cib2265

In a related note I'm trying to find pictures of AV-8Bs in various stages of repair/heavy maintenance for an upcoming project, but Google is letting me down!

I understand that but the judgements are subjective because of what each modeller wants out of a kit. Buildability and fit is more important to me than minute accuracy. As long as the kit overall has good shape and resembles the subject, I'm happy. If it takes a small fix to repair a shape issue, or an additional line of rivets or panel lines to add/remove thats fine. If it takes major surgery, rescribing etc then sure - no thanks. But a little bit out here and there is way - way down on my list of important features in a kit. Does it go together well - are the details sharp and convincing - does it have options to pose the flight surfaces and close up the wheel wells - does it have a SEATED pilot? Hence my use of sarcastic quotes.....

What's wrong with the Trumpeter AV-8B? Looks like a Marine Harrier to me....is the nose out by a mm and now its "unbuildable"? And it makes sense in the bigger scale - although I just bought a 1/48 version for a diorama.

This is bloody lovely and bloody aggravating since this is the EXACT scheme I was planning to do with my first Tamiya Corsair! Will watch with close interest!! Particularly interested in further reference photos of Gus himself, since I'll be painting him too. What color did you use for the salmon and other interiors? cheers Chris

THIS. Im sorry I missed this thread - but wow what a build! I do all...and I mean ALL my aircraft models in flight. I've got it down to a bit of a science now, been practicing/experimenting with different ways of posing aircraft. Using a clear acrylic rod is my usual go to option. What I do is find a piece of Evergreen tube that fits over the chosen rod diameter, I then place a piece of that inside the fuselage. That way I can slide the model on/off the rod base whenever I want. It takes a little bit of time to get the trim just right, but its a lot easier/cleaner option. e.g heres a 1/72 SR-71 paintmule using this method, the base is just a 1/16 figure base: Im also using this method on my 1/32 Wingnut Wings Albatros build, the tube went through the lower fuselage and rested against the cockpit back wall for a big banking display to the left. For the prop blur, the easiest way is to have a free spinning prop, and then turn a high speed fan on while youre taking a photo with a slow shutter speed.... OR put a motor in it...I have a couple experiments (using Tamiyas OOB prop action kits) on the go to do this. Keep going Colin!

Oh. My. This rustles my jimmies...what a gorgeous purposeful aircraft! I really, really need to start my 1/48 Tamiya Lanc...and put it in the air! Is there an ever higher resolution picture available? I'll do a Google image search too...

Those tyres look familiar! Great work Simon keep it coming!

Dale, you do know I'm building that exact aircraft right now?

Thanks - its only styrene, I'm slowly building my way up to resin pilots as I get a bit more confident with my pilot painting. I've started the NMF experiments. This is the underside of the SR-71, using 3 primers (Stynlrez grey, Mr Metallic Chrome (kind of like RAF High Speed Silver) and Tamiya X-1 Gloss black) and 7 Alclad aluminium types, plus a second batch with marbling in between (a very dark mix of Extra Dark Sea Gray and Midnight Blue) to try to get some variation in the paint. Once the weather clears a bit here I'll put the Alclads down and work out which way to go....

Thanks Carl, yes I'll definitely do that next time (still have a XVI and IX to do), also will likely put a micro motor in there to spin the prop too. Should fit between the cylinder banks. When I get around to the Mk XII conversion, I'll have a spare complete Merlin to play with - its a solid resin nose bolted to the front - so I'm looking forward to super detailing one...

Thanks Bill! I do all my aircraft this way - with a pilot, inflight. I've got quite a few experiments underway to make this more realistic. Apart from the Spitfire, I have a Wingnut Wings Albatros in flight banking sharply, an Airfix P-40B in a steep climb, and a few others..including using shadow boxes. I've also done an 1/48 F-22 firing a missile with LEDs in the tailpipes: Next after the Spitfire is either/or a Mig-29 (GWH) or Mig-31 (AMK) in flight, using a "Blur" background...

For the chipping I used the hairspray method. Primed, sprayed Alclad (I think from memory), hairspray (cheap $2 a bottle stuff), primed black, base coat, then water to reactivate the hairspray. I used toothpicks, Tamiya paint stirrer for scratches and a series of thicker/slanted hard bristle brushes for the more aggressive stuff.. For the different tones in the color I used Mig/Ammo panel line washes, but stippled on and/or streaked plus some underlying variation in the base paint when I did the marbling. Could have gone more aggressive I think.

Wouldn't you if you're flying a Spitfire?

And the airframe is together: Pilot is happy - why? Because he's in a Spitfire! Final assembly with seams checked with Mr Surfacer 1500. I dont like the way the cowlings attach, I would build the entire engine next time (cylinder blocks at least) Now, because this will be a natural metal finish, I wanted a test mule to try out various effects. So why not something cool? Revell's ancient 1/72 SR-71: Inflight of course, because, well, its a plane, not a car: Threw the cockpit together, you're not going to see much anyway: As i said, inflight = better....but I might need a bigger base: Primed up ready to go into test mode. Fit on this ancient mold is....average. I didnt spend much time filling seams, just threw it together over a night or two. I might video the experiments and put on my youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/nickmakwell Cheers, thanks for looking. Need to get a wriggle on, only 15 days left! This build is in preparation really for my Mk XII conversion and of course doing natural metal finish...I'm heartened that apart from my poor assembly skills, it goes together well so should be a good base for that.

Time for an update! Here's the pilot smiling and happy: Thats a Hasegawa pilot head and mask from their 1/32 P-47 kit. I used the top half of the Tamiya photoetch seatbelts as the kit pilot has a molded on Sutton harness: Engine built - this is the bare minimum you need for the cowlings to fit: Again, this is straight olive green Stnylrez with enamel washes, no other paints:

Thanks Kev! Hope thats the first of many more here...really enjoying this scale.

Following! Thanks for doing the WIP - and showing the pilot even if you're not putting him in.

Love the idea of bending the flight stand! How are you attaching it to the plane - using the slipper tank? I see it there on the left - Im struggling to work out how to do it without using the tank on my Spitfire VIII too...

Yet another reason why I do my aircraft in the air...don't need to worry about getting that overweight car look..... But yes, Eric is right - it takes away from the suspension of belief that what you're looking at is actually real. And shiny tires too - you put all that effort into a decent weathered/worn paintjob, but don't wear the tires?

Hit it on the head Eric. There has been a deluge of Tamiya Tomcat's being built though...I expect the 1/48 tables at QMHE to be full of them this year!

I also expected to see a deluge of Camel builds...since it seemed like every man and his dog bought one or two: I'm sitting on my Hasegawa 1/16 version though!

I'm still hanging on to my Tamiya 1/48 Lancaster, but man oh man, is this tempting....

Thanks everyone again - I've put a short video up on Youtube to explain the build/paint/weathering:

Gday Dale - yeah the Stynlrez is great stuff, I get it from The Combat Company. With a friend of mine we've been experimenting using it as a base coat for many things (particularly the red/orange and grey/white/black mixes for doing ships, but also armor and aircraft). Luckily, the olive green is a near match for RAF interior green: This is just straight primer, then added some enamel washes without using any future/clear coats - the Stynlrez finishes nice and satin, so any washes flow nicely: Excuse the crappy photo - I just need to add some dirt pigment and chipping before I assemble: And the pilot is almost ready to go, primed in white Stynlrez, which I find ideal for painting figures - just needs a few pinholes filled at the arms. I love the sh%t eating grin on this Hasegawa head! I got the engine bay done the other night too, straight assembly only, as I'm building the cowls closed, will take more pictures later, will do the wings next.

One of us..one of us!