Second Annual USAF Vietnam Group Build

plasticjunkie

Some progress here. All the hardpoints received their loads and the bay doors went on. The extra hand gizmo comes in very handy holding parts at the correct angle. Those M31s look very cool in the bomb bay.

Nice work once again Plasticjunkie!      I agree with you, those bombs do look very cool!   

Ken

Some progress here. All the hardpoints received their loads and the bay doors went on. The extra hand gizmo comes in very handy holding parts at the correct angle. Those M31s look very cool in the bomb bay.

plasticjunkie

I went to my spares box looking for anything that looked like the body of the M31and found some left over parts from a completed armor kit that fit the bill. I used the tails from two M117's and glued them to the parts I found. Then went back to my scrap pe left over frets and using the Xuron shears, cut the pieces to make the semi circled tail fins that were glued on after being bent to shape over a drill bit. I used a diagram from one of the B-26K sites as a guide and it looks pretty close to the prototype.

The M31's were assembled as described above and ready for paint.

The completed cluster bombs

Got all the armament ready to be mounted.

These Nimrods could deliver a very impressive blow.

Hi Plasticjunkie,

Great work there on those cluster bombs!  And thank you for providing the details you used to make them!  You are showing a lot of heart and soul making this project.     

Ken

Thanks  for your comments Striker. and thanks for the link.

As a matter of fact, the Invader I'm modeling happens to be Major James E. Sizemore's aircraft, and there is an update to the crew's missing  bodies. I will cover that once she is completed.  

Hey, nice kit bashing and scratch building there on those M31s, PJ!  The Nimrods were like twin engine Sandies with all the ordinance they could carry. Your build is turning into one super fine and unique model!

BTW, here is a link to their history with the 609th SOS (my apologies PJ if you've already provided this link).

napoleon130.tripod.com/id119.html

Cheers,

Russ

I went to my spares box looking for anything that looked like the body of the M31and found some left over parts from a completed armor kit that fit the bill. I used the tails from two M117's and glued them to the parts I found. Then went back to my scrap pe left over frets and using the Xuron shears, cut the pieces to make the semi circled tail fins that were glued on after being bent to shape over a drill bit. I used a diagram from one of the B-26K sites as a guide and it looks pretty close to the prototype.

The M31's were assembled as described above and ready for paint.

The completed cluster bombs

Got all the armament ready to be mounted.

These Nimrods could deliver a very impressive blow.

Thanks Ken. No wash but I used a dark umber Prismacolor pencil to lightly trace the recessed details leaving just a hint of dark color.

I'm also scratching out some very early M31 Cluster Bombs, otherwise called Funny Bombs by the Nimrods. They  were loaded in the bomb bay and were very effective against trucks and other vehicles on the Ho Chi Minh Trail. I will post some pictures once the fins dry and both bombs are painted.

plasticjunkie

Some progress on my Invader. Got the huge props and under wing weapons sprayed. These Nimrods operated in darkness and had all of the under wing loads painted od or black.

Markings were very limited. TA 646 had nose art

Again I glossed up the tail for the lettering but it was apparent that silvering was going to ruin things. I carefully removed them while still wet and brushed on Future. The decals were then laid over the wet Future and another light coat was brushed on 3-4 minutes later. They dried overnight and they look painted on.

Wing walks in place

Now I will let the decals cure for a day or so and shoot some Alclad clear flat to kill the gloss.

Looking really nice there Plasticjunkie!  Fine job with the decals.  And it looks like you added some wash to bring out some detail.  It is coming along very good!     

Ken

Thanks  Striker!

Coming along nicely, PJ.  Looking good!

Some progress on my Invader. Got the huge props and under wing weapons sprayed. These Nimrods operated in darkness and had all of the under wing loads painted od or black.

Markings were very limited. TA 646 had nose art

Again I glossed up the tail for the lettering but it was apparent that silvering was going to ruin things. I carefully removed them while still wet and brushed on Future. The decals were then laid over the wet Future and another light coat was brushed on 3-4 minutes later. They dried overnight and they look painted on.

Wing walks in place

Now I will let the decals cure for a day or so and shoot some Alclad clear flat to kill the gloss.

Thanks TAD. These Nimrods did not have much in the way of markings except for the subdued tail codes. However, 646 (happens to be the one I'm modeling) had nose art on the starboard fuselage side above the nose wheel.

Plastic,

Looks like you nailed that SEA camo on your Invader.  Can't wait to see it all dressed out in its markings and ordinance!

TAD

I had forgotten how somewhat complex the SEA scheme is, specially in 1/72 scale but it's finally on the Invader. I still have to go back and retouch here and there but needed to take a break after about 2 hours of free hand air brushing. Most of the preshading was lost to the multi paint scheme but is still slightly visible.

Thanks Ken. Will have more pics shortly.

plasticjunkie

 

It has been a while since I posted. I did a little more work on my Invader and got her ready for paint. Sprayed the bottom black and did preshading. next will be the SEA scheme.

Hi Plasticjunkie,

The A-26K is looking great!  Nice work.     

Ken

Saw the comments about Hobby Lobby. They used to carry a decent selection back around 06 to 09 then they started getting rid of plastics. They used to carry several of the newer Tamiya and Trumpeter models along with a larger Revell line, including the 1/72  Type VII/C and Gato subs. The 40% coupon made a big dent on their price tag making it more affordable.

It has been a while since I posted. I did a little more work on my Invader and got her ready for paint. Sprayed the bottom black and did preshading. next will be the SEA scheme.

Nomad,

You may also want to look at eBay.  You can really find some great deals on there if you know what you are looking for.  There's always a good bunch of kits and detail kits readily available.  You can also look for 'model aircraft lot' items that include several kits in one auction.  I've gotten some really good deals on there, especially on out of production kits.  Check it out!!

TAD

I agree with you. I have ordered from Scale Hobbyist before and the service was outstanding. I am looking at Sprue Brothers for some detail sets, but I think I will go with Scale Hobbyist.

I will find something for this GB soon. That is if the wife will let me.

Doug

Nomad53

I was in Hobby Lobby and looking at your list when the T-Stick II caught my eye. I wish Hobby Lobby had a better selection of kits and changed them out also. tired of seeing the same old things all the time.

They had a F4 but it was not the ones on your list.

Doug

I agree with you Doug.  Hobby Lobby is the only local store that has any type of selection of plastic models in my town.  So I shop online for models.  Some of my favorites are Scale Hobbyist https://www.scalehobbyist.com/index.php and Sprue Brothers http://www.spruebrothers.com/ 

They are very reputable and trustworthy. 

Ken

I was in Hobby Lobby and looking at your list when the T-Stick II caught my eye. I wish Hobby Lobby had a better selection of kits and changed them out also. tired of seeing the same old things all the time.

They had a F4 but it was not the ones on your list.

Doug

Nomad53

Dangit,

Oh well. It was the only kit that I could get without ordering one.

Thanks anyway.

Doug

Very sorry to hear that Doug.  Did you look through the list I have on the first page of this build?  There is a surprisingly large amount of aircraft that do meet the criteria of this build.

Ken

Dangit,

Oh well. It was the only kit that I could get without ordering one.

Thanks anyway.

Doug

Nomad53

Will a F-105D T-STICK II work?

Hi Nomad,

Sorry, although the first Thunderstick II aircraft flew in 1969, they were never used in Vietnam.

Ken

Hi, Ken,

Those are some great items! I'm going to order the sanding bits for sure, but unfortunately, the Grex hand grips won't fit my Passche airbrush.

Thanks for posting the links!

Russ

Hi again,

Another item to put on your wish list would be the Grex Airbrush Grip Set.  It fits most brands of airbrushes, (see the compatibility chart on their webpage).  It makes your airbrush much more ergonomic.

Here is a link to a review:

http://www.cybermodeler.com/hobby/tools/grex/tool_grex_ggs1.shtml 

I found it available at Sprue Brothers as well as Amazon.

Ken

Hi Everyone,

I just found a really cool set of tools that I definitely want to ask Santa for!    It is the "Molding Flash Sander" by "Hobby Elements".  It is a set of sanding bits that fit your Dremel or other rotary tools.  From the description, it is a great time saver.  Here is a link to a review:

http://www.cybermodeler.com/hobby/tools/he/tool_he_7001.shtml 

Ken

Hi Everyone,

Found another interesting piece of helpful information that would be very useful to use as a reference.  There is a new book called "F-105 Thunderchief MiG Killers of the Vietnam War" by Peter E. Davies and produced by Osprey.

As I am sure most of you know, the F-105 was used extensively during the Vietnam War as a bomber.  It was not known for being a dogfighter.  This book depicts the many MiG kills that the F-105 performed.  A cool build for a F-105 in my opinion!

Here is a link to the Amazon website:

http://www.amazon.com/Thunderchief-Killers-Vietnam-Combat-Aircraft/dp/1782008047/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1418589707&sr=8-1&keywords=f-105+thunderchief+mig+killers+of+the+vietnam+war&pebp=1418589718291 

Ken