Stikpusher

Thanks Mark. My 1/48 Red Air Force commanders are quite happy. It looks like Star Decals is starting to make their stuff in 1/72 now, as well as 1/35 and 1/48. So perhaps in the not too distant future they’ll scale down their 1/35 Pershing & Patton sheets to 1/72.

Hey Mark, since you had said earlier here that you don’t have any builds for the decals I’ve agreed to sell them to the guy on another site. And yes, you do need some USMC Pershing’s & Pattons. So, over the past week or so, the mailman has brought me goodies for my 1/48 wingy thingies… first up, some decals for that FJ-2 Fury I picked up last month. I like the VMF-235 markings then I picked up a good deal on this Eduard PE set for the Revell Foxbat in my stash… there are actually four frets of PE in the package, and they fix many of the kits external shortfalls Then I made a couple of Mig kit scores… This one will need some help, but I’ve seen it built up nicely online, so it can be done and then this one… Now I just need my building muse to return…

Here is a P-40 in production in late 1941… original color from Life Magazine archives…looks like interior green in the wheel wells.

Ok then Mark. I’ll negotiate a price for those decals. And man, did you bring home a serious amount of stuff there from the Nats! Good for you my friend! As for me and not being able to make it to Nats, I’ve had to settle for online shopping… Over the past week or so several 1/35 armor decal sets that I’ve ordered came in… For OIF1 M1A1s… I’ll be using the NATO camo 2/70 Armor markings for 5th ID 4/12 Cav M113 & M551 in Vietnam and lastly, for USMC M26 & M26A1 Pershing’s in Korea

Seeing how it’s a Curtiss product, as was the P-40, I’d suggest using a P-40 of the same era for a reference.

Hey Steve, good to see you on here!

Wow! That is one big beauty Mark! I am happy to see that you finally whipped this one into shape and completion! Well done! now…. where are you going to put the beast? 🤔

The Squadron Walkaround book on the Cobra is a good starting point for photo reference.

Well done Mark! You’ve got some serious bragging rights now with those two! And don’t forget to mention your Patton in the group collection that won 1st place in that category. Bravo!

I don’t doubt that the Airfix kits would be a fine way to introduce a new builder to the hobby. But I think the bigger thing will be your coaching regarding expectations. No matter what kit he starts out on, it will almost certainly not be a masterpiece. There is the learning curve, and no matter what tools we have, what kits we choose, and however many hours of instructional how to videos may be watched, mistakes are going to be made. And that is where we learn how to do it better next time. It is both the journey and the destination that provide the enjoyment in this hobby, not one or the other. Except for the hobby shop. I always love the destination, but the journey there is rarely enjoyable. 😉

The eBay shopping binge continues… First I found this ice little item which comes with two of these tractor tugs. Then I got this Blackhawk kit to fill out my 1/48 collection of family

Mark, I’ve had one offer already, but it’s overseas. I’ll think about your wish as well. And the way that new kits are coming out lately in 1/72, I’m sure you’ll have a 1/72 SA-4 kit available in the not too distant future. And for the latest addition, I’ve had a little run on eBay lately. Picked up this decal set, which came in the mail yesterday.

Good looking Fury Gil! I really like the additions behind the seat to fill the “black hole”.

Beautiful Kingfisher! The pre war colors & markings are gorgeous!

If Tamiya ever did do a 1/32 B, that would provide all the basic airframes in that scale. Anything else could be done by conversions. So the past 48 hours has been good to my stash… Yesterday this eBay purchase arrived in the mail It’s slightly started, but very nicely so I must say. Then at Phoenix IPMS, it was swap meet time. My first score was awesome… This baby usually sell for way over $100, the seller was asking substantially less… Then I open it up later on and what do I find inside? This lovely batch of decals! With markings in 1/72 and 1/48 for multiple types: F-105, F-4, A-4, A-6, and A-7! Seeing as how I don’t build in 1/72, I’ll be getting rid of those markings… Then I found this dinosaur… seeing as how Kitty Hawk just went flat line, this is probably the only way that I’ll be able to get myself a 1/48 RF-101A/C. Modeling skills required. I haven’t done a vacuform in about 40 years… Then I also picked up a partial Hasegawa 1/48 US Bombs set. I always need more Rockeyes and Napalm, which it did have. Along with the Mk. 83’s and Mk.84’s…. too bad the Snakeyes were gone… not worth taking a photo though… That’s all for now…

Yes, that one is 1/48. I would not mind doing one of the experimental green camo USN F-4Gs. Nice to know that there is a conversion part out there. That would be a more extensive conversion I imagine- thin wing, slotted stabs, burner cans, under nose IR sensor… not to mention the rear cockpit. I wonder if Tamiya will come out with a 1/32 B just to keep pace with their 1/48 kit… At least the burner cans, nose, and stabs would match their C/D kit

The Revell 1/32 USAF F-4G. I don’t think that anyone makes a kit of a 1/32 USN F-4G, or the F-4B that it evolved from. The only sea going 1/32 Phantom kits that I’ve come across are F-4Js.

Beautiful build there David! The old Revell 1/32 P-38, however lacking, is an old favorite of mine. And you have shown how much of a beauty it can be built up into. Especially with all the color you have added to this one! Bravo!

That’s quite a diverse haul Mark! For the desk lamp, perhaps a layer of duct tape wrapped around the flex arm section will restore some rigidity and function there. Nice to hear that the guys saved the Long Tom for you! They really are a good group! Hello friend! (says I to) Our mailman brought my two latest purchases over the past couple of days. First up, an Eduard La-7 to replace my old one that did not make the move from CA to AZ. second up, a set of decals for the Hobbyboss M706 in my stash. I love the Snoopy “nose art”. That’s all for now…

Yes, it would be a shame to scrap such a nice looking build. Very nice job on the restoration and modifications! 👍

It’s small in 1/48… I can only imagine in 1/72! And, it’s gonna be a fun project!

Pete, the tins seal well as long as you keep the lid & lip clean before closing. Wipe those areas as you would with a bottle threads and cap before closing and you’ll get many years out of a tin. Which leads to my next point, stir them thoroughly for mixing, rather than shaking them, to insure proper mixing. As far as thinning and clean up goes, for the past several decades, I had been using Model Master & Testors enamel airbrush thinner for airbrushing. But now that this particular product looks to be discontinued, I’m looking at switching to lacquer thinner for that purpose. The Testors/Model Master stuff gave it more “bite” for adhesion. For clean up, I use standard paint thinner from the hardware store. Ive been using Humbrol as my go to enamel since the late 80s, and it’s always my first choice. I still have a few tins from those years… and they still are usable!

I personally love Humbrol, an excellent enamel. And now that Revell enamels are bing imported to the USA, you may want to give those a shot as well. I’ve bought some in Germany and brought them back here. They work great as well.

Thanks Mark. I’m looking forward to the old school simplicity of the old Speckled Warthog. Being an old boxing, the molds will still be fairly well fitting… for a 70’s Revell kit… 🤨 And in the meantime… Happy (belated) Birthday to me Pt.II: My other eBay bargain score arrived this afternoon! Woohoo! All the way from Lithuania in less than two weeks. I’ve been wanting one of these for awhile for my 1/48 Red Air Force I opened the box and had a peek inside… oh what a lovely looking kit! Even the decals don’t look like the old ICM stuff. They sure have stepped up their game. Now to get a PE rigging set for this little beauty…

Great looking build Joe! I think that you have just the right amount of weathering, plus wear and tear on the aircraft.