Ryben

Thank you for comment. Be prepared for lots of sanding and careful removal of parts! Its a VERY old mold, and its looking its age.!

Might have a try on this one. Not sure I can face brush painting even this model let alone a larger Tiger or King Tiger!

Feet first is my motto

Nice I`m just about to start the exact model.. One question, how did you find the Tamiya spray? Not too `hot` as i`d heard it could eat undercoat etc? I dont have AB, so wanted to try it out for possibel future armour builds. Ryben

Actually there is a trailer sitting outside my house right now that would disagree with you...its bubbled and flaking away, it`s nowhere near flat. Agreed its made out of steel but its certainly not flat. But come on, its a daft cheap model that I enjoyed making, hardly a target for accuracy, either historic or scientific is it??

I could of, but all my armour models I wanted to do properly as that's my main interest. For aircraft I`m mainly a "Do the iconic WWII ones, not bothered how accurate they are" type of man, so obviously the 190 was started(then finished due to bad painting technique) so wanted to spare it from the bin and use it as practice model. At least now I know how to do rust effect that to me looks decent enough, and didn't lose any of my armour stash in the process(i could have at any stage binned this and I wouldn't have worried). I would have cried if I`d tried it on my £40 Dragon Jagdpanther but at £3.99 wasn't too worried about the Airfix plane kit that was already `dead`..

I know . I`d even put on a coat of Vallejo matt as well, but I think the sheen was a combination of : A - Taking picture too soon after applying B - Camera added something to it as in real life its pretty dull C - The Vallejo paints that I used had a natural sheen to them - more practice is required They go together ridiculously easy, plus you get a funky little base which i think all braille scale armour should come with.

Also realised after doing the model that the props on 190s were wood not metal so wouldn't `bend` on impact...just snap off...oh well.. Dont want to cause a problem guys! After all, its only a model made out of plastic and old moss....

Damn! Caught out by basic science!...lol..I did have doubts, as originally it was only meant to be a `burnt out` wreck with a little bit of fatique at nose - hence more black paint at that end, but decided what the hell, it would give me good practice to try out rust technique for future tank and AFV builds, but as it was going on scrap heap anyway, I went the whole way.. It originally wasn't going to have a frame or canopy as the Airfix model has it as one large unit(if you spot the mistake the long rear portion behind the seat should technically be attached to the larger canopy section on an FW190). Looked a bit `odd` without it, so again tried it out. Had to score the canopy into two halves which again was good practice for future bodging of kits - again I wasnt to bothered to make a mistake - knackered kit anyway LOL, thats actually a good idea...although do you get 1/72 scale livestock?...Certainly would add something. Although for AMS, do I need to work out what breed of cattle occupy Holland and Belgium or can I use any? Thats for another future build now you`ve mentioned it about ribs etc.Lots of possible scratch building opportunities:)..Did look at a lot of wrecked 190`s on web, but most of them were recent `crashes` etc..no corrosion, so used a bit, well LOTS of artistic licence on it..I should have called it "Superwaffe Cast Iron Flying Boat".. Didn`t mean it to get this serious! eeek... I agree now that others have mentioned that the majority of the frame would NOT turn out like this after decades in a field, it was only meant to do something with a scrap model, other than binning it. It looks decent enough to my eyes, but as its technically only my 6th model since taking the hobby up, I dont think it turned out that badly? Glad it at least gave some a chortle today, was fun building it, and happy to take on the process as practice, maybe inspiring others to try it out! Always said that any form of critique or comments, good or bad, help the next model improve Yes i did And thanks Ryben

Hi Brody, apologies I didnt, it as just a spur of the moment thing while trying to clear bench. It wasnt that difficult. Basically take an old model, scuff it up a bit, then slosh on liquid poly(Humbrol, Tamiya Thin etc) and when plastic is melted slightly stipple it with firm brush to get it all blistered. Then simply wait for it to dry again and paint - brown base coat, highlighted with red, yellow and lighter brown - all cheapo acrylics. Base is simply PVA smeared over wooden base(painted first) then dried moss over it, wall is bits of white polystyrne you get out of packaging, painted grey. The holes are drilled with pin vice. Other than that its a bit rough and ready.

Hi, Not sure if there was an Aircraft Vignette section? Anyway, I `messed` up an Airfix 1/72 FW190 a while back, so instead of throwing it out, I decided it would be an ideal donor to my first vignette. Also my first practice at rust technique. Rust was basically loads of liquid poly all over the model, then stippled with rough brush, which created the bubbling and rough texture. Then painted brown and highlighted with red and yellow etc. Decals had already been put down, and then roughed up and scratched away etc. Wall is polystyrene painted grey, and base is covered in dried moss, and lots of PVA to get it to set. Some random stones are CA on. I call this "Target Practice"...basically a wreck thats been used over the years for pot shots for bored Dutch farmers Anyway let me know what you think...

Had a quick OOB build of a Revell T34/76 which went together in a day....

Well FINALLY finished the Sturmovik! In the end I was rushing as I was losing the interest and just wanted it off the bench! Basically a trial for a selection of Vallejo paints which i now love They seemed to go on so much easier... Anyway, other than modifiying the exhausts, padding out cockpit with seats, and seatbelts, and drilling out vents near prop, I updated the underside vent to make it look a little more realistic, scratch built undercarriage doors as OOB ones were diabolical, and used a bit of stretched sprue for aerial for first time(not very well by the looks of it!). Canopy was the only thing that I lost the will with, and `almost` ruined it, but managed to salvage it okay and it turned out fine in the end. Decided to go for a random colour scheme so probably not historically accurate , but hey ho.

Started on my Airfix Sturmovik: Eek...its as bad a fit as they say, with huge amounts of flash and badly fitting parts!: Decided to scratch build a cockpit, fairly abstract but it`ll do when its installed!: Also bulked out gun to add a bit of interest, adding belt feed and stock at end: Wheel wells were updated too: Exhausts looked a bit weedy so had a bash at making them looking chunkier. Simply cotton bud cut into sections, then superglued onto kit exhaust. Might be a bit too big but they look ok?: WORD OF WARNING!!! Using Tamiya tape to hold fuselage together to dry fit cockpit, peeling it off pulled a strip of plastic off kit like a banana peel, and had to do an emergency repair. Never seen this before, but assume its the crap plastic used in kit? SO be warned if you use Tamiya tape on this kit when pulling it off! Ryben

Thanks guys for kind words. Every technique im using will hopefully transfer up to 1/35 scale when i attempt it. Also forgot to say, that first attempt at mud, dried out too quickly and lost that `wet` look(ended up simply looking like dry earth), so slapped a good deal of gloss varnish all over the mud areas while using matt varnish for the tank to contrast. Manged to keep the wet look back, such as you`d find in snowy January 1945, with it `slogging` through the sludge to battle. Ryben

Well I`ll call this one done. First time depicting snow and mud, it turned out okay(baking soda, PVA and scatter) as well as the mud(scatter, pva and brown paint) White wash also practiced Anyway, enjoyed it partly because it was easy, but also because it allowed me to practice, being only my third model since returning to hobby! Hope you like it. Ryben M24 Chaffee at Herrlisheim, January 1945....

As part of an Armorama site campaign build for old Matchbox(Revell) builds here is my progress for the M24 Chaffee: Quickly put together, wheels and sprockets are done, as well as tub and funky little base(although I`m perhaps altering sign which is meant to show St Lo & Paris etc for a M24 Chaffee in 1945?!..hmmmm... Turret went together very quickly, and chassis is put together. Now all ready to spray prime tomorrow: Chaffee is coming along nicely... Primed: Painted, with first time white wash done, Not too bad(decals just done, waiting on MicroSol to take effect: Base done, prior to adding snow effect across whole bit: All in all, really enjoying this build Ryben

No problems, we can only improve with feedback good or bad in my opinion, as I`m still learning. Hopefully they can benefit others here? Just wanted to buy a handful of cheaper Airfix and Revell models to practice on, already done a Cromwell in 1/76 scale and learnt a lot, and now the Mustang, again learning on the job. Any advice/tips/pointers would be gratefully received, I'm under no illusions that im in the lower leagues compared to some of you talented guys. I really enjoyed the build, and picked up some pointers that hopefully I can transfer to the next one, especially if i go up in scale. Ryben

Thank you for all the kind words, really enjoyed my second model even with some dodgy bits that don't show up that badly. Airfix def have improved since i did this when i was 8!...Clean lines and fit, very impressed for £7. Funny how spending time with a detailed model makes us understand each and every inch of the real thing. Looking forward to doing another Mustang at some point, and def in classic metallic finish, perhaps on a 1/48 scale as love the plane and want to do it justice. Ryben

Thank you! Its the Airfix Starter Kit: http://www.wonderlandmodels.com/products/airfix-172-north-american-p-51d-mustang-starter-se/

Thats it done...phew....not bad for only my 2nd model... RAF Mustang IV with DIY louvered intakes and `firewall` paint scheme. Ryben

Following the article in the current issue of Airfix Model World on the Mustang has inspired me and it has helped a lot! Painted a few bits and pieces on the sprues. Pin washed a little inside cockpit Nearly went blind doing the smallest thing I've ever done!...seat belts..They came out amazing! Assembling the pieces (wings are now on too) (had a little accident removing control stick from sprue..it snapped...so had to use a a 1/600 deck gun from the Bismarck model i`m also working on as a replacement) Next night added wings and tailpieces, and odds and ends... Doing undercarriage and drop tanks. quick and easy..(although note..don`t take off wheels BEFORE noting which is which!) Masking off areas prior to priming Primed with Hycote grey plastic primer spray Now waiting on the drying Tonight much trickier stuff .. Well i thought so anyway.. Underside stuff added.... Took my time to add some louvered intakes as per research and some artistic license...Just some sprue cut up finely and glued on...once glue has dried i`ll sand gently to shape better.. Fingers crossed that wheels hold up...they were tricky to get straight and true and keep shape.. Once dried, i`ll check and tidy up then sort out top side and canopy, then onto painting.. Ryben

Well hoping to clear out my Revell stash of old Matchbox stuff, but eventually work my way up to 1/35 Dragon and Tamiya stuff...1/76 is a little too small for me! Yeh i agree, although I have read that even most Matts comes out with a satin finish?

Hi guys, Well this is my first ever model after coming back to the hobby after many years so I`m obviously still learning. Can`t believe how good models are these days in terms of fit and finish!... Made it such a pleasure to put together. Dont think it turned out half bad especially considering i was only using 4 starter kit paints and the small brush. Even got round to doing some pin washes and weathering/chipping! 1. Decals went on super easy - Microset and Sol is a God send! 2. Used small fuse wire for aerials..not even sure if Cromwells had them but hey ho. 3.Sand bags on a Cromwell? Don't ever think I've seen a pic of them but thought they looked good! Basically just plug wire, painted brown..half decent effect I suppose.. 4.Yes decals are in wrong positions!...got sidetracked looking at back of box and got front and back mucked up! oops..next time.. 5.Used a pencil graphite to darken the exhaust area, turned out OK too. Might throw together a dio base type thing to detract the viewer from the shoddy work! Stuff Used - Microsol/set, Alclad Aqua Gloss, Vallejo Satin Varnish, 4! starter paints, Precision Poly Anyway, be gentle! It was my first time! (apologies for dodgy quality of pix, macro function on camera didn't want to play ball tonight) Ryben