2014 BRAILLE SCALE (UPDATE)

Hey all, thanks so much for letting me join!  As promised here are some WIP photos from work today:

The actual kit.  It was such a nice day that I took my stuff outside and worked until my patio was in shade, then I went back inside for better light.

Completed most of steps 1 & 2, just left off the smaller parts until later.

The suspension was a pain.  It was very fiddly with very small parts.  Each bogie is made up of nine parts, including the hull mounting plate....whew!  Cleaning up all those tiny parts was NOT fun!  I'm glad I was able to do most of it in bright sunlight.  BTW,  I left off the outer roadwheels to make painting easier later on.

As you can see I'm having a hard time getting the wheels to sit level.  Its not a simple matter of pressing down on the hull to get them straight; the mounting section is so flimsy, a touch of pressure causes the entire bogie assembly to bend upwards! 

Anyway, after the glue hardens a bit I might be able to get them straightened out. 

Heres a pic of the M4A3E8 with a Dragon M4A1 that I started a couple of years ago and never finished.

Yeah it is nice...though with a kit like this I was a bit wary...from what I've read this is of one of the preproduction aircraft...the german markings are for DA1 (if my memory serves correct) which was the first prototype and was german...The paintings are spot on though from some pictures I've seen so I'm quite happy about that....it breaks up the monotony as well. Since it is a pre-production plane though I'm not going to weather it and I don't think I'll put any of the weapons on.

Deattilio- that thing is look sweet, I'm with Chris, the little bit of color will make it even better.

@Deatillo - the yellow bands with that red cowl will bring the Mustang to life. I always liked camo with a touch of bright colour.

@Waynec - good to see the battle plan thought out. I tend to write myself out a plan whenever i build as i find i get distracted and occasionally jump steps only to realise later there was a logical reason i didn't want to.

@Josiah - that's pretty good, having coloured diagrams on the box. i wish more companies were like that.

CML, thanks, and thats actually the bottom of the box! I've checked some other builds and some DA1 walk around pictures and as far as I could tell thats the paint scheme.

hey ernest.

right you are. i took over this one and also started the sci-fi hosting at the same time. "as well hung for a sheep as a lamb"

welcome. we need more ground stuff though i may have to do a jet in the near future, or an FW-200 in this scale.

another SS-25 READ THE INSTRUCTIONS moment.

either i am not used to 1/72 (true), or i am not used to this type of vehicle (also true) or my building spidey sense  is way off on this (probably). anyway easy correction. the fit so far is really nice. i finally came up with my paint plan.  

1. build the entire TEL, prime, clean up seams and paint sand. prime, clean up seams and paint missile canister sand.

2. mask and paint chassis dark green. mask and paint upper surfaces and canister dark green. 

3. do a heavy black oil wash on those parts of the chassis that are black.

4. wash tires with thick engine gray. 

5. i haven't decided if the camo will blend into the tire hubs (my tell) or just paint all of them dark green.

6. some washes but not a lot of weathering, more highlighting. . these things are kept in camo sheds or concrete bunkers (yes a future vignette, i have some pics).

my PST SA-10 RADAR TRUCK is in to go with the other 2 SA-10 TRUCKS. and the bundeswehr AVLB is on hold for me. i need a clone just to build what i want to and that eliminates half the stash. will do a USMC LAV-25 in MERDC desert camo for this and USMC GB.

deattillio...very nice colour depth!!

cml...tks, wuz confused on what that was about LOL...fer sure let's see some pics!!

Got most the painting done, last significant color to apply is the yellow bands on the wings.  That will be next weekend.  The propeller is only in place with tape, there is still some painting and touching up to do there.

@Josiah - cheers thanks mate.  Yours is coming along nicely too. Is that the instructions painting guide underneath or a reference book you're using?

@Rob & Waynec - Waynec is correct about what i meant regarding the sponge masking. I'll take a photo when i get home tonight to show you.  Fingers crossed it works, i'm just worried about it absorbing the paint and bleeding around the edges.

@Ernest - welcome aboard.  looking forward to seeing how you tackle the Sherman!

Hey Wayne and guys!  Would you mind if I joined?  I was planning on joining the other 1/72 GB, but I wasn't sure it it was active, but when I checked again today I noticed this GB and read through the beginning threads so it seems that everything sort of transferred over to here...did I get that right??

Anyway, if I get to join I'd like to begin with this:  Dragon's M4A3E8 Sherman

BTW, I started the kit about an hour ago and was working on Step 1 when I remembered that I wanted to join a 1/72 scale GB!!   I can have WIP pics up this evening.

Got it all painted up today. Here's a preliminary picture.

Rob Sherman

Cml, pre-shading is excellent!! Sponge technique? Let us know how that goes for sure as I'm really not sure what that's all about.

hey rob. i think cml was using the sponges to "mask off" intakes by stuffing them inside. getting some work done on SS-25 and i think i can officially declare i have lost my mind as i just put a hold at LHS on bundeswehr bridgelayer BIBER mit DINGO. so much for saying i don't build 1/72 armor.

Cml, pre-shading is excellent!! Sponge technique? Let us know how that goes for sure as I'm really not sure what that's all about.

Thanks for the clarification CML...your Corsair is looking very good.

Rob, great progress on yours as well

cml

@Rob - nice camo. Was that freehand? Also, that prop looks like real wood. I'm definitely going to try that method next time i have to paint something wood like.

@Waynec - sage words - Read the Instructions. I myself got caught out a few times on the F4-U, and that is basically shake'n'bake.  Coming along nicely.

dittos on the prop. and the preshading is looking good too. picked up a bundeswehr FUCHS 6x6 IFV in 1/72. already have one in 1/35.  still trying to figure out my painting plan of attack on SS-25

Ok gents, sorry for not updating for a while - despite best intentions, by the time i get home from work yada yada yada, i seem to run out of time for modelling.

Anyhow, here's a brief update on the F4-U.

I laid down some pre-shading (forgot to take a photo of the underside).

I've also managed to get the underside painted. I'm really quite happy with how it has come out. I think the pre-shading shows through quite nicely.

Finally, i think i've found something to try and easily mask the A-7 intake.  I've seen some others use these makeup sponges for blocking off canopies etc, but i cut one down and it seems to fit.  Hopefully i'll lay some paint this week and find out if it worked or not.

@Rob - nice camo. Was that freehand? Also, that prop looks like real wood. I'm definitely going to try that method next time i have to paint something wood like.

@Waynec - sage words - Read the Instructions. I myself got caught out a few times on the F4-U, and that is basically shake'n'bake.  Coming along nicely.

@Josiah - Coming along nicely.

Also, canards are those little forward wings.

Here's the 'odd' OD changing to Light Blue on this Finnish Gladiator. Very unique pattern:

Here's the Prop, showing both tips, wood grain achieved via Vallejo Wood, artists oils burnt umber worked with a toothpick then Tamiya clear orange overspray:

Some progress on the Gladiator. The construction of the front cowling was overly complicated and a bit disappointing for Airfix's new tooling. Too many parts for what should have been a simple piece. Anyway, got through it and layed down a coat of Valejo Air silver and OD. Complicated cam pattern as the bottom of the fuselage is going to be light blue vice the OD. Will be getting on that and the upper wing today:

Wayne, too many jokes can be made from more than just the one part. It's looking good though

Thanks Mark...question though...and I'm going to sound like an idiot but what are the canards? I'd google it but my computer is acting real funky and every time I try to access google it takes me to my university's library database page!

READ THE INSTRUCTIONS. had to break a couple of little pieces to get the erector in the mounting holes. on the rear bracket. more annoying than serious but i will have to reevaluate final assy. the erector and missile may now be separate for transport and attached at finals destination since it will be close to 16
inches  tall when in the erect mode.  (insert obvious NSFW joke here). still have to figure out the paint procedure. i have the colors; chassis black or dark grey with heavy black wash, camo of dark green and sand.

That is looking good Josiah! Just remember to watch out for the canards when you add them. I kept breaking mine off when I was building this model.

Thanks Wayne! I know what you mean about the SA-10; I have two of the three models built. I need to find the third one in my stash so I can finish this. I've also already completed my SA-9 Gaskin as well. I also want to see an SA-8 and even an SA-6 as well in 1/72 scale; not to mention the Shilka. Maybe some day.

I'm heading out to Ohio tomorrow so I'll let you know what I find for this Group Build when I return.

Thanks guys, it's been a pleasant experience so far. Here's where I'm at after this morning.

There's not that much to the kit, most of the parts seem like either the landing gear and bays and weapons load out. I forgot to take a picture of the sprues before starting, here it is with the parts I've put together off the sprues.

Here's the cockpit and where I am at so far...after that some pics showing dry fitting.

I really want to try painting the fuselage and wings separately then adding them afterwards. Still trying to figure out if I can get them on without having to use putty....or get glue all over the paint.

ygmodler - I did that very kit which now seems like a lifetime ago!! Anyway, it's a great scale and a good kit. You'll have a good time with it.

CML, I'll airbrush this little guy. It went together relatively quick because there weren't that many parts and the fits were perfect. For 1/72, this is a very nicely detailed kit. Terry

@Waynec - thanks for the masking tip.  I still haven't masked it off yet, but will aim to do so this weekend and hopefully get some priming and pre-shading done on both Corsairs.

@Jibber - that has come along quickly. Looking forward to seeing it with some camo.  Will you be a/b or brush-painting?

@ygmodeler4 - welcome aboard. Can't wait to take a peak at the contents of that box. I've had the Eurofighter on my want list for a while now.

Went my first IPMS meeting and saw this for $6 and it peaked my interest...I've only built one kit in this scale previously and usually I stick to 1/48 but for the price I guess what the heck. Mind if I jump in with this kit?

Thanks Rob, the little guys coming along. Should have a base coat on tomorrow then finish it off.

Terry

lots of road wheels but at least they are steel and not rubber rimmed. a friend gave me a couple of warwheels. the LAV looks like i could build it and have it ready to prime in a good day. having built a couple or more 8x8s it looks like a nice change of pace. if i do it for this i may do the USMC GB but paint it a MERDC desert camo 3 or 4 color pattern.