before I do anything else, PLEASE CRITIQUE ME! I am bubbling to get back into modelling shape
this build is for the Revell Monogram GB, and I am finding this a pleasurable break from the shake-n-bake kits that I was used to building before I took a break from modeling. the smell of putty calls to me…[:D]
Cockpit:
I tried a new technique here. since most of the detail will be hidden by the closed canopies, I figured this could be an experiment, so I mixed up some very thin lightened black. but first, I applied metallic sharpie and then two coats of Future.
the last pic is the almost finished cockpit. in the second pit, there is that large screen thingy, so I scratched away the black and applied green with a green sharpie. the green is not opaque, so the silver sorta added to the “screenyness” of it.
More to come
Enjoy [:D]
oh, and I will not be held responsible for broken computer screens or blinded eyes
OK, so I just closed the fuse halves and have started squeezing the two pieces together with lotsa pressure and Tenax 7R. As a norm, I bit a chunk out of my own jugulars (before, I scalped myself and cut a chunk outta my cheek cos this kit is so… not goodish- I am enjoying the build though [:D])
general shots of the attachment seams
huge steps in the seams… I’m trying to figure out how to do it w/o losing or covering up too much rescribed detail (that reminds me, I am going to be rescribing this birdie)
Thanks guys for the comments! yeah It sorta took me by surprise, because I thought that I would have to scratch the tops of the buttons when the paint dried, but I found that several aplications of very thinned paint will do the trick. I got rid of a slick hue of black on top of my IP and buttons by a gentel sweep of a toothipick.
Nice start on the bird. Both my son and I have built that kit, and had the same problems. it gets better from here, everything else fits pretty good really.
If you are into building this era jet, pick up the book Cockpits of the Cold War, excellent reference pics.
Oh this may seem strange, but the main wheels on the Blackbird are actually silver. Just saw one last summer in a museum, and they are really silver.
yup we had this discussion in a thread dedicated to another member’s SR-71. the main wheels have aluminum or something or other imbedded in them to disperse the heat and stand up to the heat better. the nose gear did not need this because the nosegear well was airconditioned to protect the avionics gear.
I think he is referring to your sanding the polished plastic down, I noticed it looked to be about the right color for the bird, just give her a good sanding and call it good!
I had that kit a while ago (read: before I started doing this seriously), and managed to ruin it rather well. No paint, just decals. It turned out better than it could have been, but the canopy was terrible… Now I want another one!! [:D]
Very nice job, so far. I’ll be keeping an eye on this build.
Thanks guys for the positive replies! it strengthens my motivation to get this build finished.
because if I binge on the scribing and filling at one time, I know I’ll have to purge it all back (the binge was figurative, but the purge is literal), I am going in sections.
you can see on the second to last pic that I sanded up to a horizontal line and stopped. I am using this method to control my styrene intake, as to not get high off of it and kill myself. I’ve calculated about 30 sections on the model so far, but it just grew to 32, because of the nose that I forgot about.
Lucien, do you remember that one part in the leading edges of the wings that have the zig-zaggish lines? those are like 10 sections alone lol. especially because the right bottom edge has a 1/16 gap AND a 1/4 inch step… so I’m gonna have to take care of the problem in 3D… 1/16 across and 1/4 up… AAAAHHHH
my plane is to slowly build up the putty while constantly rescribing the lines to make sure that my lines dont get lost
oh I forgot to add, it brings memories flooding back to see sanded styrene. the surface feels almost powdery, and I sheded a tear for my Revell Swift Patrol Boat which got crushed under a trash bag…(which just so happens to have taken 1/4 tube of Squadron white putty, but its still a good kit! [:D])
I just love the look of black styrene with white putty marks all over it and the black surface turning gray due to all the sanding because you know you are getting somewhere [:D]
K I haven’t made that much progress… but here goes.
don’t mind the orange hue, its just the lamp
scribing on the frontal bottom fuse is declared done, and the sanding is almost done. I have a sickly little step that I have to smooth out. how, I don’t know, but I’ll just have to tackle it and see what happens.
also, I got a very nice gift from gedenke (member here). I came home from school this monday (I detest modays with a burning passion of a thousand suns) in a very foul mood and found these sitting on my front steps. it made my day [:D]
I sprayed the bottom forward fuse with white flat and sanded it all off. this method is employed to see all of the panel line mistakes and gaps that I forgot to fill.
although I did lay the white on a little thick and filled the panel lines, I found that the paint was easily scraped off.
