PACIFIC CARRIER AVIATION GROUP BUILD

Thanks Joe.  My back room still smells a little like vinegar.  I bummed the Micro Set solution and spilled half the bottle on the table.  The only real casualty yesterday.

JR - Your plane is looking good.  What paints are you using?

I'm going to have to work on my plane whenever I find a few minutes.  It's back to work today and my next few weekends are full.  Should be done by the end of the year.  Again, thanks for the kind words.

Craig  

Thank You Craig. I'm using Model Master enamels. That and Gunze-Sangyo Mr. Color are my go to paints unless, there is a color they don't have or is a poor match.

JOE RIX

Here's a quick pic of my current progress.

Craig, well that looks really great--and fierce, too!  Nice come back.

Excellent Hellcat, Joe. It'll look really sharp in it's three-tone livery.

Thank you Joe and Checkmate.

Yeah, I can't wait to get it painted and unmasked. I oh so enjoy that moment when one is filled with a mixture of excitement, anticipation and an ounce of dread.

The "ounce of dread!"  Yeah, I know what that feels like.

Question - When I'm done with the decals, should I spray the plane with Future, an acrylic flat coat, or something else?  Thanks.

Craig

Craig: The decals look great. I absolutely love the "face" on the nose! If you still want to give the entire model an oil wash I'd suggest you get it all covered in a coat of Future and add the wash. Once that's dry, seal it with a flat clear coat.

Joe: Looking good! Not much left to do and you're ready to get some decals on there!

Thanks Clemens.  I'll shoot the plane with Future first once I get the last of the decals on.

Craig

Let's see what you got Craig!

I just shot the belly with Future.  I still have a few stencils to add to the top of the wing.  How long does it take for the Future to dry?  I really like the way the stencils add to the plane.

Craig

A little out of focus, but you get the idea.

Craig...your stencil work looks awesome. I really like how that looks.  The rest of the plane is looking great too.  Nice job!  

BTW folks....I have not posted my work on the Avenger in awhile. I am not being unfriendly.  It's just that I have hit a roadblock called airbrushing.  I have some problems to work out. It is part of my learning curve after just coming back to this hobby.  I think making the completion date for this GB is out of reach for me now.  I will post as I progress but the finish may be a few months away.

So enjoy yourselves, and I am enjoying watching everyones work progress.

Steve

Thanks Steve.  Hope to see ya back on track soon.  I'm still learning my airbrush as well.

Joe..your build is looking great too!

Very sharp, Craig.  Nice work.

The stencils look great Craig.

Well, the rest of the dark sea blue is on and the masking is ll off. I am very pleased with how it turned out. I only have a couple of spots to touch up but, no big deal. Here's a couple of pics. Tomorrow will bring an overall gloss coat and on to the decals.

I'm a late comer to the group build, but I completed this Academy 1/72 F6F-5 over the last couple of months.

Dam it looks like a pro did it Joe !

JR - Very nice.  Looks super clean.

Thank You Joe & Craig. I appreciate it. Was in a bit of a rush to get some pics up last night and thus, I forgot to take any pics of the left side of the aircraft. That is where I have a small bit of over spray. Fortunately, it some of the IB onto the gloss white so I am able to scrape it clean with #11 blade.

Hellcat_Flyer, Very sweet -5. You really did a nice work indeed.

That's a nice build Hellcat_Flyer!

Great looking models, guys!

Thanks guys, I've enjoyed looking through this thread and seeing everyone's models. I'm still getting the hang of my AB, an Iwata eclipse CS.  Tip drying and flow issues have plagued me. Golden retarder and flow aide have helped, but I still have to keep a wet sponge handy to frequently wet and wipe the tip. Luckily, the photos don't show it super well, but I over did it on the weathering on the wings a bit. Oh well, learning as I go...

I picked up some gray artists oil form Hobby Lobby this evening ( not cheap).  Probably pick up some white for blending.  Anyways, what do I use to thin the oil?  Turpentine, mineral spirits, or something else.  What's best to coat the model first, Future or an acrylic gloss coat?  Been watching videos and I've seen a few different techniques.  Thanks.

Craig

Its great to see that thing covered in paint Joe, and it looks splendid indeed!

Thanks Josiah. It's good to hear from you.

. Craig, I thin my oils with Turpenoid. Turpenoid is an odorless substitute for turpentine that is used by artists. It tends to be less "hot" than turpentine. Available right where you found your oil paints. Using turpenoid allows me to gloss coat with lacquers such as Testors, Tamiya or Mr. Surfacer. The turpenoid is not strong enough to damage these lacquer based coats. You'll really like that Windsor & Newton oils. They work excellent and will last a long time.

Impressive results, both Joe and Hellcat Flyer.  Looking really good there!

Thanks CMK.  I will probably hit HL tomorrow to pick up some Turpeniod.

Craig

I ran into town today and picked up some Turpenoid and white artists oil.  I started a pin wash on the belly this afternoon.  I think it turned out OK.  It brought out the recessed rivets.  I'll start on the topside when I get a chance.

Craig

Very nicely done Craig. Very nice indeed. Appears to me that you have got a handle on the whole oil wash thing. It certainly adds a lot to the overall appearance of your Hellcat.