Mad Komet Day

Ooops, sorry Joe, I just saw your post. I've consigned the Rot Komet to the spares bin, but thanks for your kind words. I learnt a lot about speed building from this build. If nothing else, use acrylics! Also, I realised that you just can't speed up sanding, it does take time and patience. Oh yes, and don't try and scratch detail a kit when your speeding, it just takes too long!

osher you have a great build here. it really looks awesome in the pics. well worth the amount of time you have put in. cant wait to see the finish on this.



joe

OK, well, this kit has taken me far far longer than I imagined! It's been fun, but, well, I've proven to myself that time is in short supply (except when waiting for enamels to dry that is, then time goes slowwwww)

As I didn't get beyond cockpit stage on the 24 hours, I added PE seatbelts (which really are worth it), repainted the cockpit, and filled in the gap behind the pilot. In prep for painting the wing roots were filled and sanded, and the panel gaps re-scribed.

However, the canopy behind the pilot just looks awful. Mine refused to sit properly, and now it's painted, it looks terrible (basically, paint can either mask or magnify problems). I think this plane will be put into the 'repairs or spares' box. The canopy was masked with Maskol.

Anyway, this is my last update report for this GB, and the last straggler signs off!



Here is a close up of the canopy that confounded me!

OK, so my joke of 24 days, not 24 hours seems to be about to be realised! Due to work commitments modelling midweek is difficult, and the weekends always are too short. Anyway, I'm going to try and 'Klear/Future' the canopies tonight, mask them, and attach, using Clearfix. Also, reattach the wings (yep, they came off). Assuming all goes well, it'll be ready for a first coat! Pictures soon...

Speaking of coats and decals, I went to my storage area, and there staring at me was the Heller kit, with the right decals for the red Komet. Cool!

Thing that gets me is this: I allow hours between each coat, and always apply two coats. The cockpit alone took ages because of this. I use enamels, I guess this means only acrylics for Mad builds?

Hey Calvin, don't worry about posting your pics. The camera has a wonderful way of hiding all of our mistakes (well most of them anyway). You didn't see any pics of the underside of my model now did you? There is a reason for that !

Even so we all start somewhere and we can all appreciate something for what it is.

I hope to have my Komet pics up by the end of the week. Borrowed a cam from by bud but it's a newer version & my old sony cybershot cable doesn't hook up to the new one! Awesome looking models, everyone! I kinda dread posting pics of this hack that I got! - Calvin

update: I finally got the digital pics to the photobucket. Unfortuately doesn't have the fully complete Komet but the one pic of the reputty gives you guys 'n gals an idea of what I had been up against!





I miss my own Cybershot! LOL - Calvin

QUOTE: Originally posted by djmodels1999 Well, I completely missed my first and second deadlines!

You're not the only one! The missing section behind the pilot, and the large gaps at the wing root (plus a lack of time), are all proving a bit of a slow down. Is there a perfect kit, that needs no alteration or filler at all? Still, it will be nice to see everyone's completed Komets. Maybe someone who is good with Paintshop (or whatever) can make them into a collage?

Thank you for your comments frostygirl! I'm glad you liked 'cause I really enjoy ed building it! That's the neat thing about the Komet. No two are exactly alike, or so it seems. I can't wait for the next Mad Aircraft Day, whenever it happens. Thanx for re-posting my pics for me, too.

Well, I completely missed my first and second deadlines! Of course, without my decals (which I ordered though!) I can not complete the build... I did work on the cockpit and have started modifying a 1/87 Preiser figure. It fits real good in that little cockpit. A bit of Milliput here and there to change it from civilian guise to a German test pilot gear and I'll be OK.

QUOTE: Originally posted by bstrump Hi everybody! I finally have some pics to post from Sunday. .. Here goes: I was glad to be part of this build and am now looking forward to Mad Leopard Week!

bstrump:
i think i forgot 2 mention how much i liked ur Komet also, sorry !
all of these builds have been so much fun 2 look at, & just about every
color scheme is different, so it will make a great gallery of builds when
they r all posted together...
thanx 4 sharing ur build !

frosty

Looks good Ghetto! Nice to see an assembled tractor roo

finally done! pics posted in the ac forum http://www.finescale.com/fsm/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=34542
my kit went together well. not to many problems. all of the builds look great. cant wait to see them all finished

Update: model is assembled, mostly! I'm not happy with the gap on the underside of the mainplane to the fuselage, so out with filler. I also need to build the angled bits behind the pilot.

Update on my build. The little pest is on it's wheels and all detail painting is done but I still don't have any swastikas for it. It really looks incomplete without them.

OK, here is the update. I have redone the cockpit, and added in some PE seatbelts (just those on the back of the seat). They're from a bf-109 set (see the BoB GB), but as they cover a later series bf-109, and look similiar to the Scottish bf-163, I think they are the same. The PE is from Airwaves, who always give extra. The colours are Humbrol 41 Ivory for the cloth, and a silver pen for the metal. The fuselage has been superglued and sanded, whilst the wings used normal glue. Unfortunately, there is quite a gap between the wings and the body, so, leaving that for later. Also for later are the rear section, and the canopy. I might add in the missing dividers behind the pilot, as per the original, made from plastic sheet. Anyway, here is my Komet to date. I think the PE belts really set the cockpit off nicely.

QUOTE: Originally posted by osher Oh, my cockpit is not that good, the painting is, for one thing, not as well defined and smooth as Frosty's. Amazing how much angled shadows can hide!

osher:
u r way too kind...
i think ur cockpit looks great, the detail painting on the instrument panel
especially stands out .
please post pix when u finish ur build, ok ?
& thanx 4 ur kind words about mine !

frosty

Oh, my cockpit is not that good, the painting is, for one thing, not as well defined and smooth as Frosty's. Amazing how much angled shadows can hide!

Yep, beautiful, Dave, just beautiful!

Osher, you have a nice cockpit there!

Have started adding my decals; lots of little stencils on this kit! However, I have no svastikas, and the kit's wing crosses do not suit me, so I'll have to order some. Blast!

While I wait, I can now turm my full attention to the cockpit, hoping to get something as nice as Osher's!

I'll post progress pics tonight.

Oustanding build, razordws! I really love the color scheme. And frostygirl, great job on yours as well!

Dave, lovely build, and as for the subtle mottling effect, just beautiful! When you recall that it's not a mainstream kit too, the only thing I can say is:

This Huma Me 263 was not a good choice for a one day build. Fortunately I have had this week (and a couple more) off at work and have been able to finish up so without further ado...



I had to add my own pitot tube and the decals are from my academy kit, except for the swaztika which doesn't really match but will have to do for now. The kits original decals for the prototypes were completely disfunctional so we have an Me 263 with operational markings even though it never made it into combat. I look forward to your comments.

24 hours? Er, for me more like 24 days! Actually, it is difficult to model during the week due to work (but, hey, it pays for the models!), however, I managed an hour or so today. OK, so... the model cockpit was ready for a few instrument colours to be added, and then Dullcote (as it is rather shiny, being Xtracolor). However, looking at the East Fortune Me-163 for instrument colours I realised that the side walls were a sort of dirty brown... As I'm now rushing the build a wee bit slower, I repainted the sidewalls (which is harder than it sounds, due to the seat being in place, oh dear!), blacked the clocks, added some colours, and am now waiting for time, so I can Dullcote the model. Oh yes, and added some strips of masking tape for belts. I was tempted to add too a spare trim wheel from 1/72 bf-109, but decided it was going too far for this model, and would wasted.

When I see how far others have gone, and with more scratchbuilding too, it makes me embaressed! Looking at pictures of the Schlepper, it seems that I overdid it with the rust, either that or the Germans just photographed those in good condition! Anyway, here is the picture of the model so far:

QUOTE: Originally posted by djmodels1999 aaah! The cous-cous was simply delicious... We had Merghez saussages with it, and a rather strong red wine. Fantastic.

the merghez sausage really helps make the cous-cous... ..yummy !
i'm getting hungry now !
et ca me rappelle mon temps en France...

frosty

aaah! The cous-cous was simply delicious... We had Merghez saussages with it, and a rather strong red wine. Fantastic.

QUOTE: Originally posted by djmodels1999 Thanks for posting your pics, Frosty. Always a pleasure to see what you come up with!

and the same back atcha !
BTW, how was the cous-cous ?
(i love cous-cous !)

frosty

Now, that is something I've never though of, Frosty... Using pastels to accentuate panel lines..! Why not!! It sounds good, gonna have to try that! Has anyone else ever tried that!?

Thanks for posting your pics, Frosty. Always a pleasure to see what you come up with!

QUOTE: Originally posted by djmodels1999 Looking forward to seeing how you fared, Frosty!

well then, voila ma petite oeuf de mort :


this is what i managed 2 get done during MKD...


cockpit closeup ( i added a few little bits of styrene strip, rod & wire in there,
also seat harness made from masking tape )


Me-163b w/ scheuchschlepper
i had 2 redo Balkankreuze on wing topsides because one of
'em lifted off during handling & disappeared...
the kreuze w/ outlines look more sinister 2 me 4 some reason...


another look, still need 2 mask & paint canopies & add the nose prop / beanie ...
& do a bit of paint touch-up here & there...
i added some chalk pastel 2 accent panel lines, & sprayed clear flat over that.
& that's where it's at now...
this is a fun build, the academy kit fits really well & builds up pretty easily.
thanx 4 proposing this GB, Domi !
as always, u r a most gracious host, & i learn a lot by participating,
not 2 mention getting something close 2 finished !

best wishes 2 all, i'm looking forward 2 checking out more MKD builds now !

frosty

Bs, it's looking great! Looking forward to seeing the little pest on its wheels!

Looks great bstrump, I love the colours!

Mine is painted and pretty much complete except the decals. will post some pics tomorrow.