What modeller here does this?

Warbird Kid · **Posted:** Fri Oct 02, 2009 9:27 pm

Does anyone here (besides me) suddenly realize the local model contest is looming (2 days away from posting this) and begins a mad rush to work and finish certain projects?

Well, you could say I'm in the "thick of it" as I've gotten 2 Sweet 1/144th scale P-51B's finished with display models complete to a point of acceptability for me. The other dioramas include the Corsair on a pedestal ready to go out, and the P-51A and Zero dogfight set I put together a few years ago. The dogfight set had a few extras added to them and the fire enhanced on the Zero.

The last one is the B-25 diorama which I posted a while back here. That one is getting a lot done to it and as soon I grab my sisters camera again Ill take all new pictures of them.

Warbird Kid out..

Mgawa · **Posted:** Sat Oct 03, 2009 12:31 am

All I can say is that I like how your Corsair look like

Warbird Kid · **Posted:** Sat Oct 03, 2009 1:35 pm

Warbird Kid · **Posted:** Sat Oct 03, 2009 1:35 pm

Haha yea. Couldnt really enter that one into a contest, but I take it to shows to let people view it with the other Bandi/ F-toys/ Cafe Reo 1/144ths I have. :wink:

Steve Nelson · **Posted:** Sun Oct 04, 2009 2:52 am

I've pulled many an "all-nighter" in an effort to finish a project for a contest. But as the years have gone by, I've usually found it's not a good idea..I've also screwed up many models in a rush to finish. Now I usually decide a week or two before the contest if I'll be able to finish a project or not.

Our club's annual show is at the Kalamazoo Air Zoo next Saturday. I have a 1/72 Tamiya P-47 Razorback I was hoping to have finished, but it's not even in primer yet. I've got the next couple days off..if I can get the basic paint laid down tomorrow (thank goodness for fast-drying acrylics) I may be able to make the deadline, but it doesn't look promising...

SN

mazdaP5 · **Posted:** Sun Oct 04, 2009 6:46 pm

You can do it!

cozmo · **Posted:** Mon Oct 05, 2009 11:24 am

I've never been into contests, but I would give extra points just for the scale you are working in. Goes and looks at 1/144th scale Corsair, less than 3 1/2" wingspan on a Corsair.

I don't understand, is that a picture of a Corsair you built, or a premade model? Last time I worked on a fighter in that scale it barely had wheel detail, let alone engraved panel lines.

Anyway, good job and good luck.

Warbird Kid · **Posted:** Mon Oct 05, 2009 12:14 pm

The picture above is an example of a pre-built/ pre-painted Corsair (With the exception of a P-47 propeller I put on to make it resemble a -4). The Japanese really have come a long way in the past 10 years with 1/144th scale. This is in part to how they market and sell them.

The few companies that produce these aircraft in pre done format (F-Toys, Cafe Reo, Bandi) package them as "Gashapon" or trading kits. Usually 3 or so different aircraft come out in a set and can be bought in one case (usually a case is 10 to 12 aircraft). Each one of the aircraft have 3 different paint schemes plus a special scheme.

So lets look at the latest example for me. The idea is when you buy a case of 10 in the set came with 3 different aircraft. F-toys produced this set and has released some exciting other sets this year, including a twin engine collection that included B-25D/C! This collection came with three aircraft: Tony, Jake, and BEARCAT!!!!!! _Someone answered my prayers!

As you can see there's 3 schemes for each aircraft, plus a special scheme. For this particular release there was only one special scheme available. The yellow Bearcat "Beetle Bomb" so its a given to receive that one if you order a case.

An example like the Corsair are essentially worth there weight in gold right now as they've become quite rare. Bandi produced this aircraft like 6 years ago and since then have ceased production of 1/144ths. They were a little different as they usually had 8 or so different types of aircraft in one release while only offering 1 to 2 schemes per aircraft. These Bandis were amazing in detail and were a welcome sign of relief from the crappy Mitwsua, Academy, Minicraft, Monogram, Revell models.

As far as Corsairs go, these Bandi's are as good as they get in 1/144th scale. Your second best is the hard to find Revell example produced only twice if I'm not mistaken. Your third best would be the very old Mitwsua kit that's wayyyy off. That was probably the kit you suffered thorough! :lol:

cozmo · **Posted:** Mon Oct 05, 2009 12:28 pm

Thanks for the information, I have seen those things, but never wanted to risk not getting the item I wanted. Besides, who wants to get something you can't cuss at and lose hair (while losing the tiny parts)

Warbird Kid wrote:

...were a welcome sign of relief from the crappy Mitwsua, Academy, Minicraft, Monogram, Revell models.

Back in the day (whoa, I never thought I would be saying that), we got our crappy mis-shapen little kits and were happy to have something in 1/144th scale. And were overjoyed when DML came along.

Now if they would just pick up where Entex left off with some older helicopters.

I once sent a note with my sister when she went to Japan to find me the bubblegum kit of the Hawkeye long before Revell came out with the kit. I sometimes have nightmares about working on that soft vinyl-like plastic to make it presentable to place on the 1/144th scale USS America...that I never finished.

spookythecat · **Posted:** Mon Oct 05, 2009 3:33 pm

Holy crap!!! I need a 1/144 Bearcat!

As for the building, i'm not big into contests. I have a monthly group I go to that meets at the Museum Of Flight and we have a monthly theme. The next one is "turkeys" so i'm gonna try and get a 1/72 Hasegawa Avenger (it'll actually end up a Tarpon) finished.

Warbird Kid · **Posted:** Mon Oct 05, 2009 3:43 pm

cozmo wrote:

Thanks for the information, I have seen those things, but never wanted to risk not getting the item I wanted. Besides, who wants to get something you can't cuss at and lose hair (while losing the tiny parts)

Warbird Kid wrote:

...were a welcome sign of relief from the crappy Mitwsua, Academy, Minicraft, Monogram, Revell models.

Back in the day (whoa, I never thought I would be saying that), we got our crappy mis-shapen little kits and were happy to have something in 1/144th scale. And were overjoyed when DML came along.

Now if they would just pick up where Entex left off with some older helicopters.

I once sent a note with my sister when she went to Japan to find me the bubblegum kit of the Hawkeye long before Revell came out with the kit. I sometimes have nightmares about working on that soft vinyl-like plastic to make it presentable to place on the 1/144th scale USS America...that I never finished.

Yeah that sounds about right. Start many projects. Finish very few. I mean my 1/144th B-24A "Ole 927" is still on the back burner for the few here who remember that thread from long ago.

Not all of those manufacturers I mentioned above were bad, just not as good as what were finally seeing nowadays. And yes, I really wish we saw more vintage helicopters. But you never know what there going to produce next! For all 1/144th related news, this is the blog for you: www.kampfgruppe144.blogspot.com

cozmo · **Posted:** Mon Oct 05, 2009 5:16 pm

Warbird Kid wrote:

I mean my 1/144th B-24A "Ole 927" is still on the back burner for the few here who remember that thread from long ago.

Its only been 2 plus years, right? You made me get out my B-24 and look it over for possibilities. Heck, I could have used 2 of the cowlings from the PBY that never got finished then would only have to buy one more PBY to do it. It would have been a whole lot easier than what Gary did. I only got part way into making the .cdr of the nose-art decal when I lost interest. That was one complicated piece of art.

Neat website...a Canberra and H-21. If y'all only knew what I was doing to those poor old aircraft kits...I would probably be treated like the folks who turn real aircraft into beer cans. But I like to think of them as mini-Stratolina's.

How is that for "thread drift"?

Warbird Kid · **Posted:** Mon Oct 05, 2009 5:33 pm

Sometimes there the best threads!

By the way, in case you guys were wondering I got bubkas at the contest. :roll:

I chalk it up to the fact that all of my models were set under the "Diorama" category. Its a fine line for me because I couldn't really put the aircraft under 1:72nd and smaller since only the aircraft would be judged instead of the whole display.

cozmo · **Posted:** Mon Oct 05, 2009 6:40 pm

I did wonder a little. But not being into contests, I didn't want to pry.

Did you enjoy building them?

Did you get satisfaction from a job well done?

Was the time well spent?

Did people like looking at them?

The first two are the only one's that count, for me anyway. The only time I have entered a contest was to show off a new kit. Usually the one I built fast and dirty to make sure all the parts and decals fit. The thing I get the most satisfaction out of now, is building a prototype that will break down for molding in the fewest number of parts with the least amount of undercuts and easiest to pour.

The only time I wanted to enter a contest (State Fair), I wouldn't let them take possession of my six foot battleship for a month and withdrew the form, I should have read the fine print before submitting it.

The stuff I see y'all do is incredible. Puts most of my stuff to shame. After forty years, I still cannot get the hang of a little airbrush. And polishing for a metal finish, bores me to tears. When working in the model shop, I was able to hand that part of a project to the guys that specialized in painting.

But, for me it is therapy. And as expensive as it has gotten (even for my favorite medium, recycling and plastic stock), its still cheaper than a pshrink, or ammo.

Uh, where's the pics?

Warbird Kid · **Posted:** Mon Oct 05, 2009 7:14 pm

Don't mind at all! Pry away! :wink:

cozmo wrote:

Did you enjoy building them?

Of course. At times they can be frustrating, but I don't think Id be doing it if I didn't enjoy it.

cozmo wrote:

Did you get satisfaction from a job well done?

I think more of a job finally finished. I always find the added pressure of a looming date enough to get some projects off the workbench and into the showcase.

cozmo wrote:

Was the time well spent?

Probably not. I could have been playing music, finishing a painting for my girlfriend's birthday that was Aug 23, trying to get better at producing work on Indesign/ Photoshop/ Dreamweaver/ etc.. (I mean it is my profession!), finishing my bedroom. I repainted the room in the Summer and still haven't gotten anything up on the walls yet! And a whole bunch of other usual crap. But I still can say I'm a fairly current model builder (Unlike my dad whose been retired for like 10 years now.)

cozmo wrote:

Did people like looking at them?

Sure looked like it! And really that's the part that I get a kick out of the most. As I'm walking around looking at the other work on the floor and causally glance over at my crap, it feels pretty good to see other seasoned modellers with there face 3 inches from the diorama! If its something good or bad, I still am very interested in what feedback people honestly have to say. Doesn't even have to be models. Any work I do.

cozmo wrote:

The stuff I see y'all do is incredible. Puts most of my stuff to shame. After forty years, I still cannot get the hang of a little airbrush

Well shucks, I thank you kindly for your generous words! Actually almost all of my stuff is hand brushed. Haven't gotten to the forte of airbrushing. But do spray cans count? I figure being so small I can put more detail in with using some fine art techniques but I believe that airbrushing will give you a closer smoother shave! :wink:

If ya know what I mean.

cozmo wrote:

Uh, where's the pics?

I know I know! Have to stop by the sister's boyfriend's house to steal, urr... I .. uhhh.. mean borrow her camera again. Hopefully by manana I'll have some pics for you Wixers to gawk at!

WK out...

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