Out2gtcha Posted October 25, 2021 Author Share Posted October 25, 2021 Thanks Chris, not perfect but then again this is a fun build, so on with it! Greg W 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Out2gtcha Posted October 25, 2021 Author Share Posted October 25, 2021 Lot of pics here, with some substantial paint progress to show. Some rotor parts both main and tail, newly painted, and then weathered. While not going crazy here with the weathering I would still class it as fairly heavy weathering, as I would take a combat ship to have, and per a lot of photos I've seen. The top of the main rotor housing is probably the least photographed part, so again mainly guesswork on that, but I still like the way things turned out. Main central rotor assembly, main rotor blades and tail rotor un-weathered and in this case, just setting together. On to some weathering and some more paint............... GMK, Buster99, Landrotten Highlander and 11 others 14 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Out2gtcha Posted October 25, 2021 Author Share Posted October 25, 2021 Again, heavy combat weathering but not over the top IMHO I also got a start on the pilot and gunners SPH-4 helmets from ReedOak. These have some polishing to go on the outside, and have to fully paint the interior as well as weather them, but I think they will add a lot to the build. Hard little buggers to photograph! Have a nice day! Still more........................Next up!! Dragon, mc65, Starfighter and 19 others 22 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Out2gtcha Posted October 25, 2021 Author Share Posted October 25, 2021 In this next case with paint on the main airframe, it was 3 steps forward and 1/2 step back. I had nicely painted the background for the #1 Du Me Mi text, and even let it cure and started on the red text itself. It was an unmitigated disaster. I applied the text mask, and although the cutter seemed to do ok with it, the text was so small in parts that the color really didn't lay down well from the jump. I ended up trying to sand off the red text, then the white started chipping off, not sanding and filled with some Tamiya fine white. I touched that too soon by taking the masks off too early and pealed some of it up. Then while sanding had the rest of the primer flake off. I just rough sanded the WHOLE upper port side engine housing, then fine sanded it again, and then primed with black and then painted with black............again.........just to get back to where I was before the white background. After an experiment with the ICM decals, I've decided I'm just going to use the full OOB #1 Du Me Mi decal with no white paint background. Tests seem to confirm the decals are actually opaque enough to do this successfully. This next part was honestly the part that scared me a bit. The shark mouth is notoriously tricky, and even more so as a decal. I'm honestly not sure how anyone might have successfully applied the OOB shark mouth decal to this model. I guess maybe easier for some than others, but I have dire difficulties with two things in modeling; decals and clear parts, neither of which I'm overly fond of dealing with but both seem inevitable. Just prior to masking the full shark mouth, I got the rear tail 4th Cav pendant and tail Ident numbers masked and painted as well. I have over masked them here, prior to shooting the red for the tail/shark mouth. The red I'm using for both the shark mouth and the rear horizontal tail fins is MRP-299 Insignia red. In this case I got exactly what I was looking for, in that its the same red on the shark mouth and tail fins, but they look completely different because the base for the shark mouth is white, and the base for the fins was left black. The shark mouth mask was a process, but having done this a few times and REALLY messed things up, I found out what not to do......and what to do. Fortunately, this method means more adhesion for the masks themselves because you are leaving the inside or positive portion of the mask here as apposed to the outside or negative part. I will eventually go back over all this with black as needed before the OD. It was a complex mask, but turned out rather well and ended up spaying the same.The MRP-299 sprayed heavenly. We have red! I feel like I'm on a roll with this model, so Im going to chase that addictive feeling when things are going well and turning out as youd hoped. Cheers! LSP_Kevin, monthebiff, jgrease and 26 others 29 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
easixpedro Posted October 25, 2021 Share Posted October 25, 2021 Dig the smiley face! The 70s were a different era for certain. Awhile back, Jari posted a story concerning the rescue of some AF Phantom guys. It was an incredible story, but what I found hilarious was the pilot's description of the SAR swimmer: full beard, wearing cutoff dungaree shorts and wearing a smiley face T-Shirt that said "Jesus saves" Truth is stranger than fiction, especially in the combat zone in the 70s I guess! adameliclem, John1, Out2gtcha and 1 other 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Out2gtcha Posted October 25, 2021 Author Share Posted October 25, 2021 5 minutes ago, easixpedro said: Truth is stranger than fiction, especially in the combat zone in the 70s I guess! Indeed! In 1972 I was 1, and I'm sure a LOT of things went in the combat zone in Vietnam to say the least. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Confusionreigns178 Posted October 25, 2021 Share Posted October 25, 2021 The F-105G with a young lady (legs akimbo), painted near the air-refueling doors, is my favourite Vietnam "marking" story. Urban legend has it that this special marking helped the air-refueling boys hit the bulls-eye much quicker than normal. It's a lovely story, if true. I'm kind of surprised that the US Air-Force allowed the marking to fly, even with the war on. I seem to remember that the aftermarket decal-makers provided both a historically-accurate version and a much more family-friendly one (was it a flesh-coloured "merkin" in the second version?). Chris. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grunticus Posted October 25, 2021 Share Posted October 25, 2021 Sorry for the little diversion from this fantastic Cobra-build. But this one always made me chuckle a lot, especially the un-worried look on the elephant's face.... GusM, mc65, John1 and 2 others 2 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Fleischmann Posted October 26, 2021 Share Posted October 26, 2021 Just getting caught up on this one, and gotta say this is fantastic! I love the helmets BTW..and looking forward to seeing that shark mouth! outstanding work my friend- cheers Pete Out2gtcha 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John1 Posted October 26, 2021 Share Posted October 26, 2021 13 hours ago, Grunticus said: Sorry for the little diversion from this fantastic Cobra-build. But this one always made me chuckle a lot, especially the un-worried look on the elephant's face.... I don't have a pic handy but in the same squadron, another AC-119 had a painting of two "joined" geese flying with big smiles. Name of the ship - "Fly United". Uncarina 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Out2gtcha Posted October 26, 2021 Author Share Posted October 26, 2021 Thanks gents. I've pulled the black surround mask off the shark mouth, and have masked off the rear stabilizers and shot the entire thing with another coat of black Mr Surfacer 1500. I had a couple spots that needed sanding out and if you don't apply primer first MRP (especially gloss black) will show it ALL. Ill work on smoothing the one lone problem area out, and will shoot more MRP black tonight. By tomorrow after letting things harden off, I should be able to start masking for the OD! Cheers! Landrotten Highlander and Troy Molitor 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troy Molitor Posted October 26, 2021 Share Posted October 26, 2021 A former AH-1 driver for the wonderful states of Wisconsin and Missouri ( Army National Guard) I certainly approve. Well done Brian! I really like all the added extra efforts going on in this one. Well done. Out2gtcha 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Posted October 26, 2021 Share Posted October 26, 2021 That main rotor hub is one nice piece of modeling. Looking forward to seeing how this ambitious paint scheme evolves! Now someone needs to do a decal sheet with that elephant... Out2gtcha 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monthebiff Posted October 26, 2021 Share Posted October 26, 2021 Just catching up with this one Brian, fantastic work throughout and definitely looking forward to that shark mouth being unveiled! Regards. Andy Out2gtcha 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Out2gtcha Posted October 26, 2021 Author Share Posted October 26, 2021 Thanks all. I've got some more paint down, and things are back in black as it were. MRP-005 sprays amazingly well, especially for gloss black. I don't know if its supposed to be glossy, but it surly is. Unlike a lot of gloss blacks, it dries exceptionally fast, to a hard glossy surface. I start the rest of the masking for the OD tomorrow. Cheers! Alex and Greg W 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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