Monogram Mafia III

Stik

I also have the Pro Modeler FW190D in 1/48 and it's a beauty. Tons of details. I suspected it to be from another company and you just confirmed it.

Yes, I have that same kit. The original Trimaster kit was an early multi media kit with PE and White Metal parts. ProModeller replaced those parts with injection plastic parts.

Thanks for your suggestions, and also the short list of quicker build example, Stik.

I think I need something easy to regain some semblance of sanity, so definite food for thought.

Lookin' good, Darrin. Good to see that old classic taking wing again!  What kind of finish are you going to put on it?  Camo or NMF????

It's gonna be SEA camo. Black undersides with 3-tone uppers. :)

stikpusher

Yes, that kit is indeed a dressed up version of the late 1970s vintage pre merger Revell kit. That was one of several single seat WWII fighters that Revell released at that time. The others being a P-51D, Spitfire Mk.II, and the Me-109G10. The Mustang has been re issued as part of a combo twin set of "Reno Air Racers" by Revell Germany with the Monogram T-6, but not solo post merger. The Monogram 1/48 P-51D released around the same time was a much nicer kit and keeps getting re issued instead. But the Spit and 109 are still going strong in R/M boxings even today as they near age 40...

I never built any of Revell's 1/48 kits, back in the day, since I was a loyal Monogram kid.  I've picked up the P-51D, to build alongside the Monogram kit, and compare.  I like to see how they both chose to do things.

Sweet!! I built that about 30 years ago; it hung with pride over my bed until knocked down by a relative putting on a coat!!  Will be watching your progress closely!!

the Baron

stikpusher

Yes, that kit is indeed a dressed up version of the late 1970s vintage pre merger Revell kit. That was one of several single seat WWII fighters that Revell released at that time. The others being a P-51D, Spitfire Mk.II, and the Me-109G10. The Mustang has been re issued as part of a combo twin set of "Reno Air Racers" by Revell Germany with the Monogram T-6, but not solo post merger. The Monogram 1/48 P-51D released around the same time was a much nicer kit and keeps getting re issued instead. But the Spit and 109 are still going strong in R/M boxings even today as they near age 40...

I never built any of Revell's 1/48 kits, back in the day, since I was a loyal Monogram kid.  I've picked up the P-51D, to build alongside the Monogram kit, and compare.  I like to see how they both chose to do things.

The Monogram kit is much nicer. Sharper detail, more detail, etc. Not that the Revell Pony is bad, but the Monogram kit was one of their top of the line kits at the time that they were raising the bar and setting the standard in aircraft models.

Original release Revell P-51D

Original release Monogram P-51D

I have three of those gorgeous little ponies. Actually Stik, that is the Monogram re-release from 1985 in your picture. It was originally released in 1977 under a different box. I have the original release (bottom one)  that I bought in the late 70's at the long gone Orange Blossom Hobbies in Miami. The other two I have I bought at Toys R Us when they used to carry plastics back in the late  80's. The sticker on one sealed box says $3.50. These kits were fabulous and loaded with details like a partial engine, wing gun details, fantastic sharp detailed pilot figure, molded wheel bay details and a great cockpit.

All the LHS had was a P-39 yesterday, so I'll be doing it up in OD over NG.  Funny, I built the same kit for MM2.  I'm going to finish the DC-3 I almost have finished before starting the Airacobra.  Should have pictures by the middle of next week.

"Not that the Revell Pony is bad,"

I agree. It surprised me how good it was when I built one some time ago. Didn't have the features, but overall a competent kit.

I got some progress done on my Bearcat and F-4B-4 Biplane at Hobby Day Eve. Going back to do more at Hobby Day today. Pics forthcoming.

Ah PJ, that's right! I goofed on my image search for the box art. The original was the old simple white box with the photo of the built up kit. I should have looked in my stash, becuase I am pretty sure that I have the same original boxing, or perhaps a later re issue with the simplified painting.

CC, the P-39 is a tried and true classic. And OOB it has the parts on the sprues to do several versions: P-39D, P-39Q, P-400. Choices of: exhaust stacks, wing guns, nose cannon, etc. I am looking forward to it. I am in the same boat of trying to get another progress finished before I can kick off my MM build.

MV, I have the twin pack Reno Racers release of the P-51 in my stash. Found it for quite a low price at a LHS and wanted the T-6 mostly, so I snatched it up. I have several 48th scale P-51's in my stash, so one more was just a bonus. I have yet to build it, but when I examined the kit it looked decent enough to me. I think the only real change I will do is like to get a True Details seat in there with a harness. A simple addition like that works wonders for most any cockpit for just a few bucks.

Mark, that sounds great to me. have fun at Hobby Day. No AMPS for me today as I have some prior commitments. See you there next month, and at IPMS next week I do hope.

All its in my stash(10+) are all Revell with the exception of 2. After my F4U is complete I will simply have to pick another!

I decided on a black livery, gear up, and wings down!

Ah, the night fighter version... very nice!

Finally completed and assembled the cockpit

As I started to clean and fit the fuselage sides I discovered a small warp on the top. This being a NM finish requires as little filler as possible. Everything shows up under Alclad so I'm keeping putty out of this build. Notice the small step that would require substantial filler and feathering if the warp is not corrected.

I used a hair dryer to carefully heat the warped area and using my thumb, I was able to take out most of the warp. A Quick Grip Mini Bar Clamp was used to strategically add pressure to equalize the halve join in small sections using Tenax applied with a Touch N Flow applicator glued from the inside.

That took care of the warp.

The rest of the fuselage was glued with Tenax in sections to get an even join line requiring no filler and hopefully little sanding to get rid of the seam.

A preliminary fit of the cockpit looked good except for a small gap behind the radar screen.

So I broke out my Micro Mark punch set and matched the diameter of the part with the punch.

Punched out a disc from a junk mail plastic card we all get. I save those for scratch building.

And glued it with Tenax. Sanded it a bit to clean the sides.

I did a preliminary fit of the cockpit and the disc took care of the void. I'm letting everything dry and cure before I attach the cockpit and continue to work on the fuselage.

Wow ! Looking good. And this is why I joined this forum, I learn something new everytime I read the posts on here.

Looks great!

Nice recovery on those areas!

Hey PJ,

Great progress work on your Voodoo.  I'm in with B-One on this one: you learn something new every time you visit the forum!!! Will be watching your NMF with great interest as well.  I'm terrified of trying a NMF again because of my past mishaps.  Will be following your build closely!!

Thanks guys for dropping in and commenting. The one thing I like about this site is the techniques and knowledge we exchange to help us improve our builds. I learn something new every time I go thru this site.

TAD, don't be afraid of the NMF, it just takes a lot more care in prepping the surface for the Alclad! I'm not nervous one bit either, just think about it once in a while........

All kidding aside, I had to use some thick CA to fill in a thin valley along some parts of the top seam. And of course it had to be on the most visible area, it never fails. The area needs very careful sanding and polishing to make it look right. I'm trying not to destroy any raised details. 

I have this Revell Fokker DVII is was going to build so this might be the place for it.

Howdy folks! here's a small update. Things are going pretty well, I'm to the final stages of prep and then I can get serious about some paint. Woo hoo. The fit of this thing is incredible. Probably the only places it will need filler is at the upper wing roots. Monogram designed in some cleats to hang the thing by. One on each wing and one right in front of the vertical stabilizer. I'm thinking about leaving them so I can hang it.

68GT, that Fokker (oh that sounds borderline) is originally an Aurora mold, later obtained by Monogram when Aurora folded, and somehow making its way to the most recent Revell Germany boxing that you have. Under the rules of this GB, it qualifies, and I personally would love to see it built for here!

Darrin, that is excellent rapid progress! Especially for such a big beast! I look forward to seeing some paint on it soon!

Had no Idea the history of the mold.  I have a bunch more to build as time goes on.

Is the S.E. 5a an Aurora mold also?

Well, alright, I guess it's time to get into the game. Started the Monte Carlo stock car kit seen here. Glued the roll cage and some of the suspension together the other night, then spent the afternoon yesterday and today painting it up to finish it out. Still some brush paint detailing and assembly to go, and I might swap out the tires with some other preprinted ones to hurry it up. It's going to be pleasant weather (really low-80's) this week in good Ol' Dixie so I'm going to finish body prep in order to paint on Wednesday. Just some pics to verify that I'm actually working on it, there's nothing really special going on at this point, and a lot of the detail up stuff that I'd do isn't going to happen because of time restraints on my part. As far as "shake and bakes" go, these stock car kits are pretty much there:

68, yes, the SE5 is another former Aurora mold. That one would work nicely as well. Aurora had a very large WWI line, of which Monogram only released some. Among those were the two you posted already, a Fokker Dr.1, Sopwith Camel, Nieuport 11, Albatross D.V. Glencoe got many of the molds as well. And some, such as the Gotha and DeHaviland bombers have not been re issued since Aurora went under, and can fetch a high price online on eBay and such.

MV, you're making great progress so far! Keep it up!

Here is where I am at with my first build

I had to fill all these holes in the sides of all the sparrow missiles

Got the exhaust cans painted and mounted

scrounged up some wing tanks from a scrap f-15 I have in my boneyard for use on this build

Since the kit decals were a toasty shade of yellow I ordered some Missouri ANG decals from two bobs for use on this kit. Right now she is drying with a couple coats of future on her in preparation for decaling. 

Making some very rapid progress there B-1. Is there any particular reason you opted for those specific markings as a replacement for the kit decals?