The RC Geek Blog

By: Chris Wolfe

Marvel AND DC Comics together…can you even do that?

Since the first Family Build we did, my kids couldn’t wait to do another one!  They kept asking (especially my daughter) to make another vid and build some models.  More building with my kids?  Heck yes!  This time, it’s all geek as a while back, I had come across a plastic kit of one of my favorite comic book characters, Marvel Comics’ “Wolverine” made by Polar Lights/Round2 Models.  Upon investigation, I learned that Polar Lights had a few different characters and so found a Marvel Comics “Captain America” for my daughter (it was fitting since she has a little crush on Cap) and DC Comics’ “Superman” for my son since, based on some of the things he attempts, he must think he’s made of steel!  So, let the build begin!

The kits themselves are all produced by Polar Lights/Round2 Models.  They state no glue required, but the truth is, to have any sort of longevity, glue is a good idea.  In all cases, the models were snapped together and then medium CA was used along the seams which did two things, glue the models together and also fill the seams.  With the glue on the seams, a little 400 grit sand paper smoothed it out and voila, no seams!  Once the figures were fully assembled, they were spray painted white for a base to brush paint over (I typically do this when I paint pilot figures too).  From there, we simply brush painted all of the rest of the colors using an assortment of model master paints.   The skin tones were achieved by painting the skin areas with Radome Tan and then airbrushing some very thinned down Dark Tan over the skin areas until we got the shades we were looking for.  The painting ended up taking much more than I expected (6-8 hours as a guess), but the end results were worth the effort and we all had a blast sitting talking and painting.  We all progressed at about the same rate which was nice and a slight change from the previous DeLorean build.  I have to say that for as much painting as was done, my kids really hung in great and kept working diligently through the whole process.  It was a good lesson for them and they are extremely proud of their efforts (and so am I!).

 

 

Marvel Comics Wolverine

marvel-wolverine-5 If you’ve seen any of the X-Men movies, then you’re probably familiar with the Marvel Comic’s Wolverine character.  His characteristic healing factor and adamantium claws are unmistakable.  The kit rendition of the character is straight out of the comic book which is awesome!  Don’t get me wrong, Hugh Jackman IS Wolverine, but I’m still waiting for him to rock the yellow spandex and cowl from the comic!😉  The finished Wolverine model stands about 8″ tall fixed atop of a defeated sentinel droid head.  The sentinel base was painted using a couple different shades of Alcad II aluminum.  I tried to give him a little 5 o’clock shadow, but not sure if it just made his face look dirty or not.  Also, when airbrushing the Dark Tan, I used it as a wash over the whole character which helped darken up some of the recesses.  Then I did a small amount of dry brushing on some of the highlights.

 

 

Marvel Comics Captain America

marvel-captainamerica-1 As a character, we love Captain America; he’s been one of our favorite characters in the Marvel movies.  Plus, my daughter has a little crush on Chris Evans, so it was only fitting that she build a Captain America model!  The model itself is a nicely molded re-release of an older Aurora model depicting a scene from an early comic book.  The instructions are nestled into the front of a comic book story which is a fun way to provide instructions, especially for a kid.  Cap’s uniform is the classic “scale” armor from the comic which has lots of texture and is a great base for some dry-brushing and washes (my daughter tried a little dry-brushing on him).  He’s posed on a large base hurdling over a brick wall landing in a puddle ready to attack the Red Skull.  Needless to say, the kit builds into a really cool and good sized diorama.

 

DC Comics Superman

DC-superman-6 Between the multiple TV shows and movies that have come out over multiple decades, Superman is probably one of the most recognizable comic book characters out there.   Though we are mixing Marvel and DC here (sorry!😉), this ended up being a perfect build for my son.  It went together well and the painting was simple enough that it kept him interested and didn’t discourage him at all.  The finished model attaches to an “S” base where Superman stands about 10″ tall breaking kryptonite chains (you can’t hold him down!).  The rendition is very good and seems to look very much like the comic book.  The one complaint I would make is that the “S” decal for the cape and chest were fiddly and didn’t lay down very well.  Even with multiple applications of micro sol.

 

I suppose it might be a little sacrilegious by mixing DC Comic’s Superman and Marvel Comic’s Wolverine and Captain America…but then again, maybe we’re on to something, right?  They could be the founding members of the cross-comics Avengers League!  Or the Justice Avengers?  Wolverine, Captain America, and Superman!  It’s totally a thing…😉

The RC Geek Blog is your place to learn about all aspects of the RC hobby. Learn to build, design, drive or fly that RC project you’ve always wanted to build, but have been intimidated to try. This blog is here to help you on your journey and provide tips and tricks as you go! My hope is to inspire builders both experienced and new! So, welcome, please look around, it’s an exciting beginning!  I’m currently documenting my latest competition scale RC jet build, a Mark Frankel F4D Skyray, along with some other fun tips and videos. If you can’t find what you’re looking for on this front page, click on any of the categories to the right and it will show just posts related to those categories. Please feel free to add comments and/or contact me directly if you have questions, I’m here to help! And don’t forget to check out my YouTube Channel, I post new videos every week!

Subscribe To Our Blog Now

By Chris Wolfe 19 Sep, 2023
The B-58 Hustler Saga - From Triumph to Tragedy
By Chris Wolfe 13 Mar, 2023
Preparing for Battle: The ULTIMATE Guide to Scale Documentation Maybe you've heard about RC Scale Aircraft competitions, but the thought it sounded intimidating, or the process of it all seemed daunting and discouraging. Well, fear not! I am here to encourage you and dispel any myths you may have heard if any. Scale competition is a fun and challenging segment of the hobby that will undoubtedly make you a better pilot! So, in light of this, I've started a new "Preparing for Battle" live series and in my first episode, "Preparing for Battle: The ULTIMATE Guide to Scale Documentation," we talk about the AMA Scale Nats with special guest Joe Vermilion from Balsa USA and peel back the layers of scale competition and provide information on what it's all about! As an experienced RC Scale Aircraft competitor and two time US Scale Masters National Champion, my hope is to share whatever knowledge and practical advice I can for newcomers and seasoned competitors alike.
By Chris Wolfe 14 Feb, 2023
Are You Ready to Take Your RC Flying to the Next Level?? Then you’re in luck, because we’re giving away an FMS 1400mm F4U Corsair and an FMS 1100mm PC-21 ! But first, let's address the elephant in the room...it's been quite a while since my last blog post. With the move to TN and everything going on trying to get The RC Geek up and running full time, it's been difficult to sit down and set aside time to write. My goal is to change that going forward, so here's hoping! (check the vid below for even more details about everything mentioned here!)
By Chris Wolfe 25 Jan, 2022
Flight of the Flir Cat…The Sequel!! I tell you what, it has been quite the journey getting here! As a project, this Freewing F-14 Tomcat refinish took much longer than I had originally planned based on all of the other distractions that have come through the shop, but I'm so happy with how this model turned out in the end. It did take a few flights to get tuned and I have made a few small modifications in the process since our last installment, but otherwise I'm happy to report that the Tomcat is flying quite well. The F-14 Tomcat has such a great look and presence in the air, you just can't beat it!
By Chris 10 Jan, 2022
10 channels of power…and 1 receiver to rule them all! I personally love having the option for more channels, especially when building my own scale aircraft. While not always necessary, having channel options available is almost always helpful and it opens up opportunities to add scale functions and/or customize the controls more to your liking. And that's not to mention having individual servo setup across the same functions. So, I was excited to finally see the AR103060T and AR10100T 10 channel receivers released from Spektrum. It opens of channel options in a lighter weight package while also supports all of their new technology. Having been flying the NX10 for some time it is nice to finally be able to utilize all of those 10 radio channels.
By Chris 10 Jan, 2022
Good times and Warbird Flying are back! Needless to say, the last year and a half plus has been hard on all of us. With so many of our normal routines and activities disrupted, it has only brought that many more challenges it seems. This hobby is not just about the airplanes and flying, it is about the friends and comradery that can be enjoyed together with others as well. So, when the Scale Squadron's Warbirds & Classics came up again this year after being cancelled in 2020, I was beyond excited to go; it had been almost 2 years since the last event I went to!
By Chris 24 Nov, 2021
Refinish a Foam Jet Ep 4 – Freewing F-14 Tomcat Low-Viz Navy Weathering How low can you go?…a little low-viz Tomcat weathering. Finishing up the refinish work on the Freewing F-14 Tomcat, it’s time to apply some characteristic low-viz Navy weathering. The Flir Cat paint scheme is from the mid 90’s at a time when the Tomcats in service were painted primarily in Dark Ghost Grey (FS36320) with variations thereof. They were high maintenance workhorses at this time and the aircraft got extremely dirty during operation. This opens up lots of opportunities to apply different weathering techniques on the airplane to simulate those years of service on the carrier.
By Chris 24 Nov, 2021
Refinish a Foam Jet Ep 3 – Freewing F-14 Tomcat Paint, Markings, & Panel Lines
By Chris 27 Sep, 2021
Refinish A Foam Jet Ep 2 - Freewing F-14 Tomcat Cockpit 3D Printing, Painting and Moving Pilots
By Chris 27 Sep, 2021
Fill…sand…poly…sand…primer…sand…aaaannnnddd repeat… You've probably figured out by now, I have many favorite aircraft. ;) However, if I was to put together my top 5 favorite aircraft of all time, the F-14 Tomcat would probably be at or near the top of that list. The airplane was one of brute force, but packaged in an elegant and distinct looking airframe that truly personified its name, Tomcat. And that's not to mention, it was an extremely capable fighter that filled many roles through the years that operated from the early/mid 70's into the mid 2000s.
More Posts
Share by: