Both done +++ Two Continental F4F Wildcats: France & Belgium

zenrat · October 25, 2015, 03:12:34 AM

Lovely.

NARSES2 · October 25, 2015, 08:01:51 AM

Great work

Dizzyfugu · October 25, 2015, 11:16:21 AM

Quote from: JasonW on October 24, 2015, 06:31:48 PM
Looks great!

What kit did the prop spinner come from?

Thank you. Actually, I am not certain. The whole propeller was scratched, with single blades from the scrap box, a metal axis, and the spinner is probably from a Pavla Defiant, but I am not certain. I just checked what would fit in shape and size.

Dizzyfugu · October 27, 2015, 12:39:10 AM

Good news: I ordered the missing decals for the French Wildcat from another source and they arrived yesterday. Immediately applied them and added a coat of matt varnish this morning. Finally, this one is coming to an end, too.

Dizzyfugu · October 31, 2015, 06:47:18 AM

After some delay, the French Wildcat is ready for action, too!

The more challenging part of the build. The French Wildcat received a typical Aéronautique Navale livery, with uniform blue-grey upper surfaces and light grey undersurfaces – pretty similar to USN aircraft of that time period.

Finding adequate tones was challenging, though, recommendations for French navy machines differ widely (from light blue to dark grey!). I eventually settled for Humbrol 144 (FS35164) and 127 (FS36375), which was, after a black ink wash, considerably lightened through panel shading with pale blue-grey tones. The interior was painted in dark grey.
A nice detail are the Tricolores, which are not only carried on the fin rudder, but also on the horizontal stabilizers. In order to match them with the roundels' colors (they actually belong to an Airfix Blenheim, maybe 30 years old!) I painted them, only the white stripes are decals. The tactical code was made with single decal letters – and in order to add a retro touch I used white over black decals of the same shape and size, creating a shadow effect. The result is IMHO nice.

1:72 Grumman G-36A, aircraft '4' of Escadrille de Chasse AC3, Flotille F1A, Aéronautique Navale; Boulogne-sur-Mer (France), summer 1940 (Whif/Hobby Boss kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Grumman G-36A, aircraft '4' of Escadrille de Chasse AC3, Flotille F1A, Aéronautique Navale; Boulogne-sur-Mer (France), summer 1940 (Whif/Hobby Boss kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Some retro pics...

1:72 Grumman G-36A, aircraft '4' of Escadrille de Chasse AC3, Flotille F1A, Aéronautique Navale; Boulogne-sur-Mer (France), summer 1940 (Whif/Hobby Boss kit conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

NARSES2 · October 31, 2015, 06:55:44 AM

I like that

Really looks a natural in that scheme

Dizzyfugu · October 31, 2015, 07:00:15 AM

Thank you. Yes, she's very close to the USN aircraft of that period, but the colors a slightly different, "colder" and more blue-ish. Looks pretty elegant, though, despite the simplicity of the paint scheme.

Captain Canada · October 31, 2015, 07:37:52 AM

Great job. Love the look, and the pics that bring her to life ! I like the prop tips too, nice touch ! Where is the dilapidated white hangar pic from ? Exactly the kind of photo I need for a backdrop.

JasonW · October 31, 2015, 07:40:13 AM

I can't decide what is more impressive, the model work or the photography. Looks great.

Brush painted or is it a combination of airbrush and brush? How did you get the main gear wheels into the wells for the in flight photos? Was that photoshopped?

Dizzyfugu · November 02, 2015, 03:11:38 AM

Thank you for the positive feedback on this rather simple one.

The pics are (as always) taken "as is", it's no photoshop composing - I only use a base and a printed background, sometimes some props like the figures. I do some retouches later, primarily tuning brightness and contrast, or editing away the landing gear and the kit holder in the flight scenes. That's all.

Furthermore, no airbrush was/is used, I do everything with brushes and some dirty tricks.

Concerning the white hangar/building, I am not certain where it belongs to. Result of generic WWW search.

TallEng · November 02, 2015, 12:55:59 PM

Tres Bon! (Well somebody had to

)
I think I prefer this one to the Belgian one.
Splendid work as ever

And so many too.
Regards
Keith

Glenn Gilbertson · November 02, 2015, 04:43:05 PM

Well built, terrific pictures, beautiful & believable!

Dizzyfugu · November 03, 2015, 04:53:32 AM

Again, thank you very much!