philo426 Posted July 25, 2016 Share Posted July 25, 2016 Tough build as one half of every two part assembly was molded 1/16 inch too large.Lots of body work but i am ready to airbrush the Alclad.Here it is in Alclad gloss black primer.great paint! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DonSS3 Posted July 25, 2016 Share Posted July 25, 2016 How would you compare this to the Academy kit? Beautiful finish on that black, btw. Shame it's a primer coat. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
philo426 Posted July 25, 2016 Author Share Posted July 25, 2016 I have never built the Academy kit ,but I have heard good things about it.Yes this Alclad gloss black is one of the best paints I have ever used.i Should paint a model car with i!1No orange peel at all! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
viking73 Posted July 25, 2016 Share Posted July 25, 2016 Wow, that's a lot of work for a vac kit knowing that there is an injected version out there. Looking good so far but you must be a masochist my friend for building that kit! I have the old 1/72 Combat Models C-124 vac also the 1/72 Rick's Models C-133 vac that I would love to build but they do scare me. If an injected version appeared, I would probably buy it and trash those vacs quickly and without hesitation!! What decals/markings will you be using? -Derek Quote Link to post Share on other sites
philo426 Posted July 25, 2016 Author Share Posted July 25, 2016 (edited) Yes a ton of bodywork but I think it just might be worth it!(I hope)After the Alclad cures,I will add the decals for Northwest Airlines that I found in the box.Those decals are quite large so I must take great care when applying them. Edited July 25, 2016 by philo426 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
philo426 Posted July 25, 2016 Author Share Posted July 25, 2016 OOOOHHHHH!Shiny! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Trojan Thunder Posted July 26, 2016 Share Posted July 26, 2016 Nice work Phil. Very brave to build a Combat Models kit these days! How would you compare this to the Academy kit? Beautiful finish on that black, btw. Shame it's a primer coat. If it is anything like their C-17 kit then it does not go anywhere near the Academy kit buildability wise Quote Link to post Share on other sites
philo426 Posted July 26, 2016 Author Share Posted July 26, 2016 Thanks!it is a Rareplanes kit but I have built Combat kits and they are a challenge for sure! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Trojan Thunder Posted July 26, 2016 Share Posted July 26, 2016 Oh!, misread! :D I think any mainstream injection moulded would be better than a vacform. Yours looks great. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Slartibartfast Posted July 26, 2016 Share Posted July 26, 2016 I like to read vac builds. There's plenty of griping about how tough they are but not one chirp about accuracy. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
philo426 Posted July 26, 2016 Author Share Posted July 26, 2016 I have built tough vac forms before(Contrail HP42)this one is tough due to the fact that in every 2 part assembly,one part was a sixteenth of an inch larger than the other causing alignment and bodywork issues.The plastic of this kit is top notch and sturdy and the injection molded landing gear and props are ok but require lots of clean up due to flash and roughness.Other than that it looks good and I think it will be a welcome addition to my collection. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rich in name only Posted July 26, 2016 Share Posted July 26, 2016 Difficulty is in the quality of the kit whatever medium. Given that a vac requires all the cutting and sanding, the real challenge IMHO is sanding the edges and fitting. Compared to Tamiya (on average) any vac will be more work. Compared to limited run, the sanding is about the same. Compared to injection kits with bad fit, there's not much difference. Compared to scratch building, it's much easier, uses scratch-building skills, and encourages creative thinking in making a great model. To get a subject, it's still the only option for many types. I have the Minicraft (civil, tanker, and C-97) and RarePlanes, which I haven't started. The detail of the RarePlanes puts Minicraft to shame. But Minicraft does have a quicker, easier build. Also have the C-124, started (cut some pieces out). It's good enough to be a shame to throw away---sell. But how much would an injection 1/72 C-124 cost? That's another advantage for vac---maybe more work but can't beat the prices these days for many types with injection counterparts. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
viking73 Posted July 26, 2016 Share Posted July 26, 2016 Also have the C-124, started (cut some pieces out). It's good enough to be a shame to throw away---sell. But how much would an injection 1/72 C-124 cost? That's another advantage for vac---maybe more work but can't beat the prices these days for many types with injection counterparts. That's a good point Rich. An injected C-124 (or C-133) in 1/72 would be expensive and it probably wouldn't sell very well either I'm afraid that means we might never see an injected kit. So you have the C-124 vac kit too eh? I take mine out and look at it from time to time... Sure would be unique when done as you don't see many of those built. I've got some old Aero Club white metal engine faces, but not much else extra for it. I need to find some suitable metal or injected props. However, if I could ever find the old Jerry Rutman resin detail set for the -124 I might just be crazy enough to try it... -Derek Quote Link to post Share on other sites
philo426 Posted July 27, 2016 Author Share Posted July 27, 2016 Peeled off the window masks. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
philo426 Posted July 27, 2016 Author Share Posted July 27, 2016 Test fitting the props. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Trojan Thunder Posted July 28, 2016 Share Posted July 28, 2016 (edited) Nice work, just realised how green the interior was! I thought it was a reflection in the cockpit windscreen! Finish is looking great. Edited July 28, 2016 by Trojan Thunder Quote Link to post Share on other sites
philo426 Posted July 28, 2016 Author Share Posted July 28, 2016 Thanks!Put on the airline decals,wow!That was a nail biter! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DonSS3 Posted July 28, 2016 Share Posted July 28, 2016 RE: Comments about vacuform kits: IMO until Dynavector kits came out Rareplanes was probably the top of the line in vacuforms. Esoteric were about the same quality and some of the Esoteric molds were done by Gordon Stevens (owner/operator/chief of Rareplanes) as well so they're great example of Gordon's later work. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
philo426 Posted July 28, 2016 Author Share Posted July 28, 2016 (edited) Contrail also made really high quality kits and the current ebay prices reflect that.Combat models vac forms are more basic and require that you supply more parts but outstanding models can be achieved if you put in the work.I made a Sierra Scale Model Moraine Saulinier Type N that was really nice! Edited July 28, 2016 by philo426 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Charlie D. Posted July 28, 2016 Share Posted July 28, 2016 Looking good! I had one of these years ago, but sold it academy came out with theirs. Don't forget koster vacs...they are very nice as well. Charlie Quote Link to post Share on other sites
philo426 Posted July 28, 2016 Author Share Posted July 28, 2016 Yes the Privateer conversion kits are quite famous also from Koster. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Johnny_K Posted July 29, 2016 Share Posted July 29, 2016 Hi Everyone, I just received a vac B-47 1/48 scale from Sanger. That's a 1/48 scale P-51 as reference. This looks like it will be a real nasty build. The engraved panel lines are too wide and they come and go as the please. The rivets are ridiculous looking. Looks like I will need to do a lot of filling and sanding. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
philo426 Posted July 30, 2016 Author Share Posted July 30, 2016 Yeah John that one will be a lot of work.Reminds me of a Combat models kit.Put the de als on the underside of the wings. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Johnny_K Posted July 30, 2016 Share Posted July 30, 2016 Yeah John that one will be a lot of work.Reminds me of a Combat models kit.Put the de als on the underside of the wings. Your model looks great. I hope mine looks half as good. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
philo426 Posted July 30, 2016 Author Share Posted July 30, 2016 Put in the work and it should be just fine John! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.