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Post by Ben_B on May 20, 2021 7:16:08 GMT -8
Love that Jolly Green and Huey!
Ben
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Post by tatocorvette on May 23, 2021 14:06:32 GMT -8
Hello, #7: Monogram 1/32 Blue Thunder As a kid growing up in the 70's and 80's I was a big fan of all those great TV shows, especially those with cool vehicles like Airwolf, Blue Thunder, Knight Rider, BJ and the Bear, Magnum PI, Dukes of Hazzard, etc. and many others. This is the Monogram Blue Thunder in 1/32 scale that I thought would look cool in Army cammo. I don't remember when I built this one but it is all brush painted with Testors enamels! Some of the decals were from the parts box so it was most likely built around 1988-1989 or so. Cammo pattern was all from my imagination. As found, with 30+ years of dust. After the restoration: Everything was eventually found in the bin except for a small broken rotor link replaced with a piece of wire. I kind of recall there might have been a fire extinguisher in the cabin, but most likely I used it on a car. I have to look in my car's parts box. **EDIT** I found and installed the rotor top cover and the bottom ammunition belt carriers. Now it is complete! There was no fire extinguisher in the kit. I found and reattached the parts box extinguisher I originally used in the cabin. It is 1/25 so it is big, but hey! This is 18 years old me! Thanks, Ismael
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Post by tatocorvette on May 24, 2021 20:16:38 GMT -8
Hello, #8: An old favorite! Revell 1/48 UH-60A Blackhawk in US CUSTOMS livery If I had a penny for every time I had to explain "Yes, the tail rotor IS slanted! No, it is not crooked! That's how it is supposed to be!" Most likely rattle can spray. After almost 30 years, the paint is still sticky As found: After restoration: One of my all time favorites. I'm having a blast on this project! Thanks, Ismael
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Post by Joel_W on May 25, 2021 5:06:26 GMT -8
Ismael, Now that's one super restoration for sure. Love the replacement parts that you fabricated to match the originals, that's a really nice touch. From my monitor you sure matched the paint color to a tee.
As for being Normal, well, maybe we should start an official Poll. I'm sure that the results will be very interesting to say the least.
joel
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Post by tatocorvette on May 26, 2021 16:49:42 GMT -8
Hello, #9: Testors Fujimi 1/48 AH-1S Cobra I remember building this kit in the late 80's and painting it rattle can light green, then a while later repainted as it is now. Leftover decals used on the repaint. As found: Getting a bit more complex into broken or missing parts. Had to scratchbuild the rotor mast as per the original part from online pics of unbuilt kits. Also had to fabricate some hidden supports to keep it in place. As a happy accident it is now the smoothest turning helicopter rotor in my collection After the restoration: Still fighting those gaps. The TOW launchers on the right hand side are wrong. They should be horizontal, not vertical. The other side is correct but this one is a glue bomb so I left it as is. Again, having a blast restoring these. I get to be a teenager again. Thanks, Ismael
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Post by tatocorvette on May 28, 2021 21:01:45 GMT -8
Hello, We have reached a milestone in this project: We are halfway there! However, I'm getting into more and more challenging restorations. #10:Testors Italeri 1/72 Mil Mi-28 Havoc. This model was really a concept of the then still secret Soviet Mi-28 Havoc, which ended up looking different. This model was released in 1989. I think I may have built it around '93 because it seems to be an early airbrush job, or maybe a combination of spray cans and airbrush. It has a healthy coat of dullcoat. Can't remember if airbrushed or from Testors spray can. It has what seems to be maybe dullcoat runs? Not sure but they don't clean up. As found: Missing one key component: One of the two canopies. One of the rotor blades (not the loose one) broke in half during handling. I was able to locate all parts except the missing canopy. For a few days I wondered. Buy a whole kit just for a canopy? Make my own? I've never done complex clear parts. At the end, I made my own canopy. After restoration: Scratchbuilt back canopy. Quite a challenge. Front canopy from the kit. I was tempted to improve on it but original intent prevailed. Let me know what you think. Thanks, Ismael
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Post by Joel_W on May 29, 2021 6:18:25 GMT -8
Ismael, Your continued Helicopter restorations are getting better and better. At this rate I might pull out a few of my favorite 1/48 scale WWII aircraft builds, repair, clear, and display on the top shelf of my model display
joel
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Post by tatocorvette on May 30, 2021 14:57:28 GMT -8
Hello, #11: Testors 1/48 F117 Stealth Fighter. As a teenager and engineering student in the late 80's, there was nothing more badass and revolutionary than this aircraft. In my mind this was one of the most important aircraft of all time. I mean, beating radar? mind blowing! This kit was released in the early 90's. I must have built it around '92 or so. Not sure but I think it was painted with hardware store spray cans. As found: With about 30 years of dust I was able to find all parts but the broken nose pitot tubes which were replaced with wire. Cleanup proved to be a challenge in itself as 30 years of dust really got stuck into the paint. Decals silvered on the transparent parts as the paint was not the glossiest. I found the original instruction booklet and part of the original decal sheet. I couldn't resist and added the pilot's name decal. It cooperated after 30+ years. One more thing, this model is huge! It barely fits my photo booth. After restoration: Thanks, Ismael
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Post by Joel_W on May 31, 2021 5:24:59 GMT -8
Ismael, A true walk down memory lane for sure. I remember this model when I 1st saw it in a local hobby shop. Never got around to buying it. Another excellent restoration of a true classic.
joel
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Post by tatocorvette on May 31, 2021 11:24:10 GMT -8
Hello, #12: AMT/ERTL 1/72 Kamov Hokum In October of 1990, while working on a computer architecture class project with other classmates, I clearly remember discussing this model. It had nothing to do with the project. I was still learning the basics about helicopters and was not aware of this counter rotating rotor configuration, which is actually almost as old as helicopters themselves. I was impressed with the benefits mentioned in the instructions of this model. As found: Turns out many other parts are missing in this picture but were all in the bin. Most importantly, the delicate rotor assembly is intact! After the restoration: I don't think the armament was ever installed but it was there. The only missing part was one of the hardpoints. I scratchbuilt it based on the other side. Thanks, Ismael
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Post by tatocorvette on Jun 1, 2021 10:49:07 GMT -8
Hello again, OK, this is a fun one! #13: Testors 1/48 Gee Bee Racer. This is one of the simplest kits ever made and from what I understand the mold dates back to 1949! The short story of this aircraft is that it was intended to be the fastest land airplane in the world. Seaplanes were another category. In 1931 the most powerful engine was the WASP 9 cyl radial. So the aircraft was designed around that engine as minimalistic as possible. It remains one of the most difficult and dangerous airplanes ever to fly. Jimmy Doolittle set a speed record of almost 300MPH in 1932. I built this in the early 90's. If I recall correctly, this was one of my first airbrush jobs. But before I got my "real" airbrush in 1993, I briefly had one of those cheap and awful external mix airbrush. I think I did this with that based on the consistency (or lack of) in the paint coverage. You can tell the masking job was a challenge for a beginner. This puts this around '92-'93. As found: The paint is cracking probably due to it been applied heavy. But the biggest issue is missing one of the rear stabilizers Cleaning attempts were futile except for removing dust. The spots in the white areas were immune to mild cleaners. I left them as is because any more aggressive and I risk damaging the paint. But again, the white elephant in the room is the missing rear stabilizer. So I searched for the part in multiple places. No luck so far. Then searched for built glue bombs I could buy to get the part. No luck. I may get a new kit to build it again but that's another story. So we went to plan F: Make my own The stabilizers are mirror images. Actually identical parts top and bottom flipped depending on the side. So I did a template of the original part. Then transferred to thick styrene, then tapered to shape, then scribed... You are looking here at a few hours of intense work. Next challenge, match the faded and slightly yellowed white paint. And this is the result. After restoration: It may not be perfect but I'm more than happy! Another one I want to build again... Thanks, Ismael
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Post by tatocorvette on Jun 1, 2021 20:13:48 GMT -8
Hello, #14: Testors 1/48 RF-18D I clearly remember this was one of the first times I ever used my friend Carlos' Badger 150 airbrush in his office studio. He showed me by painting one of the stabilizers or tail fins. I remember been in awe witnessing airbrushing! That must have been late '92 - early '93 or so. Not been very knowledgeable about military aircraft, I incorrectly thought if it is a photo reconnaissance aircraft, then there is no need for wing hardpoints. You just want to be as light and fast as possible. While that is true for an SR-71, that is not exactly the case with multi-role F18s Anyways, it was built without wing hardpoints. But it has wingtips sidewinders. Don't judge me. I was just a 22 year old kid. As found: It had some weird sticky residue that when cleaned left marks behind like if it has eaten some of the paint. After restoration: Thanks, Ismael
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Post by Joel_W on Jun 3, 2021 5:34:31 GMT -8
Ismael, I have to hand it to you that you have most of, if not all your old models, and the skills needed to restore them. Nice restore on the 1/48 scale F-18. Even without the hard points, she still looks darn good.
joel
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Post by tatocorvette on Jun 3, 2021 18:58:49 GMT -8
Hello, #15: Testors 1/48 Mig 37B Ferret E Soviet Stealth Concept. This model was released in 1987 when the Stealth concept was in full rage. Designer John Andrews also designed the controversial Testors F19 Stealth fighter model released in 1986 creating a stir of controversy and media frenzy. If I recall correctly, I bought this kit as a Christmas gift for a friend and fellow modeler. Somehow I ended up with it at a later time. Must have been late 80's or very early 90s. As found: Even then it seems I was a decal hater. Only a single red star and nothing else. There is one critical part missing: The canopy. Not in the picture, I found in my stuff the original instructions. I used it as a guideline to scratchbuild my own canopy. So I did a paper template of the shape. Converted that to a tape template and with that I cut the 2 main pieces. A third piece was cut based on the resulting gap. While not 100% true to the original part, it is close. It was quite flimsy so I added a structural back piece To keep it in place, I added these discreet black supports And this is the farthest away I've gone from original in these restorations. Sue me! The struts for the air brakes were missing so I did my own with wire. Restored: What do you think? Thanks, Ismael
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Post by tatocorvette on Jun 4, 2021 19:25:17 GMT -8
Hello, #16: Your Majesty! The Queen herself! Advent Boeing 747-100 in 1/144 scale. My only model that doesn't fit the big light box. I apologized to this model for leaving her unattended for many years. I'm pretty sure I bought and built it in 1993. As found: The seam cracked in the back. I'll have to live with that. These are my scratchbuilt parts to replace the missing box stock ones. Not in the pic but the wingtips have what looks like antennas or something. One was missing so it was cloned. A landing gear door, done TWICE as I stupidly made it mirror image of what was needed. DUH! The other parts are landing gear supports based on the surviving ones. Fortunately, most of the landing gear survived. And she is re-done! Love her! Don't know where to put it but DARN IT! I want to build another one! Can you tell this is a favorite? Thanks, Ismael
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