LemonJello

Trigger, are you trying to put me in the poor house with all these sweet V-22 profiles? I have 2 in the stash right now, one is going to be a USCG white/orange bird, but I've got that yellow Canadian SAR profile you did up stuck in my head, and now that yellow/green UFS idea is just too eye catching to ignore. I wonder if I'll ever actually build a vanilla USMC battle bus?

Looking sharp! This one is sure to be a conversation starter anywhere you take it.

Looking sharp! Can't wait to see more.

Well, not to toot my own horn (too much), this is what I just finished up this weeked: Check out my AV-22! It's over in the helo forum if you want to see it all from its humble beginnings. I've also got a 1/48 A-6E that I just need to hang the ordnance on and take some photos to post.

The idea keeps running through my head to try and make it. Have to see how the work and home schedules align. I doubt I'll bring anything, but who knows?

You've got to be careful with those bottles, they've been wearing out faster than the contractor specs rated them... That's a cool little conversation piece to have, especially for the rotor-heads among us.

It's done. Here are the latest photos. I used the extra decals from several kits, most notably the spare tailcodes from my A-6 that is soon to be joining the display ranks. I actually got something finished! I think it needs a final flat coat. THEN this project will be concluded, and I'll have to decide on what to do next; a USCG V-22 or a "navalized" A-10 with wingfolds, tailhook and USMC markings...maybe I'll just do a regular build, I've got enough of those in the stash too.

Windows Vista- must be code for P.O.S. Double post, nothing to see here, move along....move along.

I used: Polly Scale: US Khaki, Tactical Tan Model Master: USMC Green, Aircraft Interior Black Updates have been a long time coming on this one. Once I closed the fuselage up, it just sat there staring at me. It probably took me a couple months just to keep going after the first color was sprayed. After I put the gear on it, stepped back and took a look, I just had to post, it does look pretty good, doesn't it? More to come, including the finished (I hope!) product.

This is, simply put, amazing. The level of detail and craftmanship you've put into this really blows my mind. I'm with several others here, I think I'll have to take up knitting or stamp collecting if this is the kind of work you produce in two months, and with only a couple years of experience in the hobby. Wow.

Sure, no problem. Just expect it to take a month or so, mostly because I'll get sidetracked with other things and it'll sit on the bench for a long time. This build has been going on for years, and I'm just now getting near the finish line...

It's nothing fancy, just time consuming; all you need is a sharp #11 blade, a straightedge and masking tape. I sprayed the lightest color and let it cure, then start randomly putting squares/rectangles of tape, trying to keep everything more or less aligned/oriented along the long axis of the plane. Then it's just lather, rinse, repeat for the successive colors. This is my 3rd attempt with MARPAT, and I think it turned out the best by far. Tonight I hope to get the nacelles and rotors mounted. I'm thinking that some 5 minute epoxy is going to be needed for that join.

It's been a while, but I've gotten some work in on this project. She's a little closer to actually sitting on the shelf in my office. On to the photos, and comments are welcome: I just may actually get this phoenix-like build done this year!

Nice find. I had the chance to pick one up several years ago, and I still kick myself that I didn't pull the trigger on that buy. Some Pave Low fan is going to be very happy.

Looks like another beautiful build you've got started, Jon. I may just take up stamp collecting...

Well, I'll just have to keep on the lookout for one of these. It will make a great addition to my growing stockpile of gunships. Cool.

Jeeze, maybe he forgot to pack his airbrush and had to hand paint that? Hubrol, Tamiya or ModelMaster? That is a mighty fine looking idea both in concept and execution there. Sharp.

I'm working on a Hasegawa/Revell rebox of the A-6 in 1/48. Give me a couple days and I'll take some pics of the nose well for you and post them here.

Could you imagine what this thread would look like if the Jolly Rogers flew the -22? As I said in his intro thread, it'll be good to have a currently serving V-22 crewchief to ask questions and get the scoop from as I build a few more of these birds.

Welcome aboard! You'll soon be getting inundated with questions about your birds, I'm sure. Now I know who to pester for all sorts of little details when I start on my next -22 kit.

Now, THAT is a claim that I can't wait to see! Don't worry too much, Trigger, I ( and my trusty sock o'quarters) have your back. What did you do, paint a 'cat up in orange as a target drone?

I'd really like to give that shiny scheme a try on one of my -22s, maybe the vanilla troop taxi I've still got to make. I'm not crazy enough to put digi on something as big as a Spectre, though (well, not yet anyway).

When is someone going to get out there and put the FOD covers on the engines? Amazing how tough the Hawg is, isn't it? And the fighter mafia wants to get rid of them...

Ooohhhhh, me likey that idea! I have a "U-boat" in 1/48 that could just get such a treatment...but first I have to get through my current (and phoenix-like) gunship project. Its just like Trigger and his shenanigans to put project ideas into my head when I don't need them.

Not sure about 'hawks, but back in my grunt days, it was always muzzle down in the -46 and -53, cause all the important stuff to keep the airframe in flight was above you; a hole in the floor wasn't nearly as bad (not that a negligent discharge was ever a good thing). Even to this day, I get jumpy when people don't show good muzzle awareness, even if its a cleared and safed weapon being turned into the armory...