TBM-3

Looks like we've got an ex Accurate Miiniatures mold here goin' on. Good choice bakster! Gotta let tha big dog eat!!!

Steve, you're welcome.

I was exactly where you are about 15 mos ago. Same TBM, about the same stage of building. Wondering what all the little badges next to names meant, what all the big ones below meant, what the heck is a group build, etc. I got coerced into a GB, so I'm just trying to pay it forward,  mate.

Oh, and I noticed that my hot link worked. I don't get it, it's never worked before. In any case, I'm happy it worked. Thx.

Say Joe.. Thanks for the support.  I will see you in the GB..  

Greg, thanks for setting the stage for me.  I am glad to hear Clemens won't call out a hit on me.  Lol.  It is a little disconcerting though about the airstrikes.  I think I will need to bolster my antiaircraft weaponry. I won't go down without a fight!   BTW.   The link that you provided does work within the automated email that I received.  I tapped it and it took my right there.  So it worked.  I appreciate that link and thanks too on how to proceed.  I will post a message there soon.  Thanks again for all your help.  You guys are awesome.

Steve

Clemens has received the heads-up and he will expect you, Steve.

BTW, he assured me that he will not set up a hit if you are late or fail to complete. However, he did mention something about an all out airstrike. I wasn't concerned, but out of curiosity I Googled the Austrian Air Force and looks like they are pretty well equipped. Pretty sure he was just kidding, though. 

That's great news Steve!!! Greg has given you the lead on how to join so I'll be to seein' you over there. Just jump right in and post lots of progress pics, describe your techniques and tools, share what your seeing from the other members, join in on off topic discussion and infuse as much humor as possible (that's a must with this motley lot). I'll also give Clemens, The Mad Austrian, a heads up. ENJOY!!

Steve, I've given Clemens (Shatten Spartan) a heads up via PM that you would like to join.

The Pacific Carrier GB is here.....

cs.finescale.com/.../157781.aspx

Or just go the the Group Build section, it is on the first page. All you gotta do is post there, say you'd like to join the GB and state the mfg, a/c type and scale.

If you have any trouble at all, just let Joe or me know, we will guide you.

Cool you made a decision to give it a go, Steve! I'm not doing that GB, but I will be watching your progress and probably commenting (one is allowed to do that even if not on the GB roster)

Greetings Joe.  Thanks so much for your input.  That is all great advice!  You two have sold me on the idea.  I am definitely putting in to join the group.  Now if either of you can lead me to the next step.  How do I request to join?

Thanks again!

Steve

Say Greg.. That is pretty funny about ordering a hit on me.  Let's just say that I didn't want to be a drag on the group.  Well, you guys have sold me on it!  Count me in.   It sounds like a great idea.  So.... how do I join?

Thanks for the clarification about the fit issues. I assumed that was what you were talking about.  I had the same issues with the flight deck.  In fact, thus far, that is where I have spent the most time trying to get a good fit.  I think that I have it dialed in now though.  The two fuselage halves fit pretty well and they are ready for gluing. I just need to spray the flight deck before I do.

Sounds good!  Thanks for all the support!  You guys are awesome...

Steve.

What Joe said.

And BTW, Shatten Sparten (Clemens) is the fella running that GB (I think). He is a great, easy-going gent and if something happens and you somehow miss the Dec 31 deadline, pretty sure he won't order a hit on you or something.

If you were like me and all modelling before finding this place was a solo, if not a rather reclusive thing, think you will be amazed at how fun and educational GB's are, even if you are a seasoned pro.

Me, I'm just a re-born rookie learning here. And a great place to do it.

BTW, a page back I didn't say what I meant to say about fit issues I encountered with my TBM. I meant to say I found the fits pretty excellent, but that flight deck assembly is so huge that if you don't get it just right (on both sides, of course), the fuselage halves won't butt together the way you want.

I would like to address your concerns if I may Steve. I share your issues of having limited bench time and thusly I have to choose GBs that last, at the very least, one year. And most do. Although it is entirely up to the moderator as to the time span. It takes me about a year to complete one model but, I do not let that deter me from joining GBs. They really are immensely enjoyable and it is an excellent opportunity to get to know some very fine folks. My modeling skills and knowledge base have improved vastly from participating in GBs. With that said, the Pacific Carrier Aviation GB lasts until until Dec. 31, 2014. So, I would hope that you would at least give it some consideration. Take a moment to check out some of the activity going on there. I hope that helps out Steve.

Joe

Hi Greg.  Thanks for the invite to join the GB.  I am new to the concept of GBs.  From what I can tell, and correct me if I am wrong, but there is a time limit to these builds. Currently, my time to build is very limited and I will be lucky if I finish this kit by Thanksgiving.  It might be sooner, but it is hard to say right now. That sounds like an awesome idea though and I would love to do it, but I am concerned about trying to meet a deadline.  Am I correct about the time limit?

Thanks again.

Steve

JOE RIX

You know Steve, Greg is on to something there concerning the GBs. They are indeed wonderful fun to take in. Maybe you would consider bringing your TBM over and joining us in The Pacific Carrier Aviation GB. Your TBM would fit right in. I'm currently building an Eduard 1/72 F6F Hellcat over there and It would be great to have you join us.

 

Greg

Oh yeah! Your TBM would fit in great in that GB!

I have to agree with Joe Rix and Greg, your TBM is a perfect fit. And GB's make it really fun to see other WIP. You can see techniques that other use and incorporate those into your own build! Do consider

Oh yeah! Your TBM would fit in great in that GB!

You know Steve, Greg is on to something there concerning the GBs. They are indeed wonderful fun to take in. Maybe you would consider bringing your TBM over and joining us in The Pacific Carrier Aviation GB. Your TBM would fit right in. I'm currently building an Eduard 1/72 F6F Hellcat over there and It would be great to have you join us.

Steve, thanks!

You might want to consider participating in a group build here. Since my return from my modeling hiatus (we all have had them it seems), I've learned more from participating in GB's than I did in years and years of modelling solo in the past. They are a lot of fun, too. Great way to get to 'know' folks here at FSM, too.

Heck, I learned a lot just lurking in the GB's for a while, before I found out that the nice folks here make them not intimidating at all.

In fact, now I think of it, I had started a WIP thread with my TBM too, and ended up being invited to join a GB with it. That said, WIP threads are fun too in case there isn't a GB that fits your bird right now.

Greg-  that looks like an excellent build.  Please show me an image of it when your are done.  I'd love to see it.  If you ever have some in process images, I like to see those too.

Thanks for sharing!

Steve

Steve, I'm late with an Fw-190 over in the Butcher Bird group build, which has been officially closed for a month. Shame on me. It is my first Eduard kit, and it has been interesting.

Thanks Greg.  Yes I see some seam filler in my future too.  Slow and fun is good advice.  That is the only way I want to go.   I plan to have all the landing gear in a raised position, so that will require some tinkering too.  Best as I can tell the kit was designed to be in the lowered position.

So tell me what kit you are working on right now.

Thanks to everyone that has responded.  I appreciate all the encouragement.

Steve

Yep, looking good Bakster.

As well as that kit is built, I recall a good deal of dry-fitting and fiddling. That a/c is so huge, the crew decks are complicated. Take your time, and most of all, have fun!

Looking good Bakster. Dry fitting is definitely a must. I have found myself in much angst due to the fact that I failed to dry fit prior to applying the glue.

Howdy Bakster,

 You have choosen an awesome a/c to start off with and might I add a sexy one at that!! Gotta love her lines...  Sshhh just don't tell my girlfriend I said that

 Looking forward to your build my friend!

Hey there B-17 Guy.. Long time no chat! Hope all is well with you and yours!! And yes you are correct, AM did make a Avenger kit that represented a Flight 19 bird.

 Matter of fact, my local hobby shop still has three of em on the shelf!!

Flaps up,

 Mike

Hello everyone.  Well, for the sake of discussion, this build is progressing, but slowly. I have put together a good portion of the cockpit assembly, in as much as I can before painting comes into play.  I am also working on the fuselage halves, engine, and engine cowling.  I am dry fitting everything before gluing.  There have been some fit issues.  My inexperience building planes does not help. I have to check the positioning of things to make sure I glue them in the correct orientation.  I feel that the plans often leave a person guessing too.  So at times, I have to fit several components or even assemblies to check and see how they will all fit together.   It’s all part of the process and I am cool with that.  

Sooooo on Monday, I wanted to take a break from the build and do something different.  I decided to dry fit the motor assembly and give it an operational test.  So I hooked up a makeshift fuel line out of some oversized brass tubing, oversized because that is all that I had.  So since the starter wasn’t hooked up, I had to turn the engine over via the old fashioned way.  In this case, using my finger.

Once the engine fired, she purred like a kitten.  Look at her go!  

Ok.  I hope you guys don’t  mind that I had a little fun with this.  Obviously, the engine didn’t really run, but it sure was fun pretending. LOL.  In actuality, I did have a good reason to do this.  I needed to see if the kit design allowed the prop to rotate freely.  If it didn’t, I had plans to make it work before gluing and painting.  The reason this is important for me is that I plan to do some creative imaging once it is all said and done.

 

 That is the latest.

Didnt accurate miniatures do a flight 19 kit?

Hey There Bakster, Welcome to the forums and definitely welcome back to the hobby. There is no doubt that this is one fantastic group of folks here. I'm certainly looking forward to your TBM. I, like you and many others here, returned after a long hiatus. I too questioned my skills but,that quickly dissolved once I joined the folks here and they gave me the tips and confidence to really improve and hone my abilities. You're in the right place my friend.

 Joe

Check out Google Images for Flight 19 and the NAS Fort Lauderdale museum website for info on Flight 19.

Say stikpusher--thanks for the advice and the video link.  That is a classic scene.  I love that movie.  Heck, I liked it so much that I eventually took a road trip to Devils Tower.

Thanks Greg.  I have to say, I have never seen a bunch of nicer more helpful people than on these forums. I have been reading the threads here for several weeks and I am really impressed with you all.  

With my first go in this hobby I was building cars.  The problem I had back then was orange peel paint, and/or worse. I tried different thinners, paints, air pressures, air sources, paint mixtures, and even airbrushes. It was always the same, or varying results.  I was about to throw in the towel when on a whim, I tried Poly-S airbrush thinner.  Oh--my gosh. That was it!  The paint went on slightly wet and I was able to get beautiful gloss finishes.  It was an eureka moment.  I made about three kits after that and for some reason, I gave it up.  I think what happened was that I had moved to a different place and that changed everything.  Even though I rigged the new basement for airbrushing, I just drifted off.  I wish I had kept on because I tell ya...when I get in the modeling zone and I am working on a kit, my mind sees nothing else during those hours of build time. It is awesome for stress relief.

Oh....by the way.  I have come to find out that Poly-S is no more.  See my concern?  :)

Anyway... long story short...I am glad to be back.  

Thanks to everyone that responded with their help and welcomes.  

Bakster