Plastic Model Kit Thread.

Next Project! Vintage Airfix 1:72 Cessna Bird Dog. Took a little bit to find the right kit online but I did! Actually won it on an auction today!

This is the one my Grandfather built. The landing gear were broken off here at the office so I need to take it home and fix that.
He went with the Vietnamese Air Force Markings. Wings would typically be painted gray in this configuration. Not sure why he painted them green. Probably cause he felt like it LOL.



This is the kit I won. A new sealed in box Vintage Airfix Bird Dog. The box art shows the other build option but both decal sets are in the box. I haven't decided which option I'll build but I did find online photo's of the box art version.



Photo's from a search online.

Vietnam 21st TASS 0-72976 1968/69


And as a part of "The Ravens" for the Secret Air War in Laos. I think these were piloted by CIA and Vietnamese pilots. Don't quote me on that. This is the first time hearing about "The Ravens"


Model should be here sometime next week. Plenty of time to do some research

 

Found a couple of other possible paint schemes for the Bird Dog. I still have quite a bit of paint leftover from the Beaver build.



Kinda confused with both tail numbers being the same. One from the Navy and one from the Army. Obvious difference in size of the numbers.

 

I'm ready to recreate another one!



I need to do some dusting in this office

 

I also built a ton when I was a kid and got to the point where I could build them without directions but then turned to monster models and still have my original Godzilla model I built when I was 7 or 8 years old..still love the monster movies..

 

1/35 Vickers Medium Mk II is finished.



Other projects currently on the bench:

1/48 F-86 Sabre



1/35 AMX-10 RCR ready for paint



1/35 CM-11 ready for paint

 

Reviving this... Just got back into model building. Went a bit overboard getting new equipment... Also trying out the airbrush thing for the first time.

Made this u-2 for work to hang up and yes that's Santa in his sleigh being pulled by the u-2. Had some issues with the quality of the model and the decals not wanting to seat. Should have the right equipment to do it right since my last equipment/supply order.

 

Also started this after the u-2 was done. I'll be trying out the whole wash and weathering techniques on this one...

 

Some progress photo's of the Birddog. She's going together ok for a vintage kit. Little ways to go yet I printed off new decals to go with her. Going with the trainer version that is orange like the Beaver I previously completed.

 

You can print decals??

 

I can print Black Decals with the laser printer at work. I had to order the decal paper. Sunnyscopa decal paper



Once I had the paper I had to find a font that was close to the actual thing painted on planes in real life. It's not exact but it is very close. I used Corel Paint Shop Pro to scale the font to the correct size. This took a few prints to get it right but I did that on regular paper. Once they matched (close enough) to the kit lettering, I printed them on the decal paper. Stuff works just like the decals you get with the model. Here's the sheet I printed. The roundels did not print out right though. The color ink did not stick to the decal paper. Not sure why. The black works just fine.

 

Wow that's pretty cool - I'm a bit behind on the advancements for model building. I didn't even know they sold the decal transfer paper. Thanks for the info - I'll have to keep that in mind.

 

This apache didn't come out the way I wanted it to - it's a testors kit and the sidewinder missiles looked like crap so I left them off. Wound up trying a new wash and stupid me forgot to water it down so it changed the entire look of the model. At least it didn't make it too bad - just super dark... Trying to find a display case for it - these cases are a lot more expensive than I remember.... Not bad for my second time trying light weathering. I need to practice a lot more but overall it was fun.

(Don't mind the dust under the canopy - I took it off and cleaned it out after the photos.)
I just realized I forgot to weather the upper rotor assembly and the weapon cache...

 

Little Bird Dog and P51 work this evening. Added some framework to the windshield of the Bird Dog using Copper wire. It wasn't included with the kit I bought but looking at the Bird Dog my Grandfather built it is there. (The V in the window) Not sure if he added it or what. The P51 is a 1:48 vintage kit my wife bought me years ago. I've been foiling it when I have time.

 

2018 was the most prolific year I've had since getting back into the hobby. I managed to finish six models overall. The last two of the year:

Tiger Model 1/35 AMX-10RCR SEPAR


Takom 1/35 CM-11 Brave Tiger


Current builds in progress:

Takom 1/35 St. Chamond


Meng 1/35 Flakpanzer Gepard A2

Lastly, I'm ever so gradually ticking away at rescribing an Italeri 1/72 AC-119K gunship. This one will likely be off-and-on for the next couple of years. I have a lot planned for it.

 

Those are nice!

 

Finished up these two and tried my luck with weathering and 'environmental effects' ... Took forever and made a mess. But it came out good and I'm happy.

Tamiya 1/35 British 25PDR Field Gun and Quad Tractor
Weathered with Tamiya Weathering pallets, Vallejo washes and pigments.





Tamiya 1/48 US Modern 4x4 Utility Vehicle w/ grenade launcher. Weathered only with Tamiya Weathering pallets

 

Nice job on the details. Your work area looks pretty cool too.

 

I may or may not have converted my work bench for working on the truck stuff for models. When I moved into the place I bought two steel workbenches from a dealership that was closing down the street. Took about 3 hours of degreasing both of them and had to reassemble them in the basement. That's where I do all my electrical harness, custom work for my truck but since I am not as active with the truck for the winter I set it up for painting and model building. I have a tendency of going overkill with hobbies... The bench on the right (not shown) is where all my electrical wiring stuff is along with a hardware rack and a shelf of "things I have to do to the truck that never gets done"...

Come spring time the model building will slow down as I spend more time working on the truck and all this stuff will be put away.

 

Thanks! Nice work on the Cessna, yourself.

Looking good so far, I especially like what you've done with the Humvee. Weathering takes a bit of practice but really adds a lot visually.

 

Some paint work on the P51 today, lots of foiling left to do. Little bit of bodywork on the bird dog.