Fvdm

@ Haveblue, do you have a picture of a canopy you treated with the Tamiya polishing compounds and the gloss coat?

Time to force myself to take a break and let some glue dry. I've got the fuselage halves together. Originally I thought I would use putty to build up the belly but looking at it yesterday it just seemed like too much. I am afraid it will crack in the future. Thought about it overnight and didn't really have a good solution until just a little bit ago. I cut out the shape I wanted from some styrene sheet and then used my heat gun to soften it and shape it. Now I need some thin sheet along the side and it will take just a little bit of putty to taper all the edges into the fuselage.

 
Here's a broader view. I have all the scribing done. This morning I also installed the landing light on the nose.

 
That's all for now folks!

Cheers guys
 
mark- thanks for the suggestion.....it does make sense.....will finalize the config just before painting.
 
today got most of the airframe gaps cleaned ...next will be a nice wash down n touch up paint...or repair bad joints.....it is very impressive in size.....and the “brute n beefy” look is well portrayed....Trumpeter really did good with this kit in my opinion....but it also did cost a lot of money.....to buy...
 

 
the canopy ...and windshield.....I am in real amazement on how well it is molded.....a snap to mask even with all those curves.....
 

 
hopefully the next update will see the start of the painting process.....
 
rgds 
brian
 
 
 
 

I did a bit more research on Hep Cat and found that he was a cartoon during the mid 1940’s. I figured that this is what the artist would have based his painting on and decided to fill in the blanks with the cats face as it stood in my last update. Due to the fuzzy nature of the original photo, some of details had disappeared, but close examination allowed me to see that his ears and face were of slightly different shades, which matched up with pictures of the cartoon that I found on the WWW. I believe that the cat has stripes on a shirt which may represent an Aussie rules football team that maybe the pilot liked or even played for.
 
I worked on the mask a bit more and sprayed the face and ears.
 

 
I then used a .03mm Copic Multiliner to outline the cat, and draw his eyes and whiskers as well as define his paws. I have sprayed a thin gloss coat over the nose art to protect it whilst I finish the rest of the model.
 

 
 

Last 2 weeks i spent time building but forgot to take pictures. I rigged the wings, made the landing gear and the the tail wheel.
The landing gear got some PE.
 

 
The wheels are from Mastercasters and i think they look real nice.
 

 
The tail wheel however is not so nice. The axel looks crooked.
 

 
This was not acceptable so i drilled a hole through the wheel and the bracket.
 
Then I took some 0.6mm brass tube and made an axel
 

 
When assembled itlooks much better. ( For such a small part)
 

 
Then I sprayed everything in mr surfacer grey. I'm looking forward to spray some color.
 
Some small parts

 
 
Some bigger parts

 
And a dryfit

 

 
I will try to make some more in progress pics
 
Thanks for looking
 
Ferry
 

here is the next update
still needs some sanding and polishing before primer to check everything is good
 

 

 

 

 
back to the bench for some more sanding and polishing
 
Mark

Wow, what a nice paintjob. I agree with you about the chipping, it came out much better the second time.

Interesting project, Chris!
 
 
Looks like Bill put the wrong aircraft name on your base!
 
Kev

Work has been continuing on the Dh.9, and it is officially on the home stretch now.  The rigging it about 98% complete, and then it's just finishing up the Cooper bombs, and the little bracket that holds the extended exhaust pipe on.  Then one last dusting of Semi-Gloss, since WW1 planes were not flat like their later counterparts.  They were glossy at the beginning of service, and became maybe semi-gloss or satin as they weathered.
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
Matt 

So I have added the markings on the tail. The Hornet  motif is a happy accident. Found them on an old Microscale sheet. Has come together quite well. Looks good considering that I was making it up as I went along.
 

 

 
Dan

for the basic paint job I wanted to try to achieve the best chipping I can do
based on reference from j-aircraft.com and based on many pics, Ki-45 was finished in factory with protective primer layer prior the final camuflage color was applied. Thats why there is no significant paint peeling effect visible which was so typical for many late single engine planes.
 
So Alclad white aluminium with maskol applied

 

 
MR. Color C128 IJA Grey Green applied

 
maskol applied for final chipping

 
basic layer of C130 Kawasaki Dark Green

 shaded with lighter shades (mixed with white)

 

 

 
I was not satisfied with final chipping after maskol removal. Too prominent and large for Ki 45

 

 
So I gave another try to MIG chipping fluid, sprayed green over it and it finally resulted in chipping which is fine for me.

 

 
and ready for gloss coat and decals! 

 

 

thanks for looking
jan

Just for laughs, I put on the canopy to see how it would fit.  Almost perfect!  Very surprising, since a canopy closed option is not available without extensive modifications, that are not described in the instructions.  The fit is so good, that I think I will be using the canopy to seal the cockpit, using masking solution as the “glue”.
 

 
 
 
Next up, the engines.  I have a few surprises that I think you will like, but like everything in my builds, this will take a while!
 
 
Cheers,
Chuck

Thank you Gaz!  Finally have something new to report!
 
Sorry for the delay in posting.  I was out of country for the past two weeks.  Prior to that I didn't want to start on the next major step of painting and then have to pull off for 2-3 weeks so all in all... too much delay! 
 
So I'm back in the US and re-adjusting to this time zone.  Luckily, this was my Friday off so I was able to spend some time in the modeling room and begin the painting process for the 262.  I've decided to black base this bugger.  And so the first step is very simple... just paint it black!  I used Mr Hobby Lacquer paint thinned with a mixture of Tamiya Lacquer thinner and Mr Leveling Thinner. The first session was interrupted by dinner.

 
I resumed the black base after dinner.  No need for a total gloss coat since I won't be metalizing this bird overall, just at the wing roots.





 
The black base revealed a few minor seam imperfections that I'll work on after the paint cures.  That will probably delay the continuation of painting on the body for at least a day or two.  I've also painted the wing control surfaces and landing gear covers so I can proceed with those.

 
I was hoping to have received a Badger Sotar to help make the black base effect more fine but I have no idea when it will arrive.  I'll have to make do with the tools that I have on hand. May have to bust out my old school Paasche V.

Hi,
 
After the exhaust I have painted the wheel well for the two birds and started detailing.
As usual, all the karts had been washed with soapy water before painting. This is mandatory otherwise the paint will adhere even using airbrush.
I used Tamiya flat white sprayed in successives sprays until obtaining a clean uniform white surface.
For the varnish, my fav goes to the X-22 
Wash is Tamiya brown panel line accent color used diluted.
Dry brushing is ending the process using white XF-2
 
 

 

 
 

 
 
 

Some more work. After much thought, I decided to go with A46-217, with the nose art “Hep Cat” instead of the one in my first post. I liked the cat painted on this Boomerang as he looks like a cool sort of character, not sure what ‘Hep’ is short for but he looks like he gets up to some pretty dodgy stuff in his spare time. There are no decals for the serials, squadron codes or the nose art so I was going to have to paint all of them.
 
First up, the picture that inspired me to do this one.
 

 
Made up some masks for the roundels and painted these on first.
 

 
 
 
I found a good clear photo of the QE squadron code and traced around the letters, I also turned the Q into a G to make the individual aircraft letter..
 

 

 
Using the period photo as above, I traced the “Hep Cat” writing
 

 
I then used the same photograph to rough out the cat. I was going to use a reasonably clear profile drawing of 217 from the Boomerang book but found it to be fairly innacuarate compared to the photo of the real thing.
 

 
This is the two masks ready to cut.
 

 
The cat. There are quite a few elements to this to allow me to spray the three colours.
 

 
Mask on, ready to spray
 

 
one down, one to go.
 

 
all done! I will be toning down the paint chipping a little bit. Also, the cat will need some more detail that I will hand paint.
 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

found yesterday at the club meeting from another modeller for a fair price
 

 
my first bi plane
 
Mark

Just given to me by a very good friend, these three DVD's; Battle of Britain, The Hunt for Red October, and One Minute to Zero. Too cool.
 

another couple of kits at my door today...
 
IMG_3462 by Greg Lancaster, on Flickr

Thanks crobinsonh and Marcel, as well as all the "like" clickers!
 
Marcel, I see you are heading into Grumman territory next, which is cool, but I hope a famous MiG product will follow that. 
 
After looking in on the Durangokid's work, I decided to follow his lead and use the Alclad II primer thinned with Mr. Color Leveling Thinner. I was experiencing lifting issues with the Mr. Finishing Surfacer 1500 (not the only person it seems), and wanted something tough. The Alclad had some surprises in store for me however. I suspect that I was initially spraying at too high a pressure, and got a lot of pebbling on the surface. This sands off very easily however, and the primer responds well to micromesh polishing. It sure is tough, and only vigorous sanding gets through to the plastic. The surface is a little tacky after polishing, so I washed it with soapy water and am now leaving it to dry thoroughly.
 

 
Not wanting to watch paint dry, I popped into our local hobby store who's owner finally received his first shipment of MIG products. Slipping past my wife's office with a bag full of Spanish goodies, I set to work on the turkey feathers. They seem to get really chalky from the fuel residue, and I think that the fine pigments will do the trick in replicating this. I am still experimenting with the pigment fixer, and will eventually hopefully find the right amount of pigment vs fixer.
 

 

 
The "outer" feathers show slightly different heating/residue patterns, affected by the pattern of the casting on the outside. Here is my rudimentary attempt to replicate it. My pigments still come off too easily when handled, so much of this is sadly lost.
 

 
The afterburner rings are delicate bits of PE, and attach at the back of the jet pipe. Some reinforcing with a styrene ring was required.
 

 

 
The engines are finally assembled, and although the HAD brass wasn't designed for this kit, it certainly works. What a fun project!
 

This has definitely been a build of innumerable firsts Terry, but at the end, what have I got to lose? If I stuff up a part, I make a new one  and hopefully learn from the mistake and not repeat it! Hahaha
 
 
Many thanks Peter!
 
I remember all the "fun" you had with your Spit, but you DID nail it in the end! I feel I have come to an understanding with Acrylic, and it seems to be working for me, so I'd very much imagine that you'll be able to coax it to your will with your magician-like skills  Acrylic definitely is the way to go my friend!
 
 
Thanks Wolf! Great to hear from you!
 
Hahaha, yes you're right! I'll have not very much of a HK B-17 that took an awful long time!  But it will be worth it! I can't wait to get the fuselage all closed up, and get working on that beautiful aluminium finish!
 
Mid-week mini update before things get hectic for about a month again! 
 
I thought you guys would be keen to see what the tail cone looks like with the rest of the tail in place (I know I was!)
 

 
Not bad... line-up looks good, but how does it measure up with the rudder in play?
 

 
Not too shabby at all! For those that are familiar, the tail cone does stick out a little further than the edge of the fin. For a while I was worried I was going to come up short!
 

 
I'd love nothing more than to fit it to the fuselage now, but there's some hoops to jump through first....
 
Hoop 1. Polishing.....
I think it was Torben who was asking about how I was going to polish the acrylic, the answer is SLOWLY and WET. Only done a little tonight on one half, but it seems to be working so far. Both inside faces had a fair amount of distortion due to imperfections in my hydrocal casts (Should have had a better finish on these!), but patient sanding with a 400 grit sanding stick, followed by progressive grades of 3M sanding sponges, up to microfine, seems to be going well. I haven't use any form of polish or micromesh yet, so it should look even better after that, if the one on the right is anything to go by!
 

 
Hoop 2. The tailcone needs to be one piece prior to final fitment onto the fuselage. This can't happen without Step 1, so each side needs to be internally as flawless as I can make them, as I won't be able to get inside once they're joined together.....
 
Hoop 3. Both fuselage halves need to be joined. 
Well hoop 3 is going to take a while to sort out for obvious reasons, but in the meantime there's plenty of polishing practice for me!
 
Cheers,
 
Craig
 
 

Good evening,
 
I started to do some weathering on the left engine cowling.. still some WIP. Needs a wash, some oil spots and leaks, dirt and grime ...

 
Bye for now :-)

The nose gear is first. The metal replacement is a one-piece pylon/strut/actuator (the MLGs have only a metal pylon), so to make it retractable - i'm using only the main metal pylon and the second (smaller) part of the diagonal strut. The other "things" are replaced by the original plastic parts...
 

 
The metal parts - cut, the seamlines are sanded and everything is polished. Shiny shiny...
 

 

 
So these are the main parts. Check out the pins/holes for the hinges. I also decided to use the standard kit wheel and tire for the nose gear because they are slightly larger in diameter than the GTR nose wheel and tyre, and thus almost spot on with the exact diameter of 22 inches by 6.6 inches of the real plane's NLG tire.
 

 

 
Then i painted it. Mr. Surfacer + white acrylic. This is in an extended mode:
 

 

 
And how it looks retracted,...
 

 

 
... with its imaginary position inside the bay:
 

 
Now, let's get some wires all around!  Actually i don't know... i'm kinda in a mood for making the rotation of the vertical stabilizers.
 
 

new kit...
 
IMG_3457 by Greg Lancaster, on Flickr

Now have the cockpit completed with HGW belts and a light coat of flat varnish misted over. Also have the engine painted and complete and added to the engine bearers with the completed interior assembly now ready for fitting into the fuselage.
 

 

 

 

 
Managed to get the fuselage halves together which is a super tight but good fit and currently drying with plenty of tape around it at the moment.
 
Regards. Andy

hello again my friends
 
sometimes you get to a bit of a model and get a bit overwhelmed - that is me now in this wheel bay. The Spitfire I did was simplicity itself, a few ribs, a few pipes & done - the P51 is a complex aeroplane with many things going on and crucially differences between the C and D model (for which there are more reference pics about...)
 
..when this happens, I just try and pick a part as at some point it's got to be made, so why not now... I might not fit it to the airframe yet while I work out all the layers of stuff so things don't clash with each other, but to maintain momentum just pick something & crack on...
 
..this looked fun, so I started with it - its a condenser of some sort and in a 'C' is the opposite bay to a 'D'..
 

 
..I got my lathe out & dusted it off and started turning the end caps - I only took one pic and it's rubbish so sorry about that..
 

 
..I also made some of the pipe unions on the lathe from hex stock and soon had a kit of parts to make it.. the decal for the word 'CAUTION' was letter by letter stolen from a 1/24 Mosquito decal for something or other - the little one says Fuel when it shouldn't but thats our little secret ...
 

 

 

 
..next was the inner gear door retraction jacks - again these are in a different place on a 'C' - right up front in the big hole in the roof of the bay, whereas on a 'D' they are on the rear spar face..
 
..you can see one of the pair at top left with a label hanging off it..
 

 
..lathed the piston parts and got the size / angles from drawings..
 
..the three little lugs on the fronts of the jacks had to be made and added one by one as I had no idea how to do it otherwise..
 

 
..and painted & decalled - this time stolen from what may have been a Sea Fury..
 

 
..one of the most intimidating parts is a fuel selector valve assembly - the multi-pipe thing seen here on the right with all the pipe stubs..
 

 
..had it been a hexagon it may have been simpler as I have some 6mm Hex brass stock, but it's not, it's a pentagon...
 
..I started by turning the centre boss on the lathe, then measured & marked out where to file flats on some ali rod and filed faces to start the core part, I also ground 'V's' into some brass tube so I could bend it at 90 degrees and solder it as you can see the unions the real one has are not curved like just bending a pipe would be so this was the only option..
 
..I made the pipe unions one by one...
 

 
..cut the core off and drilled it toaccept the unions, I also added some airscale bezels to get the fittings on the faces...
 

 
..and dry fitted - all these unions are at specific angles so I will work that out & fit them properly tomorrow..
 
..I will add heat shrink tubing for the rubber pipework later on..
 

 

 
..the last little bit was adding the fuel gauge to the centre rib..
 

 
..and the back of the instrument with it's wiring...
 

 
..if every day I make a part, one day it will be complete...
 
TTFN
 
Peter