Making your own 1/200 planes- How to Guide w/pics
I have previously posted some of this information in other threads. I thought I would put this togehter in one place as a guide for others that might be interested in aquirining more WWII planes that are not yet available as minis by WoW.
I have searched and the best option I have found for 1/200 planes are the unpainted AIR200 models. I know some shy away from painting their own models, but it really is quite easy even if you currently have little or no modeling experience. In the end it is very economical and rewarding to use something you made.
http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/q...g/DSCN0821.jpg
I purchase mine form a store called "the Last Square" in Madison, WI. They are local for me, but I know they do quite a bit of online business as well.
Link for "The Last Square:
http://www.lastsquare.com/
Look under historical miniatures -> 1/200 -> Nobel Miniatures -> AIR200
They also have other scales available such as 1/300 which is popular with some.
Prices are very reasonable. A 2 pack of fighters runs $6.99 and a single engine bomber $5.99 for a single plane. If you are not a painter I know they do offer a painting service as well.
I also use the I-95 decals they sell as well.
Here is what I do for my models:
1. Clean them-wash in a soap and water solution to remove any residue from the casting process so paint with stick.
2. Add the antena which is totally optional using a thin piece of styrene cut at and angle and super glued on.
3. Assemble if required. Most require no assembly, but some of the bombers (Val/stuka) require the fixed landing gear to be mounted.
4. Prime the model. Hobby primer is great, but any metal primer will work from the hardware store.
5. Paint to desired scheme. I use acrylic paints as it dries fast, flows well into small details and is easy to clean up. You do not have to use the expensive model acylics either. Many of the paints I use I get in the craft are for less than $1/bottle which lasts a long time.
6. Once completely dry apply decals as desired.
7. Once everything is to your satisfaction apply 1-2 light coats of sealer. I use a spray called Testors "Dull coat". This gives a nice flat military finish and protects the paint and decals. Usually let it dry 30 minutes and then apply the 2nd coat top and bottom.
I can usually paint several planes in an evening and them let them dry overnight.
That is all there is to it! ;)
Here are some pics comparing the AIR200 to WoW models:
http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/q...g/DSCN0832.jpg
http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/q...g/DSCN0830.jpg
The pictures above are using the WoW stands. At first I thought I would make my own stands using the clear acrylic in the first pic. Then I discover Litko flight stands. I now have found that I prefer to use the flight stands made by Litko even over the WoW stands. Thet are sturdy and do not fall apart.
Link to Liko stands and flight accessories:
http://www.litkoaero.com/page/LAI/CTGY/AFS
All of my custom planes have a small cicle piece glued to the bottom called a "peg topper" which then easily attaches them to any size Litko peg. They also make a convestion peg topper which allows you to attah the WoW models to the Litko stands whithout any modification.
The only alteration I make to my Litko stands is to glue a peg topper to the base hole making sure it is lines up. I find that this makes the already sturdy stand even more so espeically when using taller 6" pegs.
Here you can see the models on the litko stand and the peg topper on the stand base:
http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/q...g/DSCN0871.jpg
Here is a pic of the WoW models mixed in with my custom models all on the Litko stands( note the conversion "peg topper" on the WoW spitfires in theforeground):
http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/q...g/DSCN0869.jpg
In the end an individual decaled fighter with a complete Litko stand ends up costing me less than $7 once you break down the cost of planes, decals, stands per plane.
Finally some pics of my mixed collection ready for action:
http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/q...r/DSCN0405.jpg
http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/q...r/DSCN0409.jpg
http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/q...r/DSCN0407.jpg
http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/q...r/DSCN0411.jpg
Hopefully you find this helpful.
Aaron
3 Attachment(s)
Skytrex and Furuta Messerschmitt Bf 110C's
I finished off the Skytrex Bf 110's tonight in the colours of 6.ZG76.
Last week I also bought a pre-painted Furuta Bf 110 on EBay ... for 5 bucks!
Cheers,
Carl.
More 1:200 miniatures and decals
Hello all,
I have received more miniatures from www.helmet-aircraft-200.com, another Fairey Battle and Morane M.S.406 (3 each now) and a new one - a Dornier Do 17P. The Luftwaffe used this version for reconnaissance flights early in the war. It is a very good looking aircraft, and I can't wait to get it painted. I'm still considering the colour scheme.
I was very impressed by the decals I purchased from Helmet, lots of different sizes to suit practically all aircraft.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/pic...pictureid=2852
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/pic...pictureid=2853
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/pic...pictureid=2854
Now to find some time to paint - maybe this weekend.
Cheers,
Carl.
Air 200 Hawker Hurricane Mk.Is
Hello all,
I finally got painting again last weekend and knocked off a couple of Air 200 Hawker Hurricane Mk.Is. When I received the miniatures I was disappointed with the Air 200 Hurricane sculpt - the nose is too short in proportion to the rest of the aircraft. It is very obvious on the bare metal mini, but once painted it is less pronounced. The Action 200 sculpt is better at $10 each, and the Helmet aircraft 200 sculpt is excellent at $20, but I suppose I can't complain at the Air 200 price, which is about $6 per aircraft.
I painted the Hurricanes in 242 Squadron RAF colours, so they can formate with Sqn Ldr Douglas Bader's Hurricane from Set 2 when released. The other good thing about 242 Sqn RAF is that it served in France and the Battle of Britain in 1940, over the Channel in the fighter sweeps of 1941 and in Singapore and Java against the Japanese from December 1941 to March 1942, making the squadron a good candidate for a campaign unit.
I had a limited window for painting so I did not spend as long on them as I might usually do, setting myself a 24 hour window including drying time. Colours are dark green and dark earth, with red for the gun ports, rust brown for the exhausts and black for spinners and tail wheels. I did a bit of weathering, but not much. I used the 1937-42 RAF Helmet Aircraft 200 decals (see earlier post) for the roundels and tail flashes, which worked really well. I used Microscale Industries gothic lettering for the aircraft identification codes. The letters are slightly smaller than they should be but then these are wargaming pieces and not for display.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/pic...pictureid=2882
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/pic...pictureid=2883
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/pic...pictureid=2884
I am going to pick up some white decal paper tomorrow and try to make some 242 Squadron insignia - a booted leg kicking the Fuehrer in the behind. Unfortunately I won't be able to fit it on the nose because of the sculpt issue, but I'll give it a go on the forward fuselage.
I'll do the Fairey Battles next, then maybe the French Morane MS406s. After that I'll only have three Ju 88s, two more Bf 110s, three Blenheim IVs, one Do17, and one more Ju 87 to go before our Battle of France campaign in May.
I'll post the Fairey Battles when I'm done with them.
Cheers,
Carl.
Fairey Battles from Helmet Aircraft 200
Hello all,
I have painted up my three Helmet aircraft Fairey Battles. Helmet is the only company I know that makes the Battle in 1:200.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/pic...pictureid=2985
I have done the one above in the colours of 12 Sqn RAF, in particular the aircraft that crashed into one of the Meuse Bridges which won two Victoria Crosses for the pilot and bombardier (posthumous of course).
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/pic...pictureid=2856
Unfortunately I have run out of 'P' and 'H' letters, so I have to order some more before I can complete the aircraft identification codes on the other Battles.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/pic...pictureid=2986
Hopefully my Litko stands will arrive this week and let me get all three up and ready to fly, bomb targets and likely get shot down by Messerschmitts!
Cheers,
Carl.
www.helmet-aircraft-200.com
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Propjockey53
Where do you buy your unpainted DO-17s at?
Thanks
Jeff,
The Dornier is made by a British company www.helmet-aircraft-200.com. The unpainted Do 17P set me back GBP 10. Here's the link to the unpainted aircraft models:
http://www.helmet-aircraft-200.com/e...22/WWII%5B1%5D
I started painting the Do 17P ages ago but work and family have obstructed progress! I hope to finish it off in the next week or so and I will post pics.
They also sell the Do 17Z and Do 215 for the same price. I'm thinking about getting three Do 17Z models for a Battle of Britain campaign.
Cheers,
Carl.
Making your own 1/200 planes- How to Guide w/pics
Carl! Very nice work as always!:) I was trying to find the post where you made your base decals.
Rich
Making your own 1/200 planes- How to Guide w/pics
Carl! How nice of you!:rolleyes:
Henry The Sixth, Part 2 Act 4, scene 2,
D I C K the butcher:
The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers.
Rich
P.S. Happy Birthday Will!
2 Attachment(s)
Armee del'Air Morane Saulnier M.S.406C1s of Groupe de Chasse I/2, June 1940
Hello all,
Back in 2010 I purchased three 1/200 scale Morane Saulnier M.S.406C1 fighters from Helmet Historical Aircraft Models in the UK. Helmet is currently the only company to make the M.S.406 in 1/200, although I believe Dave over at Armaments in Miniature has a 1/200 version on his 'TBR' list. As with some of my other projects they languished in a shoebox for an extended period before I fished them out and got painting.
I think the Helmet models are great to work with and look good on the gaming table. They are generally superior sculpts and the propellers are a treat. The only issue I had with the Moranes were the spars between the tailplane and vertical fin, which had not formed properly. I filed them back and used some scrap metal to make new ones, a little thick but they do the job. The French roundels are home made, applied over white Shed decal bases from Helmet. The tricolour rudder flashes are also Shed decals over white paint. The white lettering is Gothic Railroad from Microscale Industries - $7 for a whole A5 page of letters and numbers in all sizes, good deal.
Attachment 42480
Attachment 42481
As the M.S.406 is not an official WGS aircraft, I have had to generate some playing data. Armed with a single 20mm cannon firing through the hub and two 7.5mm machine-guns in the wings the damage chits were easy, 'CA' at short and 'C' and long range. The climb rate was 13 metres per second (Hurricane 12.6 m/s and Spitfire 13.5m/s, both climb rate 3) and ceiling was 9000 metres, giving it a climb of 3 and top altitude of 10. The M.S.406 is generally described as sturdy and highly maneuverable, but under-powered. As the M.S.406 lacked armour protection for the pilot and did not have self-sealing fuel tanks I have given it 16 damage points. The maximum speed was just 486km/h, which is much slower than the Hurricane at 520km/h and way behind the Spitfire and Messerschmitt Bf109E at 580 and 570 km/h respectively. Checking existing 'official' aircraft it struck me performance was broadly similar to the Polikarpov I-16 Type 24 (460km/h, highly maneuverable), so I assigned the M.S.406 the 'K' deck. In summary my stats for the M.S.406.C1 are K * CA/C * 16 * ALT 10 * CLIMB 3.
Historically the M.S.406 did well against the Luftwaffe bombers of the day, and held their own against the Bf110 but was at a great disadvantage when battling the Bf109E. Nevertheless I hope to get them on the table this weekend and see how they fare against the Boche!
Cheers,
Carl.