1/144 SBD Dauntless (Brengun Models)
I seem to have moved away from the larger scales. God knows what I will do with about 45 Wingnut Wings 1/32 kits, but here we are. As my eyesight deteriorates my modelling subjects are shrinking!
I thought I'd try a 1/144 subject, so got this little Brengun Dauntless. The kit itself is quite nice - not surprisingly the fit of the main parts is very good, if a little crude. I bought the photo etch detail set, and the vacform canopy (the kit part was much too thick). I thought it might take me a couple of days, but I'm definitely slower than I used to be, so it's actually taken about a month.
Apologies for the poor quality of the photos - I'm still trying to get used to the new camera phone.
The model is of CV-6, USS Enterprise, VB-6, Midway June 1942, Goldsmith and Patterson.
It's mainly finished in MRP paints, with weathering in Michael Harding oils, AK Weathering Pencils and some Mig powders.
Impressive, you need the painting skills/patience of someone who can paint a picture on a grain of rice to do those canopy frames. I tried... it did not go well.
Thanks, Dan. I masked the canopy frames with this. The tape is really thin, and comes in hundreds of different shapes, so it's quite easy to get close to the surface detail.
1 attached image. Click to enlarge.
This is incredible given its size. Marvelous work.
Thank you, Matt.
Yikes! Open canopy, open slotted airbrakes, excellent weathering, all in 1/144?! Amazing little piece of work.
Thanks Greg. The airbrakes are part of the photo etch set - a bit tricky to get together without getting too much CA in the joins, but much better than the original kit representation.
Awesome finish on what easily looks to be a 1/48 kit
Thanks John. The airbrush set at low pressure, a really good quality 00 sable paintbrush and a bit of patience was needed!
Are you serious that this is just 1/144, Robert @rob-cookson
Good that you took a picture with a coin next to it because this build definitely looks much bigger.
Nothing wrong with your eyes.
Definitely 1/144 - that's a British 5p coin! Thanks, John - much appreciated! I think I might stick with the smaller scales for a while longer. Not as expensive, and easier to store or display.
Amazing job, Robert! Hard to believe it is only 1/144!
Thank you, Spiros. Without the additional photo etch detail set it would have been much more difficult to make it look presentable.
It looks amazing! Beautiful work on such a small scale, it's truly outstanding.
Thanks Clint.
Ha. I have to have my glasses on just to see these photos. Amazing job with this.
Thanks, Mark. I used a head visor with two lenses - 1 X3 and 1 X4, otherwise I can't even see the smaller parts, much less paint them.
Beautiful work, Robert! I’m coming to appreciate small scale kits as I get older too. Mostly for space and time reasons. I sold a bunch of WNW kits at cost to guys who I knew would build them. You’ll have no trouble unloading them.
Thanks John. Yes, it's a strange journey at this stage of the game. I'll be 66 later this year, and a couple of years ago I would never have believed anyone who told me I'll move down scale. My eyesight is definitely declined, but 4x eyeglasses and a big lens visor makes it possible.
Well done, Robert (@rob-cookson). As my eyesight has diminished, I went the larger route. Tiny parts are also a problem when my arthritis is acting up. You are very brave, indeed, to go the other way. Looking forward to more.
Thanks George. For the tiny brass parts I would recommend a very good pair of tweezers. The points on the one I used were like needles - much finer than anything else I've used, and made it at all possible.
1 attached image. Click to enlarge.
Wow, that is very cool!
Thanks, Rob 👍
Wow, Robert, this is amazing. I can't imagine achieving this amount of detail with such a small model.
Funny, Midway was on the box the other night too 😀
Thanks for your comment, Scott 👍
Insane. I hate you. 😘
😂👍