silverburn

Ok, another wee update. Decals are on! But gahd, they were a nightmare...they folded up quicker than...well, a foldy thing. Mind you, once they were on, they are very good. And I lost one - one of the hi-vis markers on the belly. And the jet intake decals...wow - How I managed to retain these, I do not know; I even managed to keep the cut out sections for the tabs, which I'll be installing shortly. In other news, the TIALD thingy has arrived, as has a couple of US 2000lb LGB's from fightpath. My loadout will be: Port inner - 1 x 2000lb LGB Starboard inner - TIALD Middles - tanks Outers - AIM9's Would love to do this though... Inners - 2 x 6 dumb bombs Middles - tanks Outers - AIM9's Guns on Photo taken with iphone, so apologies. Will matt this down a bit before: - Doing the weapons and carriers - Small detail painting (lights, puffers, might paint the refueler arm, black studs on wheels etc) - weathering. Likely to be very simple - a wash for the whole model for the panel lines, and pastels for oil streaks and misc weathering). Main jet soot already done. - breakables - canopy - Drop it on the floor, and go back 12 steps - Try and setup a booth for photography for RFI

Really simple method to be honest - drill a picture loop into the model (yes....'fraid so), measure it up on the wall, and fire in a picture hanger. Bingo! Except this isn't the best place for them...where you actually want them is in your stair well...three perfectly good wall that aren't used for anything normally, and out the way of everything else. I measured mine - theoretically enough space for 22 1:32 models!

Trundling through this now... - Outer legs done (bar the flaps) - rear exhausts done - airbrakes done - soot done Soot is the main thing here. A good dousing of smoke to weather it. I'll do some seam work with pastels afterwards as well. A coat of matt should tone down the shine on the soot. I weathered this bit first, while it was all disassembled. It would have been trickier doing it later on. It'll also get washed, and some pastel work done, for the full weathering effect. Apologies for the poor photos. Artificial light and a poor camera don't make a good shot.

It could well be a combination of trumpetism and angle of photo. They're definitely there and angled. Will take a better shot tonight, to confirm though...

This looks the perfect kit for mine - I would have got my hindenburgs, sky shadow pod and decals, and I could have been done in a few weeks.... oh well...ain't hindsight wonderful Looking forward to this one.

Chains: I got these from my local model shop (Scoonie hobbies, kirkcaldy). It's the smallest chain they do! Photos: Grand - these definitely help. I'm going to try and find a "profile" shot as well, to see where the wires join the superstructure.

Excellent modelling! ...but what an ugly plane...it's like something out of a cartoon!

Ok, more progress... - legs are on! She can even stand, even if she's a bit wobbly. - Gun replacement fins painted and on. I went with cammo, afterI saw a few pics with fins and pylons in cammo - Pylons are on too, in cammo. I'll go back later and wash/pop the detail there - front jets on (colour coded) - rear jets drying (gun metal, and look pretty good, tamiya parts finish aside) Looking like a harrier now! *edit: ..apart from the too-high nose. Trumpet must have modelled an 'engine-out' airframe when they took the measurements... I even managed to get the intakes right (no paint wobbles) at first attempt!

An update at last! Finished the main body cammo...gahd, what a job! Also, I've taken to glueing the wings in place - I wanted them removable, but they were annoying me so much they're now glued in place, complete with ugly seam... I have a query though...How do I paint the pylons? Are they cammo like the body, or some other colour? I was thinking about gunless (It'll be carrying LGB and a sensor doodah thingy), so are the replacement fins also cammo? And what about the external tanks - also cammo? I'd kinda like a break from the cammo...

Check out my funky anchor chains...of real chain!

Thanks for that guys! When you stare at a model long enough, you kinda get the 'woods for the trees' syndrome, and you lose touch with what you think is good or not. Glad you liked it, because I know there are some true masters on here… Thanks! I didn't know they still ran the old tanks - it's some relief now! I'd still like to give the hindeburgers a go, one day. Once I can be sure I won't destroy the vac-form! How hard are they to do? It would be perfect if they came pre-cut; the cutting is the bit that worries me most. Thanks for the vote of confidence on the tail soot; and no, it's not humbrol - it's MOntana GOld "salmon' from a can. Truth be told, it's too pink to my eyes; the pics are better ironically, but in sunlight, I think it's too pink. Yet to find a rattle can that does the true BS colour. 601 grams! Yes, it's heavy. Metal legs compulsory! Ironically you still need plastic parts from the kit for the rears, but they're more than sturdy enough. I sprayed this out a can - Tamiya smoke. There's a bit on the belly too, from the mid-section back (though you can't see the midsection now, due to the bombs. It's a handy wee can; it's been a hard effect (smoke/soot) to perform for rattle-canners - airbrushers can run very dilute colours for the same effect. Yes, I've seen your thread - looking forward to it!

Has anyone good a good ref pic of th rigging? I'm gonna run some very thin black thread for mine, but I can't see how much I'll need!

Gary sent me his, and now it's in RFI

Hi guys, Well, thanks to Gary and his Sky Shadow pod, I'm eventually in RFI! Gary, you are a star.... Strictly speaking though, there are 3 reasons why I *shouldn't* be here: - No dedicated photobooth, and my camera is broken (using a 4 year old instamatic) - I've not got glass for the FLIR thingy, so technically, I'm not actually finished! - HINDENBURG's. Why capitals for Hindenburgs? Because it's the one thing I may actually take back and re-do. I'm just too scared to do Vac-form (unless it's pre-cut), so no flightpath versions for me. But I'm *want* Hindenburgs...these old tank are simply wrong, especially with this massive loadout! Also, I need to clear the decks a bit, so I can focus on one/two models at a time. I went for Snoopy, in a late Gulf war style; very battle worn, loaded with dumb bombs. Apart from overdoing the tail-fin soot, I really enjoyed this! Flightpath detail kit and 8 x 1000lb dumb bombs were used, as was a Paragon (I think) pit and seats. Total model weight is 601 grams! Anyway - for what it's worth - enjoy. Here you go Gary - here's your Sky Shadow pod!

That's an excellent build btw - I especially love your rigging - how did you manage it???? That's the bit I'm dreading the most.

Well, speaking of PE, the trick stuff has begun. Basically, the shoulder rests, the sights and the armour plate are all PE for the 20mm's....and I'm sicks of them already! Why? Because I've done 3 (shoulder rests and gun barrel left to paint): ...but still have 27 left to do! At this size the paint fills in the gaps in the sight, but given their size, I seriously doubt anyone will notice (see the clothes peg for reference size).... *edit - yes, I know the left guns shoulder rests are upside down...but only the truly hawk-eyed will notice once it's in-situ

Calling Phil Reeder... Personally, I'd love to see Phil's entire 1:350 ship collection laid out...his collection must have over a million tons of displacement in 1:1, and that's just the recent stuff...and the quality is stunning. Can you manage a all-in-one shot Phil, if you're reading this?

The "cool wall" for me... All 1:32, because: - all the 1:72's has been donated to next-door's son - 1:48 eurofighter made a fatal end, and the 1:48 Stringbag is in a display case In 2 weeks, I recon these will be joined by the Tornado and the AV8B.

*edit - on closer inspection of Moltke's pics, I think I'll paint my pom poms black/grey, instead of Tamiya's recommendations. Wotcha think? * edit 2 - ...and I'm going to do the etch version of the range finders These are nice pics! Yes, an airbrush would be nice - I'd like one too, instead of working with rattle cans. Given this is my first ship, I've gotta say - I'm only using the spray for the really big sections - the hull, super structure etc. The guns I'm having to paint the metal by hand, and all the other fiddly bits too, so the hairy brush isn't completely redundant! Anyway, I have some more progress: - Range finders are on - Cranes started! These are from the etch, and they're great...I've replaced the etch cables with my own silver thread though. Look better IMO. I left one crane raised, but I'm having second thoughts now - I think I'll fasten it down like the other one - More guns done - Anchor runs painted; gone for a lighter grey (almost a white), to highlight the anchors once they go one. Anchor chain has been sprayed gun metal, and looks ace; more pics tomorrow when I fit it - Some etch stairways fitted - no real problems, surprisingly - More bits and bobs done Gotta say - the etch has worked well so far. But gahd it's *tiny*! Some tricky jobs ahead - the 20mm's to be done, and the AA's as well - all have etch, and all are TINY. Well, another pic. Enjoy.

Cheers guys! At least I know I'm on the right track then...first ship an' all... Anyway, only a small update, what with finishing off my F117. - Pom Poms on - inflatables on; I went with an off-white for these, given that was a likely colour, rather than pure white. - Barrels into main guns. Again, I've left these as hull colour, instead of the recommended two-tone of Tamiya. I may even paint the gaiters. - Couple of super structure bits I missed yesterday added. Sorry about the crap photo - took in a hurry with a rubbish camera: There's a few stairs to do now, and it looks like I'll have to foray into the etch for the first time! yikes...

Hi Guys, Thanks for all the compliments all! Maybe i expect too much of myself (and the kits), but this only just makes it onto the "cool wall" (see below); I'd have preferred to have done a few things better, but it was a tricky ol' kit. Anyway, barring the fine gauze for the FLIR, I'm calling this done. I don't think it's good enough for RFI, and it's so huge it doesn't fit in my usual photography setup anyway! (see pics). Anyway, here's the final shots until the gauze, and I'll maybe RFI it then. If it's not too dusty...this thing's a damned dust magnet, even after painting. Anyway...to the shots. Very tricky btw - the camera can't focus on the black paint! So some aren't razor sharp. Note to the flightpath kit users...don't overdo the glue. As you can see here, it fills in some of the vents! It's probably a simple drill out procedure, but I'm a big scaredy cat... Dammit -I've still not weathered that front wheel! With 95% complete Tornado (no it's not pink), for scale comparison: And it's future home...the cool wall! Other future residents will be the above Tornado, and the AV8B still on the bench.

Picked this baby up today, on pure impulse. Quite simple logic for me...."1:32" and "floats". Floats because I did a 1:48 swordfish with one, and loved it, and 1:32 because I have fists of ham and fingers of butter, so prefer the bigger scale (both for painting, glueing, but also for scratch building, if necessary). Anyway - gotta clear the decks a wee bit before I start this - recon I'll finish the F117 tonight, and I may be getting a skyshadow pod to finish off the Tornado. Oh, and the KGV...and the lancaster....and the AV8B....oh bugger. So the the autumn until I start then...:-)

And we're back! ok, I've found a close match for my missing paint at last - good ol' halfords! Goes on good too - I might buy more from there, now that Montana Gold have screwed up their formula... Anyway, I re-sprayed all the superstructures apart from the top half of the bridge - you can now barely notice the difference in shades! And then I got the superglue out...at last. And here we are - most of the superstructure now done, and I've started on the weaponry. Only real snag has been the front funnel and fitments around it; Tamiya have done such an excellent job on this kit, and it fits so snuggly, that even a coat of paint makes it tricky to fit together! Oh and since this was taken, the kit anchor cables have been sanded out - I'll be using real chain for this. Not because this model is good enough to warrant it, but because I thought I'd give it a go, before applying it properly to the Bismark 1:350, which is waiting for this 'dry dock' to clear... And here we are (note: the gun tops and the decks *do* match - not sure what the camera has done here):

Bombs are all in! Gahd, the etch for the bomb swingers was hardcore...I thought I'd totally screwed it up at least half a dozen times...but it eventually it all came together, and looks ok here somehow. So that's the bomb bay done! Onto the home straight - finishing the pit & seat, then the breakables! Toying with the idea of an RFI or not...I just don't get a good vibe of this one. Yes, it's actually coming out ok (decals aside). but I'm just not sure. You can see the tale of woe that is my decals in the next shot:

Cheers guys! Doing the best I within my skills and the kits limitations! :-) And tonight's progress: - bay doors on, inc a not-used-in-real decal for the "nose/bay paint". But I won't tell if you won't Might add some random txt decals from an old kit too. Looks a bit bare. - FLIR in. Painted anthracite, to raise the colour a bit. It'll all be hidden by gauss at the end, but the lighter colour should allow you to see it better - Flightpath LGB's finished. Spot the kit versions...just a wee bit out then... blagged some writing/text decals from a 1:72; looks ok, though all you can see in the pic here is a smudge (it's actually ok...unlike the main kit's decals...which are all trying to peel off...groan....) And yes, I know I've forgotten to do the front wheel again... Currently working on the flightpath bomb carriers...woooahhhh