The Forgotten War GB (6/25/08 - 2/28/09) - Deadline Extended Yet Again!

Another update:

the major painting and decaling is done. I've got some smaller areas to finish such as the landing lights, etc. and then attaching to a base. Wing tanks and bombs will be added, too.

Almost there....

Great paint job & build Mucker.  Very impressive.

I've finished the Mud Movers GB so I can devote more time to the Sherman for this GB.  For what it's worth, my build for the Mud Movers was a Korean War F-51D

This was the Tamiya 1/48th kit-easy build and my first experience with NMF.  This plane was flown by Capt. Jim Rogers, pilot who also shot down a MiG-15 during his tour in Korea.

http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/jwrogersjr.htm

Edit-Broke out the Sherman & the razor saw this evening.  Took care of removing parts of the suspension and gluing on the 'correct' parts for the Korean 'Easy Eight'.  This is an old Dragon kit-fit is questionable in some areas.  I'm not looking forward to the indy links.  But we are moving forward.....

Mucker -- SWEET T-33! The Alclad looks fantastic, I wish we could get in over here! Nice save on the yellow band, the problems don't show through to photo-level. That's a great-looking plane!

Bobbailey -- Nice work! I'm buildng the same kit, using the third decal option, at the moment I'm trying to decide on the paintjob, whether to go with Tamiya acrylics and a solvent-based post-shading, or spray enamels and settle for a simple panel wash... She's a sweet build, that's for sure!

Cheers,

Mike/TB379

Wow!....the Alclad finish looks great Charles. That's a gorgeous model.

I really like the Mustang too Bob. The Talon finish is impressive as well.

I made a little progress with the Sabre. Hasegawa left alot of detail out in the area behind the seat so I did a little scratch building. I'm also in the process of swazzling up the gunsight. The fit of the nose cap was improved by adding a styrene shim. I hope to add the wing unit soon.

Cheeers.....Jerry

She's coming along great, Jerry. The scratch work will put this over the top once it's painted Keep those progress pics coming. I've got a few more Sabres in the stash and I'm taking notes as you go along!

Charles

Woo hoo! I was hoping to sneak this in as the "last of 2008" but after I think about it I'm glad I didn't rush it. Rushing at the end is my nemesis.

Kudos to the cameraman who is making sure that you can't see the uneven areas of the yellow band. I borrowed the "smoke" display idea from other modellers I've seen on this and other forums. Just some stuffing "donated" from one of my childrens' toys. I haven't told them Stripey had liposuction yet.

Here is a Korean War T-33 (Hobbycraft 1/48) using decals from the kit. Big thanks to Mr. C. Wayne Sharp, who's Korean War T-33 build I used extensively as a reference. He was even kind enough to send me some pictures he hadn't posted of his build.

THere's still the better part of a month to complete your builds, guys!

Yo Mucker -- fantastic job! The smoke display stand is amazingly effective. This is a superb build -- you should send a few photos to FSM, I'm sure they'd show up in Reader Gallery!

Mike/TB379

Yowsa!!  That is just too cool! The in flight display is awesome! Nicely done Charles.

Jerry

Hi all,

I've finally managed to get some color on my Mustang -- I spraying the yellow trim. It's 12 years since I last sprayed the color yellow and it was only after I started that I remembered the covering opacity of yellow is practically nil (I didn't undercoat...). Oh well, it showed up a wingtip seam that needed correcting! I'll recoat today, and it gives me the chance to adjust the shade slightly, the color I'm seeing in references is definitely a warmer yellow than the one I used yesterday.

Still not decided whether the main metalic will be enamel or acrylic... Anybody here ever sprayed Tamiya's metalics? What are they like???

Cheers,

Mike/TB379

MIke:

I've not used enamel, but rather acrylics and lacquer (Alclad). I guess it comes doen to the fineness of the metal flake in the pigment. Tamiya's acrylic metallic is fairly coarse (XF-16) and looks more like silver paint than metal, but I can't comment on their enamels...

Charles

Hi Charles --

I see -- I heard Tamiya had ground their pigments much finer these days, I'm sorry to hear it's still a bit coarse. I might go with an enamels job, pulling back the brightness of silver with flat aluminium, to get the dulled-down look many planes exhibited in the severe weather conditions in Korea. I was mainly concerned about the pull-up effect of metallic enamels, if I was going to get at least a second tonal shade I'd need to mask and I've not had great results in the past.

I'll think about this,

Cheers,

Mike

Mike:

From what I've used (which means this does not include ALL options) Alclad is very easy to use. I'ts even pre-thinned. The drawbacks would be the cost of buying several shades and cure-time needed to avoid problems. In the end it's very realistic.

Of the acrylics, I've tried Citadel products and the silvers are very fine pigments. They thin nicely with Tamiya thinner.

I have also tried, and like, the Gunze Sangyo laqcuer line of acrylics. They need sealed, but they are relatively finely ground.

I've not tried them, but I've not heard any negative reviews of the Talon products (by fellow GB member Hawkeye Hobbies). THose that have tried them, like them.

I've only tried the Tamiya acrylic XF-16 Aluminum and their chrome product. They are admitedly old bottles, so if Tamiya has re-formulated them, please disregard my comments.

Whatever you go with, I look forward to seeing your pics!

Charles

Hi Charles --

Many thanks! I'd love to try the Talon acrylics with polishing powders, but you can't get them in this country, and the US mail won't carry them overseas. I'd have to order probably from Hannants in the UK. I would LOVE to get into Alclad, but the same story applies. Citadel is a range I've not even heard of! We have Gunze Aquaeous here but I don't think we can get their laquers...

I'll pull out the last acrylics shoot-out that FSM did and check their performance reports, I seem to recall the Tamiyas getting a better report than the range did ten years ago.

I just redid the yellow trim, more solid and the shade is more representational. She should be a beauty!

Cheers,

Mike

Mike-I was getting ready to recommend the Talon product, but then saw that you can't get them easily.  Bummer.  However, do you have access to Testor's products?  I used their spray can German Silver on an old Monogram P-51 kit before I had an airbrush and it looks good.  Probably with a little polishing & a coat of flat it might work.  You might also consider getting some old scrap plastic or kits and testing the various options that are available to you.

Good luck. 

Warnig, Will Robinson....we are just on the brink of the 3 weeks remaining mark. How are you all coming along?

Now that the Holidays are over I'm back to the "can't get bench time" mode. Sigh.

mucker wrote:

Warnig, Will Robinson....we are just on the brink of the 3 weeks remaining mark. How are you all coming along? Now that the Holidays are over I'm back to the "can't get bench time" mode. Sigh.

....the young Jedi has gotten his learner's permit (driving) so I've been spending time with him, holidays are over (back to work) & it's time to go to Wal-Mart for our weekly attempt to stimulate the economy.....Hopefully I can get some bench (actually, 'kitchen table') time this evening.

The turret is done but the chassis needs some filler & small parts attached.  I really need to get that much done tonight so I can spray (rattle can) primer tomorrow.  The weather is supposed to get really cold (teens-single digits) later in the week.  I'm really dreading working with the Dragon indy links.....but if I can get everything else assembled & painted, that should motivate me to tackle the treads.....I hope....

Memo to self....never....let me repeat that...never....purchase an old Dragon armor kit.  This Sherman kit is a 'kit bash' with all kinds of different parts included.  There is a lot of flash, parts to be cut, parts to be filed...however, I have made a little progress.  The lower suspension is ready to be primed (tomorrow), bogies are complete (a story within thereself).  With a little luck, I'll be able to prime tomorrow, paint OD on Tuesday, paint the road wheels on Wed and maybe get the tracks assembled and installed next Sat.

It's times like this that I really appriciate Tamiya armor kits.....

Dunno if you can see the two little raised 'dots' on the pic above, but these had to be removed to allow attachment to the chasis.  I had hoped that I could just leave the raised dots, but when test fitting, discovered that they were mounting points.  After debating on how to remove (without injuring myself), I finally broke out the X-acto knife and cut them off without impailing myself.

Lookin good Bob. glad to here you're not bleeding. Hope to get some primer on mine as well. I'm feeling the pressure to get this model done before the deadline.

 Jerry

Nice pics, Bob. I always have trouble in tight spots with an exacto knife. Duringthe summer I ran across a dremel on sale and now and "in close" work is hacked at with the new machine. I'm still not that good at it, but practice makes perfect!

Just about ready to close it up for painting. I'm going to use the wind screen and canopy to mask the cp. Should shoot some blk on tonight.

After looking at these pics, I'm not happy with the gun camera wire I used. It looks too big and out of scale. Gotta fix that. Also the seat is not glued in yet. Gonna leave it out till the painting is done.

Jerry

Jerry-nice work-that cockpit is very impressive.

Mucker-yep....I need to add a Dremel to my 'wish list'.

Chasis is primed.  Hopefully I can get some OD on the chasis & other components early in the week.  Looks like the lower chasis has to be complete (treads installed) before the upper components can be installed.  So hopefully I can be positioned to install the treads next weekend.....or go over to my LHS and buy that Tamiya 1/48th Pershing that could be assembled in a day.....