Testors AC-47 "Spooky" Gunship

[Myke]

Thanks for all the comments folks, and my apologies for the lack of updates. I have been over on the automotive area working on this at the same time.

http://www.scalemodeladdict.com/forum/index.php/topic,3619.0.html

On THIS kit though..., I'm almost to the point where it's time to lay down the base color. I'm heading to Hilton Head next monday through the 13th so I'm trying to get as much done (hopefully all of it, fingers crossed) as possible, as WELL as the car I'm working on. Not sure if it's possible what with drying time between coats but we'll see.

@ ShutterAce: Thanks for the photos of those completed kits. Them is REALLY nice! And yea, this is the the Italeri / Testors 1/72 scale kit. Monster of a kit even in 1/72.

 

[Myke]

I'M BACK!

After a lengthy vacation and some extra (intentional) time away from the workbench I'm ready to finish this thing.

I'm glad I did take a little break because when I sat back down I found some more errors that I wanted to correct. The density of the plastic doesn't make it easy to scribe those lost lines so it's been a bit of a chore to get to the painting stage.

Coated down the bottom with some semi-gloss black, and out came the errors that I couldn't really see with the primer coat.

Added some MORE putty and will sand and re-spray the semi-gloss black.

Cleanup up the seams on the landing gears and painted them with a mix of Chrome and Stainless Steel (both Mr. Metal Color). I added the SS for some contrast.

And finally, sprayed up the props and tires.

If things can dry in a reasonable amount of time today (It's pouring here) I should be able to get a lot done on this.

I'm simultaneously working over on the Automotive board on a AMX 1974 Javelin.

Thanks for watching guys.

All the best

 

[schweinhund227]

Slick build my friend... Super Neat ! and Flawless...

You are one Tough guy to level up with !!! LOL

Keep up the excellent work ! Very inspiring! I will be following this with interest...

I wonder how Well you could Render the Big Daddy of all Spooky The Specter ???

That would be one Infamous build.... !

Later big guy !

 

[Moon Puppy]

Nice...glad to see you back on it.

Myke, I had to do some work down in Tampa last weekend, at one of the engineer's desk he had pictures of himself in Vietnam. Standing in front of an AC47 just like what you're working on. I wanted to get back around to talk to the guy but time didn't allow it.

Back to watching you dude!

 

[Myke]

Norm: Thanks man... those are big compliments from a great builder. Thanks.
I really wanted to add the guns to this but the parts were missing from the kit. I've thought of getting the Monogram 1/48 scale and super detailing it up next year. I think it would look fantastic in the display case.

MP: Cool story mate..., bummer you didn't get chat with him. Wonder if he was part of the crew? I bet he has some really cool stories. Thanks for following. The build should pick up some speed from here.


After sanding and making the corrections.....

More Semi-Gloss Black was sprayed on (Tamiya if you are wondering)

After two days of drying..., time to mask it all off. I was running out of certain widths of tape so I had to improvise; thus, the sloppy work. Still effective though.

Then on to the pre-shading with some flat black, and more sloppy work. Was having fits with it clogging up so I had to keep thinning a little more and adjusting and ... well you know what it's like. In the end it's ok, not a lot is going to show through.

Time for some CAMO. Testors MM Dark Tan, Medium Green, and Dark Green will make up the colors.

And here is the first cup of the first layer of the Dark Tan. Testors paint goes on so smooth and clean. I love using it almost as much as the Tamiya paints.

Time for work now..., catch you all tomorrow.
Thanks again for watching!

.... I have really got to do something about that lighting. Looks great IRL, but the photos that come out are rubbish..., my apologies. It's something I'm defo going to correct over the winter so these build logs look better.

 

[JMac]

Looking good Myke.

 

[Moon Puppy]

Yeah he was aircrew for sure Myke, or he liked dressing up in flight suit and having his picture taken next to a minigun!

 

[Quaralane]

Coming along nicely now, Myke.
Looking forward to the rest of the camo

 

[Myke]

Thanks fellas.

MP: Maybe it was halloween? Who doesn't like dressing up next to a mini gun?

 

[13aceofspades13]

i can remember my first kit, a Revell Corvette C5-R

 

[schweinhund227]

Getting there... I see!

Great job ! the way you take pictures... makes the whole kit look BIG... for a 72nd !

That kit sure can Keep up with the times ! Even in todays standard !!!

Can't wait for you to start laying the Greens !!


later !

 

[Tony lee]

On the base in Nam where I was we had both the Spooky and the Shadows(C-119)
My memories of them were not as sweet as yours. ;D

Tony lee

 

[blunce]

Nice to see it getting a restoration! Coming along nicely.

On the base in Nam where I was we had both the Spooky and the Shadows(C-119)
My memories of them were not as sweet as yours. ;D

Tony lee

How so Tony?

 

[Gundamhead]

Let's see, does it involve a ramp, broom, dustpan, and kitty litter evry $%& time the thing sat for an hour or more?

 

[Myke]

Norm: It is big..., it's freakin' huge for 1/72!

Tony: Care to share some of your stories for the listeners? Just what was this thing like to operate around?



Really creeping along now.

All the Dark Tan laid down now.

And with a bit of white added to the Dark Tan.

I'll throw down a soft coat of future, then spray on the Medium Green.

 

[Myke]

Slow Camo

First up... new Sotar 20/20 AB prize from the Spring Contest. It arrived the other day and I've been using it a good bit on this.

Masked up the bird and ready for some Medium Green

Starting to add some color now.

By applying thin layers, and then sanding with 2000 grit in between coats, I'm able to maintain that "bleached" effect

I know it's a lot of photos of the same but..., meh.

The bleaching is subtle and I'm not sure how well the camera picks it up but IRL it looks quite convincing. This coat is going to dry for a day, then a light coat of future, then another day to dry, then I'll mask up inside the Medium Green areas and lay down the last color, the Dark Green!

Thanks for watching

 

[schweinhund227]

Looks great.... Lucky B.....d showing off your SOTAR ... LOL

Nice job on the camo.. is that silly putty you are using ??

 

[Myke]

haha, thanks Norm

No silly putty (although I'm dying to try that now), this is just the blue tac / sticky tack stuff.

 

[ScaleModelMadman]

Cool stuff, like the colors.

I haven't opened my SOTAR yet but I am anxious to use it

 

[austin132010]

Lookin good. I can't wait to see it when it's finished.