Dave100TR

I agree with all the above - great job! Dave

I've just been following the other links and this guy is pretty impressive! He also has a great P51 on this page - http://fighters.forumactif.com/1-32e-1-24e-f52/ - have a look about halfway down - it's a Bodney bird. Again Rub n'Buff - superb! There's also an impressive Pacific Coast Spit IXc - love do do these markings on the Tamiya Spit! Dave

AV, thanks for this link - amazing! Looks to be an interesting site - there are some really impressive French modellers that's for sure. Anyone who hasn't done it already should check out the French "Wingmasters" (Steelmasters for the armour guys) magazine - there are some inspirational models in that most issues: http://wingmasters.histoireetcollections.com/en Dave

Beautiful job! Have you any shots that show a bit more detail? Dave

That's amazing!! As a fan of serious weathering myself I am really impressed at the subtle finish you have achieved - really excellent! Dave

You kept quiet about posting these last night! Very good - as always! Dave

Thanks Peter - looks great! To me it looks very similar to the old USN Gull Grey over White scheme - 36440 I think? Or possibly one of the "ghost" greys - but I can't remember the FS number (36622 I think?). Do you know this site: http://www.colorserver.net/showcolor.asp?fs=36440 If you could open 2 windows in your browser you could have the pic of the plane in one and do some comparisons with the FS charts in the other. Since you would be viewing them both on the same monitor it might be a way of having a stab at it. The picture of the plane is very bright so would probably look lighter than it really is. I've got a FS colour chart so I will try & remember to bring it on Tuesday. Dave

Hi Peter, Great model which look much better in the flesh as I can confirm! I was having a drink with Stu last night and mentioned you model to him - are you going to bring it to Manston on Tuesday? He mentioned the Qatar camo & markings - pretty unusual colour scheme he said - can you point me to any pics of it? This is really inspirational and makes me really want to make something in this scale - it seems perfect for these really huge planes! Dave

Thanks to everyone for your positive comments. As for the mud, I agreed with Sid about the amount because I wasn't very happy about how I had applied it and I though it looked like an afterthought, rather than being intentional. This is because of how I did it. I used Mig European Dust pigment put on with Humbrol enamel thinner (as I do on my armour models) and my experience in using this is that, after the thinner has evaporated, it's often necessary to brush some of the pigment off to give a more realistic effect. This is true where you have a surface which allows the "dust" to collect in corners etc. When it go on a smooth surface - like the tyre - I think it's more difficult to make it look natural. I thought I should have given it a bit more attention before putting it up on the site! I think that Daz & Peter are right - mud is good! Not easy to get right though... Sid, thanks for your extra comments about the patching up! Dave

Hi Sid, thanks for the feedback. I agree with the comment about the mud - I did intend taking most of it off but forgot to before I took the photos! It has mostly gone now... It's not meant to be rust but patches of primer where odd scratches & damages has been touched up or the top coat worn away - obviously I have failed in my attempt to show this clearly! Dave

This look great. I have one of these that I must get around to having seen yours. I love the worn finishes on these. Does the Eduard set add a great deal to the cockpit in your opinion? For what it's worth I photograph my models in natural daylight (not sunlight though as I find it puts the contrast up too much) and don't do anything else with them in terms of manipulation (mainly since I don't have Photoshop or the time!). I use a black backgound but I don't plan on getting any published so that may not be the best solution for you. I just find it makes the model stand out and is neutral for any colour scheme. I did use a Canon G5 Powershot until recently and found it excellent. It is only 5 megapixels but has a superb lens and is great in macro mode for really sharp closeups. Lately I've been using a Nikon E40 with the standard zoom lens and haven't got the results I got with the Canon yet. I'm having trouble getting enough depth of field in macro mode but, if I switch to aperture priority, I can't get the damned thing to focus where I want it to!! All this stuff is too clever for it's own good in my opinion! Dave

Great build... Dave

Beautiful Walrus! I really love the finish & the hand painted invasion stripes. I have so much admiration for anyone who can attempt all that rigging too! Dave

Hi all, This is my finished 1/32 FW190 that I posted a few pics of at an earlier stage. I wanted to represent a late war 190, not a specific aircraft, showing a typical late colour scheme - areas of grey/green primer as well as the usual RLM76 underneath - and I'm fairly pleased with the results. It has been through a few colour combinations plus some "battle damage" since I realised after I had got a really good finish on the top of the wings that I had stuck the cannon wing bulges on the wrong way around! The first lesson learned was not to buy reference books that you then don't look at (at least look at more than the pretty pictures)! Anyway, in a moment of madness I decided to do something about it and took a scalpel to the bulges. They came off pretty easily but were damaged (as was the wing of course!). I had another 190 kit - a Revell F8 (which is terrible and wasn't ever going to get built anyway) - which had the identical bulges. I then had to repair the damage to the wings and respray. Luckily (or so I though) I had used colours straight from the pot for the upper surface camouflage so remasked & resprayed. After the grey was dry it looked a bit weird. Then I realised I had used Aeromaster RLM75 the first time & Vallejo the second... So, repaired battlle damage, repainted in the field, pretty patched up & dirty!

Hi John, Thanks for the link... Dave

Hi, Great build! I have just pulled on out of the loft & decided to have a go - any pointers on the build? It sounds from your comments that it isn't easy! I have the Verlinden cockpit set which I assume you used too? What are the colours? Dave

Very good - the Eduard cockpit upgrade really makes a difference doesn't it? Great job. Dave

Hi all, Here are some more ME109s that I made a while ago. 2 G10s & a G6 - all Hasegawa kits with aftermarket decals. The FW190A-8 is a work in progress - just started weathering and quite a bit more still to do. There's also a pic of something else I do - I know it's not the right place for it but I'll put some more there in the future! Dave

Really excellent. Never thought I would be interested in making one of these but this is simply inspirational! Is this straight out of the box? If so, what a great kit! Dave

Quite right! Crossed wires - I thought it was Hobby Boss. Dave

Hi Bill! That would be great - thanks! I've already got a Verlinden cock[pit set which I discovered in the box & can't even remember buying. See you next month. Dave

Thanks guys, I did mean the Hobby Boss kit. I've been told to check on Cybermodeller by a friend and there it says release here in October. Are Trumpeter doing one too?? Dave

Hi, I've seen adverts in the modelling press (Pocketbond's ads) about the Hobby Boss 1/48 F100 being available but I haven't found anyone of the internet sellers that I usually go to who seems to have one nor have I read a review. Does anyone know it it is available or has anyone got one? I would be really interested to know what they think of it if so... Dave

Thanks to all who made very positive comments! I'm starting to get back to some serious modelling now I hope (after a long period of illness) and your comments certainly help. I have a few more 1/32 ME109s I will photograph & put up on the site over the weekend I hope. Currently working on a 1/32 Hasegawa FW190A-8 but unsure of what scheme to finish it in. I really go for the very late war schemes where almost anything went because of different sub-contractors supplying pre-painted bits that didn't match! I've lots of references but am having to cobble together the markings for what I want to do. Also going back to some 1/48 stuff that's been in my garage for years that I never thought I would get around to making (sound familiar?)! I have an Academy FB111A but, again, not sure what to do with it. I'm pretty poor on some of this stuff - for instance, could I make this as an Aussie bird? I came across this site: http://www.f-111.net/CarloKopp/gallery.htm and fancied some of these! I would be grateful for some pointers! Dave

Hi Andy, I think the "ambush" scheme refers more correctly to the pattern with contrasting spots - supposedly to mimic sunlight falling through trees? Late war camouflage was generally the three colours of dark yellow, olive green & red brown with or without the spots. The pattern depended on the manufacturer and vehicle (Hetzers from Skoda & BMM had very complex 3 colour patterns applied at the factory for example - both with spots but looking distinctly different). Colours also varied with the red brown replaced by red primer and some vehicles using white as a camouflage colour. The colours could also be applied as stripes (late Panthers & Jagdpanthers). Best to decide on the vehicle you are going to make & check for specific references. Hope this helps... Dave