Ben Builds: S8 - PV-1 Ventura - ep. 1

What is up everybody! Welcome back to Ben Builds. Today, we are starting a new kit for a new season of Military Mondays. This is the Revell, 1/48th scale, PV-1 Ventura and I am very excited to dive into this twin-engine beauty.

On this episode, we are simply opening up the box, taking a look at the parts, the decals and the instructions. On our next episode, that is when we are going to start building up the cockpit and doing some painting, but we need to get the unboxing out of the way. I can't wait to crack on with this one.

So, until next week, thank you all so much for joining me, take care, happy modeling and I'll see everyone on the next installment of our PV-1 Ventura.
See you soon!

Ben Builds logos and misc graphics:
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Ben Builds Season Six: Albatros D.III ep 17 Final

Today is the day that we can finally call this one finished! Yes, this is the final episode for our Eduard, 1/48th scale, Albatros D.III. While there are still a few things more that we need to do such as rigging and some touch-up painting, this bird will be done today! 

This has been a great build and I have really learned a lot from this process. I have to admit, I didn't always know exactly what to do, but I had a blast reading articles, experimenting with fresh ideas, watching videos and trying new techniques. I had such a fun time and I want to say thank you to everyone, who followed along.

This was a build of "firsts" for me. Not only was this my first time  building a 1/48th scale WW1 aircraft, but it was also my first time trying oil paints to replicate wood and my first time rigging and working with EZ Line string. Yes, it was challenging, but I am very happy with the end result. It isn't perfect and the rivet counters would probably have a field day with inaccuracies, but I achieved something that I have never achieved before and that is awesome.

A huge thank you to each and every one of you, for hanging in there with me on this build. I know this took a bit longer than my normal run, but I really had a blast and I think I pulled off a nice looking DIII.  Next week we will be back with a new kit and a Group Build entry. Until next time, happy building and we will see you soon!

Ben Builds Season Six: Albatros D.III ep 16

Welcome back to our Eduard, 1/48th scale, Albatros D.III. After today, just one more episode to go and we will be finished! So close now.

Today, we are going to tackle the decals and some basic weathering, so keep your fingers crossed that this stage goes well. I mean, how does one weather a First World War airplane? I don't know, but let's see what happens.

I should mention that I am no expert on weathering (or anything else for that matter). I generally have very little faith in my weathering skills, but we are going to give it a try. I strongly believe that you learn by doing, by trying new things and by pushing past that comfort zone. This kit has really pushed me past my comfort zone and I have been having a ton of fun doing so.

Next week will be the last episode for this series. On that bench day, we will attempt the rigging and show the completed, finished product. I can't wait to get this one on the display shelf and I really hope that it turns out as a mostly-passable Albatros..

A huge thank you to each and every one of you, for hanging in there with me on this build. Stay strong and we will see everybody next week. Happy building!

-Intro Music by Chillhop: http://youtube.com/chillhopdotcom

Artist - Title: Birocratic - Sleepyface

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/birocratic

-Video music by Epidemic Sound (http://www.epidemicsound.com)

Ben Builds Season Six: Albatros D.III ep 15

What's going on modelers! We are back on our Eduard, 1/48th scale, Albatros D.III. Thank you so much for stopping by.

Today, we have a shorter episode. We are going to start by adding a bit more wood grain texture to the propeller, then we are going to finish installing all the rest of the small parts. That means the tail skid, exhaust pipes and finished propeller with spinner. After all of that, we are going to apply some Future and let everything dry for a few days.

Next week we should be tackling the decals and working on preliminary weathering, so hang in there, we are getting so close to calling this one finished. It won't be long now.

As always, thank you so much for hanging in there with me on this build. I know it is taking more time than I'd like, but this is my 1st WWI aircraft and I want to make sure I don't screw it up. Plus, I'm really enjoying the work. Until next week everybody, take care and happy building!

-Intro Music by Chillhop: http://youtube.com/chillhopdotcom

Artist - Title: Birocratic - Sleepyface

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/birocratic

-Video music by Epidemic Sound (http://www.epidemicsound.com)

Ben Builds Season Six: Albatros D.III ep 14

Welcome back, everyone to our Eduard, 1/48th scale, Albatros D.III. I'm so glad you have all  stopped by.

In this episode, we are going to install the tail assembly, the wheels and landing struts. We also get to do a bit of painting on the wheels and the cockpit surround. There isn't that much left to do before we can apply Future and decals, plus we need to do some weathering and finally attach all the rigging. We are getting so close with this one. 

Also, we need to scratch build some pipes for our radiator. Those parts do not seem to be included in my kit, or I just didn't see any. Either way, that just means we get to stretch some plastic.

As always, a huge thank you to everyone hanging in there with this build. I know it is taking some time, but I'm really enjoying the work and I hope that everyone is having fun. Until next week, take care and happy building!

-Intro Music by Chillhop: http://youtube.com/chillhopdotcom

Artist - Title: Birocratic - Sleepyface

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/birocratic

-Video music by Epidemic Sound (http://www.epidemicsound.com)

Ben Builds Season Six: Albatros D.III ep 13

What's going on everybody? Today, we are back with more Eduard, 1/48th scale, Albatros D.III and in this episode we are finally going to begin to assemble this cool little plane. But before that, we need to do a few things before we can hit that glue. For example, I want to do some shading on the rear tail and I want to install some of my homemade turnbuckles and see how that all goes.

A side form that, we are moving right along and this kit is getting closer and closer to being done.

As always, a huge thank you to everyone hanging in there with this build. I'm really enjoying this build and I hope that everyone is enjoying   watching this journey. Until next week, happy building!

-Intro Music by Chillhop: http://youtube.com/chillhopdotcom

Artist - Title: Birocratic - Sleepyface

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/birocratic

-Video music by Epidemic Sound (http://www.epidemicsound.com)

Bandai A-wing Build Report

RZ-1 A-wing Interceptor

Kit: A-wing Interceptor 

Mfg: Bandai

Scale: 1/72nd

Of all of the many ships in the Star Wars universe (and trust me, there are a lot,) my favorite design is definitely the RZ-1 A-wing interceptor. From the first moment I watched it in Return of the Jedi as it went careening into the bridge of the Emperor's Flagship, I became an immediate fan. Sure, it isn't as iconic as an X-wing or as prolific as a Tie Fighter, but this plucky, little interceptor immediately earned my admiration and respect.

Even with its very limited screen time, the A-wing became embedded in my brain as the sleek, sexy, F1 race car of the Rebel Fleet. Unfortunately, when I was a lad I never got a chance to build a kit of this subject. My local hobby shop and toy store, never had one on the shelves. That was fine, since I usually stuck with World War II aircraft and Cold War jets, but I kept the A-wing on my Model Bucket list.

As the years went on, I still maintained a healthy admiration for the little ship and when Bandai began pumping out Star Wars model kits I knew my time had come. The A-wing Interceptor was my 1st target in the Bandai line. After a good 25+ years, it was finally time to build that awesome ship.

Now, back in the 90s, most of the Bandai kits that I built were based Anime series like Patalabor, Tekkaman, Neon Genesis and of course Gundam. Even though, none of these shows were well known here in the U.S. that didn't stop me from trying to get my hands on as many as I could. I have to admit, I built a lot of these subjects and loved every moment of assembally.

Fast forward to 2016, I find out that Bandai is producing Star Wars kits. Based on my earlier experiences, I figured that these models would probably be great in both fit and function, but I needed to see for myself. I can happily report that after eight YouTube episodes and a completed A-wing, I can confirm that these kits are in fact, awesome.

Construction Report

Let me start out by saying that Bandai makes excellent models. Their ability to engineer kits that are both detailed and intricate, yet extremely simple to build is unrivaled in this market. I can honestly say that I have never been disappointed by any of their kits.

While building the A-wing, I didn't have any fit issues. I didn't have confusion at the instructions. The parts were flash free, cleanly molded and right on the money. Assembly went along without any issues. From the cockpit to the cannons, this kit just flowed, from one step to the next.

Much like my old 90's Gundam kits, certain aspects of the Bandai A-wing give it an almost toy like feeling. Yes, it has stickers for markings and it has some gimmicky laser bolts for the guns muzzles, but these are all optional. Bandai has included parts and pieces that gives this a very legitimate, fine scale vibe. You have the option to use actual decals instead of stickers, you can paint and weather the kit, instead of keeping it molded in colored plastic. There are some really nice details in the landing gear areas, the cockpit and the engines. This kit can be enjoyed by modelers of any skill level and that is a beautiful thing.

Not only do you get a very nice A-wing, you also get a stand to showcase the A-wing in flight and a bonus Turbo Laser tower that attaches to the A-wing's stand. Of course it is WAY out of scale, but it is still a nice addition. Even the clear engine parts are designed with the potential of lighting them with LEDs. This kit is truly awesome.


Final Thoughts

As a kid, Bandai had a very impressive list of selling points for their models. Not only were these kits robust and well engineered, they didn't require any glue or paint. They came molded in color, with clearly illustrated and very colorful instructions. They used stickers instead of decals, (which for a kid is excellent news, by the way.) They could take quite a beating without breaking or snapping apart.  They were designed in such a way that you could actually play with your finished models. That was unheard of in the fine scale hobbies. These kits were poseable, colorful and looked epic on your display shelf. For a young boy, every step with these kits was super fun. 

Fast forward to today and my modeling tastes have changed a, yet the Bandai kits still appeal to me. It isn't just for kids or younger builders. No, this kit possesses enough detail to give a more advanced builder a ton of options. If you want to super detail this kit, you can. Go crazy! The nice thing is, even after you are all done, the kit will still retain that "fun" factor that Bandai instills in all of their kits. And after an imaginary flyby, past all of your other finished kits, it will look great on the shelf.

If you are so inclined, I have the full build series on my YouTube channel and the images of my progress are on my Facebook page, so feel free to check them out.

Until next time, I hope you enjoy your kits and thanks for stopping by.

~GB

Ben Builds Season Six: Albatros D.III ep 12

What's up modelers! After a few weeks being away from the bench, we are back at our Eduard, 1/48th scale, Albatros D.III. It is good to be back.

Today, we are going to paint the tail surfaces, the wheels, the propeller hub, the wing struts and a few other odds and ends. We will be using Tamiya Flat White, Gunze Flat Red and a custom gray-green color mixed with Vallejo paints. This should be fun.

A side form a bit of touch ups here and there, I think we will have the majority of the painting done. That means that next episode will have to be the beginning of the building and rigging phases. Those should be interesting to try.

A big thank you to everyone hanging in there with this one. For my first WWI aircraft, I am really taking my time. I really appreciate everyone watching and happy building!

-Intro Music by Chillhop: http://youtube.com/chillhopdotcom

Artist - Title: Birocratic - Sleepyface

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/birocratic

-Video music by Epidemic Sound (http://www.epidemicsound.com)

4Wheel Fridays - Revell '41 Chevy Pickup - Ep. 6 Final

Welcome back to another episode of 4Wheel Fridays! Today we are finally finishing the Chevy Truck Month, '41 Chevy Pickup! Let's get on with it.

We have a few things left to do such as painting some whitewalls on the tires, a gloss cost of future, some black washes on the grill and the main final assembly. After all of that, we will be done.

I have to say, this kit was a lot of fun. Not only was it my very first truck kit, it was also my first civilian vehicle since the late 1990s. I had a super time with this one and I'm thinking, I'm going to need to get a few more trucks.

As always, a big shout out to Fred Henry over at West Georgia Rod and Customs! I know this was a week late, but I still had a ton of fun. Thanks Pappy!

Check out "Pappy's" YouTube channel for more awesome builds: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmuE3MANu2RDKINwDWtUBZA

Thanks for watching and I hope you enjoy!

Music by Epidemic Sound (http://www.epi

Ben Builds Season Six: Albatros D.III ep 11

Welcome back to our Eduard, 1/48th scale, Albatros D.III.

Today, we are going to start preparing for the rigging. A few episodes ago, I created some wire loops to act as anchor points. I want to try my luck at installing the majority of those loops. I figure that that will be enough to tackle right now, since they are very small and will probably be difficult to work with.

Just a short update this time, but next episode should be a bit more intensive.

Until next week, thank you for watching and happy building!

-Intro Music by Chillhop: http://youtube.com/chillhopdotcom

Artist - Title: Birocratic - Sleepyface

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/birocratic

-Video music by Epidemic Sound (http://www.epidemicsound.com)

4Wheel Fridays - Revell '41 Chevy Pickup - Ep. 5

Welcome back to 4Wheel Fridays and Chevy Truck Month! Thanks for stopping by.

Today, we are going to try and get as far as we can, but we have a ton of work still to do and little time to do it. Based on that alone, I'm afraid that I am not going to be able to finish Chevy truck Month within the month of June. I know Pappy is pretty relaxed about it, but I had high hopes that I would finish it today. Oh well, it is what it is. We are still going to get it done, so next week should be the finale.

For this episode, not only do we have exterior painting to do, there is masking that needs to be done, a lot of fitting and of course final assembly. I also wanted to paint on some whitewalls to the tires, but that will be next episode. I think one more week should really help me to get this truck off the bench, but in the meantime let's see how far we can get.

Again, a big shout out to Fred Henry over at West Georgia Rod and Customs! I'm sorry I wan't able to make the deadline.

For more Chevy Truck Month info, Check out "Pappy's" YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmuE3MANu2RDKINwDWtUBZA

Thanks for watching and I hope you enjoy!

Music by Epidemic Sound (http://www.epidemi

Sci-Fi Wednesdays - Bandai A-Wing - Ep. 8 - Final

This is it everyone, this is the last episode for this cool, little 1/72nd A-Wing. Today, we are wrapping this one up.

For the last few steps today: we airbrushed Future on the Turbo Laser tower and the stand, dry brushed and flat-coated the pilot and weathered up the A-Wing with pastels, oils, colored pencil and powders. I used earthen tone pastels to add some subtle color shifts, some Lamp Black oil paint for laser burns and my trusty AIM weathering powder for staining around the engines and guns.

Once that was all finished up, I over-coated it all with Mr Hobby Top Coat - Flat. That helped to seal everything in and reduce the shine from the Future.

The Turbo Laser tower and stand also received a coat of future, a then a wash of lamp black and some oil paints to represent laser burns.

It took eight episodes to finish this kit and I can't tell you enough, how much fun it was! I highly recommend that if you are a Star Wars fan, go out and pick up a few of these Bandai kits. They are super fun to build, very easy for modelers of all skill levels and they look excellent, when finished. 

As always, a huge thank you to everyone for watching and I hope you all enjoyed this journey! I'm not sure what is next on the Sc-Fi bench, but I'll look at the stash and we'll see what speaks to me.

Until then, take your time, build something new and have as much fun as you can!

(Just a quick side note on the video. I'm still learning about video editing and all of that, so I'm sorry for the color balance on this one. For some reason, the Red looks really Brown, but I assure you it is not Brown, it is actually Red.)

Ben Builds Season Six: Albatros D.III ep 10

Welcome back modelers, to Military Mondays! We are continuing to push through on our Eduard, 1/48th scale, Albatros D.III. I hope you enjoy this quick update.

Today, we are going to do more detail painting on the fuselage. I have to paint some vents, hatches and a few other things in a Gray/Green color.  I'll need to match the front "metal" panels around the engine and nose that I painted last time. These are small details, so I'll probably brush paint them to eliminate excessive masking. We'll see how it goes, brush painting can be a bit of a challenge.

I also want to start working on the tail. There is a black, fuselage band that we will need to paint, so I'll get on that today as well.

I hope everyone is having fun on their kits! Until next time, thank you for watching and happy building!

-Intro Music by Chillhop: http://youtube.com/chillhopdotcom

Artist - Title: Birocratic - Sleepyface

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/birocratic

-Video music by Epidemic Sound (http://www.epidemicsound.com)

Ben Builds - Channel Update and Shout Out

Just a quick channel update a BIG shout out to a good friend, Al Wood​.

Al surprised me with an awesome gift and I wanted to share it will everyone and let him know how much it meant to me.

A big thank you to Al. Go check out his YouTube Channel and show him some love. He is an awesome builder and an all around great guy. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm-mUkECW9RwZnkeA22uEZw

That's all for now. Thanks for watching and we'll see you all soon.

4Wheel Fridays - Revell '41 Chevy Pickup - Ep. 4

Let's do this! We are back for more 4Wheel Fridays and Chevy Truck Month!

This '41 Chevy is moving right along and today we are going to push forward on the cab. We are going to install the door panels, the dash, the bench seat, the firewall and the interior handles. We are also going to install and paint the frames on the windshield and rear window.

There isn't really that much left to do, but I still need to push on. Next week I am planning on the final video with a reveal of the finished kit.

Another big shout out to Fred Henry! Thank you for hosting! I am having so much fun on this build and I hope ya'll are having fun on yours too.

For more Chevy Truck Month info, Check out "Pappy's" YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmuE3MANu2RDKINwDWtUBZA

Thanks for watching and I hope you enjoy!

Sci-Fi Wednesdays - Bandai A-Wing - Ep. 7

Welcome back to the 1/72nd scale, Bandai A-Wing!

On this episode of Sci-Fi Wednesdays, we are going to airbrush Future on the kit, paint up the base coats on the stand and Turbo Laser tower and install the tips of the A-Wing's guns. We are also going to try our best to paint up the pilot. Nothing too crazy, but all steps in the right direction!

I know this is just a small update today, but with this update the A-Wing will basically have all of it's parts installed. Next episode, we will tackle overall weathering and I think this kit will be finished. Fingers crossed, everybody!

As always, thanks to everyone for watching and I hope you enjoy!

-Intro Music by http://www.bensound.com

-Video music by Epidemic Sound (http://www.epidemicsound.com)

Ben Builds Season Six: Albatros D.III ep 9

Welcome back to the Eduard, 1/48th scale, Albatros D.III. Thank you so much for stopped by!

Just a small update for everyone! Today, we have more painting to do, so that means more masking. I really want to tone down the wings and start to blend the colors all together. This should be fun to try. 

After that, we need to do a bit of painting on the fuselage, which means that we are going to need to mix up a custom Gray/Green color for the front "metal" panels around the engine and nose.

Alright, let's get on with it.

Thank you for watching and happy building!

-Intro Music by Chillhop: http://youtube.com/chillhopdotcom

Artist - Title: Birocratic - Sleepyface

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/birocratic

-Video music by Epidemic Sound (http://www.epidemicsound.com)

4Wheel Fridays - Revell '41 Chevy Pickup - Ep. 3

Welcome back to 4Wheel Fridays and Chevy Truck Month!

We are back on the "41 Chevy and we are going to paint up the lower frame, the interior door panels, the cab floor, the firewall and a few other odds and ends.

Also, it is time to install the engine into the frame, attach the driveshaft and hook up the radiator.

Just a small update today, but this kit is really starting to come along now and I can't wait to see it with all the body work on. If all goes well, that will be on the next episode!

For more Chevy Truck Month info, Check out "Pappy's" YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmuE3MANu2RDKINwDWtUBZA

Thanks for watching and I hope you enjoy!

Sci-Fi Wednesdays - Bandai A-Wing - Ep. 6

It might be a bit late, but technically it is still Wednesday, so that means another episode of Sci-Fi Wednesdays!

We are back on paint for the A-Wing. This time around, we are going to paint on a marbling coat for the Hull Red. That should give us some nice subtle shifts in color and add some depth to the paint. That way it isn't just one large monochrome layer and it matches the same technique that I used for the Off-White, from the last episode.

We are also going to be adding the accent panels of Hull Red and Dark Gray. We will be using Dark Sea Gray by Tamiya. Yes, it is a bit darker then the instructions call out for, but I'm OK with that. I like the darker shade.

Not a huge update, but this WILL finish up the basic painting for this little ship.

As always, thank you for watching and I hope you enjoy!

Ben Builds Season Six: Albatros D.III ep 8

Welcome back everyone!

Today on the Eduard, 1/48th scale, Albatros D.III we are going to try and post-shade the wings with lightened shades of the base colors. That should give us our first step toward getting this wing looking right. Of course, the wings might look a bit stark, but I should be able to blend it all together.   

After that, we are going to over coat the fuselage with a 50/50 mix of clear orange and clear yellow. That should be a really nice color for the varnished wood look.

Of course, the fuselage has already been painted with our blend of oil paint, so this is the next step in getting this kit closer to being finished.

Thank you for watching and happy building!

4Wheel Fridays - Revell '41 Chevy Pickup - Ep. 2

We are back to 4Wheel Fridays and the Chevy Truck Month group build! I can't wait to see how this all unfolds.

Today we are going to focus on the engine and the truck frame. I'm also planning on panting the engine with a base coat of Vallejo Engine Grey. I'm not sure if it is 100% accurate, but I love it anyway.

To be honest, I'm not sure how much attention I'll be ultimately paying to the engine. As much as I would LOVE to super detail that entire area, for my 1st time out of the gate I was planning on keeping the hood closed. If I was more adventurous, I'd detail the engine up, do a bit of kit surgery and open one side of the hood to show it off. Unfortunately, I'm not that comfortable with cars/truck yet and I also don't have a lot of time to get this kit finished. I only have 1 month, so three more updates to go.

Anyway, figures crossed, let's hope this all goes well.

Thanks for watching!

Sci-Fi Wednesdays - Bandai A-Wing - Ep. 5

It is time for another episode of Sci-Fi Wednesdays! We are back on the Bandai, 1/72nd scale A-Wing and today is going to be paint day #1.

I wanted to try and achieve a cool, slightly warn look to the paint. I figured that the black basing technique might work well. It would give the paint a less uniform look and that is exactly what I want for this little fighter. I'm still not as practiced with the method, but we will push on and see how it unfolds.

I am going to be using Tamiya Flat White, Tamiya Buff, Tamiya XF-20, and Tamiya Hull Red. My plan is to mix a few drops of Buff into the Flat White, in hopes of achieving a more off-white color. I will be using the Tamiya XF-20 as our base marbling coat, but only for the white areas. I think that should be a nice touch and add another layer of interest to an otherwise solid color.

The Hull Red will be right out of the bottle, but next episode we will mix up some lighter shades and apply a bit of marbling on those areas as well. I'm guessing that the NATO Black should also add to the red, but it will need some lighter shades to add some depth of color.

As always, thank you so much for watching and I really hope you enjoy!

Ben Builds Season Six: Albatros D.III ep 7

Welcome back to the Eduard, 1/48th scale, Albatros D.III. I am so glad you stopped by!

Today, we are finally going to tackle the wood finish on the fuselage. I've been watching quite a lot of tutorials and reading articles on different ways to do this and I think I am ready to give it a shot.

First, I'm going to use a mix of Raw Umber, Burnt Sienna and Yellow Ochre to paint the fuselage. Then, while the paint is still wet, I'm going to take some sponges and texture/remove the majority of the paint. Finally, I will come back with a detail brush and add some knots, subtle color changes and variations in the "wood" grain. I'll use Raw Umber and Burnt Sienna for this. 

Of course, the fuselage has already been painted with Tamiya Desert Yellow, so we are good to go.
I have never done this before, so this will be a HUGE learning curve, so let's hope this goes well.

Oil paints take forever to dry so our next episode, will probably be some detail painting on the wings.

Thank you for watching and happy building!

4Wheel Fridays - Revell '41 Chevy Pickup - Ep. 1

Welcome modelers, to a brand-new video series I'm calling 4Wheel Fridays!

What is 4Wheel Fridays? Well, I've been really wanting to build some car and truck kits, but I needed a place to put 'em. Figured this would do the trick, so here we go!.

Also, today happens to be the start of the Chevy Truck Month group build, hosted by Fred Henry, of West Georgia Rod and Customs! A big shout out and Thank You to "Pappy" for hosting this GB. I could not pass up the opportunity to jump in with so many amazing builders. Stop on by his YouTube channel and say "Hey".

In honor of Chevy truck Month, I've decided to work on a 1/25th scale Revell 1941 Chevy pickup. Not only is this a super cool looking truck, but it also fits in with the theme!

Today I'm just going to take a quick look at what's in the box. Nothing that fancy, but we need to start somewhere. So far, I'm pretty excited to start work on this kit. I haven't built a car model since the 1990s and I have NEVER built a truck, so this should be a whole lot of fun!

Check out "Pappy's" YouTube channel!


Thanks for tuning in!

Sci-Fi Wednesdays - Bandai A-Wing - Ep. 4

Welcome back modelers! It is Wednesday, so that means another episode of the Bandai, 1/72nd scale A-Wing.

I've got just a short update for everyone today. On this episode, we are going to finish off the assembly (save for the guns) and then we are going to apply a black base coat. We are getting this kit ready for paint and I can't wait to see how it unfolds.

We will be using my favorite color, NATO Black as our base/primer coat. With that color as my base, I'm going to try to add some subtle color shifting and paint variations, but that will be on the next installment.

Thanks for watching and I hope you enjoy!

Ben Builds Season Six: Albatros D.III ep 6

We are back on my Eduard, 1/48th scale, Albatros D.III. Thanks for coming along!



Today, I plan on priming and giving the fuselage a base coat of Sand Yellow! But, instead of just focusing on that, we are also going to paint up the wings!



We will be using Vallejo's Field Green, and Pale Blue, with some Tamiya Red Brown. This should be fun.



I really want to get the wood look right, so I need some more research and practice, but next week we should be ready to get this fuselage to that next level.



Thanks for watching and happy building!

Sci-Fi Wednesdays - Bandai A-Wing - Ep. 3

Welcome modelers! We are back on my Bandai, 1/72nd scale A-Wing. 

Today, we are going to be continuing on the overall assembly of this sweet little fighter. So far the parts have been fitting without much issue, so let's hope that trend continues. We will be using a bit of yellow, clear yellow and NATO black paint today, but the majority of the episode will be getting this A-Wing put together.

This kit is a beautiful model and it is so much fun to see it take shape. Thanks for watching and I hope you enjoy!

Ben Builds Season Six: Albatros D.III ep 5

Welcome back to my Eduard, 1/48th scale, Albatros D.III. Thanks for joining me!

Since next week, I plan on priming and painting the fuselage, I really want to take extra time with my preparations.So, today, we are going to finish up sanding and filling the fuselage, we are going to add some small details and we are going to create some homemade parts for the upcoming rigging. Not a lot of huge progress, but all necessary steps.

Thanks for watching and happy building!

Sci-Fi Wednesdays - Bandai A-Wing - Ep. 2

What's up Modelers! Welcome back to the 1/72nd scale A-Wing.

Today is the first day of construction on this sweet little kit. That means we are starting with the cockpit.

My plan is to assemble and paint the interiors. We are going to use H401 Dark Gray for the overal color and a Tamiya Dark Sea Gray for some dry brushing. We will also use yellow and red for the switches and dials.

This is a fun kit and I can't wait to see this one take shape.

I hope you enjoy!

Ben Builds Season Six: Albatros D.III ep 4

What's up modelers, we are back on the Eduard, 1/48th scale, Albatros D.III!  Just a quick update for everyone.

Today, we are going to add the last of the sidewall detail, paint a bit of color on the seat, apply a basic wash and button up the fuselage. I also want to add some seat belts, so that should be fun.

After all of that, we will close up the body and get ready for the next episode. So far this has been a huge learning curve, but we are on schedule.

Thanks for watching and I hope you enjoy today's video.

Happy building!

Sci-Fi Wednesdays - Bandai A-Wing - Ep. 1

Greetings modelers! Since it is May, I've decided to jump back on Sci-Fi Wednesdays with a Star Wars kit! We are going to be building the 1/72nd scale A-Wing, by Bandai and I am super excited to see this one come to life.

I will admit that the A-Wing is my favorite ship from the Star Wars universe. It is just so aggressive, fast and nimble looking, I've loved it ever since the Return of the Jedi. So, let's have a quick unboxing and take a look at the kit. Next week, we will start the assembly process and see how this kit goes together.

I hope you enjoy and thanks for watching!

Ben Builds Season Six: Albatros D.III ep 3

Welcome back to our Eduard, 1/48th scale, Albatros D.III!

Last episode I had mentioned detailing up the engine a bit, so today we are going to start there.
I am going to use a NATO Black for our base color, dry brush aluminum over that and then use some bronze for the side pipes.

After that, we are going to take some superglue and add some small copper wires to each of the cylinders. That is 12 wires total and they are very small. They won't be all that noticeable, but at lease I'll know they are there.

To finish off the day, we are going to start assembling the cockpit. Our oils should be dry enough to begin getting the basic parts set up.

Thanks for watching and  I hope you enjoy today's video.

Happy building!

Sci-Fi Wednesdays - The USS Enterprise E - Final Reveal

We are done with this kit! I am so happy to call this one done. I hope you enjoy the end of this 9 month process! We will see you next time!

Ben Builds Season Six: Albatros D.III ep 2

Welcome back to the Eduard, 1/48th scale, Albatros D.III!



Today, we are going to start by building up the engine. We are also going to start painting the inside of the fuselage. We need to try and replicate a wooden appearance, both inside and out. To do that, we are going to try and use oil paints, which I have little experience using. Oh well, either way, this should be fun!



I hope you enjoy and thank you for watching!

Sci-Fi Wednesdays - The USS Enterprise E - Ep. 14

Back on the Enterprise E! Let's get this thing decaled.

Ben Builds Season Six: Albatros D.III ep 1

Well, I think it is time I try a WWI aircraft.....so let's hope this doesn't turn into a disaster!

Ben Builds Season Five: Hawker Harrier Gr Mk. 7 Part 14 Final

That is all she wrote for the Harrier! We are finished!

Ben Builds Season Five: Hawker Harrier Gr Mk. 7 Part 13

Hello everyone! This is the final week of this group build and I am so close. I will be creating two videos this week, so I can get this one done by the due date, but I should be right on target.



Here is where my kit stands as of today. I spent some time this weekend applying the gloss coat and the decals to the Mk7 and I love how it looks. The only things that will be left are the weathering stage and the flat topcoat. Friday should be the reveal video and the end of my build and I am excited to see this one come to life!



We are almost there, everyone! Good luck with your kits, stay strong and happy building!

Ben Builds - TwinBrit GB - Bristol Beaufighter MkVI - part 8

I decided I needed more #TwinBrit. So, instead of just cramming the last few steps into one long video, I thought I would split up the rest of the build into two short videos. That way, it will be easier on the viewers to enjoy the final few steps. So here we go!



I was able to finally get to the painting stage on my Beaufighter. I used both Tamiya and Gunze paints and mixed up a few custom colors. The underside is a custom Azure Blue. I used my own mix of white, light blue and a dash of purple. For the topside, I stuck with Sand Yellow and a mix of 50/50 Flat Earth and Red Brown. then I did some post shading with Tamiya Smoke, some slight fading with Buff and Flat Earth and a topcoat of Future.



This is really falling together now and I am super pleased at how it is coming along. Next episode should be the decals, weathering and the final reveal.



Thank you so much for watching! I really appreciate all of the views and well wishes and I hope you all enjoy!

Ben Builds Season Five: Hawker Harrier Gr Mk. 7 Part 12

It is Harrier time! It is time for more of the Hawker Harrier. I hope you enjoy!



Until next update, stay safe and keep on building!

Ben Builds - TwinBrit GB - Bristol Beaufighter MkVI - part 6

It is Friday, so that means another episode of #TwinBrit, on British Aviation in Scale! This is a sweet kit and I am loving it. Thanks for watching!

Ben Builds Season Five: Hawker Harrier Gr Mk. 7 Part 10

More Harrier action! It is really coming along now!

Ben Builds - TwinBrit GB - Bristol Beaufighter MkVI - part 2

Episode two of my TwinBrit entry...it is such a nice kit!

Ben Builds Season Five: Hawker Harrier Gr Mk. 7 Part 6

Back on the Harrier! We have sub-assemblies to do and a bit of cleanup to start. We also need to finish up the wing inserts, the tail cone and the jet intakes. Then we need to install the vertical stabilizers and add the tail fin. After that, we also have a few parts to assemble like the wheels, landing gears and drop tanks. Next will be sanding, sanding and more sanding!



We are getting closer and closer to the priming/painting stage, so soon we will be able to see her in her colors.



Thank you for watching!

Sci-Fi Wednesdays - The USS Enterprise E - Ep. 9