Javlin1

Hi Jav
 
I bought a cast nose weight specifically for the kit - I'm sorry I cannot remember from where. I have assembled it and it seems like it is sufficient...

I built this kit last year straight OOB and rather enjoyed it.
 

 

 

And she's finally finished...! Been a lot of work and a few moments where I thought I might be tempted to put this on the shelf of doom. However it's come to an end and am reasonably happy with the result.
Not the best of kits in terms of detail and fit but with a bit (lot) of work she can be turned into what you see here. Just one pic for the moment, will post more this week when I can get some more decent photos taken. This one was taken by friend from our local model club;
 

 
So - FINISHED

The base-coat is on. I used paper masks, cut from a blown up pattern I found online:
 

 
Some touching-up to do left and right, but it's turned out okay. I used Hataka Orange line lacquer paint for the first time. The handle very very well and have good coverage. The landing gear has been painted too, and is dryinf after a gloss-coat. Next is wheatering and attachinf the gear.
 
BTW, I have also used MR Paint for the first time. Wow...just wow... I will order all I need from their line. It's just awesome stuff.  Hataka is very good as well, just not AS good as MR Paint.
 

evening boys & girls
 
 
 
well Chuck, there isn't much to show - I only have a standard dremel with a flexi-drive and a small axminster C2/300 mini-lathe - I wish I had a pillar drill, a milling machine and a proper mans lathe, but alas not
 
 
 
 
Thanks Chek - I haven't plans for a book, and I am not sure Kev would put himself through that again - poor guy had to go through 10k raw images to find the ones I had used in my build thread and do A LOT of editing!
 
the time finally arrived to add paint... I am not a fan of the process and find it difficult (which is why I like NMF birds..), but I can't get away with it anymore so after getting the custom masks from Radu I thought I would try the MRP paint range (I used enamels on the Spit).
 
I did some test runs to see how the paint adapts to going on unprimed aluminium and the results with the black for the tail was positive - it goes on really smooth and taked wire wooling without a problem so a start was made..
 
..not too many in progress pics, but here is one of the insignia on the wings...
 

 
..I put a different black on the lower tail as there are painted over serials here that can still be made out, the idea being I put one black down, then mask the numbers and then the main black for the tail so there is a subtle difference in colour - also set out the rear stripe by setting down equal bits of tape to follow the line with more flexible tamiya white tape..
 

 

 
..the MRP 'super matt black' is a wonderful colour and I am really happy with how it turned out - bit of a problem where some paintv lifted when lifting the serial masks, but I think I might leave it..
 
..wire wooling the surface gives a really realistic sheen and naturally fills panel lines & rivets with lighter dust which makes for a nice weathered effect..
 

 
..the rest are just glamour shots - the fuselage insignia had to be stripped off as the white lifted when I removed the masks, so Radu is doing me another set and I will do these with enamels - I also scaled the nose art name incorrectly so that is being done again too
 

 

 

 

 

 
stuff like the prop, the gear and the 'sit' are not right as it's just jerry rigged for the photo's, but the finish line is edging closer...
 
TTFN

Peter
 
 

howdy folks
 
after that interesting interlude (thank you all as I now have a next project which is comforting, love that Fw190 too ) we return to some Mustang madness...
 
..it's all about getting ready for paint and getting details that need the model to be handled done, before I can flip it over and start mounting the gear, doors and finally start the tailwheel (been putting that off, don't know why...)
 
Radu Brinzan is kindly doing some masks, and Torben did the nose art font for me many moons ago so I am grateful to him too so I should get paint on next time I post..
 
...for now, I had to finish all the tailfeathers - mainly adding the tips to the stabilisers and fin and rivetting all the fillets. I did get some PE fasteners done for this, but there are about 60 to do and they are freakin tiny so I chose the lazy way out..
 

 
..I cheated a bit as these are under paint and didn't do them in one piece, I used annealed metal for the fronts, but hte back of the tips where it is profiled to the stabiliser I just bent plain litho to keep the stiffness and maintain the shape..
 

 
..I also painted the prop blades & exhausts - Steve at Model Monkey scaled up his amazing hollow 1/24 set for me and all I did was add weld beads from PVA..
 
..the blades are not fixed yet, so excuse pitch or whatever please
 

 

 

 

 
..the last bit of airframe work was adding the MN20 loop fitting (I got some great help from the forums on identifying & getting drawings for this )
 

 
..I started by laying down bare metal foil so I can work and things don't stick to the fuselage..
 

 
..then I CA'd a disc of litho and the profile of the bottom mounting plate..
 
..some P38 filler built up the shape and the whole thing was popped off and cleaned up..  you can also see here a sheet of annealed litho 'hinged' off the fuselage so I can start covering the shape to make the mounting plinth..
 

 
..done, rivetted and drilled to accept the loop mounting plate..
 

 
..the loop fitting itself was made from profiles & filler and a 1mm brass rod bent around a 10mm punch..
 

 
..I think it's bronze green, so I went with that - it's not fixed yet, and nor are the bolts that hold it in place added..
 

 
..thats all for now
 
TTFN
Peter
 
 

The engine module is now completed,  it’s had an oil wash but still needs more weathering which I will do when it is mounted to the firewall.  The engineering in this part  of the kit is very impressive and much of it clicks together without the need for glue. More airframe construction next!
cheers Matt

A quick update,  engine wiring is in and painted  lots of engine ancillary components painted and I thought I was almost there with the engine and then I remembered I have to do the exhausts!!
i made a start on the wing centre section and when I dry fit to the fuselage I’m not able to get a close fit at the front?  When I offer up just the upper wings the fit is good so may attach them first and then mate the Lower wing centre section structure to them.
cheers
Matt




 

Hi All,  A little bit of engine progress,  which is a kit  in itself!
cheers. Matt
 






 
 
 

Quick update,  major milestone achieved as the fuselage is joined.  Lots of tape, but generally fits really well.  I omitted all of the internal detail aft of the cockpit to simplify things as  this wouldn’t be seen on the final model.  I’ve also been moving on with the engine and have many of the major sub assemblies built and painted. Cheers. Matt

 

 


 

 

 
 
 
 
 

That is Very Nice Tom! Looks like the real thing to me and it's not in a Dio!

Nice Looking Crate! 

Some gallery shots
I took some pictures of the finished airframe and base - enjoy!
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
So what's left to say?
 
First of all: Thanks for watching and all your comments.
I really enjoyed this build and I think it turned out quite okay for my first build in 5 years. Here and there is room for improvement - hopefully the Bf 110E-3 and Bf 109F-4 in the large scale will benefit from that.
To sum up my review of the kit: If you want a quick, easy but good looking model - get one of eduard's 109s!!
No matter if it's a bare weekend edition, or the profi pack with maybe a brassin cockpit.
 
 
 

So, it's about time I got something done on my battleship!
It's just a quick update, but I've been going pretty hard on this over the last week. Before I put this kit on the back burner, I'd had a go at the steel bracing that runs along the anti torpedo belt. I've attached a photo from the Paul Stellwell book showing what I'm trying to do.
 
 
My first attempt didn't look quite right, which may have helped the kit to a six month break, so the first thing I done was using a knife, strip the plating off, putty any divits left behind, and sand the side back to a nice smooth finish, take two.
 
 
 
 
I'm very happy with the way this has come up, the plates are very smooth and appear to curve with the hull, and to me, the front of the torpedo belt looks the same as the photo, which was taken in the mid 1930's. I don't have any photos f the rear of the blister, but I've done the bottom two plates in a similar fashion to the front, but it looks right for the shape of the hull.
Next is I'll be hoping to get some more strine strips, more tape, and complete the port side straps. I'm also thinking of how to complete the water ways. Trumpeter have made the decks level with the top of the hull, with a small curve on the side. In reality the hull goes up higher than the deck, a then has a roll on top. What I'm thinking of doing is sanding the curved edge off the side, extending the height of the hull with strine strips, and then use strine rods on top of that for the rolled top. This will enable a perfect fit with the timber deck, the hand rails and the turn buckles.

She looks great so far. I am close to starting my 1/350 version with all the after market goodies and will follow your build with great interest. Maybe next year I'll have the courage to get the 1/200 version.
 
I worked for the Navy as a civilian from 1980 until very recently. In the early 80's I worked extensively on the Missouri and New Jersey. I was a draftsman and did the drawings for the upgraded fuel oil system, forced draft blower mods and a bunch of other stuff. On one occasion we had to meet Missouri in Pearl Harbor for a shipcheck. As we were coming in to land Missouri was just pulling in and we flew over her as the sailors were out in their dress whites to salute Arizona. It brought a tear to my eye. It was the most beautiful sight. Unfortunately I didn't have a camera with me but I'll never forget it.

I hope not to steal the thunder from Squizzy's wonderful build, but nearly a year ago I posted information about the problem the USS Arizona Memorial was having with the access onto the memorial itself.  I thought it was time to give you folks an update; especially for anyone who might be planning a trip here with plans to visit the memorial.
 
In May of 2018, the staff determined that the concrete structure used for visitors to disembark the boat and provide access to the gangway leading onto the memorial itself; was damaged.  Access to the memorial was suspended until repairs could be made, and first estimates were "probably a couple of weeks."  That quickly changed into "two months" and then into "the fall."  Then, it was hoped that it could be completed by the December 7th Anniversary ceremonies, but that didn't happen, either.  They then said "by the end of March."  And, when that date rolled around, they said "fall."
The current explanation for the delay is that the large anchoring screws that anchor the structure to the seafloor are being custom made.
 
This is one of the State's largest tourist attractions, and frankly, I am disgusted and angered that it has taken this long to accomplish so little.  The memorial IS very much worth visiting, although it does not give you quite the same experience if you cannot go onto the memorial; read the names of those interred there; and reflect on the location and events of it's history.
 
Whenever the repairs finally DO get completed, I will re-post on this thread to let all of you know.  -Mike

It's been difficult to get a lot of time at the desk lately with family and work commitments, but finally I've managed to get the lower hull done.
There isn't much info on the docking keels, but with the little info I found, and looking at other on line builds, I've taken a guess at how they were, and although it may not be 100% accurate, it's better than nothing. I also took a crack at the bilge keels, I think trumpeters version was a bit like a smiley face.
 
With the lower hull done, except the rudder, it was time to join the two halfs, and now I'll be starting work on the details such as the straps on the torpedo belts, the port side fuel line, and the water ways on the deck. In short, still plenty of work to be done before paint, and I there's also the join between the two halfs!
 
 
 
Thanks for looking.

An update on the hull, for the past 10 days or so I've been working on the prop shaft struts. The Trumpeter version must have been designed with R/C in mind, mine aren't 100% accurate, but looking at all of my references, are a lot closer, and I'm happy with the way they've come up.
 
 
Thanks for looking!

It's been a while since I've done any work on the big BUFF but thought it deserved a stint back on the bench...
 
Since the last update and completion of the internal bulkheads, the next logical step has been to have a play with the landing gear bays. It took a lot of head-scratching to get the legs themselves correctly positioned and therefore the internal bay roof structure, and as is often the case with these types of builds, you sometimes have to sacrifice accuracy for structural integrity. Therefore the bays I've made are an approximation of the real thing but close enough for a cursory glance when it's placed on the model show table - especially when the big doors and legs are in place to hide the majority of my work! I had a good delve into the bays of the B-52 at Duxford for some much-needed reference as well as a few books, and armed with plenty of plastic card and Evergreen strip, I set about building up the basic interior structure.
 
The front bay:
 
IMG_0865 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr
 
IMG_0862 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr
 
IMG_0855 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr
 
And the rear bay:
 
IMG_0863 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr
 
IMG_0859 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr
 
IMG_0856 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr
 
And both bays together:
 
IMG_0861 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr
 
Still lots of further detailing to be done, but the basic structure is now there...
 
Until next time,
 
Tom

From my perspective, as a solid ‘average’ modeler, I try to pick and choose my projects carefully. Once I’ve identified/admitted to an emotional pull to a particular subject, I then have to consider whether or not my skills and available time will allow a reasonable chance of completion, to a level that looks good to me once it’s sitting in the display case. I have enormous respect for those on this site (and others) who can take a pile of plastic parts and turn it into a work of art, and enormous gratitude for their willingness to share their work so folks like me can enjoy their builds and pick up a few tips along the way.
 
Having said all that, the latest generation of Revell kits hit it out of the park for me. They build relatively easily, and look pretty good from across the room when completed. And for someone like me, the price is a major factor. Looking at the new F/A-18e listings, they are a fraction of the cost of the Trumpeter F/A-18e or Academy F/A-18 family offerings. Yes, the Academy kit is amazing – I fully agree. But I simply don’t possess the time, patience, or skills to do a kit like that justice. The Revell kit has plenty to offer to keep me busy for quite a while, and presents an affordable canvass to experiment with various painting and weathering techniques, and I won’t feel completely depressed if I stuff it up somewhere along the way and it never makes it into the display case.
 
So, to make a long answer a little longer – at this point, once they hit the shelves in the U.S., I plan to purchase one.
 
Cheers!
 
John.

Entropy! Eventually everything will end. :-) Might as well give up! :-) 
Radu 

Just went through the build Nice Work you have going here. Kevin

I did not weather my Zero for lack of how and where mainly but yours looks real sweet Sir.Cheers Kevin

Kevin I am building the same kit just the A6M2 version and the kit really does go together very well.I think it's one of Trumps better kits I have built thus far and you are doing a bang up job on your Rufe there.The only part that I had fits with was the mating of the engine correctly in my build(my mistake not Trumps) which I finally overcame.Anyway she is looking really nice Sir.Cheers Kevin

Did this guy get finished?