Messages

4801

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Il 2 Group Build?

« on: February 17, 2011, 12:24:04 AM »

Well, I have narrowed down the search to three different airplanes. Only one is a VVS machine--I'll let you guess my other two choices. One hint: I am not modeling the ski-equipped version--just the standard gear. I am leaning to one machine over the other two but I won't know until I get the airbrush out which one I'll pick!

4802

Aircraft Modeling / Re: SBD/A-24 Group Build

« on: February 17, 2011, 12:13:09 AM »

I think it will be fine that you build this kit "out-of-the-box" as it can show how far the quality of model manufacturing has advanced over the years. The younger modelers in the world sometimes don't realize that kits were very basic in the "good old days" of modeling.

4803

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Il 2 Group Build?

« on: February 16, 2011, 10:15:45 PM »

We can just start the build as everyone has the time. I reckon March can be the "official" start.

Sall, you might be surprised at the markings I've chosen for my first Il-2. I spent a LOT of time trying to decide which aircraft to build even though there weren't that many single-seaters depicted in my references.

The Il-2 has always interested me a lot. I would really love to see one in airworthy condition.

4804

Aircraft Modeling / Il 2 Group Build

« on: February 16, 2011, 09:13:26 PM »

To go along with the SBD group build, would anyone like to do an Ilyushin project? I just opened an Accurate Miniatures single-seat Il-2 and will post photos here. If any of y'all want to join in I'd appreciate it!

4805

Ground Forces / Re: Caro Armato

« on: February 16, 2011, 07:27:35 PM »

I understood those Italian tanks and armoured vehicles were real coffins, because the armour was rivetted instead of welded steel plate.

My father was in a maintenance battalion of the U.S. 1st Armored Division in North Africa. He told me much the same about the Italian armor as your observation. He also talked about the same problem with the early M3 Grant/Lee tank in both British and U.S. use. The rivets acted as bullets when the hull was hit. Dad was in a battlefield repair unit that worked on knocked out equipment right after the end of a battle. His memory of the M3 was that it was often a very sad thing to have to remove remains of the crews before they could begin salvage/repair. Often the tank wasn't badly holed but the rivets had bounced around inside like shrapnel.

4806

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Liberator Beauties

« on: February 16, 2011, 07:00:33 PM »

A problem... it look like that kit have many subjects missing so they have to be self made. In attach is the nose of the sample machine I will going to make and it show some devices at the nose side and bottom. Any further info about this?

The tubular item under the lovely lady is the drift meter. It would have normally been retracted flush with the fuselage but may be extended for maintenance or cleaning. I am not sure what the other "L" shaped device is yet.

4807

Ground Forces / Re: M-5 Bomb Trailer

« on: February 16, 2011, 05:29:28 PM »

For a long time I did not see that somebody use sanding/turning machine to do any part! This is great refresh for me

I was so fortunate to get that lathe. A friend of ours, when we lived in Texas, asked me if I wanted a Unimat. An elderly neighbor of his had passed away and my friend was helping the family sell some of his tools. I paid a relatively small amount (I forget how much, $50 comes to mind) for the lathe and it came with a full set of tools and adapters. I used it to machine aluminum when we had our aftermarket model car parts business. Now it is back in "semi-retirement". It's been very handy for the B-17 nose and these tires.

4808

Aircraft Modeling / Re: SBD/A-24 Group Build

« on: February 16, 2011, 05:19:58 PM »

Welcome to the group! That is definitely a fifties-style kit.

Now that you've started this kit we can show the progress that has been made in the design and manufacture of model kits over the decades. When I started modeling in the 1960s a kit cost around one U.S. dollar, and many of them were like this model. Sometimes I complain about the cost of modern kits, but comparing this old Testors to a Tamiya or other top-line model makes one appreciate the progress that has been made.

Looking forward to your ideas!
Scott

P.S.
I shot the neutral grey on my A-24 this morning. Perhaps the olive drab will go on tomorrow.

4809

Aircraft Modeling / Re: HOW TO: Natural Metal Finishes

« on: February 16, 2011, 04:11:21 AM »

Just a quick entry showing another of my many uses for BareMetal Foil--as a masking material. I simply apply foil and trim the edge with a new X-acto blade, rub it down firmly, and paint the part. Here's a tire from my bomb trailer:

BareMetal works great and doesn't leave any residue on painted surfaces if you're careful. It gives a very sharp edge if trimmed carefully.

4810

Ground Forces / Re: M-5 Bomb Trailer

« on: February 16, 2011, 04:07:58 AM »

Here is a photo of a couple of bomb rails. There are a total of thirty-one parts in each one of these. This model is a really good research project for the real trailer I'm restoring. I will have to make a set of these in 1/1 scale someday and it was nice to build small ones first!

I also worked on the tires. A good friend mentioned that the originals looked like they came from a child's toy so I decided to put them on the lathe for some tread. First the tread face:

Then, the sidewall:

Next I had to narrow them down a bit on the sanding block to get the scale width. Here is a nearly-finished wheel next to an original Monogram part:

4811

Warplane Art / Re: Northrop A-17

« on: February 14, 2011, 01:15:50 AM »

 

4812

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Liberator Beauties

« on: February 11, 2011, 07:34:11 PM »

  I'm glad the disaster was averted!

Hey, I just thought of something that is too late to incorporate into your build. On the Minicraft B-24s I've built I added weight into each nacelle just behind the firewall. By using some weight there you don't need as much in the nose. I wish I had thought of this sooner...... Or, you can always build a tiny ammo box and set it under the tail skid like they did during the war.

Sorry I didn't think of this sooner,
Scott

4813

Warplane Art / Re: Northrop A-17

« on: February 10, 2011, 05:56:33 PM »

I enlarged the photo and edited my earlier post just as you were replying. They are Curtiss propellers connected to Wright 1820s.

Scott

4814

Warplane Art / Re: Northrop A-17

« on: February 10, 2011, 05:52:38 PM »

It's interesting that these have Curtiss Electric propellers.

Great photo--one I'd not seen before.

4815

Warplane Art / Re: Northrop A-17

« on: February 10, 2011, 05:26:36 PM »

The "father" of the SBD series is an interesting airplane. Keep up the good work!