Test
I’d really like to post my latest builds, but am getting the 403 Forbidden whenever I try to post what I’d written.
Edit: A little experimentation on my part led to a work-around for the 403.
The decals in the 1967 boxing determined my paint schemes for both builds, as they were unusable. However, the Revell boxing’s decals were perfectly fine, so I opted to build both possible schemes from that decal sheet. Curiously, I went with the Revell box art for the old Monogram kit, and the Corpus Christi-based yellow wings Kingfisher for the Revell.
I added a bit of internal detail to the gunner’s pit, but nothing that is visible through those closed canopies. The gunner’s seat is just a flat piece of plastic with belts molded on that is attached to the side of the fuselage. In actuality, it should be connected to a trapeze (for lack of a better word) that attaches into the hole into which the gunner sits, and rotates along that circumference as the gunner moves his gun in the direction of Japanese threats. I tried to replicate that by studying online diagrams from the Kitty Hawk 1/32 kit, but as I stated, it’s not really visible. Otherwise, everything is right out of the box.
I painted the interior with AK Interactive Real Colors Dull Dark Green. Black radio equipment in the gunner’s pit, black instrument panels in the cockpit. Used the decal for the primary instrument panel on both (one of which came from the third Kingfisher kit that was supposed to be part of this multi-build effort).
Exterior paints for the Monogram are strictly Vallejo USN colors - intermediate blue and light gray. The wings are Mr. Color Orange Yellow. The Revell got intermediate blue and insignia white from the same Vallejo USN set.
At some point while working on these two, I decided I wanted to do a land-based Kingfisher, so I went back to eBay for a second baby blue box release. I spent a couple of weeks working exclusively on that one to get it to the same point that these first two were at the time. The plan was for orange-yellow wing tops, silver wing undersides and overall fuselage, with red wing chevrons, red cowling ring, and a red fuselage band, and blue empennage. I had it just about completely painted. I was placing masking to paint the wing chevrons when I lost hold of it. I have a Craftsman shop stool that I sit on while I work, and at that moment my legs were splayed out with my feet resting on a wooden footstool I keep on the lower surface of my workbench. Typically when I am working with a small piece and drop it, my instinct is to try to “catch” it with my legs. My instinct kicked in and I snapped my legs closed. Right on the Kingfisher. I heard a horrible crunching sound and knew that this was not going to be good.
And it was not. I snapped the wing off and crushed the fuselage, resulting in snapped plastic in multiple places. I could have attempted to repair this thing, but it was never going to look good. I opted to deep six it, much to my irritation.
I weathered the two surviving builds with Flory dark dirt wash and Tamiya weathering pastels. The Revell decals worked flawlessly, although I couldn’t figure out why one portion of the white rectangle on the fuselage national insignia did not include the red outline. I also shaved off the awful looking grab handles and replaced with custom made handles that look far more believable.
This might be it for me for a while. It was been way too hot here in SE Texas to work in my garage workshop (I actually bought a little evaporative air cooler that works okay but even that is not really enough).
They look great. I need to add one to the collection. Sure would like to see a new tool in 1/48.
That kit is a cloasic.
Do the SBD.
Bill
Those look fantastic. Having build 2 of those Revell kits I can state they are not easy to make look good. Well done. Very impressive work.
BK
WAIT !
Do NOT, I say, Do NOT, deep six that plane!! It can be repaired to a point that you’ll never know. I have worked with models worse than that when I was a kid, because I didn’t get an allowance. When I lived with Dad.I could only Mow two lawns and there was nothing else because all the neighbor boys were bigger and stronger than me. So, I cleaned a Pool/Fountain In a Customer waiting area at a local Petrol station. (I used the word Petrol, Because, It sounds better than"GAS" Which when eating chili, is a weekly occurance, I know TMI, LOL,LOL)
The older boys would build ships and planes and sneak in after closing, put them in the pool and use B.B.guns on them. Once a week, I would drain and clean the Fountain. Five dollars and all the models I found were mine to keep! I managed to repair 90% of them and had my own Airplane collection and Fleet, thanks to those guys! What I see Can BE Fixed!
Just because it’s TEXAS Super Hot, rest in the shade and come back to it when You are bored. That’s what I do here in New Braunfels! Why it was only 109 in the car with no air conditioning! yesterday!