Monogram Mafia IV Group Build

stikpusher

DD, I don't know exactly how many of those Monogram TBD's that I've built since it was first released, but I always do remember a "loose" fit of the wings to the fuselage. The last one that I built 5 years ago, was an original boxing, and it still had the gaps at the wing roots. I made shims from strip styrene to fill the gaps there. And needle files to clean up the leading edge wing seams between the corrugations.

Yep, that's what was I planning on doing, too. Luckily, I have lots of sheet styrene, but it's all .005 & .010 inch, so I'll probably hafta glue a few pieces together to get the right thickness. Wasn't expecting that large of a gap anywhere on the wings. But, the root gaps seem to be parallel longitudinally and laterally, so filling them with sheet styrene should work out ok.

As far as needle files, I have quite a few, but none seem to be thin enough to do what I need to do. Might need to look for some smaller/thinner files.

Found the seats on my bench. Guess they fell out while I was flipping it over taking the pictures. Luckily, they're relatively large and green, so they would show up well against the carpet if they would've made it that far down.

CB, youre welcome for the pilot paint guide.

DD, I don't know exactly how many of those Monogram TBD's that I've built since it was first released, but I always do remember a "loose" fit of the wings to the fuselage. The last one that I built 5 years ago, was an original boxing, and it still had the gaps at the wing roots. I made shims from strip styrene to fill the gaps there. And needle files to clean up the leading edge wing seams between the corrugations.

putting those seats that fell out back in place should not be too hard as long as you still have the parts...

plasticjunkie

This is where I'm at and stopped cold due to Irma. Thank God I had no damage just a lot of junk outside to clean up. 

RLM 70/71 topside was applied.

RLM65 and 04 bands

Prop blurs got sprayed but need more tweeking.

The base is done.

Next will be decals and mounting the prop blurs to the hubs, adding the crew and guns. 

 

Lookin' awesome, plasticjunkie! 

And hey, I tried that webpage refresh, and, sure enough, it worked. Thanks for the hint.

Gary

modelcrazy

I haven't accomplished much since my last post but here I am on both kits. The P-40 is ready for primer and the 57 engine is ready for orange.

 

Lookin' good, modelcrazy! I tried building that P-40 for my wife a few years ago (she likes the sharkmouth on it), and gave up on it. I eventually built the Hasegawa version for her. But, anyone who can tame that kit, my hat's off to ya!!

Gary

Crap!! I just noticed in the pictures that both the pilot's seat and the rear gunner's seat have fallen out. They both must've decided to eject before it got worse.....

Update to the Douglas TBD-1 Devastator:

Lots of huge (or YUGE) gaps where the wing fits to the fuselage everywhere. Looks like I'm gonna be keeping Evergreen in business with this build:

I don't remember gaps like that when I built this kit many, many years ago as a teen; or, maybe I didn't really care about the gaps when I was a teen.....

I noticed all of this by first test fitting, and, after examining everything before applying glue (good ol' Testors non-toxic tube glue!), I figured the best approach would be to keep the wing corugation lined up (misalignment of those would be the hardest to fix), and fill any gaps with sheet styrene and putty. Looks like the starboard wing shifted on me a bit while holding it together while the glue set. Oh well - better luck next time.

I also didn't notice that I was supposed to attach the tail hook before cementing the fuselage halves together. Dang It!!  I do have a good excuse for that, though - I just had cataract surgery a few weeks ago (really), so I'll blame it that. Yeah, that's the ticket.....

I was hoping to be applying some external paint this weekend, but it now looks as though I'll be filling, sanding, puttying, sanding, priming, looking for gaps, filling, sanding, etc., etc.........

This is turning out to be more fun than I thought......

Hope the other builds are going well for you guys!! 

stikpusher

Here's a good guide

 

Hey thanks stik. That's just what I need!

I haven't accomplished much since my last post but here I am on both kits. The P-40 is ready for primer and the 57 engine is ready for orange.

Thanks stik and Steve. I was having Hurricane Andrew flashbacks with Irma. The eye came within 30 miles west of us and being on the NE quadrant of the storm made things uglier specially the tornado alerts.

Tonight is the first time I have been able to sit down at the bench. Decals will be next on the Dornier.

Thank God Maria will miss us. I feel very bad for the folks in PR and the affected islands. It looks like an A bomb blast in those places.

Stik

Yes the base is from HL. I grabbed it on sale a long time ago for a few cents.

Looks great PJ, and I'm so glad you didn't have any damage.

Looking good! It's also good to hear that you're back at the bench so quickly after Irma.

Did that base come from Hobby Lobby? It looks the same as some I've bought there.

This is where I'm at and stopped cold due to Irma. Thank God I had no damage just a lot of junk outside to clean up. 

RLM 70/71 topside was applied.

RLM65 and 04 bands

Prop blurs got sprayed but need more tweeking.

The base is done.

Next will be decals and mounting the prop blurs to the hubs, adding the crew and guns. 

Here's a good guide

Luftwaffe Blue uniform, dark brown boots and jacket, brown leather helmet and gloves, yellow Mae West, tan chute straps, silver buckles.

Vallejo makes a ferfect matching Luftwaffe Blue uniform color.

cbaltrin

Ich fühle mich nackt - malen mich!

 Cleaned up an primed with Mr Surfacer 1500

No idea how to paint this guy? 1943 fw190 driver

 

Hmmmmm...... Maybe some paint and a brush?   Just joshin' ya! I couldn't tell you at all how to paint one, as I'm so bad at it, I don't even attempt to paint them. That Fw-190 is looking darned good, though. Looking forward to the seeing the finished product.

cbaltrin

Someone was building a bearcat in this GB. I have never cared much for F8F's; however, I had never really seen a real one either. Last weekend I  was a Willow Run airport in MI and saw this guy. Thought I would post it here for some inspiration!

 

I am building the F8,,its been a struggle for such a small 1/72 scale. But its coming along now. Im actually doing it as a blue angels BEETLE BOMB in yellow. I was at the Willow run show also! thanks for posting

And this is how the rest of the 190 is looking.

Ich fühle mich nackt - malen mich!

 Cleaned up an primed with Mr Surfacer 1500

No idea how to paint this guy? 1943 fw190 driver

The P-47 got some Med Sea Gray on the underside (I think thats correact for SEAC). 

And a pic of the Phantom with preshading I thought I posted.

cbaltrin

Those cutting machines come in handy don't they? 

 

They sure do. I dont know why I never thought of it before.

Here is where I am at on the 190. About to put the wing's together and attache to fuselage

Those look great B1!

Those cutting machines come in handy don't they? 

Made some progress on the tomcat. Cut my own stencils with my silohoutte cutter machine since I watched the applicable decals dissenigrate.

shamoo

 

 

stikpusher

Now all the best looking Bel Airs I ever saw were a light blue or aqua with white trim areas... 

 

 

 

 

I've always been fond of the bright red over white. Or black

 

Definitely black, with a red interior. Classic.

Okay, after so many delays, I finally got to get started on this. Here are my models from Accurate Miniatures of a P-40 and P-51B for this Monogram Mafia Group Build. These are simple models originally from Monogram; I know because there was engraving on the inside of the wings saying Copyright Monogram and the year!

Here is the P-40 started; I had painted the interior and added the pilot (since there was no cockpit at all!) and then I closed it up and added the canopy:



After that I moved on to the propeller and cowl and assembled all that while the rest was drying:



Then I assembled the wings to have all the sub assemblies done and ready to assemble when everything was dry:



Since I could go no further on this and since I'm supposed to do two Monogram models for this Group Build in order to be 'Made' in the Monogram Mafia; I also pulled out the P-51B that came in the same kit. I got the interior painted and the fuselage all closed up before I remembered to shoot a pic:



Later on I assembled the wings and dry-fit them to the model:

That's all I have so far. Stay tuned,  there's more to come.

Thanks for looking in.

shamoo

 

 

stikpusher

Now all the best looking Bel Airs I ever saw were a light blue or aqua with white trim areas... 

 

 

 

 

I've always been fond of the bright red over white. Or black

 

stikpusher

Now all the best looking Bel Airs I ever saw were a light blue or aqua with white trim areas... 

 

I've always been fond of the bright red over white. Or black

Now all the best looking Bel Airs I ever saw were a light blue or aqua with white trim areas...