Whitey

Hot on the heels of my last completion is this 1/48 Special Hobby Grunau Baby II sailplane.  A glider that many early Luftwaffe pilots trained in.  Designed in 1933, it was manufactured by many companies and individuals, and examples were still flying in the 1950s.  This simple model depicts a fictitious plane.  The woodgrain is done with oil paint covered with Future.
 

 

 

 

 

 
Thanks for looking and comments are welcome.

Hi guys!
This is my Trumpeter P-38 in 1:32. I used Gunze SM2 metallics - Duralumin and Chrome Silver. I didn't wanted it to be as shiny as airshows RedBull ones so I didn't polished every place - it helped for differentiation of surface, making dull and shiner panels. For sealing I used Vallejo Polyurethane Gloss (kind of Aqua Gloss - not damages metal effects in greater extent). List of changes/added details:
- Kagero decals - Pacific Lightnings and Eduard PE into cockpit, Master gun barrels,
- cockpit cables, cables in wheel bays, seat moved forwards, side panels in one engine cutted,
- changed side mirrors shape, landing light made from scratch,
- additional rivets lines added beetwen existing near cockpit,
- really, really many of fishing lead grains placed in nose,
- landing gear drilled and 1mm steel wire placed inside, side struts are from wire too, magnetized propellers,
- outside parts of the wing wasn't glued - it helped handling, model was more elastic which prevented bonds from cracking
and more... Kit isn't perfect, nose panels don't fit (canopy too), large amount of weight needed so it's making gun bay opening harder, too large rivets. Geometry checking is needed for correct alignment wing/fuselage. But I'm overall happy with result. More photos in my FB site. Hope you like it!




 





 

I'll be there.
 

just finished the excellent model, best helicopter a have ever built, in fitting and details
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is a re-post of an A-10C Warthog I built way back in 2014, so why am I showing it off again?  A few reasons as follows:
 
 
1.     All my Hog pics are over at Photobucket and since I won’t pay their ransom-like annual fees, they all have big Photobucket watermarks on them, clouding much of the detail in prior posts
2.     I am asked about this model a few times per year and I’d like a link to point to that isn’t corrupted by Photobucket
3.     I took new pics a few years ago to add to the collection.  As my modeling skills slowly improved since then, so did my photography, which shows details much better than before
4.     This is maybe the best model I’ve ever made and I’d like it to be archived properly.  I say “best”, because of how far I had to drag this crappy kit through innumerable changes in order to make it look half decent
5.     I can’t model right now due to home renovations, so this gives me something to contribute to the forums and have some fun with in the meantime, even if it is old
 
To re-cap, this model took me the better part of 2 years to build and for the most part, fought me every step of the way.  For details of what I did, I still have a build thread over at ARC which is here, Photobucket watermarks and all:
 
1/32 Trumpeter A-10C, "Putting Lipstick on a Pig of a Kit"
 
I used quite a few aftermarket items as follows:
 
- Cutting Edge Resin Cockpit, CEC32057.  Yes, I know it's an early A-10A version , but it's terrific and nobody makes a good A-10C cockpit anyway.
- Cutting Edge Exterior Detailing Set, CEC32061
- Squadron Vacu-Formed Windscreen & Canopy, SQ9412
- Eduard A-10 Interior Photo-Etch Brass, 32061
- Eduard Exterior Photo-Etch Brass, 32062
- Sierra Hotel Resin Engine Set, 32701
- Sierra Hotel Resin Wheel Set, 32327C
- Master Brass Gun Tip & Pitot Tube, AM-32-059
- Zactomodels Resin AIM-9L/M Missiles (2)
- Sierra Hotel Dual-Rail Adapter, 32601
- Wolfpack AN/AAQ-28 Litening Pod, WP32014
- North Star Models AGM65 Maverick Missiles + LAU-117A Launcher (2), NS 32003
- AMS Resin ALQ-119 ECM Pod (Short), 32088
- AMS Resin Mk-82 Air Inflatable Retard Bombs, 32080
- Czech Master LAU-68D/A Rocket Launcher
- Caracal Model Air National Guard A-10C Decals, CD 32006
- Astra/Daco A-10 Decals and Stencils, ASD3204
- And many, many scratch-built items
 
I used extensively "The Modern Hog Guide" by Jake Melampy and "The A-10 Thunderbolt II" by Neil Dunridge, both by Reid Air Publishing, to help with details and the many corrections required, although I certainly didn't do them all.  For the squadron art on the boarding ladder door, "Oh Thank Heaven for 707", I used a photograph of the real deal kindly donated by Jake from his book, which was expertly shrunk down into a decal by my friend Mike Grant, of Mike Grant Decals fame.
 
Now the old and a few new pics:
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Cheers,
Chuck

It's... not straightforward.
 
I used: 
 
Steel Beach Growler Conversion
AMS Jammer Pods, Wingtip Jammers
Quickboost ECS Vents
Rhino Intakes
Legend Productions Seats
Aires Exhausts
Eduard Photoetch Exterior Sets (Various) 
Tamiya F-16CJ HARMS 
Northstar Models Wheels
Southern Sky Super Hornet Stencil Decals
Custom stencils + decal artwork for the main markings 
Bunch of random scratchbuild enhancements like the helmet trackers on the canopy, cockpit, thinned out the vents by the wing. 
 
The Red Fox 3D Decal cockpit set wasn't available when I built this, so I didn't use it. But I'm using their set on a 1/32 F-35 now and they work very well. Little bit of touchup needed on the edges where the color is a bit thin, but nothing major. 
 
 
Happy to answer any questions you have as you do your build... 
It's not an easy kit especially if you jam as much aftermarket into it as I did, but it does look very impressive when it's done! 
 
-Awan

I can't believe it's coming around so soon!
 
Kev

Yeh I'll be there on the Moorabbin Air Museum traders tables.

Hello all, i know this forum is not a big fan of helicopters as i am
I decided to post some pictures of this model that is a crisp representation of the Apache, great detail and lots of positive rivets as the real machine
Started with the cockpit as usual i replaced all the buttons from the original plastic with ANYZ 3D printed switches and knobs,and data decals from ANYZ also, it really comes to life this black cockpit
 

 

 

 

Hi guys 

As always I need to keep you informed on non LSP releases
Beaufighter engine set for the 1/48 Revell kit, designed by Kerry Carlyle 
 
https://aerocraftmodels.bigcartel.com/product/bristol-beaufighter-replacement-cowlings-and-engines-for-the-revell-kits


https://aerocraftmodels.bigcartel.com/product/avro-vulcan-201-seamless-intakes-and-details-for-the-airfix-kit
 https://aerocraftmodels.bigcartel.com/product/avro-vulcan-301-seamless-intakes-and-details-for-the-airfix-kit
 

 

 

Hi all,
Nieuport XVII (17) C.1, Serial No: N1977 of N124 ‘Lafayette’ Escadrille during March 1917 and as flown by Sgt. Robert Soubiran.
The full build log can be found here:
 
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As usual a fully detailed build log in Adobe PDF format, can be downloaded from the 'Logs' page on my site (linked in my signature block below).
Thanks for your comments and support,
 
Mike
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hello,

First of all, thank you very much for your warm welcome.

I've always liked the brightly painted Japanese carrier planes. The famous A6M comes to the list of these machines. Personally, there was no doubt for me which Tamyia set I would assemble first. One base color of the plane and the Japanese theme, which has been accompanying me since I started gluing half a year ago, gave me a slightly better chance than with other planes from this company.

Simultaneously with the Ki-84 being built, I started work on the much more complex A6M2 model. In principle, the construction in this way was supposed to solve several problems. First, the Ki-84 was intended as a test model for the use of colors and techniques. Secondly, I wanted to eliminate the risk of working on not dry elements. After the end of the stage, I took the second model and the first one dried in peace.
And so, after almost three months, I finished my fourth model. Excellent Tamyia set, my first model from this company. I basically only used what was in the box to make the model. Only the Montex masks were supposed to allow me to eliminate large decals almost completely. The paints are Tamyia and Gunze. I created the model itself by building the color from several layers. Starting with the base, several layers of metallisers to finally build three shades from the base color and alternately create the most complex surface of the plane.
 
I made the model completely in accordance with the instructions, with all mechanisms and moving parts, although I realize that it is not a toy, I decided not to interfere with the instructions of the model when I first faced Tamyia.
 
I highly recommend it to anyone who hasn't had a chance to make this model yet. I had a lot of fun building the stages and reading the books about this fighter. It was a fascinating adventure and honestly I'm a bit sad that it's over.
 

 
The plane presents the Saburo Shindo machine - a veteran of fighting over China. The plane comes from 07.12.1941 from the attack on Pearl Harbor. Shindo was stationed on the aircraft carrier Akagi and commanded cover groups, attacking various ground targets. He also led his Zeros to attack Hickam Airfield. Aircraft from his group also clashed with American fighters that day. He was lucky to survive the war. He died in 2000.
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you @Out2gtcha @monthebiff for your kind words.
As for the accuracy, I built the FLY kit when it was released. Remembering the number of things I had to add to detail and ‘accurize’ it, I notice that my earlier effort has been implemented in the Revell kit. 
 
An excerpt from my original WIP

 
Stock Revell kit

 
 
 
 
 
 

The product is marketed as Pledge Floor Gloss...but after all these years it's been discontinued!
Yes you can get it online for a higher price if you can find it.
 
I also had trouble airbrushing it consistently.  Recently I tried thinning it with acrylic paint "flow aid" and that seemed to work well.  Others simply airbrush it straight.
 On the other hand, there are so many new products for clear that it may be time to put the Future behind us!  LOL

Alclad Aqua Gloss Clear ALC 600 is much more predictable than Future and works wonderfully straight from the bottle for both brush and airbrush.

I use Tamiya X-11 Gloss.  Amazing stuff.   After the first time I tried it, I never went back to Future.   

My newest build - P.11c from IBG, with propeller from BitsKrieg, gun barrels, aiming devices, Venturi and oil radiator from Master, windscreen and engine cowling supports from Part PE. The markings are custom made by Mr.Decal for this a/c flown by Franciszek Jastrzębski - the commander of 132 Sqn from III Fighter Group from my home city Poznań. I hope you will enjoy.
 

Annnnnnd here’s the ZM amendment to the original release schedule!!!  … I found it earlier today posted years ago on my Facebook page for some reason …
 
3 versions to be released … 
 
* B-2 / R3 (RIII) - (Mk 101 or bombs)
* B-3 - (Bk 75)
* B-2 / R8 - (Mk 103)
 

 
Rog

Zactomodels is now open again and it's good to be back!
 
During our move last year I injured my right shoulder. After months of living with it, I finally had it checked. I was diagnosed with a torn rotator cuff, but it turned out to be really bad bursitis with bone spurs.
The MRI was excruciating because I had to hold my neck cranked to the side. A week later my neck was aching, my left arm began falling asleep and my left thumb tip was completely numb. I went almost 2 months like that before I found a chiropractor that was able to help.
I was almost healed but kept re-injuring myself doing small tasks. Spending almost two weeks in bed with COVID was just what my body needed to recover. Another couple of weeks to take care of things and now I'm ready to go!
 
My apologies to those who have had emails go unanswered. I've done my best to reply to anything related to orders that were placed, but skipped almost everything else...
 
No new products for a while. While the casting area is temporarily set up (still in the dining room and not the garage), my office/modeling room is in-progress.
 
The new home is quite a drive from the Post Office, so orders will be shipping on Mondays and Fridays only.
 
UK is still blocked from purchasing due to VAT regulations. Does anybody know of any small business that has successfully signed up for VAT or found a way around this?
EU can order but you'll have to pay your own VAT when your package arrives.
Australia and New Zealand are both back after COVID restrictions.
Russia and Ukraine are blocked from ordering due to the war.
 
AIM-9X Sidewinder is in limbo until I can get more MV Lenses (or find a replacement).
 
F-16 MCID (large mouth) intake will not be available until after the garage/shop is up and running and I re-engineer the mold.
 
I will be doing a short run re-release of the Revell MiG-29 correction and combo sets in the near future. I'll be casting sets until the current molds wear out and then it's gone. Contact me if you are interested in reserving one.
 
Su-27 and A-7 canopies are not available, but I do plan to re-release them early next year after moving my shop to my garage, even if the parts aren't "Perfect" (I've realized I was too much of a perfectionist when rejecting minor flaws).
 

 
Chris

Superb

P-40M P/O Geoff B.Fisken, 14.Sq. RNZAF, Guadalcanal
Project 22/22 1/32 Hasegawa model,
Avionix cockpit,
Eduard instrument panel & seat belts, exhaust, wheels,
homemade painting mask.
All colours MRP