Starting the Widow (interior green now painted)

Modeling Subjects Aircraft
21

Pix, I have the same feeling about Preshading. Its been so popular lately, I thought I was the only one that doesn’t like it. However, I have seen people who use it in a very subtle way so that it just emphasizes the panel lines. But in those cases, it seems much simpler and controllable to do a wash instead.

22

Thanks Rick, Darren, grenadier, yardbird, ygmodeler, and waikong !

yardbird and waikong - I’ve only seen one modeler use it effectively, Joe Youngerman (forgot his name on this site !), who builds 1/72. The majority of the time when I see other modelers use it, when it’s obvious, it looks kinda comical to me. To each their own. Some modern carrier aircraft have a similar, patchy look. I always figured that it was developed by someone who didn’t want to go through the work of applying and removing a wash.

Thanks again !

23

One member of my club uses an interestiing technique. He takes the base color lightens it, thins it very heavily, and sprays it subtly along all the panel lines (after the base color is down of course).

24

Pix,

Awesome work on the Widow so far! I will be watching with interest, as one of my immediate future builds is the venerable P-61. I can only hope that mine is 1/100th as well done as yours! You Da Man!!!

Brian [bow][bow][bow]

25

Great stuff Pix-- I am no big fan of PE for myself-- but I do enjoy seeing builders more skilled than myself use it well!

26

Excellent work Pix. The Widow is a long time favorite of mine.

27

Excellent progress, Bill, another masterpiece in progress!

Regards, Dan

28

Thanks Brian, Mike, and Woody !

Tankmaster - that’s very unusual. I can’t say that I’ve seen a photo of an aircraft that looks like that either.

I’m a fan of most of Jack Northrup’s designs. He was a maverick at a time when you could be. The computer-designed aircraft of today seem to have had the personality removed from their appearance. Gotta love those aircraft of the '30s & '40s !

Thanks again !

29

Looking great so far Pix.
Please keep us updated.
[:)]

30

I too will be watching this build with great interest, Bill. I build this kit several years ago with the Eduard PE parts, and they really dress it up. Which plane will you depict?

Mark

31

Pix,

aw yeah! looking great, looking forward to the OD scheme too!

Thanks for sharing,

STeve-

32

Pix:

That’s coming along wonderfully. Great photography of the fine details, too! Keep sending us updates

33

Thanks Martin, Mark, Steve, and mucker !

Mark - I’m ordering an Aeromaster sheet which has three OD/NG choices. I’ll make my decision depending on the quality of the printing of the nose art.

I’ll start painting the details Monday, and I’ll have some pics then.

Thanks again !

34

Great job!!! I have 2 of those kits with simple PE cockpit details and resin wheels to build. I have the new PYN nose art decals for aa A and a B. I will follow your progress closely.[bow]

35

Hey Bill,
Ooooo very cool and you picked a great bird to boot…!!! With as much PE that you are using, at times doesn’t get nerve racking??? LOL
What Squadron will she be dressed in?? Never get tired of seeing your builds… Thanks for sharing.
Flaps up, Mike

36

She’s lookin’ great Pix… I’m rather eager to see what you do with this kit…

I’m of the same opinion. Many modelers who are supposedly striving for realism and who agonize over scale measurements and the correct shade of OD or RLM whatever throw all their efforts at creating a realistic replica outta the window by preshading their models along the panel lines nice and neat as can be.

Most of the aircraft models I’ve built so far suffer from this, albeit from ‘post shading’ rather than ‘pre’, and I’ve formulated some ideas for creating a more realistic finish on a model. I just need to actually complete something so I can try these ‘ideas’ out! LOL However, you can see what’s in my mind if you look at any model painted by Chris Wauchop. His stuff comes pretty close to what I’ve envisioned… you can see his work over on Hyperscale.

Having said that, however…

Why not? To each his own, I say. I personally build not only to create something of a realistic replica, but also to create a work of art. I guess I’m an artist by nature and it naturally translates into my modeling. I may not think that your typical pre-shaded model looks very realistic, but I like the way that alot of them look… as art.

Again, to each his own. After all, should we not build what we like and like what we build? [;)]

Fade to Black…

37

Thanks Mark, Mike, and Steve-O !

Mark - I looked at the Pyn-Ups, but twenty bucks for a decal sheet is a little steep for me. The Aeromaster sheet is less than ten, and the graphics probably aren’t $10 worse. Besides, I spent 4-5 times the original cost of the kit on PE !

Mike - I really like working with PE. It doesn’t get on my nerves because I go very slowly. Nothing can be as frustrating as trying to rush PE ! The sheet is Aeromaster #48 629. I’ll have to check it for the Squadron number. The choices are “Moonhappy,” “Nightie Mission,” and “Jap-Batty.”

Steve-O - I’ve seen some beautifully crafted models that seem spoiled by the over-use of preshading. You’re right about the “agony of minutia.” Gotta wonder why sometimes.
I guess that I was only looking at my own goal of having a model thjat looks realistic to me. I didn’t think that others may prefer to have representation of an historical object, crafted with artistic license. Touchee ! [B)]

Thanks again !

38

Wow looking excellent as always!.. just one question what kit are you using?
Keep up the good work and keep us posted on the progress!

39

Pix, I hope you didn’t think I was bashing you at all… even mildly. I just have a habit of seeing things from several different perspectives and every once in awhile I hear/read/see something that starts me thinking. And then I think aloud… or in this case I think with the keyboard… [:P]

Fade to Black…

40

Thanks stuka !
I’m using Monogram’s 1/48 kit, with Eduard’s photoetched interior and exterior parts. You can see the PE and it’s instructions here: http://www.pix.prettyneatinc.com/widowbuild.htm

Steve-O - no, I didn’t think that. I just realized that I kinda take it for granted that with all the research that’s done, “corrections” (why is it that scale drawings are always correct while kit manufacturers are always wrong?) that are made, etc., I always thought that an accurate representation of an actual historical object was the goal of most modelers. I never took it into consideration that someone would want to “stylize” their build. I usually try to see different perspectives as well, but that one never occurred to me. They still don’t look like photos I’ve seen of actual aircraft, though.

Thanks again !