News Feed

Eric Thornton
woah very cool whatif!

Maciej Bellos
Watching!

Robert Podkoński
Me 2! (I uploaded a few close-up photos of Su-15TM here:
Few "exotic" aircraft from Kosice Museum | Album by podkon
perhaps you will find them useful 🙂 )

Eric Thornton
+1 following

Giannis Kaltapanidis
Yep! Me too...

Sergej I
In 👍!

Casey Beckett
The Boeing Killer -She just looks mean, too.

J35J
Taking a chair

John
Gorgeous Flagon!

Eric Thornton
Nice! Love these funky looking Soviet jets

Mark Crees
painted H417 around the spheres underneath

Torsten
Nice, follow 👍

Michael .
I think I would have gone numb doing all those decals. Great job...

F-104
It took me 3 days, but my F-4EJ Digital Phantom was worse.

Ray Loch
Awesome job on all the decals, interested in whose decals and what brand of setting solution. Thanks Ray

F-104
Hi Ray, decals and stencils are from Fundekals, 48-033 and 48-039. Setting solution is Micro Sol. Best J.

Ekki
Following.

Oleg Bogolei
very impressive!

David Funke
watching! very nice detail work!

pato05
Thanks. I hope I won't screw up along the way.

Konrad
Great work - following

pato05
Little progress. I added few more details to the interior. Next step will be surfacer and painting.

ice
Very nice details. You show really nice skills here.

pato05
Thanks ice.
I started with painting of few pieces.

Cuajete
Fantastic scratch work. Superb Instrument panel 👍

Konrad
pato05 - you have decided do not open pilots doors? Why? Your work is amazing 🙂

pato05
Kon_Bar - Thank you very much. I was thinking about cutting the pilots door, but then I decided not to and make my work a bit easier. The problem is, that the doors would be too thick and would look unrealistic (like heavy armoured door from a tank). Hobby Boss makes very clear parts, so I think the interior will be quite visible anyway. The back doors will be of course open 🙂

Zsolt Czegle
Following!

Olivier
I am amazed at your painting skills ! Do you use a microscope ?

pato05
Many thanks. Olly - I don't use microscope - just a really fine and sharp brush. All painted with Vallejo paints on brush and finished with Light Grey and Medium Grey wash from Ammo Of Mig Jimenez.

Spanjaard
amazing job you are doing pato05!

Alec K
Excellent 👍

J35J
Impressive!👍🏻

Łukasz Gliński
Good to see you back with this one 👍

Nicolas
Very nice, joining.

gorby
Exceptional work so far Alec.
You're going to show us all up again aren't you? 😉
(Come to think of it that should have been a statement rather than a question. 😄 )

Alec K
Thanks Gorby! Not my intention, just sharing my modeling joy in my characteristic pedantic manner 😄

bughunter
Finally a new project from Alec 👍 Watching for sure!

Bernhard Schrock
One of my favorite prop classics! Please a seat in the first row! Excellent start. I'm curious for more scratchbuilding especially flaps & co. 🙂

Cuajete
Very nice job so far. Following!

Alec K
For such exulted following, I better up my game. Welcome to the show mates, I'll try not to disappoint.

Michael Kohl
My kinda stuff. I am in too.

Łukasz Gliński
Bigly yuge indeed 👍

Finn
Looking really good and looking forward to see more!

Andy Ball
excellent and useful build tips....didn't know about acrylic glue....thanks for sharing the build!!

Alec K
Thanks for checking in mates, and thanks for the kind feedback 👍

Erik Leijdens
Nice to see another project form you, Alec. Great start. Looks like the Neptune need a lot of extra detailing.

Nathan Dempsey
Can't wait to see the finished kit.

Jakub Fiala
Very nice work in the cockpit, Alec 👍 I'm looking forward to see next steps. Also, i'm surprised how big this bird is 😮

Alec K
Thanks gents! Erik, you are right, the additional details will make it a nicer build but it's noteworthy how good this kit is after so many years. And yes Jakube, it's a BIG bird 🙂

Bernhard Schrock
Alec: they were several colors schemes used on dash 7. Which scheme intend you to build?

Alec K
Hello Bernhard - I really like the later schemes of Light Gull Gray with white fuselage decking. I came across several renditions of BuNo 147967's scheme (see my project's banner) and as long I figure out the markings (specifically, what kind of decals I will need to make myself), this will probably be the one.

Oliver Zwiener
Really wow - take a seat !

Alec K
Welcome Oliver! I have added info about my fun time with Plus Model's flaps 👍

Cuajete
Good progress, Alec 👍

Ludvík Kružík
Really interesting project. I believe that in your rendition it will be another exceptional model. I will definitely follow this build 👀

Dave
A lot of work ahead, but it seem that you have it worked out before hand. Nice

Bernhard Schrock
Excellent start on the wings. Watching for next steps. 🙂
P.S. is #PJ 12 in gullgray & white you choice?

Alec K
Thank you all for looking. Bernhard, PJ 12 it is, for now 😉 🙂

Maciej Bellos
Watching!

Cuajete
Wow... great job so far 👍

S M
Wow! Must follow!

Alec K
Thank you friends 👍

Ludvík Kružík
Alec, your modifications to this kit are great. 👍 I just don't understand one thing. Is there any reason why you didn't simply weaken parts 62-65, 66 and 67 from the inside and then glue the Eduard parts to them?

Jakub Fiala
This is a pleasure to watch 👍 As usual 🙂

Alec K
Welcome Jakube 👍

Ludvíku: A fair question regarding a choice I myself questioned. I though the Eduard parts were too thin (the formed reinforcing metal structure on the interior of the doors seems quite deep to my eye). Also, the front wheel bay door structure looks different than the Eduard interpretation. All that said, I think thinning the kits' parts and adding styrene strips would have been easier. Cheers 👍

Konrad
Amazing!

Ludvík Kružík
Thank you for your reply. I don't mean to disparage your work in any way. I knew you had a reason. I just didn't know what it was.
The result looks very good. 👍 Especially considering the actual size of the parts in 1:72 scale. It's obvious you take great care with all the details. I wish you a steady hand and a good eye throughout the build of the model and look forward to seeing the progress. 🙂

Alec K
Completely understood, I knew what you meant 🙂 👍

Daniel Klink
Most impressive Alec.. That Metalwork is awesome!
Love the outcome so far👍

bughunter
Exactly Daniel! A joy to follow 👍

bughunter
A drawer like this is indispensable! The search light is beautiful!

Guy Rump
Great modelling! 👍

Alec K
Thank you mates! Frank: I imagine you and others will relate 🙂. Recently I was going through my "keep for just in case" items and failed to get rid of much. Most of such items do not occupy a lot of space, it's much harder to justify keeping junk that does 😉

bughunter
That it also a fact: if you don't used a thing for years and drop it in the bin one week later you will need it! That is caused by Murphy's law.

Alec K
😄 😄 😄 👍

Alec K
Greetings mates! Contrary to what you may be thinking, I have NOT been screwing off and AM actively working on this, just veeery slowly. Here is an update on my labors.

Cuajete
Good progress, Alec. Looking so good 👍

Ludvík Kružík
I'm watching this with great interest. I am always amazed at what can be done on this scale. 👍

Alec K
Thanks much guys. This gives me strength to keep plugging away at this beast 😄

Erik Leijdens
Impressed by your build, great scratching and use of "household" materials.

Alec K
Cheers friends. Just so you don't think I gave up on this beast, here are some progress pics. This project has been a MONSTER but it's progressing, despite my every effort to screw it up.

Ronan
Very nice so far 👍

gorby
Remarkable Alec! Your attention to detail is jaw-dropping.

Michael Kohl
Very fine build log with loads of fixes. I thoroughly enjoy it.

J35J
Great progress, detail level is outstanding.👍🏻

Nicolas
I'll take a seat and watch.

Alec K
Thanks gents for stopping by and for your kind comments. It's always a pleasure to read those 👍

Jennifer Franklin
I love your journaling, so much to learn from you, following 👀. Your work is amazing.

bughunter
Great that you continued to work on this bird and uploaded new pics....
But, have you deleted all old pics and uploaded new ones? Normally I check the date to see, where the news are, but here _all_ pics are of the actual date 🙁 But some were definitely not new for me.

Clement
Wow, this is trully impressive. I admire your scratchbuilding ability!

Alec K
Thank you friends for your comments and support, very appreciated.

Jennifer: I am glad you like my ramblings. I realize I get into the weeds, but I always enjoyed others sharing their progress in detail and it has helped me great deal with my own modeling journey, so I am trying to do the same.

Frank, you are correct. There was a discussion some time ago about the preferred sizing of images for albums and I realized mine were pretty small, so I decided to re-upload the old pics in higher resolution. The teaser in the album marks where new work images begin. I hope it's not a big faux pas to do this as I plan to upgrade some of my older albums this way.

bughunter
Thank you Alex - the new bigger picture size is for sure a _good_ reason to replace them 👍
There was also a discussion in feature request that replacing pictures by better ones do not trigger a notify. So this can be done behind the scenes without bother anyone..

Jakub Fiala
Hello Alec. I'm glad to see you back here after some short break 🙂
That new vacu canopy looks great 👍

Alec K
Díky Jakube, glad you stopped by. This thing WILL be done this year… 😄

Cuajete
Great job, Alec. I'm glad to see you again here 🙂

Alec K
Thank you Cuajeye 🙂

Lochsa River
a master class....

Alec K
Finally painted something on this bird that will be visible on the outside. Cheers!

Michael Kohl
A pleasure to follow you on this journey. Sprue goo bubbles are a problem I am familiar with too and is doesn't have to do with stirring. Unfortunately I cannot provide an alternative theory why this happens. Maybe someone out there can enlighten us.

gorby
Good grief you've put an amazing amount of effort into those flaps!

Ludvík Kružík
Alec, good progress! 👍 I admire the precision with which you create the details of the model. My admiration is all the greater because your model is in 1/72 scale.

The bubbles could have been caused by a chemical reaction between the sprue material and the solvent, or between the plastic of the model and the "plastic slurry" during drying (similar to adding yeast to dough), but that's just my guess.

Zbynek Honzik
Alec, what a no-compromise project! Very inspiring! And fingers crossed that the wind doesn't get out of your sails. 👍🍀

Alec K
Hmm, interesting observations regarding the sprue goo bubbling, thanks for commenting on that Michael and Ludvik. Ludvíku, I think there is probably something to your theory. I just bought some dissolved putty from GSI and have high hopes for it.

Gordy: "good grief" about sums it up…

Zbynku, thanks for the encouraging post 🙂

Jennifer Franklin
great job replacing the messed-up canopy

Bernhard Schrock
Alec: I am very happy to see that this great project continues. You solved the canopy problem very well. I suspect that your self-made part is clearer than the one from the kit….🙂.
Great details on the wheel bays & landing gear, which is also movable! I am looking forward to further progress.🙂

bughunter
Great and careful work again!
May be your sprue putty layer was too thick? The extra thin glue need a way to go out. So it is may be better to work in thin layers and give the glue the chance to left the plastic.
I'm also not a fan of normal putty, but I used some days ago the Tamiya Light curing putty (I wrote about in my Swallow project). I like it! But also there it is recommended in the manual to use only thin layers up to 2mm. If you put light on a thicker layer it will get too hot inside and create bubbles. But as this hardens quickly with UV-light it is no problem to apply additional layers.

Cuajete
Wow... fantastic job so far 👍

Alec K
Thank you mates. I think the canopy was the correct decision, the thickness alone makes it so much better. Silver linings…

Bugs, I think you are right about the goo. I did glob it on pretty thick, forgetting all my school chemistry 😄. Thanks for the advice as well, I'll have to look up that Tamiya light curing putty.

Marius
Alec, such a gorgeous aircraft which I also want to build. I got dissapointed to find out that the Hasegawa kit has raised lines and I wasn't yet willing to do the effort you are doing now.

Outstanding work, I admire the dedication you're pouring in this project. Thank you for recommending some scribing tools, mine got old and blunt and needed new ones.
One question: why use the saw for scribing? What is the advantage?

Thomas Bischoff
I missed this thread completely - outstanding work! Landing Gear, Cockpit, Flaps and much more just makes me feel like a beginner.

gorby
Amazing work Alec!

Alec K
Thanks you guys. Thomas, your work looks rather advanced to me 🙂 👍

Marius, this is my first scribing/riveting project on the entire model and I really enjoyed the process. Regarding my use of thin saw blade: on curved surfaces like the sides of a fuselage, I find it difficult to use the UMM scribers. It's hard to describe, you just have to experience it. To get a nice even panel line with the scriber, I apply several passes at low pressure. This is hard to do when you are following a curve because the scriber's "angle of attack" relative to the surface is important and must be continually maintained as you move the tool. Saw works much better and produces a comparable result. Cheers!

Michael Kohl
I can only second Alecs arguments. Particularly if you have a panelline which was interrupted- by sanding for example - the saw can use the still existing grove as a guide much better than a scriber can.

Gary Kitchen
Wow. What an odyssey of a build log. So detailed and painstakingly explained. Thank you. All aboard for the remainder of this journey.

Łukasz Gliński
Dat rivets look great, watching with envy. 👍
Thx for the Dymo tape hint, I have to test it, all these fancy modelling scotch tapes seem too thin for my taste.

Alec K
Thanks Gary, welcome to the odyssey. We should hit port soon 🙂

Łukasz, Dymo tape is pretty good and readily available, but couple words of caution: its adhesive is very aggressive and tends to leave residue on smooth surfaces, and it's not very "bendy". It sticks to Surfacer fine and comes off the same, but I had it peel off paint on smoother paint finish. The Carving Guide Tape (HIQPARTS CGT-6MM, No) is a better option IMHO but not sure how easily available.

Łukasz Gliński
Thx for the additional info. The transparent ones don't work for me at all - my eyesight is too poor 😉
But I think Dymo could be good for the basic rescribing, even before surfacer.
For the later corrections I have these green semi-transparent one, but its edges are not thick enough for me to do the long straight lines:
mojehobby.pl/product..-Edged-Tape-3mm.html

Clement
What an impressive work! Your dedication to the project is inspiring.

Nathan Dempsey
Great build log. Some very useful information on scribing too.

Jakub Fiala
Very nice rescribing, Alec 👍 . As for dymo tape, I have the same experience as you.
Its nice to see, you are using Hauler products. This company is located about 500 meters from my home 🙂

Alec K
Thanks Clement and Nathan!

Łukasz - for sure, give it a try. For straight scribing, I like a firmer wide tape to keep the "straightness" and Dymo tape works great for that. It's also nice and thick for guiding the scribed. My only complaint, again, is that the adhesive sometimes stay put.

Jakube - thanks for encouragement. Do you mean PlusModel? Or does Hauler makes their PE? Either way, I am jealous 🙂 👍

Jakub Fiala
Alec, i mean Hauler ( scribing template on your pic#110). They really make their PE. I saw it with my own eyes 🙂

Alec K
Oh yeah, sorry! Got it. I have many Hauler PE sets (as well as their kits) in my stash 🙂

Ludvík Kružík
Alec, the longer I follow your work on the model, the more I like it. The care you take with all the details is admirable. 👍

In the time I have been building my models, I have come to the same experience as you. For restoring panel lines on curved surfaces of the model (like the fuselage), a razor saw is best. It's exactly as Michael Kohl writes a bit above.

To transcribe the lines on the model I use (among other things) rulers, which I made from an ordinary rolling ruler metal tape measure. I cut strips of different lengths from it. These strips are flexible and adapt easily to a curved surface. For even more flexibility, the strip can be cut lengthwise into two narrower strips.

Marius
This has turned in a very helpful thread with all the discussiond about scribing. I would like to share my own method for irregular surfaces. I'm using tape for electrical cable insulations together with a pointy tool. The tool is normally aimed at scribing access panels or doors, but I use it for larger panel lines too. Check photos #36 and #38 from this album:

MiG-23BN - Iraq - 1982 | Album by Redicus (1:72)

Alec K
Great techniques Ludvik and Marius, thanks for sharing 👍

Łukasz Gliński
Interesting ideas, thx for sharing 👍

Cuajete
Great ideas! Thanks for sharing 👍

Alec K
Managed some progress, engines are on the wings. Getting close to assembling this beast and finally painting.

Cuajete
Wow...I can't believe what a huge improvement you are making to this tool. Looks great!

Alec K
Thanks Cuajete. The beast finally has wings and received a coat of paint. The saga continues...

Ludvík Kružík
That's great progress. The beast is coming to life. 👍

Bernhard Schrock
The painting results are looking great!

Michael Kohl
It certainly does

Tony Cooke
Phenomenal!!

Alec K
Thanks very much! Neptune is now decaled, very happy with how that turned out 🙂

gorby
Nice work with the decals Alec. I looks great.

Robert Podkoński
How did I miss this master-class modelling tutorial? From now I am definitely following this talent show!

Alec K
Thanks gorby. Robert, thanks for stopping by 🙂 👍

Gordon Sørensen
Great work on all the detail you added to the Neptune, Alex! Looks fantastic!

Cuajete
Great painting job, masking and good job with the decals 👌

bughunter
Once again, this will be a dream of a model!

Ludvík Kružík
Alec, it's admirable what you've done with this model. It looks fantastic. Fingers crossed that you manage to finish it successfully. 👍
The finish line is very close. 🙂

Alec K
Thanks all for leaving encouraging remarks. It's indeed getting close and chances for me screwing it up loom large: weathering is not my forte…

Jennifer Franklin
It's looking great Alec! You can do it.

Mark D
Great subject, great work! 👍

Maciej Bellos
Looks beautiful! Take your time, don't rush things!

Alec K
Thank you mates, I'll do my best 😄

Oliver Zwiener
Klasse Ding !!!

Alec K
Danke Oliver!

I am in the final stretch on this one. Just some final weathering and it should be done. Cheers!

Michael .
Following

Gary Victory
Lovely build and progress Alec.

Mark Medwell
This is an amazing build... those main gear bays! I can smell the oil and fuel as if I was standing inside them on a pre-flight walkaround.

Cuajete
Wow...

Pietro De Angelis
An impressive quantity and quality of work, masterpiece by photoetchs and scratchbuild, congrats!

Skyhiker
Somehow I came late to this show...

Ludvík Kružík
Alec, you're doing top-notch work. The very fine and precise execution of all the details adds to the convincingness of the model. It's really hard to believe that this is a 1/72 scale model. 👍 👍 👍

Bernhard Schrock
A true masterpiece! I have looked at the current, new photos three times. And will definitely do it again. Great great great! Detailing, cleanliness, implementation and painting! 🙂🙂🙂

bughunter
Yeah, I can only sign the last comments! Your careful preparation to allow a clean mounting pays back now 👍
Last week I saw a finished model of this kit at a local club meeting and it reminded me of your build.

Zbynek Honzik
I fully subscribe to the above comments. 👏👏👏

Alec K
Thank you mates for your kind and encouraging feedback. This has been my longest continuous project to date ( too long imho). It's interesting to note that this 1972 tooling still has life in it (based on how many, even today, continue to be built). Certainly not comparable to today's fare, overall it's a very nice kit. Just have to finish few details as I plan to bring it to the IPMS-USA annual contest next week. Cheers.

Bernhard Schrock
Alec: Enjoy the exhibition. If I were in the jury, it would be the first place for me just because of the initiative and the skills in scratch building🙂. In my opinion, it is not really art to replace the half the model with brass, resin and 3D, but to create a masterpiece from a 50-year-old kit. 🙂

Alec K
Thank you Bernhard for your kind comment, I really appreciate it 🙂. Getting a prize would be nice (I am as vain as the next guy), but I keep my expectations low. IPMS-USA judging focuses on build quality and execution, and my skills are not strong in this area. If two models are tied from this perspective, then the more complex one wins, but if there is a clean-built Neptune with no errors but no modifications next to mine, they win. A lot also depends on who shows up (I.e. the models on the table).

I am looking forward to the show as it's a great time to see many great builds in person, chat with fellow modelers and support the hobby. A big plus is that it's close to where I live, so no vendor room limit for this stash hoarder 😄. I will post pictures from the show when I get back.

Ludvík Kružík
Alec, I think the chances of success are good. Maybe luck will smile on you. In any case, I'll keep my fingers crossed 🙂
... whatever the outcome, enjoy the show!

Maciej Bellos
Loss for words. The Neptune looks superb. Fingers crossed!

Looking forward for the show photos.

Cuajete
I hope you get the well-deserved award, Alec 👍
Good luck!

Alec K
Thanks very much mates. No pressure... 😄 😄 😄 Ludvik is right, I will need some big smiles (hopefully not laughs) from Lady Luck. I have uploaded the final WIP pics, finished build and show albums hopefully by end on July.

gorby
This has been a remarkable build to follow, absolutely stunning work mate! If this doesn't win best in show the judges should get better guide-dogs. 😉

Marius
Hats down Alec, a true masterpiece. One of the most attractive and special models I have seen here lately!!

Michael Kohl
I can only agree with Marius and Gorby. I enjoyed following your build immensely. And I will strive to come closer to the cleanliness of your construction, which is impressive.

bughunter
What a marvellous finale 👍 Hats off to your perseverance!
Good luck and have fun there 🙂

Neuling
An amazingly clean and detailed build!

Alec K
Guys, I really appreciate your really nice comments. I just realized I started this project back in June 2022 and worked on it pretty much continuously since then (with the exception of few months during this past winter). To date, the largest project for me in all aspects. I am in active recovering now (just finished a mojoreset OOB 🙂.

Arrived at the contest yesterday and there were already many worthy builds in my category on the table, so I will be surprised if I even place. So many great modelers out there! The show promises to be a feast for the eyes (there are 2500 registered entries with many more walk-ins expected). Cheers!

Alex K
I'm in...

J35J
Also in…

Marko
Welcome mates.