Monogram Mafia III

Well, fellow Group Build members, I have FINALLY finished the McDonnell-Douglas OA-4M Skyhawk II that I started on 20 June 2015. This was a great little kit to build, and the detail on it was very accurate, except for the raised panels lines (which I left on). Also, the decals were very old, as this is a 30-year-old kit, but, I used them anyway, and they didn't do too badly. The intake Beware decals tried to wrinkle on me just slightly (even with lots of MicroSol and MicroSet), but, unless you're looking for that, you don't notice it. The nose wheel fork broke off on me while assembling other things, but it was an easy-enough fix. Another thing that I was inpressed with was that I needed to use no nose weight, even though there was plenty of room for it. Seems the planes that need nose weight never have enough room for it. Go figure. The instructions showed that the gear doors should be red on the edges, as well as the insides of the leading edge slats, but all the photos that I could find of the gray OA-4Ms showed this not to be the case, so it's painted like you see it. I might have to find another of these kits to build in the future.

Anyways, I'll quit typing and let you look at the photos.

Well, have not had the time to work on the P-51 much (need more that 30min here and there to progress on that one) so I have turned back to the Razorback. Been trying to blend the Otaki Canopy onto the Monogram fuselage as there is no way the Monogram canopy will fit in the closed position.  There is no cockpit installed and the windows will be painted black. We'll see how that looks 

That's cool. Maybe by then the stickers/decals will be in. Only the best for family. Enjoy your Christmas!

Well I have decided to postpone giving it to her till next weekend at the family gathering at my grandparents house. She will have more than enough to keep her busy in the morning, plus an extra week will give me the time to get it right, and hopefully have the decals on it as well.

Merry Christmas guys.

I think she's going to love it, despite all  the other great gifts (which always mcome on for a young sweetie like her at this time of year!) This one is made by you and even though she's quite young, she'll still 'get it' to some degree. 

I'm sorry about all the issues; they are pretty bad. I like what you did with the strips of styrene on the back of the landing gear doors; very ingenious. Despite everything, this is coming along well. As you said, it doesn't need to be an award winning model; just something for her to enjoy. You are well on your way to making that happen.

Looking forward to seeing more. You'll have to get pics of her face when she gets this present too. I'll bet that will be the most rewarding present you get this Christmas season!

Well I hope she loves it, but there is Alot of competition. She is really racking up on good stuff this Christmas.

OK, did I mention how crappy some of the pieces of this newest release was? The fuselage fit together like a glove aside from the tip of the nose. The wings/fuselage joint was rather fine as well aside from the bottom joint on the belly. But the nacelles didn't match up at all, especially the end caps. And the gun bay cover is one of the worst fitting model pieces I have ever had the displeasure of coming in contact with. Not only was it not tall enough, it wasn't nearly wide enough either. Lots and lots of Mr. Surfacer was used to fill in and shape up the gun cover. 

OK, enough with that, here are some progress pics.

Now here is where having the Pegasus kit would have saved me some trouble. They generally come with a piece that gives you the option of having the gear door closed. With this Revellogram kit, I had to piece together the open gear doors and do my best to make it work. The nose gear doors were also a few MM too short as well. I used various strips of styrene to try to reinforce the backside of the main gear doors.

What a spectacular idea and a very thoughtful gift! I'm sure she is going to love it! Give her a few years and then you can show her how to make them herself! I love what you are doing here. I can't wait to see more. Keep this coming!

Here's something I've decided to put in here to keep it hopping some.

My little girl (2 and a few months) just LOVES "pane-panes." So for Christmas, I decided to make her a plane she could play around with (airplane noises included.) I need something simply, cheap, and robust. My initial thought we a Pegasus Me 262. My thinking was the 262 was a fairly robust airframe, and had no propellers to break off. But turns out, I couldn't find one at a decent price. Then the light bulb flipped in. I have a Reveal 262 sitting in the stash. Even better, it is the newest release, which with the molds starting to show their age, and the softer plastic and not so great production standards of their newest repops (the newest release F-86 is just terrible) So I figured this would fit the bill just fine.

Considering what this is being built for, she is going to be clean. Gear up, canopy closed, no extra effort on detail. Once put together, the plan is to paint the entire thing a nice home brew Soviet AMT-7 blue, then on the upper surfaces apply some tiger stripes in Tamiya X-16 purple. 

I found a lady online who makes water slide decals for finger nail art, and has a sheet of Elsa and Anna from Frozen. She is going to reprint it in a larger size, and then I will dress up the jet with little girl's favorite animated heroines. They obviously won't be here till after Christmas, so she will be able to get a few days play out if it before I sneak it back upstairs and apply the decals overnight or something.

Anyways, here are some progress pics.

stikpusher

No worries Dawg. I know how life can get in the way of this hobby. 

Brother, you can say that again....

and again....

and again....

and again....

sure thing AJD.

Don Stik, would you approve me putting the Thunderjet on here, and compliment it with a kit to be named? I'm going for "double made" status.

No worries Dawg. I know how life can get in the way of this hobby. Take off whatever time you need. We'll be here when youre ready to partake again.

Don Stik, I need to ask your permission to pull out of this Group Build as well (the other being the Desert Storm Group Build). I still have the OA-4M to finish, and it's been in the same status as it was three or four months ago - masked and ready to paint. I just don't know when I'll be able to get to it. So sorry about this.

Gary Mason

I'm sorry, I became impatient.  I built these between mid-September and mid-November.  I'm taking a breather right now before I start my Eduard Bf-110.

Finished the Weekend Madness GB-however, I plan on adding some dot filtering and rust in the days ahead-will post pic-so it's not complete yet.

...oops-just noticed the left tail light is out of position...

This is a very nice kit-fit is great and there is a lot you can do with this kit-I plan on building one with a chopped top and lowered at some point.

Grazie

Ran into some issues-thougth using rubber cement on top of the primer to simulate chipping/patches of rust when I added the top coat-not sure if it was the fact that the primer hadn't cured before the rubber cement but the results were not good:

Probably could have made it work but not what I wanted to do, so the body did a quick soak in Castrol Purple Power (or whatever it is,,,) and a fresh coat of flat back primer.

Chassis & interior are painted.  Plan on giving everything a coat of Future via brush tonight and do some oil washes in the am.

permesso accordato

Don Stik-I humbly ask your permission to attempt the task of building two Monogram kits within six months....in this case-two months....hopefully two weeks.....

Just started the Weekend Madness GB-1932 Ford Coupe-should be able to finish this weekend....then tackle either the Mustang P-51B or 109G-10 next weekend.

If you'd prefer I wait until IV, no problems-I'll just slide back into the witness protection program......

But since I'm here, here's the progress so far-

Hey all-got started at 1800 CST-model is the Revell-o-gram 1932 Ford Coupe.

Plan is to go for a 'modern' Rat Rod-will use the kit Ford V-8 and the kit suspension.

Might try to grab some better rims & tires out of a different kit but we'll see.

Attempting to replicate the may weekend builds of my youth-no airbrush-just spray cans and paint brushes.

Body, engine & interior are primed.  Plan to assemble the chasis tomorrow and hit it with flat black, along with the body,  Interior will be craft acrylic tan. Just need to figure out a way to dull down the chrome plating without having to strip and repaint.

Still need to finish the Slingster even though it is outside the time window....hoping this Weekend GB & moving into winter will motivate to spend more time here in the forums and building.

Oh that looks too cool! Yes, a MM IV may be in the not too distant future. But I have some other modeling to attend to beforehand.

Don, I humbly submit yet another fine kit from our esteemed source, for consideration of the family.

Maybe for IV.

Mr. Barris, rest in peace.

Glad to see that you and this thread and build are still happening.  Your P-51 is looking very sharp 

Just want to let everyone know that I am still alive. I actually stumbled into some workbench time this past week. The mustang is getting there slowly but surely. 

Great looking builds guys. Plan on getting the mustang done my end of october (now don't roll your eyes!) been very distracted with warm weather activities of late. Someone kindly stole my camera from my car a week or so ago so getting some pictures up will require borrowing for the time being...

Showtime!

Nice models there!

And a PERFECT example of GMorrison's Third Law!

monogram F4-J and B-25H both complete

simpilot34

Looking great guys!! Hope to join some builds soon but I feel bad when i commit and cant deliver lol.

 

TAD

Looking great guys!! Hope to join some builds soon but I feel bad when i commit and cant deliver lol.

GMorrison

Don Carlos,

I submit to you build number 1.

The "Long John" NHRA dragster with the De Soto Fire Dome V8, Cal Rice's Hot Rod magazine dragster.

 

Nice dragster!!  I've never seen one with white walls!!  Not a lot of drag racing going on here in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia....not enough straight, flat lands!! I imagine that speedster couldn't turn on a dime to negotiate some of our more "challenging" curves!!!  LOL

 

TAD

 

John, I appreciate your sharing the B-36 with us, but a two year build span is outside the scope and rules of the GB. 2 builds in 6 months from within the date that the first build is started. The Bearcat can be number one and you have four months to get one more done.