GusMac

Finally got the seat to a point where I'm reasonably happy with it. Still not entirely happy with the pe belts but they're as good as I can get them with my skillset. I did try using masking tape to manufacture a set and just use the buckles from the pe but they looked even worse. First time I've used the Mig washes on this kit and I think I'm being a bit heavy handed with them. It certainly looks worse in the pictures but even to my eye they look a little OTT. Possibly need more of a gloss coat before I apply them but I gues trial and error will improve things with time. Lastly for this update, got a nice big hunk of lead in the nose which should be enough to keep it on all three wheels. Next is joining the halves of this forward section. This will be my first attempt at using the Tamiya Extra Thin to 'fuse' the plastic so fingers crossed it goes well. Any comments, advice, etc welcome. Gus

Prize to any manufacturer who comes up with fabric seatbelts for modern aircraft! Boy, I hate the pe seatbelts. Maybe I need a better magnifier and proper bending tools but these are just such a chore. I've only used the fabric ones a couple of times but just soooo much easier. I realise that modern belts would be considerably more complex than the WWII ones that are available but surely there would be a market for them. Anyhoo, I'll have something to post once I've stopped cursing at these and got something which looks vaguely presentable to attach to the seat. Gus

Thanks for the comments guys. Just one quick question Paulo - does it need any weight in the nose for balance? Never built anything this big with a tricycle undercarriage so not sure how to determine if it does and haven't found anything online. Just remember too many tailsitters from when I built 1/72 stuff as a kid, including an Airfix Mig-27. Cheers, Gus

Hi All, two firsts here - my first WIP post to a forum and my first kit painted with an airbrush, so a bit nervous but on we go. First here's the kit. Will be done with Aires cockpit set and Linden Hill decals. Plan is to do it as a Syrian aircraft which was shot down over the Bekaa Valley on 9th June 1982 as part of Operation Mole Cricket. I was 15 then and fascinated with air tactics and this followed on very quickly after the Falklands conflict. Remember being amazed at how the suppression of the SAM sites was done. Started on the Aires cockpit. Relatively straightforward to work out the fit and position of the sidewall pieces. Not entirely happy with colour of the tub as it's too blue to my eye but I haven't worked out a method I'm happy with for consistently mixing colours for airbrushing. Went with out of the bottle Citadel Temple Guard Blue - saw comments saying their Hawk Turquoise was a good approximation to SBT but it's discontinued and this was said to be the closest current colour. Doesn't look too close to me but too late it's staying now. Details painted with Tamiya acrylics then gloss coat, MIG dark wash and matt coat. Next step is the seat so more fun with the pe seatbelts. All comments and advice welcome, Thanks, Gus

Thanks for the advice guys. Can I just confirm that what is marketed as Future in the US, etc is the SC Johnson product known as Klear floor wax in the UK? I've also found a jar of something called Humbrol Clearfix in a box of stuff I got from a neighbour who used to model, would that also work? Thanks Gus

Hi All Sorry for another newbie type question, but I'm getting on with the cockpit for my Syrian Mig-23 MF and I've reached a bit of conundrum. It's the first time I've used an Aires resin cockpit and I'm unsure about the best adhesive to use for bonding the film to the photo-etch and then this assembly to the resin. I was thinking of using PVA type adhesive for the film/photo-etch bond but not sure if that has enough hold? All advice gratefully received. If I get this solved I should have enough to start some WIP photos. Regards Gus

Hi Paolo Thanks very much for that. Great to see what you've done with the kit exhaust without adding the expense of the Aires set. Regards Gus

Looking great Paolo. Can I ask what Tamiya colours you mainly used for the KM-1 seat? I'm just starting the Trumpy 23MF and I'm having a bit of trouble deciding the best match for the light duck egg type colour - some say FS35622, but doesn't seem to be agreement. If my cockpit ends up looking half as good as yours I'll be a happy man. Thanks Gus

Thanks James. That is very useful. Everything is an adventure at the moment as this is my first full build since purchasing an airbrush. It's always hard to judge just how far to push the shading before it looks unrealistic. This is what I love about this forum - all queries or requests get helpful, considered responses. Gus

If I remember correctly it was a Bf 109 but I can't remember if it was the E, F or K, all of which have been popular on here recently. I'm just looking for some ideas before I start my Mig-23, but given it's in the old Soviet Barf Turquoise I'm not sure anything too subtle would be visible anyway. Thanks Gus

Hi all, I have a memory that someone fairly recently posted a nice little review of their cockpit painting technique in their work in progress. I didn't think to bookmark it at the time and now I can't find it despite a number of searches. Would anyone happen to remember where it was located? Thanks Gus

Having lurked on here for long enough picking up tips, etc, it's time to take George's words to heart and get something on a wip. Here it is - a bit of a minority interest one being a modern jet but it's what I like. Will be essentially OOB except for Aires KM-1 seat. Will use the Montex canopy masks and the LindenHill decals. They're for a slightly later model (MLD) but should be able to modify the arabic numerals to get what I want. Plan is to do one which was shot down over the Beqaa Valley during Operation Mole Cricket 19 in June 1982. The follow up (already ordered) is the Tamiya F-15C to do #802 flown by Moshe Melnick which shot this down. Apologies for the quality of the photos, I'll have to improve this before the build thread starts! Gus

Thanks Ed. I've seen these for sale here in the UK at very reasonable prices but wasn't sure how good they were. Your endorsement makes me a bit more certain that that's the route I'll go. Regards Gus

Hi all, been familiarising myself with my new airbrush set-up for a few weeks now and I think I need a spray booth (ie I've been told I have to get one!). I've seen various videos on Youtube of DIY builds but I'm not sure I can be bothered with that. Are there any commercial ones that are actually worth the money - some look pretty insubstantial - and how good is the filtration? Thanks again for any advice for the rank amateurs like myself on here. Gus

Thanks Dave and all the others who've contributed. Very much appreciated. That's my Santa list sorted! Just need to bust out some old kits to practice on. Gus

I've found a couple of Sparmax compressors which seem to be in the price band I was considering. They are the TC-610H and TC-620X - both have 2.5 litre reservoirs. Is this the sort of spec that would suit a novice for a year or two to get started?

Thanks everyone for the welcome and very useful tips. I've had a look at pleasedshop and they certainly seem very reasonable. I remember Doogs mentioning it on his site, (which is inspirational), but I'd been unable to find it again. Is there anything to look out for / avoid as regards compressors - I didn't quite undertand Jeroen's comments as I really don't know enough about them.

Hi folks, Just got back into this great hobby of ours, after 25 years or so, and done a couple of kits using Tamiya rattlecan (plucking up courage to put the P47 on the finished pages!). I'm thinking of buying an airbrush but I've really no clue where to start. Could anyone recommend a good beginners airbrush and what to look for in a compressor. Any online resources or good reference books might also be handy. Really inspired by the workmanship on here and have picked up some great tips and techniques. Gus