Sean: Shame on you, using the wrong paint! 10 lashes with a wet noodle. Still, looking good!

Naseby: Not so slow as I, sir! And nice work too!!

Anyone else getting anything done? Guess this is what I get for making it a full year campaign.

Michael

More progress! Decals and Dullcote on.

Since then I've pulled off the masking on the (millions of) windows and broke off the pitot tube for the second time. I suppose a wise modeller would have added that at the very end of the build.
I also realize that my phone camera shots are getting worse. I must have changed a setting somewhere along the line. It sure is easy to upload though, compared to the standard digital camera. Anyway, lighting and focusing my photos is another thing to figure out.
Cheers!
-Sean

Update again (and keeping this thread near the top of the list)...
I've started into the final details: scraped off any errant paint under the masking and painted Future on those scrapes, made thinner antenna masts from stripped brass 22- or 24-gauge wire, painted landing gear and exhausts, glued on the propeller.


Just some final painting to go on the new details, then a light wash to highlight panel lines and recesses, and that should do her.
Happy modelling!
-Sean.
P.S.: is it just me, or do the oversized fuselage insignia look almost comical? They are close to the prototype photo, but ridiculously huge.

Well, now that I've finally decided on a subject, I'll start posting. I'll be doing LtCmdr Thach's F4F-4 using Academy's 1/72 F4F-4 and a sheet of Starfighter Early Wildcat decals which has markings for Thach's Wildcat at Midway.

I'll post the start pic of the Wildcat build tonight, although I won't have the decals for a bit as I just ordered them.

Nice work there Sean! I especially like the battle damage, it turned out great! Don't forget to post in the campaign gallery when you're finished (you too Naseby!)

Looking forward to the Wildcat Adam!

Here are a couple more shots of the 1/32 F2A-3. I think the pre-shading on the top came out looking pretty good. Suitably faded out:




Michael

And the promised start pic for the Wildcat


Academy F4F-4 Wildcat 1/72 by mawz_models, on Flickr

Call it done. I have to work on my photo lighting some more before I post this to the gallery, but here are cellphone pics of the final product...



Cheers!
-Sean.

Excellent work Sean! Don't forget when you post it to put what kit it is in the title to the picture, and well done!

Michael

@ Sean : The little Avenger in the two-tone camouflage is coll and the battle damage made it even more interesting. You should also try out the "big" one from Trumpy or Accurate Miniatures. Im sure in your hands it would be something to look at.

@ Michael : He what ? You have already paint on it ? How come ? A 1/32 short-run kit built in four weeks ? The camo is fine, preshading turned out good. Cant wait to see it finished. And as for the camapign, well I like it much more when there are fewer people around because You can follow and interact better than when there is 100 people and 20 post a day. Somehow I became lost in most campaigns on Armorama because there is just too much going on all the time, and Im not a speedy builder, more of a snail.

Well I finished the Val few days ago. The final finish didnt turn out as I hoped it would. The IJN naval green is darker than expected, and it cowered all the preshading. The post shading was done only in a limited manner and the dull coat made things worse. But its done and Im not going to change it.

What I like about this battle and its participants is, that every single man who took to the cockpit of a torpedo plane or dive bomber could make history. Every one of them had one chance and one chance only to use his bomb or torpedo in a single attack and single handedly destroy or cripple an enemy ship. One man could turn around the course of the battle and the whole war.

Naseby,

Thank you for the nice comments on the F2A. For a limited run kit, it's actually going together very well!

Your Val is great, I really quite like the finish so stop putting yourself down!!

This makes, I believe, four finished kits already. Naseby and Shaun, don't forget to post in the campaign gallery and please include the name and scale of your model in the title line. Great work everyone!

Michael

And I'm finished! The CzechModel 1/32 F2A-3 as flown by 2Lt. Charles Kunz, VMF-221 from Midway. Kunz got 2 D3As before being beaten up by the A6M escort. He landed safely.



Not at all a bad kit if perhaps a bit of a rushed job by me. Happily I have three more of the Buffalos and am looking forward to the Finnish, British and early American versions!

Naseby, don't forget to post in the gallery. Looking forward to everyone else's work!

Michael

@ Michael: I love the Buffalo, but why only small picture? We want more! No just kidding. Those boys in Buffalos had some nerve flying against the Zeros!

And the basic airframe is together, but there's some serious gap filling on the undersides of the wing joint. Good news is my decal sheet showed up, so I'm all set to do Thach's #23


Academy F4F-4 Wildcat 1/72 by mawz_models, on Flickr

Just a little bump to check in as we haven't heard much in a while.

Naseby: Still no pics of your excellent D3A in the gallery. Don't forget to post there! (I have a couple of more pics of the F2A there, btw.)

Adam: How goes the F4F?

Jim: How's the Hiryu coming?

How about the rest of you? Anything new coming down the ways?

Michael

Hi there. Would Tamiya's A6M2 Zero be appropriate? Kit number 61016...

Mike

Mike,

A classic! It certainly would be appropriate for this campaign, though it should have carrier air group markings. I believe Akagi markings come in the box and, though they are technically for Pearl Harbor, I don't think Akagi A6M markings changed between 12/41 and 06/42. Some of the other carriers did, however, so feel free to ask if you have questions.

Meanwhile, welcome aboard !

Michael

Good deal Michael. I haven't built a bird in a looooong time.

I'll be heading out to Hobby Town later this morning; I'll see what they have in the way of decals and the necessary paints. This one will be strictly OOB (unless I find decals with CG markings).

Going to have to pull out my new AB.

Mike

No luv on the decals. So, OOB, using scheme "A." Interior bits painted in the base XF-71. Pics to follow.

Mike

@Naseby Very nice Val sir. I finished mine early in the build, and I am happy with it, but your green is a nicer than mine for sure. Given me some stuff to think about for future Japanese planes.

Good to see a little action here! Looking forward to your A6M Mike. Naseby, you need to post to the campaign gallery to get your ribbon in the end, so let's see some shots of that great D3A in there!

Michael

@ Aaron: thanks for the comment, I think you have a nice Val there. As far the clour goes it was the Gunze IJNgreen right from the bottle as Im no expert on japanese planes and colours.

@ Michael: Im working on better pictures, but I had no luck with weather these few days and I need natural light for it. So maybe next weekend I will have more luck. I have been doing pictures of my actual buid, a 88mm FLAK 37 in artificial light but and its not very good.

Ignore the "other" builds.

Here's most of the sprues and the bit I had done earlier:



I've done a bit of cockpit paint and pilot paint since I took the photo earlier this evening.

More to follow.

Mike

And I've got paint on Jimmy Thach's Wildcat:


Academy F4F-4 Wildcat 1/72 by mawz_models, on Flickr

And decals too:


Academy F4F-4 Wildcat 1/72 by mawz_models, on Flickr

Just need to finish up the wheels and prop and hang the fiddly bits and she's done.

Very cool Adam and Mike!

How's everyone else doing?

Michael

Paint question: The instructions call for the wheel wells to be painted Tamiya X-13, Metallic Blue. Does that seem correct? I'm doing an aircraft from the Akagi Aircraft Carrier Fighter Group.

Mike