Secret Santa GB 2016 !!!

Thanks BK....appreciate that.   Not claiming the badge, have way more integrity than that.  Would dishonor those that finished on time.

Mmmm, worth the wait!! NICE!!! I like that alot. Well done, Goldhammer. I'll add it to the front page.

BK

First off, I must apologize to my Santa.....I was doing well on the build then ran into paint issues and set it aside.  Looked at it everyday on the shelf of doom, but when I signed up for this years SSGB, I knew I had to get it finished before Christmas.

This is the Minicraft 1/144 B-52H done as a "what if", if "H's" would have gone to Vietnam.

Better way late than never, and I hope my Santa approves, again my apologies for taking so long to finish it.

Thanks all.  That was the first Eduard Fw 190 I've done.  I had some of the kit's bugaboos bite me during the build, namely the alignment of the landing gear and the fit/alignment of the nose gun panel.  All said it was a great kit with wonderful detail.  I also went and picked up their new tool A-4 version that is supposed to address those issues. 

Thanks for the comments on the engine.  I had originally planned to open up the nose to make it visible, but it just wasn't lined up properly for an opened-up display. 

Well done, Stu. That is one beautiful creation. Excellent paint and weathering all around. Impressive indeed. 

BK

Erika’s looking pretty sweet! I was admiring her tail pipes - nice work n the color there. I also thought the engine looked well used, good weathering and oil staining on the jugs (a little bmw speak there, they’re both german right ).

That turned out great Stu. There is some great engine and gun bay detail. 

Calling this one done.  Had fun with it!  

Untitled by Stu George, on Flickr

Untitled by Stu George, on Flickr

Untitled by Stu George, on Flickr

Untitled by Stu George, on Flickr

Untitled by Stu George, on Flickr

Untitled by Stu George, on Flickr

Untitled by Stu George, on Flickr

Thanks Pat, I’ll set it up with a realistic load for the diorama. Hopefully i will be painting water this weekend!

TheMongoose

Ok here’s a few in the moment shots of her all complete! Glam shots later once i finish the diorama I have going for the USS New York. 

Learned alot on this one.

Decks and verticals require much thought ahead of time. I ended up painting the deck again because i got the light gray on it while redoing some verticles.

... 

Hi,

Your build looks great.  One word of caution though.  An LCAC has a regular payload of 54mt (68 in overload) and as such really can only carry a single M1 at a time. 

Pat

Bummer about 2017.  I have really enjoyed doing this.  I wish I had the wherewithal to coordinate it.  I finally completed my Fw 190.  It had been on the 99% shelf since June, just needing the gun barrels replaced.  I took care of that over the weekend and will post some pics. 

Mongoose, wow, that is super cool. All those tiny parts really look the part now that it's all put together. I can't wait to see the dio. Excellent work.

As far as there being a SS '17, it doesn't look like I will have the time this year. I know it's pretty cool, but I am super busy and it would be something I just wouldn't be able to apply as much time to as I would like and you all deserver more than that. I would encourage anyone who wants to set one up to go for it. I have to step away this year as I have far too much on my plate.

BK

Hey BK, I had some time and reposted the pics from the build for me.  Don't remember which ones you used for the front, but I'm sure they are in the ones I posted.

So....will there be a Secret Santa 2017? 

Job well done!  I love those mini vehicles!

Is there going to be a Secret Santa 18?

Nicely done in that scale.  I wouldn't have any hair left anywhere, let alone on my head.

Patience is a virtue I'm told, just not one of mine.  Can't wait to see her afloat.

Ok here’s a few in the moment shots of her all complete! Glam shots later once i finish the diorama I have going for the USS New York. 

Learned alot on this one.

Decks and verticals require much thought ahead of time. I ended up painting the deck again because i got the light gray on it while redoing some verticles.

The carpet monster ate many many parts. These kits in 1/700 should be like that assembled furniture brand and include extras of anything small. Next project...repaint my workshop floor because even after i moved off the carpet to solve this problem I found it hard to find gray plastic on gray concrete maybe if i try that pantyhose over the vacuum hose trick i can find the anchor...

I can’t use tape on long runs of acrylic paints, even desticking it on my arm! I was able to repair the waterline but its visible, good thing I’m making this into a diorama

goldhammer

Well, due to other commitments, I'm not going to make the deadline, but will finish the paint repairs and get the engines and tanks hung on the BUFF, hopefully by the end of November.  Just in time to get in on this years Santa, if it repeats.

BK, my thanks for hosting us on this one this year.

 

BK

Well, due to other commitments, I'm not going to make the deadline, but will finish the paint repairs and get the engines and tanks hung on the BUFF, hopefully by the end of November.  Just in time to get in on this years Santa, if it repeats.

BK, my thanks for hosting us on this one this year.

TheMongoose

I’ll be cutting it close but I’m coming down the home stretch. My sea base is almost ready for paint...

 

BK

I’ll be cutting it close but I’m coming down the home stretch. My sea base is almost ready for paint...

Sooo, I was the nking those little air boats and such wont look right just sitting on the shelf. I went back FSM April 2016 and I'm following Chris Flodberg's article called sculpting rough seas. A quick trip to home depot got me the insulating board. I've roughed in the waves and a bow wave for the ship. I plan to include a beach as the landing zone. Next up off to the art store for the rest of the supplies. Will post pic once i figure out whats up with smugmug.

Man that ship is looking nice!  BTW... You can get the liquid tape in the electrical section next to the black electrical tape. 

Chad I've never heard of that. Will find some at the local home depot and try it out. I bought a new set of tweezers but still no luck so now on to a coating. Beginning to think it's just me haha

That is really looking the part now. You don't really get a true sense of the scale until you see those tiny aircraft next to it. Now that puts things in perspective. Looking very nice, Sir.

BK

Almost done! I had a problem with the valejo paint pulling off with the tape on the hull though. Fortunately it's almost all below the waterline. I may make a diorama out of it due to the number of small ships and helicopters that come with this kit. I'm really happy with how the camo turned out on the tanks and helicopters. I ended up repainting the upper decks with a brush due to overspray. You've probably guessed this has been a learning experience. I'm still missing 2 boats and a mast to the carpet monster haha

I have a dedicated pair of tweezers I dipped in liquid electric tape for this very reason.  Just dip the business end of the tweezers about 1" into the liquid and it makes a nice non-slip coating.  Works great!  That ship is coming along nicely!

Mongoose, your work is paying off. This one is starting to really look the part. The PE is really making a difference and small or not, it looks very cool.

As far as small bits go with tweezers I've found that getting tweezers with small teeth really helps me grip small bits without them snapping off into never seen again land.

BK