Metal masters GB 2016 (1Feb to 31 July)

Duraluminum might be too dark but the others are great for two tone effect. With regard to the putty on the wings: I was watching a documentary about the mustang a while back and they mentioned the putty in the wing panels and that they had troubles getting it to stay after long use and AC maintanence etc, and that the use of it was found to be too much trouble and was discontinued late in the war altogether. So, build based on your kits age and how it is to be displayed, ie new, used, battle worn, or like mine, late war. SO, my kit will not have any putty.

With Alclad, prep prep prep, then prep more. Use very thin coats and dont handle it after you spray. If you can seal it and live with the duller look it will hold up better.

Good luck,

BK

All,

I'd like to draw on the collective wisdom of the group, if that's OK. I'm getting close to painting my D, which will be my first NMF. I know that the Mustang fuselage was unpainted. I have several "colors" of Alclad: aluminum, airframe aluminum, and duraluminum. What do you all prefer? I also know that Mustang wings were puttied and painted silver. What color silver do people prefer to replicate the paint used?

Suggestions most appreciated.

Larry

No, I got the SE5.....eventually!

They decided to strike and through all the mail that was in the sorting stations outside in the weather for a few weeks....lucky I got the kit undamaged.

From then on I do not use the Gov postal service....here in SA the Gov is run by the unions and strikes are a dime a dozen.

Just like the refuse removal guys on strike now for 5 weeks, they go around trashing the place and it has come to the stage that rats are taking bound in some of the poorer schools and running free in the city centre. The had private collection co trying to take some of it away but had to get the police to escort the trucs because the strikers shot at them.

Now when the strike is over (the 3rd one since Nov last year) they demand that not action be taken against any one of them and if the criminals are fired they just go on strike again to have them re-enstated......only in Africa :-(

Anyway, as long as we can build models to take our minds of it hey ;-)

Theuns

Well it was no skin off my nose to send them off, so if you don't get them I'll just throw some more in the mail.

It's not like a WNW SE5 if they get lost, WOW, that would have been bad.

Well, about 3 years ago we had a total postal service collaps when they decided to strike for about 4 months! Wouldn;t have been so bad since I hardly ever use them but dang I had a 1/32 WNW SE5 in the mail and it was lying in a sorting room somewhere - I was just lucky it was not dumped outside like the rest of the mail

Theuns

Nah.  'Fraid not...  I promise I won't get on my rant about the post office employees. They sure don't make 'em like they used to.  =]

I've been looking for it everyday. Even though we move this weekend (fingers crossed) I will still have access to the box to check it.  So I'm not too worried.  But you'd think it would have gotten here by now, huh.

And here I thought it was only in Africa that we have a poor to sometimes not existant postal service LOL

Theuns

Wow, I sent it right off. I hope you get it before you move. If not I can send you some more.

Not yet Steve.  I've been looking! I'll keep you posted. =] (...get it?! "posted")

Very nice weathered look to the Mig :-)

Theuns

She's ready for decals. I did a coat of Alclad Aqua Gloss over the top of the AK Xtreme Metal. After the decals are applied and the legs are positioned, I will do some minor fix up of the canopy area. I had a slight oversite in the fact that I forgot to remove the interior masking from the canopy before I glued it in place, so when I took off the outer masking I found the error of my ways, fortunately I was able to remove the canopy without too much damage. I'll be doing it in markings of N. Vietnam.

Hey FSM,

Let me start by congratulating everyone on the excellent work being posted.  Wow, there's some great modeling going on!

I can't believe that it's been over a month since I've posted anything.  I've had other things going on, but I have been able to spend a little time working on the projects for this GB.

My F-80 is sitting in the box, just waiting for me to get back to working on her.  The problem is, I have been trying to think of a way to clean up its teeth.  The original masks won't work.  I tried painting each one, individually, with a fine brush and white paint.  I wasn't satisfied with the results.  I may have to mask each tooth and respray the white.  I haven't given up on it, it's just that easier things have been keeping me distracted and away from that tedious task.

Speaking of easier projects, I've made some progress on my Jugs.  I decided to drill out and paint the bulbs in the wingtip lights.  Unfortunately, their fit wasn't all that great.

So, I glued them in place with CA glue and used the CA to fill the gaps around the clear plastic.

Once it was all dry, I sanded, polished, and re-scribed the detail around the light.

The lens looks like it has a yellowish tint to it because I painted the backs of the lights with yellow chromate.  The references I had showed that the interior of the wings/backs of the lights were painted, even on NMF aircraft.  I'm a little bummed that the yellow tint is so obvious.  Oh well.

Also, I've gotten the fuselages all assembled and re-scribed.  I just need to take care of the glare shield and forward windscreen, and I'll be ready for paint!

Anyway, the F-80 is just sitting there, taunting me.  I need to get back to her and figure out how I'm gonna repaint those teeth.  

Thanks for lookin'!  If you have any questions, comments, or criticisms, feel free to share.

Cheers!

-O

Steve, that looks awsone man!

Well done on such a difficult subject.

I posted a pic that I think shows the different metal tones the best.

Thanx for taking part.

Theuns

Wow Steve, Awesome finish; both in completion and the "finish". It looks pretty darn amazing. 

BK

Steve,

Looks great to me. I just hope that I can do half as nice a job as that on my Mustang.

Theuns, Britt, thanks. You're right - now the fun begins.

Larry

Nice start Larry.  Now the fun part begins! =D

Steve, very nicely acomplished.  You need to finagle a shot of that out in the sunlight. Just be sure to have a pair of sunglasses around. ;)  Decals seem to have set down on it nicely too. Great Job.

Which picture do you want for the front page?  Be sure to grab your badge. =]

I calling the B47 done. It was a pretty simple kit for its size. The raised details were difficult to work with and I tried to replace any that were knocked off by seam fulling.

Anyway, here is, not supper happy with it and it will be donated to my 3-year-old and 1-year-old grandson’s ceiling. That should be a sight for them to look at night.

Steve

Lary I am in the same situation with work getting in the way of modling, however being an independent contractor I DO NOT complain to much when there is work.....that mean I can buy more models LOL

Your mustprang's office is looking good 

Theuns

Well, I joined this group build and then work went crazy. I've been away from my bench a bit longer than I like. I have, however, snuck in a few minutes here and there. He's the progress on my D.

Larry

bvallot

Looks like a great start Brandon. That's how you do more with less! Great painting skills at work there. =]

So this will likely be one of the last posts I can make to update my build as I'm about to move into my new home.  It's just about time to start boxing things up. =[

I have my F6-D recon mustang cockpit mostly painted up.  There is an extra piece of equipment that went on the floor to the pilot's left: an intervalometer.  This controlled the sequencing of pictures taken. I haven't scratched that part out yet, but it won't be too difficult. Here's what I have so far...I haven't gotten around to a clear/flat coat yet, but the weathering will be very light considering I've done most of it with the painting already.  This is pretty much how it will remain.

Untitled by Britt Vallot, on Flickr

Untitled by Britt Vallot, on Flickr

Untitled by Britt Vallot, on Flickr

Untitled by Britt Vallot, on Flickr

This True Details cockpit was actually a lot of fun to paint.  The transmitter/battery above the fuel tank is a little underdetailed next to the Aires version, but with a little help it comes out just as good if not better.  A bit of copper wire and albion aluminum slide tube makes up the wire and cables here.  For your money...don't count out the TD cockpit for the P-51D.

That's where I'll be for a while. Before I permanently close this up, I have to address the K-24 camera and it's port holes to the left rear of the fuselage.  So some scratchbuilding will be in order. I hope to get back up and running again soon. =]

 

As far as my kit is concerned I have the seam filled and sanded out and the wings are now attached. I have decided to change direction on the paint. I am going to paint it with Mr Metal Color aluminum and buff it to a shine then seal it in. I have used this paint on small bits in the past and I really love the look. I want to see how it looks on the skin of the plane so that's what I am going to do instead. Wish me luck.

BK

Looks like a great start Brandon. That's how you do more with less! Great painting skills at work there. =]

So this will likely be one of the last posts I can make to update my build as I'm about to move into my new home.  It's just about time to start boxing things up. =[

I have my F6-D recon mustang cockpit mostly painted up.  There is an extra piece of equipment that went on the floor to the pilot's left: an intervalometer.  This controlled the sequencing of pictures taken. I haven't scratched that part out yet, but it won't be too difficult. Here's what I have so far...I haven't gotten around to a clear/flat coat yet, but the weathering will be very light considering I've done most of it with the painting already.  This is pretty much how it will remain.

Untitled by Britt Vallot, on Flickr

Untitled by Britt Vallot, on Flickr

Untitled by Britt Vallot, on Flickr

Untitled by Britt Vallot, on Flickr

This True Details cockpit was actually a lot of fun to paint.  The transmitter/battery above the fuel tank is a little underdetailed next to the Aires version, but with a little help it comes out just as good if not better.  A bit of copper wire and albion aluminum slide tube makes up the wire and cables here.  For your money...don't count out the TD cockpit for the P-51D.

That's where I'll be for a while. Before I permanently close this up, I have to address the K-24 camera and it's port holes to the left rear of the fuselage.  So some scratchbuilding will be in order. I hope to get back up and running again soon. =]

Very nice work on the office Brandon :-D

I DO like those belts,dang!

Theuns

Finally completed the cockpit. I built it just OOB, no fancy smancy anything. I figure I won't see it hardly ever so why pimp it out. So, basically I just painted and detailed it with what the kit had and called it good. The fuselage is now closed and drying. More to come later.

BK

Nice. =]  I can't imagine just how much bigger it'd be at 1:48!

Very nice :-)

Theuns

Britt,

I have this shot, though not a close up. You can see the difference gloss and flat make.

I usually put some tamiya grey primer over all to see if the detail is still good, than sand with 3600 till smooth and then do the gloss black tamiya enamel....it tends to stick a little better that way I have found.

Theuns

bvallot

Brandon, nice to see you in here. =]  What kind of NMF are you looking at doing with that Mustang?

Gonna go with a gloss black enamel base and Aircraft ALuminum Alclad over that. I'm hoping my adhesion problems are due to the base. I guess we'll see.

BK