Messages

4486

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Group Build> Japan

« on: May 23, 2011, 06:49:54 PM »

Thanks!

Good progress, No.1.

This morning's agenda was to get coffee brewing and prime the Val repair areas. Then a light coat of flat white base followed by yellow leading edge stripes and propeller tips. The Zero flight controls were sprayed with aluminum and sealed as the first step in the NMF process.

4487

Aircraft Modeling / Re: AIRCO DH.2 (Eduard 1/48)

« on: May 23, 2011, 06:13:22 PM »

GOOD SAVE!

4488

Warplane Art / Re: Curtiss Hawk 75

« on: May 23, 2011, 06:12:08 PM »

Excellent subject matter, as always. It's crazy how many nations flew this little fighter.

I'm reshaping the Wright-equipped cowling ring for the 1/48 Hobbycraft kit in preparation for our GB later this spring. Keep the great profiles coming!

4489

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Short Stirling Mk.IV

« on: May 23, 2011, 03:59:01 PM »

Your rivet effect is very nice. The old Airfix Fw-189 project I've been working on needs more of this method applied to it....

4490

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Group Build> Japan

« on: May 23, 2011, 08:32:02 AM »

I got up early this morning and finished the interior of the Val during my coffee drinking ritual.

After adding a few more bits I put the fuselage halves together and installed the wing--the fit around the root area was a bit puzzling......... It took some filler in several places, but now it is presentable.

After laying the first coat of filler on the Val I masked and painted the anti-glare panel and the fuselage decking under the aft canopy of the Zero. On this airplane the aft decking is standard IJN dark green and the Americans painted the anti-glare panel in normal AAF olive drab.

The disassembly of the third project also got started tonight. This didn't put up too much of a fight and will be a rather quick and easy restoration, other than masking and painting the "ATAIU SEA" legends.

4491

Aircraft Modeling / Re: F-106 Delta Dart

« on: May 23, 2011, 08:24:15 AM »

Finally I got a chance to start assembling the weapons bay area tonight along with the landing gear and doors. Once the glue on the gear sets completely it'll be ready for final assembly.

4492

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Short Stirling Mk.IV

« on: May 21, 2011, 11:22:23 PM »

Good job, Paul!!! A fine conversion.

I LOVE the Stirling in all its forms. Such a huge machine with so little wing area. I've often wondered how things would have turned out if the specifications had allowed Shorts to design a larger wing.

Scott

4493

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Group Build> Japan

« on: May 20, 2011, 08:14:07 PM »

It's called quality.

AMEN, Sall!!!! Both the Humbrol and this Gunze paint performed perfectly even after decades of storage. Some of the storage time was spent in an unheated/unair-conditioned storage building and the paints still work just fine. There are cases where "you get what you pay for"!

4494

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Group Build> Japan

« on: May 20, 2011, 07:34:43 PM »

I can hardly wait for final assembly of both of your egg-planes!!! 

This morning I found my very old bottle of Gunze H-6 for the interior of the late-war Val. I did considerable research and this seems to be the correct shade for the Aichi factory at that time. The paint worked out fine after a little mixing.

4495

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Group Build> Japan

« on: May 20, 2011, 08:06:37 AM »

Some more progress on the Val yesterday morning. All just parts from the salvage boxes and wire, styrene, or aluminum stock for the rest. I find scratchbuilding strangely relaxing  when I get rolling on a project like this.

4496

Warplane Art / Re: Armstrong Whitworth Albemarle

« on: May 19, 2011, 04:36:46 PM »

Number 1 one of the first Aviation magazines that I had has a kid had a good feature on the Albemarle. It was an Air Classics from the early 1980's. LOL!

I will check my files to see if I have anything. It looks good so far!

I believe I might have that issue also, if only I could find the box it is in.....

4497

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Group Build> Japan

« on: May 19, 2011, 07:43:16 AM »

If you have Plastruct link please let me know. No direct order from Evergreen site

Here is a link to Plastruct. http://www.plastruct.com/Home.html They do international direct orders. As for Evergreen, if you have a shopping list I could see if our local hobby shop has the items you need. Post shouldn't be too expensive, I would think.

4498

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Group Build> Japan

« on: May 18, 2011, 08:39:03 PM »

Also I forgot Plastruct. They have some of the shapes that Evergreen did not in the past.

I should add that some of the round shapes in that cockpit photo are windings from an electric motor and lead-free solder of the proper diameter. I could be called the "junkyard modeler" I sometimes think!

4499

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Group Build> Japan

« on: May 18, 2011, 08:28:09 PM »

Most of my styrene comes from Evergreen here in the U.S. http://www.evergreenscalemodels.com/

4500

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Group Build> Japan

« on: May 18, 2011, 07:50:38 PM »

My second project is an old 1/48 Fujimi D3A1 reboxed as a Testors kit here in the States. The interior is very basic so I have started scratchbuilding some details. There is a resin upgrade available, but I'm still the "frugal modeler" with lots of styrene sheet, tubing, and strip lying about. Here's a picture of the pilot's cockpit area at the early stage of the process. Much is still required and the gunner/radio operator compartment hasn't yet been started.