Model Building. let's see some pics...

[IndyArms 10,184]

I know some of you gotta build plastic models...care to show off any of your work? Here are some of mine...

 

Did I do a thread on this before and forgot about it???

 

The latest...first test of my new airbrush...

1/48 Mig 29.

 

P40 I just finished in 1/72

 

 

1/48 F4 Phantom II

 

 

[IndyArms 10,184]

1/48 F-5 Tiger in a Netherlands scheme

 

 

1/72 scale Sopwith Camel... Talk about tiny!

 

 

1/72 F101 Voodoo. This kit Was from the late 60's

 

 

[sjgusmc21 850]

Very, very nice.  I use to be very deep into the IPMS world, international contests, crap like that.  It got to the point where it wasn't fun any longer.  Now I have two wonderful little girls and absolutely zero time to do anything.  I sure do miss it...and glad you are having fun.  Keep it up.

[IndyArms 10,184]

Group pic of some 1/72 scales, including an A4 Skyhawk. And an F4 Corsair.

 

The A4

 

 

 

[IndyArms 10,184]

I wish I had the skill and patience to be that good for competition...mine are just OK... I know some folks can work magic...I don't understand how they get them to look THAT GOOD.

[IndyArms 10,184]

1/72 SR71

 

 

 

1/48 F14. I don't always cheat on the cockpits...lol

 

 

 

[IndyArms 10,184]

Several more... All 1/48 scale...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[randumbthoughts 75]

Absolutely LOVE the SR-71 model. Always loved that plane. And besides, a great excuse to share an awesome story:

 

 

There were a lot of things we couldn't do in an SR-71, but we were the fastest guys on the block and loved reminding our fellow aviators of this fact. People often asked us if, because of this fact, it was fun to fly the jet. Fun would not be the first word I would use to describe flying this plane. Intense, maybe. Even cerebral. But there was one day in our Sled experience when we would have to say that it was pure fun to be the fastest guys out there, at least for a moment.

 

It occurred when Walt and I were flying our final training sortie. We needed 100 hours in the jet to complete our training and attain Mission Ready status. Somewhere over Colorado we had passed the century mark. We had made the turn in Arizona and the jet was performing flawlessly. My gauges were wired in the front seat and we were starting to feel pretty good about ourselves, not only because we would soon be flying real missions but because we had gained a great deal of confidence in the plane in the past ten months. Ripping across the barren deserts 80,000 feet below us, I could already see the coast of California from the Arizona border. I was, finally, after many humbling months of simulators and study, ahead of the jet.

 

I was beginning to feel a bit sorry for Walter in the back seat. There he was, with no really good view of the incredible sights before us, tasked with monitoring four different radios. This was good practice for him for when we began flying real missions, when a priority transmission from headquarters could be vital. It had been difficult, too, for me to relinquish control of the radios, as during my entire flying career I had controlled my own transmissions. But it was part of the division of duties in this plane and I had adjusted to it. I still insisted on talking on the radio while we were on the ground, however. Walt was so good at many things, but he couldn't match my expertise at sounding smooth on the radios, a skill that had been honed sharply with years in fighter squadrons where the slightest radio miscue was grounds for beheading. He understood that and allowed me that luxury.

 

Just to get a sense of what Walt had to contend with, I pulled the radio toggle switches and monitored the frequencies along with him. The predominant radio chatter was from Los Angeles Center, far below us, controlling daily traffic in their sector. While they had us on their scope (albeit briefly), we were in uncontrolled airspace and normally would not talk to them unless we needed to descend into their airspace.

 

We listened as the shaky voice of a lone Cessna pilot asked Center for a readout of his ground speed. Center replied: "November Charlie 175, I'm showing you at ninety knots on the ground."

 

Now the thing to understand about Center controllers, was that whether they were talking to a rookie pilot in a Cessna, or to Air Force One, they always spoke in the exact same, calm, deep, professional, tone that made one feel important. I referred to it as the " Houston Center voice." I have always felt that after years of seeing documentaries on this country's space program and listening to the calm and distinct voice of the Houston controllers, that all other controllers since then wanted to sound like that, and that they basically did. And it didn't matter what sector of the country we would be flying in, it always seemed like the same guy was talking. Over the years that tone of voice had become somewhat of a comforting sound to pilots everywhere. Conversely, over the years, pilots always wanted to ensure that, when transmitting, they sounded like Chuck Yeager, or at least like John Wayne. Better to die than sound bad on the radios.

 

Just moments after the Cessna's inquiry, a Twin Beech piped up on frequency, in a rather superior tone, asking for his ground speed. "I have you at one hundred and twenty-five knots of ground speed." Boy, I thought, the Beechcraft really must think he is dazzling his Cessna brethren. Then out of the blue, a navy F-18 pilot out of NAS Lemoore came up on frequency. You knew right away it was a Navy jock because he sounded very cool on the radios. "Center, Dusty 52 ground speed check". Before Center could reply, I'm thinking to myself, hey, Dusty 52 has a ground speed indicator in that million-dollar cockpit, so why is he asking Center for a readout? Then I got it, ol' Dusty here is making sure that every bug smasher from Mount Whitney to the Mojave knows what true speed is. He's the fastest dude in the valley today, and he just wants everyone to know how much fun he is having in his new Hornet. And the reply, always with that same, calm, voice, with more distinct alliteration than emotion: "Dusty 52, Center, we have you at 620 on the ground."

 

And I thought to myself, is this a ripe situation, or what? As my hand instinctively reached for the mic button, I had to remind myself that Walt was in control of the radios. Still, I thought, it must be done - in mere seconds we'll be out of the sector and the opportunity will be lost. That Hornet must die, and die now. I thought about all of our Sim training and how important it was that we developed well as a crew and knew that to jump in on the radios now would destroy the integrity of all that we had worked toward becoming. I was torn.

 

Somewhere, 13 miles above Arizona, there was a pilot screaming inside his space helmet. Then, I heard it. The click of the mic button from the back seat. That was the very moment that I knew Walter and I had become a crew. Very professionally, and with no emotion, Walter spoke: "Los Angeles Center, Aspen 20, can you give us a ground speed check?" There was no hesitation, and the replay came as if was an everyday request. "Aspen 20, I show you at one thousand eight hundred and forty-two knots, across the ground."

 

I think it was the forty-two knots that I liked the best, so accurate and proud was Center to deliver that information without hesitation, and you just knew he was smiling. But the precise point at which I knew that Walt and I were going to be really good friends for a long time was when he keyed the mic once again to say, in his most fighter-pilot-like voice: "Ah, Center, much thanks, we're showing closer to nineteen hundred on the money."

 

For a moment Walter was a god. And we finally heard a little crack in the armor of the Houston Center voice, when L.A.came back with, "Roger that Aspen, Your equipment is probably more accurate than ours. You boys have a good one."

 

It all had lasted for just moments, but in that short, memorable sprint across the southwest, the Navy had been flamed, all mortal airplanes on freq were forced to bow before the King of Speed, and more importantly, Walter and I had crossed the threshold of being a crew. A fine day's work. We never heard another transmission on that frequency all the way to the coast.

For just one day, it truly was fun being the fastest guys out there.

Edited August 4, 2016 by randumbthoughts

[IndyArms 10,184]

[David Mark 2,452]

That's some fine work Indy!

 

I haven't done any in about a year, what with the move and all, but these used to get me through those long northern winters.

 

I'm sure I've posted some of these before.

 

 

[IndyArms 10,184]

Those are amazing!!! How tall are they?? I'm imagining they are rather small, which makes that even more impressive!!☺

[David Mark 2,452]

Thanks Indy. They are 1/16th scale or 120mm.

 

You're no sloutch yourself. Those aircraft models are beautifully done!

 

Here's a shot of one with my hand in the pic so you can get an idea of scale.

 

 

[montec 164]

I did model cars back in the day. It was a patience teaching hobby. Never very good. All are packed away in boxes till I have a place to place them on display. I know my son will love to see them. I do have themy in the original boxes.

[IndyArms 10,184]

Just gotta add the decals, and I'm considering it done! ☺

 

 

The details on those figures is absolutely incredible, Dave!!! You must use a " one hair " brush for some of that extra fine detailing!! Holy fuck!!!

[csspecs 1,987]

I did a lot of stick and tissue models from age 9 - 14.. They are way more fiddly than plastic.

I have one hanging up but it is in need of cleaning before I can post it.

It is a Fokker DR1 Triplane, in crimson with decals appropriate to Manfred von Richthofen (red baron). I think I finished it when I was 12.

Last kit I built as a child was a Zero, I know I finished it but I can't figure out what happened to it.

I had an unfinished zeppelin that was about 8 feet long (10 feet actual was 1 inch in scale), I gave up because it was impossible cover without it curling up like a ball.

 

I had just started working on one (p51d mustang) a couple years ago but we launched the Vepr-12 mags and I never got back around to it.. My wife wants me to take a week off to finish it. It is sitting in my office with a dust cover over it waiting for me to have time again.. One day I want to tackle one of the Guillows B17 kits.

 

Currently rebuilding industrial machines scratches the "build something" itch more than I care for anyway.

[David Mark 2,452]

Just gotta add the decals, and I'm considering it done! ☺

 

0804162001a.jpg

 

0804162000a.jpg

The details on those figures is absolutely incredible, Dave!!! You must use a " one hair " brush for some of that extra fine detailing!! Holy fuck!!!

Very nice work on the airbrushing Indy!

[jerry52 893]

I have apa troop ship the kind my dad server on in ww2 and also Destroyer escort that he served on lake Michigan.

Had them for years but never had the time to put them together

[HackNtheBox 66]

Cool thread, I have been building models for many years but my newest hobby is "Fly By Video" RC model Airplanes and Racing Quads for an adrennalin push

I have a video camera installed in the plane and a wireless video transmitter that will send a live video signal to a wireless  LCD video screen inside  Virtual Reality goggles....Its a total immersion experience you think your are in the plane flying it, I also have a second set of goggles to take a co-pilot for a ride, watch the video you may find it interesting

video signal transmits farther than I can fly the plane so I am limited to 1.5 kilometers.... at this time

https://youtu.be/Kfa_sdMVHWY

 

[Sim_Player 1,939]

Cool thread, I have been building models for many years but my newest hobby is "Fly By Video" RC model Airplanes and Racing Quads for an adrennalin push

 

I have a video camera installed in the plane and a wireless video transmitter that will send a live video signal to a wireless LCD video screen inside Virtual Reality goggles....Its a total immersion experience you think your are in the plane flying it, I also have a second set of goggles to take a co-pilot for a ride, watch the video you may find it interesting

 

video signal transmits farther than I can fly the plane so I am limited to 1.5 kilometers.... at this time

 

 

THIS THREAD HAS JUST BEEN OFFICIALLY HIGHJACKED BY....

 

A badass new hobby! That is cool beyond fun!

 

(I wasn't satisfied by my last model, an F-16C because.... I was currently crewing an F-16 and could not include all of the detail that I saw everyday!)

 

In the 90's, before I joined, a buddy of mine gave me a model that he finished of an A-10.

 

It was very nice.

 

I finished it by piercing it with hot needles to add battle damage, LOL (it was during the first Gulf War).

 

The look on my friend's face was shock, at first.

 

Plastic models never look look real because, the paint is different.

Edited August 5, 2016 by Sim_Player

[IndyArms 10,184]

Well...the Mig 29 is as done as it can be...

 

 

This one's next...

 

 

 

Should be fun...and when done should look a LOT like the Mig 29... Just bigger. The 27 is the Russians version of our f14 or f15, whereas the mig29 is like our smaller f16, or f18..

[Odd Man Out 1,283]

Always thought the Flanker was a beautiful aircraft.

[IndyArms 10,184]

[patriot 7,197]

I made an amazing likeness of Obama this morning.

 

Sorry. No pics. I didn't think you wanted to see it.

 

...then I had to flush it.

[DLT 1,646]

I haven't built a model in a while.  I also built and flew RC all through the 90's, but quit after my kids were born due to lack of time.  I still have a few planes (Kaos, super kaos, ugly stick...) in my storage shed.  Got to fly dozens of different models back in the day.  Even flew a few ducted fan jets before the turbines took over.  Maybe someday I'll get back into it.  

[IndyArms 10,184]

What I don't understand...is why do they make the parts and include where to put them in the instructions...like the blades for the engine intakes:

 

 

Only to have them completely obscured and 100% coveted up so that no one will ever see them after you build a little more...

 

 

WTF?!?

[Odd Man Out 1,283]

Their trying to give you a bit of detail.  Believe it or not some people will look in there with a flashlight...

 

If you really want to live in the land of frustration, try dipping your hand into the world of photoetch.  I can only attempt it with a magnifying instrument permanently attached. 

[IndyArms 10,184]

[Rhodes1968 1,638]

Models are entertaining...

Hows this one?

 

[IndyArms 10,184]

Picked up a 1/48 snap tite that was partially snapped together for 7 bucks...disassembled it, glued it all back together, and painted it... Went with the fulcrum blue scheme, mostly cause I already had the colors mixed up for the airbrush...for a cheapo, I think it's gonna turn out pretty decent. ☺

 

[IndyArms 10,184]

The rear portion of the canopy was broken and missing, likewise one sidewinder missile was missing... I had to fabricate the rear of the canopy, and make it look passable, and this is probably the only US fighter aircraft to be sporting RUSSIAN air to air missiles on the wing tip pylons.,, lol

 

I still think it came out pretty good for a 7 dollar model!☺

 

 

Still gotta put the decals on it...but it's complete other than that!☺☺