Down to the wire now with the Hasegawa Jug.
After a roasting day at Flying Legends yesterday I chilled out by getting the matt varnish on "Ole Cock III".

I'd been using Vellejo Model Air but it had been causing loads of problems cleaning the airbrush after as it had been turning into a jelly type substance and it was taking forever to strip down and clean the brush after.
This time I went for regular Vallejo Matt Varnish, thinned 1/3rd water, 2/3rd varnish.
Did the job and no problems cleaning the brush. Result





Next photos will be the finished thing,,,at last!

Nige

That's no moon...

It's a space station.

Boy howdy that's a big fighter plane you've got there Nige. How are you going to display the beast?

It fits in the display cabinet no problem
Unlike my BIG P-47

Nige

Looking great fella, finish line in plain sight now!

Cheers Fella ..Just a few bits and pieces to add and she's done. That'll be 2 this year, and it'll also clear space for me to crack on with the 1:32 Tamiya Mustang

After Richards comment about the size of the 1:32 Thunderbolt I thought I'd take a quick photo this morning.
L-R. 1:48th, 1:32, 1:24th



Nige

Nige, looking good. Really appreciated that overhead comparison picture. While I specialize in 1/48 scale, I never realized just how big a 1/34 scale aircraft is. Do you park it in the garage?

Occasionally I nip down the shops in it

What you need to complete the collection are 1/72 and 1/144 kits...

Long term plan has been to start with 1:72 razorbacks, 1:48, 1:32-1:24, and then bubbletops, 1:24. 1:32, 1:48, 1:72.

Hopefully doing a razorback and bubbletop version of the same pilots aircraft. EG, I have a razorback "Rozzie Geth" flown by Fred Christensen and a bubbletop "Rozzie Geth 2 " finished. 1:24th Bubbletop, Schillings "Hairless Joe", will be accompanied ( one day, when the kit is released) by his Razorback "Whack".
1:32 Ole Cock III flown by Donavon Smith will be matched by a Trumpy Razorback of Ole Cock.
1:72 undecided as yet

keep them coming !! really big fan of p-47 myself - something really brutal about the machine - all that power, and the styling is nearly like art deco, metropolis. Anyways great work.

best
Mark

2 down, 1 to go
Finally finished the Hasegawa 1:32 Bubbletop.
MDC cockpit fitted alongside Eduard seatbelts, and used Master Details horizontal stabilisers/elevators. Noseart decal from Montex, and all codes/markings painted on using Miracle Masks.



















Nige.

Nigel, truly an outstanding build. Your decal/masking is perfect, looks painted on because most of it is. And your weathering has that well maintained look, yet at the same time has that "used but not abused" look to it.
Joel

Superb Nige, great job mate!

Moving swiftly on....

I finally managed to sit down and get a few bits and pieces done today, including spraying the serial numbers on the razorback.
Miracle Masks doing the business grandly :)


Very pleased with how they've turned out

Nige

Why would you be surprised?

Nigel, I keep on looking at just how fantastic those serial numbers came out compared to what I usually get using even the finest of decals. It's like night and day.
Joel

Two years later I finally get to sit down and profess a little further.
In my defense though it took until June 2015 for AJ Press to publish the book which included the decals 😊

Damn, I totally forgot that you were rolling along with this build! It's looking great, those decals really went on beautifully! I might have to reconsider my subject for the group build next year though, mine will look like a piece of old rope compared to this one.

It's really great to see you getting a little time at the bench mate, however limited.

Cheers, D

That stencilling looks awesome!

Almost there now.
In typical fashion, Tamiya tape has left a residue behind in the inside of the canopy.
First time for everything I guess.
Once that's cleaned up I'll add the wingtip lights and pitot head, push the prop on and call her done.