Academy U-2S Dragon Lady - WIP

Michael Phillips
...aaaaand we're off! You will notice in the second pic I bought some proper scribing tools from UMM USA. I hope this makes this process a little less painful for me. Scribing sucks, it is my least favorite part of modelling, followed closely by gap-filling LOL.

Maciej Bellos
Taking a seat!

Patrick Hagelstein
Curious about that scribing tool! Well, and about the Dragon Lady off course...

Konrad -
Here we go!

Erik Leijdens
Taking a seat too! And also curious about the scribing tool..

Bryn Crandell
Snacks...Check! Beer....Check! Ready to watch now!

Spanjaard
i fully agree with all of the above. i will certainly take a chair too 🙂

Michael Phillips
So I have started the rescribing process, because basically, I want to get it out of the way first so it doesn't bog me down later. It is a slow, tedious process that I am not enjoying.

First I sanded down all of the raised panel lines, one piece at a time. So far I have done both horizontal tails and one wing. I am using Letraset Letraline as a guide, which I am lucky to have actually. I work in the graphics and printing field, and this stuff was used in graphic design in the analog age (before my time in the field). I found it, quite by accident, at work in an old storage area. It was to be thrown out so I took all of it because I felt it could be useful for just this task. I think I have like 8 spools of it. I looked online, and it is no longer sold new. But so far I could not imagine doing this task without it.

A few observations so far:

1. I still hate rescribing, maybe even more now. LOL This may be the last time I rescribe a whole model.
2. It is soooo easy to make a mistake (scriber slides out of line). BUT I am slowly getting better, making fewer errors. This is because...
3. It is hard to not want to put pressure on the scriber and make fewer passes. This is how errors are made. I am teaching myself, as I go, to just let the weight of the scriber create the line, and then go over it again and again, with no pressure and very slowly, to create depth.
4. The UMM USA scribers are way better than the BMF one I was using. I have also found I like the #3 scriber the best. It is longer and seems to give me the best control, probably because I have big hands.

That's all I can think of right, now. I will share more as I go.

Michael Hickey
Looking good so far Michael, for scribing I use Dymo Tape I get off eBay pretty cheap. That's if your ever looking for more seeing how much you love scribing.😢

Patrick Hagelstein
And are you using the hooked part or the push part of that scriber?

Bart Goesaert
Nice tools... If you want to save on the tape, cut it in half, mark the cut side by cutting away the corners and you have 2 lengths for the price of 1...

Burkhard D
Following...😎

Michael Phillips
Thanks Michael, Bart, and welcome Burkhard! Patrick, I use the hooked part almost exclusively.

So, I have been doing some stealth building for awhile now as this has been quite the challenge. I now have it partially primed, and have a few areas that still need some attention before I finish priming.

I am not sure I will ever rescribe an entire model ever again. LOL

Konrad -
Very nice work, Michael! And what a huge plane! Impressive 👍 😉

Patrick Hagelstein
Thanks! And.... wow!.......

Wim van der Luijt
very nice Work! I have the UMM scribers too and like them a lot, they give you lots control

Michael Phillips
Thanks Konrad, Patrick, and Wim!

Got the base coat black on the topsides of the model tonight. Not really concerned with the evenness of the paint as the real thing tends to look like this as well.

The goal is to finish this by Sunday, when my IPMS club theme contest "unarmed" will be held. Since this has limited decals and no weapons to add, that goal is achievable. We shall see!!!

Patrick Hagelstein
I vaguely remember a Hornet....

Bart Goesaert
Black as a base, not very dark grey? or will you use that to "highlight"...

Roland Roth
I love the "black birds" ...
... and will keep track of your coverage until the end

Michael Phillips
Haha, Patrick you are so right... but this time I did it! It's not my best work, but I am just glad I finished it after having so much displeasure building it and rescribing.

Bart, black was just the beginning. It has gunship gray, flat coat, then some tamiya rubber black to give it the faded uneven finish I was trying to emulate.

Thanks Roland, this project is now complete! I have uploaded pics into a new album... check it out!