SaintsPhil Posted July 30, 2012 Share Posted July 30, 2012 Popped home at lunch to let the dog out and took a few snaps, thought I'd be the first but was beaten to it!! Anyway this kit: And the sprues I'll be using the kit decals, it'll be the option with the red tail with white cross BUT of course they're Hasegawa decals, so the whites cream and they're and inch thick!! Ive read decal solutions and high shine Alcad finishes dont mix, so Ive got a plan.... Just a couple of bits of AM It'll be on the ground, despite the pilot, might add another figure or something for a dio. Probably won't start for a few weeks, got to clear the bench. Looking forward to this one! Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Posted July 30, 2012 Share Posted July 30, 2012 Sweet aircraft, sweet scheme! I'd be half tempted to do it with the wheels on the way up, identical to that awesome box art Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintsPhil Posted July 31, 2012 Author Share Posted July 31, 2012 Hmmmm now that's a tempting idea!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giorgio N Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 Another very nice scheme,lookinf forward to see it ! That aircraft was the mount of Col. George Laven Jr. when he was commander of 479 TFW. Laven was a P-38 ace and his Lightnings were named Itsy Bitsy. He continued in the USAF postwar and after he reached command of a Wing always had very colourful aircrafts. From what I read about him he was a character as colourful as his aircrafts ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintsPhil Posted July 31, 2012 Author Share Posted July 31, 2012 Cheers Giorgio, I like a good back story so I'll have a google and see what comes up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintsPhil Posted August 6, 2012 Author Share Posted August 6, 2012 Well after a disaster with my Dragonfly for CAS GB I thought I'd start this to cheer me up! That it has done! Had to stop myself to take some quick pics as I was racing along! I would also have one of 2 halves closed up, but The pilot is too tight a fit to risk putting him in afterwards so I'd had to change tact and paint him, I like to save that as a treat for after I've made good progress! I'll update with a pic of him later as the light wasn't too good by time I'd finished him. I've also done some less glamorous jobs, filling injection pin marks, which are annoyingly on the seperate flaps and slats! I was seriously considering posing the jet just on rotation, as per box art, but I realised the pilot is posed with his arm resting on the cockpit edge, so short of surgery that's not really practical! Progress may be limited this week due to other commitments. Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theclay Posted August 6, 2012 Share Posted August 6, 2012 looking good Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintsPhil Posted August 6, 2012 Author Share Posted August 6, 2012 Thanks, the seat headrest isn't quite as 'red' in real life! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted August 6, 2012 Share Posted August 6, 2012 Nice work Phil, certainly off to a flying start, hink I'm going to enjoy watching your progress over the various aspects of this one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintsPhil Posted August 6, 2012 Author Share Posted August 6, 2012 Thanks Col, Quick shot of George, Just need to add the white stripes to his visor cover, not sure that's strictly true but a bit of artistic license to match the aircraft markings! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DannyB Posted August 6, 2012 Share Posted August 6, 2012 That pilot is cracking! Really nice work on the shading and highlights. How did you get all the extra depth on there?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintsPhil Posted August 6, 2012 Author Share Posted August 6, 2012 Thanks! It was relatively easy really, white primer and base coat of Vallejo US dark green, both airbrushed, then a wash of Vallejo US dark green, darkened with black. Once that had fully dried, dry brushed with successively lighter mixes of US dark green and olive green. All the other bits just picked out with Vallejo acrylics. Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giorgio N Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 Good start on the cockpit and beatiful pilot ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 Motoring along nicely, that pilot is especially impressive Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintsPhil Posted August 22, 2012 Author Share Posted August 22, 2012 Thanks all, pretty happy with the pilot! Better post some progress! Fuselage together Just got the joys of rescribing and reinstating the rivets along the underside now! Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deacon Posted August 23, 2012 Share Posted August 23, 2012 Trying to catch up with these threads! The pilot looks stunning sir, well done. Deacon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kpc7676 Posted August 25, 2012 Share Posted August 25, 2012 Great start, the pilot is magic, keep the updates coming. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintsPhil Posted August 25, 2012 Author Share Posted August 25, 2012 Thanks Gents, I've done a few more bits, not really worthy of a picture. Now I'm trying to decide which direction to take with NMF, Either Alclad Aluminium or slightly more challenging going with Polished Aluminium. I assume this jet would have been pretty well kept so I'm thinking polished, but that leaves me the issue of the decals. I haven't found replacements and the kit ones are the usual Hasegawa fair of inch thick and cream in place of white! For most of them that's not an issue, as I can either mask and paint instead (for tail and airbrakes) but for forward fuselage I have the issue I can use decal solutions, due to high shine finish! I'm thinking about trying masks for first time, anyone got a better suggestion? Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lex77 Posted August 25, 2012 Share Posted August 25, 2012 That's a great looking pilot. Your build is coming along very well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giorgio N Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 Personally I wouldn't be able to mask the complicated pattern, I'd first try the decals you'll not use on some plastic kit wreck and see how they go. For the thicker japanese decals it might be worth trying the gunze decal solution, that is stronger than the microscale system. If yu want to try masking, I'd suggest using a copier and copy the decal sheet on one (or more...) sheet of adhesive paper. It's the easier way to get the right artwork for masking Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintsPhil Posted August 28, 2012 Author Share Posted August 28, 2012 Personally I wouldn't be able to mask the complicated pattern, I'd first try the decals you'll not use on some plastic kit wreck and see how they go. For the thicker japanese decals it might be worth trying the gunze decal solution, that is stronger than the microscale system. If yu want to try masking, I'd suggest using a copier and copy the decal sheet on one (or more...) sheet of adhesive paper. It's the easier way to get the right artwork for masking Thanks Giorgio, I was actually going to get some custom masks made, or try and find some for USAF and national insignia. I have some Mr Softener but the issue is I can't use it on the high shine Alclad. having said that I can't seem to get a decent finish with it anyway! Been testing it on a scrap old kit and it just goes dull, that was over Alclad gloss black primer so tonight I'll try aqua gloss over the standard black. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintsPhil Posted August 31, 2012 Author Share Posted August 31, 2012 Well still having issues with high shine finish but I'm determined to crack it! In the mean time the main constructions done, and primed in black plus gear bays in Alclad dark aluminium The wings are also painted and glossed ready for decals, once I find some stars and bars that aren't cream! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giorgio N Posted August 31, 2012 Share Posted August 31, 2012 I checked through my spare decals but the only 1/48 ones I found for the 104 were on an old Esci sheet: I tried a small bit and it disintegrated as soon as it touched the water... Hope you can find the right size of insignia ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintsPhil Posted August 31, 2012 Author Share Posted August 31, 2012 Thanks Giorgio I appreciate you looking! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintsPhil Posted September 19, 2012 Author Share Posted September 19, 2012 Finally something worth updating! After practicing on some scrap kits I got the hang of high shine Alclad and got a coat on front end Closeups show another coat is needed After touch ups it's on to the back end Metalic shades. Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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