gryphon28

Thanks everyone. Harry, sealed with nothing more than x22 clear. I didn’t want to seal it but I was concerned about long term decal protection so went for very shiny rather than very metallic hence the comment re “lifelike” in my original post. Like most folks, I build for myself so I was happy.......but it’s great if others appreciate it too. Sharing your “work”, does add another layer of enjoyment to our hobby.

Thanks Joachim, It was indeed a golden era of great looking aeroplanes. Let’s not dwell on the whole shooting each other bit.

Evening everyone, This is Tamiya’s 1/48 Thunderjet in the markings of Lt Jacob Kratt, a triple Mig killer from the Korean War. I used a Tamiya aerosol decanted into the H&S over a black basecoat then a few other shades of Alclad. I quite like how the O/D panels and white window sealant came out (thankyou Vallejo). The markings are from from a Cutting Edge sheet as the box markings had long since expired! Nose pitot and fuel dump pipes were replaced with hollow tube which was an improvement over the kit items. Not sure how likelike she is but an attractive bird in more or less showroom condition. That’s how I wanted her and was pleased with how she came out. Enjoy the evening everyone. I’m going to crack on with the Eduard Tempest.

Thanks for the recent comments guys. It's really great to get feedback and see your on the right track. I currently working my way through Eduards series 2 Tempest and it's taking a bit of the mojo (beautiful, beautiful kit but very fiddly, some annoyingly fragile pieces and don't ask about the flap join line). Hopefully normal service will be returned shortly when I get to the painting stage.

Thanks for the info re the torpedo and spinner Michael. I will remember the color issue though sadly my Jill, Grace and Gekko all feature brown spinners. I plan to build more IJN stuff so it will come in useful. I love the Japanese designs, just so different from the Western types. Takes a bit more work though to liven up the paint scheme. The B6N2 is possibly a nicer kit than the Kate, I'll post those pics probably next weekend. Another one with a fab cockpit and brutish good looks. The B7N is just plain ugly.........

Sorry for missing the obvious. iPad was in melt down last night and had to do this three times, the text got shorter each time but missing the scale etc is bad form. She is the 1/48 Hasegawa B5N2. A lovely kit with a great cockpit out of the box. Not the best cockpit glass but I gave the parts a polish and they look better for it. Im not sure why they offset the torpedo, I wondered whether it would have interfered with the oil cooler had it been straight? Holzhamer, fair comment re the underside. I will work on that for future builds. I don’t like to revisit finished projects but I appreciate the point. Must get me some references. Paint chipping was using a silver pencil over Matt paint to grip the “lead”, or whatever the pigment is called. Tedious but adds something IMHO. Cheers all.

Thanks Dennis, i have to admit to using a generous helping of artistic licence as far as the weathering was concerned. I don’t actually have much in the way of reference material so I just went for it. I’m glad you like her. She was a fun build, glazing notwithstanding.

Hi everyone. Another one made a while back. A Nakajima Kate in the markings of a machine from the 601st Naval Flying Group off the Zuikaku in Spring 44. The usual Tamiya and Gunze acrylics airbrushed throughout and an oil wash. Post shaded to show some variation in the paintwork and given a light chipping with silver pencil. The huge offset torpedo has also received some weathering effects. Sealed with a satin finish, to impart a bit of sheen and not kill the shading effects. I was really pleased with the effect around the wing roots. Built during my torpedo bomber phase ( check out the Avenger posted last week if you haven't already done so). As ever, comments welcome, make sure I'm on the right track! Restrained with the chipping, could have gone a lot crazier I guess! Tyres maybe needed a bit more work. Cool offset torpedo!! Thanks for looking.

Thanks for the recent comments guys. The quality of the builds on here is amazing so kind words are humbling.

For the sharp eyed amongst you, the missing lens cover under the black painted wing did find its way on the Buffalo, eventually, but sadly only after her photocall.

Thanks everyone. To be fair, she wasn’t a kit I had much interest in but then started assembly and everything just came together. She ended up being one of my most rewarding builds. Wasn’t sure whether to go hard or soft edge with the camouflage but decided to go hard due to the intricacies on a small frame. Total respect to the 1/72 and smaller guys who do soft demarcation.

Thanks again everyone for taking the time to give feedback. Hobo- the torpedo is polished aluminium over trusty Tamiya gloss black. Never felt the need to spend the kids dinner money on any other. X1 goes down really smooth when mixed with mr colour levelling thinner then it’s just a case of Alclad sprayed sparingly until you have the level of shine you want. There is NO sealer on the torpedo. Final sealer on the aircraft was a thin coat of Galleria satin varnish. INHO Too much of any varnish can kill all that time you spent varying the paintwork effects. I personally think too flat a finish looks as unrealistic as too shiny a finish. There is a middle ground there somewhere.

Inspirational mate. Fabulous choice of colours really brings it to life.

Fair warning. I could well imagine that happening. That said, I've got three of these now and each one I have done, I have left the turret off until after completion. Each time I have thought what have I done, she will never go in but they all have. Hand on heart it is a relief when they do ( and the turret not come apart in your hand) but it can be done. Putting it in earlier in the sequence would mean for even trickier masking but both ways have merits. The 4inch long bomb bay roof in this kit is about the most beautiful part in any kit I have ever come across. So much so that on the latest build I have left the bay empty just so the detail can be seen. Pictures at some point when I next break out the Nikon. If anything lets the kit down! perhaps the clatrity of the extensive glazing is not quite in a par with more modern mouldings. For that reason I fancy a pop at a hobbyboss Avenger at some point as Hobbyboss clear parts in my experience are glorious. That said, that kit has a wing fold as standard , something which I wouldn't use though I would fear that the wings, if extended, may be a weak point of the kit? Oh the dilemma..........

As good as the Eduard mask was, at various times it started to lift at the top of the canopy. Burnish each time your spray became my motto for this build. Thankfully I got away with it and the canopy is a focal point. Did consider opening her up like others have suggested but there is no petrol in the Stihl saw!

Thanks for the comments guys. Vince, models and photography, both a passion. Thanks mate. Thanks Steve, the kit is a joy to build, and the torpedo, well when Alclad shows up to the party, she certainly makes an entrance!

Cheers guys for the kind words

Thanks Steve, the kit is a joy to build, and the torpedo, well when Alclad shows up to the party, she certainly makes an entrance!

Hello again, Another kit built a few years back. This is the Italeri boxing of the fabulous Acc Miniatures Avenger. IMHO one of the most buildable and rewarding kits ever. An Eduard mask set though is a no-brainier. As ever Gunze and Tamiya throughout. Oh and a dirty great Alclad torpedo! And then the pics.......

Thanks for the kind words guys. Chubster, love it

Inspirational work Luiz. I have the Greek version done other than mating the wing to fuselage. My top wing makes the struts sag like it's too heavy. Not sure how I'm going to get round that one. For me, it's not a kit I could recommend due to the spindly struts but clearly you have conquered the beast. again, awesone stuff.

Thanks Duncan, I appreciate your comment. My canopy was fine, it's just down to luck I guess. Very thick but nice and clear. I built up the decking under the canopy to hide a misstep between the fuselage halves that really showed up badly on the original flat decking. I was pleased with that, not particularly accurate but I build for myself so not too bothered. She ain't no Eduard but still a nice kit of an unusual bird.

Hi, This is Tamiya's excellent 1/48th Buffalo. An older kit made a while back but one that I really enjoyed. The previous one I made was the Matchbox kit back in the 70s, I think I got it free as I saved up a load of other Matchbox kit tokens. Mr Hobby Aqueous and Tamiya paints as ever. I was pleased with how the shading and chipping came out. Big thank you to Eduard for having a masking set of a less common type! Feedback welcome, it's how we improve.

Face palm moment. Good eyes Mike. To be rectified!

Thanks for the comments guys. She was a fun build.