Wow, Joe, that’s really looking good! Looks like I will have to add an M to the stash!
Steve
Thanks Bvallot and Steve. Bvallot, its just a matter of finding techniques and products your comfortable with. It took me 15 years to find the right combination for my particular needs. 9 planes into this hobby I was still using a single action Badger 250 and Model Master emanels paints (not a dig, I just never really had luck with them). Then on a whim, I tried out Tamiya’s Olive Drab and it was like an epiphany for me. I find that I get great control with their paint and I use them pretty much exclusively now. I also found that when diluted with Isoprophyl, they make a great weathering tool by means of postshading. Keep practicing and the continuity will come.
Joe
Joe,
Great build and WIP. I just stumbled into this kit today in the clearance aisle at my LHS. It was an opened return at a fabulous price. Wasn’t I surprised to see you’ve got one underway.
Thanks for the pointers and discussion. Fantastic stuff.
Best, Mart
Nice stumble Mart. You won’t be disappointed. This and the razorback counterpart are probably my favorite kits. You can make a D out of the M kit too…and your welcome on the pointers.
Last night I got it clear coated and decaled. I used a mixture of Superscale and the kit decals. I had some uncharacterist wrinkling on the Superscale fuselage insignias. I just couldn’t get a few creases out. I drenched them in Micro Sol now they are barely noticeable. Normally I dont have problems with Superscale. The rudder was done in XF-8 Flat Blue lightened to match the tail codes with XF-2 Flat White.
I also painted the prop and decaled it too.
Almost time to dirty this turkey up with a Flory wash…stay tuned
Joe
I wrapped this guy up last night. To review, its the 1/48th scale Tamiya P-47M in the markings of the “Ugly Duckling”, flown by Col. George Bostwick of the 56th FG/63rd FS. Bostwick was an 8 kill ace to include an ME 262 jet. The 56th FG was the only FG to get the “hot rod” Thunderbolts and they scored 4 ME 262 kills. Bostwick’s came on March 25th 1945 when he caught one with his 8 fifies as it was taking off.
As I’ve said, the Tamiya Jugs are modeling bliss for me. Pure joy everytime. These are by far my favorite kits. My example was built mostly out of the box, except for PE seatbelts and Ultracast tires. My research revealed that the 56th did not use wing pylons for extra speed, so I did the same. Of course afterwards I found a pic of this plane with pylons…ugh!. I decided not to retrofit them. I did manage to lose the canopy brace so I robbed one from another M in the stash.
Thanks for following this build and comments are welcome.
Joe
Another beauty Joe!
Joe,
Absolutely fantastic. And speedy to boot! I’ve been working on the same kit for months, you crank this baby out in a couple weeks.
The thing I like best about your builds is that your paint always looks so professional. There’s not a single blemish in your paint. I’m lucky if I can get one panel to look perfect.
So, what’s next?
Thanks Sanderson and Max. I think my next project will be the new tooled Tamiya A6M5 Type 52. I’ve been anxious to tear into this one for quite some time. I’ll probably get the detail set that includes metal cannons and such. I’ve also been itching to build another P-51 too, possibly one of Preddy’s Cripes A Mighty mounts. We shall see…
Joe
Hot dayum! You’ve done it again Joe, another masterful build, and as mentioned, in no time at all really. How do you do it my friend? Oh, I know; you just get down to business and actually work on the damned things! I’ve been putzing around on one A6-E since last summer because I never work on the thing! You are a very disciplined builder. [:D[
Hey, I just thought of something. You ever do any jets? I’d sure love to see you give one the ol’ Lawdog treatment. How about it? Maybe an early MiG, or a Hawker Hunter? Why doncha crank one out for us mere mortals?[:D]
Gary
Took the words right outta my mouth. =] It’s in the little things you do well that really allow something to come to life.
You ever consider trying the super-detailing route? =D
That’s just real nice!
Thanks guys…your way too kind. Tex, I have been known to build jets, but I prefer the gun fighters. Surprisingly, one of my first builds when I got back into this hobby was the Monogram A-10 which my mother-in-law bought for me for Christmas. It was a pig but taught me alot. It also happens to be my favorite “modern” jet so I may have another run at that kit. I built O’Connell’s F-86 Sabre out of the Academy kit about 5 years ago and I built Monograms A-6 about 8 years ago on commission. I think my next jet will be the 262 should I get my hands on one. I still have the F-86 so I may post some pictures. It got a Legends cockpit and I painted on the stripes.
Bvallot, about the only super detailing I do is radial engines. I prefer my models closed up, as if they just returned from or are ready for combat. I do like the canopy open though. Even the Eduard 190s I built, which cried for super detailing, got closed up.
Joe
I’m with Texgunner… you probably build some of the nicest models I’ve ever seen, and since I’m a jet person, I’ve been waiting for you to do one. Particularly for the cockpit, as your’s are always perfectly painted, and I’d be eager to see how you would go about the cold colors of a modern jet compared to the warmer prop’s. Basically I’d like to see you paint a cockpit up step by step with plenty of pictures in between so I can figure out all your secrets [;)]
One more thing- I think a while back I read on your cockpit tutorial that you sometimes brush paint Tamiya acrylics. I have tried brush painting with them before and I had a hard time trying to get them to cover well, they just wanted to pool up and not spread over the surface. Do you have a solution to this?
Joe- yet another gorgeous model! The paint is perfect, just love everything!
Excellent, I really enjoyed seeing it built, thanks for all the post’s and pointers.
Patrick
Thanks for all of the compliments. Perhaps I’ll consider a jet in the near future. I wouldn’t mind adding an F-8 Crusader or even another F-86 to my collection. I have the Hasegawa F-14 A with an Aries pit in the stash which was supposed to be a commission build, but the customer bail out (no pun intended). Perhaps I’ll build up the courage to try it, maybe in VF-84 markings.
Derek, nicest you’ve ever seen?..surely you jest…ha ha, but thanks for the kindness. Maybe I’ll do a step-by-step turorial on my cockpit painting. It was just a matter of finding a method that works for me. I only hand paint the small boxes and such, the main large colors are airbrushed. I use Tamiya paint and dip the paintbrush into 91% Isoprophyl Alcohol. I have no trouble with this method, but I don’t hand paint large areas. The alcohol helps thin it and it dried real quick which leaves a smooth surface. Give it a try…
Joe
Fantastic work! Love the wiring on the engine! Thanks for sharing your technique.
YES!! I mean if you have an F-14 or F-8 in the stash… might as well build it [;)] The tutorial you have already done on your cockpits is great, the only reason I would push for a step-by-step tutorial with pictures at every step is because with some of your techniques, it’s hard to tell exactly what has been done just by looking at the completed effect. For example, when spraying the primary color over the black base, it would be extremely helpful if you explained what areas you hit the most or what angle you spray at…etc. Nonetheless your tutorial has already been extremely helpful to me personally, and I know how cumbersome it can be to stop to take pictures every single step. I’m just always interested to learn more
Dude, that is one sweet build!