Mud Movers GB - July 1st - Dec 31st 2008

Yep, as I've learned the hard way the condition of the underlying surface the NMF is being applied to is crucial.

Speaking of NMF, I have the exhaust areas masked off and the first layers of Alclad down.  Hopefully by the end of the weekend the exhausts will be finished.

A little more progress-wing tips and cowl painted.  Major decals on.  Still need to do the smaller stencils, but not tonight.  Only issue was that some of the Tamiya decals (stripe on rear fuselage & red cowl striping) are a little short.  I'm thinking of making a Hobby Lobby run (since gas is down to $2.29 here-still not good but much better than the $4.00 of a few months ago-especially since the closest HL is 60 miles away) and using the 40% off coupons and add another F-51 to the stash-and use the decal to touchup the shortages.

I like!  Nice and colorful.

So, what ordnance are you thinking of throwing on it?

Thanks Dupes.  Yes, those are the kit decals.  They are traditional Tamiya thick, but with enough Solvaset, they settle in.  I'm quite pleased with the results of the Talon & polishing power & a coat of Future.  I almost hate to weather it......

edit-From our 'For what it's worth' dept, I did a quick Google on J. W. Rogers, the pilot of Buckeye Blitz VI and not only was he a 'Mud Mover', but shot down a Mig-15 in Korea. 

I got some work done on the A10A.  Just need a few more parts, whole lot of sanding and a coat of primer.  Then off to paint.

Hey, welcome back!  Sweet, I have hope an A-10 will be finished for this GB!  Nice job so far.

Progress update.  Exhaust is finished, she's sitting on her own legs and ready for Future. 

Dougums - looks like I'm going to have to pick up a new tube of putty before I decide to tackle that Monogram A-10...dang. Can't wait for the paint!

Arki - those exhausts look hella-sweet (trying to mix it up, or I would have just said swanky).

The scooter is getting really close....just sprayed the med blue on the tail, waiting for that to dry so I can go in and do some touch ups....got the leading edge slats and flaps painted red and ready for installation....got the landing gear all painted up, gear doors painted and edged in red....and oh yeah....got the bombs dipped in yellow and painted olive drab and ready to mount. She is going to have 6 Mk. 82s on the centerline and I am debating Zuni rockets on the outer pylons or gas tanks.

Gotta work tomorrow night, so I stay up all night tonight....while the family sleeps I intend on getting the A-10 puttied up and ready to install the engines and if time permits, get some work on the A-7.

I am not happy with the wing the joint on the wings came out on the F-15, so I am going to work on that before I put it in the spray booth.

Arki-I overlooked your Mudhen-some pics don't show up at my work pc.

One word describes it-sweet!  That's one serious 'Mud Mover'.  I really need to broaden my horizons and do a jet sometime soon......

Dupes, Bob, thank you very much.  I'm really enjoying this one coming together.  I'm starting the decals this evening.

Paul, the Skyhawk progress is looking good.  Go with the Zuni's!

arki30 wrote:

Paul, the Skyhawk progress is looking good.  Go with the Zuni's!

 Yeah.....I was kinda leaning the same way.

 I just got done adding some custom messages on the iron for "Charles"

Yup....I did the A-4C for the MiG Killers last year. The Zuni rocket is an unguided rocket fired from a LAU-10 pod....these days, you usually see them slung under Warthogs....

On May 1, 1967, Lieutenant Commander Ted R. Swartz bagged a MiG-17 with a Zuni....that must have been a hell of a shot, considering it is an unguided rocket. The Hobbycraft A-4C comes with markings for the aircraft that made the kill....they are actually pretty decent decals.

I didn't get as much model work done as I wanted to....my daughter's bedroom is on the other side of the wall my work bench is on and I woke her up twice with my dremel....oops! I did get the scooter a base coat of future....just need it to cure and it's ready for decals, then another coat and I get to beat it up a bit and pour sludge all over it. I also got the wings on the SLUF.

Sweet...it even has the right decals? Bonus!

Ahhh...the LAU-10 pod. Know what that is.

So....I woke up about 2 this afternoon....laid there in bed and realized "Hey! I have a whole hour and a half before the kid comes home from school! And I have a kit that is ready to decal!"

So, here's what I did.....

Obviously, not a complete job yet......I have a confession....this is the first time I have used decals on the kit they were designed for. What a difference....glare screens that actually fit? No trimming of the tail markings? What a huge difference!

I changed the blue on the helmet when I mixed up the blue for the tail.... 

Dupes, yeah....the kit includes decals for 3 aircraft....Malyasia AF, Argentina AF and USN. The USN markings are the markings on the aircraft the day it got the kill. And don't let the rivet counters convince you the Hobbycraft is a bad kit. It really is not a bad kit....the cockpit could definitely use some work, but in reality....the scooter cockpit is so small you aren't going to be seeing the details anyway....so why bother? The HC kit offers a lot of bang for your buck.

bobbaily wrote:

Nice work Paul.  I'm going to have to add that kit to my 'wish list'.

Thanks Bob. I am pretty amazed at how well the decals went down...the intake warning in particuliar...that decal is the triangle with these little tiny strips that wrap the mouth in the intake...ugh. It sucks!

Yeah.....it's definitely a good kit....and a fun build. I have about 7 of em in my stash, and they announced at the Nats that they were going to reissue the line so I am looking at adding a few more. I think I might actually like the little bantam bomber more than the Tomcat....and that is saying quite a bit!

btp2k2 wrote:

Dupes, yeah....the kit includes decals for 3 aircraft....Malyasia AF, Argentina AF and USN. The USN markings are the markings on the aircraft the day it got the kill. And don't let the rivet counters convince you the Hobbycraft is a bad kit. It really is not a bad kit....the cockpit could definitely use some work, but in reality....the scooter cockpit is so small you aren't going to be seeing the details anyway....so why bother? The HC kit offers a lot of bang for your buck.

I had it out and was looking at it last night...seems pretty sharp to me. May try to find a replacement seat, but not much else past that. I think if this kit had been released on it's own (instead of within a month or so of the Hasegawa) it would have been much better received.

Looking good!

arki30 wrote:

Wow, that looks great with the decals down.  Does the 7825 look a bit crooked to each other, or is that just the pic fooling my eyes?  Nice progress Paul.

Yeah, it's the pic....I cropped and then resized the original pic and it skewed it just enough to look odd

One down, three to go!

Here is the A-4C Skyhawk

I am still undecided on Zunis or gas tanks....so I decided to leave the outer pylons off for now.

Paul,

The Scooter looks great, I've got the Aggressor version in the stash.  I think you should go with the Zunis, there's no such thing as too much firepower.

Nice job on the completed Skyhawk Paul!    Weatherings a bit heavy for my taste, but it still looks good.

Ya know, this is for a GB dedicated to ground attack, so you just have to put the Zuni's on.