1945 GB

Thanks, Bish and Stick.  The paint is not without its issues,  trying to paint in the bars and chevron I had to adapt my masking technique, painting black and then masking for the white bar outside.   Despite my alignment marks, my first try came away looking like a flaming ball of dog poo.  The second try is coming along much better. I am hoping to get a layer of gloss on it before I leave for a months work Sunday.

modelcrazy, that hull is looking really nice.   Ships are something I have never taken a stab at, despite working on them for a living.  I look forward to seeing your progress.

This has been an extremely frustrating build and I would have been pulling my hair (If I had any) but I think I got it under control. It took me 4 putty sessions and 4 paintjobs (and removing them) to get it looking ok. Since the wings were puttied and sanded smooth then painted in aluminum lacquer, most of the panel line detail is gone. I shot the wings Tamiya Aluminum and the ailerons and flaps Floquil bright silver. The fuselage was also sprayed bright silver but I still have to tape up  a few fuselage panels and spray Floquil platinum mist for some panel color variation.

Alclad produces a better metallic effect but due to this being a putty monster, the Floquil does an adequate job.

I was commiserating yesterday on the inability to pay $40 + for a PE set for the Indy (almost the cost of the kit itself). Then I came upon an idea. I have a PE set for the 1/350 Arizona, which has been placed on the shelf for a while, which may just work. I wont have all the cool stuff, however the railings and cranes may work and I may be able to work up something for the radar out of them  .

I wasn't able to get any painting done. We are about the put the house on the market this Tuesday and are going to have pictures taken. Alas, I had to move my painting and mess out to the garage, where it will likely stay and I will probably work out of again (since the weather seems to be cooperating here in Boise. Sorry east coast guys). I need to do some reorganizing to set up operations out there again. If we ever sell this house and buy a new one, I will have a room of my own to build. It will be better than shuffling kits, paint and tools from the garage, paint booth and the wee little TV tray I currently work on.

What do you ever mean about us east coast guys. I'm in Connecticut it's a balmy 22 here now

Modelcrazy, have a look over at Tom Modelworks site. They have a few sets you can mix and match if you don't want to go all out. Railings, set 3501 is $11, US heavy cruiser set 3506, cranes, catapults, etc is $14.50, USN Radars is another $11... and if you use what you have there from the Arizona set and get what you need from Toms...

That's an interesting idea for a build panzer, look forward to that one.

That's looking nice PJ, glad you have stuck with it.

Thanks Bish.

MC

As stik pointed out Tom's Modelworks makes some really affordable sets. I just recently got a 1/350 Bismarck pe set to upgrade my 40 year old Tamiya model. It ran me about $16 at Scale Hobbyist and it has all the railings, radar details and tons of other things. I would not use that  set you have on another model as your Arizona sheet will then be incomplete.

Thanks guys, I'll do just that. I really didn't want to break up my Arizona set as I am going to complete that one day.

Off to a slow start!

the suspension fit is sloppy

PANZERJAGER

Well dog gone it, I went to Scale hobbyist and found 3 different generic sets, rails, radars, cranes, and I would come out to $41. So I bit the bullet and purchased the Eduard 53101 1/350 USS Indianapolis (CA-35) Detail-up Set for the Academy kit for the exact same price shipping included. The problem is its coming from Australia, so it may take a little while. Oh well, like I said in my earlier post, we need to finish getting the house ready and get the garage set up again anyway, but I can get some painting done.

If my wife finds out, it won't matter much anyway. By the way Jelliott523 knows where I live, so he can come get my models after she kills me.

No pun intended about your Tortoise's slow start there panzer?

MC, if she finds out, deny everything, demand proof, and make counter accusations ;) Then run like the devil!

Over the last few days, I got all of the markings I will be painting in finished off.  The port hakencruz took me three tries, but I got it done.  I also got a layer of gloss down and a pin wash.  Over the rlm 65 I did a mix of burnt umber and black, over the rlm 70 / 71 just plain black.  I'm happy to leave this as it is until I get home the 1st of April, at least my paint is protected.

I also got the cannons mounted, but they are delicate mounted on the photo etched components.  I think if I were to do this kit again, I would use the kit's styrene mounts instead of photo etch.

I wish you all happy building for the month, I'll progress more once I'm home.

Andrew

Stunning work. The paint and markings look fantabulous.

Looks fantastic, Andrew..will hold out for the finish on that excellent Stuka!

Really nice Andrew, hope your not going to leave us waiting to long.

Got my Dragon 1/32 Mustang on order from Squadron for $27 (sold out within 2 hours) I will continue with my old Monogram putty monster in the mean time. The Floquil paint can actually be polished out to a brighter sheen with an old cotton t-shirt. I shot some Aqua Gloss to seal up the finish as it has a tendency to pick up finger prints that have to be polished out.

Was planning on doing some decals last night but something came up shooting down that idea. I will try again later.

$27? No wonder it sold so quickly.

Afternoon all... I finally got caught up around the house ( for now) and can start my 1945 Build.

  In 1945, the war was beginning to wind down, Germany had surrendered, the Japanese were being driven back, and while still a ways to go, all was trending in the allies favor. Ford motor company, seeing this, with their war time production being cut back and orders being out right canceled, again began to look towards their pre war venture of building cars. Sometime around June of that year, Ford management and engineers set their sights on being the first motor company to release post war autos.  

 Having supplied the military with staff cars during the war, and being it took so long to design, engineer , and tool up a production line, the decision was made to work from the tooling they had been using during the war. Changes were made to adapt to the civilian buyer and with a few engine and interior changes , Ford began to produce cars again. It should be mentioned that the model years 45, 46,47, and 48, were identical except for the year of mfg cast into the glass of the tail light lens. This gave Ford the opportunity to totally redesign the 49 Ford which was completely different from suspension, interior, body style and power plant, along with an available automatic (2 speed) transmission.

  Well I'm sorry I got long winded, but here is my contribution to 1945...Thanks...

This is the 1/25 AMT 1946-1948 kit Not a bad looking kit and fairly well detailed.

All the engine parts for the 204 cid (I think) V8 flathead motor, which for the day was said to be able to maintain a 55 mph speed all day long, quite a feat for the time.

Here it is assy, not yet detailed, I'm trying to stay within the color and detail specs, per the build sheet and info I found on the internet.

And these are the frame parts all set to be cleaned and assy. That's as far as I've gotten so far. Thanks for looking...

Doug 

Doug. something different very cool

O yes, I forgot you were doing a civilian build Doug. Great to see it underway. Seeing as your kit is a 46-48 version, can we assume you will be making the required modification to the tail late

LOLOL... Yeah!

It's good to change build types and I don't mean switching from a prop plane to a jet. I love those old cars. The lines and style they had are just way too cool.

Just before I left the house, a light bulb went on.  I recall about 2 years ago a failed attempt at Italeri's / Tamiya's B2 stuka, and in my stash of bits, a pilot's canopy!  It fits like a dream, so problem sorted when I get home, I just have to clean, mask and paint it.

Here's where I'm at as I began to apply some of the decals.  I was very surprised that the old MicroScale decals that must be nearly 40 years old were still in excellent condition. I have admit that I'm pleased how it's coming out. The other two Monogram Mustangs will get built with the panels open next time to avoid the putty issue.

Nuice job Andrew. But don't forget the rear section is different. The B-2 had a single MG 15, the D/G's had the 81Z in a different mount. Maybe you can cut that bit off your kit canopy.

Your right to be pleased PJ, looking very nice.

Bish, I will keep the majority of the Hasegawa canopy, as the rear section slides easily, and just replace the pilot's canopy, as that is the only part with an interference  (it does not fit over top the section between pilot and gunner, yet the Italeri piece will).

Right, got you, sounds like a plan.

There has been a lot of nice stuff going on here!

I have had a lot of interruptions on my end but I finally got the suspension on this beast!

PANZERJAGER