Thanks Waikong, Cliff,

It is getting closer now, looking that much more interesting...

That is a great vehicle!

I'm calling this Zero complete:

Next year, I am guarding my Seiran build's kit canopy with my life. No more vacuformed canopies EVER AGAIN!

Robert: Just put you down. Great job there- and a fast one!!! Kudos sir!!!

And I know what you mean about vac formed canopies. I dealt with a few of them on limited run kits. So soft and flimsy they're hard to work with.

Piers: That looks awesome too. If we had a food truck that cool near here I'd eat there everyday!

BTW: I finally pulled Mechagodzilla out again. Got a bit of work done over the last two days. Sorry kicking myself for not taking photos, will get some up ASAP.

Nothing like waiting until the final week but it is done.  The Hasegawa 1/72 Cobra AH-1S.  The build wasn't too bad, but I need to put a bit more effort into finding seam lines.  I believe the nxt bird will be without the payload.  That was really fiddly.   The second bird in the kit isn't quite complete but it will be done for the end of next year.  :)  

I did get the brass cannon and with luck, I'll solder the second one a bit... straighter.  Also, the nose weight is excessive to keep her nose down.  I think I'll just glue the other one to a base and save some hassle. 

Part of the decal is over the canopy clear area.  My question is how to mask over the decal without removing it when pulling the masking material.  I tried the Mr. Hobby Neo and even that seemed to pull up some of the decals. 

WrinkedM: Actually it's the second to last week but who's counting? 

Great job there, she looks sharp! I like the camo with the bright markings! 

I'm not sure there's any way to really mask over decals that well. I know decals don't like to stick to bare plastic so maybe a coat of Future would help them stick to the canopy? In any case they're a pain to mask over, I've put down decals and then put a couple of coats of clear varnish over them, masked, and they still wanted to peel up. 

Maybe some of you guys have better advice than mine???  

Mecha-G is slowly getting there. I still need to paint the rocket-launching blackpack thingee and the arm mounted beam weapons. The metallic is a bit shiney- the movie prop is more a dull steel but it didn't look right so I kept adding more chrome to it.

And I want to do a small diorama but right now I just want Mecha-G done.

Hey WM, couldn't tell from the pictures, but does the decal just overlap the edge of the canopy?

Can you just not mask that part of the canopy where the decal is? Have to watch out for the clear decal edge of course. 

Otherwise some people use bare metal foil - not tried it myself, not sure how strong the bond is.

And I am liking the cobra, always a fan of an unusual scheme.

Cliff, mecha Godzilla looks super. The metal finish is great, what paint are you using?

Piers: Thanks! It's just gloss black Testor's Model Master Acrylic with a layer of Alclad II airframe aluminum over it. I didn't think it looked shiney enough so I hit him with a couple of light coats of Alclad II chrome over it. It might have been a little much though!

Loving that Mecha Godzilla!

Thanks guys! Guess it's a little late for a Merry Christmas wish but Happy New Year to everyone in any case!!! 

Just for fun I stuck Mecha-Godzilla in front of the Christmas tree...

Gamera

Just for fun I stuck Mecha-Godzilla in front of the Christmas tree...

 

Just short of a Santa hat

The decal actually extends just a touch onto the clear part of the canopy. I removed it with the masking agent came off.  The other chopper's anime art extends much farther into the canopy.   I think Future might be the answer.   

This Kate is now done except for needing to matt clearcoat the wheels. 

I tried preshading the pannels for the alclad but I am not sure if I actually like the effect or not. Granred it does break up the mono tone look but it may look "wrong" to me.

As for weathering, I didnt go mad , just enough to look used.

airfix 1/72 Kate by Theunis van Vuuren, on Flickr

airfix 1/72 Kate by Theunis van Vuuren, on Flickr

airfix 1/72 Kate by Theunis van Vuuren, on Flickr

airfix 1/72 Kate by Theunis van Vuuren, on Flickr

airfix 1/72 Kate by Theunis van Vuuren, on Flickr

Thanx for hosting the GB :-)

Theuns

Oh she looks great Theuns! Love the chipped worn paint!

I'm going to go ahead and post her if you want to to change out the photo I'm happy to do so.

And don't mention it, I love running these GBs. Heck since I can't seem to get anything builT myself I can at least motivate others to get something done.

Not likely to get Mechagodzilla done in time. The weather was nice Sat and I got a bunch of stuff done around the house but no modeling. Sunday I put 'Godzilla Against Mechgodzilla' in my DVD player and watched part of it to make sure I got the details right. I got some work done on the rocket backpack but it won't be done in time.

Cool, please post a pic, I dont know when I will get to mattcoat the wheels anyway....most likely a few hours before I need to take it to the Jan model meeting anyway LOL

Theuns

Nice work on the Kate Theuns, good weathering on the painted panels. I like the effect from the preshading.

Cliff, the Mecha Godzilla is very festive.

I can declare the Omatsuri Wasshoi van complete. I know, amazingly before the end of the year, loads of time to spare. It is a great fun model, never done anything like it before.

A close up to show the drummer and the wood effects.

Cliff again, thanks for running the Japanese GB - I will back next year, probably not with something quite so flashy!

Now that is done, it's time for a drink - Kampei!

I realy like that van, something totally different and well executed 

Theuns

Piers: Ohhhhhhhh, I love that!!! Esp the drumer on top! And the wood grain effect looks really good! Just got you down! 

Theuns: Well the photo I used you can barely see the wheels so it's not a problem! If you want me to change it please just let me know. 

No thats cool thanx. 

Theuns

Gamera,

Well, I don't think I'll make it this year.  I've been rather "blah" for modeling recently.  Lots of other things going on in life.  Still, the Zero is almost complete (so close you can taste the sake).  Even if I stretch things out until Hawaii time, I don't think I'll get the final items finished.

Just need to finish the framing on the canopy, do some minor wash for the engine exhaust and recessed areas and add wing lights and antenna wire.  Maybe some touch-up paint.

Here's where she stands now:

Another couple of days and I'll be finished.    So, if you don't mind, move this one over to JGB IX.

Gary

PS> Mecha-Gozilla looks really great!  Shiny! 

Gary: Thanks and the Zero looks great so far!

I know what you mean, I've been pretty blah about modeling. I hope this year I'll feel more like it. I'll get her moved right away.

lostagain

Nice work on the Kate Theuns, good weathering on the painted panels. I like the effect from the preshading.

Cliff, the Mecha Godzilla is very festive.

I can declare the Omatsuri Wasshoi van complete. I know, amazingly before the end of the year, loads of time to spare. It is a great fun model, never done anything like it before.

 

A close up to show the drummer and the wood effects.

Cliff again, thanks for running the Japanese GB - I will back next year, probably not with something quite so flashy!

Now that is done, it's time for a drink - Kampei!

 

I think this is the most japanese build of all the japanese GB   

Well done Lostagain!!

great finished builds at all  sorry for the absence 

Yesterday finally i have the good weather to take final picture of finished training Claude and cayuse

The Claude

Piers, I just saw the van, Great Job!  You should submit it ti the FSM Gallery if you haven't already.

Bsyamato: I hope everything is well with you. Did you want me to post the finished photos here or over on the new GB? 

It's all ok Cliff, just less time to upload and post works.

I think is more correct to post finished builds here , new GB new kits :)

Bsyamato: Just put down both of them. Hope you have a chance to join us with the JGB IX. It's not the same without you!

Thanks John, super kind of you to say that.

I had not thought about submitting it but you're right, I should.

Bsyamato, great work on the Claude and Cayuse. I am a fan of the bright colour schemes.

Heading back to Japan in a couple of weeks, see what special stuff I can pick up this time...