USMC GB : Now until Sept 2015

That is one sweet F-18. I love the paint and weathering. Very nicely done sir !

Completed VMFA 312

BrandonK

I have contacted Tamiya and hopefully they can get me a replacement. I would hate to have to get another kit.

Can you see if you can get some AM before buying a new kit? That is if Tamiya can't help you out.

Theuns...BOMBS, BOMBS and more BOMBS...geez, maybe a few more...BOMBS!!!

I am in two minds about my F-18.

I put the two inboard tanks on the wings, I still wonder if I need to "bomb it up" with the GBU-12's and AIM-9's or just keep the tanks to look like it is on a ferry flight to the ship.....

Theuns

Well, I just botched one of the critical decals for my Corsair, so I have contacted Tamiya and hopefully they can get me a replacement. I would hate to have to get another kit. I have boxed it up as no further work can commence until I get the decals. It will likely be a few weeks before I am able to post any updates. 

Rob,

Some decals react with the pastel dust, so the decals need to be sealed. Not meaning to switch tracks here but.

Bad reaction to the decals. They were not sealed prior to the pastel application. Note the darkening around the decals under the canopy.

Pastels used for weathering and dust on the tarps.

Wet pastels applied for mud on the wheels, track and fenders.

They are very versatile.

Steve

In Afghanistan, we Canadian troops had to learn the US 9 line system as well. Our medevac relied on it!! 9 line call...Blackhawks showed up, so, it was our lifeline for sure.

Thanks Theuns..gonna work more with pastels to get better..I agree that u have more control over your weathering..I did find that enamel dull coat reacted with the dust though.

@ Jarhead, thanx mate. It is really easy.simply scrape off a little chalk pastel with an exacto blade into a container. It must be chalk pastel, oils don't work.

Then (over a matt to satin finish) drybrush with a small soft brush where ever you want to "stain" or weather. As you can see the direction of the streaks make it look like lubricant and fluids seaping from hindges, inspection pannels ect.

It also works well for gun and exhaust stains.

Just put a little powder on the brush, whip or blow most of it off the brush and apply. Experimentaion is the only way :-)

A tip - before doing it, claen the model as finger prints when brushed looks like the cops got hold of the model....I know ! LOL

I also wear cotton gloves when doing this.

Give it a go, you will be surprized how easy it is .

OK, now I get what you mean with the nine line saying now. We used it in the SADF aswell .I was also involved with Casevac and "other stuff" when I was young and hansom.....now I am just hansom LOL!!!

Rob, I have never been a real fan of the Cat, but dang dude! That looks cool, well done :-)

Theuns

Theuns

Mate please tell me what the "nine line" remark means? I have never heard it and it sounds cool!

Theuns

There are several versions of the 9-line including Close Air Support, Fire Support (artillery/mortars), Casualty Evacuation and Unexploded Ordnance.  It is a short hand method of transmitting pertinent information.  I practiced all of them many times over for training and used the Fire Support, CasEvac and UXO 9-lines in Iraq and can attest to how expedient and effective the 9-lines are.  For Close Air Support the 9-line transmitted from requesting unit to aircraft or helicopter is:

1. IP/BP ____________________________________________

2. HEADING _______________MAG: OFFSET LEFT/RIGHT

3. DISTANCE ______________

4. TARGET ELEVATION ____________________FEET MSL

5. TARGET DESCRIPTION _________________________

6. Target LOCATION _______________________________

7. MARK TYPE __________________CODE ___________

8. FRIENDLIES _______________________________

9. EGRESS ___________________________________

I pulled this from MCWP 3-23 Offensive Air Support

That was for Theuns that hornet looks great.

That is exceptional, it looks like the real thing.  I have never weathered my jets so mine look like either pre or post deployment hornets.  Take it from a hornet junkie it looks great, I wish I new how to do that.

Rob, that looks really good to me. I will be giving them a try on my Zero. I am impressed with how good that looks.

This was one of my few pastel weathering attempts. This was applied over a clear flat enamel overspray. I found it difficult, but, the effect was just ok. I was not overly pleased:

Just aslong as you do not have a shiny surface it should stick.. Just be carefull when putting it on. It does not come off again!

I scrape some pastel in a bowl, use a soft brish and dip it in the powder, then I "whip" most of it off again before puttng on the model.

I also use the same powder, a drop od dish soap and few drops of water to mix a slurru for my pin washes.

It costs nothng and is vert forgiving. Just do it over a gloss finish :-)

Theuns

It should work on acrylics, you may need to apply a little more.. I use pastels all the time. It's a great look. Add a little water for a totally different effect.

Hmmm...ok, I have trouble having it 'stick' to a non-flat surface, such as a dull coat overspray. I wonder if it's cuz I use exclusively acrylic paint?

Nothing, I just drybrush over the satin enamels. It seems to "hold" the powder well enough, then gloss for wash and decals then my own "brew" of 1/2 alclad matt and 1/2 alclad semi matt as a final clearcoat.

Theuns

Theuns, yup, that 18 looks wicked and well used. I like pastel dust too. What do you use as a surface prep for that technique?

Cool, I am happier now that the Hornet experts say they were "worn" :-)

Mate please tell me what the "nine line" remark means? I have never heard it and it sounds cool!

Theuns

Theuns,   that Hornet looks awesome, looks like you got it spot on to me.  This is the bird that shows up when you send a nine-line.

Jarhead,   nice touch on the figures, great attention to detail.

BrandonK,   the Corsair has always been one of my favorite airplanes and I am enjoying watching your progress because she is looking good.

Just for interest sake. I used chalk pastel powder on a fine brush to do the streaks, and shading. I find I have more controll over it than pre shading.

Theuns

Kind words Steve, thanx

I have not seen a real F-18 "by eye" so I thought they might take a battering on deck

Here in South Africa we rarely get to see the cool toys you guys see all the time at shows and such.

Our JAS Grippens fly so little due to "costs" they don't get the chance to weather. Then I must say the SAAF did always go out of their way to keep operational aircraft very clean.

Theuns

Theuns,

That is perfect! Don't change anything. That looks amazing man! I would be proud to display that and only wish I could achieve those kind of results.    The 18's are workhorses. The ones you see in pictures are all prettied up and not on front line service for the most part.

Steve

I wanted to dirty her up a little, but darn it looks like it was washed with an oil rag!! I went way to stupid with the weathering......ah well let's just say it is a work horse Hornet.

Very nice Theuns.

Brandon, the blue is looking real good I love those corsairs.

Jarhead, Those figures and the cockpit look real nice [tup][tup]

So this is my cockpit, it has been six months since my last kit so I am still trying to get into it.   I will try to improve my picture quality on the next round.

Love the precision of your work Brandon...well done thus far.

I gave the whole kit a good going over to look for any flaws that needed fixed and I actually didn't find any. So, once I had the Zero in the sun drying I hit the Corsair with a tack cloth and began laying down 3 coats of Mr Color 14 Navy blue. It went down without a hitch give one, I dropped one of the drop tanks and it is now all dusty. I'll let it dry and hit it with some 6000 grit, prime and shoot it again, no biggie. The paint went down exceptionally well I I have so much better luck spraying Mr Color Vs Tamiya. Perhaps I need to look at thinning Tamiya more to get it to dry more slowly, like I have to when spraying Mr Color. Hmm.

Anywho, I will give the bird a few days to cure and hit it with some clear and move on to decals.

Bottom grey is Humbrol 129 and the top is modelmaster dark ghost grey, I didn't have US compass grey.

Theuns