The Final Three Models for 2017

As the end of the year approaches, I thought I should post the final three models I made this year.  Altogether, I made ten (10) models in 2017, which might be something of a record for me.

Grumman F6F-3 Hellcat
Eduard ProfiPACK, 1/72 scale
VF-6, USS Intrepid
Lt. Alexander Vraciu
February 1944

This model was painted with Tamiya paints topped off with some coats of Micro Satin before and after decals were applied.  Some light weathering was used.  I am not a great fan of extensive weathering.  I know warbirds looked pretty grungy much of the the time (if they lasted long enough), but I simply prefer the “fresher” type finish.

I really like ProfiPACK kits, as they are so complete, give you a choice of many markings, and the decals are first-rate.  In today’s market with today’s prices, I think they represent a good value.

Chance Vought F4U-1 Corsair “Bird Cage”
Tamiya, 1/48/ scale
VMF-124
Guadalcanal, May 1943
Pilot:  Lt. Ken Walsh (first one day ace)

I always liked the look of the “Birdcage”.  This is a typical Tamiya kit - excellent fit and detailed parts.  One of my interests is the Battle of Guadalcanal.  The aircraft modeled here is a veteran of that campaign.  Ken Walsh went on too fight in Korea and Vietnam, and he retired a full colonel.

The decals came from an old Aeromaster sheet (I guess they are all "old" now).  I added some Eduard seat belts.  Aside from that, this one is straight from the box.  Paint is by Vallejo.

Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer - Early Version
Academy 1/35 scale
1944-1945 - Unknown Wehrmacht Unit

The Hetzer (“hunter”) was a light anti-tank vehicle built on a Czechoslovakian chassis.  The same basic chassis was put to use as an anti-tank gun and artillery piece.  I believe it served on all fronts during the war and even served with the French Army after the war.

I wanted to build an Academy armor model, and I chose this one.  I was pleased with the fit and the apparent accuracy.  This was my first experience with link and length tracks, and I enjoyed it.  Patience is required as you must let the glue set and dry before you move on or the tracks keep falling apart.  I see that many new kits are including a jig that allows you to assemble you link and length tracks off the model.  That is a real convenience.  Hopefully we are at the end of vinyl track era.

Colors  by Vallejo.  Decals from a Tamiya kit.  I applied them to dress it up a bit.  The model was weathered with some Tamiya Panel Line Accent Colors (dark brown and black).

A Hetzer during the Warsaw Uprising

Compared to a King Tiger

Thank you for looking.  Best Wishes for a Happy New Year!

M26 Pershing - Tamiya 1/35 scale, kit no. 35254

This kit made its debut in 2002.  I would consider it among the “new” kits in the Tamiya line, as opposed to the kits from the 1970’s still in production.  By that I mean newer kits have some extra accessory parts, fewer molded-in details, and tracks that are glued with plastic cement.

Which is not to say I am knocking the older kits, many of which are available and still good kits, like the M16 Multi-gun Motor Carriage (if you can find it).

There are no nits to pick here.  The frank fact is Tamiya makes some the finest plastic models on the market today.  For whatever reason, this kit was not available from any US distributor, so I ordered it from Japan via eBay.

The M26 Pershing arrived in Europe in 1945 and was involved in some actions at the end of the war.  The most important of which was the taking of the Ludendorff Railroad Bridge over the Rhein River at Remagen, Germany.  They supplied fire support as the infantry expanded the pocket and held on until reinforcements arrived.  Their heaviest use in combat came in Korea where they served with the U. S. Army and the Marines.  Markings for both WWII and Korean War Pershings are included in the kit.

The tank has always interested me as I saw them in Korea in the mid-1960’s when I served there in the Army.  Some of the old tanks were dug in up near the DMZ.  Only their turrets were showing, and it was said they guns were bore sighted at particular points.  If the North Koreans came south, several rounds would be fired at this targets (mostly road junctions and choke points) and the abbreviated crew would hop in a jeep and head south.  Or at least that is what we were told about them. 

I finished this model with Tamiya olive drab over Tamiya “rattle can” surface primer.  The surface primer sprays beautifully, levels out, and guns a very resilient  base coat.  I will be using more in the future.

I highlighted the model using Tamiya panel line fluid in black and dark brown.  This is great stuff.  I applied it after the olive drab was covered with Microscale Satin Clear Finish, which comes up a nice semi-gloss.  It provides a barrier.  After the panel line fluid is applied, a brush slightly moistened with mineral spirits is used to blend it into the surface.  It looks great when done.  I applied some “chipping” with Vallejo dark brown and the a final coating with Vallejo Model Wash European Dust (applies with a flat brush in a very thin coat).  All of this effort really makes the details pop out.

Here are some photos.  Thank you for looking.  Any comments are welcome.

Grumman F8F Bearcat or Why I am Building a non-WWII Model - Part 3

F8F-1B Bearcat, Hobby Boss, 1/48 scale, Kit no. 80357

Well, some time has passed  since my last entry here.  We have been traveling in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland.  And, the summer heat has broken here in Arizona and the beautiful autumn and winter weather has set in.  It tends t drive one outdoors away from the model building bench.

Once we returned, I got right down to completing this model.  When I have had a longish break in building a model, I sometimes lose all interest in it.  Not here.  I returned home looking forward to finishing the model.

The model was first painted with a base coat of Tamiya Grey Surface Primer.  It sprays well and provides a good surface for final coats.  It is expensive (about $10 per can) and a fair amount is used from the can on one model.  However, it is an excellent product.

Gloss coats are not my favorite;  I avoid them.  But I could not here.  I had some Model Master Acryl Sea Blue on hand and used that.  The wheels wells are Acryl Zinc Chromate Yellow.  Testors Glosscote was applied before and after the decals.

For decals, I used some from Berna Decals.Their sheet no. 48-14 offers a number of Bearcats in French Service in Indochina.  Not that the kit decals were bad.  I was just attracted to the markings provided by Berna, which I never used before, but will in the future if they have markings I want.

Here are some photos of the finished model.  I think that Hobby Boss did a very nice job on this kit, and I look forward to building another model or two from their offerings.

One can only wonder what kind of combat record the F8F Bearcat would have compiled had the Pacific war dragged on further.  The first U.S. Navy Bearcat unit was in the Pacific at the end of the war, but had only just arrived a short time before the war ended and never flew in combat.  Jets came on so fast after the war (no pun intended) that the Bearcats quickly found themselves in reserve units.

As always, thank you for visiting my blog.  I have several more kits I finished this year and will be posting them before long.