P-47 Thunderbolt Assembly (part 1)

You gotta know that feeling when you open fresh plastic model box - your eyes spark and you feel like you want to sit down and build the model right away. You feel like a child with his birthday gift. At least I mostly feel so :)

But what if you receive a bigger scale model? Not 1/32 or even 1/16 - but a 1/1? And not a model or copy, but a real aircraft fighter? Take a minute to think of it..

These guys here did assembling real P-47 Thunderbolt on a everyday basis:

The world of wonderful plastic model of Asao Shirai

I'll go on sharing "know-how" videos I've found.

You might have seen wonderful and inspiring works of Asao Shirai on Hyperscale:

- Hasegawa's 1/72 TBF/TBF-1C Avenger
- Hasegawa's 1/72 TBM-3S2 convertion from TBF/TBF-1C Avenger
- Hasegawa's 1/72 scale Nakajima Ki-44 Shoki (Tojo)
- Hasegawa 1/72 scale P-2V-7 Neptune
- Hasegawa's 1/72 scale T-1B

After you've seen the works of Master - see the Master himself (it's in Japanese, but video of the techniques and tricks speak for themself):

GRUMMAN XF6F HELLCATS

Here're some one of a kind good quality Grumman XF6F Hellcat pics. For all you WW2 USAF fans out there!






Click here to see some other Hellcat pics. You'll find more different Grumman aircrafts pics here.

Painting and weathering interior

Very interesting video I've found today on eBay. It features Brett Green (from Hyperscale) tips & advices of how to paint interior (wheel well bay doors in this case).

Everyone has its onw way of painting, detailing and weathering plastic models. But it's very interesting to hear expert's advices.

Messerschmitt Bf-109 G-6

Just wanted to share some shots of the models I built some 3-4 years ago. It's Hasegawa's 1/48 Messerschmitt Bf-109 G-6 flown by Georg Amon.

As you can see above wheel wells had been modified quite a bit. Undersurfaces received postshading in Chris Wauchop's style. At least I tried.

This photo clearlu shows that Moskit exhaust pipes are the most realistic copy of the exhaust pipes scale modeling world have seen so far (don't agree? comment!)

Some bf-109's side views. Gladly wil hear your critiques (use blog's comments for this).

Internet Modeller - March'08 Issue

Brand new issue of "Internet Modeller" is out. Magazine authors did a good job and prepaired some great looking reviews and build articles in different categories: aviation models, afv models, new books, new decals, new photoetch sets, etc.

PS. I'm not sure, but that yellow colour on theat Pfalz looks too "acid" for me. I guess that bright colours were invented after WW2..

Grumman F6F Hellcat video

I'm getting more and more interesting in Grumman F6F Hellcat World War 2 fighter.

I've searched YouTube today and found a truelly interesting video of the subject aircraft, which seems to have that World War 2 American aircraft charisma. Something from post war Cadillac - big and secure. At least seems so.

Anyway, here you go:

Future Eduard 1/48 scale kits

I know you might be have already informed of new Eduard 1/48 kits, but I just think it will be interested to share with you:

FUTURE KITS

"There will be only one new kit in March, which will be the Focke-Wulf Fw 190A-5 in the Weekend Edition. So, nothing really new in the true sense of the word. Just a notice for the guys who love to compare prices, these WEEKEND kits bring similar box contents as the other manufacturers’ standard kits. Plastic, decals, and instructions. The photo-etch and masks are still a little bit above standard.

In April, we want to re-release the Spitfire Mk.22/24 in 1/48th scale. I forgot to let you know about this in the January newsletter, so you know it now. There will also be the I-16 type 10 in Spanish markings in a Weekend Edition offering.

Some lines caught my attention most. You know that I'm true Luftwaffe subjects fan and when it comes to Doras.. Focke-Wolf FW-190D-9 was my first "normally" built model and my 1st scale modelling love. That's why I'm always interested to read or to see Dora models. Anyway, here's very interesting text on Eduard's news:

"...Last week we had a tough time with the Fw 190D nose, when the final shape didn’t jive with the blueprint plan. We spent long hours analyzing the problem, and to try and figure out why it didn’t look right. Finally, we got the nose which we were happy with, but it doesn’t mean it will be accepted by all future critics. Simply put, whoever sees the result for the first time, hasn’t necessarily the experience of these hours of analysis, or the done and re-done trial shapes."

One thing I haven't understood - which scale it's going to be?

F6F-3 Hellcat 1/48 - Eduard

Can't say that I love the lines of the American F6F-3 Hellcat World War 2 legendary fighter. But seing the one in Royal Navy camouflage turns on my interest towards the plane. Especially Eduard is releasing Royal Class kit ;)

Here's the one from Eduard's news (I'm just truelly in love with Eduard's new kits which feature masks - they save you some time and are just great in use (unlike the old Eduard's ones)):

Luftwaffe Im Focus

Long time ago I've surfed into the site of the magazine called "Luftwaffe Im Focus" (which mean "Luftwaffe in Focus in German). I've heard a lot about the magazine and its content.

"Luftwaffe Im Focus" is a real gem for every Luftwaffe enthusiast. I bet all Messerchmitt Bf-109 experts read this magazine. It's full with World War 2 Luftwaffe photos - ubpublished photos. All of you interested to see WW2 Luftwaffe aircraft photos (fighters, bombers, etc.), read professionally written in-depth articles, see historically correct profiles (and use them on your models) and get original Luftwaffe decals - check out "Luftwaffe Im Focus" and find out how you can purchase the journal. USing Brett Green's terms:

"Highly Recommended"

Here's content inside the latest "Luftwaffe Im Focus":

52 pages
65 photos, 4 in colour
3 colour profiles
2 colour Emblems
5 maps
Readerforum
Aircraft in Focus: The story of the Ta 152 “white 7", 5./JG 301
The story behind the photo: The Italian Air Force at the cannel front 1940/41
Portrait: Hptm. Heinz Fischer, III./St.G. 1
Allied fate: Killed after a raid on Wilhelmshaven (Hampden P4344, 21.7.1940)
Fate: Escaped! - KG 4 raid against Panzerwerk Gorki
Tail: Hptm. Prinz zu Sayn-Wittgenstein, Kdr. IV./NJG 5
Tail: A "Schiffsversenker" from LG 1
Document: KG 30 - Document for damaging a ship
Colourphotos: Fi 156 of 2.(H)/14 and squadron emblem
Colourphoto: Personal emblem on a Go 242 from
Go-Kommandos/Luftflotte 4
Unknown Emblem: The first and second emblem of 1.(H)/31
as well as photos of an unknwon B-17 in Luftwaffe duty,
the Ju 88 C-6 of nightfighter Lt. Heinz Rökker, JG 1 in the
defence of the Reich and much more

P-51C Mustang 1/48 Tamiya - Unbeatable Natural Metall Finish

Here's another astonishing build by Japanese modeller who name I unfortunatelly don't know. I've already mentioned him in the previous post.

So this time you'll be able to find out how to do a natural metal finish. You probably already know that is very difficult to get a natural metall finish look on the plastic model. Some modellers use metal foil to get as natural as metal can be ;)

Ok, less talking - more action. Here're some excellent pics of the build Mustang P-51C in 1/48 scale (Tamiya) with some minor modifications.


Here's another great sample of Natural Metal Finish. This time it's P-47N1/48 built from Tamiya's kit with some serious modifications and "plastic surgery" ;)

Here's how the author describes his method of doing Natural Metal Finish:

"Hybrid Painting Method" for natural metal
This method is hybrid of airbrush and brush painting. First, Mr.color's Super Metallic Chrome Silver was sprayed (slightly mixed #2 black). Second, Mr.color's Chrome Silver (straight from the bottle) was drybrushed on the sprayed surface. Drybrushed silver can express hairlines on the natural matal surface. Detailed painting method is as follows.

#1000 surfacer -> #8 Silver (for the base) -> Chrome Silver + #2 Black (spraying) -> Chrome Silver (drybrushing) -> #46 Clear (spraying) -> Markings(Yellow, Olive Drab, Insignia, etc) -> #2000 sand paper polishing (only for marking portions) -> decals -> #46 Clear & #30+46 Flat Clear (only for Olive Drab portion) -> weathering

(Quote from this article)

Building correct 1/48 Messerschmitt Bf-109F-4 Trop

Here's another inspiration for all your (scale) plastic surgeons. I'm aware that Hasegawa's and Tamiya's 109s aren't completelly geometrically correct. Hope you also get excited seing such operations :)


And the result:...

Dioramas - creating natural water

I just couldn't share this video with you. I know some of us jut dream of building beatiful sea or ocean diorama, but don't know how to "build" a natural water.

Whilst searching for other scale modelling video tutorials, I've found this video. Which is part of the video tutorial on building Testors Curtiss Racer Diorama in 1/48 (I guess). This master shows how to replicate the water and waves - very inspiring.

Hmmm.. It seems I've got one float World War 1 fighter in my stash.. ;)

Tamiya 1/48 P-47D Thunderbolt Bubbletop Video Tutorial

Here's the video I've found recenlty on Youtube.com - Tamiya P-47D Thunderbolt Tutorial. It consists of 2 parts, both in Japanese. I know most of you, my colleagues, don't speak the language of the country of the Rising Sun, but the pictures speak for themself.

I know that not only beginners (like me), but also an experts will find many interesting knowhows in these videos. Enjoy and learn ;)

You can find plenty other video tutorials here.

Other models by Brad Cancian

Previously I've posted couple pics of Brad's Cancian model. I've made a little investigation inside Aeroscale's forum and found some other truelly impressive models by Brad. So here's the list:





Click on the thumb to see more pics of the subject. When you feel little depressed - just browse through Brad's models and get inspired. :)

Brad Cancian's 1/48 Albatros W4

Here's the latest building of the modeller who models are my inspirations - Brad Cancian. I find Brad's new 1:48 Albatros W4 a masterpiece as always and it looks very realistic (although I must admit I haven't seen any real Albatroses yet :)

Documental film about Hans Joachim Marseille

I've found a film about Hans Joachim Marseille on Youtube. Highly recommended to all Luftwaffe and WW2 aircraft history fans.

New blog poll added

I've added a new blog poll right to the left menu column bellow "my links" section. As you can see it's called "Your scale of choise". Everyone of us have experemented within different scales and different modelling genres. But I would like to know what scale do prefer - you can always post your comments on the reason.

Personally I prefer 1:48 scale. I used to build aircrafts in 1/72, but my fingers and my eyes all seem to prefer a 1:48. I know that they would love 1:32 more, but I simply prefer smaller models that would not occupy my shelf. Although I'd love to build, for example, Hasegawa's new (I mean last - the model that was "published" in 2006 I guess) FW-190A-8 or Hasegawa's 1/32 Dora..

Anyway, feel free to comment and remember to vote!

Some in-progress pics of my Wurger

So here're some in progress of my tamiya's 1/48 Fw-190A-8 Sturmbock.
Later I've found that fuselage armour plates are not 100% right so I've replaced them with the scratchbuilt ones. At this moment fuselage and wings are glued together. Some minor changes are done here and there.

One of the pics shows that Tamiya's drop tank is wrong in shape - when you look in front of it you see that it's more oval than circular.

Another picture shows wheel wells and how I masked the gap inside the well which is very difficult to hide with filling and sanding - selh-adhesive foil comes in very handy!

2008 Upcoming Aircraft Kits

Here's the great list of scale aircraft model kits upcoming this year. It's all here.

I personally am very interested to get Techmod's kit of 1:48 Friedrichshafen FF.33