Timbog - tracks were primed in black and then I brushed the exposed surfaces with Tamiya gun metal paint diluted with drops of water, poorly mixed. The uneven spread has worked well to my eye.
Left the front track-protector bins off too. Could not get them to sit straight, which must have been a problem in the field too as they are missing in the majority of source photos I looked at.
Very bad atmosphere at work yesterday so went to the model shop down the road to escape. Ended up with these...
https://flic.kr/p/2nai3vf
The Chieftain was only £13, dates from the 70s I believe but looks decent enough - certainly enough for me and my skill level.
New Airfix Tempest looks nice - some clever features designed into it. The tyres even have Dunlop moulded into their sidewalls!
Good stuff. I want a new Tempest V myself. I did the old Smer version myself a couple of years back.
This book is a brilliant BTW if you like to read up about your aircraft as you make the model.
Wow lovely looking Tempest Harry. Read that a couple of years back - quite a harrowing read.
That Tempest is excellent.
Thanks, a really basic kit flattered by favourable light conditions.
@nostrils - take a look at those tyres again - i think they may say Donlup instead of Dunlop LOL - pretty certain they do on the Airfix 1:72 Typhoon loitering at the back of my bench.. or maybe its the Eduard Spitfire in the stash. Either way - amused me for a minute!
Talking of Eduard.
This turned up yesterday - a Eduard Sopwith Camel.
Bonkers level of detail. This will probably kill the hobby as fun.
Built an Airfix Tempest as a kid - one of my better efforts. Probably in landfill now.
I wonder if it says Donlup due to some sort of copyright issue?
Stirling - that Camel looks insane - good luck with it. I’ve only done one biplane. I tracked down some stuff called (I think) EZ line. It took a lot of finding but is far easier to use because it has some elasticity to it.
I’m making decent progress on the Thunderbolt but the Trumpeter decals are as thick as lino! I’ve tried all sorts of decal solutions, Microsol, mark fit super strong, even tried meths but I can’t get them to settle properly and without silvering. Soooo…I’ve bought the same decals as an aftermarket set. I’m going to strip the old ones off and try again - aaaargh!
I don’t think it helped that the paint I’ve used was very matt, and the gloss coat not as shiny as I’d like it - so I will also try polishing it up a bit with a buffer…
@cx_monkey how funny! I can confirm that the tyres on the new Tempest kit say "Dunlop".
I've just noticed that drop tanks are included but are transparent?! The instructions don't make reference to these either, very odd.
We're gonna need a bigger house...
That Lanc is quite astonishing isn’t it. £600ish? HK have also released a 1/32 Lanc which isn’t as detailed and doesn’t seem to have been so well received (some accuracy issues) at just over half that price, but who would ever have believed we’d have not one but 2 huge Lancs to choose from!
And the price isnt much worse than some of the bigger Lego kits...
Holy thread revival Batman!
I’ve finally finished one! HobbyBoss 1/48 Me262A1b. Same as the standard A1 but with BMW engines instead of the usual Junkers.
Built OOB but with an Eduard cockpit detail set. Took me ages. I think one of the cats sat on it as the [s]starboard [/s] port main gear had collapsed, so I drilled out the leg, added some brass rod, then refitted it. Looks ok to me
Btw there’ll be another one along shortly - Eduard Weekend Edition (that’s a joke, right?) P51D Mustang. Just need to finish the yellow tips to the prop…
Looks good!
The only thing that's tickling my pedant gland is that it appears to only have the lower two gun ports open, but 4 cannon installed.
Yes, I did wonder about that, but that’s how the kit comes… I didn’t do any research, just built OOB.
Fair enough:-) I know from my flight simming that removing two of the 30mms and blanking the ports off was a field mod, shame the instructions don't tell you.
Crikey, it’s like London buses in here! Here’s another finished kit, Eduard’s 1/48 P51-D weekend edition.
Built OOB with a bit of aftermarket cockpit detail. Hope the exhaust stain isn’t too OTT
Flown by Major Leonard ‘Kit’ Carson of the 357th FG, 8th USAAF, around June 1944.
Finished this - sort of.
Eduard 1/72 fokker e.iii
Complete fiddlefest. Superglued my thumb to the wing while fitting the rigging and then bits started falling off so decided it was as complete as I could get it.
Also notice that one of the rigging lines pinged before I could get the photo.
Airfix do the same kit but in a far less-fiddly form. Currently giving that a go and will drill holes for the rigging.
At the opposite end size wise I finished the big jug a few weeks back. Biggest problem was the very thick decals which were prone to silvering. Comparison with FW190 in same scale - this thing was huuuge…!
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Great to see this thread back. 🙂🙂🙂
Anyone able to offer me a top tip or two for not smudging clear parts and specifically canopies? I tend to fix with super glue applied with a cocktail stick to the fuselage.
Hoping to get an airbrush ordered this week I've been fighting the urge for a while but on the verge of caving.
Generally I find super glue and canopies to be bad news, as they usually fog due to the fumes. I used to use Johnson’s Klear to fix them in place but it’s hard to get now.
Good old PVA is used by a lot of people, but I’ve recently discovered a clear drying glue called mig ultra - good results so far - it’s strong, dries clear and if you use too much can easily be cleaned up with water.
As for the airbrush, well if you can afford it, it will be the single biggest thing you can do to improve your results, but it does take a bit of practice, mainly knowing how to get different types of paint to the right consistency. Also budget for a decent compressor though!
Thanks Timbog.
My LMS stocks Mig stuff so I'll drop in there this week. Today I mostly spilled half a pot of Tamiya Extra Thin. That was an eye watering moment.
On the airbrush we have a lot of potential paint pigs - models I built badly as a child/teen that were languishing in my parents' loft and which the kids "rescued" on a recent trip to their grandparents along with the horrible Airfix Blenheim MK1 where no two bits seemed to fit together correctly that's been my test bed for rattle can camo and panel washes.
I'm more worried about the masking than the spraying and finding a technique and tape that doesn't strip the previously applied paint.
anyone gambled on the Airfix mystery bundles? Just wondering what people have received in them, specifically the aircraft bundle...
Can I have some recommendations for an airbrush?
Mine's pretty much come the end of its life I think (it's done 20 years or so, and is worn out). Are Iwata still the go-to brand?
Any recommendations for a decent desk lamp for model making? Old age catching up with me and I need good lighting. Cheers.
@nickc - Iwata are still good, I have a Neo CN which is really good & not too expensive. It had been splattering a lot so I think it had come to the end of its life, so I’m now using a Sparmax Max-3, which is nice. Only downside to this one is that the cup is moulded as part of the body rather than being separate, but doesn’t seem to be a major problem so far
I got an Iwata Neo on JD's advise last year. Way better than the £15 ebay jobbies that I had been using prior, not that they were terrible.
For a lamp/magnifier I have something like this https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/384846725692?hash=item599aa7023c:g:56YAAOSwhzNhwxwH which is way better than you would expect for £15.
I'm still making kits BTW, it is just that during spring/summer there is always something else to do, so my half built Phantom is sealed in a box where it can't get dusty waiting for Autumn.
I use this lamp for building kits and painting miniatures.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/SEBI-Magnifying-Flexible-Magnifier-Reading/dp/B08GCGLS5T
The mystery bundles are not very mysterious as everyone gets the same selection. Can’t recall which one I bought but it had the 1/24 Hurricane, a 1/72 Storch and a 1/72 Sherman Calliope. The Storch was junk but the Hurricane came out rather well.
Thanks Chris and Harry, will check those out.
Oh wow!
New Airfix "Superkit" 1:24 Spitfire.
Haven't made one in years, and these were the only photos I coukd find of some of my collection. All 1/72 scale brush painted
Looking good.
Going to build any more?
Thank you.
I have several in the stash, but will need to buy paint, glue etc as it's all a bit old and dried up now. Have an incomplete Italeri SR71 in the cabinet that basically just needs decals finishing and then some weathering.
Once winter kicks in again, which won't be long haha, I will see about getting that complete to see if I get the bug back
Done a bit today.
Progress.
More FAA stuff for inspiration.
As autumn and impending hernia surgery draws closer it it time to get the models out again.
Got the Phantom to finish and a massive stash to choose from.
Considering a Shackleton or Buccaneer next, but I may have accidentally bought an Italeri SR-71 yesterday.
Got the Tamiya Meteor and an Academy P47. Need a new airbrush and compressor first though.
I finally finished the Fokker Dr1 (Eduard 1:72).
Fiddly as.
Small too: about 2/3 the size of the Fokker Eindecker.
No - I am not rigging it.
No – I am not rigging it.
Bottler!
I haven't touched any models since the clocks changed back in the spring.
My son has been doing a bit through the summer. He's got into Warhammer but I'm letting him make and paint those with minimal input from me. He's doing a good job.
We're both off to the model show at Bovvy Tank Museum today.
@Harry_the_Spider good luck with the hernia op I had an inguinal hernia sorted 2 years ago!
@Harry_the_Spider good luck with the hernia op I had an inguinal hernia sorted 2 years ago!
Ta. Not looking forward to the discomfort, but am really excited about no manual labour for the foreseeable. Spent all summer weekends landscaping the garden. After this weekend the spade is in the shed until spring.
Got to finish my Phantom then I'm doing an SR 71. The build looks pretty straight forwards as there are not many parts (as long as it all goes together!) and the paint job should be a challenge as they discoloured quite severely.
We’re both off to the model show at Bovvy Tank Museum today.
Nice one. Their Youtube channel is superb. However, it did ultimately cost me something north of £600 in RC tanks :-/
A few AFVs from recent years
https://www.flickr.com/photos/129791708@N06/shares/211pcu2ah 4" alt="Stug" />
https://www.flickr.com/photos/129791708@N06/shares/A17132Qap Z" alt="Panzer III" />
https://www.flickr.com/photos/129791708@N06/shares/nVJ26F15W u" alt="Jagdpanzer IV" />
https://www.flickr.com/photos/129791708@N06/shares/181uSXHjC 3" alt="Late Panzer IV" />
Got a bit more done, but it stopped being fun.
Will finish it tomorrow.
Nice!
I bought all the stuff to do the Tamiya Sea Harrier at the start of the year but never got round to it.
I've since nicked a Matchbox model from my Dad to also do - can't remember what it is). I think I will do that first and use it as a test bed for colour and painting techniques before attacking the Harrier.
Hopefully with the nights drawing in, I will find some more time to spend on them!
I really like the Extra Dark Sea Grey/White FAA colour scheme and you've done a really nice rendition of it on that Phantom!
The Devil will find kits for idle hands to do. Apparently.
Started this yesterday.
Made some progress.
Gloss and top side decals on. I'll give it a few hours to dry then apple a matt coat.
Chuffed with that! Just go to wait for the replacement for the bit that I lost to turn up then I can finish it.
Nice !
Does it leak fuel everywhere like the real thing ?
Italeri or Revell?
I think I did the Revell kit back when it was labelled as Monogram, and I seem to remember it being about 15 pieces all together. Took me a afternoon to throw it together.
Italeri.
Other than the cockpit and landing gear/bays it is 14 pieces!
So I typed out a post yesterday and STW in its finest fashion decided to eat the ****in' thing...
Lets tray again.
@HtS The Phantom looks a very neat build. A shame the exhaust cans are so basic, but good work with the printed compressor blades! On the other hand, you've got the vents on the intake splitters that Airfix fail to provide. (guess what I'm building next!)
SR71 - How do you build stuff so quick? I'd still be waiting for the first coat of paint to try and you've smashed through the entire build! Nice work with the preshading. (I'm currently running at 6months+ per model!)
..which brings me onto...
Junkers Ju88 A-1; Revell 1/72
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...and with a bit of a vintage feel...
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...and ready to go out on the lash with some mates in that London...
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They look fabulous!
Whilst I've been waiting for the missing bit to arrive for the SR71 I may have accidentally made half an F 14.
Paint 'n' Dirt.
The missing part has arrived, so I've finished it.
That is impressive...
Ta. It's bloody enormous!
Bit of progress on the Tomcat.
Spent a miserable afternoon trying to get decals to wrap around the missiles. Anyway... job done.
Hasegawa F14 1/72
Done!
Very nice
Love the Sundowners Scheme on the F14. Did an F4 some time back with the same scheme, always looks good.
Nice kit, 👍
Thanks.
Odd isn’t it? Low visibility national markings and a bright red tail and shark mouth.
I suppose when it is carrying Phoenix missiles that can engage form 60 miles it doesn’t matter what colour you paint it.
Thank God for Micro-Sol. There is no way that the fin or shark decals would have gone down without it. The ones on the missiles wouldn’t behave, but I glossed them with Johnson’s floor polish rather than the Alclad that I used on the rest of it.
I’d like to do the Phantom too, but the build list is quite long and there are a load more arriving for my Birthday. A6 Intruder next!
A6 Intruder next!
The "Flying Chicken Drumstick"
In the miniature gaming world October is sometimes known as "Orktober" and used as an excuse to work on some orcs, orks, goblins and other things like that. This year I participated in Orktober by kitbashing something from a pile of terrain and various goblin models. I call it Waaagh Rokkit Ajax:
It's pretty big, coming in at 23" long. Building and painting it took up most of my free time in the past month and it has absolutely no gaming use but despite that I'm still really pleased with it!
I've uploaded quite a few photos to a Flickr album if you want to look at the various details and bits I managed to add to it.
That is fabulous!
Awesome work!
Progress.
Was presented with this as the cockpit on my Hasegawa A6 Intruder (with moulds that dated back to 1968).
Bodged some detail using spares and scraps into this.
Wow!!! That's seriously impressive!!
I recently made a start on the Tamiya Sea Harrier. So far I've got the pilot & seat done and started the engine. It's mostly hidden but I'm going to practice washes and dirt etc on it, so if I cock it up you can't see it anyway.
I'm finding it takes ages when doing all the colours properly rather than just bodging it 🤣
I also need to work out the strategy for doing fuselage bits - which bits to stick on before painting and which to do afterwards. I don't want to stick parts on & then find I've made it hard to paint.
Should have it finished by spring 😀. I'll try to get some pics uploaded.
Wow!!! That’s seriously impressive!!
Thanks, but that's a bit of a stretch!
I just wanted it to look better than the OOB offering as the canopy is massive, so everything is visible.
Two things
Thing one: Citadel paints: anyone use them? I tried the "air" version of one of their paints and it was a terrible globby mess. Nasty
Thing Two: Black basing, Pre shading, Post shading...what are we all doing, how's it going, whats working for you, what not working, what have you tried? tips and tricks?
I'm normally a pre-shader/post-shader mix, but I'm keen to try black basing...bit scared if I'm honest...
nickc Full Member
Thing one: Citadel paints: anyone use them? I tried the “air” version of one of their paints and it was a terrible globby mess. Nasty
I do, for miniature painting. They're generally OK. As they come in pots rather than droppers I rarely use them for airbrushing though. I think I have two of their air paints and while I think they still needed a bit of thinning they performed adequately.
Generally, Citadel's whites are usually poor or awful but they do some paints very well. Their reds tend to have much better coverage than a lot of the competition, their (acrylic) washes tend to be good, their metallic paints often have good coverage too. The orthodoxy in miniature painting is to work from a black undercoat so coverage is often considered an important metric!
PSA!
Airfix kits in The Middle of Lidl!
Starter sets with paint, glue and a brush for £6.99.
Not the same ones as you can get in Aldi.
Picked up a Mitsubishi Zero, which is a great little kit. They’ve got a Tiger and a Sherman Firefly too that look quite interesting. I may pick up a Tiger and make a diorama with a Hawker Typhoon that I’ve got in the stash.
They had a BF109 and a Folland Gnat with the “Yellowjacks” paint scheme too.
The only downside was that I was engaged by some “weird” in the checkout queue who wanted to talk to me about model kits. He must have seen me as a kindred spirit as I am a middle aged man who was buying nothing but Airfix and Pistachio nuts.
The current starter kit tanks are simpler versions than the regular kits. For example the starter kit Tiger has 39 parts and the regular (same scale) Tiger kit has 84. They could still be great kits but it's worth bearing in mind if you're after a particular level of build.
I think that this may apply to some of the other starter sets too. Looking at their web site Airfix seem to be in the process of rebranding their "regular kit + paints, brush & glue" sets as "gift sets" and using "starter set" for simpler kits, but the changeover isn't complete yet, so some starter sets are simplified and some are regular kits.
