IT'S BACK! Secret Santa 2: Rudolph Strikes Back

Max, very nice Dauntless. I will be building the -5 version for this GB and only hope it turnes out half as good. Very nice build.

Steve

Chris, That F-16 is looking very nice.  Please post some more pics when its done.  I'm looking forward to seeing some ordinance on it!

Max, that is one VERY NICE Dauntless!

Chris - very nice clean crisp build!

Max - great job on the dauntless. I have that one in my stash and will bookmark your pics for sure!

Very nice looking Viper, Chris! Excellent work!

Cheers,

Azgaron

Great progress everyone!

Mark your Dauntless is flawless! [(-D ]
Chris you F-15 is looking great. 

Edit: OOPS! Missed the number by one: F-16 is what it should have been!

Max,

Really nice job on the Dauntless.  I had a similar problem with the oversized (I think) Acc Min fuselage roundels on the -5 version that I built.  They seemed huge.  (But those didn't have the yellow surround)  I wound up using a set of slightly smaller ones from an aftermarket decal set for a B-25. 

OK - here's an edit with an update...  I was in the modelling dungeon this evening and before I knew it, I sez to myself:  "Self !"  I sez...  "You're almost done !"  

Then I remembered that I actually have one more detail to add - a decal that I left off.  Which means I have to re-future a spot, apply the decal, and then re-dulcoat.  It's the decal for the lines around the refueling port.  (Kinda Important)  This is technically referred to as "doing it the hard stupid way".

Oh - and after that - there's a whole 'nuther model's worth of underwing stores.  I guess I'm not so close to finishing after all.

Anyway - here she is:

The pics are not that great - they were taken in the dungeon - so the lighting needs a boost. 

Chris

Nice progress, hkshooter!

Mark,

Very nice looking Dauntless! Very nice work and nice pics!

Cheers,

Azgaron

Sweet build, Max! I like!

Only thing I see that could use adjustment is the angle of the gear legs. It's a but more pronounced than need be. Other than that, looks great! Great job on a potentially difficult kit.

Well, I'm finally calling it done! Well, almost....enough to show pics anyway. I knew I still had to put on an antenna wire(the sprue and I are having a small arguement), but I didn't realize until I looked at the pics that I didn't paint the tail wheel or the formation lights! D'OH!

I had no real problems with assembly, other than ones I created. The AM decals I used, on the other hand, were a nightmare! The upper and lower wing roundels are extremely wrinkled...thank God they aren't very noticable in the pics! The fuselage roundels should actually have the yellow borders, but the ones I had were way too big......in fact, if I would have had them touching on top, they would have gone about 1/2" onto the bottom. So, I used my creative licence and went with the non-bordered ones. I also had some silvering problems with the bomb decals and the prop decals.

Overall, I am mostly happy with this build. It was my first Accurate Miniatures kit, and I had alot of fun with it.....once I quit obsessing over complete and total accuracy! You definately want to pre-read and follow the instructions on this one.

And now I present.........my Accurate Miniatures SBD-3 Dauntless, that was so kindly gifted to me by none other than our GB founder.......JWB!!

Thanks Jon!

All comments welcome! Thanks for looking.

hkshooter, very nice progress on the P-39. It's moving along very fast now and cant wait to see it with some colour on it. Nice work.

Steve

After someone wiser than I (thanks wingnut!!!) helped me through the canopy debacle I got the canopy on, doors (that don't fit to well) sealed the doors with Testors window cement and sprayed the primer. After color coats the doors will come off, edges will be touched up and the insides of the doors will be detailed and painted.

Outstanding Dave!

Very nice and clean build; I love the camo scheme. 

Very lovely looking 410, Dave! Excellent work!

Cheers,

Azgaron

Dave, excellent job on finishing the 410. I especially like the motteling and the way its even on the engine nacells, very nice touch. Great build.

Steve

Dave, excellent job on finishing the 410. I especially like the motteling and the way its even on the engine nacells, very nice touch. Great build.

Steve

Dave, that's a real good job on that 410! 

I'm still putting the finishing touches on my squadron of P-40s for that group build, but I did manage to get most of the cockpit done today and button up the fuselage on my Italeri Spitfire (thanks Dave S.)  The cockpit will slip in from beneath, so I'm still debating how best to complete it.  I've decided to build this model "in flight" so I need a good figure to put  into the seat.  I have a bunch of seated pilots in my spares box, so it's just a matter of determining which one fits best.  Hopefully this week I'll be able to finish the P-40s and in the coming weekend finish the Spitfire.

Dave,

Great build! Once again, I am in awe.

Thanks Drew, Chris. 

Chris that is indeed a window and in fact there is another window in the floor of the cockpit to allow the pilot to see through his feet towards the intended target during a dive bombing run.

Dave,

Again.. that paint job is most excellent.  Very nice looking plane.  One question - Is that a window on the top/front of the nose ?  Or is it some kindof opening with a cover removed ?

 Chris

Well gentlemen (and woman ) finally got the 1/72 Finemolds Me 410 done that Bud sent to me for my gift.  Took me a lot longer than I thought it would but only because I haven't had much bench time lately.  Also I dropped it on the cement floor at one point but luckily it sustained little damage and I was able to repair it quickly.  Aeromaster decals were used and polyscale provided the colours.  Thanks again to Bud and to Jon for hosting this fine GB.  If I get time at the end of the year I'll see if I can get to the other kit that Bud sent.  Cheers.

Thanks, Drew. Tonight I worked on the seams some. Not a lot of work by any means, just a few applications of Mr. Surfacer and some light sanding. I thinned the trailing edges of the wings quite a bit too. The airframe is together and ready for primer and maybe some follow up seam work but I can't spray tonight. My son is visiting and he's sleeping. The exhaust fan on my booth would surely wake him but once I get it in primer I'll post a progress pic.

BTW, after I had the cockpit together I realized that I had fogotten to use the resin seat you sent! I like them much better than using seats with PE belts as I think they look better when painted up. Bummer.

And so it goes. I'm thinking a Russian plane for the markings that way I can add to the meager collection of Russian planes in the case.

Bossman - Great looking Mustang! Wow, awsome finish on it and the -16 isn't looking bad either

Avus - that cockpit looks great. Very well intergrated.

Troy, great work on the 'cobra. Sorry to hear of the seam problems. I figured it would be good. But, you're rolling along well. looking awsome.

JMart wrote:

Let me know if you need any or cant find, I can send you some from over here! I have Testors Dull Coat Flat lacquer (1260) and MM Flat clear lacquer finish (2015). I wont let go of my Future though now that its going OOP ;)

Don't worry Jmart, future isn't going anywhere. When I saw you said it was going OOP, I thought it sounded wierd. My dad worked and my wife works for SC Johnson and I could have sworn that they still made it, just changed the name. So, last night, I wrote an e-mail to SCJ and asked them for the skinny. They got back to me today, and here's what they said:

Dear Mark,

Thank you for your e-mail. We always appreciate hearing from our
consumers.

Please know as of November, 2007 the Future® name changed to Pledge®
Premium Floor Finish with Future® Shine. I hope this information is
helpful.

If you have future comments or product information needs, we invite you
to visit or e-mail us again at www.scjbrands.com.

Regards,

Stephanie

Consumer Relationship Center
SC Johnson, A Family Company
Toll Free Number: 1-800-558-5252
www.scjbrands.com

Everyone can calm down, and quit paniking now!

JMart wrote:

Mist086 wrote: As i said in the IMS2 thread, my local area has run into a shortage of dullcote.  Once i get some this weekend i'll post some more shots.  Let me know if you need any or cant find, I can send you some from over here! I have Testors Dull Coat Flat lacquer (1260) and MM Flat clear lacquer finish (2015). I wont let go of my Future though now that its going OOP ;)

JMart, where did you hear that Future is going away?  That is (very bad) news to me.....I gotta stock up!

Brian 

Mist086 wrote:

As i said in the IMS2 thread, my local area has run into a shortage of dullcote.  Once i get some this weekend i'll post some more shots.

Let me know if you need any or cant find, I can send you some from over here! I have Testors Dull Coat Flat lacquer (1260) and MM Flat clear lacquer finish (2015). I wont let go of my Future though now that its going OOP ;)