Moments of Zen

[DogfighterZen]

And it's done, 5th real world build of 13 finished models. Whifs are still the majority and will remain so as i have no plans for any other real world builds in the foreseeable future.
I'll just leave a few pics of the finished thing and on to finish the decals on the F-18D which is almost ready to come out of the bench too...

[NARSES2]

Come out well

[DogfighterZen]

Come out well

Thanks, Chris! 

[DogfighterZen]

Well, now that the P-40's finished, time to move on with my whif builds. Today got a bunch of missiles masked and airbrushed with XF-19 sky grey and also sprayed some XF-2 flat white on the Mk.20 rockeyes, Kinetic F-16D's intake part and the Harrier Gr.9's intakes.
After that, a few good coats of gloss varnish on the F-18D to seal all the decals, which were finished last night.
Also assembled the intakes on both the F-16D and the Gr.9.

[DogfighterZen]

Reading Snowtrooper's reply on the GR.9 in PoAF service thread, it coincided very much with the idea for the Portuguese Navy Aviation whifs i have in mind, and it reminded me of the kits i bought with that in mind. The Monogram F7F Tigercat, F8F Bearcat and a few others...
That may be too much for me and the time available so i will have to rethink the carrier capable F-16XL... Anyway, has to be decided tonight...

[DogfighterZen]

Ok, after a lot of consideration, i've deleted the F-16NXL Sea Viper thread i'd started for the In The Navy GB because i can't seem to get around some issues... i just can't see this bird in carrier use, even if the Hornet got cancelled... So, for the GB, i've decided to go ahead with one of the kits that i bought with a Portuguese carrier fleet in mind, the Revell's F8F Bearcat.
The F-16XL will be built as an in-service, land-based bird, so i'll have to figure out a suitable backstory for that.
Sorry if i'm disappointing anyone with the XL but if it's not feeling right, i won't build it...

[NARSES2]

I've built that Revell Bearcat a couple of times (is it ex Monogram ?) and it's a nice build

[DogfighterZen]

I've built that Revell Bearcat a couple of times (is it ex Monogram ?) and it's a nice build

Chris, as you can see, i've changed my mind about the In the Navy GB, i'm sorry for bothering you with the change and now giving up on the idea of the F-16NXL. I've deleted the thread in the GB and also unlocked the original thread in the current/finished projects as it will be built.
I believe the Revell kit is a Monogram original mold, at least that's what i've read about it so far, sure looks like a nice kit, and if it's as good as the 1/48 P-40B i've just finished, then it sure is a nice build!

[Captain Canada]

I gotta start keeping up with the blogs ! Some great work going on here. The P-40 sure did come out ! Looks like a miniature version of the real thing and ready for battle !

[DogfighterZen]

I gotta start keeping up with the blogs ! Some great work going on here. The P-40 sure did come out ! Looks like a miniature version of the real thing and ready for battle !

Thank you, Captain!
I am very satisfied with how it came out, good build to learn new stuff. And i can say it's my best attempt at a real world and weathered build. But that's enough of that for at least the rest of the year...
Today i did some more work on the XL, not much as the day was dedicated to family lunch and a late afternoon composing session with my mates, the bass and guitar player at our studio.

[DogfighterZen]

Well, the F-16XL is almost finished, just a coat of matte varnish and weapons assembly. Should have time to do it tomorrow.
That means it's time to pull out another victim from the stash and also get back to the stalled builds.
I've decided to go ahead with another Monogram mold(my third this year), the 1/72 F8F Bearcat for the "In The Navy" GB, should have time to finish it before the deadline, while being able to advance a bit on the other 6 models i've got on the bench at the moment.

[DogfighterZen]

So, after another finished model, i normally take a few days to get back to work on the rest of the stalled builds, but today i decided i should do some masking on the Revell Me-262 for the underside and to try some mottling... maybe even some squiggling...
Gonna need some inspiration from Matrixone's work on this one...



And because all the 6 models i've got on the bench ATM are in painting stages, and i always like to have something to do in different stages of the building process, i can't wait any longer...



Bearcat is for the In The Navy GB, a post-WWII Portuguese navy carrier fighter... For the YF-23, i've got no clue of which markings to use, no backstory idea, nada!! I don't want it to be another USAF F-23 whif, but i can't see another feasible option... Unless i give it to The Navy...?!

[kerick]

I want to build a recon version with lengthened fuselage behind the cockpit. USAF or British scheme. Just my $0.02 worth. That kit is hard to find.

[DogfighterZen]

I just saw a pic of a twin seat F-23 from a model show, i'll try to find the link. A recce version would be a first, at least for me, it would, never seen one built like that. Go ahead!

This was a really hard to find kit indeed, took me over an entire year looking through the bay and everywhere else, for that matter... After that year, finally found a Tamiya and this Revell boxing of the Italeri molds. I've also managed to buy a DML kit, which has got engraved panel lines, which on the Italeri are raised. Took me a while and weren't cheap...

Link to Conventry show pics, pics by Dazz from the UAMF forum. The F-23 is pic #40...
http://smspicblog.blogspot.co.uk/

[PR19_Kit]

Here's one of that 2-seater F-23 that I took, it was on the stand right opposite the SIG, and very nicely done too.