USMC GB : Now until Sept 2015

On initial inspection the Crusader looks great!

I was thinking Rob, you could use that BELL Cobra for the Boeing Build,  believe it or not. Bell is owned by Boeing now.

I friggin' thought so Steve!! I was gonna google that today, but, forgot....I'd love to cross that over. I did see a few interesting ideas for the Boeing build today in Montreal. First was a SB-17: a Search and Rescue version of the B-17 bomber. It was interesting. Also, I looked for and couldn't find the Joint Strike Fighter from Boeing X-35. Italeri makes one.

Tamiya used to make a 1/72nd X-35. I bought one while visiting my son in Okinawa back in 2007. I recently sold it at a club meeting last year.

So here are the promised pics of the V-22. I just need to install the rotors do some weathering.

Steve

Well, folks, I finally got some much-needed paint on the interior pieces today, as well as a few exterior pieces. As you can see below, it didn't come out too bad at all............

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One thing that I didn't catch until I had finished this paint session was that Academy listed the wrong FS number for the interior color (the main cabin color). You'll notice in the below picture that Color #14 is listed as FS36495, which is Flat Light Gray. I thought, "Well, ok, that's looks a little light for the interior, but I ain't no expert, either....", so I went with it. AFTER I finished the paint session, I looked more closely at the paint listing, and noticed that the 3rd column over from the 14 column shows the correct color - FS35237 - Flat Blue Gray. Why I never noticed until afterwards is beyond me. Also, why ACADEMY didn't catch it is kinda weird, too. Oh well, live-n-learn. At least I caught it before I had glue everything together. Guess I'll be repainting a few areas tomorrow...

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The next photo shows my attempt at putting some sag in the rotor blades before painting. I figured it was better to to do this before painting than afterwards. No telling what boiling water will do to flat black paint. Anyways, this was my first-ever attempt at warping rotor blades to give them that natural-looking sag. I thought it came out looking ok. I test-fitted them to the rotor head to see how they looked (no picture of that), and I was satisfied. I guess the real test will come when it's all together. I still need to mask off the leading edges and spray them with some flat steel. Same for the tail rotors.

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Here's what I sprayed the parts in today. My wife bought me this for Christmas! It's the one that Micro-Mark sells for about $100. Well worth the money. I am very impressed and satisfied with it. The CH-53E has pushed the size limits on this little booth, though. It's probably better for normal-sized 1/48th stuff, 1/72nd scale, cars, tanks, etc. Anything bigger than this CH-53E just ain't gonna fit in here.

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Well, that's all for now. I hope to get some more work done on it tomorrow after church and before the Super Bowl. 

Great progress for both u guys!

Great progress guys!  

I've been slowly working my Harrier.  I've been taking progress pics but haven't uploaded any to Photobucket yet.  I'll try to get some pics up tomorrow.

Steve

Rob S.

I visited the LHS today and picked up this baby for the "sharpshooter" badge:

Dunno when I'll get to it. I have to prioritize my GBs. Gotta finish the Ground Attack GB Hind E then starting the Mustang GB prob this wknd. Artillery is a ways away, so, I may throw this one in for the "Expert" Badge:

NOT happy with this kit....raised panel lines and quite an old mold. I dunno. If it turns out to be a turkey, I'll come up with another option. 

Here are some progress pics of my Harrier.  The kit is the Hasegawa AV-8B Harrier II Plus in 1/48.  I've also used the Eduard Detail set for this kit and the Quickboost ejection seat.  So far the kit has been a pretty smooth build.  I've read several reviews that talked about poor fit, but I haven't really experienced that. Several part of the wing assembly needed some careful sanding to get a better fit, but that's about it.  

In the heat shield photo, I also used Archer rivet decals since this area has prominent rivets and the kit did not have this detail.   I got the wings attached last night so the build is progressing.  I'm starting on the landing gear and gun pod next. 

Steve

Oh yeah, the Harrier, such a cool plane.

That's looking like a nice little Harrier. Sweet work.

Great work thus far Sanderson...very slick plane. Gotta get me a Harrier when Airfix releases the AV-8B later this year in 1/48.

Sanderson, I built that same kit when it first came out over 10 years ago. If I remember correctly, I had a problem with the fit of the wings to the fuselage at the top. I remember having to do a lot of filling and sanding on it. Other than that, it was a decently easy build. Yours is looking pretty darned good.

Ah, yes.. Much better. Now I can get started on some more gluing pieces together on the interior. I've still got about 3 hours before the Super Bowl starts........

OK, I'm calling this thing done, finally. As stated before, I wasn't real happy with this kit.  I would like to build this subject again, but next time I will definitely get the Italari kit.

Here it is, not happy with it, but it is what it is.

Comments, critiques welcome.

Steve

Nope, I like it Steve..great job. It's a bloody weird looking aircraft...but you got it. What's next??

Rob S.

What's next??

The Hasegawa 1/72 Kawasaki T-4 in the Blue Impulse markings. It should be a quick build like your 51.

Ok..had to look that up..very cool markings!

The paint job is going to be touchy, especially the gloss white.

Nice Steve, I like it. Good work my man.

So in this months edition of Fine Scale Modeler there an article on how to take the seem out of the canopy.  I have tried different techniques with limited success until now.  So the pictures below it the evolution of the process described in the article.  My photos don't do it justice but I am elated with the result.  When I finish my hornet hopefully the pictures will show the result.  My jet is together and I am in the process of filling and sanding to get her ready for paint.  Note in the article it says to use 800 or 1000 grit sandpaper.  I used 1500 and repeated the process about 4 times to get the result I wanted.  Again the pictures don't do it justice.
 

Modelcrazy...don't sell yourself short, thats a good looking Osprey

Both you and Theuns' builds have been added to the front page.

Rob...so you are definitely building the Crusader?

You guys are WAY to kind. Thank you.

Josiah, YES, the Crusader will commence JUST after the Mustang GB. So, officially, 1/72 Academy F-8E Crusader "US Marines". Thanks!

Well done on mastering that technique, Jarhead!

Cool GB, thanx for hosting. I might do another Marines build later if there is enough time left.

Theuns

Josiah,

I to will do another build, F4U, if I have the time.

Steve

Sweet, looking forward to seeing what you do with it Rob, hopefully it's another one loaded out...like the box art ;)

Theuns and Steve, would love to have y'all for some more, but I understand about the time.

Jarhead, that canopy does look really good...great job and can't wait to see the whole plane soon!

Oh, buds, she's gonna be packin' a wicked bombload, for sure!! You know me, love the bomb-age!! Man, this is a Marines GB, thus, all kits need to be well loaded for Close support to the troops on the ground!