Cold War GroupBuild 2008 (1/3/08 to 1/3/09).

results may vary wrote:

I just finished my "in my stash" GB ELCO and am starting on the XF-85.  Gotta tell you guys.  I have not built a model with that few parts in a very long time.  I'm sort of adicted to the BIG models.  I mean I like it when the part count is over 500.  Allows one to "bond" with the project.   Just so you see what I mean... here it is.

oh and it looks like something Dave Deal would draw  

bondoman wrote:

That looks like a lot of fun. Why don't you build the open bomb bay of a B-36 as a sort of upside down stand?

Slick idea!

That is a good idea.  I like it.  I think it's a little too hidden tuck in, and man... other wise, thats a lot of scratch built hardware.  Definitely something to attempt.

Wow, that would be a very cool setup to have it dropping out of a B-36, but I can understand how difficult of a project that would be to scratch. Perhaps if you could find a cheap B-36 on ebay and chop it apart?

Chris,

EDIT: Unless you were talking about the swing-arm system, now THAT would be difficult to make.

Well, I've got a base coat of tan paint on the T-72 and I'm gonna add the camo pattern later tonight or tomorrow morning. Here's the scheme I'm shootin for:

and: (kinda hard to see in b&w)

So what's the status on everyone's builds?

Chris,

Still unstarted,still have time,for now I am working on a Sherman Firefly for a group build on Armorama,I usually only work on one thing at a time and I can't wait to start my T-72

Townsy11 wrote:

Well, I've got a base coat of tan paint on the T-72 and I'm gonna add the camo pattern later tonight or tomorrow morning. Here's the scheme I'm shootin for: and: (kinda hard to see in b&w) So what's the status on everyone's builds? Chris,

Haven't started yet. Still waiting for L'Arsenal's conversion set for my French destroyer, and for a few colors sold by White Ensign Models.

For those interested (if any), here are a few links about Heller's kit:

General caracteristics (in French)

General review of the kit (in English)  

Detailled review of Heller's kit (in German)

Detailled review of L'Arsenal's conversion PE set (in German) 

I'm still rigging my USS United States and it will take a while (I just decided to redo all the ratlines). I guess I'll be able to start working on the Tourville class destroyer and the USS Dallas within a month... I'll keep you guys informed needless to say!

I have started and am well along on the pit.  sorry no pics of WIP yet.  The main thing I have noticed about this kit is that not one part has any kind of location molding or reference pins.  all the internal parts that go into the fuse I just sorta have to push them around until they look right.  The bigest issue I'm working now is those funky tail wings and getting them in the right place at the right angles with no reference other than the instructions saying such and such wing should be at 50 degrees from horizontal.  And, they have a compound curve that needs to be fitted just so or else there will be no bond at all.  But slowly... I'm getting there.

Its been awhile since someone made a post. Here is my F-105D early finished

Thanks for looking

That's an excellent looking Thunderchief! Great work Raptordriver, go ahead and collect your badge.

Chris,

Very nicely done, raptordriver!

Thank you very much Cdclucky and Townsy11. Next week I am going to start the F-104.

Ahhh, I'm always a sucker for outdoor pics.

Dig that top-down photo especially...is this the Monogram kit?

Haven't started in on anything yet, but have narrowed things down a bit, and do expect some of the things I have on order to roll in one of these days!

raptordriver - nice job on the 105, I love how that plane looks. I noticed one of your bombs has a nasty seam line; I had similar problems with external fuel tanks. I invested in some FlexiFiles, and switched to Tenax (any other "welder" type glue would do) to glue "ovoid/cylindrical" halves. Have had much better results in getting rid of those pesky seams! In any case, good job on a very nice bird. Cheers

Status - as usual, "late, behind, way behind" :)  Actually, still 'on sched" for mid-summer start, once I clear out other GBs.

I'm making steady progress on the rigging of USS United States, which I hope to finish by the end of the month. After that, I'll finally be able to start working on the other kits intended for this group build (Dallas & Duguay-Trouin).

In fact, I have already started assembling and painting USS Dallas (I kinda lost patience with the rigging affair during the weekend): this kit has only 20 pieces, so it should be a quick and easy build.

I'll post pictures as soon as possible.

Raptordriver: great work!

I've started work on my P2V7 Neptune.  I'm actually going to give this to my step-dad once it's finished, as he was stationed in Vietnam with a VF Navy squadron that was in the process of transitioning from the Neptunes to the P2B Orions when he arrived there.  I've already converted the old Hasegawa P2C Orion to the P2B and gave it to him, complete with his squadron's markings, and I'm doing the same with this build.

The kit is fairly basic from all appearances, much like the Orion kit is.  I added a wee bit of scratch built details on the inside, but none of it will be visible.  The real "scratch" work on this kit will come with the decals I'll have to make to replicate the squadron's insignia.

I'll post more pictures as I make progress, but with summer coming, various house projects are going to get in the way of modeling, plus our family's vacation in mid-June will take me far from my modeling bench (to Tennessee and perhaps through the western ends of the Carolinas, among other places).

Ok here is the start of the F-104C Drone controller.

Oh and for the seat, I used a spare Revell F-105 seat. I think they had the same seat.

Well,I finally got started on my Tamiya T-72M,sorry I hate dragging the camara out for WIP'S but it is moving along nicely,it is a nice kit that goes together nicely,I wont be modifying the turret even though it has been said it isn't accurate.Most of the tank is assembled except for some smaller details,and the base coat of paint is on,I am now working on the wheels and assembling the Friul tracks which I got on Ebay for $30.00.I thought the kit tracks were not very good.

If the spirit moves me I may post some pictures,otherwise it will probably be a few more weeks till completion.

The challenge here for me will be to bring the large solid green tank to life,any thoughts on fading or varying the base coat.I used Tamiya Nato Green which was suggested ??

Thanks

Anthony, a good way to "break up" a sometimes monochromatic one-colour finish that I often use is to Highlight the open panels and to darken the shadow's or crevices or where plates meet. There are lots of ways to do this but the one I use most often is to first prime the entire tank in Flat white. I then spray along all the joints/panel edges and shadowed areas with Flat Black through my Airbrush. (with the tank looking like a distant cousin of a Zebra when your done.) I then spray my basecoat (in your case NATO Green) in a light coat over the entire tank, but I stay careful not to coat it too heavily. (so that the shadows and highlights of the black and white faintly show through) It's kind of labour intensive but the results are well worth it and can be quite stunning and got to make a monochromatic paint job much more appealing.

 Hope that helps,

Chris,

Alright..I finally started cutting sprues and configuring the cockpit on the Kinetic F-84F. It looks very nicely down so far....a little flash and a slightly pebbly surface that will need a quick wet sand, but I have high hopes for this kit.

Does anyone knowt he correct cockpit green color for this bird?