Sunday, February 12, 2017

This Blog Has Moved!

Hi All,

Thank you for checking in and following me here the past couple of years. It was time to move on and for the past several months I have been working on and off (mostly off) on a new website, which is why you haven't seen any posts.

You can view the new site and follow it here: http://amodelforants.com.

If you have already subscribed via email to this blog, your address has been carried over and will receive updates when there is a new post. If you haven't subscribed to receive email updates, please head over to the new site and use the "Subscribe" field on the right sidebar. I promise I won't spam you and you won't be getting more than one email per week.

It looks like this:

The new site is still a work in progress and things may change around a bit as it continues to evolve.

Thanks and I hope to see you over at http://amodelforants.com!

"Iggy"

Sunday, July 3, 2016

Tamiya F4U-1 Corsair Engine

It's been a while since I posted anything. I hit a bit of a wall since the last post due to an issue on the Corsair. I'll get more into that in another post. This post however, should be quick and it was semi-quick to put together. We'll be taking a look at the Corsair engine.

There is a little more detail molded in than the Zero engine, but I won't put as much effort in, just a little.

Engine
I deepened the holes in the pistons for the spark plug wires.

Engine
Did it a bit different this time. Glued the wires in place first.

Engine
Cut them to size.

Engine
Glued into place. I used a looped piece of wire to pick up a smaller amount of glue. Did you know CA glue is flammable? To clean up the loop just place it in a lighter flame briefly to burn of any dried or liquid glue.

Engine
I wanted to add a little more detail here. So I stretched some sprue, put it on a piece of tape to control the little bits and cut very thin slices.

Engine
Everything is dry fit before priming. I didn't do the wires to the rear because seeing that detail is very limited.

Engine

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Before priming.

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Primed with Badger gray primer.

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Sprayed in Tamiya Gun Metal. It's really an awesome color.

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I sprayed the propeller in Tamiya Aluminum maybe?

Engine and construction
Dry brushed in steel. Picked out the details and painted the wires copper.

Engine and construction
Added an oil wash to the piece on the left.

Engine and construction
Did a little oil fading with white and blue and blended in with a dry brush. The effect is subtle.

Engine and construction
The completed engine.

Engine and construction
Test fit to the Corsair.


And almost four months later, the propeller is done.

Stars and prop
Before adding the Akan Pale Gold, I did a quick coat of AK Matte, then Ammo's Scratching Effects.

Stars and prop
Masked the Pale Gold and sprayed with Model Master's Aircraft Interior Black.

Stars and prop
Blades masked off and I sprayed Akan's Sea Blue. A bit hard to see the difference here, but there certainly is in the real lifes. 

Stars and prop
Finished painting. Let's see if that scratches effect works.

Stars and prop
An accidental scratch on the hub, but it looks good.

Stars and prop
All done and I'm pleased with the result.

Stars and prop



That's all for now. The Corsair is nearing completion so hopefully I'll get some more progress posted shortly.

Thanks for looking in.

Friday, May 27, 2016

Tamiya F4U-1 Birdcage Corsair Begins

You're probably thinking, "He's finished all his models and he's starting a new one!" You are completely wrong! I got anxious and started this kit last December while I still had the Spitfire PR.IG and the Stug IV quite firmly in progress.

Quite some time ago, I purchased, I believe a Revell Corsair for the nephew in the West. Perhaps this can be somewhat of a guide in your build, if you find the time between all the things you have going on.

If the Revell kit is like this one, sorry. I would have sent the Tamiya Spitfire Mk.I kit had I known the complexity. Not that I think this kit is that complex, just that I missed a few things...a few times.


Box and parts
The box art. I don't think it will turn out this nice, but we'll give it a shot. Although, it is a bit clean for my taste.

Box and parts
I decided to upgrade a few areas. The wheels, exhaust and the seat. I also hate masking canopies so I thought I would try pre-cut masks from Eduard.

Box and parts
Parts look good overall.

Box and parts

Box and parts

Box and parts
Decals, typical thick Tamiya decals.

Cockpit
Several sink marks needed to be filled. I touched them up with Mr. Dissolved Putty.


First the Cockpit.


Cockpit
You can see the difference between the kit seat and the resin upgrade. If not, I'm not sure how you're reading this.

Cockpit
Parts ready for priming.

Cockpit
I primed this with AK Interactive Gray Primer, before I knew of the wonderful Badger primer.

Cockpit
 I think I got all the interior areas....or did I?

Cockpit
For this kit I got Akan's U.S. Navy paint set. I sprayed Interior Green here. It's a fantastic paint, lays down beautifully.

Cockpit
I added a little Pale Gold to the green to lighten it up and provide some variation in the paint.

Cockpit
Can't you see it?

Cockpit

Cockpit

Cockpit
I brush painted flat black on the headrest.

Cockpit

Cockpit
The areas of wear were chipped with silver....I think.

Cockpit
Details painted.

Cockpit
I took some artistic liberty with the colors of the buttons, because it's my kit and I can!

Glossed cockpit

Glossed
Harness brush painted with Tamiya's Deck Tan, or we can call it "harness color" and silver on the buckles.

Glossed cockpit

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The tub is completed.

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Glued into place ready for the fuselage to be assembled.

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It's as easy as that! At least to read anyway, what it take under 5 minutes? This actually took place between Dec 6th and January 10th, 2016. I'm not that fast at building or apparently at getting posts out either.

The next post you'll see is the engine being painted and slapped together. It won't be as involved as the Zero so it shouldn't take that long, right?