USMC GB : Now until Sept 2015

Well, 'some' progress today...lol!

Got the canopy sealed and masked. Also, all the landing gear installed. Everything will be white, allowing me to install everything in advance.

Very nice! Everything being white definitely would make it a bit easier to paint and assemble for sure.

Preshading....done!

Not sure if anyone is on this GB or not, but, I've made some big progress. All principal painting and postshading is done. Contrasting white work is done and a bit of black on the vert stab. Now, just gotta rub it all down, big clear coat (prob 2-3 coats), washes, decals and start super detailing the armament and small details.

Great job Rob! She's coming together very nicely.

I thought I would be able to get back on mine fairly quickly but I've got another project I have to finish up. That, job hunting, and the gorgeous weather here in VA mean slow modeling for me

Our weather up here in Quebec has been awesome...modelling with the patio door wide open!

Ah, lucky. My bench is downstairs, no windows either, so it has to be an either enjoy the weather or model type thing

Finally some time to work on my kit.  I am in the process of arming her up.  I will have some photos soon.

This decal job is massive. An evening into it and I'm not that far and I have a ways yet to go, so, here's some progress.

Decals...done...final overcoat done...wing mounted.

She's a beauty! An excellent job on the shading, I have tried that twice now and just can't seem to nail it down yet....practice,  practice, practice I guess.  I'm just about ready to try it again on the A-6 in a day or two.

Scott

Awwww, MAN!  I can hardly believe that my last in-progress post was 01 Feb!!!! Sorry guys! But, finally, I got some much-needed work done on the Super Stallion today. Let me know whatcha think.....

I used the Eduard ColorZoom photo-etch instrument panel set instead of the kit stuff. Much, much easier than painting it. The only thing that I could not get right with the photo-etch set was the glare shield/coaming over the instrument panel. It just would not stay glued on, even after 4 attempts with super glue and ZAP Zip Kicker accelerator. So, consequently, it got left off. Not sure why it wouldn't stay in place. Some of the other little handles and odds-n-ends were too small for my eyes & hands to handle, so they were left off, too. Still, it looks much better than the kit parts......

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Looking through the cabin door to the cockpit. As I said previously, it looks much better than the kit parts.

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Another view. Sorry about the poor focus. I gotta take some time and figure out this camera......

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Front quarter view. The photo-etch seat belts look nice, too.

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The fuselage halves are ready for the internals..........

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The cockpit and cabin floor are in place in the right fuselage half. The roof (below the two fuselage halves) is ready to go in. The engine pods have had the exhaust pipes shot with Burnt Iron Non-Buffing metalizer, and are ready to be attached once the fuselage is together.

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The engine pods. Very easy to assemble, once you paint the exhaust pipes. Just some minor filling had to be done where the sprue attachments points were.

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Another view of the cabin floor/cockpit assembly in place in the right fuselage half. Hope it all fits nicely when I attempt to assemble the halves.

Hope that it's not another 3 months before my next posting! I still gotta get some paint on my F-100D for the Monogram Mafia Group Build! 

Right on Devil Dawg...I was worried I was the only one still on board with this GB...LOL...Looks fantastic, great update!

Here's where I'm stopping for today. Almost calling this one done..

Dull coated, weapons mounted:

Great looking work going on here!  Still slowly working on the Harrier.  I have initial paint on and need to clearcoat for decals.  Haven't taken any photos - will try to take some soon.

Steve

I am finished the Crusader. What a pleasurable  build. I cannot say anything negative about this older Academy kit. It was perfectly engineered and went together without incident or frustration. This build marks the 3rd in this GB and it was a sincere treat to be a part of this excellent build. I am moving on now, but, will certainly keep USMC topics close at hand. Good luck and happy building!!

Thanks for looking and the support. I will collect the 3rd badge and become a 'Sharpshooter'....LOL

Third time's the charm Rob (the first two were as well) great looking plane and another great addition to the gb thanks for being such an active participant!

DD, the -53 is coming along very nicely indeed!

Thanks Josiah...great build, thanks for hosting!!

Rob S.

Right on Devil Dawg...I was worried I was the only one still on board with this GB...LOL...Looks fantastic, great update!

Thanks, Rob. Unfortunately, I've been letting too many things get in the way of my modeling, hence the large gaps between build sessions. I'm hoping to get more build time in this week and the coming holiday weekend. I've still gotta get another build restarted in the Monogram Mafia III Group Build. It's at the "needs paint" stage now, and has been awaiting my presence for almost 4 months. I just gotta get myself motivated........

Rob,

OUTSTANDING JOB on that Crusader! Great-looking weathering job, too. I just gotta know one thing - how did you get it to sit on that upside-down cup without breaking off the gear doors? Must be some really good super glue!

It was the kit that allowed it to sit like that. The inner gear doors were a one piece insert that came pre-molded open. Indestructible!!

That is truly a fine looking bird you got there

Here's a couple of progress pics of the Revell A-6. I got her primed using for the first time...a can of Kryon White Primer which went on with no issue then I added the pre-shading just a little while ago. Never seem to have any luck doing that but I will try again. Will let everything dry overnight than start painting her tomorrow. Plan on using the centerline tank and MER's on the wing stations.

Good looking A-6 thus far. I've heard from several more guys on this site that Krylon is becoming quite a successful primer. I tried it for the first time myself recently to prime soft plastic parts for the Artillery GB. I was very pleased with it too.

Hey Guys,

I've finally take a few photos of my Harrier.  So far this has been a sweet kit to build.  Overall fit is pretty good, some putty and sanding was required around the wing to fuselage fit just behind the cockpit.  I did a lot of dry fitting and sanding before using any glue and it really helped.

I primed with Tamiya white surface primer and then did a pre-shade with Tamiya flat black.  I mixed the colors from Tamiya.  After the first round of paint I thought all three colors were a bit too dark, so I lighted each shade and re-sprayed.  This really toned down the pre-shade which was looking better.  

I still have a lot to do but now I'm trying to get all of the gear legs to sit flat.  The main gear was not touching the ground with the out-riggers in place.  I installed a shim but now the left out-rigger won't touch.  I'll have to add a shim to that next.  Still a lot to do, but getting closer to finishing.

Sorry the photos are a bit dark.  Still working on using my new camera.  Thanks for looking!

Steve

Been doing a little painting on the Intruder. Still trying to get that pre-shading down.

One minor mistake I made was while masking the white on the flaps prior to laying down the grey, I realized that the spoilers were also white to so I had to hit them too.

Will need to touch up the paint angle on the windshield area

I did do a subtle shading on the white fuselage areas, just not really noticeable here. And I love my new air brush

Looks great so far Archangel!

Steve that Harrier looks fantastic!

Archangel, looks like you're getting the hang of the new airbrush, keep it coming!

Hey guys!!! Hope all is well!! Builds are looking great!!! I have been through a lot lately and still don't know what will be happening as far as bench time goes. SO, will be happy to monitor and watch everyones builds progress until I see I can jump in and commit to some much needed GB comeraderie!