Topics

1

Combat Warplanes / Thunder Over Michigan mass Corsair ground videos

« on: August 04, 2019, 03:42:51 AM »

I shot these today with my dirty-sensored DLSR and no tripod so it isn't great video, but I'm sure some will enjoy it.  There were 14 Corsairs that were supposed to be here but there were two incidents this year and a third cancelled a few days ago because of a pilot health issue.  Still, 11 Corsairs at one time is an impressive sight! 

Startup, warmup and taxi out:




And here's the return:

2

Aircraft Modeling / 1/48 Wildcat

« on: July 03, 2019, 03:42:29 AM »

This one is going to the USS Hornet Museum when I get the other two built that I committed to.  This is in the markings of the Wildcat flown by Flath at Guadalcanal.  I built this about two years ago and I don't recall what kit it was.  The 7 decal on the fuselage broke when it was almost complete and will be replaced.

3

Aircraft Modeling / B-29 Assembly Line

« on: June 21, 2019, 04:51:20 AM »

 I wasn't sure if my account would still be active but it looks like I'm still here!

I guess I've started most of my posts here with excuses and apologies, and this one will be no different.  When I signed up here I had great intentions of contributing regularly, but outside of the couple things I've posted here I haven't built any models in that time.  In 2014 I had to knock out a B-29 quickly (the same as I'll be building here), along with three 1/48 Navy planes that went to the USS Hornet Museum.  With all of these projects going on at once, their deadlines and other pressures I had going on at the same time, I got burnt out on modeling enough that I haven't really picked it back up since.  Around the same time my passion for making music resurfaced and that has taken up most of my free time since. 

In 2014 I lost a good friend, Master Sergeant George L Voltz. George had an extensive Air Force career flying in many aircraft including B-50, KB-50, KB-29, KC-97, KC-135, B-36, and most importantly with regards to this thread, he completed a tour in the B-29 Haulin Ass over Korea.  He flew 35 missions there if memory serves.  He was later a boom operator, but he flew the radar/electronic countermeasures position in the B-29.  When I learned he wouldn't be around for long I built him a 1/72 scale B-29 in the markings of Haulin Ass.  When he passed away it went to one of his sons and at the time I promised his other son that I'd build him one also; and I had always intended to do one for myself too.  I found out this week that the other son is retiring soon (he's been my employer for almost 20 years) so I now need to stop procrastinating and make good on my promise from five years ago. As I've started  to immerse myself in this again I've discovered maybe part of not having done this already is because I'm still not over losing my friend.

So I've picked up a couple Academy kits...the first one of these I built I used a kit that I already had in the stash which had raised rivets and I've always regretted building it that way.  (and I don't know how a B-29 kit with raised rivets would be designed and approved for production either). 

I had Josh from bedlamcreations.com do the custom nose art decals for me, along with the 98th Bomb Group insignia that goes on the port side of the nose.  Josh does great work and I've used him several times for custom decals.  As you can see I have a huge sheet of these. I may put some on eBay just to spread them around and allow some others to build this plane. 

I also have a couple sets of 98th Bomb Group decals to steal the Square H and US Air Force fuselage decals from, and I have the letters for the wings.  I have some fluorescent orange on the way for the nose gear doors and top of the vertical stabilizer, I realized tonight I may need to order some national insignias.  I bought several different shades of Alclad back when I decided to do this project and hopefully they are still ok - I'm concerned about how much solvent is in some of the bottles.  They haven't been opened but I think some evaporation may have happened over the years.

I ran out of time tonight because of some other commitments and hope to start cockpit assembly tomorrow night. 

4

Aircraft Modeling / 1/72 Pro Modeler B-17 909

« on: August 14, 2016, 08:30:21 PM »

Thinking about it, it's been just short of two years since I touched a model.  I got burnt out on it when I built the last few under a deadline for a museum while juggling work and a toddler, I've since had another child and an old hobby took hold again (music); I haven't really had the desire to build.  The good warbird airshows in my area have all folded up now and the lack of direct exposure hasn't helped anything. This week the Collings Foundation finally stopped at my local airport with their B-24, B-25, B-17 and the new TF-51D out on tour.  I hadn't planned on spending the money but my wife convinced me I needed to go for a flight again, she paid for half of my flight on 909.  I got to fly and also spent nearly three hours out on the ramp in direct sun over 90 degrees watching the planes come and go and also watching the work on Witchcraft, which was undergoing an engine change due to sheared cylinder studs.  This was much needed and at least for the time being, has started to ignite my desire to get some modeling done again.

Here is a video of the flight if anyone is interested:


A few years back I bought a complete set of B-17 decals in 1/72 which covered all of the currently flying B-17's except for Chuckie, including poor Liberty Belle.  I intended to build the entire fleet including Chuckie (not interested in it's current scheme) but hadn't started the project yet.  I've now flown on 909 and Aluminum Overcast so I'll build those two first and move on from there.

I've had a Pro Modeler 1/72 scale kit tucked away for a couple years and I'll use it for my 909 build.  At this point I think I'll be hanging them so I'll probably build with the gear up, possibly the bomb bay open, and I won't go crazy with interior detail.  I hope to be able to spend at least a couple hours a week building but I may need some motivation if I slow down.

5

Aircraft Modeling / Spring/Summer projects

« on: September 25, 2014, 05:33:29 AM »

It's been a while since I've posted here but I've been busy building this year.  I've finished four models and have a couple more in progress which is pretty good for me!

Early in the spring I started a pretty special project.  I had a few time setbacks and have been pretty much finished up since August but as of tonight they're boxed up and heading out to their recipient. The Hellcat is an Eduard, Helldiver is a Revell Promodeler, and the Avenger is an Academy.  This project took most of my free time this spring and summer and I got a little burnt out toward the end but I have a ton of projects I want to do and I'll try to post here more.  My second daughter will be born any day now though so I'll be pretty busy for the next few months.

6

Aircraft Modeling / B-29 'Haulin Ass'

« on: January 13, 2014, 05:50:04 AM »

 Lack of time and motivational issues have kept me away from modeling for the most part of the last couple years.  The last things I can remember finishing were a Hellcat and a Griffon Corsair for a 'What If'  group build, both of these in the fall of 2011.  Hopefully that will change now, if nothing else I at least have the desire again.  I've been a member here for over a year and this is the first model I've completed in that time but I had hoped for much more.

Tonight I finished a project for a good friend.  He was a career Air Force vet that flew in more aircraft than I'll probably know.  He was a radar/ECM operator in B-29's, he also flew in the KB-29, KB-50, KC-97, KC-135, and was in the B-36 and B-52.  In the tankers he was a Boom Operator.

I've been planning to do this project for years and just got around to it in October.  I had a couple time setbacks which were out of my control and I wanted to have this done by Christmas but I didn't make it. 

One of the planes I know he is most proud of was the B-29 'Haulin Ass' which he flew in during the Korean War from Yokota AFB near Tokyo.  I had photo documentation of the nose art and was able to fill in the rest of what I needed to know through research.

Here is a color photo of the plane I was able to track down.  I also have a couple other photos of it in my collection which you can see on my website by linking through the information at the bottom of the page.

http://www.aviationatwar.com/photo-details.php?id=421

(if this nose art bothers anyone I will take it down)




The kit is the old Airfix with 'Eddie Allen' decals.  It leaves something to be desired compared to most modern kits and if you're in a hurry to get a B-29 done I'd recommend another, although that was exactly the situation I was in!  With a bit of work though you can turn it into something presentable, but the raised rivets still bother me.  If you're ambitious enough you could sand them off and scribe the panel lines.

I had the nose art decals custom done by Josh at bedlamcreations.com.  They look great and went on perfectly, as good as any decal I've ever used.  I plan to use Josh again in the future.

I was able to find a set of decals by Kitsworld for two other planes in the squadron (98th BG, 343rd BS), so I was able to get the Square H from there.  This was my first attempt at Alclad.  I learned a few things not to do and have mixed feelings on it, but I know that I can progress on the next projects if I use it again.  The rest of the decals are individual letters and numbers from Techmod, national insignias I believe are also Techmod.

Wheels are True Details resin.  The wheels in the kit are better suited for a toy.

I wanted to get this post up tonight but I have a couple small things left to do.  Tomorrow I plan to clean up the greenhouse glass paint because it's driving me crazy, and I need to do something with the tail gun.  The tail guns should have gone in when the fuselage was going together and I didn't catch it.  There was too much that needed to happen at that same time, and if the guns had gone in that long ago I would have just broken them off by now anyway.  I have a plan that I think will work.  I should be able to present the model to George sometime this week, I can't wait to do it and see his reaction. 

7

Aircraft Modeling / I'm still out there!

« on: August 06, 2013, 03:58:58 AM »

Hi again everyone,

Nobody probably missed me but I wanted to check in since I haven't been around for a few months.

The spring and summer found me once again immersed in flying and building radio controlled airplanes and I haven't had much time for plastic modeling.  I've been receiving a little pressure to finish a few of my projects and I do fully plan to get back to the plastic models this fall.  The days are already becoming short and my flying season is getting near the end.

Even though this isn't plastic modeling it's still modeling so I hope this thread is ok here.  If not then move it as you guys see fit.

Here's what I've been working on for the last few weeks.  It's a 65" wingspan Hangar 9 P-47 with an RCGF 20cc gasoline engine.  I finished it up last weekend and flew it for the first time a week ago today.  I've put three full flights on it now and couldn't be happier with the engine or the airframe.  I did some minor repairs tonight (not from crash damage, just my own clumsiness) and hope to fly it tomorrow night and through the rest of the week if the weather holds out.

8

Aircraft Modeling / 1/72 Airfix Northrop P-61

« on: January 20, 2013, 05:09:47 AM »

While the B-29 is on hold I wanted to make sure I keep some projects going.  I've had this P-61 kit for quite a while and after staring at my stash, pulling a few out and putting them back, the P-61 was the one that kept calling to me. 

I most likely bought this on eBay and it looks complete but lacks instructions.  It's a pretty simple kit though and shouldn't be hard to figure out.  The overall quality is fairly poor by modern standards but hopefully I'll be able to turn it into something presentable.  I don't have a plan for markings yet but I'm leaning toward a black plane rather than olive drab over gray since I've already built one that way.

I got a start tonight on the very simple interior, and I got the wings and horizontal stabilizer together.

9

Aircraft Modeling / 1/72 Boeing B-29 Bockscar

« on: January 13, 2013, 06:07:21 PM »

Hello everyone!

Quite some time ago I was invited here by a member, I've been lurking off and on and have finally been able to sign up.  I thought I'd share my current project.  I'm not a beginner but don't consider myself anything more than mediocre, hopefully I won't embarass myself too much!

I had been out of modeling for a handful of years and when I returned to the hobby it was because of of my newly sparked interest in World War II.  One of the first models I built was an Airfix B-29 kit, the B-29 being a large part of my becoming interested in warbirds.  As time went on and I got more builds under my belt the poor B-29 started to look worse and worse against the rest of my collection, so last year I decided it was time to do another one. 

I had another Airfix kit stashed away, but as many of you know it has thousands of raised rivets and panel lines that would need to be sanded off and then the panel lines scribed.  I went searching for a better kit that wouldn't require this, and I found an Academy kit with Bockscar decals.  Perfect!

I started the project last spring, but lack of time and some motivational issues kept me away from modeling for the second half of 2012.  I picked it up again a couple weeks ago and have been making good progress this time.

Here is the kit.

Naturally I started with the interior. 

Since nothing aft of the pilot and copilot can be seen through the greenhouse glass and you can't see into the waist I decided to not go crazy with detailing the interior, and I left out everything aft of the bomb bays except for the tail gunner's section.  It took quite a bit of work to get the fuselage halves together even with leaving the large section out of the rear.

Almost eight months after starting I finally got the fuselage halves together last week!

This same kit is reused for mutiple aircraft so it comes with cuffed and non cuffed propellers, provision for the cannon in the tail gun position, gun turrets, etc.  Since my Silverplate B-29 doesn't have turrets I had to cut off the small fairings around the base of all turret locations.

I made some small tabs with sheet styrene and glued them inside the turret locations.  This will give the turret covers something more to glue to and also prevent me from dropping them inside while trying to get them in place.

As of 1 AM this morning I have the fuselage seams all cleaned up and I'll be putting the turret covers in place tonight, then it will be on to the wings.