Val

Nice save. Coming on a real treat

Thanks the undercarriage is the one part of the build that was a genuine problem; one of the legs was majorly warped and I did my best to straighten it out. It's as good as I can get it without it snapping! In fact it's only straight on one side because the wheel is superglued to the door. Hoping it will last, if not I might have to reinforce with some sections with some metal rods.

Thanks guys! Glad you like her! Cheers Andy so, I've never used Alclads metal colours but I've got to say the AK paints are very easy to use. I did polish up the kit plastic with micromesh but not sure that's totally nessecary, unlike Alclad. The AK Black Base primer went down very smoothly at around 20psi, and then I just chucked the paint on at around 15psi. They don't seem to mind any air pressure and as long as an area isn't totally flooded, it self-levels a treat, I just put a couple of thin-ish layers down and left it there. The only thing I had issues with was masking. Even detacked Tamiya tape still lifted it places, but touching the paintwork in was easy as you can drop the air pressure down and get in really close. You can't see the touch-ins when they are dry. I'd also so say the AK Guazy Agent Shine Enhancer gloss varnish is excellent and doesn't diminish the metal look at all. I masked up the olive drab panel at the front last of all (after about 3 coats of shine enhancer) and the metal work didn't lift at all. I've seen Alclad finishes that are every bit as good as AK, but from what I understand they require much more preparation and a lot harder to use. I'd recommend this AK stuff any day val

That absolute legend Santa Claus dropped one of these off under my tree too, so looking forward to watching yours come together

Cheers Stew, and to you

Thank you all for you kind words! Merry Christmas all! val

Hi! My little 'stang! Kit manufacture: Airfix Scale: 1/72 Type: North American P-51D Mustang Extras used: Scratch seat belts from tape . Paints and colours used: AK Xtreme Metals Aluminium, AK Dark Aluminium, AK Black Base Primer, Tamiya XF-7 flat red, XF-3 flat yellow, XF-85 Rubber black, XF-62 Olive Drab, Vallejo 71.010 Interior Green, various Vallejo colours for hand painting, AK Gauzy Agent, Flory Dark Dirt. So this is another kit I've been working on for another group build/SIG on another forums. It was all about metal finishes, and as I've never really attempted a true NMF, I thought I'd give the new excellent AK Xtreme Metals a go. The kit is a fantastic mojo-buster. Fit is generally excellent, detail is good, engraved panel lines are lovely. The only problems I had were a warped landing gear strut, so the wheel had to be superglued to the undercarriage door, and the antenna was so full of flash it was unusable and had to be scratched from plasticard. I'm fairly pleased with the result of the AK Xtreme Metal and I loved the AK Gauzy agent; self levels a treat and doesn't diminish the metal finish. I did have a problem at times with the AK stuff pealing away with the masking tape despite de-tacking and leaving the paint to dry for a week at a time. However it goes on a treat and looks beautiful. Comments, tips and feedback as always greatly appreciated. And here are my two latest completions hanging out with each other! There we go! Thanks for stopping by. Have a fantastic Christmas everyone, I hope Santa fills your stockings with plenty of kits! Val

Cheers mate yes, I know he colour you mean. To be honest, I put zero research into this build, I purely went off airfix instructions and imagination! Always appreciate historic feedback though, it's always good to learn! Cheers mate

Thanks mate, really kind of you to say! Yeah it's been tough work in places, but ultimately satisfying. Where I'm up to at this moment is I sanded the paint on the wings back as I didn't get a smooth finish; it was my first time using enamels in an airbrush. I've re-primed, and I just need to clean a couple of panel lines out and then I'm ready to paint again. Hope to do so over Christmas

Amazing work on those intakes

Cheers Rick! It's the first time I've tried to paint on the roundels; it worked really well in this case as the aircraft is so beaten up, but I now know exactly how accurate I'd have to be on a better maintained aircraft! Had a touch of bleed though on the fuselage too due to the more complex shape. I'm in Harleston, between Diss and Bungay in South Norfolk! I guess you can't be too far away from me!? Val

Cheers mate

Thanks mate Cheers! Yes, that stuff is lovely! I've got to say the new Vallejo metal colour stuff is excellent too, although not sure what it's like to brush. Cheers mate, you're too kind

Thank you! Yes, I will try that, thanks. Mind you, I might have to wait a while as |I doubt I'll be seeing the sun again until March!! #BritishWeather

Cheers guys! I certainly had a lot of fun with it!

Thanks for the info, I shall keep that in mind for the future.

Cool, thanks for the tips. I've got a Tie Fighter and a Mustang nearly finished so will try to improve the pictures when they're done with your tips Thanks Ahhh... didn't realise that! Yes, you're quite right, would probably have been kept very clean! Thanks for your kind words and your tips. I will try your suggestions to improve the photos on the next completed build Agreed, it's a decent kit overall and more than worth the money for a bit of fun!

Hello! So my Lancaster, Gnats and 727 have been on hold while I've been moonlighting on another site doing a couple of group builds... sorry! But here's the first completed build for a while, a Mitsubishi Zero. Kit manufacture: Airfix Scale: 1/72 Type: Mitsubishi A6M2b Zero Extras used: Quickboost resin seat, Eduard mask set. Paints and colours used: Citadel Mithril Silver (prop, undercarriage), Citadel Chainmail and Boltgun Metal (base coat for chipping), Tamiya XF-71 (cockpit), XF-76 (underside), XF-70 (top colour), XF-17 (engine cover, props), XF-85 (wheels), Tamiya X-13 (wheel bay), Tamiya XF-3 (yellow bits), Tamiya XF-2 and XF-7 (roundels), Vallejo Polyurethane Primer, various Vallejo colours for detail. Clear coats were AK Gauzy Shine Enhancer and Tamiya Matt Coat, washes were Flory Grime wash and AK Engine Grease. Streaks added with burnt umber oils and Tamiya weathering set. The kit itself is good. Fit is generally excellent; basically no filleriller with the exception of the wing roots. You might get away without this with a bit of sanding etc. Detail is good. Not brilliant, but not poor either. Panel lines, in my opinion, are acceptable depth. Some areas, like the engine, I thought were really sharply detailed, as is the cockpit although you are unable to pose the canopy open OOB. Rivet detail was added by myself, and I was pleased with my first attempt. Decals are very good, although there aren't many and I masked and painted the roundels myself. Problems with the kit are, as ever with Airfix, soft plastic and large sprue gates which means care must be taken with part removal and cleanup. Overall, very enjoyable. Oh yeah, I beat the heck out of the paintwork, so if you're not a fan of over-weathering, look away now! I did exactly what you're not supposed to do and used imagination and other builds as references as opposed to actual photographic references. Fun it was, though! Comments, tips and feedback as always greatly appreciated. Oh, and apologies for my photography work! g So there we go, thanks for stopping by, Val

Fantastic work!

Another great model

Awesome work!

Great model, top work!

Great model and amazing weathering! Looks perfect!

Beautiful model!

A simply stunning model!