Messages

4891

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

« on: December 25, 2010, 02:56:13 AM »

Whatever works best for your situation is just fine, Profa. We can just get started in February and anyone can join in after. Personally, I don't care to set a deadline for finishing the build--just everyone at their own pace.

S

4892

Let Let Let Announcment / Re: Happy Holidays

« on: December 24, 2010, 03:46:41 PM »

Happy Holidays and here's to a prosperous 2011, friends!

(Santa Claus also happened to be the Base Commander at Kearney Army Air Field, Nebraska.)

Scott and Ellen

4893

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

« on: December 24, 2010, 04:15:31 AM »

Or should we wait a little longer to give more time? Perhaps start at the beginning of February? I suppose we could wait and see who wishes to join us and begin accordingly. (I admit I've cheated and started test-fitting parts on mine!)

4894

Aircraft Modeling / SBD/A-24 Group Build

« on: December 24, 2010, 02:09:34 AM »

No.1 originated a very interesting thread in the Combat Warplanes section pertaining to the Douglas A-24: http://www.letletlet-warplanes.com/forum/borbene-letelice-combat-warplanes/douglas-a-24-banshee/ He suggested a possibility that we do a group build. If any of you have an unbuilt SBD kit, of any scale or manufacturer, I'd like to invite you to join us in building them. Just reply to this thread any time if you'd like to participate.

I'll be doing an Accurate Miniatures SBD-2 as an A-24 that fought with the 3rd Attack Group in the SWPA.

Scott

4895

Aircraft Modeling / Re: HOW TO: Natural Metal Finishes

« on: December 23, 2010, 01:48:41 AM »

Here's a quick photo after making some contrasting panels by buffing. I'm not entirely satisfied with it as there is very little difference in the panel shades. I'll probably mask and respray some panels with a slightly different shade of aluminum.

Scott

4896

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale

« on: December 23, 2010, 01:42:16 AM »

A short update on one of the small projects--the forward crew entry door. This is built up of styrene sheet, styrene strips and metal framing. By the time I construct the hinges and outside entry handle there will be twenty parts to this little item.

And one of the exterior:

Scott

4897

Combat Warplanes / Re: Douglas A-24 Banshee

« on: December 21, 2010, 12:01:53 PM »

That sounds like a great idea--we were going to do a group build on WIX a few years ago but it never got going.

Scott

4898

Aircraft Modeling / Re: ICM & Condor MiG-29SMT 777 1/72

« on: December 21, 2010, 03:16:23 AM »

I like this project. The hump gives the airplane a sinister look--almost like a big snake that has eaten recently! Keep us posted!!!!!

Scott

4899

Combat Warplanes / Re: Douglas A-24 Banshee

« on: December 21, 2010, 02:56:35 AM »

I have obtained some photos of the A-24 I'm planning to build from my friend whose dad served in the 3rd Group. Perhaps I'll make time to work on it during the Christmas vacation period. I'm really excited to finally have an excuse to build an Accurate Miniatures kit! I'll start a thread on the Modeling forum when things get underway.

Scott

4900

Aircraft Modeling / Re: HOW TO: Natural Metal Finishes

« on: December 20, 2010, 01:43:11 AM »

As promised, here is one method I use for canopy framing using painted BareMetal foil.

I first cut off a swatch of foil big enough to do the canopy I'm working on. Then I tape it to a popsickle stick and sand it lightly with 2400 grit sandpaper. When I paint the fuselage top color I paint this foil at the same time. To apply it to the canopy I just use a metal straightedge and a brand new X-Acto blade to cut the foil into strips the right width for the frames I'm working on.

Then it's a simple matter to pick up the strips and apply them to the canopy.

 Occasionally I need to touch up small areas where the paint might come off and leave the silver, and in some cases I actually scrape the paint off in high wear areas to replicate chipping/flaking paint. Here's the little training P-47 canopy after framing but before final installation and touch-up:

One word of warning when using this method--if the canopy interior can be seen on the finished product the framing will be silver on the inside. In that case it may be better to mask and paint the framing rather than using the foil method.

Scott

4901

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Future releases from a new producer: MustHave!

« on: December 19, 2010, 04:24:32 PM »

I agree, these are both excellent subjects. I've wanted to build a fixed-gear H75 for many years and it appears that this will be the kit to do it with.

Scott

4902

Combat Warplanes / Re: Douglas A-24 Banshee

« on: December 18, 2010, 05:47:50 PM »

Everyone here has INSPIRED me to build again! (It may take a while, but at least I'm digging kits out of storage.......)

4903

Combat Warplanes / Re: Douglas A-24 Banshee

« on: December 18, 2010, 05:12:28 PM »

You've inspired me to dust off this old Accurate Miniatures SBD kit! I'm planning on borrowing some photos of 8th Attack Squadron A-24s from my co-worker and building one of the airplanes they flew early in the Pacific war.

Just for reference, here is a 1/72 Hasegawa SBD-3 with Eduard dive flaps. This airplane was flown by Lt. (jg) William E. Hall during the Battle of the Coral Sea where he was credited with shooting down three enemy aircraft. Lt. Hall was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the 8 May 1942 battle and the airplane was dumped overboard after landing aboard the Lexington because of battle damage.

Scott

4904

Aircraft Modeling / Re: HOW TO: Natural Metal Finishes

« on: December 17, 2010, 12:27:05 PM »

I have painted BareMetal foil many times, but usually to use it for canopy framing (I'll show my technique for that soon). I simply sand with very fine sandpaper and paint whatever color I need. As far as painting it on the airplane, it can be done but you MUST use very "unsticky" tape or liquid masking agent for masking or the tape will tear and lift the foil when you remove it.

Scott

4905

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale

« on: December 17, 2010, 03:59:47 AM »

Very little to add here, just a photo of the oil cooler scoops after a light coat of primer. They will need a little more work before going into the "storage" box to wait for final assembly.

I also tinkered with the nose glazing master. I decided to cut up two spare B-17G nose pieces so I would have a round shape for the start of this part. As y'all know, the YB has a perfectly round cross-section at the nose while all later ships have a flattened-out lower part of the nose opening. I simply cut the two pieces and then glued the upper sections together to construct a round section where it attaches to the fuselage. It leaves a double-humped point that will later be shaped into the pointed shape of the prototype.

Scott