Global Scale Modeller

I still can't get over how much this kind of looks like a stubby and dwarfed P47 Thunderbolt.

Perhaps they were studying the "egg" plane concept back in the day (smile)?

DRUMS01 wrote: Wed Dec 10, 2025 11:38 pm I still can't get over how much this kind of looks like a stubby and dwarfed P47 Thunderbolt.

Perhaps they were studying the "egg" plane concept back in the day (smile)?

The history and performance of this little guy is interesting
I will post more about him in the reveal

Stripped Buffalo







F’ing mess. The brown oil would NOT set up. I left it another three weeks and touched it tonight, Friday night, and my finger stuck to the brown. Done, enough off it comes.
I left the green oil for now, see how this styrene recovers from this Mr hobby thinner and where I go with it.
Failed experiment, Kinda pissed

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.

Theodore Roosevelt

"He who never made a mistake, never made f*** all."

Stokesy44

Probably won't help now, but maybe as a experiment on a spare bit of styrene replicate it and over spray with a alkyd mediums like Liquin. It's used mixed usually with oils to speed up drying time, maybe over spraying it might work as a fix ?

K well I think this might be dead
I have other stuff more pressing to do before Christmas and limited energy and time
The thought of an entire strip and repaint for this kit doesn’t make sense
I am out for now. We shall see after the Christmas rush is done if I revive her.

Mr Chonk is not dead, just severely maimed.
I took him to work today and sand blasted the areas where I used the thinner to get rid of the brown oil.



Thank God that is the spare canopy taped down there to protect the cockpit.
One tiny slip of the nozzle and the ‘glass’ is forever frosted



Now to clean off the aluminum oxide residue, re-prime him and paint that camo.
I also have to touch up his belly paintwork.
Not sure what paints to go to this time, I think some of my Ultimate has gone off.

Ok back into primer, tan stynylrez…same as before.
I think the brown oil reacted with it, but the olive green loves it



Stompy Buffalo for scale

Stokesy44 wrote: Sat Dec 20, 2025 8:31 am It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.

Theodore Roosevelt

"He who never made a mistake, never made f*** all."

Stokesy44

I love this quote, David
I have it saved in a couple spots and reread it often
I would hope I live by it as well. Now back to the Buffalo battle

Acrylic dark earth sprayed

CHONK LIVES!

bfrd wrote: Wed Jan 07, 2026 3:54 pmCHONK LIVES!

He's in ICU

Twokidsnosleep wrote: Wed Jan 07, 2026 3:58 pm

bfrd wrote: Wed Jan 07, 2026 3:54 pmCHONK LIVES!

He's in ICU

Is he getting better daily or do we need to organize a candlelit vigil?

Stokesy44 wrote: Wed Jan 07, 2026 6:55 pm

Twokidsnosleep wrote: Wed Jan 07, 2026 3:58 pm

bfrd wrote: Wed Jan 07, 2026 3:54 pmCHONK LIVES!

He's in ICU

Is he getting better daily or do we need to organize a candlelit vigil?

It's touch and go, mate. Touch and go

Frankenchonk!

I read through this thread a while back but got interrupted before I could drop a reply - at that point it looked like it was out for the count so massive well done for going back and taking another swing at it.

This is proper science... try something & it doesn't work, so try something else and see what that does.

Or the Chonkinator

Or the 6 million dollar Chonk

I could go on but I need a lie down.

Jesus H… this little plane is going to be my death.
The Dark earth brown is down and set up ok, if not a bit boring honestly
Now applying the green olive that’s was so nice before…and it is fighting me. I only did one side thankfully.
The areas of camo intersection look ridiculous with uneven and very light spots and the oil paint is just sliding off the tan primer
I can’t build up the green on the light areas, it just won’t take.



Love the idea of a bit of panel variation but this looks stoopid

So off all the oil comes and I cleaned and then primed the green areas Ultimate olive green primer.
I should have stripped the entire plane down to raw plastic the first time but I left those nice olive areas, big mistake.
Boy when the paint game goes wrong, it really goes wrong. Those first tan primer layers looked so good.
I have also f’d up parts of Chonk’s belly paint
That round garbage file is looking better and better

What an absolute mare!

Is there something about oils on acrylic primer that's causing this? Does oil paint need a surface it can bind to, like canvas or heavy gauge paper?

I don't know whether to say hang tough or run away. Switching back to primer is a good move so hopefully Chonk will live to fight another day.

Stokesy44 wrote: Mon Jan 12, 2026 6:17 am What an absolute mare!

Is there something about oils on acrylic primer that's causing this? Does oil paint need a surface it can bind to, like canvas or heavy gauge paper?

I don't know whether to say hang tough or run away. Switching back to primer is a good move so hopefully Chonk will live to fight another day.

Yes, well, I think you are dead right here.
I agree about 'the tooth' of the primer layer as it was first sprayed and had a nice matt roughened feel. I think that is important
Some primer layers were brush painted after the partial stripping and then didn't want to hold the oil....perhaps too smooth??
I probably should have painted the entire thing in the green oil and then added the brown oil camo areas overtop of that. Oil on oil. Damn, that is what Plasmo did
I do find the oils need a base with some grip or they just kind of slide around on styrene. I muffed that up!

It is an experiment I suppose. A lesson to show importance to test things out first.
A suggestion to strip EVERYTHING down to bare plastic and start all the way over if it goes pear shaped.
I have the green oil down again over a confluent layer of green primer and have smoothed out the brush lines in the oil Sunday night.
Just going to leave it all alone, let it dry up all week and see what we get.
100% this is user error not the materials

I've only ever used oils for filtering so anything applied is heavily diluted by thinner. Even then, you can disturb it if you wipe it heavily with a finger so I wonder if it really does ever cure completely on top of acrylics.

Its a multi medium hobby and now and then we're bound to come up with layers that just dont like each other. My next kit is likely to be a 1/35 Archer for the Tamiya build so that will get oil filters. I'll be mindful of how it dries so I can add to the discussion

I'm currently trying to paint 4 figures and I have laid in down in order, black vms acrylic primer, Mr hobby gunze then a oil colour. So far no issues except the oil surface is a little rough. Only the oils were brush painted.
So far no bad reactions, but I do have to smooth the oil some how.....work in progress.

digger303 wrote: Mon Jan 12, 2026 11:46 pm I'm currently trying to paint 4 figures and I have laid in down in order, black vms acrylic primer, Mr hobby gunze then a oil colour. So far no issues except the oil surface is a little rough. Only the oils were brush painted.
So far no bad reactions, but I do have to smooth the oil some how.....work in progress.

I saw those figures, the are looking really good!

The Buffalo is half dry and half not . The oil is setting differently one side vs the other.
Just so weird. Her port side green oil is still tacky and the starboard is dry
Just harden up and let me get done ffs

Twokidsnosleep wrote: Sat Jan 17, 2026 6:22 pm The Buffalo is half dry and half not . The oil is setting differently one side vs the other.
Just so weird. Her port side green oil is still tacky and the starboard is dry
Just harden up and let me get done ffs

Now that is frustrating. Chonk is certainly not doing itself any favors by messing you around like this.

Chonk is basking in the sunshine, trying to get that oil to set

Twokidsnosleep wrote: Mon Jan 19, 2026 12:26 am Chonk is basking in the sunshine, trying to get that oil to set

Go Chonk, dry that oil out baby!

If it's any consolation that last head on pic looked pretty good in terms of camo coverage to my eye at least.

What I find really strange is that back in the day before the acrylic boom enamels & oils was all we had to work with and I don't remember anything acting up like this. Maybe it is the acrylic primer causing the issue (oil over water).

Good to see the Chonk resurrected though.

Its decal time!

Oooooh decals!

Thanks guys. It isn't the best paint but I am gonna finish this thing.
First time decals haven't made an aircraft 'pop' for me
I managed to stuff the figure inside. Had to trim his bum and back and cut off the interfering control stick and glue it into his hand

Twokidsnosleep wrote: Wed Jan 21, 2026 4:58 pm Thanks guys. It isn't the best paint but I am gonna finish this thing.
First time decals haven't made an aircraft 'pop' for me
I managed to stuff the figure inside. Had to trim his bum and back and cut off the interfering control stick and glue it into his hand

Its a shame its become a project where it feels like getting it over the line is the win.

Given all the grief with the paintwork, that might be why you didn't get your aircraft decal pop moment

Indeed

Al the kit decals are on now.
Just prop, canopy and setting it up in flight

Copied from infield engineering

“Almost incomprehensively, the Brewster Buffalo has the ingnomious distinction of being both one of the worst and the best fighters of WW2.

Introduced to the US Navy in 1939, Buffaloes were considered "pretty sweet little ships" by no less than Pappy Boyington. But sadly, in early battles against the Mitsubishi Zero, the Buffalo was badly mauled and then promptly retired. British and Dutch experiences weren't much better. Obsolete equipment or inexperienced pilots? You be the judge.

In contrast, the same aircraft racked up a shocking 33/1 kill ratio when flown by pilots in Finland. These pilots were well-seasoned when they received their Buffaloes. They were also masters of deflection shooting. 36 of these pilots became aces in the Buffalo, and one single airframe achieved 42.5 victories by itself!”



My understanding was its engine was underpowered for the added weight the us put into it with thicker glass and armour plating.
The Finns stripped her down and made her a fast hard hitting little hot rod.

Twokidsnosleep wrote: Sun Jan 25, 2026 3:57 am Copied from infield engineering

“Almost incomprehensively, the Brewster Buffalo has the ingnomious distinction of being both one of the worst and the best fighters of WW2.

Introduced to the US Navy in 1939, Buffaloes were considered "pretty sweet little ships" by no less than Pappy Boyington. But sadly, in early battles against the Mitsubishi Zero, the Buffalo was badly mauled and then promptly retired. British and Dutch experiences weren't much better. Obsolete equipment or inexperienced pilots? You be the judge.

In contrast, the same aircraft racked up a shocking 33/1 kill ratio when flown by pilots in Finland. These pilots were well-seasoned when they received their Buffaloes. They were also masters of deflection shooting. 36 of these pilots became aces in the Buffalo, and one single airframe achieved 42.5 victories by itself!”



My understanding was its engine was underpowered for the added weight the us put into it with thicker glass and armour plating.
The Finns stripped her down and made her a fast hard hitting little hot rod.

Also, the Finns were fighting the Russian Air Force, their kill numbers were similar to the numbers racked up by the Luftwaffe with their aces scoring in the hundreds.

Twokidsnosleep wrote: Sun Jan 25, 2026 3:51 am Al the kit decals are on now.
Just prop, canopy and setting it up in flight

On the home straight now.

Yep I am trying to stay on target!
Chpnkster got a mud bath in: Tamiya black panel liner; Ultimate dark clay wash; Mig dark wash



Then it the prop area got a clear acrylic circle for prop spin

Then chonk and Stompy took a turn at trying out their podium positions

Oh that's fun with the animal model!

That looks very good. I really like the prop disk.

I like the animal and what it says in relation to the aircraft.

Twokidsnosleep wrote: Sun Jan 25, 2026 3:57 am Copied from infield engineering

“Almost incomprehensively, the Brewster Buffalo has the ingnomious distinction of being both one of the worst and the best fighters of WW2.

Introduced to the US Navy in 1939, Buffaloes were considered "pretty sweet little ships" by no less than Pappy Boyington. But sadly, in early battles against the Mitsubishi Zero, the Buffalo was badly mauled and then promptly retired. British and Dutch experiences weren't much better. Obsolete equipment or inexperienced pilots? You be the judge.

In contrast, the same aircraft racked up a shocking 33/1 kill ratio when flown by pilots in Finland. These pilots were well-seasoned when they received their Buffaloes. They were also masters of deflection shooting. 36 of these pilots became aces in the Buffalo, and one single airframe achieved 42.5 victories by itself!”

My understanding was its engine was underpowered for the added weight the us put into it with thicker glass and armour plating.
The Finns stripped her down and made her a fast hard hitting little hot rod.

Very interesting about how the different air forces viewed and used said aircraft.

Stokesy44 wrote: Mon Jan 26, 2026 7:00 am That looks very good. I really like the prop disk.

I could cut the props off and maybe just do a blurr of them but I am chicken of that

aur0ra145 wrote: Mon Jan 26, 2026 12:53 am Oh that's fun with the animal model!

I Tamiya flat painted his brown over and the lighter highlights so he wasn't so plastic shiny.
Was thinking of painting his balls brass as he has those accessories

Twokidsnosleep wrote: Mon Jan 26, 2026 7:09 pm

Stokesy44 wrote: Mon Jan 26, 2026 7:00 am That looks very good. I really like the prop disk.

I could cut the props off and maybe just do a blur of them but I am chicken of that

You? Never!

I really like the base set up with Stompy - I didn't realise you were going to include him in the final presentation.

Tomcat64 wrote: Wed Jan 28, 2026 3:59 pm I really like the base set up with Stompy - I didn't realise you were going to include him in the final presentation.

Me neither but how could we not have expected it?

Messing with base and effects.
Wanted a fast pass over blurred ground look…this kinda thing








That looks stupid.
Then printed out a blurred grassy and tried this

That has a interesting effect.

That final effect looks really good, especially with the prop disk.

I know I've mentioned it but I think you may have to bite the bullet and consider cutting the prop blades off if you intend to keep the disk. I think the base and the disk go brilliantly together, but hey, just my opinion.

Your kit, your pocket, your call

It still looks great, especially given the journey taken to get here.

If you don't want to cut off the props, you could use a piece of wood (or plastic) with the same shape as the spinner. That way, you could still display with the prop intact or as flying.