrong?

Piers

Thanks, guys.  I always appreciate your comments.

As for masking--after this, I'll be taking a little holiday from ships in Measure 32 camouflage!

But the Mississippi River is in full autumnal splendor:

including these fellas:

Joe the Hellcat is looking great, looking forward to the topside work too. Thanks for the engine method link, something new to try on the next radial engine.

Clemens, excellent engine, something to aspire to as the skill builds up.

CMK, I'd need a holiday too to refocus after all that masking and painting on a such a tiny scale. That is amazing to watch - not sure if it is encouraging me to try it at some point or scaring me off.

Thanks guys! It really means a lot to me coming from you!

CMK: As always, your masking skills are truly amazing!

Nice work check.

Your masking and your patience are simply to be marveled at CMK. That is some terrific skill coming out of your camp there. Awesome stuff.

Looks great checkmate! Love the complexity of these little ships.

Haven't posted any photos in almost a month, but I have been working on the main superstructure parts.

The main gun turrets and barrels.  After I painted them, the barrels still looked rough--not one of Trumpeter's better molding efforts, so I re-sanded them and repainted them.

I worked from photos, since Trumpeter's paint directions are not very accurate.  It was odd that the number three turret on the aft deck was painted in a non-standard manner--20-B Deck Blue was apparently not used on the turret roof.

This little can-like item goes on the front of the "island."  There's a little radar piece that will also go on top, plus a piece I lost and will have to scratch-build.

This is the lower part of the island.  I used a lighter colored filter on raised detail, then a black acrylic pin wash to bring out detail.  After I looked at the photo, I thought I overdid it some, and it looked too "dirty," so I got out a toothpick and water and cleaned up the wash around the liferafts, doors and portholes.  Looks more subtle now.  The little piece will fit in the tub like it's partner on the other side.  I don't know what it is.

The second level for the island, with a couple of ladders and two more of those little unknown pieces for the tubs at the rear.

And last, the third level of the island still wearing it's paint mask.  Because of the complication, I used a combination of masking tape and poster tack.  I still have to flip it over and paint the underside.

Progress is slow because of the complicated paint scheme and tiny parts, but I keep plugging along. My wife and I will be going out of town for a short three-day vacation tomorrow along the Great River Road following the Mississippi, so that'll set things back a bit. 

VERY impressive wiring SS!!