New Project Dragon 1/144 F/A-18 E and F plus E/A-18G Growler WiP - 1

  Can't believe I have not posted these here yet... oh well.  Well these 4 models are my entry to the F/A-18 STGB on Britmodeller. 

  The two boxes that I will be getting the kits from, I will be making the Growler in the background.  The other 2 seater will be used to make the aircraft below.

  Love these decals, just a damn shame you can't find many Jasmine Model stuff over here.

  And these are the other two options I will be making, oh and the Gunslingers version on the box.

  All of the bugs before the cockups started.

  Here is the E/A-18G, I've cut off the rails ready for the ECM pods, their proper name escapes me right now.

   And all of the other ones, that wing join is bad... need to sort that out with something, god knows what.  Just gotta attach the tail plane and prime and I should be ready to paint.

  PEACE!

  Dazz

Completed Revell 1/144 CF-188A and F-18D

  I'm going to call these two done.  I took what I learned from the MiG-29 and MiG 1.44 "Flatpack" (what a bloody weird name for a jet!) and applied it here... Still not sure if I have nailed the use of a wash yet or not.  Oh well... Oh I did put a wash on the F-18D, but because of all the issues I have had with varnish, I think all the panel lines have disappeared under all the varnish.  On to the pictures...

  Let me know what you think of these two, finally glad I've finished them now tho. Woohoo! :)

  PEACE!

  Dazz

WiP - 7 - CF-188A Hornet

  Well I have done some more work on the CF-188A (CF-18A)... nearly finished, just gotta sort out the wash, which I just can not do... I think it's the varnish I am using.

   For some reason, Humbrol varnishes do not work well with either Gunze or Vallejo paints, in my experience.  Dunno if I am doing something wrong or not... need to try another varnish next time.  If you look closely at the top view picture, you'll notice that the paint has been "washed" away.  I didn't notice until the decal had gone down.  Typically...

   Was suggest to me, to try using Tamiya smoke in the wheel bays to give it some definition.  What do you guys think?  Not too sure if I like it, or if I have put too much in it?

 
  The two Bugs all ready for their place on my shelf.  I do wanna sort out an airport apron for them to actually sit on.  Will look into that one. :)  These two models are on hold until I can figure out what I have to do with the wash to get it working.  :)

  PEACE!

  Dazz

WiP 5 - CF-188A Hornet

  Decided to have a go at this one now that I finally had the airbrush out again.  I first painted the white for the primer for the orange/yellow on the tail.  Thought the orange would look better if applied to yellow and not vice versa.  I found a build of this aircraft on the ARC forums, I forget who was building it (I will credit him/her later), but this build agreed with what I thought and they done the same.  I also "borrowed" the same colours and paints that they used.  Pictures below.

 These two had Mr Hobby paints used on them, I do like these paints smelly tho.  Hoping to get this one re-started after the F-15 and the P-51's are done.

PEACE!

Dazz

Revell 1/144 F-18D WiP5

  Well this update is about two weeks old now.  First up, I had the F-18D all decaled and loaded up and thought "result!" then I put a sealing coat of varnish on the bugger.  This is what happened.  Now the "silvering" is where the varnish has reacted with the other varnish, its not where I have screwed up the decals.  I am actually pretty good with decals for some reason... I dunno.  Altho the "reaction" was pretty bad, it melted the glue and paint from the front canopy and the two HARMS fell off too as did the right Sidewinder.

  That little lot just made me cry, well I put the pictures up at Britmodeller as I was putting this build there as an WiP for them to laugh at.  I was given advice by Jessica, tomprobert, and Neal (from Britmodeller) that a light coat of gloss varnish *might* fix this cock up.  Well I gave it a try and here be the results.

  You have no idea how happy I am that this turned out this way, I need to touch up some areas but other than that I am well chuffed that it worked.  All I gotta do now is to tidy the canopy, paint the arrestor hook and the engines and this will be done.  Overall I am massively impressed with the RetroWings cockpit and control services parts.  Will be using their gear again soon. :)

  Constructive comments welcome.

  PEACE!

  Dazz

New Purchase - Revell 1/144 F-18/CF-188 Hornet

 I bought this one from Lucky-Model, thought I'd give them a try.  Admitted I could of gotten this model from somewhere else, but I got this one to bulk out the order and make the shipping worth it.  I have said in previous posts that I am not a fan of bright paintwork/CAG schemes.  HOWEVER, if it's an anniversary scheme or a display colour (like the Red Arrows or Blue Angels (listen to that cool music!!!)...) then I may use it.  This mode was shipped with the colours you see on the box for the Candian CF-18 Hornet's 20th Anniversary of service and an CAG scheme, I can't remember who for right now.  Tigermeet schemes I kinda sit on the fence with, it depends on the actual scheme.  French and German schemes are 9 times out of 10 really cool tho. :)

  
   The CF-18 scheme, now I really really do like this scheme.  I think it's really cool and I will be using it for this model.

  The CAG Scheme, I do like this one as CAG schemes go, but I will not be using it.  I might buy a Dragon F-18C later on and use it on the second model in the pack.

   Shame I wont be using the weapons on this one, those AGM-84 Harpoons, AGM-65 Mavericks, AGM-88 HARM's (High-speed Anti-Radiation Missile), look really good too.  Theres a laser designator and a pod of some kind, think its an TILAD... possibly I will need to check that out.  Those stores wont be used tho, so they will be going into the stash.

  Those decals look really good too, that orange will be hard to match but I will give it a go, I've also now got a few spare USAF roundels as well.  So I might get the Revell 1/144 F-15E Strike Eagle that everyones complaining about with the decals and use it on that.  Not a bad idea actually...

  Thats it for this kit, onto the next...

  PEACE!

  Dazz