Messages

4306

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Group Build> Japan

« on: July 22, 2011, 07:30:38 PM »

I'm thinking that I also need to build an airplane from the Russian side of this battle.

4307

Combat Warplanes / Re: Waddington Airshow 2011

« on: July 22, 2011, 07:28:45 PM »

Great images! I hate to see the Nimrods stand down.

The Vulcan images take me back to my youth when a Vulcan Display was flown several times at the Offutt AFB/SAC Headquarters Open House many years ago. It was simply the most amazing (and LOUD) aerial display I ever witnessed.

Scott

4308

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Group Build> Japan

« on: July 22, 2011, 07:23:21 PM »

After much searching and a batch of ideas sent by No.1, I've finally decided on a scheme for the little Ki-27. Eventually it'll carry markings of the 59th Sentai that saw combat at the Battle of Nomonhan/Khalkhin Gol in 1939. There are many interesting markings for this little fighter but I felt like I wanted to portray an airplane that fought in a relatively little-discussed battle.

4309

Warplane Art / Re: Fiat G.50

« on: July 22, 2011, 06:20:41 PM »

  I just LOVE those Italian designers and the airplanes they designed. Good subject, No.1!

4310

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Group Build> Japan

« on: July 22, 2011, 03:55:14 PM »

Thanks, friends. Refurbishing these old projects is a very relaxing form of modeling. "Low-tech" modeling like this offers a lot. The old Otaki/Arii kits look pretty nice when finished even if they don't have all the tiny detailing of a modern kit.

I've been doing some thinking about the airplane I modeled and I now wonder if the 1/1 version may have been the second prototype of the N1K1-J. The photos I've seen of the first prototype show a cowling with a much bigger main opening and no chin scoop. Regardless, my model represents some form of development machine.

4311

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Group Build> Japan

« on: July 21, 2011, 06:51:00 PM »

Here is the N1K1-J. I picked this particular airframe even though I don't exactly know its pedigree. I had access to both left, right, and forward 1/4 view pictures of this bird and I liked the NMF lower surfaces combined with the standard top camouflage. The lower inlet scoop of the normal George is missing on this machine and there is no armament, leading me to believe it was a test ship for engine modifications. The main inlet is also larger diameter than the standard N1K1-J.

4312

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Fokker Dr.I (triplane) EDUARD 1/48

« on: July 21, 2011, 04:33:20 PM »

Wonderful work!

I certainly wish we had a "time-machine" booth that we could take back to see all these wonderful markings in their original settings! I'm glad y'all are building these WWI beauties for us!

4313

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Group Build> Japan

« on: July 21, 2011, 07:42:42 AM »

The designers and engineers were certainly ingenious in being able to turn a floatplane fighter into a land-based machine with relatively small modifications. Certainly the gear ended up being a problem, but under the wartime pressures to produce the -J it's a pretty neat solution to the design.

Here are two photos of the gear on the prototype airplane. The first shows the strut in the fully extended configuration and the second shows just how much it telescoped to shorten it for retraction. You can see in the first photo that there are two strut cylinders, one telescoping into the other and the pair then sliding up into the upper gear leg.

The production gear is a little bit less complicated looking but still has quite a lot of plumbing on it.

4314

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Group Build> Japan

« on: July 20, 2011, 08:00:16 PM »

I also got the landing gear installed a bit ago. It took quite a lot of work to add all the plumbing and linkage to the gear. The N1K1-J had a very long gear and it double-telescoped to fit into the wheelwells. Unlike the P-47 design the Japanese engineers used hydraulics only to shorten the gear for retraction. That led to a lot of hydraulic lines and sequence valves on the gear legs. The N1K2 lowered the wing to the bottom of the fuselage and so dispensed with the stalky, complicated legs.

4315

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Group Build> Japan

« on: July 20, 2011, 07:10:35 PM »

Well, the hinomaru project worked out pretty well for a first attempt. I doubt I'll use decals any more! Just a few bits to install and this one goes in the display case.

4316

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Ryan ST Series

« on: July 20, 2011, 07:07:33 PM »

Primer applied and more work needed, but it's looking better.

Nico, a question.. do you know what color the top surfaces would have been on the camouflaged Ryans? All I've found is olive drab, but I would have thought the paint would be locally applied overseas. There doesn't seem to be much other than that photo you posted of these little birds in camo. I also am wondering what the beaching gear would look like in the real world. As research subjects go, this little gem is pretty tough!

Scott

4317

Aircraft Modeling / Re: July Group Build - Fighters of the 4th-4th+ generation

« on: July 19, 2011, 05:31:59 PM »

Very precise, Sall.

4318

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Ryan ST Series

« on: July 18, 2011, 05:36:32 PM »

I can't find my seascape base but I know it is in a box somewhere here. That is great looking, Nico. Perhaps I'll do the camouflaged version since you've done one in aluminum.

I can't find the little beaching wheels, but they were not too great if I recall. I will have to search about for a photo of the beaching gear the Dutch used if I can't find my water-base.

4319

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Ryan ST Series

« on: July 18, 2011, 04:50:33 PM »

I'll add caustic soda to my arsenal of stripping agents! Thank you, Nico.

4320

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Longtail Dora

« on: July 18, 2011, 04:49:46 PM »

Very good--I'll make use of the supplied decal!

Scott