Official Natural Metal Finish Group Build

B17Pilot you would be more than welcome to join us again anytime. I am thinking that NMFII will more than likely start on April 2nd and run another year. I figured if I started it on April 1st well it might just jynx the group LOL. So let me know what you guys think of a rerun and the start date.

Sounds more than ok for me Randy. Been to the LHS today and did see one or two nmf candidates...

Richard

WOW B-17!!!!!!!!! That looks stunning!!!!!! I have always loved that kit since I had my first at age 10-11. I have another and hope it looks 1/4 as good as yours!! WELL DONE MATE!!!!

Randy, NMF II sounds good to me as well. Just love seeing all the great work being done and hopefully get to join.

Well i'd definatly be up for another NMF GB, i'm kinda bummed that i jumped in late on this one so it would be good to start from the start........More than likely build another P-51, probably Dooleybird.....

B17pilot.....Thats an awesome build, i hope oneday i have the courage to take on an epic job like that but at the moment when i see raised panel lines i run.......really fast... Full credit to you mate...

Jules......

Thanks everybody for the comments!

Might have to try Alcad paints in NMF2.  I've always used the MM Metalizer paints, so it might be worth while to try the Alcad paints once

B17Pilot

Excellent work, it takes a lot to complete such a complex and large model. Inspiration for me to finish the NMF P-51 D thats been on and off the kitchen table for months now... Hopefully by the deadline of May 1 st. Anyhow its +20 C out and some yard work calls today, hope to hit the table tomorrow as its forcasted rain!

Have a great sunday fellas and I will be back with WIP's soon!

Regards Jason ~ 

B17Pilot I have made the correction to the front page about what paints you used. Sorry about that.

Supressionfire Looking forward to seeing some WIP pictures from you. Of course if some have to go past the end date, well with a bit of bribery, we might be able to extend things just a lil bit.

Vetteman – That is one beautiful bird. Really shows the streamline lines of the starfighter; great photography too. The SB parts are also fantastic, truly shows it IS the modeler and not the kit…

I should be able to make the deadline, but extensions are always good, just in case ;)    Oh, and you can have my vote on an NMF part 2; next time I can start on time and try a jet. Someday I will tackle that Peacemaker on my stash….

Raptordriver – That is one beautiful bird. I love the MIG look..want to build one of those and put a Phantom right behind! (yes, been watching DOGFIGHTS too many times lol)

Suppresionfire – I really like your SB/Dremel jig.. .I must admit I also look for ways to use the Dremel J  Cockpit looks awesome, love your SB techniques  and ideas; for sure will steal some of them! I agree with the “inspirational” part, very nice work!

Kermit – the engine looks superb; love the job you did on the cart. (MiG comments). I do have that Academy P47 in the stash, looking forward to your build. And hope you are doing better; “been there done that” in the health department! And your P47 is coming along real nice! (hey, I am catching up with 10 pages of builds lol). You are already finished by the time I catch you reading : ) Gorgeous build.  

NiceFit/Dobby – nice P-51… hope mine looks half as good as yours! Having done the red decal once, you are much better off painting…

Stikpusher – lovely pit. Looking forward to the rest! I always loved the F-84.

B17 – looks the part. Lots of paint on that baby! Great finish….

Maxfax – gorgeous P-51D and congrats on finishing.. no such thing as too many mustangs!

As for me, I am still using most of my free weekend time to pick up sticks,wood and debris from our recent storm....

JMart

 Sorry your weekend consisted of yard clean-up and not quality time at the hobby bench. I spent the afternoon shoveling out a culvert and re-doing the stone work around the ends. Done now so it can rain and I can watch from the kitchen table ( hobby bench for now )

I must say your comment or reply was one of the most thought out ones I have read, you included everyone who contributed to this GB from the past month! Thanks

vetteman shouldn't need a extension as may 1st is still 6 weeks away. WIP's tomorow I promise!

I'll have some WIP pics up tomorrow as well Have all the major construction done and gave it a going over with some 1200grit wet to smooth it over.....

vetteman42

B17Pilot I have made the correction to the front page about what paints you used. Sorry about that.

Don't sweat it, never really noticed.  Thanks anyway.

As promised some progress pics...

I took a few liberty's with the interior colours but i think it came out ok....

Julez72 thats some nice work you have done there I especially like the detail work you have done on that pit, it really pops out at you. Cant wait to see more and thanks for sharing your build in the group.

Vetteman, Thanks buddy i'm having fun with this one.......

Success.......I just sprayed on the allclad 11 and i'm fairly happy with the results, noticed a couple of peices of dust though.....

Hello Julez,

Looks great!. I may have missed this, but which kit is this-Tamiya?

Rob

Rob, Yeah it's the Tamiya kit...I've had it and the Hasegawa kit in my stash for years but chose the Tam one for it's quick build time given that i joined at the tail end of this GB...I have to admit though i'm not a fan of the canopy, it makes masking easy but i'd prefer  the framing on it......

Jules...

A QUESTION..... Which i forgot to ask in my previous post......I want to pick out panels in allclad11 Duraluminum but the colour closely resembles the White Aluminum i've already painted.....If i mask the panels and spray a black undercoat before the duraluminum will it darken the colour down a little or would i be wasting my time?????

WIP pic...................

Hope yu guys like it.........

Jules....

Hello Julez,

I have read in another forum that that would work. If you sprayed the duraluminum over the aluminum there may not be enough contrast. Alternatively, you could use a white or light paint to lighten the colour of the overlying Alclad paint to give a variety of shades. I was going to do this to my P-51, but since it was my first, I didn't want to experiment.

Nice finish so far.

Rob

Agg! My computer crashed monday, That being said here are a few WIP's from this weeks progress...

Adding lost rivet detail on the belly. The grey is Tamiya filler sanded smooth.

Foil added to protect the work, at this point I was eager to get some on to protect the rivets.

Little square stub had to be removed for the main flaps to fit correctly and be dropped

Here is the left side with stub and the right fitting better, the flaps needed modification as well...

Worked on detailing the landing gear bays also made a tool out of a large needle to replace lost fasteners that look like large screws with a slot in center, those WIP's ill show another day

Looks great...I especially like the pit....

Sorry I haven't been around in a couple of days guys, but as you know life does sometimes get in the way of fun ya know.

Julez72

I am liking what I am seeing in your build. That is a very smooth finish you have on your 51. Wish I could help you out with your panel color question but I have never painted a NMF before. I have heard of some that mix in a very small amount of blue or black paint to change the tint on metal finishes but I cant say I have heard of anyone doing that with Alclad II.

SupressionFire

You have done some beautiful work there bringing back the lost detail, it really comes out nicely under the foil. I really really like your cockpit, is it OOB or AM ? Had to ask ya know.

vetteman42

Sorry I haven't been around in a couple of days guys, but as you know life does sometimes get in the way of fun ya know.

We all know what you mean Vetteman, I was gone for 2 years........I'ts good to be building again...

this being my first NMF i'm not confident enough with the allclad to try tinting so i think i'll undercoat black and just see what happens...If there isn't enough contrast between panels for my liking i'll probably put on a light coat of flat clear over the duraluminun and leave the rest in future...

Jules....

vetteman42

Back on page ??? of this GB are some pictures of just the cockpit. I had painted the gauges with a white outline before reading they were not... I think it looks cool and admit they are not accurate. The throttle body on the right hand side was modified to look like Massimo Barbieri's in the November 2004 issue of FSM. Once again I posted pictures somewhere in this GB? His is a 1/15 scratch built masterpiece but a P-51 B so mine may not be 100% accurate as well. The right hand side was changed up to look like a actual picture found in the magazine 'WWII Fighters' winter 2007 issue. That is where the idea for a wood floor came from. The handle to close the bubble turns freely and the hose wrapped in wire was scratch built.

No after market parts, just some scratch built modifications to OOB. The gun sight will be modified and installed when the canopy is closer to being finished. Here are a few shots of the throttle body so you don't have to look through 100's of pages to find them LOL

I go for cool and better than OOB more so than 100% accurate. Unique over exact. 'Build em' all and let the contest judges sort em' out!'... well sort of as my builds are painfully slow

Supression Fire yeah I remember your pit now ! Your throttle quadrant really impressed me. I was planning  to try doing the same thing on my next 51 build which will be very soon. I did find the white on the IP a bit distracting, but, now that I see it "IN" the model I love it, as it really makes the IP pop out at you and shows all the nice detail, much more so than the black with silver dry brushing does. And hey isn't artistic license a huge part of our hobby ?

Suppression that looks great!!!! Can't wait for more!!!

Suppressionfire- WoW

I love it! I wish I could create such detail, but my lack of patience gets the best of me- once I start a kit, I want to finish is ASAP to see the end result.

Which kit are you making?

Rob

Supression, man that is a nice office, love the real wood floor......Is that 32nd scale???

WIP pics from me soon, I just finished adding the Duraluminun and it came out pretty good...

Julez72 Its 1/32 scale and thanks for your complement

maxfax The Trumpeter P51-D kit. It comes with clear sprue fret to allow for 'see through' effect. Fuselage interior details as well, most would add to it but a nice start with all major basic items.

Thanks fells for the interest, the kits 'rubber tires' need replacing and i'm waiting for a lower limit credit card to arrive to order a set of resin ones from Squadron mail order. The kit offerings look like front tractor tires, all examples I have seen have diamond treads, the rear one is worse so AM is my decision on that.

WIP Pics....