Messages

4276

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Airacobra Under New Management

« on: August 01, 2011, 07:39:16 AM »

I started the day with high hopes of getting some serious model-building done, but my microwave oven decided it needed to be worked on instead. After getting that magic box working again I still had enough time to prep both P-39s with primer and sprayed the bottom neutral grey on.

After that little chore I spent a bit of time reworking the propeller for the Soviet Q-21. I got out the trusty compass and divided the correct diameter circle into four sections for alignment purposes. I then filled two blade openings in the spinner, leaving one for blade 1. Next was to mark for the other three blades and drill the appropriate holes. The propeller was missing a blade when I found it in the spares box so I rummaged through the drawers to find two more matching blades.

4277

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Airacobra Under New Management

« on: July 31, 2011, 03:42:51 PM »

No.1 suggested a mixture of alcohol and acetone and that works great, too. I found that Easy-0ff doesn't have much of an effect on flat black or yellow for some reason but the acetone/alcohol combo softens both colors.

On the Cobra projects, the missing gear doors and nose wheel, with half the strut fork still attached, were discovered in the "landing gear" parts bag last night. Frankly I am amazed that I found enough of the parts to repair both kits. I'm working on repairing the propeller for the second ship now as it's missing one blade and another is pretty badly bent.

4278

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Airacobra Under New Management

« on: July 31, 2011, 03:52:38 AM »

Great minds think alike! Here's the brand I've been using:

4279

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Airacobra Under New Management

« on: July 30, 2011, 11:18:10 PM »

I've been fortunate enough to find most of the big pieces for the second Airacobra. What I didn't rediscover I simply made out of styrene. The exhausts on this one were dug from the spares box. When I started removing the decals on this one I found U.S. markings under the top layer of paint. I must have "overhauled" this model way back when but all I remember is applying the Soviet markings.......... With both models on the bench I have the makings of a "Cobra Den" on my desk.

4280

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Airacobra Under New Management

« on: July 29, 2011, 05:32:29 PM »

I built some 1/72 jets, mostly from the 1950s and 60s for my little brother. He may still have them and I'll be glad to ask. I do still have my little RF-84K FICON model that goes with an RB-36 for later restoration. If anything is still available I'll let you know!

4281

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Airacobra Under New Management

« on: July 29, 2011, 07:32:57 AM »

Good old Monogram green plastic! It is somewhat brittle but that makes disassembling the pieces that much easier.

I'm going to do the second airplane (providing I find the stabilizers) in an accurate Soviet scheme, preferably as a P-39Q-21 with the four-blade propeller. If I'm able to find the material I have some good pictures of Lend-Lease Q-21s to select from.

4282

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Airacobra Under New Management

« on: July 28, 2011, 07:37:29 PM »

Now that you fellows have encouraged my junk-fishing expedition, I did more digging and pulled this out of the piles. I'll spend some time this weekend trying to find the stabilizers, gear, and other pieces that I don't think I still have. If there is enough to put together I'll go ahead and restore both of the models. Incidentally, the Soviet markings on this one were actually for a P-40 and I just used "artistic license" by applying them to the Airacobra.

4283

Aircraft Modeling / Re: PZL P.11c LTD 1/48

« on: July 28, 2011, 07:34:01 PM »

I certainly prefer the non-buffing if the area I'm covering has to be handled by humans. It is also very nice to get the contrast in shades if the differences are really subtle. I prefer non-buffing on interiors as it is so close to the aluminum-pigmented lacquer that the U.S. used in the pre-WWII days. Now that I've learned much more about the Japanese clear blue-green and green lacquers I also like to spray the area with aluminum as a base coat. Live and learn!!!

4284

Aircraft Modeling / Re: PZL P.11c LTD 1/48

« on: July 28, 2011, 07:19:47 PM »

Good update on the other thread. I'm going to see about getting some of the non-buffing to restock my dwindling supply.

4285

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Airacobra Under New Management

« on: July 28, 2011, 04:10:17 PM »

I love restoration jobs.Great modelling Second Air Force.

I should send you something from my "collection" to restore! I've still got a few more rebuild projects in the boxes that (I think) have all the pieces. My big problem is digging through three or four boxes of parts to find all the bits that have broken off over the last twenty years of household moves.

4286

Aircraft Modeling / Airacobra Under New Management

« on: July 28, 2011, 07:06:04 AM »

Something a little different in my next salvage project. Yesterday I was digging in the spares boxes and kept finding parts of two old Monogram P-39s. Eventually I found enough pieces to build one from the two, so decided to restore the bits into a complete model. I'm not going to bore everyone with all the paint stripping--you've seen enough of that already. This will eventually become a P-39N that was handed on from the USAAF to another fighting force. (I'll let y'all guess at who used it after the AAF handed it over.)

4287

Forums Works / Re: Political names

« on: July 27, 2011, 08:33:45 PM »

The great thing about LLL since I've been a member is the genuine fellowship that is here, and it all goes back to sharing our modeling passion. I have strong political/philosophical/religious beliefs but I made a vow to myself never to get into arguments or discussions about that kind of thing. I consider y'all friends and don't spend any time at all worrying about outside influences--we have a great group of model builders and researchers here and I, for one, don't want to lose anyone.

Now where is that beer............

4288

Aircraft Modeling / Re: PZL P.11c LTD 1/48

« on: July 27, 2011, 08:23:49 PM »

I just went to the Testors website and they still show the non-buffing variety. My shop must have just not restocked that color at some time in the past.

4289

Aircraft Modeling / Re: PZL P.11c LTD 1/48

« on: July 27, 2011, 08:07:54 PM »

When Testors first came out with the Metalizer paints they offered both buffing and non-buffing aluminum color. The buffing material can be given a high shine by polishing while the non-buffing is more like plain paint, though still in the natural metal coloration. Non-buffing gives a bit of contrast on a NMF finish and also doesn't need to be sealed in order to handle a model. The buffing type is really, really easy to rub off with even just a couple of touches of the human fingers. I don't know if they even offer the non-buffing style any more--I haven't seen it on the shelves in a long time. I should probably mention this on the NMF thread.

Scott

4290

Aircraft Modeling / Re: PZL P.11c LTD 1/48

« on: July 27, 2011, 07:29:06 PM »

Well, Sall--I decided to go with the non-buffing aluminum (I have an old rattle can of MM aluminum that I use in such cases) because of research and artifacts that suggested aluminum lacquer was sprayed overall. The Museum airplane has grey paint on the sheetmetal with aluminum struts, and that would also work since the visibility will be so limited.