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The "Project" Revel F4U-4 in 1:48 It's been sitting on my shelf for at least 10 years before I got around to it. So much easier to do larger pilot figures. My messy workstation, I liked the cheapo airbrush so much I went out and got a decent gravity fed one from paasche. Also did tests on spoons to get the color right. I think it turned out well. Kit had a gimmick, where the wings and gear were hinged. Great idea 'in theory' Wing joints broke, and the gear don't sit quite right. (Gear does twist and fold like the real deal though) And now for the hideous mistake that put it back on the shelf for months. Didn't have varnish, so used the model builder 'Future Klear' trick, I saw on youtube... Finally got back to it, and buffed and wet sanded as best I could. Some decals were tiny, but went on great. On the shelf with ordnance. Extra drop tanks, were turned into napalm canisters. (Nose band did end up with some silvering.)

more news mmmmmm Dear friends, So, here is the new year 2021! Like anyone else, we're going to hope that it will be better than the previous one. However, for IL-2 Great Battles, the last year was quite positive in spite of all complications. We hope that we'll build on this success this year - the plans are quite extensive. Let's start with the first in-game shots of the British fighter Hawker Typhoon Mk.Ib which is being developed for the Battle of Normandy. As you can see, it looks nearly complete, but in fact, there is still a lot to do - a hefty chunk of work is left on its cockpit instruments and the flight model. Nevertheless, we're expecting to finish everything before the end of this Spring and release it to all Battle of Normandy customers. Speaking of the Normandy map, the layout of the towns on its continental part is complete for the first iteration. A bunch of landmark buildings and a significant part of AI-controlled ground vehicles planned for Normandy are already done. We're researching the data for the Normandy Career mode. Meanwhile, the AAA trucks are also showing good progress - the GAZ-MM with the 72-K gun will be ready first. Its chassis is ready both in terms of the 3D and physical models while the crew animations and audio are being worked on. We've managed to find the authentic firing tables prepared by the Main Artillery Directorate of the Red Army and printed by the military publishing house of the People's Commissariat of Defense of the Soviet Union in 1943 and made the ballistics of the 25mm rounds and their armor penetration ability in various cases as close to the real thing as possible according to this data. We still have to research and recreate the really complicated correction system for the gunsights, that's what we're working on now while our partners at Digital Forms are creating the complex 3D model of the AAA gun itself as you can see on the screens below:

Hadn't completed a kit since I was in my teens. Got back into the hobby while I was away from the Dogz and isolated even further 'up north' a couple years ago. (Sorry for the pic dump, been saving these up on my phone starting 2018, Finally got around to posting) Started with an SBD. Cheap kit, had to drill the dive brake holes myself. Flight Officer Bean reporting sir. Bits n' Bobs half completed. First ever attempt with an airbrush and mixing my own paint color. (couldn't find the right blue) Assembly, first attempt at drybrushing on the cylinders as well. (cant even tell ) DON'T LOOK I'M HIDEOUS!! (we'll just fix that in 'post') As she sits today on the shelf. (canopy is still a hot mess but I don't look too close)

Also built around the same time period. Airfix Yak-9D 1/72 Only the 2nd attempt at painting pilots ever. Masking Spinners..... Yep, not a fan. Official, period correct Yak9 Jig, right? I read about it on an IL2 forum. Seems Legit. Masked and assembled. (simple kit) Had to learn how to putty and sand. (hint, do NOT thin Tamya Grey with glue....) Thought I'd be smart and use Blue Tak for the cammo masking. Another learning mistake. Overall passable for my 2nd go. Decals and a shiny shelf does wonders. (Mind the wing gap.. it's not shoddy Soviet workmanship, I just stuck it into a display case 1 size too small.)

A couple more. First up, a Revell Mig3 1:72 Another inexpensive practice kit. Seat weathering. Great Decal! On the shelf. (Fussing over cockpit details... Why? just, Why?) Airfix P39-Q 1:72 Third go at pilot figures. I think I'm getting the hang of it now. Spent all that time getting the seat stippled just right, and then when I glued the pilot on, it covered it all up. More putty filler, but not as noticeable. (Kit had gaping holes in the underside of the wings for the gunpods, but I wanted clean wing so...) Lots of sanding fitting the wings to fuselage. (get what you pay for I suppose.) Only after the kit was glued did i realize it needed weight in the nose to sit properly. Snipped up a lead fishing weight and glued it in front of the nose gear. (hardly noticeable) Also first attempt at weathering. Overdid the gunsmoke. Kit didn't come with a radio box aft of the pilot so I carved up a sprue and put it in. Also the sharp eyed of you might see the next project was already on the go in the back ground. As it sits today on the shelf. Still needs decals.. Maybe one day, I won't be lazy.