#model kit making

I don’t know about you guys but I love this bit, removing the masking from the main scheme and you really get the sense of what the finished article is going to look like. Anyway having removed the masking I now need to add a load more masking for the red pinstripes and tail sections!

Well I am still working on the solar panels for the TIE, not surprising though as they’re the biggest part of the kit! Here are the first sides of the TIE’s solar panels now the framework has been painted and the masking removed, they’re still not how I hoped but at least the fine moulded details aren’t lost in the flatness of the paint anymore! They look all the better for having the grey framework around them to be honest, surprising how much of a difference this has made to the way they look.

Well it's been a while since my last update but the good news is I haven't been slacking. She's nearly ready for her final reveal but in the mean time here's a couple more pics, this time of some weapons. I decided to use the kit UB-32 launchers (think thats what they're meant to be anyway!) so to try and make them a little more presentable I drilled out the back end of the launcher and used a couple of spare decals from my UB-16s, I have also used the few decals the kit came with, we're on the home straight!

It’s finally time to get back to sticking some plastic together! I’ve been working on the Vampire again and have managed to get the fuslage shut and the main parts of the wings together. This was fairly uneventful although I have been left with a small step at one of the wing roots which I am not sure how to address without losing some of the fine rivet engraving etc. I may just have to try and reinstate this after some remedial work is carried out. 

Well I can wait no longer, time to get some paint down, this is proving to be a little more difficult than usual as my AS186 chinese compressor keeps overheating, I will strip it down again and see if I can’t get it somewhere near normal, if not I guess the letter to santa will be leaving early this year!

I knew the intakes were going to be an issue with this kit when I purchased it and right enough they're an issue! I was going to remedy the issue with Styrene sheet as usual however I had thought about attempting a fix like this previously using several coats of Mr Surfacer but didn't have the time to see it through, so this time I thought I would take the time to give it a go and see how it turns out, so on goes the first coat!

Work continues on the Vampire with more etch coming together for the tiny cockpit. heres the main instrument panel almost finished

I forgot to take an image during primer and paint, but to be honest the Tamiya fine primer and Vallejo Faded PRU Blue was uneventful in a good way!