Jos Jansen Author
Cleaned up the bench...new project, stay tuned!

Sergej I
First to join 👍 😄

Patrick Hagelstein
Second it is! 🥈

Jos Jansen Author
Welcome guys...!

Rando
Hell yes!!!

Jos Jansen Author
Small progress with my Crusader, removed all injector pin markings and sprayed the intake smooth with Mr Color white. Since I'm probably going to make a J-version, I can now easily place the longer ECM 'blister' on the vertical tail after sanding off the smaller one.

Guy Rump
Following. 👍

Rando
F-8J MiG Killer, you building Jerry Tucker's?

Michael Kohl
Oh, another impressionist build? That's gonna be fun. And a Crusader too? Sound like even more fun.
Teasing us with ejector pin mark closures. That's mean. Ok, I'll be patient.

Jos Jansen Author
Welcome Guy...and Rando that's a possibility I have the decal sheet from Furball 'Mig Masters', so plenty opportunities 😉!

@Michael: What do you mean by another impressionistic build?

Tommy Agne
Count me in! Watching 😁.

Michael Kohl
I've been referring to a discussion with your last build. Thought it rings a bell.
Looking forward for your progress here.

Jos Jansen Author
I don't know why you (also) think this is an impressionistic model, in contrast, this Crusader will be a derivative of one of the Mig killers from the Furball decal sheet. I would say stick with it and follow the model building of my F-8 🙂!

Jos Jansen Author
Welcome Tommy, looking forward to the reveal of your Intruder...👍!!

Michael Kohl
Hi Jos, it was meant as an ironic and humorous remark. No pun or offence intended - on the contrary. Sorry, if I caused mischief. My bad.
I like to follow your builds as I consider them of very fine quality. Concerning realism I simply have not enough expertise to judge.
Hope I could clarify that.

Jos Jansen Author
Hey Michael, no worries mate...I send you a PM!

Michael Kohl
👍

Andreas Lux
very exciting, I'm in 😉

Jos Jansen Author
Welcome Michael and Andreas!

This week I wanna make some progress on the Crusader. Started to sand the seams of the intake and filled it with Vallejo Plastic Putty. I will also rivet the wings with a 0.75mm and 1.00mm wheel, as I find this look best for 1/48 scale.

Jos Jansen Author
All wings were riveted, I've fitted the Aires cockpit into the fuselage plus the resin exhaust. The Eduard Brassin exhaust is then covered in Gloss Black base from Alclad as a good smooth surface for the Metal colors.

Rando
Very cool progress. How does the Aires cockpit fit?

Nathan Dempsey
Nice progress. Can't wait to see more.

Desert Marlin
Love seeing these Crusaders!!! This one looks great already!!!

Jos Jansen Author
Hi Rando, thanks...the Aires cockpits are super detailed, that's not the reason, but it is a disaster to install them. No Aires cockpit will fit, you will always have to sand, cut, fit, and so on. However, the result is stunning, and that's what it's all about, isn't it?! 😄

@Nathan and Desert Marlin, great to have here mates 👍!

Rando
Ahh yeah I'd heard this about many AM resin cockpits, was wondering if Aires was any different. Was thinking about investing in some Aires Crusader wheel wells in order to avoid dealing with all the ejector pin marks. Guess sanding and fitting beats pin marks in tight places!

Jos Jansen Author
I love the metals from Gunze, just polish it and you get a nice weathered look.

Jos Jansen Author
The Aires cockpit has been successfully installed. The two fuselage parts are glued together, despite Hasegawa's always reasonably good fit, I now had some problems with it. The wing parts have also been installed, the only thing I want to do is to upgrade the inside of the wing section in the fuselage with extra wiring and tubes using lead wires from ASK.

Thomas Haberl - TH SCALE MODELS
Hi Jos! Looks great - will take a seat and watch ☺️

Rando
Wow, is that Gunze burnt iron inside the tailpipe? Making me want to get to a HAS Crusader already

Nathan Dempsey
That piping will be a project in itself.

Maciej Bellos
Standing at the back of the room as the seats are already taken. Good progress Jos!

Jos Jansen Author
Thanks Thomas and Maciej, and welcome on board mates!

@Rando: I used indeed No.212 Iron from Gunze, I love this metal colors you can rub these metals shiny!

@Nathan: I have never worked with lead wires before, but it seems like fun work.

Casey Beckett
Following - got a stack of F-8s staring at me...taunting me....

Jos Jansen Author
Thanks Casey, I would say take up that challenge! 🫡

Jos Jansen Author
Nice to spend another day working on the Crusader. Various modifications were made, a lot of sanding, seams closed, placed some putty and panel lines reapplied. Finally, the canopy parts were placed in the Future for a super sleek and shiny look, which allowed to dry thoroughly for a few days.

Neil
Hi Jos, following this one also. It's looking suitably excellent as expected 😉

Erik Leijdens
Great work so far Jos!! You'll add a lot of extra's I see, will be another stunner I guess.!

Nathan Dempsey
Things are starting to come together. You're right, it is nice to get a day for a project.

Jennifer Franklin
Following.

Jos Jansen Author
@Neil, thx mate...🫡!
@Erik, thx Scale Model Mate...there is indeed a load of AM stuff on it...🙈.
@Nathan, this weekend another two days of modeling...👍🏻
@Jennifer, welcome aboard...👊🏻

Jos Jansen Author
Another day of hard work...😉, on the Mig Killer. Finished the cockpit with a gloss coat, next step is the wash then a matt coat and finally seal everything. Also I had not the decals for the yellow Canopy framing, so instead the good old spray job was necessary...👍🏻.

Jos Jansen Author
Made the HUD from Hasegawa Polarize Finish...

Nathan Dempsey
Very nice! I've got to find some of that.

Rando
Every day I learn about something new I need to buy, LOL

DuperScale
Cool, i need to remember that polarized thingy.

Jos Jansen Author
I couldn't sleep, so I had to do some therapeutic work🤭 and put the Mig Killer in the black primer from Gunze (MrFinishing Surfacer 1500 Black)... always a nice moment, on to the beautiful NAVY colors!💪

Rando
Hell yeah! Get that gunfighter painted! 🙌🔫

Desert Marlin
Excellent!!! The fine lines begin to show!!!

Sergej I
Can't wait! That's when carpentry ends and artistry starts 👍

Gary Victory
Really nice progress Jos.

ZHOU Kun
Pretty detailed build, I like it!

Jos Jansen Author
Hopefully next weekend Rando...😁! Thanks Desert Martin. That's absolutely true Sergej, I would say 'Let the games begin'...😉! Many thanks Gary and Zhou!

Jos Jansen Author
The fuselage and wings were lightly sanded, I like a super smooth surface for the base colors, the intake was also sanded from the inside and sprayed in Gunze No. 316.

Desert Marlin
That always turns out well!

Sergej I
Sanding with 1,5-3k sponge is a must for the base surface. Also every layer of paint should get a light sanding in order to have a super smooth surface. I only stop sanding after gloss coats, unless some corners get the orange peel. Then the sponge comes out again 😄

Jos Jansen Author
That is also my working method Sergej, the surface must be as smooth as a baby's bottom...👍🏻

Rando
Sergej and Jos, what brand of sand sponges in that grit do you prefer? I should start doing what you describe

Sergej I
Rando, I tried Tamiya first and stayed with it. The 3000 grit is perfect for everything non-gloss.
For gloss surfaces - it's polishing stuff, also from Tamiya.

Jos Jansen Author
Rando, I order my abrasives on this site:

abrasivesmaster.com/..riant=31836123234377

Rando
Fantastic guys! I'm gonna up my abrasive game

Erik Leijdens
Great progress Jos, smooth work 🙂

DuperScale
How do you get all the sandingdust from the Model?

Jos Jansen Author
@Rando: Good luck mate! @Erik: Thx, I like smooth...😁
@DuperScale: Simply wipe off with a soft cloth.

The bottom is in the Gunze Mr.Color 316 US NAVY white... I like the black-basing technique, so you have control over the shadow effects you want to apply.

Nathan Dempsey
Looking great. I need to pay attention to your paint work for when I get around to that F-4J.

Desert Marlin
Looking excellent! I use a very similar sanding/painting. Even for gloss coat.

Patrick Hagelstein
Looking stellar already, Jos!

Jos Jansen Author
@Nathan: Thanks mate, have you started with that Phantom yet?

@Desert Marlin: Thanks mate, yes me too, everything should be super smooth before applying the next layer!

@Patrick: Thanks my friend!

Tommy Agne
Looks very good so far👍👍👍!

Nathan Dempsey
Not yet Jos, but it does sit directly in front of the workbench 😁

Daniel
Checking in late - fantastic work mate 👍 👍

Jos Jansen Author
Thanks mates, and welcome Daniel 😉!

The bottom of the fuselage is finished with the basic color C316, the landing gear, the wheels and the doors of the wheel bays are also sprayed. Followed immediately, but with a layer of Alclad Aqua Gloss on top.

Patrick Hagelstein
Why that difference Jos? Aren't you glossing everything at once for a different flow of any wash? 🤔

Jos Jansen Author
Gunze C315 and C316 are Gloss paints, I have had bad experiences with this, because I often touch the sprayed parts too quickly with my fingers. As soon as there is a clear coat over it, then it's safe...haha, that's why!

Desert Marlin
I use the aqueous versions of those colors. They dry much harder.

Patrick Hagelstein
Gotcha! 😂👍🏼

Rando
Getting me excited to build more Crusaders 👍 idk what it is, the light gull grey on white is a simple scheme but I enjoyed painting it and I like the look. Very interested to see how this is gonna look Jos

Jos Jansen Author
Hey Rando, you are right that it is a simple scheme, but it is all the more challenging to airbrush the model and of course later apply the wash and the oil leakage streaks.

Jos Jansen Author
The US NAVY gray C315 from Gunze is on it, and the ejection seat is ready.

Jos Jansen Author
Start with the decals...'Lancers' it is!

Tom Spiegelberg
Following. That looks great!

Desert Marlin
Leatherneck Crusader! Awesome!

Rando
Excellent decal choice 👍I love Furball decals, can't wait to use them again

Desert Marlin
The P-8 Poseidon set is absolutely amazing! It's so similar to the old Micro-Scale quality I really have to be careful with setting solutions... just like it was back in the '70s!

Jos Jansen Author
...all detail parts are painted and in the Gloss, let it dry and then the fun part begins...decaling!

Sergej I
Awesome! Now stencils 😄

Erik Leijdens
Great progress Jos!! Looks nice and tidy, as always !

Jos Jansen Author
Thanks Sergej and Erik, appreciate it!

Gunze's metal paints are really nice and beautiful colors to work with, you spray it on, let it dry and then rub the paint with a cloth or cotton swab for a beautifully authentic result. I don't think I'm going to overdo it with all kinds of different metal colors on the exhaust, some builders sometimes go overboard with this. I have also made good progress with the decals, I am halfway through, but I don't have much time in the coming period, so this will be the case for now...stay tuned mates!

Nathan Dempsey
Nice progress on the decals 👍🏼

Desert Marlin
Awesome news about the Gunze metal colors!!! Your work looks great!

Rando
Jos, I got the Iron you were using here, and also the aluminum and chrome are on the way. They really are cool paints. Seeing your Crusader progress gets me itching to start my own!

Urban Gardini
Now this is a lovely build!

Jos Jansen Author
Many thanks guys for your nice comments!

I still found time to finish the decals. Also applied with Gunze Smoke highlights to the seams of the panels. Then everything was sealed again with Aqua gloss from Alclad.

Maciej Bellos
Whoa, looks pretty cool!