does anyone have a set of instructions for the mongram kit that they could burnoff a copy for me? i missplace mine sometime ago as i pu the kit away a couple of years ago. DOH!
i have one but is 1/48 scale, what scale is yours?
regards
Hector
sorry. 1/48 scale revel/mongram kit 85-7546
Roger that. i have it, i´ll scan it and send it to you, what your mail is??
regards
Hector
I just bought that kit at Micheal’s with a 40% coupon; $11.20.
Now I’m looking for kit building experiences, photos, refs, etc.
You can build three different types and instructions are detailed. Thinking of wshing parts and spraying with Dulcote since kit is black plastic. Any comments?[8)]
you can do that, i dont see any problem with that, i would prime all the pieces and then paint them with gloss black so that i would be able to fade the paint a little bit but depends really on yourself and on how would you like your model to look like when is done, some fellow in this forum told me that the paint of the P-61 used to fade as the old Chrysler paint use to so depends on yourself, good luck and let us see the product when is done!
Regards
Mandrake
P-61s were painted gloss black not flat.
Just got done with mine, same deal, Micheals - 40% off. I used gloss black and it looks really good. The canopy up front was alot of fun but everything else when ok. Good Luck…
Thanks for the info on the paint and since they were only used in the Pacific a corrosive look might work. Does anyone know of an article in FSM that features this rare bird?[8)]
They were used in the ETO/MTO as well as the PTO. I’m a great lover of black-painted birds, but I really like the OD over gray on this one. That’s just me, of course…
Also, if you feel like trying some paint chipping techniques, this is the bird to try them out on. The black didn’t stick too well in general, the paint peeled off in sheets sometimes. And there were documented cases of P-61’s coming back from missions with less paint on them than when they left. High-G maneuvers would often times stress the airframe enough to shed paint in-flight.
Another contributing factor to the war-torn look of these birds was the sealing tape used while shipping the aircraft overseas. Often times it would peel the paint off in fairly neat strips when it was removed. This didn’t happen too much on the OD birds, though. But if you’re building it black, you’re wide open…
Fade to Black…
You’re a wealth of info and thanks for paint ideas. Still want to see something in FMS since this seems to be a popular kit Also looking for an A1E, 'Blue Room" in 1/ 48th. I’m collecting kits to build along with info the help in construction.
Again, thanks
The P-61 at the Airforce Museum at WPAFB has a semi-gloss black with a green anti glare section on the nose. On top, in front of the canopy. The spinners are green also. I have a poor picture if anyone is interested.
hey Bilbirk;
Also they even had Invasion Stripes on them for D-Day and after that will also make an interesting piece also the top turrets where mostly on the A versions, but used on the later B’s & C’s the reason they removed them is that they had problems & it’s the same turret on the B-29’s, so some people state that Boeing had the more important contract for the Sperry turret then Northrop, and some state that they where a problem child, anywho they still look great with or without the turret, Black or O.D. & Grey, with or with out stripes (I think they make people think differently cause most people think they where only used in the PTO)
and Blackwolf is just about a walking, talking aviation liberary of information loaded with great info keep up the great work Blackwolf
have fun & relax
cuda
Here’s a pic that may help with the weathering. It is an extreme case, but it shows the areas most affected by the contributing factors that produced so much wear on these planes. Hope it helps !
There is a very visible reason for this, the top turret’s teardrop shape. When the turret was rotated to either side the buffeting would cause the entire airframe to vibrate. The effects of this were most noticable on the booms. Some later AC were equipped with a domed turret a la B-29 and the buffeting effect was eliminated.
If you don’t feel like messing around with trying to get a good weathering job on the gloss black, early production Black Widows were painted Olive Drab/Neutral Gray.
Jim
Hey pixilater there’s something funny looking about the drop tanks in that pic. Is it just me or is that photo re-touched?
FWIW, the P-61 at the Smithsonian’s Garber Restoration Facility is deep, dead, flat black. I don’t know if that’s just gloss paint that has deteriorated over the years or if it was painted that way. But the dang plane hardly reflected any light, including the flash from my camera! The museum docent (guide) who took us on the tour indicated that the flat paint was there on purpose. He said that when he was in the Navy they experimented with low visibility flat paint and the results were outstanding.
I see so many references to P-61s being painted in gloss black, but the only one I’ve ever seen (in one piece, anyway) had very very flat paint. What gives?
Regards,
-Drew
Weren´t there also olive drab/light grey versions? If I remember correctly that was one of the painting options on the monogram instructions…
I think I’ll use gloss black and finish with Dullcote. Will let you know how it comes out. My bulid dates are stretched out over the next 18 months. Since I’ve just returned to the hobby I’ve been buying kits and paints gathering material/info. Thanks to all for the info and the ‘sticky finger’ tips.