Blue Diamond F-18
Comments
1 25 November 2017, 21:08
Donald Dickson IILOL like I said David, this one I'm not going to be getting to probably for several months. I just figured I would line them all up and post the projects. That way I have made a public commitment to doing those particular ones and will hopefully stick to that, Instead of getting modeler ADD and going oooo shiney look at that one I'll do that.
25 November 2017, 22:43
Patrick HagelsteinLOL! I know that feeling! Good thing to get them lined up! I'm in for sure, hopefully not too long out.
25 November 2017, 23:53
David ThorGreat plan, i simply overread that because that is one amazing decal version and i would love to see it build. Anyhow, still in on this one, so i don't miss when you start. 🙂
26 November 2017, 08:19
Donald Dickson IIOK, so I want to get this done by April 21st for the big show here. So everything shelved and this has been started. I felt bad really digging into it because the packaging is so nice! LOL
Cockpit together. I can not figure out for the life of me why they made the stick into two pieces. The throttle I kind of get. But sheesh!
16 March 2018, 02:51
Donald Dickson IISo, most of this past week I was dealing with the flu. So nothing done until Fri. But have gotten pretty far in that time. As you can see, main parts of the fuselage are together. Fit is pretty good. Will only need minor seam work. Its gonna be at the painting stage fairly quick I think.
25 March 2018, 23:00
Tim HeimerI like that modelers ADD! I've had that for the last several months! It sucks cause you don't finish them as quick! Hey bud, get well soon! Sorry to hear you got tagged with that! Not fun!
26 March 2018, 11:56
Clifford KeeslerHope you are feeling better soon. The Hornet is looking good. How is the kit?
26 March 2018, 21:24
Donald Dickson IIThank you gentlemen for the well wishes. I am much better than I was this time last week. 🙂
Clifford, it is flipping awesome. The only thing I have had an issue with thus far is the intakes which I started after those pics. Not sure if its me or not. Probably me. Intakes and I never get along. EVER.
26 March 2018, 21:29
Donald Dickson IIOK, so it WAS me. I sat back down and put the second one together and figured out right away what I did wrong on the first one. I am blaming remaining sickness funk. Thats my story. 😄
Oooooo, Revell is doing a new tool 32 FA-18????????????
27 March 2018, 01:31
Clifford KeeslerYes I want one. I also want their new P-51D, but no one can seem to keep it in stock.
27 March 2018, 21:40
Donald Dickson IIPretty much looks like an 18 now. The putty was to fill fairly minor gaps. I am really liking this kit so far.
28 March 2018, 02:49
Clifford KeeslerLooking good Donald. I watched a review of the new Revell 1/32 Mustang and it looks nice and I think it is only like 22.00 to 24.00 U.S.
29 March 2018, 18:36
Donald Dickson IIGot it primed with Mr Surfacer 1500 and the initial painting done. The difference between light and dark ghost gray is NOT a lot. LOL
30 March 2018, 03:43
Patrick HagelsteinAs it should be! 👍 Especially when the paint has been touched up a lot the differences are hardly noticeable.
30 March 2018, 04:17
Donald Dickson IIAll major parts on, and all but a few detail things painting wise done. I will do those tomorrow and gloss her up. Decals in the next couple days.
I decided to do her flaps down as I dont do that often. I rather like the way it looks. 🙂
2 April 2018, 03:29
Tim HeimerLooking good as usual! Hey Don, just a thought but, for something this big maybe use some pastel chalk on the pilot seat to show some wear?
2 April 2018, 11:40
Donald Dickson IIYeah, I am gonna do something with that once I pull the tape off. It DOES look too clean. Probably do a wash or the like.
2 April 2018, 18:45
Clifford Keeslerlooking VERY NICE Donald. I finally got my first Eduard special edition kit. I am most impressed with it. Can't wait to build it. LOL.
2 April 2018, 23:05
Donald Dickson IIOoooo, those are nice. Which one did you get? I have the Ultimate Sabre kit sitting in the stash. For when I feel I need a fifth F-86. 😄
And thank you gentlemen for the kind words and ideas. 🙂
2 April 2018, 23:13
Donald Dickson III knew this was going far too well. I have read comments by others that Academy decals absolutely suck. As I havent built very many, I couldnt say. Well I can now. THEY SUCK.
I spent an hour trying to get the flag flames on the nose of the plane. AN HOUR. Now, I am not an expert, but I am not bad at this. There was absolutely no way it would fit properly. I tried cutting it to make things easier. Nope. After the hour, I gave up and switched over to the Golden dragon markings. I did a few and went to bed. That was last night.
tonight I go down and am greeted with what you see in the pic. The decals had lifted off. ON THEIR OWN. AFTER HAVING USED SOLVA SET ON THEM. I hit them with more solva set. We will see tomorrow if the hold. I will finish the plane specific markings and coat it in gloss again to hold them down and then do the stencils.
At least the build part was fun.
4 April 2018, 03:25
Konrad -Hey Donald I know what you mean! I've got the same problem with my 1/72 Acadamy Phantom. Only the red MicroSol Decal Softener works in an acceptable way.
4 April 2018, 16:54
Donald Dickson IIThe micro sol stuff isn't even close to strong enough. LOL
Patrick, it is what it is. I shouldn't be surprised. It couldn't go with no hiccups.
4 April 2018, 19:00
Clifford KeeslerSorry to hear that. I had no problems with the decals on my Academy F-4 or F-14, funny huh. I got the Eduard Vietnam Scooters.
4 April 2018, 20:25
Donald Dickson IIWas the F-4 the Academy boxing or one of the Eduard boxings? The Eduard stuff isnt Academy decals.
4 April 2018, 21:59
Donald Dickson IIGot all the plane specific decals on and glossed over. And it was NOT easy. They kept blowing off as I was spraying the gloss. The stencils are going to be a blast. Pffftttt. Though I remembered something I read (after I got done of course) about using thinned Elmers glue to set the decals down. I will give that a go.
The landing gear are something else. VERY detailed. I used the rubber tires as I like them. I know a lot of folks dont. Put them on. Still need to put a couple more pieces on the rear gears. On the downhill side now.
5 April 2018, 03:17
Donald Dickson IIMaybe its just my usual luck. LOL
Got all the no step stencils on. Did the elmers glue thing. We will see tomorrow if it keeps them on.
6 April 2018, 01:39
Patrick HagelsteinWell, the reason decals only should be dipped in water and then left to get loose is because the glue between the backing paper and the decal itself has to get workable again. A thin coat of Elmer's should have the same effect.
6 April 2018, 03:19
Donald Dickson IIOh, these were coming loose even with decal setting solution. Never had decals act like this. But I agree, the Elmer's thing should do the trick.
6 April 2018, 15:20
Donald Dickson IIAlright. So the elmers did indeed work. All decals on, dirtied up a bit. Hard to tell in the pic, but I did take some lightened khaki and dry brushed the seat to give it some wear. So it does look a little more used now Timothy. 😄
The windscreen and canopy both had seems down the middle. Argh, I hate that.
Working on the weapons now. Fuel tanks attached. Not a lot left to go. Hopefully be done by the end of the weekend.
12 April 2018, 21:05
Donald Dickson IIPatrick, of course! The decal issue aside, I have enjoyed this build. The kit itself goes together well. Its down to the tedious crap now. LOL Little antennae, getting all the canopy pieces together, weapons. But even that stuff is better than on a lot of other kits.
12 April 2018, 21:58
Clifford KeeslerYou will get her. Looking good though. The decals on my Thunderbirds F-100 are giving me fits. They are brittle and want to wrinkle up.
13 April 2018, 21:30
Donald Dickson IIAhhhh, you are not filling with me with confidence about mine! LOL Not that I am getting around to it any time soon.
And thank you! 🙂
13 April 2018, 22:21
Clifford KeeslerFinally got all the decals on the F-100. Guess they were just a problem cause they were old. aAny way after they dry for a day or so she will get her final clearcoat.
14 April 2018, 21:51
Donald Dickson IIAlrighty! She is all done! Crappy decals and all, I think it turned out fairly well. as always, I think it could be better, but I am certainly not embarrassed by it.
19 April 2018, 02:55
Patrick HagelsteinYou shouldn't be! Considering all the troubles you went through, this looks splendid! Nice weathering!
19 April 2018, 03:38
David ThorLooking great! Shame about the decals though. Always a bummer when you are hyped for a kit and then it turns out you can't build it like you want because of a failure of the company.
19 April 2018, 06:10
Tim HeimerYea I think we've all had that feeling when that happens! Don I have seen you shine up some pretty bad turds! I don't know how you do it but they come out looking NICE!
19 April 2018, 11:57
Donald Dickson IITimothy and Clifford, thank you kindly sirs. 🙂
I dont know how well she will do at the show Sat, but hopefully at least pull a third. We shall see.
20 April 2018, 01:22
Album info
I think I may get around to this by spring. LOL Last of the pre planned builds for the next year. This kit looks incredible. I have a feeling it will be a joy to build. Certainly plenty of parts. Doing the Blue Diamond CAG as I see the Golden Dragon all the time.
