CHUUK

Very nice work! I've got one in the stash and have been holding out as I didn't quite know how to approach it with no cockpit detail and such. Yours gives me a bit of motivation to go out and seek some PE and/or resin goodies. Besides the Eduad PE you mentioned, any other after market enhancements available? Cheers! Chuck

All - many thanks for the replies! Cheers for the kind words!! Chuck

Second completion for 2010... but both were started in 2009. This is my first Russian aircraft, although in Finnish markings. The colours seem a bit bright, I just followed the instructions, honest! The thick Fujimi decals were, as always, very anti-climactic. This is a pretty decent kit, and everything is OOB, except the photo etch HUD. This was my first attempt at etch, and, well... let's just say the rest of the etch didn't make it. It was a good learning experience though! Cheers! Chuck

And you didn't even scribe the panel lines for him... gosh! Just kidding... that's a great start! I'm building a Draken with my daughter... it's probably gonna be pink and purple camo. Cheers! Chuck

Uhm... reference... we're supposed to look that stuff up? :-) I believe my reference was, gulp, first, a question posted as to the grey or silver undersides... and for the grey, I can't remember. I thought it was from a Fujimi RAF Phantom instruction set, and I bought the three colours and then never used them. Building this F6 I thought, hey, same colours (except the belly)! When it went on it did look a bit on the light side. After dirtying her up a bit I settled for "it's faded man... yeah..." :-) Now that I look though... H330 and H331 should be the right combo... dark sea grey. Cheers! Chuck

All - many thanks for the kind words! A couple of you ask about colours... silver belly is Alclad Aluminum, top is MM Acrylic Chrome Yellow over a white base, Mr. Color Medium Sea Grey (335), and MM Acrylic Dark Green... as I discovered my Mr. Color Dark Green had dried up. Cheers! Chuck

My first for 2010. Nice kit... I often get scared with Revells... it used to be you never know who's you're gonna get. Advice... the intakes/wing join need attention. Also, my attempt at clear nav lights on the wings about drove me mad due to the small size, and proximity of the pitot tube on the port wing. Impatience got the best of me again when I sprayed dullcoat too soon, leaving some of the weathering mottled/pooled in some areas such as the lower wing surfaces. Here's to more patience in 2010! Cheers! Chuck One of my cats was making funny faces at me as I was taking pictures on the patio... now you're all over the internet, ha!

Dave, MM Acrylics mostly... MkI - MM Dark Green, MM Dark Earth ANA, and MM RAF Sky Type S ANA MkVb - MM Dark Earth ANA, Tamiya XF60 Dark Yellow, and Pollyscale Azure Blue... which is way too blue! Cheers! Chuck

It's been a while since I last completed a model. I had a bit of a modeller's block I think. Tamiya are usually good to get the blood flowing again. Everything OOB, MM Acrylics. This was the first time I've attempted exhaust/gun stains. You can't see it in the pictures, but, I guess I didn't wait long enough between spraying the stains and applying the flat coat. The flat coat hit the acrylic and gave it an effect of rain drops on the stains. Anyway... it wouldn't be a model of mine if it were perfect... always something! Cheers! Chuck

All - many thanks for the kind words! Enzo - OD was Tamiya XF-64 (I think) Olive Drab... as per the instructions. Cheers! Chuck

Sorry for the lack of updates. I wanted to enjoy this one a bit and couldn't bring myself to fuss with the camera at every step. She's finished... ready for inspection. Cheers! Chuck

Every model I begin with the intent of weathering and fading and filtering. Again I failed... it's either the beauty of a clean paint job that I don't want to make a mess off... or I get impatient and just want to git'er dun. Cheers! Chuck

Day 1 & 2... A nice Tamiya 48 scale to soothe the nerves. This is my first P-47 - ever. I have to say this kit is really nice, but you've all read that hundreds of times. Attempted to mix dark dull green... some green zinc chromate, some dark green, and a touch of black. The only scratch were some cables leaving the throttle levers. Gonna try my first seat belt with this one. Instrument panel was painted black, dry brushed the outline of the gauges, then cut the decals up and applied the detail to each gauge one by one. Sidewall details... More sidewall details... My first attempt at spark plug wires... used 0.4mm round styrene, super glued to the conduit, then heated under a halogen desk lamp for pliability. Not my first time dropping elevators, but it is my first time recreating the hinges... thanks to "chukw's" Helldiver build on another forum for the how-to! Cheers! Chuck

Phabulous Phantom sir! Last year I went on a Phujimi Phantom Phrenzy... bought several kits of the RAF birds. With 2 already built, your Phantom inspires me to take one or two out of the stash and get back to work. Cheers! Chuck

Build thread Cheers! Chuck

Day 7 & 8... complete! Andrew - I didn't take many pictures of the blade construction, so I drew on this one a bit to give the idea. Basically, cut the root of the blade out, use a bit of sprue to create a swivel point, attach it back to the root of the blade, glue TO the blade, and then re-insert back into the hub. I used some brass rod and LOTS of super glue as I realized the bass rod alone didn't create a strong enough support. Everyone - thanks again for sharing all of your experience, support, and kind words! Cheers! Chuck

Day 6... Started on the blades today. I didn't think the blades had enough droop at the root, so I got the crazy idea to hack'em up and try to make a swivel joint with a brass pin insert. Well... I'm not that good yet, it got ugly, in the end I achieved the result I was looking for - sort of - lots of super glue used, enough said. Still need to pick out some details and attach the HF aerials and landing gear. Cheers! Chuck

Day 4 and 5... Again... many thanks for all the info you guys have provided! Some of the bits may not be correct or in the right place, but I've learned my lesson when it comes to research. Looking at more photos I think I may have even botched the wrap around camo around the nose. I did try to scratch build the nose antennae and an aerial mid-top fuselage though... and I'm getting a lot better at going back and correcting areas, repainting, etc! Decals are on. The black decal squares on the sponson I didn't locate very well... so I sanded them off and replaced them with a bit of black paint in the more proper position. Engine exhaust, drive shaft/FOD shield (?) and RWR (?) protrusions are on. Now I just need to pick out some details with a wash here and there... nothing too extreme... plus I'm still learning in this particular area. My next sitting will be the blades, landing gear, and HF (?) antennae on the port fuselage. Curious to see how the blades turn out. They have a slight droop molded in... wondering if I'll need to cut them at the hinge point and give them that more pronounced droopy-hangy-at-rest look. Cheers! Chuck

All - many thanks for the feedback. With regard to the upper rear door... I couldn't figure that one out... in all the pictures I saw with the door open I thought they had removed the upper. I shall hack it off tonight! As far as the rotor blades... the best I can tell the difference in the non-metal blades is that they are a bit more 'fat'... wider chord? The ones in the kit seem to be pretty wide. Regardless, they are the only ones I have - please forgive me if they are incorrect! CHUUK humbly begs forgiveness and prays that the gods drop lotus petals from heaven to cushion his path throughout the remainder of this kit's construction... cause I'm sick of bloody sanding and puttying! :-) I've got a stack of Tamiya 48 scale that I plan on using as recovery from these last builds. Cheers! Chuck

Day 3... Since the last post I decided to take a risk respraying her with MM "F-15 dark grey". Looks alright I think. Some over spray to clean up... Some tidying up on the back end as well... The black bottom was painted using a pattern cut into post-it notes by a pair of my daughter's really cool scissors. Cheers! Chuck

Guys - many thanks for the comments! Last night I was looking up some pictures, you know - doing the research I was supposed to do before beginning work on the model - and the points you've brought up confirmed everything. In the trash... scarred for life with plastic helis! Just kidding! That'll certainly teach me to trust the instructions. A bit late on the cockpit colours... but perhaps you can assist me with the camo. Instructions call for dark gull grey (FS36231) and dark green (FS34079). My gut and IPMS Stockholm told me gunship grey (FS36118) and dark green. I started the latter but the grey looks too dark. What say you? Also... some photo references have rescue winch, some have search light, some have chaff dispensers (?) on the side, and some with a bulbous protrusion on the nose. Were these items fitted as needed, or did they come and go over the years or particular to certain squads? Cheers! Chuck

Day 2... Cockpit and cargo floor is in. Profile view. Put some sunglasses on and see the gaps on the floor insert. The glazing fit, uhm... yeah... it gets worse on the other side. Starting to look like a Chinook. Cheers! Chuck

My first heli since returning to the hobby... given by and being built for a friend. I'm not terribly good at taking something difficult and turning it into a masterpiece like I see so many times on these boards... I'll be lucky to make it look like a Chinook I think. This kit has pretty good detail, but the fit is ORR-uble! It will be OOB, finished with the kit decals, RAF, grey/green with the black belly. Day 1... The kit... The sanding begins... The tail end... so much putty and sanding... Some of the doors and hatches needed to be glued on... some of the detail is trench-orous... perhaps he worked for Matchbox? I decided to glue the halves together and bring the floor and cockpit in from the bottom... A little artistic license to cover the inside fuselage join. Cheers! Chuck

Many thanks for all the kind words guys! I am always in awe, and am always learning from what I see on these forums. BTW... I actually write this from sunny Crawley... here this week for work. I wanted to get out and check out some of the local hobby stores here, and in London. I don't get to this side of the pond often... any suggestions? Cheers!

A few modeller induced flaws here and there, and a couple little bits that have been omitted due to carpet monsterage. The flaps, although super cool, do not fit well at all. The gear doors required lotsa jimmying. Overall - awesome kit - but shake and bake my ar$e! Thanks all for your kind words during the build! Build Thread Cheers! Chuck