Hi everyone,

Am new to the forum and while i've been to some of the Dublin branch meetings, I haven't posted any work in progress pictures yet, so here's some shots of what's keeping me busy at the moment...

This is Airfix's ancient 1/72 P38J Lightning. I think this kit dates back to 1958 (it's older than me!) and I got it at the D1 show from a trader. I was looking for the newer kit but saw this one and decided to take a chance. I'm building it for an Airfix Pacific GB over on Hyperscale.



No cockpit to speak of..



So out with the plastic card and scrap. I used an Academy cockpit as a guide..





The engine intakes were completely off so grafted on some spares from the Academy kit

Before



During



After



Coming together at last



I'm also building an ancient Revell Zero with it, will be a sort of dogfight double. Here's the Zero with some gizmology in the engine and wearing a coat of primer.



I've got a Revell Dauphin and an Airfix Harrier also on the go but will post those seperately.
Thanks for reading and enjoy your modelling!

Best wishes,

Dermot

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On the bench:
1/72 Airfix Gazelle conversion
1/72 Revell F-16A
1/72 Revell Ec-135

Completed Builds

In the pipeline
1/72 Revell F-14D Tomcat diorama

I'd have to agree with Jason, I just couldn't go back to such old toolings and the amount of work you're putting in is something to admire. Did the twin tail boom cause any problems? I'll be tackling one on an OV-10D in the new year.

Many thanks guys and I agree with you all ! - I need to get back to some new toolings/shake and bakes and give myself a break from filling and sanding my life away...

The boom fit to fuselage actually wasn't too bad for a 50 year old kit but needed some filler. I haven't seen any reviews of your OV-10D but the following might be some help if it's the Academy kit you have.

http://www.fortunecity.com/meltingpot/portland/971/Reviews/60s/ov-10.htm

Cheers,
Dermot

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On the bench:
1/72 Airfix Gazelle conversion
1/72 Revell F-16A
1/72 Revell Ec-135

Completed Builds

In the pipeline
1/72 Revell F-14D Tomcat diorama

Hey everyone and thanks for your comments on these. To be honest, if they weren't for a themed GB, I don't think I would be building them! Here's the latest with them..first the P-38.

Lovely Halfords Primer...



Then two coats of Olive Drab. I'm not really happy with how this paintwork finished up and definitely one for the best-viewed-from-6-feet-away shelf. Must get some brush painting advice this Saturday at the club meet..



Replaced the original kit wheels (which were more like dinner plates), with something more substantial, these from an Academy kit.





Our intrepid flyer - will add his arms once he's in the cockpit



The other half of this build is an abandoned Zero, so a beaten paint finish on this was ok!



Used the ancient kit decals which after a week in the window, came back to life enough. Plus, I wanted them to look jaded. I realise the rising Suns are different on each top wing - thought that would add to the derelict look..





On the home stretch with these two so feeling a little better about them.

As always, thanks for looking.

All the best,
Dermot

---

On the bench:
1/72 Airfix Gazelle conversion
1/72 Revell F-16A
1/72 Revell Ec-135

Completed Builds

In the pipeline
1/72 Revell F-14D Tomcat diorama

Jesus Dermot the zero looks absolutely battered..
Well done

Barry

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Barry Evans

Cheers Philip. Yep, will bring it along, though I think the picture makes it look better than it is!

---

On the bench:
1/72 Airfix Gazelle conversion
1/72 Revell F-16A
1/72 Revell Ec-135

Completed Builds

In the pipeline
1/72 Revell F-14D Tomcat diorama

Thanks for the link James, that's an incredible diorama with lots if ideas in it.

I think my skills would never come close to what he's done!

Cheers,
Dermot

---

On the bench:
1/72 Airfix Gazelle conversion
1/72 Revell F-16A
1/72 Revell Ec-135

Completed Builds

In the pipeline
1/72 Revell F-14D Tomcat diorama

Hey everyone and sorry for not posting on this one in ages, as have been tied up with work, family stuff....and other builds! Back when I started this one, I had the following rough image in my mind of what I wanted to do with the P-38 (apologies for the drawing, it IS by me, not my 3 year old!)



Well, am getting there. The P-38 will get a canopy tomorrow evening (thanks to the patient micro meshing of Philip, thanks Philip) and I can then crack on with decaling and weathering her.



The maintenance table is scratchbuilt, as are the palm trees. Sure, I could have bought a pack online for €20 but need to watch the funds right now. I found the method on an armour site - trunks are old sprue, wrapped in masking tape and thread soaked in white glue and then painted up. The fronds are cut from paper with a soft wire branch to help them bend. They look ok-ish, were an absolute bear to make and will post some better pictures when they're finished.

The base will be a mix of wood underneath the Zero and crushed coral for the P-38; coffee stirrers for the former and cat litter for the coral. Sounds completely crap but hopefully will look ok. The Zero (ancient Revell) is pretty much done. It's hard to see in the photo but it has tissue tarps across the cockpit and top of the cowling. I'm really happy with how battered it looks!



Will post sooner, thanks for reading and enjoy your modelling.

Cheers,

Dermot

---

On the bench:
1/72 Airfix Gazelle conversion
1/72 Revell F-16A
1/72 Revell Ec-135

Completed Builds

In the pipeline
1/72 Revell F-14D Tomcat diorama

Dermot,
thanks for the work, well done. I like the work on the Zero, and the different top wing markings are really good idea, a little "field modification".
Looking forward to seeing the final work.
I am working slowly on a Provost Mk.1 which hopefully will end up as a respectful version of an I.A.C. aircraft. Haven't decided to finish it in the scheme as per the acft in the Museum or a in-service model, with options for different shades of day-glo orange.
David

On the bench (occasionally) Provost Mk.1

Hey everyone and finally in the home stretch with this build.

@trpsarge - thanks and the OD paint scheme seemed to finish up ok - more down to luck I think! Thanks to the patient sanding of fellow IPMS Dublin member Philip, I now have a nice shiny canopy for this kit! The cockpit has come a long way...

From this..



To this...





I also added a control column unique to the P-38 from some sprue and half a steering wheel, and some instrument decal too.



Because the original kit decals were totally shot, I raided the spare decals that came with the Academy P-38J in my stash.



These needed LOTS of setting solution to get them to stay down. The green tail decal pieces just won't stay in place so am going to paint those sections this week. The nose art is "Sweet Sue" as flown by Lt. Paul Murphy of the 80th Fighter Squadron/8th Fighter Group.





The pilot is from a Matchbox kit, with his head cut and turned to one side. His arms are from the spares box - it's hard to see here but his right arm is giving a "thumbs up" ti the groundcrew. His left arm is nicely relaxed too..

Weathering and flat coat next, followed by the landing gear and whether she'll sit on all wheels! (fingers crossed). And then a small Pacific diorama to finish. Who knows, I might enter it at the IMSS show in May - then again, I've seen some of the work on their website so maybe not!

Thanks as always for reading.

Enjoy your bank holiday Monday

Dermot

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On the bench:
1/72 Airfix Gazelle conversion
1/72 Revell F-16A
1/72 Revell Ec-135

Completed Builds

In the pipeline
1/72 Revell F-14D Tomcat diorama