Holy Kielbasa... I Finished Sumthin'!

Modeling Subjects Aircraft
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This is the DML/Dragon 1/48 Fokker D.VIII.

My model club had a two-month build challenge; anyone who signed up for it had to build something within that time period or suffer the consequences… said consequences were that, if one failed to finish a model within the time limit, they would have to get up in front of the club with a finger & thumb ‘L’ held up to their forehead and utter the phrase, “I’m a modeling loser”…

Fun stuff!

‘Plan A’ was to build a Mirage 1/48 PZL.11. After a certain amount of time I did some math and came to the conclusion that ‘Plan A’ wasn’t gonna come off… so I went to ‘Plan B’.

‘Plan B’ was a Hasegawa 1/48 P-40E… I procrastinated just long enough on a few aspects of that project to quickly scratch it off as well…

That was my status about a week before the meeting and, seeing as I had no ‘Plan C’, I was forced to call an audible and pulled this little gem outta the stash…

My memory told me that this was a fairly simple kit and therefore I determined that it would be a quick build. Actually, despite the fact that I got this puppy to the point seen here within five days, it was not a ‘quick’ build… so my memory failed me. If done properly, this build should have taken me at least six days… hehe…

Seriously, it was a bit more involved than I’d anticipated but I wound up completing it just in the nick of time. To tell the truth, at 11PM the night before the meeting only the wing and fuselage sub-assemblies were put together. Nothing else was attached and there was black paint on the fuselage only. So I more or less assembled and painted the entire kit between 11PM on Sunday and 4PM the following Monday.

Speaking of painting, there are no decals on this model… it’s all paint. And I’m usually a weathering fool, but haven’t done a thing to this one… I don’t think I shall, either. I kinda like it the way it is.

I think this model is a bit crooked here and there, but I stopped worrying about such thingslong ago. So long as it ain’t too cockeyed it’s good enough for me. There’s also a few other ugly spots, but that’s to be expected with an emergency slammer.

Anyhoo, there are a few odds and ends that must be added yet, including the few bits of rigging found on the D.VIII. But other than that, this is pretty much a finished model… my first ‘completed’ build in somewhere around four years…

Fade to Black…

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Good job on the markings, Steve! And the kit too, for that matter.

Haven’t seen you in awhile. How’s it goin’?

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Nice one Steve, and congrats on finishing one! I’m starting that same kit for a GB in a couple of months, now I wish I could work on it sooner!

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WOW that’s weird. Not that you finished a model… well OK that’s a little weird[;)]… but I was just this morning thinking of dropping you an email with a photo request. And you pop up on there board.

The model looks great no matter how long it took. And you were correct in your assessment of the situation I think. To get a Mirage or P-40 done in that time frame you would have had to pull it out of your[:O]… err… well… OK, let’s just keep it at stash.

And as long as I am thinking about it… DING! You’ve got mail!

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Speed building a WW I job? Gaahhh, not for me! Nice work, it doesn’t look crooked to me.

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Congrats on finishing a model Steve. Nicely done as well.

Regards, Rick

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very nice, Steve! I like the base andthe added weathering you’ve created. Top notch stuff.

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Hey, Steve, good to see ya here, and nice job on the D.VIII! We miss you and your outstanding photo archives!

Brian [C):-)]

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Looks great Steve. Ain’t this subject kinda old for you?[:-^]

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Thanks for the comments fellas!

I forgot to mention that I had initially thought that some of the photo-etch was going to be a biatch to assemble… namely the Spandaus. I was quite surprised and relieved to find that it wasn’t as bad as I first thought. However, I recommend ditching the rolling tool that’s provided in the kit… find some sturdy tubing or rod of the appropriate diameter to roll 'em.

Painting the markings was probably the most enjoyable part of this project.

As to how it’s goin’… well, it’s goin’… thanks for asking! You know me; I’m just 'yer friendly modeling nomad and I blow into town every now and again, only to disappear again for months on end…

[b]cue theme to ‘The Twilight Zone’[/b]

I got your message Marc… after a thorough look through the library and the archives I regret to say that I gots nada for ya… sorry guy…

Thanks… I rather enjoy doing bases and if I ever give up building entirely, I will still make custom bases/plaques for my fellow modelers and collectors.

Then you may want to bookmark the link to my flickr account. I’ve decided that, for the most part, that’s how I’ll share what I have from now on.

I’ve got a good bunch of stuff there right now, so check it out. There’s some non-aircraft/modeling stuff there too, so the best way to avoid all that is to look at my sets and collections. Just look for the links…

Hawk914’s Photos on Flickr

No, not really. I rather like aeroplanes of the Great War… I just don’t know a helluvalot about them. I actually have a good number of WWI kites in the stash and will build them all someday… right after I finish my 99-model AVG project… :wink:

Thanks again all!

Fade to Black…

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Thanks for taking a look Steve.

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Thanks for the link, Steve! What a treasure trove of research info! Really appreciate your makinbg this available to us all!

Brian [C):-)]

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Good show Steve! Long time no see. The bird looks pretty tight to me. I can’t see any unfortunate angles of ill repute.

You ever gonna finish your entry in the Warhawk GB…[:-^][(-D]

Just joshin’ ya!

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Looks a great build. Is it just me or are the photos a little dark?

Anyways from wat i can see, it looks top notch.

…Guy

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HUH…WHAA???

How’ya doin’ Justen? Long time no nuthin’…

Did’ja hear that Mikey got hitched?

As far as that P-40 goes… I do believe that I’ll have OD and gray on it before the end of this week. I’ve got the model shop up and running again, although the joint is a bit chaotic at the moment, and I also have a temporary spray box setup until I can get a proper booth built. I dunno how often you get over to Ace these days, but look for the population in the display case to rise in the coming weeks… and check out the front of Ron’s counter for a sh*tload of my handiwork!

They’re probably a bit dark for many folks… my tastes lean toward the shadows…

Actually, these photos were quickies on the kitchen table without proper lighting, so they’re a bit more muddy than I’d like. I think I’ll probably re-shoot this bad-boy after the rigging’s done and before I sell it…

Fade to Black…

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Very nice build Steve. More pictures may be much more enjoyable[:)]

Lets show those P-40 pictures really soon ! Maybe this time call it "Holy Kapusta … " [:D]

Greg

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Hey, Steve

I heard about Mikey. I have not seen him since he got his nuptuals tied. He MIA?

I haven’t been getting to Ace as much as I’d like. I’ll have to do somethin about that…

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Intermittently, yes. He’s harder to get on the phone these days than I am, although he does say that things will change ‘soon’… I hope so… MIKE, YOU READIN’ THIS? GET ALENA TO LET YOU COME OUT AND PLAY ONCE IN A WHILE!!! LOL

Fade to Black…

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the question is beggin to be asked how many guys/girls from your club had to stand up with the BIG L

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Hmmm… y’know, I don’t recall exactly. There were at least four, maybe five. The pictures in the next newsletter will tell for sure. I also know of a couple others who were mysteriously absent from the proceedings… and they will not escape humiliation. LOL But I believe that we had around 7-8 guys who did finish… and that ain’t too shabby.

Fade to Black…