modelling minion

Thanks guys. The good news is that after a small search I have found my other airbrush!!! And it works!!! Hopefully I will get some more paint on the Wildcat tomorrow. Thanks for the kind words regarding the paint. Craig.

Managed to get some time with the airbrush yesterday after masking off the under surfaces and after a great deal of clogging and interesting language (for some reason Vallejo paints sometimes really clog my airbrush) I managed to achieve a coat of the blue/grey to serve as a base for some weathering/lightening of panels etc and this is how she looks; And this is how she will stay for a while. The reason being that when I cleaned my airbrush and screwed the nozzle back in it promptly snapped in half, "oh dear this will never do" I said, or something very similar. So I am now without an airbrush, I am going to try and get a replacement nozzle and to search my modelling room/family dumping ground for another airbrush which I know is in there somewhere, somewhere but unfortunately I have no idea where! Such is life eh!

Shame about those decals for the fin Tony, seems Xtradecal are really trying your patience lately! She really is looking great though, top work.

I certainly do! Excellent shots sir.

Very nice, much better than mine!

These are a great set of pictures, mine are nowhere near as good, and I look forward to seeing the ones from the departure day. It was a good show but I can't help feeling that it has a limited life span as there will only be F-35's, Typhoon's and drones in a few years time. Unavoidable but not something to look forward to.

As Ozzy says those figures are superb, excellent work mate. The finished Tiger looks awesome, this diorama is going to be so good!

Cheers Glynn, it still needs a fair amount of work but I will do more weathering after the decals go on. Next job is to mask off ready for painting the top.

Sorry Glynn I was in the middle of my last reply when you replied.

Hi Glynn, Sorry for the late reply. Didn't use Alclad I used Vallejo acrylic metal color which goes on without an undercoat really nicely. I have now painted the under surfaces in light grey using a lifecolor and here's a shot of how she looks now.

Very nice work Glynn, the engine and cowling look great together.

Nice progress Stix, really coming together. It certainly looks like a great kit.

More great pics. Seems every time I don't turn up a B-2 does! Looks like there were some nice formation fly pasts today, hopefully there will be some tomorrow as well.

Great shots from what was a good day, despite the weather issues. Back tomorrow!!

Been cracking on with this one and I have to say I'm quite impressed with the kit, whilst not the best kit in the world it goes together really quite well and certainly looks like a Wildcat to me. Since the last update I've fitted the cockpit into the fuselage (no issues at all) and then joined the the fuselage halves together, again with no issues and just a tiny amount of filler needed. To this was then added the lower fuselage inset which also went on with no issues that a little filler and sanding couldn't deal with, I then painted and assembled the engine and added it to the assembled fuselage and then got carried away and added the wings. Here's a picture of the assembled and fitted engine; I thought the crank case was too blue so I've since repainted it in a light grey. With the fuselage fitted together I took a picture of the cockpit which proves just how little of it can be seen and how pointless hours of adding details would have been. I had filled and smoothed the damaged area on the stbd wing, you can see how little filler it required below. Once the wings had dried there was a small amount of filler needed and then I fitted the tail planes, which fitted perfectly and gave me an almost complete Wildcat as can be seen below; The engine cowling was next to go on, again with no issues, and once dried and cleaned up the aircraft was given a coat of Vallejo Duraluminium with more attention given to areas which will receive some weathering and chipping; And a look at the re-painted engine; I have spent this evening masking the canopy parts so next step will be to assemble them, and then we can start painting!! Thanks for looking in and as usual all comments and criticisms are gratefully received. Craig.

Hi Glynn, the VF-111 F-8 is indeed a Vietnam tour bird. The Sundowners never toured the Atlantic as they were a Pacific Fleet Squadron. I'll see if I can find any Atlantic Fleet F-8E's in my references (such as they are!).

As Glynn says excellent job on the wheel wells, your painting really brings them to life. Look like you will have the fuselage together soon.

Nice choice Tony and good work so far. I thought you would be doing a SEAC one for this GB, though you have plenty of time yet I suppose 🙂.

Very nice work Glynn. The cockpit looks really good, great detail painting. I like the seat, looks much better than trying to get etched brass to conform to the seats contours.

Looking good Steve. The camo scheme looks nice and I'm sure the wash will have the desired effect. Keep up the good work mate.

This is truly awesome work. Your attention to detail is outstanding and I really like how you have made the items you need to correct/update the kit. Very interested to see how you get on with the Scotch tape.

Yes mate, used an old fashioned hairy stick and diluted white paint. Glad you like it.

Thanks guys, I'm really pleased that you all like it.

Your wish is my command! I've painted up the cockpit parts and the undercarriage (in the correct colours this time), for the cockpit I used Gunze's FS34092 which is a pretty good match for pictures I've seen of Grumman Green in un-restored Wildcat cockpits. I have then given the parts a dark wash and some highlighting but I'm afraid the pictures are not the best. I've not done any detailing or highlighting on the area at the rear of the cockpit floor as it will be hidden behind the bulkhead that the seat is on, I have since added a set of Eduard seatbelts. The undercarriage and it's area was given a coat of light grey and the lower parts were then painted black as per pictures I have found of Wildcats during Operation Torch. I am now going to start on joining the fuselage parts together, this has to be the fastest moving build I've done in a long time, helped by there not being much to a Wildcat's cockpit and building the kit OOTB. Thanks for looking in and as usual all comments and criticisms are gratefully received. Craig.

Great choice Glynn, both of the ever popular Tamya kit and the markings, there is something about a P-47 in invasion stripes and she will make a good partner for your excellent Typhoon.