Hey Zvezda, that is good looking bird!  The diorama is a great addition to a well done kit.

Zvezda, that looks excellent, and the historical backdrop story explains why the aircraft looks pristine.

regards,

Jack

A couple of more photos with a neater background (no toothpics and cutters).

The scene is set in Takoradi, Ghana, early 1943. A ferry pilot is briefed by a Ghanaian ground technician about the last few repairs and fine tuning works that the latter made just before take off.

This plane will be then flown to the front in Tunisia, where it will become the mount of Wg Cdr lan Gleed, OC of 244 Wing. Unfortunatelly commander Gleed was shot down and killed over Tunisia on April 16th, 1943, during the air battles of operation Flax (interdiction of the Axis air supply of Tunisia from Italy).

I wish to express my gratitude to our host, Bish, for the fun of participating in this GB as well as for the useful knowledge acquired regarding the historic Commonwealth of Nations.

I was away for sometime and upon my return I find this GB on fire!!! I am admiring all the latest posts, magnificent builds guys!

I spent the limited time available on kit construction (or destruction, at some points), thus I managed to complete the little Spit.

Below the first set of photos taken in a kind of rush. Tomorrow I will try to be a better photographer.

And inside the small diorama

Thanks guys!

I'm not that worried about the deadline at this point. I just want to keep pushing and get her finished.

Thanks Nick,

 ... and Cliff, that is a unique approach to the decals, hope it works out for you.  Don't worry about the deadline, I've already forgone any hopes of reaching it.

regards,

Jack

Looking good Gamera. Never see those NZ markings before. Very cool. You better hurry up bud.  jk 

Moving slow but still moving forward.

Nice info Jack, thank you. The use of the camera makes perfect sense now you mention it.

Bruce , Dwayne and Jack. wow those tiny parts way to go!!

Thank you Bruce.

-----------------

Found a bit more info about the flare system.  It was just a cartridge that was electronically ignited, and only lasted about 90 seconds.  It tended to give off a red hue when used, so I suppose it added some colour when used at airshows.

regards,

Jack

jgeratic

Hi Clif, thanks for the compliment.

--------------

Hythe gun camera is done:

 

... and here it is mounted, but not permanent for painting purposes:

 

Period photo that also shows it upside down, those crazy Canucks ...

Next on the agenda will be drilling a number of holes for the rigging, and a pair of flare pods mounted on the underside of the lower wings.

regards,

Jack

 

 

You never cease to amaze me, Jack! Fantastic detail work!

Dwayne congrats on the second place. Very cool bud 

Thanks again Clif, Dwayne, and Bish.

The gun camera was first designed at the RFC Machine Gun School in 1916, at Hythe in Kent, and was meant only for target practice.  Basically the student pilot pulled the trigger when he figured the target was in his sights, and the image of the aircraft would be photographed over a grid or concentric circles in which his accuracy could be evaluated:

The flares I'm less sure about - have come across the mention of the Holt flare system (again from the First World War) and these were meant to illuminate the ground while landing at night.  Thing is, photos of the particular Siskin I'm building has no navigation lights on the wings in 1929.  It could be that, as part of the aerobatic display team, they were incorporated as part of their show?

regards,

Jack

jgeratic

Hi Clif, thanks for the compliment.

--------------

Hythe gun camera is done:

 

... and here it is mounted, but not permanent for painting purposes:

 

Period photo that also shows it upside down, those crazy Canucks ...

Next on the agenda will be drilling a number of holes for the rigging, and a pair of flare pods mounted on the underside of the lower wings.

regards,

Jack

 

 

Very impressive. I never knew that had gun cameras so early. I take it the flares are signal flares.

damouav

Hey Bish,

To be honest, Im almost over the line, since my last post I have completd a far bit.

I only need to complete final assembly, just had allot of work/family stuff to deal with recently.

Just a shout out to everyone whom I never congratulated on their respective builds, well done to you all!

I hope I can get sorted on my Airfix GB soon, that I also wont to start...

Cheers

Damo

 

I look forwrad to seeing it damo, and what you do for the Airfix GB.

Gamera

Oh wow Jack, that's some crazy detail there on the gun camera and control arms! 

 

Oh wow Jack, that's some crazy detail there on the gun camera and control arms! 

Hi Clif, thanks for the compliment.

--------------

Hythe gun camera is done:

... and here it is mounted, but not permanent for painting purposes:

Period photo that also shows it upside down, those crazy Canucks ...

Next on the agenda will be drilling a number of holes for the rigging, and a pair of flare pods mounted on the underside of the lower wings.

regards,

Jack

Hey Bish,

To be honest, Im almost over the line, since my last post I have completd a far bit.

I only need to complete final assembly, just had allot of work/family stuff to deal with recently.

Just a shout out to everyone whom I never congratulated on their respective builds, well done to you all!

I hope I can get sorted on my Airfix GB soon, that I also wont to start...

Cheers

Damo

Jack & Bruce: Those look great guys!!! 

Dwayne: Congrads on your well-earned award! 

Sad to say I'm not sure I'll meet the deadline either. I picked this kit assuming it would be a quick easy simple build. These decals are giving me fits. I can't seem to cut the small roundels in a perfect circle. I tried punching them out and it fractures the decal film on the edges. I should have went with Jack's idea to overspray them with a darker shade. Or just left them as they were and accepted the colour as being wrong. Oh well, sorry for the whining... (sigh)... 

No worries damo, if you haven't finished by the 29th youcan carry on posting after that date, so don't rush it.

Bugger me, I totally forgot that we had a deadline. 

I havent touched my P-51 for months.

I will hopefully take some time over the Easter Break and nail this build.

Thanks Bish for yet another great GB.

Dwayne, thank you, and also congratulations on the prize win at Noreastcon.

Piers - thanks,  hopefully when done my eyes won't be as bad as those of Marty Feldman (as in your avatar)

Bruce, thanks and glad it encouraged you to try some gizmology.   It can be quite satisfying, but wouldn't want to rely on it for every build due to the time it eats up.  Your particular piece looks proper, and very good interior work.

regards,
Jack

Dwayne, 

Congrats on second place! 

Jack, 

I am in awe of your detailing skills. So, much so, I decided to scratch build my missing piece since my co-worker wasn't able to 3D print the part. 

Here is the part before paint:

Here it is painted:

And attached to the ip:

It's not bad, but, I really think I can do better. 

Anway, I'm close to closing the fuselage, I did not do a great job on matching the paint PE from Eduard. As you can see in the pictures:

Although, I really do like this PE, the MiG-21 walk around reference I have shows cockpits with both colors. Next time, I'll get it right.

And here is a bit more of the PE added:

I apologize for the not so great pictures, my photo studio is in storage until I finish the basement. 

Bish, I will apolgize now, I will not make the deadline for this GB, but, I will finish in a couple weeks.

Thanks for looking.

Yowzers Jack that is eye crossing detail there, super stuff.

Dwayne, congratulations on the second place, well deserved from what I saw. Although you were worried about the number of entries, the level of skill on display was superb.

And I enjoyed the vendor hall too, not just because I won a prize!

And Dwayne is very much the gentleman himself, made me very welcome.

Piers

Jack, your skill and attention to detail never ceases to amaze me.

Noreastcon was this weekend, and to my very great surprise, the Bf-109 I entered won second prize in the 1/72 single prop category.  I have to give credit to this forum for helping me develop my skills.  Thank you all.

IMG_0988 by Dwayne Munk, on Flickr

I was also, to my very great surprise, able to meet Piers (lostagain) at the convention.  He was in the area on vacation, and spent a fair amount of time at the convention.  As you may all suspect, he is a very fine gentleman, and it was a pleasure to meet up with him. 

Now to get back to the Buffalo.

hello Bish - thanks!

regards,

Jack

Never fail to impress Jack, lovely work there.

Thank you Grif and Nick. 

Was actually going to use plastic rod to make those last trio of details, but after stabbing myself while drilling a hole in the front end (and not even ending up centered), took the brass route.

regards,

Jack