Messages

4201

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Revell Ju-87D-5

« on: September 06, 2011, 06:14:01 AM »

Thanks, y'all. Dragan, you'll like the next step after the decals go on..... I still need to find or make a couple of different markings for this before I can add the final touches.

This evening I started with the decals and needed a pair of swastikas. Back into the old decal bag and I found this, removed from a Scale Aircraft Modeling magazine from around 1980 or thereabouts.

I clipped out the versions I needed and dipped them in water. I was concerned they'd be brittle or fall apart, but they worked just great.

4202

Forums Works / Re: Group builds

« on: September 06, 2011, 01:19:49 AM »

Yep, that is true. We have already talked about keeping the armor/MV build open for later contributions into the new year so we could start 2012 with the MiG and keep going with the MV at the same time. The F-104 works for me in February, and it would be neat to build two "opposing" interceptors in back-to-back months. Once we see how this winter goes we'll be able to adjust the schedule around as needed.

4203

Forums Works / Re: Group builds

« on: September 06, 2011, 12:02:26 AM »

I think so. We need to begin the planning for next year soon.

4204

Aircraft Modeling / Re: F-104G Hasegawa 1/48

« on: September 05, 2011, 11:32:00 PM »

I need to find one--does having parts of the landing gear from one count?

4205

Forums Works / Re: Maintenance

« on: September 05, 2011, 11:29:47 PM »

Thank you everyone! It's an honor to be involved with LLL and all of you who contribute. I've said it before several times, but my modeling had been on hold for a long time and this forum has reinvigorated me.

4206

Aircraft Modeling / Re: F-104G Hasegawa 1/48

« on: September 05, 2011, 11:14:38 PM »

Do I sense a Starfighter Group Build in 2012?

Excellent model, 0viking0!

4207

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Revell Ju-87D-5

« on: September 05, 2011, 07:00:32 AM »

Here are the exhaust flame dampers in the process of being enhanced with some aluminum tubing and foil tape. The kit parts are rather detail-less and needed something to bring them to life.

And a few shots of the painting process. It's been clearcoated and maybe? the decals will go on in the next few days.

4208

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Fiat CR.42 Group Build

« on: September 05, 2011, 06:56:51 AM »

I started a little bit of the cockpit assembly on mine tonight. Then I taped the fuselage halves together to test-fit the cockpit tub. The cockpit is resin and photoetch (nicely done by Eduard) and appears to be fairly easy to assemble--the seat took just minutes to bend up and assemble.

4209

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Grumman Hellcat Eduard 1/72

« on: September 04, 2011, 07:25:55 PM »

Yes, great review and build!

4210

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Fiat CR.42 Group Build

« on: September 04, 2011, 06:54:54 PM »

I reckon I should mention that I'm building a Swedish J-11 for this GB. I'm still wavering on the actual scheme and aircraft number but will try to get some work done this weekend.

4211

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Revell Ju-87D-5

« on: September 04, 2011, 03:34:59 PM »

Thanks, y'all. It's really a fun kit to build, and if the canopies were left closed it could be nice right out-of-the-box. One thing about the Ju-87, it's BIG and there are so many interesting camouflage schemes to choose from that a whole fleet could be built.

I wish there were an airworthy survivor or a new-build 1/1 replica! As I recall from a thread on WIX long ago, there is a group in Germany or Austria that is slowly working on a non-airworthy machine that will incorporate bits from recovered pieces.

Scott

4212

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Revell Ju-87D-5

« on: September 04, 2011, 06:30:43 AM »

The outside of the entire kit is exactly as it comes from the box. Only a little filler on the seams was required. It may not be a kit that can be matched with the modern quality but is very relaxing to put together. About the only complaint I have is that the cockpit is so basic, and a trip to the junk box or a resin upgrade fixes that problem. Even the transparencies are able to be used with just some cleanup. There is a little flash on some of the parts, I'm sure because the mold has worn somewhat over the years.

4213

Aircraft Modeling / Revell Ju-87D-5

« on: September 04, 2011, 05:42:49 AM »

I had intended to finish this airplane in time to be inserted in LLL Magazine #5 to go with Nico's excellent Ju-87 article. I didn't even get close, so I'll just share the project here on the forum.

This is the old Monogram (now Revell) Stuka kit and is exactly as I remember it from many years ago. I picked this one up at a substantial discount a while back and decided I needed to build one again. Then I dove into the parts boxes and found what is left of my first one--both main landing gear assemblies and some parts of the canopy. I ended up using the tires from the original so as to have at least a bit of my thirty year old build incorporated into this one. It's not a heavily detailed kit, and it has the typical raised panel lines of that era, but it fits together nicely and looks the part.

Here's an in-progress view of the cockpit. About the only thing included in the kit is the floor, two seats (the gunner/radio operator seat is inaccurate) and the instrument panel. I used bits from the spares boxes and styrene for everything else. The radio is from a C-47 (I think) and the ammunition boxes are from a B-25 cut to fit. The machine gun mount is part of a landing gear from a 1/72 Do-17 I built with my mentor forty-five or more years ago.

The walkways on the D I'm building have "anti-skid" strips on them so I used Evergreen strip for these.

A couple of other shots of it after painting the underside. I've got the canopy masked (finally) and installed so it'll be back in paint soon.

4214

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Fiat CR.42 Group Build

« on: September 03, 2011, 06:38:08 PM »

I'm finding the Classic Airframes kit is pretty fun to work with! It doesn't look like it has any great pitfalls so far and the parts really seem to fit pretty nicely except the windscreen is a bit wider than the fuselage where it joins. It'll be easy to fix that problem, though. Hopefully I'll get some pictures taken of progress yet this weekend in between two LLL Magazine projects.......

4215

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Curtiss 75A-7 Mohawk (MustHave! 1/48)

« on: September 02, 2011, 11:58:58 PM »

I'm glad to see you're able to go forward with this one!