Small Scale Military Headquarters

I've bought some of the CHEAPER monogram-revell kits recently- the walmart, kmart, hobbylobby specials and am giving it a go again. I am sticking to solid paint schemes with rattle cans at this point. Don't laugh to hard at the voodoo, I realized the gray was way too dark and just left it that way. The local hobby lobby has their long time 30% off models pricing meaning the 48th B-17 and black widow would be awful cheap (and easy to paint)

Mike,
Very nice models. Done with spray? I'd never guessed. Voodoo looks great and not to dark.

I to am headed back to modelling after so many years of not doing a kit. I've started a Hobby Boss F-111a in the two bobs Combat Lancer decals.
Thanks again for showing

Ron VanDerwarker

Good efforts Mikeg.

I think the modeling skills would come back fairly quickly. I just don't have the space to devote a room to model building any more.

I think they look great. Nice job!

They look excelent to me! I built that same SR-71 kit something like 15-20 years ago when I was in elementary school - with a bit of help from my dad. I've still got it somewhere in a box up in my attic. I always thought the drone was cool

Oh, y'all are way too kind , I figure another 30 years or so and I can make them look like the box art on the tamiya and hasigawa kits.

Very

What kit is the Zero?

it is this- my dad gave it to me a while back, it was probably not a walmart special-

Very well done. I think a lot of collectors will be returning to models as our die cast vendors cease to exist or offer what we would like to purchase.

mikeg wrote:it is this- my dad gave it to me a while back, it was probably not a walmart special-

Thanks, I didn't think it looked like a "Walmart special"..

It's funny, when I was a kid I was obsessed with military history and would go to the store and see all these models with fantastic cover art. I ended up buying a lot of kits and every time I'd be overwhelmed by all the tiny little monotone pieces when I'd open the box. A few times I actually finished building one and would use it with my toy soldiers, but always be worried and disappointed by how light and fragile they were.

Fortunately, the military diecast golden age came, and allowed me to to take care of my obsession. When I see the prices keep going up one the few remaining lines out there, I just remember how many hours of hardwork it takes to make a decent model, let alone paint and finish it, and spend away. No more model building for me, but my admiration for those who can.

Mike,
Very good work. Remember.., persistence overcomes resistance. I too have been a modeller for over 30 years and in the beginning I turned out models that were only worthy of being blown up with fire crackers. Stick with it. I am sure in time you will be building contest winners..!!! Happy Holidays..

John G.

......My buddy and me in our early teens hung up all our models with fishing line and proceeded to "shoot them down" with a Daisy BB gun one piece at a time. It took all day to wipe out both our squadrons of many 1:72 planes.

Those are nice mikeg. Those are all 1:48 scale planes?

A 1:32 aircraft collector like me, with the demise of 21st Century Toys or anything coming from BBI want to delve into the model experience again. Especially with many multi-engine bombers coming out (there's only one new one so far the JU-88)

As long ago as I used to assemble models, I painted them all with a brush. That's not going to cut it now. At least there's the pre-mixed colors in rattle can now.

Getting any deals on any 1:32 fighters etc. out there in hobby shops etc.? I see a few at hobby shops but they are usually more expensive than ebay or online hobby stores.

Too bad Hobby Lobby doesn't carry much if any 1:32 (I've checked) I'd be all over them.

Dauntless wrote:......My buddy and me in our early teens hung up all our models with fishing line and proceeded to "shoot them down" with a Daisy BB gun one piece at a time. It took all day to wipe out both our squadrons of many 1:72 planes.

While I saved the vast majority of all my models, there was this Revell 1:48 scale EA-6B that I obtained from a buddy of mine which was missing parts and which I only ever partially built to use as a "toy". I eventually did the same thing with it

I spared the 4 pilot figures, however, which I used in a variety of other model aircraft for years afterwards.

Dauntless wrote:

Getting any deals on any 1:32 fighters etc. out there in hobby shops etc.? I see a few at hobby shops but they are usually more expensive than ebay or online hobby stores.

Too bad Hobby Lobby doesn't carry much if any 1:32 (I've checked) I'd be all over them.

As a matter of fact, I stopped by the local Hobby Lobby tonight and got a Revell 48th black widow on sale- 14.83 inc. tax (normally 19.99). All models are on sale at 30% off listed price and have been for a while. The Revell/Monogram 48th B-17 retails there around 32.00, 30% off that is cheaper than the same kit at internet modeling sites- the few I've checked, at least. The sale applies to all, of course, tamiya, hasigawa, revell, italia?? plane, ship, sub, tanks, etc.

While I'm tempted to start building models again in 1:48, with so many planes to choose from, I decided that 1:32 is the smallest I'm going.
Luckily there are some exciting fighters to build and many to be had reasonably online or at auction.

With the Wingscale B-17 and twin engine bombers coming out, a Revell JU-88 already out and an HE-111 on the way, I've got to get my skills up and supplies to do modeling again. It's a lot different than what it used to be or the way I used to do it. I think the larger scales would be a little easier than the many 1:72 planes I used to build.
I do remember building a 1:32 Revell Westland Lysander way back when and it going a little smoother than the small planes I was used to.


I had read that the Hasegawa 1:32 Zero everyone agrees is near a perfect kit as Zeros go. Did the 1:48 Zero go smoothly?

Hobby Lobby used to carry Revell 1/32 planes. When they used to have 50% off I purchased every 1/32 I could get my hands on. Now there are no 1/32 kits with the exception of the 1/32 Apache from Testors. I've built the Zero, the Wildcat, the Hurricane, the Komet, the P40, and a few others... One of these days I'll build them all since there aren't too many new entries with the departure of 21st and BBI from this scale.

well, here I go again- should I give the 48th P-61 a gloss coat? maybe dry brush it a little in the appropriate places? I'm told they don't make a semi-gloss spray.






those close up shots show warts and all it looks better from a foot way or so. I'm ready for another one, but without any airbrush skills, yet, I hesitate to do any more than look at the box art on a german model. The monogram/revell 48th P-38 kit shows a nightfighter version on the side of the box- I may try that one next. Also, I found out a current .58 cal mineball wrapped in tissue paper makes a great nose weight for the P-61

mikeg, those are great, I love to build models too, my problem is the weathering, I suck at that, but like you I think I'm going to start doing some kits too.

I have several Dragon models that need to be built and all I ever use is a rattle can, I have a very old air brush, but I can't seem to get it to work , thanks for sharing those, gives a old model builder hope

I called one of the employees I know today at the local hobbytown and asked flatout how to learn to use an airbrush- no magazines, books, utube videos or word of mouth. He has been there about 5 years and said the question had come up often. They have tried meetings in the past, but he said he knew of no one who had managed to attend regularly, therefore they petered out. He also said call the other guys there and light the fire again, he felt they would "probably stay late to do it if there was any interest" So, true or false, it might happen.

It's not that hard to use an airbrush.

You can get the basics from your local hobby shop, or online.

After that it is just a question of practice, and more practice. And you don't need to use a model for this. Even a blank piece of paper will do. Get the basics right before you attempt to do a model.

Good luck.

yeah, your probably right, I'm easily intimidated sometimes.. until I get around to just doing it

Is that the one in Kennesaw? I could get interested in such a thing if it was a weekend morning kind of thing but I wouldn't be able to take part until closer to summer. It's a 90-mile rounder for me and I'm currently evaluating the possibility of a new steering rack or tie rod. Hoping for a tie rod.

That would be the correct location- I'll get their consensus for a good airbrush and the basics and go from there. I'm not optimistic about the class thing, though, honestly we all seem to have other things to do at any given time, I hate to admit it.

Wow! That looks GREAT! and just an FYI, Tamiya makes a rattlecan Semi Gloss Black..