Floats and Boats 2017- EXTENDED TO MID 2018

Looks like you are passed the worst of it. Now it will fly together. Looking forward to seeing it on floats.

BK

You're right Brandon, it sucks. Anyway, I fixed the engine and put it all back together. I'm grinding my way towards getting the seams up to scratch.

Cheers

Tony

Wow, you are far braver than me to rip that open. I would have gone "well, huh, that sucks" and moved on. I'm too lazy to tear one open after I've closed it up. But, in the end you will have a fine looking bird.

BK

Thats looking really good Brandon.

I thinkthat I mentioned that I stuffed an engine from an Airfix Wildcat into my Wildcatfish, as the Amodel engine was mediocre. After getting it all joined up I realised that when I added the cowl ring, the engine was situated too far back. The only solution was to bust it open, remove the engine, grind out the cowling as the fit was too tight to move it forward, then put it all back together.

I'm nearly there !

Cheers

Tony

Well, I am getting more and more done on the wheeled version. I must say that this one went together far easier than the other one. I actually enjoyed building this one. SO, with this up date I will bring you up to speed.

I have the plane mostly built. Just small bits to add. The paint work is done and decals are mostly done. I say mostly because one of my decal sheets has grown legs and I can't find it. I need the squadron insignia from it to complete the decalling. I will look hard this weekend and if it doesn't turn up I will wrap this up without it. Anyway, here are the latest shots.

BK

LA, thanks for the kind words. That one was a struggle.

BK

Hey Brandon,

Great finish on the Kingfisher. Love the colourful interwar schemes and you have pulled this one off really really well!

Nah, no worries, we can wait, it'll be worth it.

BK

Brandon, this kit is giving me some trouble. I stuffed the engine from an Airfix Wildcat into the cowling, as the kit one was terrible, but it still doesn't look right. I'm about to lever the cowling off it and re-work it, so I won't get it done by July 1, I think 'sometime in July' is more realistic. Feel free to close this  off as planned if you want to.

Cheers

Tony

taxtp

I'm still going with my 1/72 Wildcatfish

No worries. I thought you were done for some stupid reason. Carry on, Sir.

BK

Hey Brandon,

I'm still going with my 1/72 Wildcatfish, It's mostly built but I'm in the process of rescribing as the detail is dreadful. I'll make the effort t oknock it off by July 1 so that you can close this thing.

Regards

Tony

Are we waiting for anyone else to complete their kit? If so, let me know. Otherwise I will close this one out July 1.

BK

That's a very pretty aeroplane Brandon, I like it a lot. Very well executed build too, it's been a good one to watch.

Cheers

Tony

jgeratic

great job matching the reds with that of the dot on star insignia decal.

I accidentally found some time ago that the RLM red from Mr Hobby Color is a perfect match for those and now that is my go to red for insignias. Thanks for looking and the complements.

BK

hi Brandon, top quality work!

I like the colour scheme, and great job matching the reds with that of the dot on star insignia decal.

regards,

Jack

At this point I'm calling the float version done. This one fought me every step of the way. I could have done far better I feel, but in the end I think it is still far better than the kit was to start with. I hope you enjoy the pics. Parden the dust, I forgot to blow it off before the shots. This is what happens when you leave the kit on the desk while you work on another.

BK

Well, the float version KF is nearly done. I only have some small bits to complete and I'll post up the pics.

Meanwhile, I have been working on the wheeled verion and I am liking it a whole lot more than the first one. The cockpit in it is a Cutting Edge piece and you just can't find those anymore. It is super nice and I left everything nice and clean and crisp as the photo of this one I am working from is from the factory when it was just finished and preparing to ship off the the Virginia. I hand painted the instruments, there were no decals used. I'm pretty happy with the look.

BK

Brandon I really like that Kingfisher, the color scheme is looking fantastic!

Theuns nice job on the Rufe. Very clean piece of work there!

Looking terrific Brandon. I built a yellow wings version of that kit with wheels rather than floats back in the 90s. I didn't anywhere near as much work as you did.

Cheers

Tony

Well gents, I am slowly moving towards completion of the first KF. I have the paint work, for what its worth nearly done and decals are on. I have some small things to do but I am looking forward to putting this one out and being done with it.

BK

Nice job on the Tamiya Rufe Theuns, I haven't see that kit done for ages.

Cheers

Tony

Thuens, the Rufe turned out pretty sweet. I like it a lot. Well done and thanks for taking us along.

BK

Calling it dome, the kit was nice but the external detail is very basic.

Overall shape looks good. The acutual colour is a little more green thn in the pix, my cell doesnt reflect my IJN mix 100%

IMG_20180421_151007 by Theunis van Vuuren, on Flickr

IMG_20180421_150718 by Theunis van Vuuren, on Flickr

IMG_20180421_150844 by Theunis van Vuuren, on Flickr

Thanx for hosting

Theuns

Really nice Brandon, all of your improvements make a big difference. I love these 'yellow wings' schemes.

Cheers

Tony

I have the paint work mostly done. I had to pull the outer floats because decalling with them on is not happening and I tried painting the insignias, but the that was a disaster. So, I will use the decals now that the floats are out of the way. I have some touch up to do and some more details to add, then on to decals. I will post more as I make more progress.

BK

Jack, those products are the most commonly used. The main issues most of us have with decals not settling down are caused by a rough surface which causes silvering, or thicker decals that just won't/can't settle down into the finer details of some kits. Tamiya is one of those that have good decals, but they tend to be thick and thus you lose detail with them. There are stronger products out there but they come with drawbacks. They can melt decals and sometimes even harm the finish. Some of the aftermarket decal makers have very high quality products that settle down very nicely into detail. Most of the issues you have with losing details with decals is the decals themselves. I will sometimes use a knife to cut panels lines in on decals that won't settle down, but for rivits there just isn't much you can do. This loss of detail is the main reason you see some modelers paint the insignias on instead of using decals.

BK

I completed my Rufe over the weekend but need to wait for decent light outside to be able to take pix with my cell phone camera :-(

Will post as soon as I have done so.

Theuns