Blue Diamond F-18

David Thor
In on this one! Your bench-space must be getting small!

Donald Dickson II
LOL like I said David, this one I'm not going to be getting to probably for several months. I just figured I would line them all up and post the projects. That way I have made a public commitment to doing those particular ones and will hopefully stick to that, Instead of getting modeler ADD and going oooo shiney look at that one I'll do that.

Patrick Hagelstein
LOL! I know that feeling! Good thing to get them lined up! I'm in for sure, hopefully not too long out.

David Thor
Great plan, i simply overread that because that is one amazing decal version and i would love to see it build. Anyhow, still in on this one, so i don't miss when you start. 🙂

Donald Dickson II
OK, so I want to get this done by April 21st for the big show here. So everything shelved and this has been started. I felt bad really digging into it because the packaging is so nice! LOL

Cockpit together. I can not figure out for the life of me why they made the stick into two pieces. The throttle I kind of get. But sheesh!

Patrick Hagelstein
You go for it Donald! Good luck! 👍

Donald Dickson II
Thank you Patrick!

Donald Dickson II
So, most of this past week I was dealing with the flu. So nothing done until Fri. But have gotten pretty far in that time. As you can see, main parts of the fuselage are together. Fit is pretty good. Will only need minor seam work. Its gonna be at the painting stage fairly quick I think.

Patrick Hagelstein
It's coming along nicely! Get well soon!

Tim Heimer
I like that modelers ADD! I've had that for the last several months! It sucks cause you don't finish them as quick! Hey bud, get well soon! Sorry to hear you got tagged with that! Not fun!

Clifford Keesler
Hope you are feeling better soon. The Hornet is looking good. How is the kit?

Donald Dickson II
Thank you gentlemen for the well wishes. I am much better than I was this time last week. 🙂

Clifford, it is flipping awesome. The only thing I have had an issue with thus far is the intakes which I started after those pics. Not sure if its me or not. Probably me. Intakes and I never get along. EVER.

Clifford Keesler
I wonder what Revell's New 1/32 F-18 is going to be like.

Donald Dickson II
OK, so it WAS me. I sat back down and put the second one together and figured out right away what I did wrong on the first one. I am blaming remaining sickness funk. Thats my story. 😄

Oooooo, Revell is doing a new tool 32 FA-18????????????

Patrick Hagelstein
Yep! Should be out very soon!

Donald Dickson II
It needs to be out NOW. LOL

Clifford Keesler
Yes I want one. I also want their new P-51D, but no one can seem to keep it in stock.

Donald Dickson II
That would tell me its pretty damn good then.

Donald Dickson II
Pretty much looks like an 18 now. The putty was to fill fairly minor gaps. I am really liking this kit so far.

Clifford Keesler
Looking good Donald. I watched a review of the new Revell 1/32 Mustang and it looks nice and I think it is only like 22.00 to 24.00 U.S.

Donald Dickson II
Damn! It would be interesting to do a Korean war version...

Donald Dickson II
Got it primed with Mr Surfacer 1500 and the initial painting done. The difference between light and dark ghost gray is NOT a lot. LOL

Patrick Hagelstein
As it should be! 👍 Especially when the paint has been touched up a lot the differences are hardly noticeable.

Donald Dickson II
All major parts on, and all but a few detail things painting wise done. I will do those tomorrow and gloss her up. Decals in the next couple days.

I decided to do her flaps down as I dont do that often. I rather like the way it looks. 🙂

Tim Heimer
Looking good as usual! Hey Don, just a thought but, for something this big maybe use some pastel chalk on the pilot seat to show some wear?

Donald Dickson II
Yeah, I am gonna do something with that once I pull the tape off. It DOES look too clean. Probably do a wash or the like.

Bryn Crandell
Looking real good. Can't wait to see some color.

Clifford Keesler
looking VERY NICE Donald. I finally got my first Eduard special edition kit. I am most impressed with it. Can't wait to build it. LOL.

Donald Dickson II
Ooooo, those are nice. Which one did you get? I have the Ultimate Sabre kit sitting in the stash. For when I feel I need a fifth F-86. 😄

And thank you gentlemen for the kind words and ideas. 🙂

Donald Dickson II
I knew this was going far too well. I have read comments by others that Academy decals absolutely suck. As I havent built very many, I couldnt say. Well I can now. THEY SUCK.

I spent an hour trying to get the flag flames on the nose of the plane. AN HOUR. Now, I am not an expert, but I am not bad at this. There was absolutely no way it would fit properly. I tried cutting it to make things easier. Nope. After the hour, I gave up and switched over to the Golden dragon markings. I did a few and went to bed. That was last night.

tonight I go down and am greeted with what you see in the pic. The decals had lifted off. ON THEIR OWN. AFTER HAVING USED SOLVA SET ON THEM. I hit them with more solva set. We will see tomorrow if the hold. I will finish the plane specific markings and coat it in gloss again to hold them down and then do the stencils.

At least the build part was fun.

Patrick Hagelstein
Wow! That's a bummer...

Konrad -
Hey Donald I know what you mean! I've got the same problem with my 1/72 Acadamy Phantom. Only the red MicroSol Decal Softener works in an acceptable way.

Donald Dickson II
The micro sol stuff isn't even close to strong enough. LOL

Patrick, it is what it is. I shouldn't be surprised. It couldn't go with no hiccups.

Clifford Keesler
Sorry to hear that. I had no problems with the decals on my Academy F-4 or F-14, funny huh. I got the Eduard Vietnam Scooters.

Donald Dickson II
Was the F-4 the Academy boxing or one of the Eduard boxings? The Eduard stuff isnt Academy decals.

Donald Dickson II
Got all the plane specific decals on and glossed over. And it was NOT easy. They kept blowing off as I was spraying the gloss. The stencils are going to be a blast. Pffftttt. Though I remembered something I read (after I got done of course) about using thinned Elmers glue to set the decals down. I will give that a go.

The landing gear are something else. VERY detailed. I used the rubber tires as I like them. I know a lot of folks dont. Put them on. Still need to put a couple more pieces on the rear gears. On the downhill side now.

Tim Heimer
You're getting there, just keep pushing on.

Clifford Keesler
Mine were Academy boxings.

Donald Dickson II
Maybe its just my usual luck. LOL

Got all the no step stencils on. Did the elmers glue thing. We will see tomorrow if it keeps them on.

Patrick Hagelstein
Well, the reason decals only should be dipped in water and then left to get loose is because the glue between the backing paper and the decal itself has to get workable again. A thin coat of Elmer's should have the same effect.

Donald Dickson II
Oh, these were coming loose even with decal setting solution. Never had decals act like this. But I agree, the Elmer's thing should do the trick.

Donald Dickson II
Alright. So the elmers did indeed work. All decals on, dirtied up a bit. Hard to tell in the pic, but I did take some lightened khaki and dry brushed the seat to give it some wear. So it does look a little more used now Timothy. 😄

The windscreen and canopy both had seems down the middle. Argh, I hate that.

Working on the weapons now. Fuel tanks attached. Not a lot left to go. Hopefully be done by the end of the weekend.

Patrick Hagelstein
Hang in there Donald!

Donald Dickson II
Patrick, of course! The decal issue aside, I have enjoyed this build. The kit itself goes together well. Its down to the tedious crap now. LOL Little antennae, getting all the canopy pieces together, weapons. But even that stuff is better than on a lot of other kits.

Patrick Hagelstein
👍

Clifford Keesler
You will get her. Looking good though. The decals on my Thunderbirds F-100 are giving me fits. They are brittle and want to wrinkle up.

Donald Dickson II
Ahhhh, you are not filling with me with confidence about mine! LOL Not that I am getting around to it any time soon.
And thank you! 🙂

Clifford Keesler
Finally got all the decals on the F-100. Guess they were just a problem cause they were old. aAny way after they dry for a day or so she will get her final clearcoat.

Donald Dickson II
Alrighty! She is all done! Crappy decals and all, I think it turned out fairly well. as always, I think it could be better, but I am certainly not embarrassed by it.

Patrick Hagelstein
You shouldn't be! Considering all the troubles you went through, this looks splendid! Nice weathering!

Donald Dickson II
Thank you Patrick! 🙂

David Thor
Looking great! Shame about the decals though. Always a bummer when you are hyped for a kit and then it turns out you can't build it like you want because of a failure of the company.

Donald Dickson II
David, I cant agree more! And thank you. 🙂

Tim Heimer
Yea I think we've all had that feeling when that happens! Don I have seen you shine up some pretty bad turds! I don't know how you do it but they come out looking NICE!

Clifford Keesler
She turned out really nice Donald, I am impressed. Good job.

Donald Dickson II
Timothy and Clifford, thank you kindly sirs. 🙂

I dont know how well she will do at the show Sat, but hopefully at least pull a third. We shall see.