Back to Black

Alec K
I'll take a seat for this 👍

Andy Ball
Welcome, Alec!

Alec K
It's shaping up nicely. I recall having to put quite a bit of weight in the nose when I built my Dragon kit.

Andy Ball
I've got all my 0.177 pellets squashed up...now gotta add them into every suitable opening I can find. Quite how one does it with a B-26 Marauder, I don't know!

Slavo Hazucha
Make a fire-proof mold sized roughly like the nose cavity, melt & pour...😉

Starbase101
Maybe do that for the front wheel as well (for added forward weight if the nose is too small)?

Andy Ball
@Slavo- "what could possibly go wrong"? ????.... although I think there are enough nooks and crannies to wedge those slugs into!

Andy Ball
Thanks Starbase101: I'll certainly migrate any excess to areas as far forward as possible...,Newtonian mechanics and all that!....

Cuajete
Looking good so far. Following!

Spanjaard
Looking pretty interesting indeed

Andy Ball
Thanks Cuajete and Spanjaard: I'll try and keep the momentum and provide a result of sorts!

Guy Rump
Looking impressive Andy 🙂 will follow with interest.

Gary Kitchen
Hi Andy. Taking a seat if I may. Loved your Hurricane build and this looks equally impressive!

Thomas Bischoff
Good work and nice progress!

Andy Ball
Thanks Guy, always welcome here!

Andy Ball
@Gary: nice that you popped by on the Hurricane, thanks for watching again: I hope to catch up with some of your work too!!

Andy Ball
Cheers Thomas! Thanks for the comments!!

Guy Rump
Looking good Andy, really like the detailing. 🙂

Łukasz Gliński
Watching, nice pics, Mr A

Juergen Klinglhuber
Nice progress on this one,...👍

Andy Ball
Cheers Łukasz!, hello!!, yes it's an interesting build this one from an engineering viewpoint. Maybe one of the quickest if the parts continue to be reasonably trouble-free.

Andy Ball
Thanks Juergen and welcome too!

Carlos Martin
Nice progress, and very helpful comments.

Starbase101
Funny that you mention X-Wing fighter in pic 20 - that's what I thought at first glance from pic 1 and was thinking you'd be dressing up an X-Wing cockpit with Eduard photoetch, until I saw "Sleepy Time Gal" and thought maybe you were doing a Black Widow version of an X-Wing, until my eyes finally focused and I realized "Cool! Another P-61 build!" I guess all you need now is an R2-D2 dome in place of the top turret, which will then also resolve the gun barrels issue. (And some wide red striping!) 🙂

Andy Ball
@Carlos: thanks, I hope that this is in spirit of the SCM fraternity...share builds and tips along the way!!

Andy Ball
@Starbase101: I'm guessing Messrs. Lucas and Spielberg would heartily endorse your product idea!!

Andy Ball
a nudge on from last night and earlier today, sub-assemblies....hoping to get to main spray of kit tomorrow

Gary Kitchen
Hi Andy. Looks like it's going great. The Cu wore in the wheel assemblies, are you leaving to Cu or painting them. I can't quite tell from the photos (my eyes not your photos). Also what diameter are you using for 1:72?

Slavo Hazucha
Looking all cool here - Very nice interior and the degree of dirt&grime makes sense & I like the main wheel rims too - nice parts & solid treatment 👍

Cuajete
I agree with the colleagues. Also I couldn't help but look how well masked the wheels are. Practically perfect. How did you do it? It's hard for me to make them look good after masking and also make them look perfect after painting.

Andy Ball
@Gary: I painted the copper wires black-brown around the sections of the oleos, and up from them black/silver - from the walk-around photos. The diameter?....I took the wires out of a normal UK 'live'(brown plastic coated) sleeve...I couldn't tell you other than they look to scale to me!

Andy Ball
@Slavo: a little of your advice was incorporated here....pleased with the effects in this scale: but I guess I know the difference 48 would bring to a level-up of realism....and your comments motivate me to do more!...

Slavo Hazucha
You go 48-scale & a new world of detail opens up...😉

Andy Ball
@Cuajete: guess what?: it's merely Eduard's wheel masks applied over a shot of Tamiya flat aluminium...I too thought I'd get a bleed around the rims...but no, they seemed the perfect fit. I then weathered and used a cotton bud to wipe around the rims, thus giving the highlights in metallic. Hope that explains, and thanks for the comments too!!

Andy Ball
@Slavo: I know I know.....just my inherent conservatism on these scale things...I have a 48 Tamiya Spit Vb in the stash and I'm going to give it a whirl someday soon!

Andy Ball
Well: all black (Tamiya X-1 to use it up), decals really thin and well registered....however one big Hobby Boss mistake- and crucial for this subject.....THE GAL....she's transparent against the black. They bloody forgot to add white backing to the decal- and none even provided. So Lady Luck has disappeared against the X-1. I may have to source some new decals....

Spanjaard
lady has no luck....
sorry for the bad joke.... that is really a stupid mistake from the manufacturer....

Andy Ball
@Spanjaard: indeed...I think there are some ragged edges to Hobby Boss's offering, perhaps they ran out of money in their development of the kit at the concept stage....

Slavo Hazucha
HB really seems to have two faces... The two kits I built (Su-34, F-111) were really good, including the decals, nothing to complain about - excellent coverage, reasonably thin, easy-setting (with Tamiya setter strong...) Got another Flanker in stash, looks fine too... But I've heard stories, particularly bout the 72-scale range, being somewhat lacking at times... But lacking a key color on the decals seems somewhat steep... 🙂 Hope you get a suitable replacement...

Juergen Klinglhuber
What a pity! I hope you are able to get hold of new/better decals soon....

Łukasz Gliński
Hm, you can switch to a different noseart 😉
britmodeller.com/for..awica-ii-dragon-172/
But more seriously: etsy.com/es/listing/..172-scale-northrup-p

Andy Ball
I feel quite cross about this - and am going to see about sending a (modified) replacement. I hope the Chinese parent company sees this in the spirit of improvement.....so have emailed Hobby Boss and let's see what their customer service is like!

Starbase101
I can totally understand (and agree with) wanting the manufacturer to make right with something they obviously goofed on. Have you checked online reviews and other people's builds of this kit to see whether it might be a widespread issue (all releases of the kit) or if your's is just a glitch affecting only a smaller print run of the decals? It could be that not all the HB decals have this issue. (See, that's why you should have put a slave-girl Leia for the nose art! j/k) After-market decals are often better quality and more complete than those provided with a kit, especially those made by companies doing one and only one thing - printing decals. Hopefully you're able to get a proper replacement from HB.

Carlos Martin
Andy, no surprise you are cross and good for you if you complain. We should complain more. I recently was amazed at how a clear mistake in the airfix me262 was not even acknowledged in the webpage or in the instructions. I can't imagine any other hobby where a faulty product is sold without even a warning. Anyway, I hope everything is sorted soon.

Andy Ball
Well, I've tossed the email over to their customer services, let's use this as a test to see how they respond. It's often cases like this that make you an advocate of brands when you're treated fairly when they've let you down. I'm also not sure why they depict her on both sides, along with the nickname?...but nowhere does it state to add one on top of the other to overcome the transparency, say.
@Juergen: watch this space....?
@Starbase, totally agree with a/markets...used a few of them before and all were great: Princess Leia...now there's an idea!
@Łukasz: thanks for the link, the decal sheets do have many stencils...therefore I conclude the HB is a little basic in this detail area too, (along with aspects of the construction and representation of the P-61's underwing ordinance options).
@Carlos: I think they're aiming at 'shake and bake' modellers, who'd like the 'toy-like' approach of builds, but I must state the kit goes well together and has pretty good details. I can't compare to Dragon/Bilek, but *perhaps* it's the best in '72nd?...

Cuajete
Andy, sorry to read this unpleasant incident. Hope you get lucky with Hobby Boss customer and spare parts service. Rest of kit looks great!

Mathijs Beenhakker
Maybe you got an early run of different markings!? in a review of this kit i dont see any pinup girl and in another i see the pinup as separate decals...And even the actual plane had many versions...both with and without the Pinup girl

Guy Rump
Looking good Andy, even with the decal irritation. I have built one Hobbyboss kit before and although as you state, "toy like" approach, it did go together well, the only criticism was the basic cockpit. I do like your P-61, food for thought at this end... 🙂

Andy Ball
@Cuajete: I'm not holding out for HB, (no reply as yet), but life goes on...., the project will complete.

Andy Ball
@Mathijs: thank-you for your research, Sir. Maybe mine will have to be "pinup-less"?

Andy Ball
@Guy: I guess it's maybe best P-61B in this scale?...(loved your Beau BTW- have you ordered Airfix's Beaufort?...)

Guy Rump
Thanks for the recommendation Andy, one for my wishlist as I haven't obtained a P-61 as yet. And yes, the Beaufort is on pre-order and eagerly anticipated! 🙂

Mathijs Beenhakker
@Andy Ball and Guy Rump....Think there's a clarification necessary for the so called "Toy Like" approach...the "Easy-Assembly" kit range of Hobby Boss (it says so on the box) is meant for people (kids) new to this wonderful hobby so they wont get discouraged putting their kit together, while there's the normal range kits which is not "Toy like" at all and are up there with the top kits by Hasegawa or Tamiya

Guy Rump
Thanks for the info Mathijs Beenhakker 🙂

Mathijs Beenhakker
@guy Rump
you're most welcome

Slavo Hazucha
I think I mentioned it already, but the HB 48-scale Flanker range and somewhat older F-111 are really good kits. I also liked the plastic (nice position between too brittle/too soft) and the decals I had were good, reasonably thin and aligned without protest into lines & rivets with a simple Tamiya Markfit strong treatment...

Stephan H.
Thanks Andy for the detailed report. If have the same kit in stash and its great to have an idea what things I have to take extra care of. 👍

Andy Ball
@Slavo: I think (gal-aside), this is a superb kit. You're right the plastic's just the right density, in most areas it almost slots together albeit with their locating lugs it's unforgiving if you're dry fitting, as it almost commits you to joining the pieces. The decals are very easy and thin and have conformed to contours. So I guess their 48th philosophy is reflected in their 72nd works too.

Andy Ball
@Stephan H: anytime you start, send me a message and I'll help out with any additional questions. Build it, you won't be disappointed! Thanks for looking in!...

Andy Ball
So, tonight, I declare her done!!

Gary Kitchen
Hi Andy. It looks fabulous. The panel lines and weathering on the all black paint job look amazing. 👍

Carlos Martin
She looks great!!! I love the chipping along the panel lines.

Andy Ball
@ Gary: many thanks Sir, makes all then difference to the practicing modeller!

Andy Ball
Cheers Carlos!! The weathering on these planes is notoriously difficult to do well...I hope it's reasonable to scale!?

Juergen Klinglhuber
It came out Beautyfull !! well done - great work 👍

Slavo Hazucha
Looks really cool even with the "lo-vis" Gal at the nose!😉

I also agree with Carlos that the chipping is very nicely done & to me seems just right 👍

Andy Ball
Cheers@Slavo: as always, your comments are a real tonic!

Thomas Bischoff
Great work - I really like it.
Are you using Vallejo Black? Looking at Picture 42 the spray pattern may suggest that it was probably not thinned enough.

Andy Ball
@Thomas: I used Vallejo black primer, but thinned Tamiya X-1 quite a lot, and whether that's affected the effect?, I also used Mr Color clear to seal everything- I guess I've still got some consistency to look at, and thank you for the observation!

Thomas Bischoff
X-1 is a gloss coat - the slightly freckled look is in your case maybe even better than a perfectly polished high sheen finish 🙂

Alec K
Very nicely done Andy 👍

Andy Ball
@Thomas: yeh, the X-1 was intended to be a 'sheen' coat, and some of the freckles are the matt aluminium distressings applied.

Andy Ball
@Alec and @Roland: appreciative of your comments, I think I've leaned quite a bit on this build.

Spanjaard
very nice job. pitty about the gal...

Gary Dahlström
One of my favorite all-time aircraft; nicely done.

Andy Ball
@Spanjaard...same old tale...the girl disappears into the dark!.....thanks for the comment

Andy Ball
@Gary - thanks: I hope I haven't diminished your attraction for the 'Widow!

Cuajete
The girl disappears into the dark, but night looks very good! Nice weathering, Andy. Congrats!

Andy Ball
@Cuajete: sadly, these ladies of the night all disappear into the shadowy world of the model-maker's imagination! Many thanks for the observations!!

Andy Ball
Thanks Bernd for coming and taking a look!

Andy Ball
Thanks Zhivko, as ever, for your interest

Andy Ball
Thanks Petar for checking in!

Andy Ball
Thanks Haluk! It's a great kit if you're thinking of it?…

Andy Ball
Thanks Pietro!

Andy Ball
Cuajete…many thanks, mate!

Andy Ball
Jean-Louis, Merci beaucoup!

Andy Ball
Thanks Agustin!

Andy Ball
Cheers Guy!

Andy Ball
Thanks airjuneau for taking a look!

Andy Ball
Thanks, as ever, Alberto!

Andy Ball
Good to hear from you Tony, thx

Mirko Römer
Music to the eyes! 🙂

Andy Ball
Thank-you Carlos!
@Mirko: If music be the food of model making….eat up!

Andy Ball
Thanks André!

Shar Dipree
Nice. I'm still missing a P-61 in my collection.

Andy Ball
Well Shar, I'd say this is the best of its kind in 72nd, and you'd know doubt add plenty of detail to it!

Andy Ball
Thanks Vincent!

Andy Ball
Thanks Simon!

Andy Ball
And again, Gustavo- many thanks

Andy Ball
Thanks David!

Andy Ball
Thank-you Finn, it's one from a few summers ago...

George Williams
Back to black - Amy Winehouse tribute? Sorry to hear of your decal problems, good luck with Hobby Boss service, but please understand "customer service" doesn't translate into Mandarin Chinese, they don't understand what it means. Great build by the way.

Andy Ball
@George: yes it was one of two tracks - the other AC/DC 'in' black. I'll leave the gal where she is- she's a nightly apparition! I've also found Hobby 2000's customer service lacks punctuality as my B-26 has 2 misshapen prop blades. Otherwise it's a scratch build modification! Thanks for the comment!!
@Neil: thanks again- and hope all's well!

Andy Ball
Cheers Darth!, appreciate your visit.

Andy Ball
thanks Javier M!

Andy Ball
Thanks Marius, Petr and the 'mates community' for taking an interest in this older build

Andy Ball
And Noël and the ever-productive Robert too!

Andy Ball
Rutger, and others, again thanks for the view and like

Andy Ball
Thanks Alberto. Glad you popped in

Andy Ball
James C- always a pleasure to have your endorsement!

Neil
Very nice work. I've just started on the venerable 1/48 Revell version myself. Your rendition looks great. I've also just finished my first ever Hobbyboss too and found it to be a 'tidy' kit to build 👍

Andy Ball
That'll be a real sweet kit in 48th, I pop over and take a look….
This one actually fell off my model shelf hit a concrete floor and largely stayed together bar an undercarriage leg and the 303s - so they're robust too!!
Thanks for sharing your comment too, Neil!

Duster_d
Wow! It looks cool and deadly! 👍

Edward MacKenzie
Congrats mate! Wow, this Black Widow is looking amazing!

Mr James
Nice work Andy. Hard to weather a black surface but you've managed it well

Andy Ball
@Duster_d @Edward and @Mr James: thanks for the comments...the photos are a little over exposed to show it off...I think it's probably the best in 72nd, but am not sure on the quality of the decals though- especially the mascot/girl...but you takes your choice as they say....