1944 Group Build

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

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

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

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!

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.

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.

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.  

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.

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.

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.

So....I decided against going anal on the Sherman, but I am planning on adding a few items - to give it the lived in look.

This week I managed to mate the upper and lower hull together and add the bits & bobs, as they say.  

Here's a few ammo cases that'll be added to the engine deck

So Chanter... are you trying to say that there is a lot of you in this build??? Damn! You are indeed a dedicated modeler! LOL!

Can't go wrong with a bit of a galaxy far, far away...

bob, that's looking really good. And even got a bit of Star Wars in there, nice.

Some really good work going on here.

Rob's Wellington is such a gem.  Working on large models I've recently gotten a real sympathy for, as you can only do so much with the parts before you have to put them all together.  Then it becomes cumbersome, but that paint job is great!

Chanter is going above and beyond the call of duty... though if he had just used a pair of trim scissors, he wouldn't have had to go through all the pain...      I figure if the rockets look that good, the Typhoon is going to be a stunner.

SilentBob, the LCVP is coming along nicely!  Good work on modifying parts to add detail to her.

Gary

Allen: The rockets look great! Sweet work. The hair seems to work well. But, as far as pulling it out the head of your significant other tells me that you are either brave and bold or that the grain doesn't quite go all the way to the top of your silo.

sb: Very very marvelous work on the LCVP.  That is shaping up quite nicely.

Looking really good Chanter!

Finally got a chance to get the LCVP assembled, minus the .30s which are on their way here from Korea.  

After doing a bit of research, I found a way to busy up the other side of the engine where the battery box and bilge pump were located.  Both parts came of my spares stash, I think the battery box is a part leftover from an Italeri Panzer IV, and the bilge pump is a part of a landing gear off of an X-Wing.

Hair as a modeling accessory...I love it!  Very good thinking Chanter.

Interesting work there, Chanter.  Talk about putting blood, sweat and tears into a build, you've taken it a step further by including actual human parts. - it looks great!

regards,

Jack

Bish, I just re-read what I posted and edited for clarification.  That's why I still have fingers available for typing today...none of her eyebrows were harmed in the wiring of these rockets.  

Now that's some nice work, you sure you haven't worked in 72nd before.

So how did the wife take to have her eyebrows being plucked rather than the head 

Thanks guys.

I worked on the RP-3s today and am tickled with how they turned out.  I crazy glued hair to the inside of the tail pipe for the electrical wire and painted it X-7 red.  Then dipped the end in a little blob of white glue to build up a bit, then dipped the glue in XF-16 to represent the connector. 

Joe may remember from the 190 Group Build that I used one of my wife's hairs for my antenna.  For whatever reason, common sense wasn't with me that day, and instead of grabbing one from her hair brush, I plucked it from her head.  Needless to say, her hair is off limits for my modelling requirements these days.

I thought that eyebrow hair would do the trick...it's a bit thicker and has a natural bend to it, so I grabbed some tweezers and started plucking my own. (note - I didn't even attempt to approach her with tweezers this time)  That wasn't much fun.  Every time I dropped a hair or the glue didn't take, I had to pluck another one.  I think some of those little buggers are connected right to the tear ducts!  So that was this afternoon's progress.

Glad there were only 8 rockets.

Allen

Looks great so far, Allen.  Count me in the "looking forward to this build" group!

Looking forward to this one as well Allen. Nice job on the rockets, off to a good start.

Hi Joe, thanks for the vote of confidence.

I've been playing around with the Badger a bit, and already it's won me over just in how easily it cleans up. You had recommended it to me, and I appreciate it.  I'll give the non-slid tape a try as well and see how it goes.

Well, this beast is teeny for sure.  It's going to be carrying rockets, so I started with trying to drill out the back ends without drilling my thumb or forefinger.

So far, so good...all rockets done, all digits intact!

I should be able to get some good bench time tomorrow.  Crummy weather forecast and the house to myself = playtime.

Allen

Allen: I am going really enjoy watching you build the "Tiffy" up. I've seen you at work and I am quite sure you are going to turn out a beaut. I believe you are going to love your new Badger Patriot. I find mine to be an excellent all around utility airbrush. Like all others, it takes a bit of practice with varying air pressures and paint thinning to get the hang of the various effects you can achieve. I do have a suggestion for you though. I found the bare metal on the top of the trigger button to be a little slick on my fingertip thus, limiting my ability to effectively control the paint and air flow. I took a small piece of non-skid tape, like you use on stair or step surfaces, and cut a small round piece that fit the top of the trigger. I just peeled of the backing paper and stuck it on and I now get a nice grip on the trigger. You can also use a piece of masking tape to help out.

After a couple of direction changes, I settled on this nice little Airfix 1/72 Typhoon.  There will be some firsts for me (there usually are; I don't have a lot of experience at this yet).

• First 1/72 scale
• First Airfix model (up to now have only built Tamiya and the old Monograms as a kid)
• First time cutting panels away (gun bays are visible)
• First time using a dual action airbrush (had a Paasche H, now a Badger Patriot)

So, there are lots of potential excuses waiting to be unleashed should I run into difficulty.   

For now, here's the box.

I'm going to do the one shown on the box cover which according to instructions was flown by Squadron Leader Basil Gerald "Stapme" Stapleton DFC, No. 247 (China-British) Squadron, No. 124 Wing, 2nd Tactical Air Force, Royal Air Force, Eindhoven, Netherlands, December 1944 (just qualifies for this build).

The Canadian one depicted is from Feb 1945, or I would have done it instead.  Oh well, that will give me a reason to pick up another one.

Allen 

Bob: You are doing some really nice work on that landing craft! I'm very interested in seeing the diorama take shape.

Rob: I love your Lanc! The camo and post-shading look ace!

Rob: Your Lancaster is looking absolutely fantastic. Although you will be sorely missed please enjoy the ever living daylights out of yourself. Lord knows, you definitely need a well deserved thaw of the mind and body. Besides, Take a little time away from the bench because I'm in no hurry to see you finish up with the GB too soon and move on. Just love having you around.

Chanter: I'm looking forward to the Typhoon. I really like that particular aircraft. About 4 yrs ago I built the Hasegawa 1/48 Typhoon as my second model since returning to building. It looks great in my display case.