Whatcha workin' on, and how's it going?

Modeling Subjects Aircraft
1

Some folks here have posted messages discussing what they’re working on. I find these type of messages inspirational, so how about some more?

I’m a slow modeler, only taking a few hours a week to build. I’m working on a Monogram 1/72 F-4J, and for the first time I’m trying many of the techniques I’ve read about for gluing and filling seams. It’s also the first model I’ve painted with an airbrush, and the first I’ve covered with Future prior to putting down decals. Overall, I’m very pleased with how well the tips I’ve read work. I’ve also gotten a lot of really good advice on this board. Thanks to everyone who’s responded to my questions.

Right now, I’ve got the plane coated in Future. I hand brushed it, and the finish turned out well except for the tail where I brushed a little bit after it had started to dry, thereby producing some streaks. I’m going to put down one more coat on that area.

While waiting for the Future to cure (and also while looking for the decals after the move), I’m working on painting the missiles, bombs, and landing gear. On Swanny’s recommendation, I bought some Pactra tape in black and yellow to make the stripes on the Sparrows, Sidewinders, and 500 lb. bombs. I think that will work out really well. When I find them, I’ve got some Fox One decals for the Phantom for a plane from VFMA-333. I figure I’ll do the decals and then add the weapons and landing gear.

So, what are you folks working on, and how’s it going?

Regards,

-Drew

2

Hello Drew,

Yes, alwats interesting to hear what is going on… I’m currently finishing both the 1/144 Revell Concorde (see the Group Build for the latest on that one!), and the 1/144 Trumpeter Ilyushin Il-76 Candid. The Candid is in ‘standard’ Aeroflot colours although the particular aircraft I’m modeling was built as a military freighter… The Concorde is being built as a ‘would have been’ Sabena plane (the Belgian airline, now defunct…), had Sabena kept its order after the oil crash of '73…

I’ve also started on Special Hobby’s 1/72 Lockheed ER-2 but I’m experiencing some difficulties there… The fit is not as good as what I was expecting… Finaly, the old !/100 VEB 727-100 kit I had started several years ago has resurfaced and I’d like to get working on that again. But then I bought Italeri’s 1/72 SM-79 today and that interests me a lot too…

3

I have four 1/48 Luftwaffe aircraft almost ready for camo painting.

Hasegawa Ju 87G-2 (ready for paint)
Dragon FW 190A-8 (ready for paint)
Trimaster Me 262A-1a (need to add wings & engines)
DML Ta 152H-1 (need to assemble fuselage)

Beginning stages of Hasegawa Arado 234B-2 with Verlinden set.

Guess that’s all for now.

4

Hey Pix, I love the Ar-234. Post pics whenever you can, please!!!

5

[:)]Hi Drew,

I’ve got four kits on the go at the moment. Nearly finished is a 1/48 Skyhawk, I’m putting the finished model on a nice base with some figures, I’ve just finished the figures and I’ll let them dry overnight. The aircraft is done,just some minor detailing needed here and there.

Second, is a 1/144 concorde I’ve been asked to build for someone else, The main body of the aircraft is built and I’ve lots of filler on. It’s going to be sanded down over the weekend.

Third, is a 1/48 skyraider, it’s sat on a shelf in my workshop for a long time now and I’m determined to get it finished before summer. It’s built, the weapons and landing gear need attaching, and some parts of the airframe need re-spraying.

Fourth, is a 1/32 UH-1H huey-So far I’ve only managed to paint the interior and the cockpit. I’ve also started some crew figures for it as well.

Looks like I’m going to be pretty busy for a while![:I][:D][:D]

Later,

Darren[;)]

6

G’day Drew,
I’m working on Tamiya’s P47 Jug. It’s the first kit I’ve used photo-etched parts with. The Eduard set adds so much detail it makes one wonder when it’s time to stop, especially as the basic kit doesn’t lack much anyhow. Like you I’ve picked up heaps of info and tips off this forum, it’s great! Sometimes I get really frustrated when I read how quickly this kit “falls together”, mine is taking forever (6 weeks for cockpit+engine). I guess I’m just a slow builder and a glutton for punishment! The great models and discussions I see posted are an inspiration. Thanks everybody.

Cheers…Snowy.

7

Good evening Drew, I’m currently working on a 1/72 replica of the VG 104 from Joe90 (‘Attack of the Tiger’). The model will feature fully-operating undercarriage. My current progress finds me working on the main gear bay. The main bogie units had to be redesigned when I realised that the wheels I’d used were too large. So large, in fact, that they overlapped when retracted.
At the moment, the units are drying off after painting.I also took the opportunity to fill in some blemishes and scratches in the rear fuselage.
When the main gear is installed and the canopy formed, it’ll be ready for painting. Then it will appear on my web site.

8

I’ve only got three projects on the go in the way of aviataion:

  1. Hasegawa 1/72 F-111G Aardvark in RAAF markings, about midway through painting.

  2. Airfix 1/48 BAe Hawk 100 in Canadian markings, finishing stages of construction.

  3. Revell 1/32 MiG-21 MF with Czech decals to put on it. That project’s currently on hold and has been under way for the past five years or so.

9

A 1/32nd VMFA531 F4 .
I started decaling last friday.
The EC portion sbd disintegrated and I am now REALLY REALLY P1**3D OFF !!!
Also 32nd BF109G14 primed white ‘Hartmann’
32nd FW190 D9 - finishing stages
48 th F4j ’ Showtime100’ - Bang seats and final decaling

10

I’m currently working on a Revell of Germany 1/48 B-1B Lancer, but I’m at a standstill because I needa buy paint for it. I’m also working on Academy’s 1/35 scale AH-60L DAP Blackhawk.

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Hi Drew,
I’ve got a few on the go too… apart from the non aviation or Flying models, I have the following:
Revell X35 JSF - just detaild the bang seat the old fashioned way (tamiya tape, fuse wire etc) - I just finished the X32 and tried pre shading for the first time, and that worked pretty well, so I’ll be doing that regularly from now on.
Revell p51b with the Malcolm Hood - nice kit, but the hoods a bit thick. painred, just needs decaling and weathering. I started this one at a friends house last week while helping her with her second kit: a Revell Corsair. she made a pretty good fist of it too.
I agree with you about the forum, seeing how well other guys build makes me up my game :slight_smile:
I decided that a good idea would be to try something new every time I build a kit.
I started by detailing inside cockpits, and trying out future (or Kleer as it’s known over her) and I’ll see where it takes me.
Sounds like that F4 is gonna be a goodie :slight_smile:

Cheers
Stu

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Hello, Drew!!

I just did what I PROMISED myself that I wouldn’t do - I started on another kit while having two already in the works!!![banghead][#oops]

Right now, I currently have these kits in the works:

Tamiya 1/32nd McDonnell-Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle (I guess it’s Boeing now, huh?)
Academy 1/32nd McDonnell-Douglas F/A-18C Hornet
Hasegawa 1/200 Boeing 747-300 in Singapore Airways markings (most recently-started kit)

I started on the 747 because I was waiting on paint and glue to dry on the other two kits, and I figured the 747 would be a quick build, as it has no interior, and I’m building it with wheels up (in flight). It’s almost done now. I just have to paint it, and glue the wings and stabilizers on. It’s amazing how big the 747 kit is. It’s bigger than a lot of my 1/48th stuff, even though it’s 1/200th scale!! Should be an easy paint job, though. White fuselage with silver & gray wings and stabilizers.

13

I have three going, all 1/72 scale:

Hase F4F, Emhar F3H-2 (their model 3001), Tamiya F4D.

These are my first models in about 15 years (I used to do classic autos 50’s). I tend to research things pretty thoroughly so I started out with some good advice from this site, FMS and some other reading. As I noted in another post, the cockpit and body work has been fun, but now I’m starting on the small stuff, landing gear, hard points (launch rails), etc. And next comes the painting. I’ve only done the small, hand stuff so far. I have my airbrush and am looking forward (somewhat timidly) to getting started.

14

Doc,

I had the same apprehensions when I got my first airbrush. BUT, after I started using it, it got easier & easier. I only use a bristle brush for interior details now. So, don’t be afraid of the unknown. Just open up the box and start airbrushing! It’s fun!![8D][:D][:)]

15

Hi Drew,
The models I currently have on priority on my desk are:

  1. 1/72 HS 129 B (ready to paint)
  2. 1/72 PT-19 (ready for final color of paint)
  3. 1/72 JU 86 (ready for second paint color)
  4. 1/72 JU-87G-8 ready for decals

But all are on hold right now, as the wife has moved her craft room to the other side of the basement and she said I could have her old space. With that, I’ve effectivly doubled my modeling/display/storage area. Currently have constructed a 6 foot bench which runs 90 degrees to existing 6 foot bench, which will have my paint booth and all my paints and decals along with my stereo. New Stereo speaker hung from ceiling in two corners of my room and wifes craft room (old house, low ceilings in basement). Still have to build new shelves for storage/display and my n scale switching yard. Once I get those things done (and some things for my wife’s area) I get to help clean out the rest of the basement (part of the deal). So modeling may be on the back burner for a couple of weeks.
[^][^][^][^]

16

I’m still working on the seams in the intakes of this Revell 1/48 F-15E.
I haven’t been spending that much time with it lately though as I have been spending too much time on the computer as always. [:D]

Mike

17

hey drew,
sounds like your gonna get another case of ditto here…this site is the “stuff”. since ive been coming here i have started using future (never knew about it before these guys). i have started using styrene and scratchbuilding some stuff (thats some cool stuff - easy to use). started drybrushing…and the list goes on to include PE stuff and resin add ons.

anyways to your question, currently the only project is a 1/48 B-17, all i have started is the radio room and waiste positions. The radio room is almost completed and the waise is just started. i have cut open the crew door, built steps and floors for the waiste, modified the gum mount for the radio room, built waiste gun mounts, added details to the rear bulkhead, painted and drybrushed the radio room assybley. Also scratch built radios for the aft bulhead ( and the wife helped too-hers turned out better n mine did) uhhmmmmm…i think thats it so far…maybe itll be doone in a month or two.

happy modeling
jim

18

Currently i have 3 things going on at once on my desk…
1/72 Academy Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina in the final stages of building
1/48 Academy F-86F Sabre in the pre-build painting stage
1/144 Academy (notice a trend? [;)]) Convair B-58 Hustler that i’m building just for the fun of it.
[:D]

19

Right now, I have four helicopters building:

1/72 scale Heller Sa 324 Gazelle-> This kit has been on hold for over a year and a half because it always sat back on it’s tail. There was noplace to put nose weights either! That is until I got some soft fishing weights and cut and shaped them to fit inside the control console and under the cockpit floor. Now it sits perfect! All I have left is to sand a bit, finish the camo, spray, decal, and spray again before weathering. Finally gonna finish that sunofagun!

1/72 scale Italeri Ka 52 Hokum-> Got it painted, camouflaged, and detailed. Can’t finish it because the part of the canopy that was molded seperately to show an open hatch is missing. Can’t find it anywhere. Oh well, maybe it’ll turn up someday…

1/72 scale Italeri UH 1B-> Painted, windows masked, ready to spray Future before decaling. Gonna make it Australian.

1/72 scale Italeri OH 6C-> Finally found the Decals to make it Japanese. After 7 years! Yes! Just got Future’d

I also have four Aircraft working right now as well:

1/72 scale Piper Cherokee-> Ready to decal.

1/72 scale Piper Aztec-> Just painted some striping on it. Ready to decal after some touch up.

1/72 scale Hasegawa F4 J-> Just painted the Camo pattern on it. Needs touch up, clearcoat and decals, before mounting the weapons.

1/72 scale Su 7 Fitter C-> Base coat of silver finally dry. ready to detail it, and clearcoat before decaling.

And finally, a 1/144 scale Space Shuttle Challenger that I’m building for someone. It is ready for decals, then some final touch up detailing before mounting it on the stand.

Whew! I better get going!

20

Italeri 1/48 S-3A Viking (wings folded), and some scratchbuilt aircraft carrier deck equipment. The Viking suffers from a few paint dribbles (my 1st airbrush attempt) and is somewhat stalled for now…