Vertical Vengeance: A Dive into History. Dive Bomber Group Build

[Down Time]

Starting mine tonight. Any suggestions how these old eyes can paint the PE seatbelts with any detail? They're so small. Not sure I can do it.

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Try an extra set of O.T.C. readers over your current glasses. Try a 1.25 first.
Or get with your eye Dr. And have a script done for hobby glasses.
I use a lined bifocal, my full reading is on top with an extra +1.50 in the bifocal.
It's like wearing a loupe.

 

[BarleyBop]

Some help in recognizing it should it fly over your house!

 

[TimM63]

I use a 5x magnifier. I couldn't paint without it.

 

[Littlemarten]

I use a 5x magnifier. I couldn't paint without it.

Thank the Modeling Gods for Optvisor™ and things like it!

 

[TimM63]

I'm probably going to be sitting this one out. I haven't even started my kit. Work went from zero to 100 at the snap of a dang finger.

We'll miss you on this one Mike. There are plenty more GB's coming up.
In fact I think we should let you pick the next one.

 

[Pantherman]

Starting mine tonight. Any suggestions how these old eyes can paint the PE seatbelts with any detail? They're so small. Not sure I can do it.

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I generally keep everything on the sheet, prime what needs painting and let it dry for a day then topcoat the belts in a cream colour.

I wouldn't worry about the details as you will hardly see them once the fuselage is glued together and the canopies are fitted. Pantherman

 

[TimM63]

Thank the Modeling Gods for Optvisor™ and things like it!

I use one like this.

 

[Jantk14]

I generally keep everything on the sheet, prime what needs painting and let it dry for a day then topcoat the belts in a cream colour.

I wouldn't worry about the details as you will hardly see them once the fuselage is glued together and the canopies are fitted. Pantherman

Yea that's what I figured. Thanks for the color. I was wondering that since the instructions call for white. I didn't think that was right. Cream sounds more like it.

I could use one of those magnifying lights like that.

 

[GaryG64]

Starting mine tonight. Any suggestions how these old eyes can paint the PE seatbelts with any detail? They're so small. Not sure I can do it.

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I used a number 18/0 brush for the fine detail, and went very slow.
I also use high power cheater glasses with my swing arm magnifying lamp.

 

[GaryG64]

I'm trying something a little different tonight. I hit the key worn areas with Vallejo aluminum. Then I used zinc chromate from Vallejo along the panels lines then used AK Worn Effects acrylic over the plane.
Next step will be using Faded P.R.U. Blue for the top coat.
I installed the engine tonight too.

 

[Pantherman]

We'll miss you on this one Mike. There are plenty more GB's coming up.
In fact I think we should let you pick the next one.

Sounds like a plan to me. PM

 

[Edbert]

More progress as I had the day to myself for a change. Pantherman

Awesome, love those days when they come! You're a brave man, or just more dexterious than I am, for putting the dive brake bit in place until the end. Like the antenna, I'd 100% break them before finishing.

Any suggestions how these old eyes can paint the PE seatbelts with any detail?

1st thing is to get an optivisor, they can be had really cheap, and there's few of us with fighter-pilot eyes ay our age. These are the ones I use, about $25, they can be flipped into the up position or pulled down to magnify. They have extra lights too, which help old eyes.

2nd tip, what helps me, is get a paint pen for the buckles. You can (with the optivisor) use the raised bit and a light touch to get close to perfect. This one is under $10USD at hobby lobby and will last a lifetime.

 

[Pantherman]

Awesome, love those days when they come! You're a brave man, or just more dexterious than I am, for putting the dive brake bit in place until the end. Like the antenna, I'd 100% break them before finishing.

1st thing is to get an optivisor, they can be had really cheap, and there's few of us with fighter-pilot eyes ay our age. 2nd tip, what helps me, is get a paint pen for the buckles. You can (with the optivisor) use the raised bit and a light touch to get close to perfect.

This one is under $10USD at hobby lobby and will last a lifetime.
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That's the mount and shield for the rear gun. Pantherman

 

[Edbert]

Getting close to nothing left (exterior) but stencils then dullcoat.

Saving dive brakes, pitot, bombs, and antenna for last, after canopy and MGs etc.

 

[Pantherman]

Getting close to nothing left (exterior) but stencils then dullcoat.

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Saving dive brakes, pitot, bombs, and antenna for last, after canopy and MGs etc.

Looking great. Pantherman

 

[GaryG64]

Got a coat of paint on and some weathering done last night

 

[Jantk14]

I had the day off so I got the cockpit mostly done. I've done an academy kit before but the way this kit is put together I am not a fan. The pieces don't fit so great and the instructions aren't the best. Maybe because I'm used to Tamiya.

 

[GaryG64]

We'll miss you on this one Mike. There are plenty more GB's coming up.
In fact I think we should let you pick the next one.

I like that idea, Tim.
Mike it's up to you, brother.

 

[Tommergun]

Primer and chromate done today. Now I have to get after masking 1/72 canopies. Yikes!

 

[Edbert]

One thing I ruined with the constant handling was the rear antenna mount. I gave up on protecting it with tape once it was irreparably bent. So I decided to make a new one with two scrap bit of PE. One piece is about 1mm long, the other 1.5, about, sandwiched together.

Declaring my "Slow But Deadly" complete. The one I depicted is Richard Best's as flown in 1942 at Midway. I went a little heavy on paint fading, but kept oil leaks and exhaust staining at a minimum. I did that because the squadrons were completely refitted during the months between the battle of the Coral Sea and Midway. Also posting a current shot of my late-war hellcat, perhaps the most boring paint job I've EVER done, but period accurate except I cheated and used silver on the wheel hubs because I was sick of dark gloss blue. The reason I added it here is that I intend to try upping the photography game slightly with a makeshift booth, I'll take pics of both birds when I test it out hopefully soon.

 

[Edbert]

I'm trying something a little different tonight.

I wish I had used gold paint like you did. Typically I would use a Khaki or tan color, but the instructions said "red", I get what I get.

 

[GaryG64]

One thing I ruined with the constant handling was the rear antenna mount. I gave up on protecting it with tape once it was irreparably bent. So I decided to make a new one with two scrap bit of PE. One piece is about 1mm long, the other 1.5, about, sandwiched together.

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Declaring my "Slow But Deadly" complete. The one I depicted is Richard Best's as flown in 1942 at Midway. I went a little heavy on paint fading, but kept oil leaks and exhaust staining at a minimum. I did that because the squadrons were completely refitted during the months between the battle of the Coral Sea and Midway. Also posting a current shot of my late-war hellcat, perhaps the most boring paint job I've EVER done, but period accurate except I cheated and used silver on the wheel hubs because I was sick of dark gloss blue. The reason I added it here is that I intend to try upping the photography game slightly with a makeshift booth, I'll take pics of both birds when I test it out hopefully soon.

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Looks really nice, brother!

 

[Tommergun]

The Dauntless came out GREAT! I think your weathering is spot on. And the Hellcat looks great too.

 

[Pantherman]

I have managed to get the canopies done albeit with a little bit of tidying up still to do. Pantherman

 

[Pantherman]

Also a bit more of the main build done. Lot's of making good to be done on the painting, not particularly happy with it.

Went with the suggested vallego colours but think they are a little dark. Pantherman

 

[Edbert]

One thing I found out too late, those of you still building can correct...

The above-wing dive flaps would only raise when actually in a dive. When on the ground/deck the lowers could come down while the uppers remained flat.

 

[Pantherman]

One thing I ruined with the constant handling was the rear antenna mount. I gave up on protecting it with tape once it was irreparably bent. So I decided to make a new one with two scrap bit of PE. One piece is about 1mm long, the other 1.5, about, sandwiched together.

View attachment 165028

Declaring my "Slow But Deadly" complete. The one I depicted is Richard Best's as flown in 1942 at Midway. I went a little heavy on paint fading, but kept oil leaks and exhaust staining at a minimum. I did that because the squadrons were completely refitted during the months between the battle of the Coral Sea and Midway. Also posting a current shot of my late-war hellcat, perhaps the most boring paint job I've EVER done, but period accurate except I cheated and used silver on the wheel hubs because I was sick of dark gloss blue. The reason I added it here is that I intend to try upping the photography game slightly with a makeshift booth, I'll take pics of both birds when I test it out hopefully soon.

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I have a 1/24 Hellcat that a friend has asked me to strip down and repaint for him. I just haven't felt the impulse to do it yet. Pantherman

 

[TimM63]

Also a bit more of the main build done. Lot's of making good to be done on the painting, not particularly happy with it.

Went with the suggested vallego colours but think they are a little dark. Pantherman View attachment 165046View attachment 165047View attachment 165048View attachment 165049View attachment 165050View attachment 165051View attachment 165052View attachment 165053

That's looking really sharp. Love the dive brakes

 

[Pantherman]

That's looking really sharp. Love the dive brakes

Thanks Tim, not my best work but fun to build. PM

 

[TimM63]

I just started masking the canopy. I am going to display it canopy open and will mask and paint separately. The kit also has a full length closed canopy that I will tack in place to paint the upper fuselage. Then pop it off and install the open one.