Wolfman63

The ninth week is my “challenge week” on the CH-46A/D! I call it challenge week because trying to put the fuselage together with all the wiring routed requires all the subassemblies to be put together at the same time. To start with I scratch built the fire extinguishers for the cabin using styrene rods and some solder. Two of these were mounted near each of the gun mounts. The third one will mount near the rear door later. I then began routing the wiring. Starting with the tail the wiring was routed thru the upper panels into the forward bulk head with the other wiring. I used acrylic gel to hold down the wires so they would not interfere with the forward rotor shaft. They were then routed over the bulk head and between the bulk heads between cockpit and cabin. All of this wiring was routed thru the floor and tied in with the wiring for the instrument panel and lower flashing navigation light. The nose light wiring was then run under the cockpit floor and all of the wires were tied together where the rear landing gear assembly will be mounted. I then performed a light check to make sure all the lights were wired in. The starboard side wires were also routed the same way. I then performed a light check to make sure all the lights were wired in. The fuselage halves were then carefully aligned and were glued together in sections making sure not to pinch any wires. With the halves glued together I used some long tweezers to mount the starboard side seats and the upper panels. The wiring was all dressed up and a second light check was done. The lighting effects are exactly how I wanted them to look. I need to clean up the fuselage seams and then assemble and install the rear landing gear assembly. The wiring will be routed thru each of the rear landing gear and tires so they can pass thru the base. There are still a few more details to add the fuselage as well and then I can start with the base coat of paint. You can see more photos and details of this build from the start in the build log at: https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-48-ch-46a-d-helicopter/

Eight weeks into the CH-46D and I am still working on the interior details. The guns are due in this week. While waiting for delivery I started modifying the tail. I opened up the vent on the port side and added a photo etch screen. The inside was then painted flat black to block and light from showing thru. The opto-couplers were mounted to the bottom and I used 0.75mm fiber optics to run to the light points. For the navigation light I melted the tip of the fiber optic to replicate the navigation light. The upper flashing lights will go to the lenses supplied in the kit later after the fuselage is painted. Next I made the twin lights in the nose using two pico sized bright white LED’s. I used kapton tape to mask the nose and the cockpit doors so these can be painted later as well. The guns and ammo belts arrived! The resin guns look way better and their size is more accurate for the scale. I used some scrap photo etch to make the axial mount for the guns. The rear gun sights looked a little thick so I replaced these with photo etch versions. The gun mounts were then cleaned up and painted. I found a few more reference photos that detailed the area around the gun mounts. One thing I noticed was there are a few fire extinguishers near them. I am going to scratch build these. The kit instructions have a very good detail photo of this and the kit section was really bad. The stairs are very thick and the rail was a thick wall. I tried to clean this up and modify it but there was just way too much to modify. I decided to scratch build it from photo etch and styrene scraps. I am hoping to start on the fuselage assembly later this week. You can see more photos and details of this build from the start in the build log at: https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-48-ch-46a-d-helicopter/

Arriving at the seventh week of this CH-46 project I worked on the cockpit. I continued on the instrument panel. I used this sheet styrene to make a light box and then used the photo etch hood on the top. I then used the decal of the instrument faces on the front of the panel. The photo etch face was then mounted on top of the decal. I finished the instrument panel with two coats of flat black paint and verified I had no light leaks. The pilot and co-pilot seats were assembled and detailed with photo etch seat belts. The control sticks, seats and instrument panel were then mounted to the cockpit. During the various steps where the instrument panel was drying I was able to mount the interior walls to the inside of the fuselage. For the side navigation lights I made two opto-couplers to hold the LED’s. I used a 0.75mm fiber optic line and used a flame to slightly melt the one end. This melted end is the lens for the side navigation light. It was fed thru the fuselage and then trimmed flush on the inside. The opto-coupler was then mounted with the LED aligned to the fiber optic. The wiring for the LED’s will be painted and routed to the forward bulkhead to join the rest of the wiring. One of the things that are beneficial is when I post these weekly updates. It allows others to see how I do things but it also allows others to provide insight on details I may have missed or gotten wrong. As an example I was informed by a fellow modeler that the crew seats were not one long bench but rather they are in four seat sections. I searched and found a reference photo that shows this as well as the seat belts. I then modified the seats into sections and using the glass cloth tape I made the seat belts and using some spare photo etch pieces I made the buckles and the mounts for them. Moving forward I have one more detail to add the interior, the machine gun mounts. I looked over the kit guns and these lacked a lot of details. I decided to use aftermarket items to replace these. I ordered a set of Royal Model .50 caliber photo etch ammo belts and the Eduard resin waist guns. These should be delivered this coming week. I will have one aimed outside the port side and the starboard side will be in the stored position with the cover over it. While I am waiting for these to be delivered I am going to start work on the tail rotor section. The tail section has two red flashing lights on the top and a white navigation light out the back. These will be done with LED opto-couplers and fiber optics. You can see more photos and details of this build from the start in the build log at: https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-48-ch-46a-d-helicopter/

Most likely in my mancave.

For the sixth week of the CH-46 project I began detailing the bulkheads between the crew/cargo area and the cockpit. Starting with the cargo area bulkhead I cut open the panels to replicate the ref photos. I used some scrap photo etch pieces to create the panels. I then adding the cables for the avionics on the left side and ran the cables and hydraulic lines on the right side. Just to note the wiring for the upper LED’s will route thru the right side as well once I start hooking all the wires together. In the reference photo there is a folding jump seat by the doorway. I scratch built the seat frame, mount, and support rods out of styrene tubing and then used the 3M glass tape for the seat cloth. Finally, I made a decal for the warning sign on the left. For the cockpit bulkhead I used the 3M glass tape on the panel which was then painted with green drab and then olive drab to give it some color depth. The panels were then mounted to the floor. Next I began the work on the cockpit instrument. I sanded down the face and removed the shroud. I then needed to modify the backside by removing the supports just behind the panel so I can fit the three LED’s and drill out the holes for the gauges. I then scanned the Eduard panels for the gauges and instrument panel into my PC and made a guide for drilling the holes and also make a decal for the gauge faces. The guide for the holes was then taped to the face of the kit instrument panel and I used drills that matched the gauge sizes. With the holes drilled I covered the face of the instrument panel with a 0.001 sheet of white styrene. The photo etch instrument panel was held onto the panel face and checked to make sure the holes lined up with the panel. To keep the gauges from having bright spots due to the LED’s I mounted them facing to the rear. The rear panel I will be making being white will diffuse the light so all the gauges have the same brightness once the instrument panel is finished. I am now working on finishing the instrument panel then I will finish off the cockpit with the detailed seats, control sticks, and pedals. I then need to make the mount on the nose of the cockpit to hold the twin landing lights that shine thru the nose. You can see more photos and details of this build from the start in the build log at: https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-48-ch-46a-d-helicopter/

Here I am at the fifth week of the CH-46D build and am still working on the cargo/crew area. To begin with I painted and mounted the overhead lights. I ten ran various wires and lines on the roof. Inside the cargo/crew area are upper panels with what look like moving blankets and folding seats for the crew. The kit crew seats look a little small compared to the reference photo so I opted to build my own. I started with using 0.75mm styrene rods and made the seat frame. I then used some nylon red cloth and created the seats. I am thinking of having one side folded up and the other side folded down or both sides down. Next for the upper panels I have some very thin “L” channel styrene strips. I used these as the upper and lower supports for the upper panels. For the blanket area I used some 3M glass cloth tape. The nice thing about having these panels mounted is they will aid in hiding the wires for the rear door and tail lights which need to be routed forward and then down. I then finally started on the floor. I panted it gunship grey to simulate the non-skid surface. The roller tracks were then taped off and painted. I sanded down the cockpit center console and added the photo etch panel. I still need to add the various levers and details but will wait until I actually start doing the cockpit so they won’t accidently get lost. With all these details in the cargo/crew area I still need to figure out how the order to get all these mounted inside and rout all the wiring. I am now working on the bulkheads between the cockpit and the cargo/crew area. There will be a channel so all the LED wiring can be routed to the bottom of the fuselage. Then I can start working on illuminating the instrument panel and finishing off the cockpit. You can see this build from the start in the build log at: https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-48-ch-46a-d-helicopter/

The fourth week of the Academy 1/48 Academy CH-46A/D project The fourth week of the CH-46A/D project was spent detailing the starboard wall. I used the same items that were used on the port side. I modified this side for the fuselage formation light as well. I performed a light check on the cargo lights. The view from the rear looks very good when compared to the reference photos. I then started on the roof. Using some 2.5mm sheet styrene I made four housings and made clear lenses. I then mounted Pico sized warm white LED’s for each of the lights. I spaced the light housings and modified the roof for them to fit between the ribs. I did some light checks and it looks like they are spaced to illuminate the cargo area correctly. I still need to paint the light housings so just the round lens shows. I am now working on detailing the roof and should be starting the cockpit soon. You can see this build from the start in the build log at: https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-48-ch-46a-d-helicopter/

I spent the third week of the CH-46A/D working on the port wall. I am using 30 gauge wire for the cables, 28 gauge bare wire for all the hard lines, and 38 gauge bare wire for the smaller wires. The first thing I did was amount the port side cargo light. For all the lighting I will be running the wires up to the spine. They will then run in-between the forward bulkheads to the bottom side of the fuselage. Ultimately the two power wires will run thru the landing gear to the underside of the display base. I continued adding details using the reference photos. All of the cables ties were painted on and I also detailed painted some of the equipment. With all the details added I then applied the custom identification plates on to the few avionics and the kit decals to the wall. I then test fitted the wall into the fuselage. One modification I needed to do was to make is for the port side formation light. This is going to be made with a 0.75mm fiber optic line and illuminated with a small light box housing a pico sized LED. I drilled a hole thru the wall and the outer fuselage. (see red arrow on last photo) I will need to wait until I install the wall before adding the light box. This is because the fiber optic line will need to be trimmed from the inside and then the light box will need to be aligned correctly over fiber optic. I am now working on the starboard side wall. Once this is done I will be detailing the interior roof and then onto the cockpit which will feature an illuminated instrument panel. I need to see how the lighting will affect the order of assembly. I will need to run the wiring from the tail and the belly lighting before closing up the fuselage. You can see this build from the start in the build log at: https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-48-ch-46a-d-helicopter/

I have some tiny drill bits. Some of the larger ones I used a thin round file.

The second week of the CH-46 was spent working on the interior walls. Starting with the port side I filled all the mold marks with putty. Then I cut out the incorrect details and added the correct ones. For some of the avionics that were correct these were molded too thin so I added some sheet styrene to build them up. The first three ribs of the frame were also too small. I used some 1.0 mm square rods to correct these. I then used .05mm round rods to add the spars between the ribs. Some of the details of the avionics were done with spare photo etch parts. I drilled some thru-holes in the ribs for the hardlines and cables and painted the interior with FS36231 (Dark Gull Grey) and the avionics was painted gull grey, black, and white. The molded pipes were painted silver. On each side just before the rear door are two cargo lights. I cut out two pieces of sheet styrene and made the lens with clear resin. I used a Pico sized LED on the backside and attached it with acrylic gel. The wiring will join up with the overhead lights when I get to the overhead. I am currently adding all the hardlines onto the port side. I am working on each section at a time. I am using 28 gauge solid wire for these. Once all the hardlines are placed I will be using 30 gauge white wire and some stranded wire for all the cabling. I will also be making some decals for the avionics ID plates that go into the equipment as well. You can see this build from the start in the build log at: https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-48-ch-46a-d-helicopter/

This is the first of two special builds. In July of this year the International Plastic Modelers Society (IPMS) is holding their National Convention in Madison, Wisconsin. This is only a couple of hour drive from my home. I am building two different projects and depending on their outcome I will be taking one or both to the convention. So for the first build I am using Academy’s 1/48 CH-46A/D - U.S. Marines –Vietnam kit. The scheme will be from HMM-165 also known as the “White Knights”. They were based at Chu Lai Combat Base in central Vietnam from 1966 thru 1968 then transferred to the USS Valley Forge LPH-8. I will be super detailing the interior using scratch building techniques and adding LED’s/Fiber optics to illuminate the aircraft. The Eduard cockpit photo etch set will also be used and will be modified for illuminating the instrument panel. I will be having it displayed on a base representing a typical air field from the Vietnam War. Starting off the build I first worked on the rotors. I opened up the holes on the parts of the hubs. With the hubs assembled I filled in the mold marks with putty and then added the 30 gauge wire for the hydraulic lines and some photo etch parts for the mounts. The hub was painted flat black as well as the underside of the blades. The topside was then painted olive drab. The reference photos showed red seals for the joint where the rotor blades pitch. I used red paint to represent these. I finished off the rotors with decals from the kit. I set aside the rotors and am now starting on the interior walls of the crew/cargo area. There are quite a few mold marks on these that needed to be filled before I can start detailing. I also compared the walls with numerous reference photos. There are quite a few things that need to be relocated and added. As soon as the putty is cured I will begin the correction and adding details to the port wall first. You can see the start of this project in the build log at: https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-48-ch-46a-d-helicopter/

After eight weeks the Revel A-26B Invader is finished. I painted, decaled and installed the propellers, installed the antenna using EZ-line, and did some final touches on the weathering to complete this build. Overall this was a fun build. The kit has a good fit and only minimal putty was required. The kit decals as well as the Kits World decals worked very well. The instructions are laid out well. The added photo etch accessories from Eduard provide very good details and add a level of realism especially in the bomb bay area. The only difficult area was the gunner’s seat assembly. To add the photo etch you need to cut off sections and place them onto the photo etch frame. Cutting them off and aligning them up so the assembly is straight and even took a little bit of time. I hope you have enjoyed following along on this build. Happy Modeling! All the details and photos from the start to finish can be seen in the build log at: https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-48-a-26b-intruder-maggies-drawers/

The seventh week on the Invader has the decals applied and the rest of the details being worked on. The decals were a mix of kit decals and the aftermarket Kits World decals. Both sets of decals worked very well except the stars and bars insignia’s. The kit version looked like the blue ink around the star was too thin of a layer. The Kits World decals were a lighter blue and slightly smaller. I ended up using a set from another aftermarket sheet of insignia’s that are colored correctly and accurately sized for 1/48 scale. I then added weight to the nose. Each engine nacelle has two ounces of weight behind the engine and I added two more to the front of the nose. This was enough weight so the aircraft sits properly on the landing gear. The landing gear was assembled and installed. The kit comes with two styles of wheels. One set was just regular wheels and the second set has a flat side represented wheels with weight on them. I used the latter set. The canopies were then detailed, painted, and installed. I also modified the recognition lights on the underside of the fuselage by drilling them slightly and filling them with acrylic gel. These were then painted with Tamiya clear green, red, and yellow. I still have to finish the weathering and final details to complete the aircraft. Next week I will have the final photos of this build and a preview of the next build. All the details and photos from the start can be seen in the build log at: https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-48-a-26b-intruder-maggies-drawers/

As the sixth week ends on the Invader I spent the week preparing the aircraft for the base coat of paint. I installed the wings and then detailed the bomb bay doors with the photo etch. These were then installed to the fuselage with the photo etch hinges. After I panted and weathered them I then cut the molded wingtip lights so they can later be replaced with clear lenses. One of the unique things about “Maggie’s Drawers” is that it had the loop antenna instead of the teardrop version usually seen on the A-26’s. Since the kit does not have this option I used 30 gauge wire and formed the loop antenna. I used a paintbrush handle and wrapped the wire twice around. After shaped it I coated the antenna with some CA glue to seal it. As I said last week I ordered the metal landing gear struts, these arrived this week so they were cleaned up and painted. I then painted the aircraft with Vallejo Duraluminum. The canopy and upper rear window were then masked and painted as well. The scheme also has a vertical black stripe on the rudder so this was also painted. I also painted the olive drab anti-glare areas on the inboard side of the engine cowls and in front of the canopy. Up next will be the decals. I will be using the kit decals for the standard aircraft and the Kits World decals for the specific scheme. Once the landing gear is installed I can then check the amount of weight I need in the nose and attach the nose. All the details and photos from the start can be seen in the build log at: https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-48-a-26b-intruder-maggies-drawers/

They did not come with the kit. Thundercals makes a nice set of insignia's and placards. Set 48005. Designed for P-47's but the engine and prop logos work on many other aircraft. BUY TCAL DECALS | ThunderCals

I spent most of the fifth week on the Invader super detailing the Pratt & Whitney R-2800 double wasp 18-cylinder engines. I started off by drilling the cylinders with a 0.25mm drill and then the ring with a 0.5mm drill. The engines were then painted and I added the Pratt & Whitney logo and engine placard decals. Once painted I then used 30 gauge wire for the lines. I installed them on the cylinder side first then trimmed them to fit into the ring. These were then painted with dark brown. While things were drying on the engine I weathered the main gear bays and installed them onto the wing. I also built up and cleaned up the gun pods for the wings and the main gear struts. Since the tail was already installed I checked out how much weight I will need to install to make sure it rests on the gear correctly. With the weight required it looks like the kit landing struts, especially the nose strut may not support the weight correctly, I decided to replace them and ordered the SAC metal landing gear struts which are scheduled to arrive this coming week. Moving back to the engines I review some reference photos of the exhaust. The kit has them molded inside the cowl. These are too short and too small diameter. I then sanded these all down and replaced them with some 0.75mm styrene rods. The cowl sections were them painted with Vallejo metal Duraluminum paint to represent the NMF finish of the aircraft. The rear section was then weathered with brown, grey, and black pastel chalk to represent the exhaust staining from the exhaust. I also added some weight inside to aid in balancing the aircraft. I am currently working on installing the wings and other external details to the fuselage. I am hoping to get the base coat and possibly the decals completed over the next week. All the details and photos from the start can be seen in the build log at: https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-48-a-26b-intruder-maggies-drawers/

During the fourth week of the Invader build I finished all the interior details and assembled the fuselage halves. Everything fit together pretty good but there are a few areas that required some minor putty along the seams. Since this kit has raised panel lines it took some time to putty and sand the seam areas without sanding down the panel lines. Next I assembled the wings and the main landing gear bays. One thing to note is Revell placed TWO copyright stamps on the port wing. Not only the port inside flap but also on the brace that supports the wing inside the landing gear bay! These were then sanded down and removed. I painted and weathered the bays. I have not attached them to the wings yet as I just found some reference photos of the bays so I can add some more details like cables and lines later. I am now starting on the engines. Since there is not any photo etch details for them I am scratch building the ignition wires. I will be using 32 gauge wires for this and drilling the holes for them using .25mm drills. Hoping to have the engines completed and the gear bays completed so I can mount the wings this coming week. All the details and photos from the start can be seen in the build log at: https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-48-a-26b-intruder-maggies-drawers/

The third week of the Invader build was spent detailing the bomb bay and aft interior. The first thing was to replace the kit bomb racks with the photo etch version. These were then mounted in the fuselage. The 300 LB bombs were modified by replacing the fuse and fins with photo etch and then adding the mounting brackets on them. The kit has a piece to represent the ammunition and control for the upper turret. This was completely replaced with photo etch parts. There are two ammo cases, the electronic motor, and the shell casing chute all on one frame that mounts under the turret. I found a couple of reference photos of the underside of the turret which aided in the paint colors and configuration. Since I cut out the crew door it was replaced with a photo etch version. I used clear acetate for the window. This door will be in the open position so the details inside can be seen. The gunner’s periscope was cut and the photo etch details for the mount were added. I need to detail the seat and mount it on to the frame. With these assemblies completed I detailed and painted the interior bulk heads and dry fitted them into the fuselage. I have a few more things to finish up and one more bulkhead to detail then I should be ready to assemble the fuselage halves together then I can begin on the wings, main gear, and detailing the engines. All the details and photos from the start can be seen in the build log at: https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-48-a-26b-intruder-maggies-drawers/

The year is coming to a close in just a couple of days. This year I completed ten builds. Seven of these were commission builds. Below are the synopsis of each build along with a link to the build log. At the start of the year I finished off the 1/32 Trumpeter A-7E Corsair II from my old squadron VA-37. This was a tribute build for my time in the Navy. I made the scheme that of my Commanding Officer at the time and utilized 17 LED’s and over 38” of fiber optic lines to illuminate the model which was then mounted onto a base representing the tarmac at NAS Cecil Field in Jacksonville Florida which was home to the Atlantic fleet A-7’s and S-3 aircraft. You can see all the details and photos in the build log at: https://davidsscalemodels.com/1-32-a-7e-corsair-ii-va-37-the-bulls/ The second build of the year was the first commission of the year. This was the Moebius 1/35 Jupiter 2 from the TV show “Lost in Space”. The client added numerous accessories like the light kit, aftermarket decals, sound card, resin figures of the Robinson family, and all of the electronics was controlled by a single remote control. There were many obstacles to overcome like dividing the power for the electronics and having the kit powered off of an AC/DC adapter instead of batteries. I added some extra LED’s and modified a few items for a better presentation. The client was very happy with the finished model. You can see all the details and photos in the build log at: https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-35-jupiter-2-lost-in-space/ The third build was one of my favorite aircraft the P-40. This was Academy’s 1/48 P-40N and the scheme represents 2nd LT. Philip Adair’s P-40N named “Lulu Belle” of the 89th fighter squadron in the 80th fighter group. They were known as the Burma Banshees and instead of the typical shark mouth they used skulls for the nose art. You can see all the details in the build log at: https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-48-p-40n-burma-banshees-lulu-belle/ The fourth build was my annual movie themed model. I do one of these a year. This one was using the Hobby Boss 1/48 A-6A intruder flown in the 1991 movie “Flight of the Intruder. For those unfamiliar with the movie, it is about a Navy pilot Lt Jake Grafton (Brad Johnson) and his bombardier LCDR Virgil Cole (Willem Dafoe) who flies an unauthorized mission to bomb the “SAM City” during the Viet Nam war in 1972. The aircraft was built to replicate the aircraft as depicted on that particular mission from the movie. I used Eduard’s “Big Edition” photo etch set as well as Eduard resin racks and Flying Leathernecks resin bombs to add details. I also made custom decals for the aircraft for the specific names and numbers on the aircraft. You can see all the details in the build log at: https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-48-a-6a-intruder-flight-of-the-intruder/ The fifth build was the second commission build. I used the 1/48 Kitty Hawk AH-1Z “Viper” attack helicopter. For this build I added the Eduard interior and exterior photo etch sets, the Model Master M197 (20mm) brass barrels, and the Flying Leathernecks TSS Turret. The scheme is the aircraft 47 from the HMLA-267 Stingers. You can see all the details in the build log at: https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-48-ah-1z-viper/ The sixth build – third commission build I used the 1/48 Revell/Monogram AV-8B kit. The client supported the Marine squadron VMA-223 in Afghanistan in 2011. In appreciation of his support they carried an American flag on a mission aboard and aircraft call sign “ALAMO 12”. Upon their return the American flag and a certificate were presented to him. I was commissioned to replicate the aircraft. You can see all the details in the build log at: https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-48-av-8b-harrier/ The seventh build is the fourth commission for a returning client. The kit is the Hasegawa SR-71 Egg Plane. Hasegawa has a large series of these egg planes. They feature an egg-shaped distorted interpretation of a real world aircraft. They are quite easy to build. It took me only a few days to build this interesting kit. You can see all the details in the build log at: https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/sr-71-egg-plane/ The eighth build for the fifth commission build I used Dragon’s 1/72 P-61A/P-61B Black Widow Night Fighter. The client is a huge fan of the Northrop P-61 and really liked the 1/48 scale I built last year. He wants a 1/72 version in a case for his desk. For this build I used the Ares resin cockpit detail set, Eduard’s exterior photo etch set, Quickboost resin engines, Quickboost resin gun barrels for the upper turret, and Print and Scale decal set. The aircraft was mounted in an acrylic display case with a diorama scene of a Pacific Island airfield to protect it. You can see all the details in the build log at: https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-72-northrop-p-61b-lady-in-the-dark/ The ninth build – sixth commission build was another Egg Plane. A couple of years ago I built a 1/48 A-10 for a client that wanted it to match the aircraft he flies in the online at the Digital Combat Simulator website. It had custom decals and was fully illuminated. He liked the novelty of the Egg Plane’s and decided he wanted an A-10 with the same scheme. He located an A-10 egg plane from a company called ‘Chilled Toon”. The thing is this kit was not your typical plastic injection type like the Hasegawa egg planes. This is a 3-D printed resin kit. This required a little more work to build. Also regular model adhesives do not work on resin. The aircraft will be put together using CA glue. You can see all the details in the build log at: https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/chilled-toon-a-10-egg-plane-brrrt/ The last build of 2023 was the seventh commission build. This build I used theHasegawa’s 1/48 AV-8B Harrier Plus. The client is a former Harrier pilot and wanted a model of one of the many aircraft he flew in his career. I used Caracal’s AV-8B+ decal set and using the VMA-214 “Blacksheep” aircraft #2 scheme. The other accessories I used were the Quinta Studio’s 3-D cockpit decal set, Eduard’s 500lbs JDAM’s, Meng AIM-9 missiles, and the aircraft was mounted in a display case with a base replicating the flight deck of a carrier. You can see all the details in the build log at: https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/av-8b-harrier-plus-vma-214/ For this upcoming year I have a few ideas for my summer movie themed project, a few more commission works lined up, and one big project. This year the International Plastic Modelers Society (IPMS) is having their National convention in Madison Wisconsin July 17th thru the 20th which is a short drive from Illinois. I have a few choices for this big project and will be starting soon. In terms of decals, I have had very little time to work on more decal sets. Between my new position at work, life events this past year, and the commission builds I completed and have lined up the time to sit and work on the artwork is very limited. I am hoping to have a couple of new air wing sets available by late spring or early summer. Thank you all for following along on my builds and have a very happy new year! Happy modeling, Dave https://davidsscalemodels.com/2023/12/30/davids-scale-models-2023-the-year-in-review/

The second week of the A-26B Invader was spent detailing the fuselage. First a little correction, the A-26B is nicknamed the “Invader”. Being a Navy veteran I kept thinking of the Navy aircraft nicknamed the “Intruder” so when I began this build log Intruder kept sticking in my mind. Also with the holiday season I was busy with family so bench time was limited. Moving on to the build, I added all the photo etch to the cockpit area in the fuselage. I also cut open the rear door. This is being replaced with a photo etch version and will be in the open position so the interior details can be seen better once the fuselage is assembled. The Eduard bomb bay photo etch set covers the area behind the cockpit. One thing is the kit is molded so there is a gap where the wings mount to the fuselage. The photo etch set covers these openings. I also added other details to the gunner area as well. The interior was then painted with interior green. Another interesting feature of this aircraft is the upper and lower gun turrets are remote controlled. The gunner sits on a platform that is basically a double-sided periscope which allows the gunner to see targets above or below the aircraft. This was modified by removing the kit platform and replacing it with a photo etch version. The supporting back wall will also be replaced as well. Next I weathered the inside of the fuselage with dark grey, light grey, and black pastel chalk. I am now working on building up the bomb racks and the bombs. Once these are done I can begin to assemble the fuselage halves together. The racks are being replaced completely with photo etch parts. All the details and photos from the start can be seen in the build log at: https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-48-a-26b-intruder-maggies-drawers/

I am taking a short break from commission builds over this holiday season. This next build is the Revell 1/48 A-26B Invader. For this build I will be using Eduard’s cockpit and bomb bay detail sets. The scheme I will be using is “Maggie’s Drawers” of the 416th BG - 671st BS - 9th AF that was flown during 1944/1945 at the Laon/Athies Airfield, France. The decals for this scheme are the Kitsworld 148172 decal set. Starting off with the cockpit I shaved off the kit details off the center console and replaced the starboard floor with a photo etch replacement. The control yoke was detailed with photo etch and I also painted the Douglas Aircraft logo on the center of the yoke. For the pilot seat I removed the molded seatbelts and shaved the sides off. These were replaced with photo etch details. I added the photo etch panels to the center console and added the numerous levers as well. Behind the pilot seat are a stack of avionics and the rear bulkhead of the cockpit. These were also detailed with photo etch details. Under the cockpit is the nose gear bay. The port side wall has a light which I cut off and drilled out the lens to replace it with a clear lens. Finally the kit details were shaved off the instrument panels so the photo etch panels can be installed. All of the cockpit parts were installed and the cockpit area was weathered. I am now working on the interior of the fuselage. The interior is very involved as it covers the cockpit walls, the bomb bay area and the gunner’s area. This will be displayed with the bomb bay doors open and the crew access door will be open so the details can be seen. All the details and photos can be seen in the build log at: https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-48-a-26b-intruder-maggies-drawers/

After five weeks the Hasegawa’s 1/48 AV-8B Harrier Plus project is complete!! This last week was spent detailing the display base to replicate the deck of an LHD class aircraft carrier. I used Infini’s USN tie down set. This set has 42 brass cups and both styles of tie downs. Large aircraft carries use a 5-point star and the LHD’s use a 4-point cross. I started with a sheet of styrene the same thickness as the brass cups. The flight deck pattern for spot 9 was then drawn for the center stripe and landing zone stripes. I then added a grid to mark the tie down points. These were drilled with a 4mm drill. The brass cups were inserted and I then attached the 4-point cross on each. The base was then sprayed white. The white stripes were masked and the yellow centerline was painted. Finally I sprayed the rest of the base gunship grey. I added the “9” decal and the “700” decals. The tie downs that were on the areas between two colors were then pained with a paint brush. The deck was then weathered using black, dark grey, and brown pastel chalk. The “deck” was then attached to the display base and the edge was trimmed in black paint. The aircraft placement was then marked. I added some 28 gauge wire to the center of the main gear wheels. I drilled the holes and mounted the aircraft to the base using the wire to secure the aircraft to the deck. The final touch was to make a stand for the engraved nameplate and mount it to the deck. This project was a very enjoyable build. The client is personally picking up this next week. As for this build and kit, as noted previously the Hasegawa kit is very nice with only a few minor issues. As usual the Caracal Decals are great to work with and look great. Thank you for following along on this special project. Happy Modeling! All the details and photos from start to finish are in the build log at: https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/av-8b-harrier-plus-vma-214/

I use Model Master for the main colors of the scheme and Vallejo for the rest.

Arriving at week four of the AV-8B Plus project there has been a schedule change. This was scheduled to be completed the week between Christmas and New Years but the schedule has been expedited so the completion date is now the week before Christmas. This week I applied all the decals for aircraft #2 and added the custom decals as well. The aircraft was then sprayed with a matte top coat. I then detail painted the wing tip and navigation lights. All of the under wing stores were then installed. On the Litening targeting pod I painted a coat of smoke on the turret lenses to tone down the brightness and give them a more realistic lens appearance. For the canopy I added the decal for the det cord to the inside. The canopy and windscreen were installed. I then weathered the aircraft using some reference photos of the aircraft aboard ships. The exhaust staining was created by using gray, brown, and black pastel chalk. The rest of the aircraft was weathered using dark grey and black. I am currently working on the display base. This is going to look like the deck of LPH/LDH aircraft carrier complete with markings and brass tie down pad eyes. Stay tuned to the completion of this project over the week! All the details and photos are in the build log at: https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/av-8b-harrier-plus-vma-214/

Welcome to week three of the AV-8B Plus project. During this past week I worked on all the under wing stores. Starting with the AIM-9 missiles, I opted to use the Meng version. The Meng ones are much more accurate looking and also have more accurate decals. The client wants to also add 500lbs JDAM’s so I am using Eduard’s resin version. Once these were assembled and painted I then assembled to drop tanks. I then finished the under wing store by building and detailing the Litening targeting pod. The kit supplies decals for the rear screens. After applying the decals I was not happy with their appearance. I dug thru my extra photo etch bins and found two screens that matched what the actual pod looks like. With all the under wing stores completed I built up and detailed the main landing gear. I they painted the first two colors of the scheme. The lower sections were painted FS36375 Light Ghost grey. The upper sections were painted 36320 Dark Ghost Grey. Later I will paint the top sections with FS35237 Medium Grey to complete the tri-color scheme. Finishing off the week I scratch built the HUD. The kit version was a bulky hunk of clear styrene. I used some spare photo etch sides for the mount and thin styrene for the base. I added a drop of acrylic gel to replicate the HUD lens and clear acetate for the HUD glass. Moving forward I detailed the wing gear and getting ready to modify them. On my previous build of this same kit the wing gear was slightly longer and required modification so the aircraft will rest on all 5 wheels. Once I have the landing gear modified and installed I will begin adding all the decals. All the details and photos are in the build log at: https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/av-8b-harrier-plus-vma-214/