Lockheed GB anyone?

My Goodness!

I'm very flattered by your kind words lads, but honestly there really is nothing to it. The hardest part is finding a wooden base to start with! They are few and fsar between in my part of the world. I am lucky that I know a man who's good with wood! 

But as a "quick how-to" how about if I take you through the base for my F-117? I can take pics as I go and you guys can tell me that I'm not so clever after all!

Right, here's how I did a 1940 Spitfire base.............. 

First off-get a photo of your aircrafts natual surroundings, then take the essential elements of the picture in order to start planning your groundwork. For example, during WWII, many airfields were just fields-so grass is what you need.   

1. Find a nice solid base, about 300mm x 300mm-its a good size for WWII fighters.

2. Mask off the edges of the base. Paint the surface a dark brown colour.

3. Get some PVA glue and dump a big blob of it on the base. Now spread it over the surface of the base-be as messsy as you like! The more random, the better.

4. Now, while the PVA is still wet, sprinkle some country scenics grass over the PVA, there is no exact science involved, just spinkle it! Cover most of the PVA and make sure you get grass on the edges of the base.

5. Leave to dry overnight. When you come back in the morning, the PVA will have dried clear giving you green grass over brown mud. The surface is textured thanks to the PVA.

6. Finishing touches: For winter..........airbrush dark green over the base, use a misting technique. When that dry's- do the same again misting white for quit a distance away. This gives you a nice frosty morning.

For summer...........spray zinc -chomate green ove the grass, again use the misting technique.

Thats it!

7. Remove masking tape from the edges of the base and handpaint with a wood varnish of your choice.

8. Place finished model on base! Ta-dahhhhh! 

Here's another pic.....you can get a better idea of colour and texture here.

Frank and Mike read the post above.

Both think to themselves:

"There he goes again- any bloody excuse to mention Spitfires......................"

"Who asked him over here anyway?"

Thanks, Darren. That's a great starter base for someone like me. My New Years Resolution (at least one of them) is to try a simple case in 2008.

But you are very modest. Those of us who remember your F-14 base know it's not "as simple as it looks"!  Put me down behind Frank as Customer #2 for your instructional DVD.

ruddratt wrote:

mucker...great job, buddy! and congrats on being the first to complete their entry!! That is really a stunning build. The weathering looks spot-on, and the animated touches like the side windows depicted in the rolled-down position add a lot of life to it. It is an honor to have you as a part of this GB, and for such a first-rate contribution, I thank you! Well done!!

Mike, you're much too kind, myfriend.  As I read you rpost I thought how ironic it is. I guess I am the first one done, yet this build seemed to drag out over months, but I guess it felt that way becuase I never got to string together a few days of quality bench time.

The side windows down were the best way to show some of the PE set in the cockpit. Man did I butcher one of the vacu-form canopies, and went back to the kit pieces.

And the honor is all mine. Lockheed has come up with some of the coolest aircraft of all time. To see some of them built at the same time by the caliber of modeler who've come together was an opportunity I couldn't resist. What kind of a genius came up with the idea for this GB anyways?

If I can find a T-33 with enough time to complete it by the dealine, I just may add another entry. I'll be checking back often to see what else comes across these pages...and I'm curious to see what kind of base Darren will be making!

mucker wrote:

But you are very modest. Those of us who remember your F-14 base know it's not "as simple as it looks"!

Not to mention the Seafire Mk.47 base as seen over at FAAGBHQ!  That base is the dog's bollocks!!!

TANGO 1 wrote:

Frank and Mike read the post above. Both think to themselves: "There he goes again- any bloody excuse to mention Spitfires......................" "Who asked him over here anyway?"

ROTFLMAO! 

Quick update:

I've got my airframe built now, had a little trouble with the tail fins though, I'm not sure if I put the supports through properly as the port fin just did not want to sit correctly. In order to rectify this, I gave it a good dose to zap a gap!

Tomorrow, I will give all the surfaces a good clean and start painting. 

darson wrote:

Darren put me down as customer no 3 and creating a step by step as you do the F-117 base would be fantastic. Also, I have decided to leave the two fuse halves separate until after painting.  This could be a huge mistake but I'm going to go for it anyway.

Thanks Darren! I'll start taking pictures of the base as I go. I think I  undrstand why you are leaving the two halves seperate-just go really easy on the glue when you do put the halves together-I used a tad too much and ended up sanding what was an already smooth surface. 

I can see now after this mornings painting that the sanding marks show though-I'll have to touch those bits up very carefully.

Let us know how it goes with the 'pit and the P/E when you get the chance.

I am calling this done! I had a harsh case of the carpet monster and most of the fiddly bits ended up eaten :|

Tom that’s a super looking job mate.  You've really captured the "feel" of the F-16.

Progress:  OK no laughing now but I thought it was time to post some pics of the not yet completed F-117 front office.  Sorry for the quality of these shots but they were taken late last night and I couldn't find the tripod or be bothered setting up all my photography lights.  So I photoshopped them to brighten them up a tad.

It's amazing what you can see in a photo, I never would have noticed the bit of PE on the side panel sticking out or the piece of harness not folded over the top of the seat without seeing it in these shots.

I still have to finish the bang seat with the ejection seat handles and some lap belts as well as doing the IP, but that's for tonight.  Btw, the razor blade is for slashing my wrists after buggering up yet another piece of PE

Opinions please re: F-117

Who in your collective opinion makes the best most accurate? 1/72 scale F-117 kit? In form fit and function? anyone? Please.

I have an old 1/72 F-117 Monogram snap tite kit.

Great F-16 and Beautiful P-38 and Spit. 

Thanks

Tim 

darson wrote:

Tom that’s a super looking job mate.  You've really captured the "feel" of the F-16. Progress:  OK no laughing now but I thought it was time to post some pics of the not yet completed F-117 front office.  Sorry for the quality of these shots but they were taken late last night and I couldn't find the tripod or be bothered setting up all my photography lights.  So I photoshopped them to brighten them up a tad. It's amazing what you can see in a photo, I never would have noticed the bit of PE on the side panel sticking out or the piece of harness not folded over the top of the seat without seeing it in these shots. I still have to finish the bang seat with the ejection seat handles and some lap belts as well as doing the IP, but that's for tonight.  Btw, the razor blade is for slashing my wrists after buggering up yet another piece of PE Cheers

That office looks like I could climb right in and start pushing buttons!   Well done Darren, can't wait to see the rest of her!

Tim as far as a 1/72 F-117 goes you really have two choices IMHO Hasegawa & Academy and personally I would give the nod to the Academy kit for better detail in the cockpit & bomb bay as well as being substantially cheaper.

Frank, thanks I appreciate the feedback.

FeldMarSchall Model wrote:

Hello there, are crossover's allowed?

Absolutely, as long as the subject is somehow affiliated with the Lockheed name. Whatcha got in mind?

Tom, that's one good lookin' Viper! Well done, and thanks for participating. We enjoyed following your progress!

Darren, if that office is any indication of how the rest of the build is going to look, then I can't wait to see her finished!! Awesome job!!

darson wrote:

Tom that’s a super looking job mate.  You've really captured the "feel" of the F-16. Progress:  OK no laughing now but I thought it was time to post some pics of the not yet completed F-117 front office.  Sorry for the quality of these shots but they were taken late last night and I couldn't find the tripod or be bothered setting up all my photography lights.  So I photoshopped them to brighten them up a tad. It's amazing what you can see in a photo, I never would have noticed the bit of PE on the side panel sticking out or the piece of harness not folded over the top of the seat without seeing it in these shots. I still have to finish the bang seat with the ejection seat handles and some lap belts as well as doing the IP, but that's for tonight.  Btw, the razor blade is for slashing my wrists after buggering up yet another piece of PE Cheers

Nice looking office Darson! I wish my foray into PE Had come out nearly that well!

Thanks everyone for the kind comments. Skills I had when I was a kid are coming back, and I am developing new ones. Mostly due to this forum and reading all of your suggestions. Thanks alot.

I have an SR-71, I know its kinda late to enter she's almost done.

Tom, great looking build   Looks like she's ready for take off.

Darren, nice job on the pit.  Looking forward to seeing more.

FMF, Nice bird, never too late to spread some inspiration!  

Darren,

very nice work on the cocpit mate! You did good.

Here's some tail art for ya.  This kit is 1/48 scale, she's 26 inchs long from front to end.  And alot of filling was needed.

Very nice cockpit detail darson

FeldMarSchall Model,

thats a great looking Blackbird you have there! I really like the markings-nice work!

Thanks for the kind words guys, it's much appreciated.  The pit is not quite done yet as I still have a few bibs and bobs to put on the IP.

I've got to admit though, adding all those teeny weenie bits of etch is not favourite part of modeling.  I find a couple of hours of concentrating hard on those things really tires me out.