Battle of Midway Group Build, 3 June, 2017 - 7 June, 2018

Top work Dwayne, great finish and build in general.

I think you have done a cracking job on that Dwayne, really nicely done.

Very nice, Dwayne.

Hi,

I know it’s late, but I am currently building a 1/48 scale Accurate Miniatures TBM-1C Avenger. I know the Avenger was at Midway, but I am currently building George Bush’s plane from September 1944. Not sure if that would disqualify it but if not I would like to join the build.

Thanks!

George

Thanks Check. 

If you showed me this plane 2 years ago before I got back into building, and said, "you will build this", I would have said there is no way I could do that good a job.  

This is a great-looking Wildcat, Dwayne.  I think your weathering is very convincing!  Despite the problems you faced, you overcame them and produced an excellent tribute.

I'll add that first photo to the finish-build roster.

Thanks for being part of the GB!  

After much ado, the Wildcat is finally done.  Tried to figure out why it took me so long, and then I remembered my back went out, so I lost a couple of months, then the original kit I planned to build turned out to be a dud.

So here are the pics:

IMG_0789 by Dwayne Munk, on Flickr

IMG_0790 by Dwayne Munk, on Flickr

IMG_0792 by Dwayne Munk, on Flickr

IMG_0793 by Dwayne Munk, on Flickr

IMG_0796 by Dwayne Munk, on Flickr

IMG_0798 by Dwayne Munk, on Flickr

The last picture is after some drybrusing of the tires to pull out the pattern.  The bottom is intentionally dirtier than the top due to the pictures I have seen of the F4F tended to have a lot of dirt right behind the landing gear. 

Overall, I think is the best I can do with my current skills.  There are several issues I wish I could to better with, and hope to improve.  The canopy masking is far from perfect, although better than what I have done in the past.  The decals caused me problems, and this is a skill I definitely need to work on.  This was a fantastic kit, and I really did enjoy building it.

The markings are for Jimmy Thach at the battle of Midway, and I did my best to bring justice to his plane.  He was not impressed with the F4F-4, and stated the "improvements" over the -3 mainly amounted to more weight, and a more sluggish aircraft.  He felt the extra machine guns were not an improvement, as they provided less actual firing time, and added weight.  I read somewhere he said that if you can't hit an enemy plane with four guns, you probably won't hit them with six.

Check, I like the top picture for the first page.  Thank you very much for hosting this group build!

taxtp

Looks good to me Dwayne. I've been known to clear coat over decals then sand off the wrinkles and touch up with paint. Not sure if you need to go to that length though. I'ts not noticeable to me in your photos.

Cheers

Tony

 

I think I will look into painting masks for national insignia.  I have seen several folks on the site use them, and you can't argue with the results, although this will require learning how to use them proprerly.   I think it will be worth the effort.

Thanks for the kind words.  It is very much appreciated.  My work is getting better, due largely to what I am learning on the forum.

crown r n7

Dwayne the wildcat looks great the decals are the ones from the kit?

 

Looks good to me Dwayne. I've been known to clear coat over decals then sand off the wrinkles and touch up with paint. Not sure if you need to go to that length though. I'ts not noticeable to me in your photos.

Cheers

Tony

Dwayne the wildcat looks great the decals are the ones from the kit?

I agree.  There are issues that just seem to resist fixing the way we'd like things to turn out.  I've had decals that present the same issues you're experiencing.

But the Wildcat still looks great, Dwayne.

Thanks Check and Scott.  Don't know if you can, but on my computer, I can get a zoom in on the pics.  The fuselage decals look OK zoomed out, but if you zoom in, you can see why I am not totally happy.  I think one more round of decal solvent, then I need to move on.  Sometimes you just have to say, this is the best I can do. 

Scott, I have gone back and forth on the panel line enhancement.  I think some ehnancement is just that, an enhancement to the model, but I think it can be overdone.  At this point, I am planning a light overall wash to simulate dirt and some panel enhancement.  I want it to be subtle.  Still learning these techniques, so we will see how it comes out.

Thanks for the look and the kind comments.

Nice work Dman, are you planning any type of wash to enhance the panel lines or just keep it as is?  Either way, it will look good.  

Despite the issues, this is coming along great, Dwayne.  Very nice work painting and decaling!  I like those colors.

The decals are finally on the Wildcat.  Here are some pics:

IMG_0752 by Dwayne Munk, on Flickr

IMG_0753 by Dwayne Munk, on Flickr

IMG_0754 by Dwayne Munk, on Flickr

IMG_0755 by Dwayne Munk, on Flickr

Most of the decals went on just fine, but the national insignia on either side of the fuselage gave me some trouble.  The decals were great on flat surfaces, but did not like curves.  Multiple coats of solvaset have eased them down, and finally taken care of the bubbles, but I have some slight wrinkling and a couple of touch up areas due to not having patience.  I think the final coat is on tonight, so I can finally seal with a clear coat and weather.  Prop and landing gear are ready, so I think I am close to being done.

Anyway, thanks for looking.

The latest incident at postimage eliminated the GB badge and finished photos; probably more besides.  I've reposted the badge and the finished photos.

If I've made any mistakes, please post and let me know.

Sorry for the inconvenience!

Looking forward to seeing it come together, Dwayne!  

checkmateking02

Dwayne:

I've built a couple of Wildcats, but in 1/72.  In fact, I'm starting in on Academy's F4F-4 for this GB.

So I don't know how the landing gear attaches with your kit.  Getting it level has been a concern for me, when I built the Wildcats.  I could suggest a slow-setting cement/glue of some kind.  That will give you time to move things around until you get them level.  I usually use a CA glue for this kind of thing.

You might be able to apply glue to the landing gear, set the plane on it, then brace the wings with some supports to hold everything in place till the glue sets up.  Some times, I've found it helpful to use a protractor to help align things.

Whatever you end up doing, hope it goes well.

 

Dwayne:

I've built a couple of Wildcats, but in 1/72.  In fact, I'm starting in on Academy's F4F-4 for this GB.

So I don't know how the landing gear attaches with your kit.  Getting it level has been a concern for me, when I built the Wildcats.  I could suggest a slow-setting cement/glue of some kind.  That will give you time to move things around until you get them level.  I usually use a CA glue for this kind of thing.

You might be able to apply glue to the landing gear, set the plane on it, then brace the wings with some supports to hold everything in place till the glue sets up.  Some times, I've found it helpful to use a protractor to help align things.

Whatever you end up doing, hope it goes well.

Thanks Nick, Check & Bish.  I will give the paint all the credit.  It works for me.

Hope to start the decals this week.  Test fitted the landing gear, and am a little concerned about getting it level.  Messing that up would be a big disappointment.

But that is getting ahead of myself.  Need to weather before landing gear goes on, as I don't want it to break while handling the plane.  Fussing in my head a bit about the panel lines.  My personal preference is for them to be subtle.  Subtle has not been in my skill set so far.   

Hope to have some pics with the decals on by the end of the weekend.

Thanks for the support!  Starting to think I can actually get this done by the deadline. 

Coming on nicely Dwayne, look forward to seeing the decals on.

That's very good paintwork, Dwayne.  Turned out very smooth.  Nice job!

And you are right about the black strips.  

thats one fine paint job.

Just a quick update.  I touched up the blue-gray where it meets the wing.  I was looking for a semi-circle, and was able to get it.  A little exaggerated from the real thing, but I like the result.  Two layers of Pledge Multi-Surface on, so nice and glossy now.  Going to give it two full days to dry before decals.

IMG_0747 by Dwayne Munk, on Flickr

IMG_0748 by Dwayne Munk, on Flickr

I masked and painted the black strips on the wings.  The decal set came with decals for the strips, but I think painting is actually easier, and looks better.

Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe this was a non-skid strip to keep the pilots from sliding off the wing when getting into the cockpit.  Makes sense.  Losing a pilot to injury because they slid off the wing would be rather embarassing.

Hope to have updated photos with decals soon.  While I wait for the gloss coat to dry, I can tackle the landing gear and prop. 

damouav

Mate, it would be remiss of me not to mention my experiences. Great to hear your going strong with it and havent had similar, questionable outcomes with it's use.

 

 

O deffinetly. Before i fully commit to switching to it, going to try some on an armour build and do a couple more aircraft just to be sure.

Mate, it would be remiss of me not to mention my experiences. Great to hear your going strong with it and havent had similar, questionable outcomes with it's use.

damo, i saw someone else mention that about coverage. But on my 32nd Ju 87 i had no issues. I primed in black and used less than half a bottle of light blue on the underside. I was rather pleased with it. I know its more costly then the enamels, but given what i waste, i am not to worried.

I think there Aqua colours are mainly for touch up's and at the moment have only been released in a small number of colours.

Bish

 

 

checkmateking02

Hadn't heard that, Bish.  May have to give 'em a go.  Every now and then, some paint I'd like is only available in acrylics.

 

 

 

 

I'm planning on switching over to Mr Paint for the majority of my subjects. main reason is because i like adding oil washes and am haveing problems with it efefcting the enamels. Alos, the amount of paint i lose from tins going funny i think it will save me money in the long run.

 

Just a word of caution on the MRP paints, the laquer based are brilliant to use, they provide a silk like finish. I had my AB set at between 10 - 15psi, no thinning required and just shoot. But the caution comes to coverage per bottle, I found it required allot to get the depth of colour required, using almost 1 1/2 bottles on my Coraisr F4U build. And even after it had a good 2 weeks to dry, the MRP gloss still caused the MRP paint to wripple on two different builds. Will be going back to Testor Dull/Gloss coat.

I am aware that MRP has a new range of Aqua paints, which I am keen to try out.

Dwayne, thats looking great, the results of the masking looks well done in those pics.