War team part 1

[lv2bf111]

This is my first entry into ISM and my first entry into anything of this nature in fact. I really enjoy watch the work unfold of the talented people associated with this group and hope that I can make it one person stronger.

I am currently planning a series of builds that show pairs of machines that carried different roles but worked as a team in wartime. The first one I thought of fits nicely into the Shiny Things SiG. I plan on building the formidable B-17 flying fortress, built from a Revell 1/48 scale kit and it's escort the vaunted P-51 Mustang built from a Tamiya 1/48 scale kit. These will (hopefully) be put on a custom display of some type, I have a few ideas but have not committed on one.
For reference here are the kits. Link to sprue brothers because that is what came up when I searched them.
http://store.spruebrothers.com/product_p/tam92216.htm & http://store.spruebrothers.com/product_ ... 600-os.htm

I am here to learn from the vast experience this group commands so feel free to criticize away, I welcome it.

All right I should probably get started I have already wasted half a month on something that is sure to take me a while.

[Vleugelmoer]

Hi there,

I've had a quick look on scalemates for some reviews and box contents for both kits. The P-51B nothing wrong there being Tamiya it should come together quite nicely. The B-17 however has me raising an eyebrow or two this because it basically a rebox of the old Monogram kit from 1975 and could cause all sorts of trouble for someone starting out in modeling. As you are going to give them away to family when they are done I would rethink my strategy if it was me.

The best resource in my opinion for model kits is www.scalemates.com here you can find reviews, kit heritage and all sorts of other cool stuff on almost all model kits.

Wanting to build both aircraft in the same scale I can understand but that will leave you with a mighty big B-17. It will also limit you to what is available to basically two kits dating back to the 70's. Back then it was common place to have what is known as raised detail on the model. This kind of detail is very easy to damage and restore.

Happy modeling and keep sticking Styrene

Paul

[lv2bf111]

Ok here is the Revell B-17-G 1/48 scale kit all unboxed and checked out.



Now for the instructions:

Clear parts look nice on first glance - we will see when it comes time to use them










And the plastic











Interesting poses


The box also came with a guide on building dioramas which was well written and a good primer for such things. The print is way to fine for a picture of it to be more then a blurry mess so I'll see if I can figure out another way to get the information inside it out.

Well thats the B-17 I am still waiting to pick up the p-51

[lv2bf111]

Thanks for the resource Vleugelmoer that will defiantly go in the list of resource materials.

You are correct the B-17 kit does have raised details in the same fashion as the f4u-4 kit I am finishing up. It was a challenge to rescribe it on the corsair and I am sure I messed it up in a few areas. So here is hoping. It very well may be headed for a flying nose dive into the dumpster. But hey I already had the kit so lets give her a try.

[Cymru]

How's it going sir?

[Stokesy44]

Wow - good luck with the builds.

That B17 brings back some awesome memories. I built that thing back in the 80's. That's a big sucker you've got there.

It will look great with the P51 too. Awesome choice for the SIG.

[lv2bf111]

How's it going sir?

It's going well, I just started working on it as my main project in the last couple of days. I will have some picture updates soon but mostly priming at the moment.

[lv2bf111]

Did have this issue.

So I wanted a slightly worn metal look to the strapping on the gun turrets, something that was not just one flat color. So I painted them with Model Color Sky gray which is a very light gray and let it dry. Then with about 50 50 mix of model color basalt gray and glaze medium they were glazed. Let that dry then with a steel needle using the point at an angle scraped the over paint off. Ended up looking really good and will do this instead of masking on the rest. Note the following picture makes it look really messy but I suspect that is due to the camera and light bouncing around, also the over paint on the top of the circle is now gone. It looks (looked) clean with nice tonal differences in real life.

I then clear coated it with Alcald 2 Klear Kote and that is where things went wrong. The foggyness is due to that process. I am not sure how I am going to rectify this little issue as of yet. I did tests with spare clear sprue from this kit and the Klear Kote worked really well, however it did this on the real part. My only saving grace may be that the problem seems to be on the inside. So my plan is to buff it off with some really high grit something. We will just have to wait and see.

[lv2bf111]

Wow - good luck with the builds.

That B17 brings back some awesome memories. I built that thing back in the 80's. That's a big sucker you've got there.

It will look great with the P51 too. Awesome choice for the SIG.

Thanks, you know it actually surprised me how big it was when I took it out of the box.

[Lysus]

Wow - good luck with the builds.

That B17 brings back some awesome memories. I built that thing back in the 80's. That's a big sucker you've got there.

It will look great with the P51 too. Awesome choice for the SIG.

Thanks, you know it actually surprised me how big it was when I took it out of the box.

I too had this B-17 kit in the 80s, and yes...big. Did mine with olive drab and the Pluto art, though. Wish I still had it, it was only my second kit ever and I'm sure it was hideous, but man did I have fun.

[Stokesy44]

I too had this B-17 kit in the 80s, and yes...big. Did mine with olive drab and the Pluto art, though. Wish I still had it, it was only my second kit ever and I'm sure it was hideous, but man did I have fun.

Happy memories. I did the olive drab version too. Red wing tips and tail section. I think it even came with a little colour supplement about a diorama where the plane had crashed on landing and skewed off the runway. I thought it was awesome!

This is the diorama, I'm sure of it.

[Lysus]

I too had this B-17 kit in the 80s, and yes...big. Did mine with olive drab and the Pluto art, though. Wish I still had it, it was only my second kit ever and I'm sure it was hideous, but man did I have fun.

Happy memories. I did the olive drab version too. Red wing tips and tail section. I think it even came with a little colour supplement about a diorama where the plane had crashed on landing and skewed off the runway. I thought it was awesome!

This is the diorama, I'm sure of it.

Wow, I had completely forgotten about this until you posted that! I think I looked at this until it fell apart I wanted to do something like it so bad...

[lv2bf111]

Well here is an update, I have had less time then anticipated but I really should have anticipated that. I have primed most of the B-17G using Rustoleum Ultra cover primer decanted into a jar and sprayed through an airbrush for control. Then it was time for base coats and detail painting.

Base coats down (this is just showing a small section of the parts sprayed). Sprayed with mostly Ammo of Mig WW2 interior colors and olive drab mod set. The black is probably Model Master. I am still getting used to the differences in the paints as they all spray slightly different. As of right now I wish Tamiya made all the colors.


This part had ejector pin holes, and of course, in an area where the finish is supposed to be metal so have to work to cover them up perfectly to prep for the Alclads


The guns were done with Model Master metalizers and Alclads




Now just a bunch of detail painting. I use mostly Model color with a little bit of Citadel in there for some of the whites and reds. Citadel base covers better then the Model Color for the hard to use colors. Each layer got either a varnish or a clear coat depending so some things look a little too shiny still.


I did not have a wood color so I mixed up some using artist acrylics, you know the kind used to paint on canvas. Well That is really difficult to use in this setting, the color was good but almost impossible to apply. So I have some wood colors on order.


Looks like I need to touch up the fire extinguisher and the dials on this one.




Another one that needs some work as it looks a little messy




However here is the real reason for the update, as this will shelve the project for now. Attempting to protect a paint job by dipping the gun turret in Alclad 2 Klear Kote resulted in disaster. I posted earlier and it devolved to this. It's as if the enamel clear coat damaged the plastic, I have never seen anything like this before in my limited experience. Well needless to say it is going to have to be replaced so I have contacted Revell hopefully It will come in short order.


So for now I think I will move on to part 2 of the overall war team project in hopes of completing something for the Sig.

[lv2bf111]

Revell confirmed shipment of replacment parts. Cannot fault there customer service. Now we wait

[Lysus]

Revell confirmed shipment of replacment parts. Cannot fault there customer service. Now we wait

[lv2bf111]

Well that was fast



I may have to forgive them for the fit problems I am sure to have.

[Les]

Less than 14 days let for this GB; how is the build coming along? I know in the other build you have going you mentioned a screw up; is it fixable? Sorry to hear that it went south.

[lv2bf111]

Shockingly this build is back on track though I don't think it will be finished in time. Earlier a clear coat ruined a piece and I had to order another one so I switched over to working on the bombers escort in this thread

http://www.intscalemodeller.com/viewtop ... 87&t=18155

This one is going very well so far, I am really impressed by the quality of this kit.

[lv2bf111]

Just to prove to everyone including myself that this project still exists. Here are a few shots of weathering and such of the two cockpit areas.





I don't think I am done as it still looks a little weak in areas. I also just noticed looking at the picture the edge of the table and how shinny everything looks. It needs a satin or light matt coat to tone that down.

Yes also the missing control stick, my 2 year old made sure I will have to redo that. Young kids and models (or lets face it really anything) do no mix well.

[lv2bf111]

After a break from building airplanes to deal with some business stuff and setting up a new build that is going to take a while I have shifted the focus of this build and am going to take a little more time one it. Focus on adding what the kit lacks.

The first thing to do was to work on the cockpit areas including the navigator station, bombardier station, radio station and the pilots area. Using copper wire, thread and assorted glues some details were added. Then weathered in with dry brushing. To remove the shine from the glue in areas a flat varnish was hand painted on, Note some of the pictures were taken before this step so there are so pretty noticeable glue marks in a few places. Then when happy the entire section was given a light satin varnish coat.

Radio station.


Navigators/bombardier station - Pre flat coat so there is some noticeable glue marks that do not look very good. Luckily they were pretty easy to remove.





pilots area



Also while all of that is going on the hull is getting re-scribed to convert all of the raised panel lines to recessed. I had to use putty and Mr. Surfacer to cover up where I was not as accurate with the scriber as I should have been.
Next in line is adding riveting detail which I have been putting off because it intimidates me a little bit. Scared of plastic how, pathetic is that.

Used a dark dirt wash to better see the scribed lines for fixing



Later everyone