Secret Santa GB 2018 - Nearing the Finish Line!!

Thank you all! 

Yeah, the stripes were not bad at all...the checkered nose...that was a toughy but turned out pretty good.  I'm weathering now and she just might be done this weekend!  More pics to come soon!

Thanks again!

And I second the comment on the kits and work being done in this GB!  Spuer work everyone!

Checkered nose AND invasion stripes, I'm surely in love now. Wowzers what a looker.!! Great work there.

GH, yikes on the money spent. I used to be a mechanic years ago and worked on the MH's and I hated it. They are so tough to get to many things. Sounds like you love yours quite a lot. Hope you get many fun miles and trips from it.

Steve, good to hear you're about home. Make sure you shake that carpet out good and make a new kit from the parts that fall out.

Sounds like all of us are pretty busy, and summer is just around the corner. Good times.

BK

MC, you're not kidding.  Looks like we'll need to replace the fridge and propane take and probably the roof AC unit.

It's a 1978 GMC 26'.  403 olds, front wheel drive, has the look of the old Lumina vans of the 90's.  Only made around 13,000 total, and 10 years ago they figured half were still registered.  Kind of a cult around them.

I get to do the laminate deal this summer during the house remodel...ugh

Beauty job on that Jug Eagle. I believe MicroScale gets most of thier MicroSol/Set revenue from us spilling 3/4's of it on the workbench.

GH, it sounds like you'll have most of that motorhome replaced by the time you're finished.

I have everything packed up and ready to load in the van for the trip back on May 3rd. I'm planning on replacing the carpet in the hobby room with laminate floor when I get back, so I won't be getting back to the bench immediately. It will however help from loosing so many parts. 

Nice work on that -47.  

Going to get back to the Vindicator this next week when I get the PBY done for Bish's Commonwealth GB.

Been fighting work on the motorhome for the past month...what a nightmare.  Just doing the brakes and a waterpump....ended up doing the shocks, ball joints and front bearings.  Only one place to get most things for it, and between all of it, around 3K took wing.

BrandonK

Oh ya, that looks good. I love those jugs. I completely understand the time crunch. I too have been very busy with work and I just haven't been at the bench much lately. But on a positive note I did manage to come up the the proper colors for my 102. This is why I plan on a whole year for these builds, life just has its moments when it gets in the way. Glad to see your work again.

BK

 

Thank you BK!  It has been a pleasure building this kit!

I did the decals!!!  There were quite a few small ones, but no issues with the decals at all.  Well, I spilt my Micro Sol...twice... on my mat during decaling but I don't think that counts.  LOL!

The decals that go around the cowling were the toughest for me.  But with a lot of patience (and even more Micro Sol), they go down nicely. 

I just can't say enough good things about this kit!

Oh ya, that looks good. I love those jugs. I completely understand the time crunch. I too have been very busy with work and I just haven't been at the bench much lately. But on a positive note I did manage to come up the the proper colors for my 102. This is why I plan on a whole year for these builds, life just has its moments when it gets in the way. Glad to see your work again.

BK

I'm so sorry I haven't been posting more.  I have been very busy at work and with the kids. But I have been doing some with the P-47!!!

Again, this is just an awesome kit!  The fit is perfect, the build is just fun!!!  I'm getting ready to do the decals and then a bit of weathering.  She's not far from done now.  LOL!

Hope to have more pics tonight!

Looks like you nailed it. Great work on those fit and seam issues.

BK

Nice fix Chad.

Well, I resolved the fit issue with the fuselage. Took some patience, Tamiya putty, Squadron putty, Mr. Surfacer, and a lot of sanding. Thank you Brandon and Steve for your suggestions!  I can tell this bird is going to be a beautiful addition to the display case. Santa did real good!

Looks like you can definitely see the finish line!  You did a nice job on the camouflage. 

Great camo work there, John, It's certainly starting to really come to life. The colors look spot on to me. Well done, Sir.

BK

A labor of love...  BTW I think the elmers orange stuff is way better than blue tack

Got some touch up work to do and some annoying blue tack that I wanted to leave until the paint cured more.  This one should wrap up quickly now :)

Nice work there.

John, that is coming along nicely. I think when you dull coat it, it will lighten up a tad. I  really need to build the one I have in my stash.

BK

Looking good John 

First coat of dark earth on the Buffalo.  Black basing showing through quite a bit so next I'll lighten up the dark earth a bit.  Coming along - not much left on the sprues!

Thank you BK! 

I'm thinking the Razorback kit will be as good as the Bubbletop!

Thank you sir.  I did a Tamiya 1/700 King George V.  And I was really surprised at how well it went together and the detail for such a small scale.  Very impressed.  60 hours.  That will wear you out fast.  It will be good for you to get back to your bench!

Eagle, the kit looks great, and I agree that Tamiya kits are super sweet to work with.

Steve, you won't be looking long because the valley has been BOOMIN' since you've been gone and there is no shortage of work to be found. It's getting kinda nuts around here.

BK

Eagle, Tamiya's planes are incredable, their ships are'nt too bad either, especially for their age. Yours is comming long great. 

I too have been working 60 hours a week for the last few weeks prior to moving back the first of May. All my kits are packed up ready to go into the Van with the exception a just a few. Once back, I'll get my old bench in order and restart the production line, when I'm not looking for a new job. 

My apologies for not posting any updates.  I'm very busy at work, the kids got sick, I got sick...the list goes on, but I have found some time to do more of this wonderful kit!

I must say, I have put many Tamiya kits together now and I am always impressed with how well they go together.  Almost effortless construction, little to no seams to be dealt with...they are great kits.  But this P-47D Bubbletop....OMG!!  I love this kit!!!  It is to date the easist and most fun kit I have built by Tamiya!  The fit of the parts is amazing!  The hardest thing I have had to do with this kit is figure out which version I want to do!  LOL!  I like this kit so much, that I am going to look for another one at the shows I go to this year and maybe even pick up the Razorback kit too!

Here are some update pics.  Like I said, this is a beauty of a kit and I would highly recommend to anyone!  More pics to come soon.

I went to go start priming up the 102 and found out I have only 2 of the needed 4 colors for this bird. That being said I put it aside for a bit while I paint the Hawkeye and get it out of the way. Then I will go get the other colors and get it painted up. I was starting to lose my mind when the parts for both kits started to co-mingle.

BK

Nice to have you back MM.

Way to go SD.

BK, looking forward to seeing it when done

Excellent. 

Thank you Steve for posting!  I am finally able to log back in. 

Chad, that looks fantastic. Your build is gonna be a really good one and I'm totally looking forward to seeing more.

BK

MM that looks so good! Nice colors and some seriously fine detail work there.