U.S. Naval Aviation GB!

The Hellcat is looking great Jules. The Hasegawa kit is a beaut isn't it? I don't know if you've done this already, but try to thin the gear doors down a bit. They are way too thick on the Hase kit, and it will just make the build look a touch more realistic. Apart from that, it's a great kit OOB.

Now, if you Queenslanders could only kill canetoads as well as you model, we wouldn't have anything to play golf with.

Lodni - yeah the Wildcat ones are exact... they are still on the contact paper but they will work (I'm all caught up in this martlet build I am doing) will probably do it tomorrow as I am going to give this Vallejo extra long to cure because I layed the last coat on a little thicker than I wanted to in a few areas...

Jules - can't to see the finished product!!! and your pics did fine showing what I needed to see... I know your work enough now to know it is always gonna look good if not great!

lodni i checked out your pics, Looking good mate

Tom, yeah the c/pit came out better than i expected, i normally s--k at dry brushing but this time it went smoothly, Strange huh
I did try to get a closeup shot of the pit and engine but suprise suprise the pics didn't turn out............jules.........

Thanks, Tom! BTW, did those decals work out for ya?

here ya go Lodni

http://www.finescale.com/fsm/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=33494

all you have to do it go to the topic, and if multiple pages, go to the page of the post you want us to see, then cut and paste over here the URL in your browser (up at the top where ya type in what website you want to go to) Just click it, it all should turn blue with white letters, then hold down the CTRL key and hit the C, then come post a message here, and at the end hit the CTRL and V together and it pastes it for ya!

when you click the text in the address bar, if it all doesnt hightlight, click it once again and it should highlight then...

looks good! Don't ya hate when all that sweat and tears gets entombed in the fuselage? For me it's still worth it because *I* know how much work went into it...

I finally figured out how to post pics! Well,sort of! I don't know yet how to cut 'n paste the thread it's in. They're in the "Bearcat Cockpit-photo test" thread of the Aircraft Forum! Let me know what you guys & gals think - Calvin

Looks good Jules! From what I can see of the cockpit it looks to be a real knockout! Cant wait to see it painted! That's how I did the SBD paint, I did need to use a little blue tak to keep it from moving but it was a lot easier than stuffing that nose full of tissue!

Hope to replace those decals that tore with the ones from my wildcat today... found out another one wrinkled but will post the almost finished build anyway in case the decals don't come in by the time the build ends... (I hate that I checked USPS shipping on those things... don't know what I was thinking!)

Well Fellas here's where i'm up to with the Hellcat



the engine cowl is just sitting there on it's own, the fit is that good i figured i would just push it on when i paint the camo and add the engine after that just to save a little masking time........Cheers jules

Scott, same with my first one... I ended up taking them off and going down and buying a set of nat'l insignia 1942-1946. they were a little thinner, conformed to the fuselage without microsol and stuck real good! It was a good purchase, for about 7 dollars I got 2 or 3 sheets of varying size Nat'l insignia and a reference chart as to which AC had which size insignia depending on location. I have used them over kit insignia for 3 builds now...

too bad I didn't buy the 193? to 1941 ones as well, tore them on this SBD build as well... wasn't the decal's fault... I forgot I had microsol'd it and tried to pat it down and it tore... I was thinking I had only used microset on it... oh well... so I just ordered the replacements about 1.5 weeks ago but made the mistake of having it sent thru USPS instead of Fed Ex or UPS... and my mail service here is horrible. (The Postal Nazi works my route)

Looking forward to the Hellcat Jules... I like the looks of that plane! I am sure it will be a dandy like your other builds so far!

Well the Hellcat is progressing nicelyeven OOB the detail is impressive, all i've added so far is a set of Eduard coloured seat belts with some new gun barrels to follow......
I'll have the fues joined up tonight and all the wings on tonight as well, so if i can remain fumble free for the rest of the night and not drop everything like i normally do i should be getting some pics up tommorow
Cheers Jules.......

No Dan, no real secrect to how you take your pics, nor on how pastels are used, its just that you are really good at both.

As far as your blunders went, I feel for you. The Wildcat got test flown by my Labrador while the paint was wet, and who know how many times I have broken off the dive flabs, antenna's, and other little details on the SBD. I have the same feeling with this static model that I have with my RC planes and that is that I hope they stay in one piece long enough to take some pictures.

I got both the Wildcat and SBD decaled. I hope my film arrives tonight so I can take some pics. Where I live, the only place to get film and have it processed is Walmart, and since they have made a mess so many times, I now mail order my film and processing from Kansas City. Takes a lot longer but its now worth it.

Tom, I had a terrible time with the fuselage stars on my SBD. Even with solv a set, they had a hard time conforming to all the contours and they ripped many times. So there is some touching up to do.

Scott

Thanks Reggie, Tom, Jules, Scott, Ray and Jon.

Reggie- Yep, I used my usual pastel technique for the staining.

There's no real secret to taking good photo's of models. I've got a big sheet of blue card that I use as a back drop. I've got three normal house hold lamps that I use. A flouro light directly above, one pointing in from the left, and I hold the other one with my left hand. I just move the lights around until the lighting looks right, and then I snap away.

Ray- There wasn't any problems with the kit itself, just my stupid mistakes. Like putting a heavy object on a shelf above it and knocking said object off. I also sprayed on a coat of flat clear that was a bit old and didn't look too great. Then there was the time I dropped it while doing some airbrushing. You can still see some of the results of that one on the nose. Then the Micro mask I brushed on wouldn't come off after painting, so I just re painted the wheel wells over it.

Now that I think of it, the thing didn't turn out too badly for all of my best efforts to ruin it.

Thanks again everyone for your comments.

Sweet Corsair Dan! Like the others have said you must be a prof photographer... almost think I could run and jump in and start her up.

Nice "Hog" Dan! Mine is following close behind.

Where did you have problems?

Ray

I too like your pics, your photography is as good as your builds.

Scott

Daniel youv'e done it againFantastic build mate
Cheers Jules...........

great looking bird Dan! What do you use for lighting on your pics? I've notice yours are always quite consistent and without glare...

it looks excellent Dan ! the staining on the guns especially! i presume you used your usual pastels ?

Okay, I've finally finished my birdcage corsair. It is Tamiya's 1/48 kit. It took a while, and was not without it's problems, but the build is finally finished. At one stage it was nearly ruined when a rather large object fell on top of it, but it doesn't look too bad now.

hope you like it.

Im still behind On my build Iv been trying for the last couple of days to finish. I finally got the drop tanks on, I still have to put all the glass on, decal it and then do lot of touch painting.

Yeah Daniel there's just something about Hellcats isn't thereI did manage to get the fues halves joined and the wings on tonight so i just have to do some work on the engine get that glued on and then i'll post a pic, hopefully by the end of the week i can make a start on the exterior painting
cheers Jules.....

Well lads, I haven't been around much lately, but I've finally gotten around to nearly finishing my corsair. I've just got to add some small parts and a bit of touch up painting and she's done. I'll finish it tonight and hopefully take some pics in the morning.

I'm looking forward to seeing some pics of evryone elses builds. Especially those SBD's and jules' Hellcat (I really like hellcats).

Nice work Reggie looks good
Well I think tonight is the night that i put the Hellcat together, the pit is done the wings are done it's just a case of glueing it all together and maybe doing a little sanding later on............Jules

QUOTE: Originally posted by fighterguru hey guys Im not sure if im going to finish My A4 iv been sick thye last couple of days plus Iv got another build 2 other builds that I have to starts Iv got the Pacific Gb that I have not statrted the pacific Gb stated in Nov yet and Now the Cat Gb that starts january .

no prob! It's understandable... I was going to get SOOOO much modeling in over these last two weeks... (been off on holiday from work) instead I've got almost zip done.. got the floor and seats of a Bf110 done, my SBD is sitting waiting on aftermarket decals after I tore on of the OOB ones, and I got the interior of my Martlet Mk I painted today.. that's it..

Good having you here anyway! Hopefully I will get my decals in soon or I won't have my build done either... hope you feel better and hope you get some building time in!!!

hey guys Im not sure if im going to finish My A4 iv been sick thye last couple of days plus Iv got another build 2 other builds that I have to starts Iv got the Pacific Gb that I have not statrted the pacific Gb stated in Nov yet and Now the Cat Gb that starts january .

)cool thanks! I'll look into it when I catch up on my back log (I might as well buy it and put it in the stash as I don't think I will ever get caught up

Tom, the S-3 is the 1/48 Italeri offering which uses the same mold as the ERTL Viking from around 20 years ago. Like I said, not much office detail but if you are up for scratch building some details it offers a roomy venue for your efforts. The only AM product I am using are some decals from CAM. If you get a chance the kit is affordable and an overall easy and enjoyable build.

what kit is it Ray?

I am not much on modern aircraft... but oddly enough the Viking, the Intruder, Orion and E2 Hawkeye are builds I would like to do one day... when I was in the Navy I liked seeing them... the F-14's and later 18's were ok but those aircraft I mentioned were unique...

Nice job reggie! I especially like the flight deck and catapult detail.

My wife gave me the 1/48th H'gawa Tomcat for Christmas. Looks' like a beauty in the box, but, I've heard many a scary tale about that build...should be fun!

Tom, can't wait to see that SBD! I almost picked it up during the last Hobby Lobby sale. Bought the Tamiya P-47 instead.

That S-3 kit is a pretty drab affair without many after market goodies unless youre ready to pay out the nose for them. But it is a sweet fit'n kit. The only sanding and filling so far has been the dorsal wing roots.

Ray

Nice Dio, I like those old Dragon Dio kits. Had a guy give me a bunch while I was in college and I built them in my dorm. None of them ever made it out due to lager can tossing.

I made the mistake and used high temp engine paint on the flightdeck and this accident crazed the plastic, however, it made it look like the best non-skid that could ever be simulated.