Secret Santa GB 22/23

Buttoned up

Looks like you are making great progress there, John. The pit looks really nice and getting it closed up also makes things feel like you are moving right along.

BK

More progress on the Hawk - some fit issues... will require a bit of filler but still fun.

Love seeing the wings go on. Makes me feel like I'm actually making progess. Next PAINT.

BK

Thanks BK - she's going to be gloss black so lots of prep before paint.  Really fun little kit

Calling it done!  This was a fun build.  The Eduard kit is fantastic, with my only gripe being a seam on the nose that is near impossible to deal with and save the lovely rivet detail.  Thanks to my Santa for this one!

Untitled by Stu George, on Flickr

Untitled by Stu George, on Flickr

Untitled by Stu George, on Flickr

DiscoStu

Calling it done!  This was a fun build.  The Eduard kit is fantastic, with my only gripe being a seam on the nose that is near impossible to deal with and save the lovely rivet detail.  Thanks to my Santa for this one!

Untitled by Stu George, on Flickr

Untitled by Stu George, on Flickr

Untitled by Stu George, on Flickr

 

BK

Nice job!  Great weathering on the belly

Thanks all!  For the weathering I've become addicted to the oilbrushers by AMMO.  They make all the difference.

I've opened the Mig and have been making slow but steady progress. The plastic has great detail and the fit is fantastic. I am making the Czech scheme from the box art, but there are also markings for two Polish aircraft in a more standard camoflage.

Mach1

I've opened the Mig and have been making slow but steady progress. The plastic has great detail and the fit is fantastic. I am making the Czech scheme from the box art, but there are also markings for two Polish aircraft in a more standard camoflage.

 

BK

Looking good!

Hi folks, sorry for my long abscence, but just when I thought I was getting a grip on things, everything went to hell. Until a few days ago I hadn't been near my bench for months. 

John I love the the Polikarpov, awesome job mate.

Stu your P51 is outstanding. Top work fella.

A couple of pics to show where I'm at. The pit bits of the Zero have all been sprayed silver and coated with hairspray. Next step is to spray the cockpit colour and do some weathering. The Tiger needs some adjustment work on the tracks, some adittional bits added and then it's just about finishing the painting and weathering.

I wasn't really happy with the blue, but as no one will see it, I decided not to waste time re-doing it.

Dodgy

Dodgy

Hi folks, sorry for my long abscence, but just when I thought I was getting a grip on things, everything went to hell. Until a few days ago I hadn't been near my bench for months. 

John I love the the Polikarpov, awesome job mate.

Stu your P51 is outstanding. Top work fella.

A couple of pics to show where I'm at. The pit bits of the Zero have all been sprayed silver and coated with hairspray. Next step is to spray the cockpit colour and do some weathering. The Tiger needs some adjustment work on the tracks, some adittional bits added and then it's just about finishing the painting and weathering.

 

I wasn't really happy with the blue, but as no one will see it, I decided not to waste time re-doing it.

Dodgy

 

I have been super busy this year and also laid up for the last month. I have not been on the forums much and I haven't built at all in months. My back is bad atm and I can't sit for long, so forums and building have been sat aside. I hope to be back at it soon and get my gift completed. I really want to work on it, but like I said, pain stops me in my tracks. Keep all the great stuff coming guys, I really do like to see it come together.

BK

Got paint on the Hawk.   I can see the finish line!

Great looking work, John. She looks like she's going mach 2 sitting still.

I'm finally feeling better after 3 months laid up. I am going to get back on the Mercedes very shortly. Can't wait to paint it.

BK

Gear down and decals going on.  So many problems with this one I just want to get it finished and on the shelf.

keavdog

Gear down and decals going on.  So many problems with this one I just want to get it finished and on the shelf.

 

 

BK

Calling this one done.  Had a bunch of issues - mostly my fault plus some experiments that went south.  But thankyou so much secret santa I really appreciate the thoughtful gift.

She's a tail sitter ( again my fault ) hence the blob of clay under the tail.

She's up on the shelf with my trainer squadron

keavdog

Calling this one done.  Had a bunch of issues - mostly my fault plus some experiments that went south.  But thankyou so much secret santa I really appreciate the thoughtful gift.

She's a tail sitter ( again my fault ) hence the blob of clay under the tail.

She's up on the shelf with my trainer squadron

 

 

BK

Bravo John!

you might have had problems John, but no one would know it. A beaut job mate.

So my bench time has been very hit and miss, but I have been working on the cockpit of the Zero and I'm just about to close it up. Have also been doing some work on the Tiger II and will post pics later today.

My word, Dodgy, that detail work looks GREAT!

Dodgy

you might have had problems John, but no one would know it. A beaut job mate.

So my bench time has been very hit and miss, but I have been working on the cockpit of the Zero and I'm just about to close it up. Have also been doing some work on the Tiger II and will post pics later today.

 

BK

Dodgy, I love your zero interior. Nice work. 

Hi Fella's. The Zero is a beautiful kit, thank you Secret Santa! I'm just hoping I can do it Justice. Unfortunatley I lost a couple of parts to the carpet monster, so I have halted production until I find them, or can replicate them, meanwhile, a couple of pics of the Tiger. Almost there. Just need to add some minor bits and do the weathering.

Thanks for the positives folks.

Dodgy

Hi Fella's. The Zero is a beautiful kit, thank you Secret Santa! I'm just hoping I can do it Justice. Unfortunatley I lost a couple of parts to the carpet monster, so I have halted production until I find them, or can replicate them, meanwhile, a couple of pics of the Tiger. Almost there. Just need to add some minor bits and do the weathering.

Thanks for the positives folks.

 

BK

Wow Dodgy the Tiger looks awesome, great camo and that monster barrel!

I'm typing this now for the second time because the bloody site dropped out. I should have known better because I've been caught like that before on several occasions and then couldn't bring myself to repeat it all again. Moving on.

Thanks for the positive words fellas, but BK I owe you a huge apology as I've let you down. The Tiger is finished, but the Zero is not. I will finish the Zero next year in a WIP on the aircraft thread. I also apologise to the donor, it will be built and not go into the stash, or the shelf of doom. It is a magnificent kit and I love it, it's just that life, my shakes and a reduction in motivation that I put down to grief, got in the way. 2023 has not been a good year for me.

BK I have loved this GB, even though it's only been my second year. So many good models and mateship. Good on yer mate, you've done a great job, but I can fully understand why you won't be doing it again in 2024.

Ok, to the Tiger. I apologise for the quality of the photographs, the lighting is crap and I'm a crap photographer. My own opinion is that the paint job is too dark and there are several problems with the tracks.

After paint and glue the tracks became very brittle and broke so easily whenever I handled them. Eventually, I just decided that regardless of any issues, I would leave them as they were. On a positive note, the kit itself is a gem and I loved building it. I added the cable for the front headlight, rubbed graphite around the muzzle brake to represent blast compounds and mixed white glue and green food dye for the vision ports in the hull and the commanders cupola.

Thanks again BK. As a GB it was a lot of fun and much appreciated.

Oh yes....... I forgot about the decal on the port side of the turret. It broke up and hence is missing a bit. 008 might find itself with a minor hit there....