CANicoll

Per Hubert, Maybe allow TWO votes, and we do simultaneous group builds of the top two categories to see if we can get more folks involved? That might just be too much. I'd say we do a 'Speed Build" GB but we all know @JohnB would kill in that category! The only way I could come close is to do a 1/72 Snap-build kit that was pre-painted.... And then I still think I'd place a close second..

I'd change my vote to sandbox if only to see you build this... I know it will be a beauty - especially the paintwork!!

Tim, That would be cool. I have a 1/24 F-104, but also the Airfix Spitfire kit from the holiday raffle... And a LOT of time to get it done. Plus, for me it's a drive so no worries about flying with it.

OHH!!! Anything Armor-related! JU-87 Tank Buster!! Warthog!! I actually do have a couple of actual armor kits in the stash...

Martin, Hmmmmm.... Now that is an interesting idea...

Interesting!!!! Quinta definitely shows off in this cockpit. The detail is terrific.

Beautiful cockpit work, Jeroen. I have the Tempest kit but still, following along closely with what you are doing. Agree on the brown, self-healing tank. Def more interesting!

When I sprayed the B-58 camo colors, I barely used 1/4 of a bottle of MRP. Not sure why the acrylic lacquers seem to go a lot further than the acrylics.

When is the pool party? I need to make flight arrangements!

Martin, thanks!! I love when the announcer says "... the aircraft is joined by the ground support equipment and the fire trucks". Not sure strapping myself into an aircraft where the support equipment requires fire trucks is reassuring! Reminiscent of the B-29 and its engine fires.. And that poor guy pumping the jack handle...LOL The plane looks funny without the centerline tank.

I get why smaller jars are good to maintain the quality of paint, but in 1/32 scale, painting anything like your F-14 (or F-4 or.....) takes multiple jars. Ugh!

Welcome! Lots going on here and you will definitely see some of the Revell kits getting built. Looking forward to your first build.

WOW..Nice Haul Carl and glad to see the LHS still in business. They sound like good people.

Peter, Thank you! All told it was about a good hour's plus time on the painting. I actually have that airbrush as well and am a bit intimidated by it! I guess it is my experience with same double action trigger on the Iwata that I worry about. The Grex is so much easier to use. I was thinking the gloss coats would do some blending, so good to hear.

Started on the free-hand camo last night. What I learned is, I should have started on a 1/48 scale fighter like a P-40 or Spitfire! Using my Grex Tritium because I really like the control with the trigger and a .2 needle. VERY hard to do such long lines and not over do the paint in one part and under in another. The 'fill-in' I should have done with my Iwata HP-CS and the .3 needle which covers a much wider area. Will take a look at the overall effect later and see if I need to go over anything again. Using the MRP paints and spraying at about 10psi. Next up, is dark green. Here is the idea: While the paint was drying, added the centerline tank and the fit is better than I expected. Used Testors Cement on the length, and CA gel on the alignment pins. Especially on the rear fin - that is a very large pin and the hole it goes into is even larger so not a tight fit. The CA holds it securely as there is some tension on that join. That Hustler look is shaping up And had to try a dry-fit just to see how it is all coming together. The fit, surprisingly, is pretty good. I might respray the engine nacelles to match the camo. Have not decided yet... And noticed some gaps that needed a bit of filler...

Hey Kevin, I do have access to a nice woodshop... hmmmmm. Looking forward to seeing your build.

The Internet is an amazing place sometimes... Found this picture of the bomb pylons and the B-43 Thermonuclear bombs, as well as the larger under belly tank. Also found out that in 1967 the Hustler was proposed to be moved from the SAC inventory and be redesignated as a Tactical Bomber to take over from the poor performing F-104 and F-4 Fighter Bombers. This did not come to be, however. For those interested in the bombs, here is the Wikipedia page: B43 nuclear bomb - Wikipedia.

Have you tried a web search on "7U Cutlass blueprints"? I saw a lot of drawings, but not sure if any of those would be helpful to you?

I have the 1/48 F-4C from ZM so will be following along closely. Nice win!!!

Nice work and on the research as well... Can't imagine there are that many surviving Cutlass's out there for reference...

Making progress on the underside. Found that some of the sprue for the kit was as close to the right size as I expected to find. Plus it was handy and free! The focus won't be on the underside, but I didn't like leaving the doors the way they were. This is marginally better. Before painting with some putty on the joins: After with a coat of paint. Still not great, but maintains the profile, anyway. Attached the engine pods to the underside of the wing. The joins are two small pins which are far undersized for the holes they go into in the wing. Attached with a combination of Tamiya Extra thin, CA, and Testors cement (at various stages, not combined!). At least they are not resin so not very heavy and don't have to worry about this being a tail-sitter either. Vallejo Black Primer on the underside.

Thanks Carl. I was thinking of cutting out the middle of the tank pylon, leaving the edges, but that actually would not work very well with the points on both ends of the tank pylon. The gaps on both sides are pretty big. Might just build it up the sides with some sheet styrene to cover the gap and add more stability.

Taking advantage of the extra time, I decided I needed to address the underside with some washes and touch up. The underside was really stark so it needed the attention. Starting off with some cockpit pics which I neglected to add the first time around. Noticed in the photograph that Little Chris has a NMF leading edge to the left side intake. So used a Molotov Chrome paint pen for the touch-up work. Really needed to address how clean the underside was, so used the MIG Natural Wash ( light gray ) to dirty things up a bit. And finally did more of the panel lines on the underside including the drop tanks I only knocked off ONE of the Sidewinder fins in the process!

Thanks Peter and Hubert. Definitely an interesting project with the main objective to get to the camo painting. Also, "In-Flight" means I can put it on a stand and still have other models under it. My display case is getting fuller and fuller. Between the 1/48 Catalina, all of the 1/32 Mustangs, and now the 1/32 F-4E. Whew!!

I've always had issues getting the HGW belts together. Sometimes with good results, sometimes not. Nice work on yours, sir!