75th Anniversary of 1945 Group Build (World at War)

checkmateking02

Good start, Scott.  I'll be interested to see how Academy's Missouri goes together.  Tamiya's Iowa was fussy and frustrating.

 

Its designed for a beginer modeler.  Everything snaps into place which means a lot of the parts a out of scale, almost toyish.  Some are replaced with PE.  the kit looks like it will be enjoyable to build and practice using masks and painting the tri-color scheme.  The molding is fantastic.  

I didn't know the Tamiya kit had issues. Was it fit or just details?

Details--much of it molded into the decks (like ammo chests).  Everything had to be masked, with teeny, tiny, itsy bits of tape.  There were a few fit issues.  It was a relief to finish it eventually.

checkmateking02

Details--much of it molded into the decks (like ammo chests).  Everything had to be masked, with teeny, tiny, itsy bits of tape.  There were a few fit issues.  It was a relief to finish it eventually.

 

The Academy kit is the same way.  Many details are molded in. It will be interesting to see how the masks that came with the kit will work.  

Masks with the kit?  That would be helpful if they fit well.

Had two good sessions at the modeling table recently, the great thing about Dragon 1/72 tanks is that they don't take more than a couple hours to assemble:

There is some micro PE do go with this, but I will probably skip most of it.   The fingers just don't the the ability to hack it.  I had enough issues replaing the loop on the top with the piece of red bent wire!

Good start, Robert!  Well-done.  I know what you mean about PE.  I don't use as much of it as I used too.

checkmateking02

Masks with the kit?  That would be helpful if they fit well.

 

They were not bad. I took me about eight hours, and some were not cut as per the diagram, but they are a lot faster and more pleasurable that cutting my own.

That looks good, Scott.  Masks do seem to fit pretty well.  That little splash guard (or whatever it is, just ahead of the number one turret) always gives me fits with its curved and jagged edge.

When I make masks, I find it easier to paint the vertical surfaces, then mask them, and do the decks last.  Tape seems to go around gun tubs and stuff better.

I'll be very interested to seem how it paints up.    

checkmateking02

That looks good, Scott.  Masks do seem to fit pretty well.  That little splash guard (or whatever it is, just ahead of the number one turret) always gives me fits with its curved and jagged edge.

When I make masks, I find it easier to paint the vertical surfaces, then mask them, and do the decks last.  Tape seems to go around gun tubs and stuff better.

I'll be very interested to seem how it paints up.    

 

That splashguard had a lot of details.  I also started the process of paint and mask the horizontals before the deck.  It is easier.  

I've rejoined the Finescale mailing list and hope to have at least one 1945 kit - that is if the Finescale mailing list will bounce back replies to the list. This is really frustrating.

Eric

Hi, Eric:  welcome to the Forums!  Does this mean you're signing up for this GB?

You're welcome to, for sure.  I just need the scale, manufacturer, and name of said kit, so I can add you to the build roster.

Checkmate, I'd like to contribute to this build and complete the war, with a 1/48 scale Monogram Me 262...

Nice choice, Mark.  Welcome to the GB!  I'll add you to the build roster.  Thanks for participating!

For some reason, the photos didn't come through.

Reposting the pics...

Lets see if this works.

The photos are now up in both places, Mark.  Thanks for reposting them.  It's a great-looking plane--lots of detail behind the panels.  I'll be very interested in how you accomplish the fancy paint work.

Thanks, two things are going to keep me up at nights on this one. First is the paint job. I've never done a "mottled" camo scheme. I see I will have some experimenting and practicing to do. The second is this bird will be a tail sitter. If you look at the middle pic on the kit box side, you will notice the support rod toward the rear of the fuselage. I will be hard pressed to add weight to the nose, so I will probably close it up. So now onto some online references on "how to paint" a mottled camo...

Good luck with the painting, Mark!  I hope you find something helpful.  I have an Paasche H airbrush, which isn't really fine-tuned enough to do this kind of work, especially in 1/72, my scale of choice.  I managed to do it about 30 years ago, but recently it has defied me.

As for "tail-sitters," I've done a couple of B-24's over the years, and gave up trying to load them with weight in the nose.  I ended up drilling a little hole in the rear fuselage, and inserting a stick pin as a support to keep them upright.

Got progress on the Missouri.  Would show pics, but website kicks me out every five minutes and I have to re-log on. Virus scanner not happy with all the pop ups.  Very frustrated. 

I wonder what's going on again?  I haven't had any trouble since the last little lock-out.  I hope you can get back on; I'm anxious to see your photos!

Mark, the main things i have found when doing mottles is getting the paint/thinner ratio right and the right pressure settings on the compressor. I get as close in to the model as i can.

And for tail sitters, maybe you could out it on a small base and pin the wheels down.

Got my Warrior wraped up last night so today i'll be starting on my 2 aircraft entries. I will be building these side by side but will put them seperatly to avoid confuseing myself. These are the kits, both 1/72nd.

The FM Bf 109G-10 will be built as a Nightfighter of NJG 11 in all over RLM 76. I'll be useing AM decals and well as an FM PE set, resin exhaust and master metal gun barrels.

And the Fw 190D-11 will be my first kit from this company. There are 2 kits in the box, the second will be done at a later date as a D-12 as the parts are included. But for the D-11, i'll be doing the aircraft on the box, with the red/white undersides. The kit comes with resin and PE so the only extras are the masks for underneath.

Very nice, Bish.  I'll be very attentive to your build.  I've got a FineMolds version of one of Erich Hartmann's 109's that I haven't done anything with.  I'll be interested to see how a kit from them goes together.

Looks like you'll be doing some fancy camouflaging too.

I built one of their Me 410's last year for your 44 GB if you recall, and i really liked that. I had heard such good thing about the kits that i bought 4 410's and 3 109's before i had even seen the kits. I will be very happy if this goes together like the 410.

Ah, yes.  I went back to '44 and looked.  Nice kit; nice construction, painting and diorama, too.

Thanks. Both of tehse are coming on very well, cockpits are almost ready for priming and painting, i should have them fitted by Fri at this rate.

Progress report:  Painted the Haze Gray and had some bleed.  Not bad overall.

Progress with painting is well-done, Scott!

So here's what I finally decided on for '45--US Navy pilots from CMK.

Here's a better image of the painting guide that comes with them, although there is no suggestion for specific paint.  I'm going to use Vallejo, which I've not tried before.

And a photo of Butch O'Hare wearing his Navy khaki's, for reference.  I'm assuming that the uniform didn't change much by 1945.

Those look awsome Check.  And in 1/72 too, I'm impressed and want to try them someday. 

I like those CMK figures, i have used a few of the German ones.