modelman182

Hi Whirly Looks like I've been very fortunate. Picked up my F-108 from my local model shop today and it has almost no pinholes or short shots. Same goes for the M-50 Bounder (and it's three accompanying Interceptors) I also collected today. I suspect that Anigrand have brought their QC up to par of late. I expect my journey may be a little easier than yours. I shall keep following along as I look forward to seeing your finished product. The work you've done on the bomb bay and undercarriage is an object lesson in overcoming hurdles. I'm still going for the easy route of an in flight dio with the Italeri XB-70. 🙂 Kev

Although the amount that will be seen makes the gauge dials a minor issue, may I suggest that rather than using a 'bitmap' scan to produce a decal, use a vector graphics programme (I currently use Inkscape - but CorelDraw or Adobe Illustrator work well enough) to replicate the dials. You can import the scanned image to use as a template, as all the mentioned programmes support layering of drawings and images. That gives a better representation, I've found. But you do need to ramp up the print density. I use Epson printers and would usually increase the print dpi to 1440 to do fine details like gauges. HTH Kev

Wonderful job fitting what looks like a full Portacabin office set into an aircraft fuselage! 😉 I was expecting to see a recliner, sofa and rocking chair appear at any moment! Good fix with the wonky floor, too. Kev

...or do what a mate of mine used to do (until his SWMBO found him out, that is) - carry round a book of raffle tickets and a roll of sellotape, covering up the price tag with the raffle ticket and on his return home he would then declare "What a lucky chappie I am!" 🙂 Kev

My first was in 1963, aged 8, Airfix 72nd Spitfire (bagged, and in light blue plastic). Built and decalled, but not painted. Did it on my own as Dad was a 'dyed in the wool' Balsa carver - he even tried to get me interested in making "real" models until I lobbed off the top of my thumb with a Stanley knife (Social Services today would have whisked him off to the pokey if they'd found that one out!). After many years of 'opposition' I finally brought him, dragging his heels and mumbling, into the modern world of plastics. Sadly, he didn't live long enough to make a dent in his stash - would've loved to see him build the Bandai Traction Engine I bought him for what turned out to be his last Christmas 😞 Haven't had a break since I started, despite three marriages and divorces, but have lost several 'stashes' due to reversals of fortune at several points. Last 'lost stash' was in 2013. Rebuilding of stash started anew in 2014 and currently stands at 260+ unbuilt kits and there are two new ones waiting to be looked at today, with a 'forward order' of five more already decided. 😁 Kev

Great work on a nice old kit. Finished one myself a few months ago - done as a copy of a mate's Cobra Replica. It does have a few challenges, but nothing that care and patience can't overcome. Your work is beautiful. Kev

Hi Whirly Loving this thread. Lots of useful info and some wonderful workaround tips for the kit. I've just placed my order for one of these (a side effect of having acquired an Italeri 1/72 XB-70 - Hoping to do an 'in flight' dio with the Valkyrie and Rapier). Bit of a cheat, really. I plan to cover, fill and rescribe the undercarriage door lines - that should save some effort? (he says, hopefully). Kev

Wow, Eric - that is drop dead gorgeous! Fantastic work. I guess I'll leave mine in the stash until everyone has forgotten about this great build 😉 Kev

Now that's a very pretty solution for something 'not yet kitted' or just plain "unavailable". Good job, sir! Kev

Thanks Loren - just had a quick search and can only find it through US outlets - AND it's a little pricey with shipping (as it's a hefty tome, I guess) 🙂 I'll be happy to glean some shots from you, if that's okay? I'll PM you with my email addy. Many Thanks Kev

Ooh... who are the publishers of the B-47 book, please? I could do with a good ref for my old Hasegawa 1/72 kit. Kev

Hi Loren Glad to see you haven't forgotten about these builds! I did, however, get a bit worried when I saw this pic... I was thinking "Loren is sure letting his standards slip if this is the BEST he can do...." 😉 Then I read the text - so I'm happier knowing there's more to come! Despite the fact that I've started 'lots' of models and finished only one (so far) this year - I still succumbed to a great deal at the weekend and ended up as the new owner of these : Tiny, in your terms, as they're all 1/144th scale but should make an interesting line-up. I already have an early BOAC liveried 747 kit from the same Welsh Models 'Skyliner' series. Lots of lovely vacform practice for me - will be most useful as I also acquired a Dynavector 1/48th Sea Vixen this week. 🙂 Looking forward to seeing more of your work on the SAC beauties. Kev

Hi Serkan Been enjoying this unusual build. Just wondered if some Mel Brooks inspired Nose Art would fit? 😁 For those who can't read Russian (and that includes me!) the caption is "Putin on the Fritz" 🙂 Kev

You're not fooling anyone, you know - That's just a 6 inch ruler with 12 divisions, isn't it?? 😉 Seriously, though, it's great to see the three of them placed side by side. I presume you were on the top step of the stepladder to take that pic? Kev

Damnit, I must be getting old - I had to look up BOC! Imagine forgetting that it's the acronym for Blue Oyster Cult - I obviously DO fear the Reaper! 😉 I see that you suffer from the same problem as I do - too many ideas causing a 'lack of focus'! I need to be a bit harder on myself now that I have the time to do modelling. Lots of half-done project are cluttering up my workbench and could do with being completed and removed. Problem is - I keep getting new ideas for projects popping up. Watched a documentary on Jack Northrop the other day and have just ordered an Italeri 72nd scale YB-49 as a result. Should look great in a case along with the Modelcollect 72nd scale B-2 I acquired earlier in the year. 😁 Added to that I have about 8 commission jobs on the go as I write this. No way I am EVER gonna get bored, eh? Two huge NMF birds - that's an interesting challenge. Gonna be fun watching you work through this.

"Come inside, the show's about to start Guaranteed to blow your head apart Rest assured you'll get your money's worth The greatest show in Heaven, Hell, or Earth" ELP - Brain Salad Surgery - a terrific album! Thanks for the cue, Loren, that's decided what will be playing on the computer while I'm at the modelling bench today 🙂 So looking forward to seeing these develop. You are one BRAVE man! I just hope that having all these huge aircraft in one place doesn't start to effect the CoG of the Earth and cause other problems! 😉 Party on, dude! I'll be watching with lots of glee 😁 Kev

OUCH! That's an ignominious fate for such a lovely model. It does, at least, look repairable, though. A bit of TLC and she'll be looking good as new again in no time, I hope. Kev

Hi Michael Damn, that is one LOVELY Lightning! Got one of these in the stash with a few add-ons (Aires Exhausts, CMK Cockpit and Wheel Wells). Just wish I could get an Aeroclub White Metal Nose Ring - put one on the last one of these I did and it looks great. Mind you, seeing yours with so little aftermarket just goes to show how good the basic material of this kit really is. One of my favourite 48th scale kits (built 4 so far and the next one will probably be the last). Thanks for sharing. Kev

Hey Neil I think that "Harry Callahan" was asking how the project has progressed since your last update and whether you have finished it. The question may have been confused in 'translation'. HTH Kev

Fantastic build and lovely finish, Nikolay. Enough 'class' for any of us to be proud of! Can't wait to see you do one as a Class A build! Kev

Sorry to hear the etch went awry, but I'm sure you can overcome such a small hurdle 🙂 After all you've been through with the 'Beast' this is just a small hiccup. Chin up, respirator on and let's feed some more brass sheet to the invisible shark in the tank... 😉 Kev

Aww... I'm seriously disappointed, Loren 😉 I was hoping for EITHER a 48th scale TU-95 Bear OR a 48th scale TU-160 Blackjack (both would have to be scratchbuilt, of course 🙂 )... As you have two almost equally appealing contenders, however, I shall cast my vote for the B-47E. I recently acquired the old Hasegawa 72nd kit and Lord knows THAT is a big enough airframe, so a 48th scale one would be seriously impressive. Got any pics of the PE done, so far? Looking forward to seeing that stuff 🙂 Cheers Kev

That's great work, Loren. It'll make a big difference to the look of the 'hot end' of the aircraft. 🙂 I've just finished my penultimate shift at work. Next shift is 9pm tomorrow night for 5 hours and then I'm a gentleman of leisure for a while. Hoping to get quite a few modelling projects done in my leisure time 🙂 Just picked up a commission to build a WWI Mk.1 Male Tank from an existing client (delivered his 1/24th Shelby Cobra commission yesterday) so that will be one of the 'focused' projects, along with some figures I'm doing for a fellow modeller and my local model shop. Gonna be a busy few months, if I'm lucky... Won't be long before your Great White Beast needs its shelf space, by the look of things. Cheers Kev

Looking good, Loren. A few bits to attend to, but nothing much (compared to what's gone before!). Made me smile to see your 'window rattler' Aircon. Used to work with those things a few years ago, though it's a limited market here in the UK. Beer Fridges (on the other hand) are a common sight over here. They just don't tend to be kept at as low a temperature here 🙂 - and the "Will work for Beer" sign is implicit in any contract with UK building trades... hee hee 😉 My, my - she is a biggun, isn't she? But looking damn good! Kev

OMG! Your masochism is WAY out of control!! 😉 And I thought that I liked BIG aircraft? Tell me... have you put in bids on all your neighbours' houses to ensure you have enough display space??? 😉 I've got a Revell 144th Bear and a rather 'cute' 144th EE Lightning to escort it (A Welsh Models vacform, at that - so that should be REAL fun! hee hee...). Lord alone knows when I'll get to those kits, though...