Hi all! I’m new to the forum and magazine after having just started building models as a hobby this spring. This forum is such a great resource, thank you all for the information shared, tips, and pictures. I thought I’d share my builds.
Hasegawa 1/72 Super Hornet. I broke the front windscreen/canopy. While waiting for a replacement from Hasegawa, I haven’t glued the rear portion of the canopy down yet. This was my 2nd model built (first was the 1/72 VIIC u-boat). It was pretty easy and fun. Paint job was simple and I got twobobs decals for OIF Super Hornets, and details for the cockpit from Eduard. The only problem I ran into was breaking the forward windscreen.
Accurate Mini 1/48 Avenger TBM-3D. My 3rd build, this one straight out of the box with no extras. I loved building this model. I took my time with the greenhouse cockpit glass and masked them my self with tamiya masking tape and an exacto knife. I screwed up the decals though tearing one of the stars and bars wing markings beyond repair. I went with the decal for the other version of the Avenger and it turned out just fine. I also added the turret gun even though it wasn’t supposed to be, I just like the looks of it.
I need to buy some putty and sanding sticks [:D] Which I’ll be using on my next build - a Tamiya 1/48 P-47D razorback with some Eagle Strike decals (gonna make Raid Hot Mama). I think I’ll try my hand at panel washing too.
Not an airplane, but my first build that got me started. 1/72 VIIC Uboat.
Hey Ted…[#welcome] Very nice work.You will enjoy being part of the forum…I know I have. Just now getting myself back to the fun as the damn hurricane sort of slowed me down a bit but things are getting back to normal now. [4:-)]
Welcome aboard. You are going to a great time in here… I do. Learned a lot here. From the looks of your 1st 3, especillay the U-boat… very nice indeed, you’re doing just fine.
Thank you for the compliments. I did lots of preparing reading your website, this forum, various model build reviews, and I looked at quite a few pictures before doing any construction or painting. I went into my first build feeling like I knew what I was doing even though I didn’t [:)]
I’m going to try a sludge wash on my next kit, a Tamiya 1/48 P-47D Razorback. I actually got a small amount of practice with a wash on the Avenger radial engine and liked the results.
At some point I may go back and try a wash on the Avenger to go with the dry brushed weathering. I like the mostly clean look on the super hornet though so that one will stay the same.
Nice job on the paint finishes. Something to consider in the future. After you mask the canopy frames, you might want to paint the interior color first, then the top color. I notice in the Avenger closeup, you can see the blue through the frames, I don’t think that happened too often in real life. Just a suggestion.
After spending all that time masking the outside, I didn’t have the patience (or the skills) to do the inside so none of the cockpit frames on the inside are painted. I took a shot at it but couldn’t get the masking tape where I wanted and I was having trouble cutting the tape precisely with the exacto on the inside parts. After breaking the Super Hornet canopy, I was afraid of doing the same to the avenger so I moved on.
I told myself that the only time I can tell the inside framing isn’t painted is on an extreme closeup from a camera. I can’t really see it with the naked eye. At least that’s what I tell myself.
Ahhhh, you are missing the point of Wayne’s suggestion. After you mask the exterior of the canopy shoot the EXTERIOR with an INTERIOR color. Let that dry the shoot your final exterior color. Now the inside frames will look like they were painted with the interior color and the exterior is the correct exterior color. Are you following this? Trying to mask and paint the interior of a canopy is for the birds (except Swans).
[#welcome] Welcome to the forum, and to the hobby. Those are great looking models so far and they will ony get better. Good job on the Avenger I know how hard it is to get those greenhouses looking good, and yours looks great!!! [:)]
This site is a great place to learn so much about how to become a better modeler!!
