Greg B's Bloody Shambles Collection

[Greg Boeser]

I have for many years had a fascination with the early air war in the Pacific/South East Asia theaters. I've started picking up 1/72 kits for the combatants, and thought I might post my progress as I go along. My first subject is the Airfix 1/72 Curtiss Hawk 81-A-2. This is a straight OOB build, using a variety of Tamiya, Testors Model Master, and Vallejo paints.
My skills are primative and rusty, so be kind.

 

[Greg Boeser]

The show so far:
I bought this kit at Hobby Lobby a couple years ago and built it to it's current state before letting it languish.
The major assembly is finished. Just needs paint and the final fiddly bits.
The big hold up was choosing the right colors for the model. I found the Vallejo US Army Air Corps CBI paint set at Hobby Lobby, and they gave me the 40% discount. Score!

 

[Greg Boeser]

Work on the underside. Vallejo Curtiss Grey 71.296, Tamiya yellow green XF-4 for wheel wells. I used a Deco Art yellow for the canvas wheel well liners.

 

[fubar57]

I like this theme Greg

 

[Wurger]

 

[rochie]

good stuff Greg, have a few themes going in my collection

 

[Greg Boeser]

Topside camo applied. Freehand brush painting the green left a lot of brush marks. I'll let this dry and do a few touch-ups.

 

[fubar57]

Nice. Maybe put some paint into a palette and add a wee bit of thinner to do away with the brush marks. I'm not an expert with paint but I did stay at a Holiday Inn once. I have these, very cheap....like me

 

[Wurger]

PS. also a larger fine brush should help.

 

[Greg Boeser]

I use a wide brush for the base. Usually looks good after 2-3 coats. It's the camo pattern that gets a bit blobby as I try to trace the outline with a thin brush, then try to fill in.
Thanks for the tip, George. I am even cheaper and use old yogurt lids.

 

[pbehn]

I go over mine with matt varnish thinned with a little bit of turps, it takes most of the brush marks out.

 

[rochie]

The brush marks normally tone down after gloss and flat coats are applied i find.

Looks good though

 

[Vic Balshaw]

Nice to see you having a crack at a great theme, we all seem to have one or two to work on. Good tips on hand painting as well, I gave up with the brush a long time ago and only use it for little pieces and detail.

 

[Greg Boeser]

I'm too cheap to buy an airbrush, and don't trust myself to take proper care if I did. I really admire the guys that do though.

 

[Greg Boeser]

Gloss coated and starting to apply decals. The fuselage band decal had to be discarded. It was a straight line and there was no way to make it conform with the fuselage curves. Freehanded instead.

 

[fubar57]

Looking good though

 

[Vic Balshaw]

Nice bit of freehand.

 

[rochie]

looks good

 

[Wurger]

 

[Crimea_River]

Looks pretty good Greg. The colour choice was a good one.