CrowTRobot

This is my first short-run multimedia kit. It was a real bear, but it builds into a very impressive model. I added a few scratch-built details of my own. Paints are Testor's Model Master enamels & metalizers, and a bit of Floquil and Tamiya smoke here and there.

Nope- still waiting

If you don't trust masking tape over your decals you can try wet masking. Cut out small strips of paper (I like to use gift wrap tissue paper), moist them with water, and use them to border the area you wish to paint. Spray paint at low pressure to avoid blowing off the masks. I mainly use this technique when I need to mask over fragile metalizers (i.e. Testors), but it works in your situation too.

I typically take a few drops of drier and mix it with a tiny bit of oil paint in the inverted cap from a milk jug or soda bottle. The only time I see the pigment separate is when I let this mixture sit too long. I try not to mix up too much at one time.

The stuff I use is very thin right out of the bottle - I don't have to mix it with anything to dilute it. The brand is Pro Art. I got a 4 oz. bottle about 20 years ago, and I'm still using it.

I've been using Japan Dryer to thin oil washes for nearly 20 years. It works well, and it accelerates the drying time for the oils.

I can't help you with the lead foil, but SmallParts.com is a good source for stainless-steel hypodermic tubing.

Lovely work- very nice!

Interesting- any idea what color this enamel should be? It looks darker than Gull Gray in the photos I have, but there are shadows too

That's a good site, but unfortunately the museum planes in those photos have been restored to pristine condition, and the exhaust area bears little resemblance to that of Demons in active service in the Ginter book. The underside of the stabilators on the museum planes are painted solid white, but many service Demons show a distinct demarcation where the white paint ends and some darker color begins. Also, the beaver tails on the museum planes are very clean and white. Photos of Demons in service show what looks like significant staining on the under surface- almost to the point of looking bla

I'm heading to the paint shop with my Grand Phoenix Demon, but I have some questions about the colors used on the rear end of this bird. The Ginter book for the F3H has numerous photos of the underside of the stabilator where you can see that the outboard portion is painted white and the inboard portion is much darker. It looks like natural metal, but I can't be 100% sure because the photos are black and white. It looks darker than the Gull Gray used elsewhere on the plane. Also, the underside of the beaver tail appears to be very dark from the tip all the way to the exhaust. I suspect this

It's been a month since the last post - has anyone else got what they ordered from Tom? I'm still waiting.

I'll see your "Jet Pilot" and raise you The Starfighters. Oh wait... do they have to be good movies? Pros: More color F-104 footage than you're ever likely to see outside of a USAF training film. Cons: USAF training films have bigger budgets and better actors than this. Refueling scenes may induce drowsiness Bob Dornan necking in a convertible "Poopy suits" - 'nuff said As my avatar would say" Bad movie? You're soaking in it!"

Agreed. I have a set of these too, but now my curiosity is piqued by all of the clamor for the Fox One decals. Would anyone care to compare and contrast the 1/48 B-58 decals from Fox One and Mike Grant?

I bought some books from Paul last summer. My purchase got mixed up with another buyer's, and we each received the other's items. We contacted Paul about it and he suggested that we mail each other the items and he would reimburse us for the postage. It took a while for him to follow through, but he eventually made good.

I had a similar experience. I bought a couple of items from Tom in August 2009 and still have not received them. We exchanged PM's over the months, and each time he explained his predicament and indicated a willingness to make good on the deal. I trusted him because I knew he had a good reputation here on ARC, but I have my limits. I've asked him for a refund 2 or 3 times since December. I figure if he can't get to the post office he can at least get to PayPal to refund my money. So far my requests have been ignored. I find it interesting that this thread started on Jan. 30, and according to

Very nice! I'm working on one of these now, and yours is truly an inspiration. Did you rescribe the panel lines?

I'm looking for either the Cutting Edge or AeroMaster 1/48 stencil decals for the F-84G. I need to replace the inaccurate stencils that came with the Tamiya kit (grrrr!).

I've done a couple of these types of instrument panels, and I really like them. This is what I normally do: 1) Paint the backside of the film white. 2) When paint is dry apply some CA glue to the back of the film and attach it to its mounting point. 3) Paint the photo etched panel 4) Attach the photo etched panel over the film. I normally tack it in place with Future, and when that's dry I touch up the edges with CA glue to secure it

It should work for you. I've used it before- it has good working time, and it sands smooth and holds paint well. Be careful to avoid cross-contamination of the different compounds. In other words, don't use the same tool to scoop part A and part B from their respective containers. This will increase the shelf life of the product.

That's good to hear. I'm working on the Grand Phoenix Demon right now, so I can appreciate the comparison.

I use the photography background paper too (see example here). The roll was expensive, but I got enough paper to last a lifetime.

I thought of this, but I have visions of the wheel flying off the shaft at 5,000 RPM and embedding itself in the wall. I may give it try anyway.

It's funny you should mention the worn tires. In one of the books I just finished reading (either "Palace Cobra" or "Phantom Over Vietnam"- can't remember which) the author mentions badly worn tires on Vietnam-based F-4s. Most of the Thud photos I have show good tread remaining, but then again, most of these photos are of museum or stateside ANG birds. The Thuds based in Takhli and Korat probably had it much worse.

Interesting idea; I'll give it a try- thanks!