1/48 Widlcat F4F-4

[kolja]

Here's my next project:






So far after taking these, I've managed to spray the interior green - it's the first time I've used Vallejo Air paint, and really like it so far.

 

[Mfun]

Nice kit, i have this too in my stash.

 

[ScaleModelMadman]

Nice!

The Wildcat and the Hellcat are two of my favorite WWII Allied planes.

 

[kolja]

So, here's tonight's progress:

 

[Mfun]

Good start, you will go built OOB ?

 

[kolja]

Yep, OOB. So far the only changes I've made are cutting away part of the floor on either side of the seat (apprently incomplete cockpit floors is a Grumman tradition), and my first ever effort at masking tape seat belts - which for the record leave some room for improvement but are an improvement over the bare seat. I have pictures, just haven't had a chance to get them to photobucket yet

 

[kolja]

So here's how I made my first ever attempt at tape seat belts - first, a strip of regular old tan masking tape, using a glass cutting board (meant for kitchen use, I presume, since I bought it at a grocery store...). I cut off a long, narrow strip (which, in retrospect could have been narrower...)



Then I cut pieces to become lap belt buckles, shoulder fittings, and adjustment fittings. If I'm not mistaken, 'hardware' like this is available in photo-etch - if so, I think that would be worth trying out.



The fittings I painted - silver for metal, black if I wanted to represent shadow, and the background color of the seat if I wanted it to look like nothing was behind the part. I cut the strip in pieces for the lap belts and shoulder straps. Then just stuck everything together, put them on the seat, and installed the rest of the cockpit parts:

 

[THE NEW ONE]

looks go

 

[Mfun]

looks fantastic

 

[JMac]

Coming together nicely. 8)

 

[kolja]

Thanks, everybody - more pictures once I get them uploaded to photobucket and have time to post here...

 

[kolja]

Now that I've had the chance to upload them, here's pictures of this week's progress:

 

[JMac]

Great progress here Karl - coming together nice.

 

[Mfun]

Look's good.

 

[kolja]

Thanks guys! Yesterday morning before heading out on errands I got the engine cowling attached.

Some chores around the house, a half marathon on Monday (a holiday here in the US) and grad school officially starting - we'll see how much gets done now!

 

[kolja]

How much gets done? Well, I finally managed to get the preshading done and the first color of paint...

 

[letsgobrowns82]

She is looking good. Thats a sweet aircraft, I have always liked those. Keep up the great work!

 

[Junkie]

Cool.

 

[Cash]

Good progress so far.

 

[kolja]

Thanks, everyone. Pleased to have another update, albeit a bit belated. Got the rest of the colors done last weekend, hoping to get a chance to spray some Future this afternoon.