Secret Santa 2020/2021 GB

The fineline tape is what we use on 1:1 vehicles when doing two tones or painted stripes. We lay it down over the basecoat and do all colors before clear.

Oh, leaves a nice clean edge as well when doing a hard line change, just don't pull tight And work it into panel lines.  The Norton blue has more stretch than 3M, and is easier to conform to panel lines.

Can get at auto paint stores and most big parts stores.

Started tacking the fuselage together.  There's some challenges here requiring gluing just a bit, let it dry and come back for a bit more.  Mating surfaces are slight and there's some warpage so patience is required.

keavdog

if I were to consider keeping these as clear windows in the future I'd find a smoother low-tac tape.

That would look great! how would you mask them?

I completed the Freedom. Thank you SS for the gift. I enjoyed it although this kit had more small plastic and PE pieces than I've ever had OOB. It certantly tried my paintance and stamana, especially during and after the Akagi.

I'd do the same masking but try some different tapes that have been reccomended.

The Freedom turned out fantastic.  Great looking ship.  I was doing a bit of reading on her and she was just decommissioned.  She's only 13 years old!

modelcrazy

 

 

keavdog

if I were to consider keeping these as clear windows in the future I'd find a smoother low-tac tape.

 

 

That would look great! how would you mask them?

I completed the Freedom. Thank you SS for the gift. I enjoyed it although this kit had more small plastic and PE pieces than I've ever had OOB. It certantly tried my paintance and stamana, especially during and after the Akagi.

 

BK

Excellent job on the Freedom! She's moving full steam ahead! 

Thanks guys.

John, the Freedom class design was a disappointment. More of a heavy armed yacht than warship. Actually I'm surprised they just didn't give them to the Coast Guard. I don't know about the other Litorial class, you know the trimaran, don't recall it's name, I don't know if they are still viable or not. The Freedoms look cool to me, I wouldn't mind owning one. 

MC that's another beauty with some great looking wear and tear on the hull and the superstructure for sure. You make those water dio bases in your sleep now don't you?

TheMongoose

You make those water dio bases in your sleep now don't you?

Yeah, pretty much.

Back on this bad boy. Prior to priming, I applied a layer of winter muck to the undersides. I then applied some black primer, then sprayed the initial color coat intentionally leaving the bottom sides somewhat dark. 

Good idea Chad

MM that's looking sharp. Gonna be cool to see this come together 

modelcrazy

 

 

keavdog

if I were to consider keeping these as clear windows in the future I'd find a smoother low-tac tape.

 

 

That would look great! how would you mask them?

I completed the Freedom. Thank you SS for the gift. I enjoyed it although this kit had more small plastic and PE pieces than I've ever had OOB. It certantly tried my paintance and stamana, especially during and after the Akagi.

 

Looks super good 

Chad, that is a good idea, it looks good.

BK

Thanks Castel

modelcrazy

Thanks guys.

John, the Freedom class design was a disappointment. More of a heavy armed yacht than warship. Actually I'm surprised they just didn't give them to the Coast Guard. I don't know about the other Litorial class, you know the trimaran, don't recall it's name, I don't know if they are still viable or not. The Freedoms look cool to me, I wouldn't mind owning one. 

 

Great job on that Freedom Steve!  Turned out great.

If I recall, some of the trimaran ships (USS Independence was the first) are still active in the Navy, but who knows what they actually do.   

Mopar - That is some interesting work there with the mud, I should try that some day.  I'm watching and taking notes!

Got the fuselage together, wings and horizontal stabilizers together.  Doing a test fit here and the wings have an excellent positive lock and shouldn't require any filler so I can paint off the model and attach later.  The horizontal stabilizers are a bit loose and will require careful attachment as I want to paint them off the fuselage as well.  Engines next.

Beautiful job John. That's going to take a lot of paint I think.

Well done John!  You'll probably need a new bottle of glue after that monster is done.

John, that thing is beastly, even in smaller scale. Looks great.

BK

Keavdog that beast is looking the bomb!

Man John, that's one large bird!

Hi friends!  Camouflage laid down.

Great job on the camo Chad :)   Looks sharp

Chad I'm telling you those are some great lines!

Oh wow, super nice lines Chad.

Chad, from experience I can say that squiggle camo is the most difficult to do. Well done. It look amazing.

BK

Thank you everyone.  I really put my Soltar to good use here! 

Hello friends.  Not the best quality pictures here but heres the next update.  The kit was sprayed with gloss then I applied a black wash around the top of the hull and removed the excess.  The bottom of the hull was saturated with thinned black enamel to further accentuate the muck.  I then, very lightly, applied thinned black streaking from the top of the hull down.  Tomorrow I'll add a filter or two and streak again with some various earth tones before I apply a matte coat.

Almost there Chad