Solo

Frankly said this Academy kit is pretty nice one, so I don’t think it is a problem to make a good model from it. I don’t know Airfix kit, but Academy is just decent one.

I do believe it is much grubbier in close up, so I made my Hunter this way.

Possible you are right. It is extremely difficult to find any picture with non museum Hunter, to see its real looks like operational. I have found only one picture of underneath, which helped mi to make that all weathering.

Thank you guys, it is nice to see you liked my Hunter.

Thank you guys for your kind words.

Well, it is rather simple process. First I am starting with standard preshading on panel lines, panels etc using usually very dark gray paint. Next step is the marble, using the same color. Then I paint base color, but very thin, a little bit transparent layer. Next step is, using off white paint, brightening rivet lines, interior of panels etc. Then - another layer of marbles, this time also using off white or white. It is important, to gain very varied surface. The final it is another transparent layer of base colour. Sometimes I repeat those steps many times, to have expected result. But mostly it is it. The weathering is another process, using mostly oil paints, very diluted, applied with airbrush and brush. You can find that whole process with good pictures here (please us google translator), the model made by Kamil Feliks Sztarbała: 1/48 TF-9J Cougar -Malowanie - KFS-miniatures

Sure, what do you want to know?

Thanks guys. It was a long build and I am glad you like it.

Just finished. Really nice kit from Italerii (Academy), upgraded with Aires cockpit and wheel bays, Eduard PEs, ResKit bombs and wheels plus Master's pitot. Hope you like it.

Thanks a lot guys.

Thank you guys, it is always nice to hear some people like it.

Thank you guys. It is nice to read it is not so bad.

The main undercarriage was a real nightmare, to make it fit and assemble together with covers.

I have just finished this miniature of MiG-23MF of Polish Air Forces. Trumpeter kit is pretty decent one, but there is a lot of small issues, especially the fitting ones. Also there is a need to rescribe many of panel lines and rivets. So... a lot of work. I made it within over 4 months. Used resin nose from Metallic Details, air intakes, main wheels bay, wheels, missiles, ejection seat and exhaust nozzle from Eduard, pitot and dischargers from Master, decals from Model Maker and stencils from Eduard. Hope you will enjoy it.

Frankly said that is half UMC half NAVY markings.

Thank you guys. It is good to say that it is model of real F/A-18B (I made D) Rough Raiders of VFA-125. Deleted - Read the pinned post in chat

Hello. That is my newest model of F/A-18D Hornet. Average kit of Hobby Boss plus some aftermarkets: Eduard PEs and ejection seats (also RBF ribbons), Aires exhaust nozzle, (once again) Eduard weapons, TwoBobs decals (have used only very few of them, the rest markings painted from templates), few Anyz resins and lot and lot of scratchwork and hard work. Here there is my Hornet, enjoy.

And yet another one - finished canopy frame. I have added a lot of my own stuff.

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So there are few updates of my work. I have just finished all weapon loadout. Also there is ready all that stuff you can find just after rear ejection seat. I think there are redy both engine nozzles. Lot of work but I think it is good enought.

Generally the fit is not so bad, but I had some serious problem with air intakes fit. Mayby I made some mistake, but I needed to use some putty to make it looking good. There werse also some issues with bottom parts of LEXes which didin't want to cooperate with upper ones. But that was all. And one more thing, I know I will have some small issues to fit glass of canopy with frame, probably will need to use some putty as well there.

I have designed and cut out set of masks for canopy and few other things. Hobby Boss kit has not chaff annd flare dispensers. There is not a shape on the fuselage bottoms nor PE's, or even decals. So I have no choice and designed and printed my own decals. Think it looks not so bad. Next there is canopy frame. Very poor and simplified. I added some wires and other stuff. It was very difficult to find good pictures of that places, so I hope I did it well. There was also needed to add some small adds-on, like vertical stabiliser reinforcement plates, GPS antenna and AOA sensors, not available in HB version of that kit. Now my plane is almost ready for surfacer. And one more thing. I decided to cut off kits stabiliser pins and added new ones, drawn out of brass wire. And Maverick exhaust nozzle as well.

Intake shape? I think it is too late, I have mounted it to fuselage. What is wrong with them?

Small steps ahead. I cracked up first canopy, so I had to buy new kit and work over new canopy. This time without any accidents. 🙂 First I used very nice and handy scriber to remove the canopy seam. Next I used my Micro Mesh polishing pads, last 5 gradations. Then I polished using abrasive cloths 8000 and 12000. So after that there was no need to use Tamiya coarse compound. First used Fine one. And then for the final stage: Final compound. The canopy is now ready and shining.

The fuselage is ready for primer. I have also cut off rudders and made them a little bit leaned, as in real vertical fins. Both exhaust nozzles plus engine tubes are painted and ready to asseblem. Hope there will be painting process soon.