New Model: Tamiya P-47 Thunderbolt (Buddy Build)

Doing a buddy build with my friends at The Basement Air Force, a Face Book model building club.  This started group build started back in Feb of 2018 and I'M STILL BUILDING IT!!!  The others finished in about 2-3 months. Here is the beginning of this build. 

 Masking for the interior green.  I don't like over spray.

 Painted and weathered in sections.

 Cross hair optics

More updates to come...soon.

New WIP - Star Wars Models from Bandai

I always wanted to build a Star Wars model.  The Revell models available in the US SUCK.  I dislike them greatly.  So, I found out about the Bandai models available in Japan.  I found them on Amazon and order them regularly.  These things are amazing.  The engineering, the quality, the subjects.  Here are just some of them that I have.  Missing from the photo are a Tie Advanced and a Tie Interceptor. 

So I decided to build the A-Wing as my first model.  A FB group I belong to, The Basement Air Force is having a Sci-Fi Group Build, so I chose this model for that build.  This group is a fantastic group for model builders.  Great group of guys from around the world, no jerks, just friends.  The man who started the group, Ralph is a fantastic guy. 

 Pre shading

 All the parts pre shaded

 Final base coats down

Color is a Vallejo Model Air color, (need to get correct color).

 Love airbrushing with Tamiya paints.  Terrible to paint on with a brush, amazing by air brush.  Mixed in retarder (for self leveling) and yellow capped Lacquer Thinner for good mixing and flow. 

Here we are starting to piece the model together in prep for a clear coat to start weathering. 

 Pre shading really looks good, I am satisfied.  Pilot looks pretty good too. Might add some ore details to him.  I free handed the front office details. 

UPDATE: SU-2 (BB-1) Light Soviet Bomber, WIP

It's been one busy summer.  I haven't built and painted much, but now with the fall on the way, I suspect I will be hitting the bench more often.  I will take the time now to upload some photos of my SU-2.  I have to say, I was NOT crazy about this model.  I like the subject, but man, it turned me off for some reason.  I like all the rivet detail, but other than that, details are not this kit's strong suite. 

My goal here is to finish it up and mount it on a simple base resembling a simple air field somewhere in the Soviet Union.  For now, here are some photo WIP updates. 

 Pilot.  Basic paint job and used the Citadel Washes/Shades.  Great product.

 Used Alcad II gloss clear coat

 Ammo of Mig PLW (panel line washes) for the appropriate color

 As you can see, the green and black camo have different panel line washes.  You can see the rivets do too. 

 Some minor chipping in select locations

 Streaking with Ammo of Mig products as well. 

Now for some more weathering on landing gear and flat coat and I will be calling this a day.   Putting that turret together and painting it on the rear was a NIGHTMARE!



MIG-21 PF: Update WIP

Got some more work done on this bad boy.  Well over 45 hours so far.



This is why its good to review photos.  I noticed I didn't paint the back side of the ejection handle. 

Fixed!

HUD installed

Primed.  Alclad2 Gloss base.  I should have used grey.

Aluminum Alclad2 on.

Buff off rough surface with a lint free cloth.

Result is a smoother surface.

First Round of masking for panel painting.

Round 2 next, more panels on top.  I used Alclad 2 Dull Aluminum and Dark Aluminum.