USMC GB : Now until Sept 2015

Finally!! I wasa able to get back to the workbench after a week and a half. The M-60 is coming along nicely. I primed the the turret and hull with Model Master Desert Sand (rattle can). I then went over areas with Tamiya Sand Yellow. I am trying to break up the mono tone color. Hopefully it will work out in the end.

The commander's hatch was pretty bare, so i added a handle and what i hope look like the Dogging mechansim for the hatch. Hard to get really crazy in 1/72.

BrandonK

Well, I managed to finally complete the engine and it's ignition harness. 36 separate wires going to each plug. That was a lot of work but the engine looks much better with them than without. I began by painting the assembly Alclad Airframe Aluminum followed by a dirty wash of Flory Black. I sealed that all in and painted the push rod tubes gloss black and then added the 0.010 dia brass wire to each cylinder's plugs. I followed all that up with a heavy application of Tamiya clear smoke to darken the whole thing down a bit. I like to leave then glossy as it gives the engine an "oily" look.

 I am currently removing seems from the fuselage and should be ready for primer in the next few days. 

Great job, Brandon! I think I'll start sending you my engines and let you pretty them up for me!

What a difference! Glad you were able to defog the clear part.

modelcrazy

BrandonK

You can use a product on any plastic that is made by Meguires called PlastX.

WOW, that worked great. Thanks man!

Yup, that stuff is pretty awesome. 

Holy, wow, that did work great...well done!

BrandonK

You can use a product on any plastic that is made by Meguires called PlastX.

WOW, that worked great. Thanks man!

Rob S.

carry on with the Ground Attack GB with my GORGEOUS and superdetailed Revell(G) Hind E in Czech colours!!

Rob,

I did that kit for the Ground Attack build and Monogram build. It's a great kit  . I'd recommend it to any one.

Looking Good Brandon (K)

Steve... I agree with the above solutions for a hazy canopy. Have tried all but Meguiers,o doubt it would work too... Good Stuff!

Gorgeous pitty Brandon. Epic detail!

So, I pulling out on that Harrier I mentioned a few weeks ago. Nope. Not going to do it for this GB. It's a deplorable hunk of junk, and it's getting pitched out. I think it's prob the worst kit I've seen, aside those 'wonderful' Airfix messes from the old days. AND, it's a Hasegawa!!! Oh well, I learned a big lesson, don't trust the date on the box.....total rookie mistake!! It said 2008, so, being a dummy, i didn't look it up and bought it. Junk. Old repack of an ANCIENT mold. I am going to go look out for something else USMC at the LHS, and carry on with the Ground Attack GB with my GORGEOUS and superdetailed Revell(G) Hind E in Czech colours!! I'll keep lookin' in on this excellent GB and get back to ya'll on what I pick up for my next badge on this one. Cheers!!

Quick update. The wings are complete and ready to install and the flaps are done as well. Glass is masked off with Eduard mask, a real time and grief saver. For the most part the plane is very nearly ready for primer. I'll post more soon.

modelcrazy

Thanks Rob and PJ,

I'll try the Simoniz as well as the toothpaste first. I use to use toothpaste years ago when I was really into Nascar models. It worked fairly well.

If those don't work I go with the  polishing compound.

Steve

Steve,

You can use a product on any plastic that is made by Meguires called PlastX. It will polish the haze out of the most frosted plastics you can imagine. You can get it at any Walmart or autoparts store. It WILL make that canopy look invisible. A bottle will last a life time on modeling, but I use mine to polish tail lights and headlights on cars and they look better than new. And it is super easy to use. 

Brandon

Thanks Rob and PJ,

I'll try the Simoniz as well as the toothpaste first. I use to use toothpaste years ago when I was really into Nascar models. It worked fairly well.

If those don't work I go with the  polishing compound.

Steve

Rob has a good suggestion. Also I use plain Simoniz Swirl and Haze remover from the auto parts store. The stuff is like magic at polishing out clear parts, and yes, it works on car paint too. After a good polish dip it in Future and let it cure for a day or two. It should look crystal clear afterwards. Some others use regular Toothpaste, not the gel type that doesn't have the gritty texture.

Steve..Tamiya polishing compound..see the Feb issue of FSM...good article on just this subject

Well here's an up date for the V-22

The kit did not come with any pilot figures, and I wanted to display it in flight, so I liberated two German pilots from my 1/72 BV 141, and modified their flight suits to work....I hope. I tried to do the best I could on the interior, but being black, or very dark grey, it's hard to distinguish any detail. I dry brushed the instrument panel and interior with an Aggressor Grey to try to highlight the details (which aren't bad at all for this kit), and made some seat cushions and belts out of masking tape, but with the "liberated", time traveling pilots in their seats, I'm not sure you be able to see the work.

With the office in it's place, the fuselage fit was not good, so I had to do some trimming to get everything to fit.

The canopy is blurry, I'm not sure what to do about it. Amy ideas?

Steve

Thanks waynec, I'm right around the corner from the hobby Lobby right now!

plasticjunkie

Doug

Thanks buddy. My back was also injured in that crash and now the back issues have been creeping out. Try Home Depot or Lowes for the odorless turp, way cheaper than the LHS.

gemini masterpiece odorless mineral spirits, white bottle with blue label. hobbylobby and 40% coupon

got a base coat of VALLEJO AV desert sand primer on LAV.

Welcome aboard Jarhead...lookin' forward to your contribution.

I would like to join your group build.   I served from 93 to 97 and was an 0351 with 2nd Battalion 7th  Marines.  I have just opened a 1:48 scale Hasegawa F-18D.  I am going to put VMFA(AW)-242 from flying leathernecks and some additional after market parts.  Thanks and Semper Fi.

Here is the 1/72 F-18c, The engineering on it is way over complex I recon. The fot is not bad and the detail is good. I just wonder if the real one's wheel wells are really so shallow??

The promer is on and sanded, a little more sanding to be done on the top rear deck just behind the cockpit

MC... That Osprey looks like its going to be a nice kit, Please keep us informed. I've seen those Kitech kits but wasn't sure about getting one.

Pardon, I forgot a part... And a POS acceptable! LOL...

Doug

Thanks Rob... I guess as I get a little older and less tolerant of (in my opinion) A SLACK A** engineered and produced product, I tend to forget that trying to make silk purses out of sows ears are where and how we develop and learn the ability to make good kits even better!

Thanks again...

Doug

Good thing I was browsing back a bit and saw that magnificent Huey Doug!! Congrats on a stellar build (despite it being a bit of a pain, but you suffered through mightily!!)....

Holy smokes Brandon! that engine looks great.

Josiah

If it's all the same to you, I would like to switch my build from the 1/72 F4 to the 1/72 Kitec V-22 Osprey. I just can't seem to get up the umph to work on the F4 right at the moment. I probably will later, but I want to get something on the building board for this GB.

Here it is. I got it for a song off of eBay from China (I think the shipping was more than the kit) so well see how it goes.

Steve

Brandon, that is one good lookin engine! Cantwait to see some more...

Doug

LOLOL... (sorry) but yes they are! I was kind of miffed cuz I've never seen decals stand up to Solvaset, I think you can even see it in some of my pictures. Man, you've done an awesome paint scheme! Shouldn'tbe long now!

Doug

Great job on that engine Brandon!

Doug

Those Revell decals are a PITA, specially the tail boom stripes. It takes tons of Solvaset to tame those things! It looks like a freaking rainbow! Still have more decals to put on but I'm stopping here tonight.

Well, I managed to finally complete the engine and it's ignition harness. 36 separate wires going to each plug. That was a lot of work but the engine looks much better with them than without. I began by painting the assembly Alclad Airframe Aluminum followed by a dirty wash of Flory Black. I sealed that all in and painted the push rod tubes gloss black and then added the 0.010 dia brass wire to each cylinder's plugs. I followed all that up with a heavy application of Tamiya clear smoke to darken the whole thing down a bit. I like to leave then glossy as it gives the engine an "oily" look.

 I am currently removing seems from the fuselage and should be ready for primer in the next few days.