First build,

[Freecloud]

After an absence of forty eight years I've just finished my first build, Well for better or worse, warts & all here she is. First build & paint in all these years & never used an airbrush before.... Never weathered either so, in truth, it's hiding a multitude of sins & cock-ups. I think that I couldn't have chosen a worse first model whilst learning airbrushing, especially with using Alclad airframe aluminium. However, I'm going to call this my 'practice' piece in readiness for my next build. Some of the weathering is somewhat heavy in places but it's helping to disguise my mistakes I suppose. Admittedly, I did struggle at times due to tiredness & loss of concentration etc but persevered. I welcome honest constructive criticism & advice & opinions from anyone. Regards to you all. 😉

[Gary Brantley]

Hey, that looks pretty danged good from what I can see of it!  (A pox on Photobucket's watermarks!!)  Thanks for putting her here! 😀

[Freecloud]

Many thanks for this comment Gary. My daughter says I'm very self critical, which I am & bang myself over the hesd way too much but that's in my 'makeup' I'm afraid. 

Gonna try a Tamiya 1/48 Spitfire mk1 soon. Best regards to you. 

Garry. 

[Spitfire31]

Welcome back! From what little can be discerned behind those pesky watermarks, your 'Stang looks great! Well done, indeed!

 

A hint – next time make your photos much larger, hopefully reducing the 'Photobucket Elipse' a bit!

 

Kind regards,

 

Joachim

[Timbo88]

I know it's easier said than done, but try not to be too hard on yourself. That's a great model you have there.

 

I go through phases of negativity with my builds as well, when all I can see are silly errors, out of scale details and flaws in my skills. It really can be quite crushing mentally. I suspect it's in my makeup too.

We have to remember that this is a hobby, something to pass the time and ideally leave us with a warm glow of achievement! Even if all you can see are flaws, try to imagine how you can improve bit by bit, maybe make notes as I do.

Every model you work on will have good and bad points, some your mistakes or limitations, others inherent in the kit itself. I try to set myself tasks in each build. For example I might decide that in my next project I will attempt to improve my skills at painting canopy frames, or develop my ability at thining down wing trailing edges.

Remember too that, at the end of the day, we cannot replicate the real machine fully, we build in such small scales that our end results can only ever be a spirited representation of the 1:1 scale object.

Keep on building!

 

[clive_t]

Looking pretty darned good from here! I don't see any watermarks, so I guess you fixed that already

 

As for beating yourself up over your builds, it's a trait more widespread than you might think. I am getting better at being more positive, but as recently as 3 years ago, I couldn't even bring myself to do an RFI post for my first WIP subject on here. I did do one retrospectively a couple of years later though! 

 

it would be great if you could include some info about the aircraft/ kit/scale either in the title or as tags, just to alert people who like particular subjects really to take a look. Also if you did a WIP thread, then it's nice to include a link back to that from the RFI.

 

But, as already said, welcome back to the hobby and here's to your next challenge!

[Freecloud]

38 minutes ago, Spitfire31 said:

Welcome back! From what little can be discerned behind those pesky watermarks, your 'Stang looks great! Well done, indeed!

 

A hint – next time make your photos much larger, hopefully reducing the 'Photobucket Elipse' a bit!

 

Kind regards,

 

Joachim

Hi 

 

38 minutes ago, Spitfire31 said:

Welcome back! From what little can be discerned behind those pesky watermarks, your 'Stang looks great! Well done, indeed!

 

A hint – next time make your photos much larger, hopefully reducing the 'Photobucket Elipse' a bit!

 

Kind regards,

 

Joachim

Many thanks Spitfire31 I appreciate your comment very much. As for the Photobucket thing, well, I'm not very swiched on with uploading pics etc but I'll endeavour to ask my girl to show me for future uploads. Regards to you, be lucky. 😉

[Freecloud]

27 minutes ago, clive_t said:

Looking pretty darned good from here! I don't see any watermarks, so I guess you fixed that already

 

As for beating yourself up over your builds, it's a trait more widespread than you might think. I am getting better at being more positive, but as recently as 3 years ago, I couldn't even bring myself to do an RFI post for my first WIP subject on here. I did do one retrospectively a couple of years later though! 

 

it would be great if you could include some info about the aircraft/ kit/scale either in the title or as tags, just to alert people who like particular subjects really to take a look. Also if you did a WIP thread, then it's nice to include a link back to that from the RFI.

 

But, as already said, welcome back to the hobby and here's to your next challenge!

Thanks Clive & yes, my daughter always says I'm way too hard on myself at whatever I do. It'll get better, after all, it's been nearly fifty years & things have indeed changed a lot...., including me, older for a start eew. Be lucky, regards to you. 

[Freecloud]

35 minutes ago, Timbo88 said:

I know it's easier said than done, but try not to be too hard on yourself. That's a great model you have there.

 

I go through phases of negativity with my builds as well, when all I can see are silly errors, out of scale details and flaws in my skills. It really can be quite crushing mentally. I suspect it's in my makeup too.

We have to remember that this is a hobby, something to pass the time and ideally leave us with a warm glow of achievement! Even if all you can see are flaws, try to imagine how you can improve bit by bit, maybe make notes as I do.

Every model you work on will have good and bad points, some your mistakes or limitations, others inherent in the kit itself. I try to set myself tasks in each build. For example I might decide that in my next project I will attempt to improve my skills at painting canopy frames, or develop my ability at thining down wing trailing edges.

Remember too that, at the end of the day, we cannot replicate the real machine fully, we build in such small scales that our end results can only ever be a spirited representation of the 1:1 scale object.

Keep on building!

 

Such a great comment here Timbo & many thanks indeed, I'll endeavour to take on-board all you say. When knowledge speaks....., wisdom listens. Good luck & best regards. 😉

[Gary Brantley]

22 minutes ago, Freecloud said:

Hi 

 

Many thanks Spitfire31 I appreciate your comment very much. As for the Photobucket thing, well, I'm not very swiched on with uploading pics etc but I'll endeavour to ask my girl to show me for future uploads. Regards to you, be lucky. 😉

 

Just in case you don't know Garry, I believe that those watermark overlays are a feature of the free accounts with Photobucket.  I currently have the lowest-priced "premium" account plan and don't get those on my pics.   I may sure be wrong but that's how it's been in the recent past.

 

I too recently showed my first build after a long absence.  That was way back in the late '80s.  It's easy to see that your bird is miles ahead of what I turned out first time!  Keep up the good work sir!  😀

 

My first...

[LorenSharp]

Freecloud, your P-51 is a magnificently finished endeavour worthy of any praise you recieve. Keep up the great work! I can't wait to see how your Spitfire will turnout, keep us all posted. I tried Photobucket but didn't like the watermarks, so I went with Flickr instead still free but only limits you to 1000 pics. Haven't decided on subscribing yet.

 

[invidia]

Looks really good. 

[RMCS]

Fantastic

[stevej60]

Welcome back to the fold Freeclound and a cracking build to kick off your BM career,one piece of advice,kick PB into touch I was

with them till the charging debacle a couple of years ago that watermark is a disgrace Flickr give you a 1000 photos free and if you want

more their charges are reasonable and I'm sure some of our other members will have hosting suggestions.

[Freecloud]

12 hours ago, LorenSharp said:

Freecloud, your P-51 is a magnificently finished endeavour worthy of any praise you recieve. Keep up the great work! I can't wait to see how your Spitfire will turnout, keep us all posted. I tried Photobucket but didn't like the watermarks, so I went with Flickr instead still free but only limits you to 1000 pics. Haven't decided on subscribing yet.

 

Many thanks Loren, nice of you to comment. I do hope I can do justice to the Spitfire, I wish I could get hold og Geoffrey 'Boy' Wellums decals, but I'll settle for the out of box set. I'm going to try Flickr so hopefully it'll be better as asvised in this forum. Regards & good luck to you. 

[Freecloud]

11 hours ago, stevej60 said:

Welcome back to the fold Freeclound and a cracking build to kick off your BM career,one piece of advice,kick PB into touch I was

with them till the charging debacle a couple of years ago that watermark is a disgrace Flickr give you a 1000 photos free and if you want

more their charges are reasonable and I'm sure some of our other members will have hosting suggestions.

Thanks Steve, nice to be here & I'll take on the advice regarding Flickr, much appreciated my friend. Wishing you well, vest regards. 

[Freecloud]

13 hours ago, Gary Brantley said:

 

Just in case you don't know Garry, I believe that those watermark overlays are a feature of the free accounts with Photobucket.  I currently have the lowest-priced "premium" account plan and don't get those on my pics.   I may sure be wrong but that's how it's been in the recent past.

 

I too recently showed my first build after a long absence.  That was way back in the late '80s.  It's easy to see that your bird is miles ahead of what I turned out first time!  Keep up the good work sir!  😀

 

My first...

Thanks a million Gary, your comment here makes me feel somewhat better about the build. Both my wife & daughter have said that's it's fine but I feel much better hearing truthful comments from fellow modellers. Regards to you. 

[Harold55]

Very nice result on your P-51, it really turned out nice!  The only really critical thing is to have fun, after all this is still only a hobby so enjoy (at lead that is the case for most of us).  Welcome back also!  I had been absent for many years but my son bought me a kit about 29 years ago and I have enjoyed building kits ever since then.  I kept that first kit and looking at it now I could certainly have done better but what fun it has been since so I actually love that old Tomcat as it brought me back.  I am sure your P-51 will be like an old friend to you down the line.   Looking forward to seeing the Spitfire!

[Freecloud]

Thanks a million Harold & I do appreciate your comment very much. Yes you are right it's a hobby & not a chore so I must learn to accept my little mistakes & learn from them. I will, in time, improve I'm sure, I've got patience so I'll plod on. Spitfire next, so I'll post a photo when it's done, I'm in no hurry. As a kid, they were built in twenty minutes (if that) & painted......, they didn't look too bad through an impatient kids eyes I suppose, but I dread to think what they're like if I could go back in time & take a look, oh Lord 😂. Regards to you chap. 

[dnl42]

Outstanding first kit upon returning to the hobby, 

 

I wouldn't dare show mine. As noted above, we always know each and every mistake and flaw on our models. As long as you learn from each model, it's all good. 

 

And I agree, a pox upon PB! I've had good luck with https://postimages.org/

 

[dogsbody]

From what I can see of it, your Mustang looks great. I'd ditch PB ASAP! I have a Flickr account but I also have over 1000 images saved there. I decided that the &34.99 US per year works out to about the same as buying a Starbucks drink once a week during that year. As I don't drink Starbucks crap, it's money well spent.

 

I also have a Village.Photos account. It is free. https://village.photos/

 

 

 

Chris

[kapam]

Fine looking P-51!

What kit and scale is it?  I apologise if it is clearly stated and I somehow missed it.

[Freecloud]

12 hours ago, dogsbody said:

From what I can see of it, your Mustang looks great. I'd ditch PB ASAP! I have a Flickr account but I also have over 1000 images saved there. I decided that the &34.99 US per year works out to about the same as buying a Starbucks drink once a week during that year. As I don't drink Starbucks crap, it's money well spent.

 

I also have a Village.Photos account. It is free. https://village.photos/

 

 

 

Chris

Thanks a lot Chris, appreciate your kind comments. As for the PB, yes I'm being told by many to drop it like a hot potato. I'll look into Flickr & village alike, ready for future uploads. Be lucky & best regards. 

Garry. 

 

[Freecloud]

8 hours ago, kapam said:

Fine looking P-51!

What kit and scale is it?  I apologise if it is clearly stated and I somehow missed it.

Hi Kapam, it's a Tamiya 1/48 scale mate & thanks indeed for your comment. Regards to you. 😉

[IanC]

Nice Mustang. Only 48 years in the making!

 

Can I echo what others have said. Just enjoy it and don't sweat the small stuff. And there's nothing smaller in the grand panoply of life than building plastic kits.

 

Difficult to think that way at the time, though...

 

Ian