Moments of Zen

[DogfighterZen]

Well, finally did it, it's ready for a gloss coat and decals.

[DogfighterZen]

Finished the decals on the F-86 and gave it a good gloss coat.  Also assembled the drop tanks and pylons, and scratch-built a new pitot tube as i couldn't find the kit's original part...



Hoping that tomorrow i'll have time to paint the pitot, finish the drop tanks and pylons, give it a final matte coat and get some pics.
Now i'm realizing that there are only 3 unfinished models left on my bench... I'm still thinking about the Italeri Flanker, though... i like how the camo came out but i was thinking of using it as a parts donor because i messed up the build(this was either my 3rd or 4th build coming back to the hobby), and i can see some good use for it's wings and stabs...

[DogfighterZen]

Well, the Sabre's done, that's another one off the bench...

http://www.whatifmodellers.com/index.php/topic,42604.0.html

Now, i was thinking of finishing the Italeri Su-27 inspired on Clave's PoAF Su-27 on here: http://www.whatifmodellers.com/index.php/topic,26859.495.html
but i have the Zvezda kit in the stash, which will surely be a much better build than this one could ever be.
In reality, there are still a few unfinished builds from my comeback months in 2013...



The Italeri Su-27, Bf-109 and Spitfire IXc, Airfix Zero and FW-190, and ZTS Mig-17 and -19... and on the left corner we have my first model, the Revell F-14D Super Tomcat, ruined beyond a presentable condition with thick layers of paint, badly scratched canopy and abundant use of CA glue... some parts can be salvaged for some ideas, though... And that's what this lot will be for, tests and donations, i'm done with finishing old builds! DONE!

I wanted to join the In The Navy GB but it's too late now, with the stuff i wanna do, i won't have time to finish what i wanted to build, so, on my bench, as off today are, all whifs, the 2 F-16s for the PoAF and the Harrier GR.9 for the Portuguese Marines!



Work restarts tomorrow...

[DogfighterZen]

So, no modelling for me since last week, had a busy weekend and after 2 years, i decided to start riding my BMX again. 
No real reason why i stopped, just had to take a break, after 20 some years of riding whenever the weather and the injuries allowed, but it's so good to be back at it. And the look on the kids' faces when they find out i'm as old as their parents...
I've lately been watching more bmx videos and that's been building up inside so, i had to let it loose again.



But i won't give up modelling, no sir. Tonight i've been tidying up the Bearcat's seams...

[Captain Canada]

Great to see you back on two wheels ! Have fun !

[NARSES2]

No such thing as BMX bikes when I was a nipper  Most of us had a decent bike and then one we used around the estate that we'd built ourselves from scrap parts and trips to the cycle shop. Decent one was used for out on the main roads, to school etc, whilst the home made one was used as a cross country bike. All been formalised now ; no fun 

[Captain Canada]

Back in my day lol

[DogfighterZen]

Great to see you back on two wheels ! Have fun !

Thanks, Captain!

Your pic shows the essence of the thing, having fun riding a bike! Sure brings back memories for me too and that's exactly how i feel when i'm riding, just a kid...

No such thing as BMX bikes when I was a nipper  Most of us had a decent bike and then one we used around the estate that we'd built ourselves from scrap parts and trips to the cycle shop. Decent one was used for out on the main roads, to school etc, whilst the home made one was used as a cross country bike. All been formalised now ; no fun 

But i bet that, at least, you had a few races with your mates.   That's what me and my mates used to do before we found out that you could jump and do tricks on BMX bikes, then the madness and bloodshed began... 

Ok, on to modelling now, i've been really lazy for the past few days, a lot of work and life to take up the time, but the Bearcat is slowly progressing.
Last night i started work on the wheels bays, something that, with earlier planning, i would've done before joining the wing halves... anyway, something can still be done.

[NARSES2]

Yup we used to have road and cross country races when I was a kid. Very, very hilly where I live so we were all pretty fit 

[DogfighterZen]

Yup we used to have road and cross country races when I was a kid. Very, very hilly where I live so we were all pretty fit 

Riding bikes is good for your health... unless you wanna try "stunts", that is... 

Well, i've finally had some time at the bench and sprayed some Tamiya X-3 Royal blue on the Bearcat for the In The Navy GB and also got some paint on the F-16CP/DP pair.
A mix of Tamiya's XF-50 Field blue and X-13 metallic blue in a 60/40 ratio and this is what you get...



This will be another simple scheme so next is a dark grey on the radome, wingtip rails and some other small details.
I've been wanting to get these two on the go again since i got the decals i needed for what i want to do with them so they might get a good dose of work done during the weekend, although my priority is finishing the Bearcat for the GB.

[Captain Canada]

Those are looking nice ! I love how much the F-16 has grown over the years.

[DogfighterZen]

Thanks, Captain!
I really like how the color came out, it's different from most colors on F-16s. Next F-16 i build, i think i'll try either a desert camo like the Moroccan or Israeli schemes or the Europe one scheme, like the CAS Vipers had.
These two will now wait for a few days until i finish the Bearcat.

[kerick]

So, no modelling for me since last week, had a busy weekend and after 2 years, i decided to start riding my BMX again. 
No real reason why i stopped, just had to take a break, after 20 some years of riding whenever the weather and the injuries allowed, but it's so good to be back at it. And the look on the kids' faces when they find out i'm as old as their parents...
I've lately been watching more bmx videos and that's been building up inside so, i had to let it loose again.



But i won't give up modelling, no sir. Tonight i've been tidying up the Bearcat's seams...

I do suggest moving the ramp away from the light pole and trash can.......An ounce of prevention is worth a week in the hospital!!!!!!

[DogfighterZen]

I do suggest moving the ramp away from the light pole and trash can.......An ounce of prevention is worth a week in the hospital!!!!!!

Well, if we were that scared of ending up in the Hospital, we wouldn't be doing the stuff we do... but reality is, the pole isn't in the "normal" crash area, it's really hard for anyone to end up there, but it can happen.
Besides, it's a public park in a city 40 km away from my city, and i can't move ramps alone... The best thing there would be padding the pole with lots of sponge and tape but the locals don't even care about holes on the ramps so i don't think that's happening.

[DogfighterZen]

Today i got the radomes and missile rails painted with some XF-82, but while unmasking, i found that the intakes on both F-16s were a bit messed up... Again, not my best masking game but i've already corrected most of the mess. Tomorrow hopefully i'll have time for the last touch-ups and give them both a good gloss coat for decals.



So, after a few GB entries this year, i was thinking of taking a break but the Old Kit GB is just right for one of my next planned builds for my alternative PoAF since WWII. They had the T-33 trainers and they should've had the P/F-80...
Also, i've been thinking about starting the twin seat version of the F-16W for a long time but my quest to finish all the stalled builds pile just kept me too busy, but after the F-16 pair is done, there's only the Harrier left to finish so, i'm getting it started.