Messages

4426

Aircraft Modeling / Re: June Group Build--Curtiss Hawk 75

« on: June 13, 2011, 07:20:53 PM »

You definitely have production line!

The two P-40s are reboxed and back on the "to-do" shelf.......

I'm not too much in the mood for modeling today as we found out that the B-17 Liberty Belle has burned out in a field in Illinois. Thank God no serious injuries to anyone aboard. As many of you may know I've spent time as a mechanic/inspector on two other Fortresses and today is somewhat like losing a member of the family. Again, the main thing, the people are alright.

4427

Aircraft Modeling / Re: June Group Build--Curtiss Hawk 75

« on: June 13, 2011, 06:21:42 PM »

One-man-group-build - my man 
These tips for fuselage tank and bulkhead will be feasible for my next 3-in-1 project, P-40 B/E/N, when it comes to the line

I really didn't think I was going to have time to work on this GB, either! We can just keep the flexibility and anyone can contribute to all the GBs whenever they wish as far as I'm concerned.

Check your references carefully on that aft bulkhead, Profa. I don't know if/when Curtiss started to put a cover over the oval opening between the cockpit and aft fuselage. I did only research on the P-36 and very early P-40s.

4428

Aircraft Modeling / Re: June Group Build--Curtiss Hawk 75

« on: June 13, 2011, 07:06:42 AM »

Thanks on the scratchbuilding comment, but I almost made an error in that respect. I had originally made a flat plate to represent the tank but then realized after looking at the Thai Museum airplane that the tank is oval. An addition that might be nice, but not really visible, would be to extend the "floor" behind the aft bulkhead. That tank sits on a cradle that is part of the wing center section.

Those P-40B/C projects are the old Monogram kits. I've always liked that model and have plans to build both of them soon. In fact, I borrowed the landing gear legs, wheels, and tires from one of the kits shown for the Hawk Build. I'll find a spare set in the parts boxes to replace them later!

4429

Aircraft Modeling / Re: June Group Build--Curtiss Hawk 75

« on: June 13, 2011, 12:47:30 AM »

Here's how I scratched together the oval aft fuel tank. All it takes is a rectangle of .010 styrene and a semi-oval shaped stiffener for inside the rolled sheet.

After you build the front face of the tank it'll look like this glued onto the bulkhead. This bulkhead is a scratchbuilt piece for one of my old Monogram Tomahawk projects.

The final step is to paint the tank and add two mounting straps to the face. I used bare aluminum on this tank but they could also have been the same color as the tank--check your references for more details......

My "Curtiss Assembly Line".

4430

Aircraft Modeling / Re: June Group Build--Curtiss Hawk 75

« on: June 12, 2011, 07:14:12 PM »

A very quick update but no time for photos--if you're going to build one of these Hobbycraft/MustHave! kits, don't forget to add the fuel tank just aft of the cockpit. It's quite visible through the oval opening behind the seat. Quite easy to scratchbuild one from sheet plastic, though......

4431

Warplane Art / Re: Grumman Hellcat

« on: June 10, 2011, 08:39:56 PM »

The orange markings denote a Naval Reserve airplane rather than regular service. Keep up the good work!

4432

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Group Build> Japan

« on: June 10, 2011, 08:30:06 PM »

Yes, very nice engraving!!!!!! Maybe, since I don't have any 1/72 hinomaru decals, I'll use the engravings as a template for masks and just spray them on after engraving the panel lines and filling the circles....... Other than those darned circles the parts look pretty good.

The more Zeros I see, the more beautiful the design is to me.

4433

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Fokker D.VII Group build

« on: June 10, 2011, 08:23:47 PM »

 

4434

Aircraft Modeling / Re: June Group Build--Curtiss Hawk 75

« on: June 10, 2011, 08:17:17 PM »

I decided to go with the interior green after further research.

I also read some reviews of the Hobbycraft kit and found that the dihedral issue is fairly common. Some kits have the problem and some do not, maybe because of the stacking of parts trees in the kit. It certainly shouldn't deter anyone from building one--the dihedral is pretty easy to fix if your kit has a "flat" wing.

4435

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Group Build> Japan

« on: June 10, 2011, 08:12:04 PM »

Here is the progress on Koga's Zero thus far. Perhaps I'll get it primed and then will paint it as time allows:

My next two Japan-projects are here:

This box was in the large antique-store purchase I made years ago. When I opened it I was disappointed that the decal sheet was gone, but overjoyed that there were two full kits inside , one radial engined and one in-line. I'll be building these out-of-the-box and will just find some decals for them as I go.

4436

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

« on: June 09, 2011, 08:36:08 PM »

Bravo Scott   , this will be very interesting build - I like old airplanes like this one

I was thinking about this project on my way home from work last night. Perhaps I can find a bit of time to work on it again this month.

It's a funny thing--this model got pushed off the desk to make room for some other stuff and I totally forgot about it. "Out of sight, out of mind"!

4437

Aircraft Modeling / Re: June Group Build--Curtiss Hawk 75

« on: June 09, 2011, 03:58:49 PM »

Another update--I'm now pretty sure my project should have some form of interior green/zinc chromate interior........research on the internet is great when one is very patient!

4438

Aircraft Modeling / Re: June Group Build--Curtiss Hawk 75

« on: June 09, 2011, 03:49:33 PM »

Here is a nice set of photos of the fixed-gear 75 in the Royal Thai Museum:
http://scalemodels.ru/modules/photo/viewcat.php?cid=533&orderby=date
This airplane has a green interior, with beautiful photos here:
http://109lair.hobbyvista.com/DETAILSITE/dsindex800.htm

I'm still not entirely, 100%, positive that mine is supposed to be alu, and I'm going to be doing more research before I continue the cockpit.

4439

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Fokker D.VII Group build

« on: June 09, 2011, 03:34:11 PM »

Beautiful! And I thought cutting rib tapes on real airplanes was a repetetive job........

4440

Aircraft Modeling / Re: June Group Build--Curtiss Hawk 75

« on: June 09, 2011, 07:55:59 AM »

I see some scratchbuild in cockpit,or my eyes deceive me!??
Will be more?
Good progress...Slow,but it goes forward!

Sall,
You're right, there are a few extra parts I've added and there will be some more to fabricate.

No.1,
I'm pretty certain the particular airplane I'm replicating had the aluminum interior color. I'm still studying a couple of relevant photographs that may show some zinc chromate used on parts of the structure in the cockpit.

There are differing opinions about what color the P-36 series cockpits were. The USAAC standard at the time was the alu lacquer and the first French order was aluminum also. I've seen mention made of zinc chromate, interior green, and even grey specified by some of the export customers.