Aces Group Build

Here is Moonbeam so far. I added the decals and beginning the weathering. I still need to add some more oil wash and some pastels, but I wanted to put up an update.

Well Steve, that just looks AWESOME !! I just don't have words any better than that. Great job.

BK

Great Job Steve. Which Pic do you want for the front page?

#1 or #2, your choice, although in my zeal to get finished I forgot to paint the prop tips! Error corrected now.

modelcrazy

#1 or #2, your choice, although in my zeal to get finished I forgot to paint the prop tips! Error corrected now.

 

That will still work Steve. It can be: There doing mainenance on it and they just installed a new propeller on it and don't have it completed (painted) yet

OK, that works. 

Hey MC,

Moonbeam came out so very well. I may need to ask for pointers as I put together my display.I have got back to my Aces build, after knocking off a few other builds.

So I completed a 109 for that GB; it is the starting point for this GB:

I have also been hacking away at figures to give atmosphere to the final diorama. They are modified 1/48 Afrika Korps, Generals and British troops. Some are close to done, most are a way to go. I have used Milliput white (for the first time ever) to extend Monty's jumper to one that Gibbes wore. Also playing with it for hats bags, rags, etc.

So I will keep at it, learning as I go...

So there has been a bit more work done on both figures and plane:

Progressed with some more work on the faces and uniforms.

By now they are looking nearly done; a few with the flat heads are going to get hats.

The plane was roughly masked and the first colour patches of Azure blue applied

So getting there, more to come, hopefully done by 20th March.

modelcrazy

I completed Moonbeam McSwine. She sits receiving some maintenance, while Bill Wisner, his crew chief and another pilot from the 352^nd are in discussion. The Tamiya kit was an exceptional kit that lends itself to an enormous amount of detail. This build was dragging on some though and I just wanted to get it past the finish line.
Comments and critique’s welcome.

 

Steve

 

 

 

WOW STEVE....IT IS COMPLETELY AWESOME! BRAVO SIR, BRAVO 

WELL DONE SIR

lostagain

So there has been a bit more work done on both figures and plane:

Progressed with some more work on the faces and uniforms.

By now they are looking nearly done; a few with the flat heads are going to get hats.

The plane was roughly masked and the first colour patches of Azure blue applied

So getting there, more to come, hopefully done by 20th March.

 

Lostagain - 

Your build is looking great....I will be watching so I can see how awesome it's going to look. 

Thanks for the kind words Hunter.

Definitely not finished by the end date but there's nothing unusual in that. My excuse is the end date was the better half's birthday...

So I got to the topside overpainting, covering over the national and tactical markings. I was happy with the contrast acheived.

Next came a gloss coat for the decals - at which point the contrast disappeared. I am sure it will return with the flat coat. Decals went on. They are a mix of 1/72 Matchbox roundels from P51 and Hawker Hunter kits, and codes from the Aussie decals 1/48 kit for 1/48 P40s.

Last decal on was the fin flash - unusual in that it was installed so the flash was vertical when the plane was at rest. So to acheive this, the gear was shoved on for the set up:

So I thought it was looking good; let's get the flat coat on! Did that, what a bugger, it has come out all chalky, which is going to take a bit of work to sort out.

In the meantime, started the layout of the vignette, here's the first pass:

So not sure on completion date, but work will continue...

So the chalky finish was really bad, with white deposits everywhere. washing the model didn't do anything. Next issue for me was the underwing roundels, which broke up when some masking tapewas removed. At this point I ripped off the rest of the under roundels, then the whole model got a good strong rub down with 2400 grit.

What it looks like without roundels...

Then another overall gloss coat before the flat coat:

Fortunately the flat coat was good so I could get back to sticking back on everything I had broken off in the conversion, and set up the vignette. This is it partly rougned out with a few of the converted figures getting tested:

There are small patches of grass and a few other items to relieve the colours of the base a bit. So a few more finishing items on the Bf109, then positioning the figures and we are done...

Sorry Lost again. I got lost lol

when I first seen your pictures here, I thought you were going to say it was finished.

Anyhow, it looks good

I'll be back in regularly from now on. I let things get to me too much and get discouraged. I have depression, but not to the extent of harming myself or others.

I know this is unusual to say this, but I don't care who lknows it. It doesn't matter what others think.

Hi Ken,

It has just been finished for Anzac day. I will do a couple of posts to show the finished product and the plane's history.

As to your depression, it is good that you can talk about it and I hope you are getting the care and support you need.

Piers

lostagain

Hi Ken,

It has just been finished for Anzac day. I will do a couple of posts to show the finished product and the plane's history.

As to your depression, it is good that you can talk about it and I hope you are getting the care and support you need.

Piers

 

Thank you Piers, I'll watch for your finished pics

Some people don't think its a physical ailment. A neighbor said well snap out of it.

I just let it drop, and yes, I'm on meds for it and I see a psyhcalogist every  couple of weeks.

Its harder in winter time becsause you don't have as much sun. Sun light actually does help depressionm

The model and vignette were completed, suitably, for Anzac Day.

There are six figures all modified Tamiya 1/48 figures from their Generals, Afrika Korps and British WWII  sets. Five figures were set up as spectators and two photographers. Uniforms were made up a bit randomly to look like RAAF desert uniforms, mechanics overalls and a service photographer.

Next was the completed Bf 109 G2 in Bobby Gibbes' markings:

The underwing roundels stayed on the second time and you can see the crosses and theatre markings covered by azure blue:

In place on the base, the figures are alll standing around as the CO gets his photo taken with 'his' 109.

Hasn't come across to well, but the bloke in shorts is holding a captured german flag. That, along with the bags, rags and slouch hats were made from Milliput white. Gibbes' figure was made up from a Monty figure from the General's set.

And from the other side. Still annoyed the contrast of the Mid Stone over the german marking was lost as soon as the gloss coat went on...

And I just like this angle...

And from above:

Next post will show the history behind this model.

Thanks for looking

Thanks to Ken for hosting the group - a great subject choice and some outstanding builds.

Bobby Gibbes and his Bf 109 G2 Trop

In Libya in 1943, Australians from 3 Squadron RAAF 'captured' a Bf 109 "Black 6"

Which I made up for the Bf 109 GB:

Bobby Gibbes as Squadron CO, had the markings redone as his personal aircraft:

And had his photo taken with it:

Which is where the inspiration came for making this model:

The plane went full circle and ended up in the IWM Duxford Collection.

Thanks for watching

Piers

Great work Piers,

The similarity to the photo is outstanding. The desert base looks great.

Piers, I have to agree with Steve,

Great job on this subject! Your figure of Bobby Gibbes is spot on! I really like this story.

Yes I agree great job Piers. this is way more than I expected anyone to do. Let m,e know which pic you wanrt for the front page asnd I'll have it up asap.

Thanks Ken

The moment I saw that photo a few years ago, I was always going to build a 109 in Gibbes' markings. Then there was your call for the Aces GB. Then the LHS had a special on 1/48 Hasegawa kits including the 109 G2 Trop.

Given that the original picture inspired me, please use the photo taken from the same angle.

MC and Bruce thanks for the kind words, I was happy with my first base and figure modification.

Ken, thanks very much for hosting the Group Build it has been good fun and a great choice of subject.

Piers

Can do Piers, It should be up in a day or 2

Piers, I'm glad I was able to inspire your long awaited build. It's posted

ps I copied the image from your photo bucket, so if you change it, it will disappear from here. I'm still getting used to windows 10

Thanks Ken

I haven't been brave enough to try Windows10 yet. Good luck.

Piers