Monogram Mafia IV Group Build

Nice job everyone! 

It was a horribly rainy, thunder, and lightning day so I got started on the Marauder.  I decided to do "Flak Bait".  I know this particular plane has a lot of historical significance, and I'm sure the colors I've used aren't entirely accurate, I'm just going by the instructions in the kit.  I am going to try and do some weathering on this one.  I know she was a pretty dirty and beat up bird, so I figured she would be a good subject to try with. 

Onto some pictures.

Finally got started on the P-51.  Still a lot to do... 

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Great work, as always, Keyda! Looking forward to the Marauder. Liking the progress on the Me 262, PJ! One of my favorites.

The Stuka is ready for primer...again. Decided at last minute to sand off panel lines. Definitely looks cleaner. Just have to get motivated to mask off the "glass". I have 2 other kits stalled for the same reason. Oh, well looks like rain so I guess I'll get the Tamiya tape out and do some masking this weekend.

plasticjunkie

Your Tigercat brings back memories of years gone by. I think I got mine from a corner drug store for a couple of bucks. It's been a while.

I remember geting this one back in the early 70s at Meyer's Toy Store.  I was in heaven when I left their with a pile of the Monogram kits.

I had this one and needed a fun easy kit to get me out of this funk that I've been in.  This kit brings back some warm fuzzy fealings of my youth.

Duke Maddog

Great job on that 262. Looks like you nailed the putty look.

 

I also love the Do-17Z; thanks for bringing back goood memories. I also built one some 45+ years ago......I still have it too!

 

Thanks DM. 

Wow you still have a 45 year old build! That is great! Thanks for looking.

Great job on that 262. Looks like you nailed the putty look.

I also love the Do-17Z; thanks for bringing back goood memories. I also built one some 45+ years ago......I still have it too!

68, you're off to a great start with the Tigercat. That will be finished before you know it!

PJ, you're almost at the finish line with your 262... Sweet! And off to a rapid start with the Dornier. I am really liking that one so far. I remember building that one as a boy. Such a sleek aircraft!

Great job everyone on your builds, lots of great talent in this group.

GT

Your Tigercat brings back memories of years gone by. I think I got mine from a corner drug store for a couple of bucks. It's been a while.

I have tried Frog tape and actually see no difference except being a little thicker than other tapes.

I did more research on the 262 and the putty color was according to several sources, a light grey color so I went back and repainted over the pale grey-green I had on. I also painted the rudder, nacelles and the gun doors like one particular example I found surfing for reference. Some components like the engines and nacelles were used from other aircraft and some were painted. They used whatever was available at the time.

I then shot Alclad Klear Kote Gloss to protect the finish and to provide a smoother surface for the decals. I was going to spray the simple black crosses but found a great deal on eBay for the decal sheet for $5. 

The flash lightens up the greys and greens more than what they actually are like.

I started on the second model which is the old Monogram 1/72 DO-17Z. I remember building this one when it first came out in 1969.

The pit is very simple and was sprayed RLM02. Not much will be visible after everything is closed but I may still add some thingies in there. The figures are actually very well done too and will look great in there.

I'm making this one in flight so the gear doors were glued closed and the wings went together really fast. Not much to describe in this step. The tail feathers went together quick too but had a couple of mold marks that were filled with PPP, then sanded them smooth. The wing to spine fit is EXCELLENT! The fit is tight and all parts align perfectly. Too bad some of the modern high tech expensive models don't have the perfect fit this $2 kit from 1969 has.  

I got started on the old F7F Tigercat.  I figured I would start with the wings cause it would make it a little easyer to figure out the nose weight needed.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/153310102@N02/

Thanks on FLICKR,, can't figure out to to do a direct pic from FLickr

SO this little 1/72 scale should have been easy. Its dated 1975. The fir wasnt bad, about what I am used to for these. But the left fuselage and one of the wing halves cracked after the first coat of Mr Surface primer. Never had that happen before.

I fixed them and they look OK under more primer and the yellow paint. I'll post pics tonight of the newer progress,,If I figure out the pic thing!

Wow some great work! I have been travelling and away for awhile, started on the Bearcat and its ready for final paint.

How are folks posting pics now? I searched forum for topics and didn't find anything. I cannot get Postimage to work.

Any help is appreciated!

Thanks

Nice work, Keyda!

Keyda81

  

Its what the instructions called for......I should never trust instructions.  The instructions themselves called for all of 3 colors for the whole model.  Black, grey and white.  It even said to paint the landing gear bays grey.  From the pictures I looked at online they were white.  Never even thought to see what color the ladder was, lol. 

Research is half the fun ;) 

Nice work on the F117 keyda!

stikpusher

Looks real good Keyda! Nice and clean! Although I might suggest a different color for the boarding ladder. I have yet to see any USAF boarding ladders in white. Yellow, Light Gray, Dark Green, bare aluminum, yes...

 

Its what the instructions called for......I should never trust instructions.  The instructions themselves called for all of 3 colors for the whole model.  Black, grey and white.  It even said to paint the landing gear bays grey.  From the pictures I looked at online they were white.  Never even thought to see what color the ladder was, lol.

Looks real good Keyda! Nice and clean! Although I might suggest a different color for the boarding ladder. I have yet to see any USAF boarding ladders in white. Yellow, Light Gray, Dark Green, bare aluminum, yes...

Finished up the F-117 this morning.  Some of the decals don't look all that great, but they aren't the worst.

Next up on the list the B-26 Marauder. 

Looking good keyda. I've never tried the Frog tape, I'm still using Tamiya and blue painter's tape.

So I spent the rest of the evening working on the F-117.  There was some paint that managed to find it's way under the tape.  It was frog tape too, so I'm not impressed, lol.  Anyway wasn't that big of a deal to touch up.

Landing gear all glued in place.

Decals are done, and a flat coat applied.

Should have this wrapped up tomorrow.  Just have to do some touch ups, glue the canopy and ladder into place, and pull the masking.

Took the thunderstorms rolling through as an oppurtunity to paint the landing gear and bays of the F-117. 

I finished painting the underside later on the same day I did the top.

All the white bits, landing gear, doors, wheels, and the bays.

Moment of truth later, we'll see how it turns out!

Got in the garage early this morning to paint before the noon temp gets up to the high 90s but feels well over 100 with 70%-80% humidity. It's like being in an oven.

Shot the Floquil Old Silver on

Also masked and shot the canopy RLM66 first then silver, this way the RLM66 shows up as the interior color.

 I mixed some Vallejo grey green and some dark grey to get the putty color that was hand brushed on as seen in the pictures.

Looks good beav . Appear more like bad lighting than bad modeling to my eye.

Hey sciggs, that looks fabulous for brush painting. I know just what you mean about dumbing down your building methods. Although I am not to the point of brush painting yet, I am always trying to find that fine line between quality and quantity. 

I have a lot of old Monogram and Revell kits from the 70s and early 80s, but of course I built this newer kit from Revell.  I was at Hobby Lobby stocking up on model supplies when I saw this, so I bought one.  Since I have a long list of vintage builds, I have dummied down my building style so I can complete my kits.  This Stuka was built out of the box using basic Testors supplies and brush painted. Paints were the little square bottles since they come in sets and a good price with the 40 percent coupon and 50 percent coupon at Michaels and Hobby Lobby.  Not the prettiest build but it is complete and sitting in my display case and allowing me to move onto my next build.

Beav, I know exactly where you're coming from. Been there, done that. The point of diminishing returns is a hard point to admit to reaching. 

But tell your cousin, use some plain paper, perhaps in off white, for photo backgrounds, will help with removing distractions from the subject.

Looking good so far in the 'pit!

Oh my...just saw how bad it looks on the "big screen". That not my model...ah...It's my cousins! Mine looks much better....Seriously, in person, it doesn't look that bad!  Remember the camera adds 10lbs of S@#%.....