Stereo build! Love it PJ. Great idea and great progress. Yeah, those Mono kits are not too bad, eh?

BK, please throw my name in for a stereo build. What the heck is a stereo build? I'll be working on two 1/48 old Monogram F-4J's. One will be in USMC VMF-235 "Death Angels" markings and the other in Navy VF-84 "Jolly Rogers" clothing. 

These old Monograms have really nice pits. All they need is some paint. The rear pit was corrected for the Navy version.

The IPs are also very good

Working on the fuselages now. I have to sand off the USAF refueling door on the spine and scribe the Navy refueing door by the right side of the pit.

That's it for now.

Have come across a little isssue I haven't quite decided which way to go.  The kit has parts for external mirrors on the WSO (rear) canopy.  I have seen pics of 67-463 in both configurations, with the left and right ouside mirros (but not the top one) and clean.  Pics show the stars on the intake ramp as well.  Figure that they were either fairly quickly removable depending on the WSO's preference, or she had a conopy change.

Theuns: She's looking good!

GH: Sounds cool, looking forward to some photos! 

GH, great progress thus far. You really are pushing me to get me F4 started. So many kits, so little time.

Thuens, the interior looks great and I don't blame you on the change of heart. Sometimes those super detailed jobs can be a real motivation killer. At least for me.

BK

Yup, that works.

I decided to rather put " padding" on the inside of the cabin. All the pipes, lines and wires in small scale might look to cluttered.

Just finished spraying the insides of the trunks and intakes/ramps white.  Now can get the ramps on and button up the fuselage and get the bottom on.  Starting to see some headway, but know it won't last long.  I see more filling and sanding in my future.  Pics as I button up the fuselage and the lower wing.

Hey GH, looks good! I know what you mean, it's friggin' impossible to get behind there if you don't pre-paint them. 

Got the ramps painted on the back sides along with the fuselage behind the,  You can also see the engine noses for the intake trunks and the cans and rear of the engines.  Still have to mask and get the trunks painted white.  Burner tubes and engine rears are together now as well.

I'm really looking forward to getting my F4 started, but I must get my two P-40's out of the way and off the bench first. So many kits, so little time...

BK

I got to have them big, otherwise the ten thumbs get all discombobulated, and I end up reverting to childhood building, but only with a lot of adult language tossed in.....come to think about it, lot of that anyway.  But nobody around to hear it or complain, except Jack, and he is looking for his buddies, ice and a Coke, to hang out with.

Oh wow, guess I missed the 1/32nd part! That is gonna be impressive! 

Yes, right at 24 inches overall, and I also have the old Revell RF4C and F4E kits along with the new F4G they came out with. (kind of a Phantom nut), all in 1/32.  Also just got the hasegawa F4G in 1/48 from another member here.

Once I get the trunks painted and the ramps on I'll post a couple of more pics as the the back end of the engines, tail and bottom come together.  Glue and screw.

goldhammer

 

Not worthy of any pics yet but have the intake trunks in and filled/sanded/primed as well as the ramps and forward part of the intakes.  Primed a little of the fuselage to paint behind the ramps before they go on.  Got to get the exterior paint tonight when I go to town, or if he doesn't have it, Sunday when I go to Salem to work on a bud's car resto project.  Thought I had it already in either MM or Tamiya, but can't lay hands on it right now.  Pit is installed and pretty much hid everything I did on it-lol. 

 

Art

 

Art,

I'm looking forward to seeing some pictures!

Edit: I started thinking about it, and a 1/32 F-4 must be massive! Must be at least 20" long? I'm really looking forward to the pictures!

Max,

Thanks for the compliment! The WIP for this one is so small that I didn't bother to make another thread for it. But, I will post the finished pictures! 

You should think about joining one of these GB, they can be a lot of fun. I'm going to build Rossi's '09 MotoGP Championship winning motorcycle for another GB.

Hey Bruce , I almost missed the drone. Looking good! I hadn't been following the group build.

Max

Bish, GH, Rob,

Thank you for the compliments! GH, you are right, the build goes much faster without an office to pretty up! 

Not much more progress other than the rear landing gear are complete and awaiting paint. 

Very cool Bruce...I've got to add one of these to my collection!

Bruce, nice start on the drone.

Bruce, nice progress on the drone.  Nice that you don't have a pit to have to pretty up.

Not worthy of any pics yet but have the intake trunks in and filled/sanded/primed as well as the ramps and forward part of the intakes.  Primed a little of the fuselage to paint behind the ramps before they go on.  Got to get the exterior paint tonight when I go to town, or if he doesn't have it, Sunday when I go to Salem to work on a bud's car resto project.  Thought I had it already in either MM or Tamiya, but can't lay hands on it right now.  Pit is installed and pretty much hid everything I did on it-lol. 

Art

BrandonK, Cliff,

Thanks for the nice comments! Hope to have more progress pictures posted in the next couple days.

Theuns: That's some incredible interior detailing there! 

Bruce: Great job pre-shading!

HF, that looks amazing. Such rapid progress too. I love how those look. Sleek and sinister all in one.

BK

Gentleman,

I've started the MQ-1. First I sprayed the electronics pod with Alclad Clear Blue for the lenses, then masked with tape and masking solution. The masking solution did not perform well so I'll have some detail painting later.

Once it was masked, I shot MM Dark Ghost Grey for the pod, masked, then completed the assembly of the aircraft. Then I primed and pre-shaded with MM Gunship grey. 

I used gunship grey because I wanted the panel lines to be hightlighted very subtle. But, I broke my wrist 4 years ago, and I had a difficult time making straight lines. Also, I could have gone with a bit lighter shade of grey for the pre-shade.

I then sprayed the aircraft MM Light Ghost Grey overall. I will spray a second light coat to tone down the pre-shade a touch more. My goal is to very gently show the panel lines. All the pictures I've seen of the MQ-1 have been very clean. I know it won't be accurate, but I want the panel lines to be visble enough to know they are there. 

I'm letting it cure overnight, and shoot more Light Ghost Grey tomorrow, then mask off the gear bays for a coat of flat black. Then gloass coat for the decals.

Thanks for looking, all comments and critiques are welcome.

Thuens, maximum effort on that helo. It's going to be a killer build; I can see that already. I love the work you guys are doing as it pushes me forward. Keep it up.

BK

I plan to have the starbord door aswell as the ramp open.

Theuns

Lookin' good Theuns!

Theuns,

Your interior is really coming together. I hope you can open a side door so it can be seen, once the fuselage is glue together.

That is a very good looking F-18 :-)

The total lack of cabin detail in this Italeri MH-53 was rather dissapointing to I added the sidewall detail, will still add all the wire harnasses and piping.

I also had to make the seats from plastic card I heat formed. Still need to make the posts that hold them up.

The rear seats will be in the up posution to add some "feel" to it.