BlueNosers352nd

Nicely done! Finished that kit and scheme myself last year. Hell of a kit! Love the idea for the last photo, of Lochridge superimposed over the model. Gonna have to try that someday.

A replacement Master's brass pitot tube for my Martlet III that I dropped on the concrete floor and spent 10 mins searching for, even sweeping the floor. Only to find it about 10 mins after ordering it's replacement. Just like i knew would happen.............can't find something order a new one.

I feel your pain! If I had a nickle............. Also, I've never seen that scheme before. Always like finding new Mustang schemes.

Personally I will never get an H&S ever again. I cursed at mine for 3 months straight before I sold it and went back to Iwata. Right outta the box I was spraying, but that is also what I had been using for the last 15 years or so. Now to each their own.......you'll see plenty of people that love their H&S. I went with the Iwata HP-C+. Eventually I will add one of the 0.18mm GSI Creos that you see on SprayGunner. Compressor wise......for years I used just a spare tank like you'd fill a tire up with. Then I switch to a Campbell Hausfeld "Quiet" unit, which was decently quiet for a $100-200 compressor. But that finally died last year...........well not dead but something is starting to go inside. I replaced it with one of the "Tooty" No Name compressors on SprayGunner. It works great as in pretty quiet. It will not startle you everytime it runs.............unless you thought you turned it off the night before and then you are sitting there working and it kicks on. I can't even hear it in other parts of the house if it runs. Can't comment on the cleaning pot, never have used one in my 25-some years of airbrushing. I just spray into an empty jar. But have thought about getting one, not sure the benefit though. I just use the water trap that's on the regulator. Never had an issue with water on my hobby compressors. Now on the big shop compressor that generates more heat............yes. I would suggest a spare needle. I seem to bend them up like crazy. The old .35mm airbrush I had, I don't think I ever bent a needle (maybe once). But this new .3mm on the Iwata HP-C+ I've bent several times in the past year.

I started using UHU white tack after reading about it on here. No residue and it seems softer and easier to work with. It can leave a slightly different shade (not every time) where it was, but that goes away with a clear coat.

FYI......Gotten a 500 error probably 6 times or so today. Now it's very slow to load. Windows 10 and Firefox here.

While waiting for the wing roots to dry on the Accurate Miniatures F-6B to dry (this one didn't fit as well as the A-36) I grabbed the P-47D outta the stash and began making some mods. Will be doing this aircraft from the 336 FS / 4 FG. P-47C-5, 4 FG / 336 FS by Jim Fox, on Flickr BEVOAPABML by Jim Fox, on Flickr Robert Lehman - 4 FG / 336 FS by Jim Fox, on Flickr The decal artwork isn't completely correct...........but I'll tweak a little bit and call it close. I'm going to just go with the Tamiya cockpit, add a Look instrument panel and Ultracast seat and call it good. Other accessories will include, Ultracast wheels, Master Pitot and Gun Barrels and Quickboost Intercooler Exhausts. The Intercooler exhausts were given to me by a fellow club member who won them in a contest raffle and doesn't build aircraft. You'll barely even see them though. Based on the initial discussion here...............I won't address everything, but I'll try to get close. I began by modifying the oil cooler flaps. Also fixed the starboard accessory panel with 3 slots instead of 2 + a D shaped panel. Not 100% happy with that. Wasn't sure how to accomplish, so I drilled a series of shallow holes and then scraped it clean with the drill bit. Probably need to shorten the middle one a bit. Hopefully under some paint and a little wash it will look ok. P-47D-20 to C-5 conversion begins by Jim Fox, on Flickr

I like that...............not sure what we have flat tooth pick wise in these parts. But I have many $1000's worth of wood working equipment in the shop, I can probably manage something.

HobbyBoss's F4F-3 Early converted to a Martlet III (F4F-3a) HobbyBoss 1/48 Martlet III by Jim Fox, on Flickr HobbyBoss 1/48 Martlet III by Jim Fox, on Flickr HobbyBoss 1/48 Martlet III by Jim Fox, on Flickr HobbyBoss 1/48 Martlet III by Jim Fox, on Flickr HobbyBoss 1/48 Martlet III by Jim Fox, on Flickr

And that's a wrap! Overall I am probably 85% happy with it............we are our own worst critiques, right? Canopy masks could of been a little more crisp. Weathering/chipping might be a little heavy............but hey, it was fun to practice and try new things. Landing gear gave me fits, sits a little high. I struggle every time with aerial lines.......super glue never wants to bite. Glad to have it done.........can't say I am a big fan of HobbyBoss kits (between this and the Mig 17). Eduard Cockpit PE Ultracast Seat Master Pitot Tube Eduard Masks for the windscreen Squadron vac canopy (for the sliding portion) Windscreen is from the HobbyBoss F4F-3 Late Kit Removed the 2 chin scoops from the cowl Thank you to @franky boy for sending spare decals across the pond!!!! HobbyBoss 1/48 Martlet III by Jim Fox, on Flickr Here she is with my Tamiya F4F-4 (maybe 7-8 yrs old) sans tail wheel.

Ok, what is a Bunfight? Two guys throwing hamburger buns at each other at the local burger joint?

Anyone, specifically those in the US, found some good narrow sanding sticks (or sometimes called twigs)? I have some of the Flory sticks, but would like to find something narrower yet. I picked up some cheap sanding twigs and while they work for a while they break down or they crinkle up relatively quick and are not usable any more. Something that gets in the tighter spaces. Maybe I'll just buy more of the cheap ones, it's like $30 for 300. But I tend to use the finer grits more and am stuck with the a bunch of unused heavier grits.

Took advantage of a recent sale at Sprue Brothers and got a 1/48 Tamiya F-51D and F4U-1A Corsair.

Spent the last two nights working on oil weathering. 75% of the top is done (and maybe 5% of the underside). Still need to address weathering the decals. I used Mig Panel Line washes as my filters, as I don't have any specific filter materials. What do you all use? Hard to tell in pictures, but in person it definitly is darker now. I may mess with some over spray techniques to trying and bleach it out a bit.

Decals are all on and drying. Hopefully I'll get a clear coat over them and start on some weathering...........maybe later today or tomorrow. Have to be careful with the Mr Mark Softer, at least with these decals, as it will eat up decals. Had to replace the portside upper wing roundel with a spare after in disintegrated in a few spots. Hair spray chipping might be a little over done, but what the heck.............why not have some fun.

Started on yet another Mustang. This time the F-6B from Accurate Miniatures. I will be adding; Ultracast Wheels, Exhaust and Seat. Didn't take many photographs on the cockpit......just started rolling on the build and forgot. I am planning on building AX-K from the 67th Tac Recon group. The supercale sheet doesn't not contain the markings for pilot and crew chief, so I got to work making some up. F-6B AX-K 67th Tactical Recon Group by Jim Fox, on Flickr Jeanie F-6B Markings by Jim Fox, on Flickr For the instrument panel, the thought of trying to paint around every dial and keep it clear just seemed like to much work. So I got the Waldron punch set out and went to work covering the dials. I’ve gone mad! Masking the instrument panel. by Jim Fox, on Flickr

Both turned out very well. Glad you made it to the end, you are a better man than me. I tossed mine on the shelf of doom. I'm stuck at the landing gear portion. No good registration points so who knows where the pieces go. After their F4F-3 and this Mig 17 I vowed never to build a HB kit again. Again, they looked good!

Really struggling with getting it to wick around, granted it's flat paint too. My choices of paint as of right now are either a Tamiya Nato Black (or mix my own) and Mig Tire Black. What to thin with to get a good wicking? Can't use a Mr Color thinner because that's too hot (when using tamiya).

Wow, nice looking pit! Nice smooth finish!

Thanks for the link. It does get very blurry when zoomed in. Who knows on the H or K. At first I though that little stub was straight like an H, but the more I look at it the more I really don't know. This serial number doesn't show up in Joe Baugher's list of serial numbers either, jumps from 6170 to 6177. I still go time though, only working on the cockpit right now.

Been playing with making artwork today. I think I am pretty darn close, especially for 1/48 (they'll be so small). The Superscale Sheet I have, actually has the camera markings on them, just not enough of them. They are really hard to make out on there too. I still don't know the Crew Chiefs name and rank, so based on the RTENS seen to the right of McAllister's head it leads me to believe it was MARTENS. Open for any thoughts, or places to find real name/rank. Looks like I got to tweak the C in CAPT just a touch and connect it.

Basically the whole landing gear structure. Was thinking black as well, seems to be the common interpretation, with a lighter gray on the upper portions. Leaning towards the hubs being the underside color. 52 X AX736 Kisumi by Crumple Zone, on Flickr

Ok, what do people think? Is my upper color to far on the peach side color wise? Was looking at other Martlet III's trying to figure out landing gear colors and a lot seem be more on the yellow/brown/ocra side.

Got the main paint on the Martlet this weekend. 3 step process on each color. Main color, slightly darker color on the panel lines, rivets, details, etc. Slightly lighter color, highly thinned in the centers and to dial back the darker panel lines. Inside of cowl now needs touching up and the landing gear needs painting. Pretty happy how it turned out so far.

Started on a new build tonight, the Accurate Miniatures 1/48 F-6B Mustang. Stealing the nose pieces from a P-51A to get the wider scoop. I think I am going to go with this scheme, if I can duplicate the camera scoreboard using the box decal and hopefully making more on the printer. Need to find out the Crew Chiefs name as well. The SuperScale sheet doesn't have the camera stencils nor the Pilot and Crew Chief name. F-6B AX-K 67th Tactical Recon Group by Jim Fox, on Flickr I've also think I've gone mad. Hand painting the instrument panel so only the dials were left clear seems like a huge hassle to me. So I pulled out the Waldron Punch set and created a bunch of dots. Took an old business card and put some scotch tape down. Then put Tamiya tape on the scotch tape prior to punching the different sizes out. The sizes are close, and let's face it, they'll be hard to see once it's all sealed up. I’ve gone mad! Masking the instrument panel. by Jim Fox, on Flickr