general melchett Posted February 8, 2022 Author Share Posted February 8, 2022 Aww shucks, thanks fellas, that's very generous of you. Figure painting isn't something I do a lot, more out of necessity really. Personally, I think it's the most challenging form of modelling and I have nothing but admiration for those artists who can achieve stunning results with their pieces. Having said that, within our sphere of modelling, it's a bit of fun, adds extra interest and makes a refreshing change from machinery. For this and a few other projects I've got on the go, I purchased some high-quality brushes, (a mixture of Rosemary & Co and W&N series 7 Kolinsky sables) and must say they make a huge difference. Well that and a 'wet palette'.......quiet at the back! 5 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
giemme Posted February 8, 2022 Share Posted February 8, 2022 Kolinsky sables and wet palette are definitely the way to go for figure painting - and good acrylic paints. I personally use almost only Lifecolor for that. I did paint a couple of large busts too, and my airbrush came in handy for that kind of job, especially for the base coats. End of OT, sorry Ciao 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
general melchett Posted February 8, 2022 Author Share Posted February 8, 2022 No problem Giorgio, always good to hear others opinions. I've got quite a large selection of paints here and also like to use Lifecolor, (they're particularly useful for maritime projects), plus a good selection of Vallejo, AK, Citadel and Andrea Color. I used to paint fantasy miniatures on commission many, many moons ago so getting back into this now wasn't too difficult although the quality of the paints, tools and techniques have greatly improved. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perdu Posted February 8, 2022 Share Posted February 8, 2022 So now I have learnt a new term, the wet pallette. Google is my friend, Vallejo too I think. 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete in Lincs Posted February 8, 2022 Share Posted February 8, 2022 8 hours ago, general melchett said: Well that and a 'wet palette'.......quiet at the back! No chance. F'nar! 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete in Lincs Posted February 8, 2022 Share Posted February 8, 2022 On 2/6/2022 at 10:41 AM, perdu said: It was a bit complicated to fit the drag links, but that's life. Sign on Helicopter modellers desk - The Droop stops here. 1 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
72modeler Posted February 8, 2022 Share Posted February 8, 2022 (edited) On 1/2/2022 at 7:10 AM, general melchett said: Thanks chaps, as ever, much appreciated. Got to hand it to Tamiya, they really are head and shoulders above, this is only the second of their kits I've built but must say I'm impressed, (seriously looking at their F-4B). Even though, personally I like a bit of a challenge and a chance to improve things, these things just fall together, saving a lot of time and faffing about.....and as I'm not getting any younger and seem to be busier than ever these days, that's something that's appreciated now. I received this through the post a few days ago and will begin work on them soon. The base will take a little longer, I have a few ideas, will post more soon. Thanks for looking and Happy New Year everyone. Cheers Melchie Ooh- Pierce McKennon's "Ridgerunner!" One of my favorite 4th FG Mustangs and Martin's username, as well! Can't wait to see this one, Andy. BTW, your P-38 is flawless- you even got the inner surfaces of the gear doors the right color for an early Lightning! You are da man! Have been following the WIP in amazement at your skills! Mike You most likely have this already, but just in case.... https://www.americanairmuseum.com/person/173272 A shame he died in 1947 flying a T-6D out of San Antonio, TX where I live. A sad end for a decorated and skilled combat pilot. https://ww2aircraft.net/forum/threads/4th-fighter-group-pics-for-ridgerunner-iii.42427/ http://veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.php?recordID=1701 Edited February 8, 2022 by 72modeler removed redundant text 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
general melchett Posted February 9, 2022 Author Share Posted February 9, 2022 Cheers Mike, appreciated. fortunately I've got a fair bit of reference material here on the P-38 so there's plenty to go on. Images of 'Mackie' when based in the UK are a bit sparse but there's enough to get an idea of what was going on at the time. Thanks for the links, Pierce McKennon's story is certainly inspirational and his untimely death, tragic. 21.68 kills! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Spadgent Posted February 10, 2022 Share Posted February 10, 2022 21 hours ago, general melchett said: Thanks for the links, Pierce McKennon's story is certainly inspirational and his untimely death, tragic. 21.68 kills! A great and traffic story off war but 🤔 how on earth do you get 0.68 off a kill? 😳 (I did skim read so I might have missed it however.) Just winged the blighter. Johnny. ps. The little guys are looking amazing by the way. 👏👏👏 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
general melchett Posted March 30, 2022 Author Share Posted March 30, 2022 (edited) Hi all, apologies for another delay but I've been up to my ears with other projects and real world jobs. I'm now virtually there, just putting a few finishing touches to the vignette base, adding more bits and pieces, static grass, trees, fuel barrels etc but ever mindful of overloading the scene and detracting from the actual aircraft. Anyway the P-38 itself has now been finished, the final touches being the radio aerial and exhaust staining which are now done and dusted. Here's an image of the finished model and a couple of the display base. Once I've finished that I'll post a lot more photos in RFI. Thanks for looking, hope you approve, cheers Melchie Recently acquired WSS static grass set, dead easy to use and pretty much works as advertised. I'll be using it a lot in future as I'd like to try out a lot more dioramas, lots of crazy ideas (nothing new there, I guess). Using a band saw, an old MDF base was cut to a new shape which was replicated on a picture base from the Noy Miniatures range. This was then glued to the MDF, the edges filled and sanded and following masking, a few coats of Mr.Surfacer 1500 Black applied around the edges. Following some AK Concrete texture painting and DAS clay ground work to the grassed area, ground cover material was applied and painted with MIG earth colours, a mixture of static grasses were then added to one end of the base. To add a bit more visual interest holes were drilled into the MDF and a pair of seafoam trees fixed into the grass area. Small pins have been added to the base and holes drilled into the shoes of the crew members and these will be fixed into position using MIG Ultraglue once their exact position has been determined. A few items of ground equipment will also be added, 3D printed by me including some ammo crates and fuel barrels as well as a fuel line and scratch built hand pump. Edited March 30, 2022 by general melchett 16 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete in Lincs Posted March 30, 2022 Share Posted March 30, 2022 Very nice P-38 and base. I look forward to seeing the final pictures. Good to see you back again too. Has anyone warned @Martian ? 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
general melchett Posted March 30, 2022 Author Share Posted March 30, 2022 Thanks Pete, Quote Has anyone warned Martian ? Hopefully not, I'll break it to him gently, don't want him getting into a state again, the last time was a nasty business, I don't think the stains will ever come out. No, for now I'll keep it under my feathery hat... 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry1954 Posted March 30, 2022 Share Posted March 30, 2022 1 hour ago, general melchett said: hope you approve Consider her copiously approved! She looks brilliant, one of the best P-38's I've seen! Bravo! Terry 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted March 30, 2022 Share Posted March 30, 2022 2 hours ago, general melchett said: Nice work Melchie but that sieve reminds me of something we used to use when I was with HM Customs and Excise. Sieve, one, straining of suspects' Pooh-Pooh for the use of. 2 hours ago, Pete in Lincs said: Good to see you back again too. Has anyone warned @Martian ? Martian 👽 1 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
general melchett Posted March 30, 2022 Author Share Posted March 30, 2022 Thanks Terry, that's very kind of you. The plaudits must go to Tamiya for producing such a wonderfully engineered kit for us. Makes life so much easier. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
general melchett Posted March 30, 2022 Author Share Posted March 30, 2022 Oh no, he's here......guard, guard, bolt all the doors, hammer large pieces of crooked wood against all the windows, etc.... Quote that sieve reminds me of something we used to use when I was with HM Customs and Excise. Sieve, one, straining of suspects' Pooh-Pooh for the use of. Knew I'd seen the blighter somewhere before...I did wonder where Baldrick had found it and why he was wearing such a stupid grin when handing it over! 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
giemme Posted March 31, 2022 Share Posted March 31, 2022 Splendid model, and an adequate base to go with it. I'm impressed! Ciao Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
81-er Posted March 31, 2022 Share Posted March 31, 2022 Absolutely stunning model there, General, and the base is really going to set it off beautifully. James 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ex-FAAWAFU Posted March 31, 2022 Share Posted March 31, 2022 Your P-38 looks stunning, Mein General. Plus it tweaks my conscience about my stalled P-38F from the same kit (which is, as you say, fantastic; definitely the best-engineered kit I have ever built). 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corsaircorp Posted March 31, 2022 Share Posted March 31, 2022 Wonderfull job Dear Generalissim !! Is that Afghan grass ?? Or Burmese one ?? Look like strongs ones.... Baldrick has been generous.... And I felt it reassuring to have some customs specialists from the outer space to warn us.... Thanks @Martian for keeping us in touch... CC 1 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fritag Posted March 31, 2022 Share Posted March 31, 2022 (edited) 20 hours ago, general melchett said: The plaudits must go to Tamiya for producing such a wonderfully engineered kit for us Yep; them self-building-self-painting kits really are something….. Call me stubborn but I insist on giving you the credit Edited March 31, 2022 by Fritag 1 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandy Posted March 31, 2022 Share Posted March 31, 2022 That looks rather splendid, but I did have to do a double take at the base. It looks great, but it also looks to be on a much larger scale than the figures. The gaps between the concrete slabs are wider than the figures' feet! Something just "looks" wrong... Just my penny worth. Ian 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
general melchett Posted March 31, 2022 Author Share Posted March 31, 2022 Thanks chaps, Quote it also looks to be on a much larger scale than the figures. The gaps between the concrete slabs are wider than the figures' feet!Something just "looks" wrong... Ian, it is 1/48th but I agree the slabs look a bit odd. (It’s only a work in progress at the moment). I cut the slab lines onto the card with a fine scribing tool then shaded them to add a shadow base and haven’t as yet blended the edges to reduce the effect. Should have mentioned that in the post, as soon as I’ve addressed this I’ll post more piccies. Cheers Melchie 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark.au Posted March 31, 2022 Share Posted March 31, 2022 8 minutes ago, general melchett said: Thanks chaps, Ian, it is 1/48th but I agree the slabs look a bit odd. (It’s only a work in progress at the moment). I cut the slab lines onto the card with a fine scribing tool then shaded them to add a shadow base and haven’t as yet blended the edges to reduce the effect. Should have mentioned that in the post, as soon as I’ve addressed this I’ll post more piccies. Cheers Melchie Beautiful work overall, congratulations. Not meaning to pile on about the base ✌️, but something else to consider is that the concrete for the USAAF bases in England was all new, these were (in almost all cases) bases build for them so it would actually look quite pristine. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corsaircorp Posted April 1, 2022 Share Posted April 1, 2022 Sooo, our Dear general did this too ?? I'm sure that our @Martian didn't know it !! Cheers !! CC 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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