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WEEK TWO – Trumpeter’s 1/25 scale American LaFrance Eagle – Chassis Finished – Pump Section Details

The second week of the American LaFrance Fire Truck has the chassis completed. I then started working on the pump control section of the truck. I detailed the side panels which required lots of details and some modifications. I am hoping to finish the pump section this week which includes a scratch built yellow hose with a scratch built nozzle this is stored in the bottom of the control panel in…

NEXT UP – Trumpeter’s 1/25 scale American LaFrance Eagle Fire Pumper Fire Truck

This next build is the NEXT UP – Trumpeter’s 1/25 scale American LaFrance Eagle Fire Pumper Fire Truck which is a commission build. The client trained and served as a volunteer fireman on this truck. This is the first time I built a fire truck so this will be an interesting build for me. The client also furnished many photos of the actual fire truck. I am also going to use resin accessories from…

WEEK EIGHT – Academy 1/48 PBJ-1D (B-25D) This Build is Finished!

I was able to spend a lot of time this week finishing up the PBJ-1D from the “The Fork-Tailed Devils” of VMB-433 for the U.S. Marines located on Emirau Island, New Guinea 1944. I was able to complete the remaining external details, paint and decal the aircraft to finish it up. It took a little longer than I planned but in the end it came out looking good. While the kit has some minor fit issues…

WEEK SEVEN – Academy 1/48 PBJ-1D (B-25D) Underside Detailing.

This past week was spent detailing the underside. I was hoping to get it painted but the forward and aft boarding ladders were awful looking. I ended up scratch build both ladders out of styrene and photo etch parts. I installed all the photo etch antennas and landing gear. The aircraft now sits correctly on the landing gear. The kit landing gear doors have been replaced with photo etch versions.…

WEEK SIX – Academy 1/48 PBJ-1D (B-25D) Nose Installed and Engines.

This past week I installed the nose section and masked the canopies. I then built up, detailed and installed the nacelles, cowls, and engines onto the wings. I am now working on the landing gear and adding the various details like antennas, landing gear doors, and the rest of the clear lenses for the aircraft lights. Then I can mask off the rest of the windows and start painting the base coats…

WEEK FIVE – Academy 1/48 PBJ-1D (B-25D) Fuselage, Tail Guns, and Wings.

As the fifth week comes to a close I was able to finish the interior details and get the fuselage together. There were some fit issues that required some minor sanding and shaping to get it together. I then made the tarp that covers the tail guns. You can read a detailed description on how it was done in the build log. The tail and the wings were assembeled and mounted to the fuselage as well. I…

WEEK FOUR – Academy 1/48 PBJ-1D (B-25D) Tail Gunner and Bomb Bay.

This past week has been a little busy with other things so my bench time has been limited. I was able to get the tail gunner station mostly built up and to get the bomb bay side walls detailed. For the gunners station I used some photo etch and styrene to create the details and replaced the kit twin gun mount with Eduard resin guns. I also scratch built the ammunition boxes and ducts to feed the…

WEEK THREE – Academy 1/48 PBJ-1D (B-25D) Detailing the Nose.

The third week was spent detailing the nose section. There was a lack of details in the kit parts so I ended up using some Eduard Brassin resin guns and some photo etch to super detail this area. After I finished the nose I started researching the tail gunner position. The kit only has a twin gun mount to stick out the back. I will be making the entire section using photo etch and scratch…

New Decals Released!

WEEK TWO – Academy 1/48 PBJ-1D (B-25D) Interior Detailing

WEEK TWO – Academy 1/48 PBJ-1D (B-25D) Interior Detailing A Welcome to 2025! This is the second week of the PBJ-1D build. This week was spent on building and detailing the interior assemblies and fuselage walls. I assembled and detailed the center section and the dorsal turret section. I am currently working on the bomb bay area and the nose section. You can all the photos and details from the…

HAPPY NEW YEAR – The Year in Review

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!!

NEXT BUILD – Academy 1/48 PBJ-1D (B-25D) – VMB-433 – “The Fork-Tailed Devils” As I stated last week I am taking a short break from commission builds during this holiday season. So for the first build of 2025 I am building Academy’s 1/48 PBJ-1D (B-25D). The scheme will be “The Fork-Tailed Devils” of VMB-433 for the U.S. Marines located on Emirau Island, New Guinea 1944. I will be adding some resin…

WEEK FIVE – Kinetic 1/48 Mirage 2000C – Commission Finished!

After five weeks the Mirage 2000C commission is finished! I mounted the aircraft to the display base and installed the nose wheel chock. The engraved nameplate was mounted to the display base. I then printed the background photo on the rear of the cover. This completed the last commission build for 2024. You can all the photos and details from the start to finish and a video in the build log at:…

WEEK FOUR – Kinetic 1/48 Mirage 2000C – Aircraft Finished, onto Display Case.

As the fourth week of the Mirage ends I have completed the aircraft. I installed the landing gear, canopy, and did some final touches to complete the aircraft. I then turned to detailing the display case. The display case will incorporate a photo from the client as the background and the display base will be painted and detailed to be an extension of the photo. I just need to print out the…

WEEK THREE – Kinetic 1/48 Mirage 2000C – Paint and Decals!

First, I hope everyone who celebrates Thanksgiving had a happy and safe holiday. As for the third week of this build I was able to get the base coat of paint on the aircraft and was able to apply the numerous decals on the scheme I am doing. There was some experimenting with the grey/blue color of the scheme as well as some changes to the load-out. I did not use the Mica Missiles as I was…

WEEK TWO – Kinetic 1/48 Mirage 2000C – Fuselage and Wing Assembly

For the second week of the Mirage build I detailed the fuselage, wings, intakes, exhaust, and the landing gear. There were some modifications that needed to be done due to some issues with the kit in terms of fit. I also had to replace some of the kit parts with brass and photo etch. I am currently getting ready to start painting the aircraft. The underside and light color of the camouflage is…

NEXT BUILD – Kinetic 1/48 Mirage 2000C – Last Commission Build of 2024!

Welcome to the last commission build of 2024. For this build I will be using Kinetic’s 1/48 Mirage 2000C kit. The scheme will be the French version. The client is a Harrier pilot who was doing a joint exercise with France and had the chance to fly one of their Mirage 2000C aircraft. The aircraft will be displayed in a case and the background of the case will be a photo of him standing in front of…

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