Doogs, I have a Czech Model 1/48 Curtiss Shrike that i have had in the stash for years....It has the blue fueselage and yellow wings, i've never done a multimedia ki before so i'll be dragging that out for the GB...

Jmabx, Yeah your doing a B-25 for this group aint ya, i'm sure you mentioned it

Richard, that is a disturbing sight pity you don't have many shows over there, i'm going to see the last F-111 dump and burn next Saturday....

I've been away from the B-36 while I started another build that would also have some NMF to it (a F9F Panther with NMF leading edges on the wings).  Once I got the Panther to a point where primer could be applied, I returned my attention to the B-36.  Talk about a beast!  Two mammoth painting sessions were all it took to put down a good coat of decanted shiny Krylon black!  I finished the painting for the Panther in about 3 minutes. 

So now the Krylon is curing on the B-36, and it will probably be a couple of weeks before I really have any other progress.  My son is starting college tomorrow but has a freshman convocation ceremony intended to show incoming fish what they will be working toward over the course of 4 years at Texas A&M.  Then next weekend the wife and I will be returning to Aggieland to see the son perhaps (he has said he probably will not be available, busy as he will be with all sorts of campus activities) and the Texas A&M football game against Stephen F. Austin.  Modeling time will thus be severely limited.

But I'm also not sure what happened during this morning's painting session.  There appeared to be some grittiness in the paint all along the upper surfaces of those massive wings.  After it had dried to the touch I was able to wipe it away, but I'm thinking I'm going to have to sand this beast down with my finest sanding pad.  It has to be a crystal smooth surface, and right now it doesn't look like that will be the case.

Julez72 the P-51 is looking good, each one has been even better than the last, cant wait for more pictures of this one. Of course you prolly have the stripes finished by now. Oh PM inbound buddy.

IBuild148 thanks for posting that bit of history about your build. The before they were aces GB really got me interested in the history of the aircraft, and pilots of our builds. And BTW a yellow wing A-10 ???? That would be an eye popper, ya gonna build it ?

Jmabx thanks for posting a great picture, it may very well end up as my desk top picture for a while. I plan on building a foiled B-25 for the group and hope I wont be the first to complete ,it or that mine will be the only one done here.

Kermit you are right that sight aint pretty, in fact it is quite sad. Sorry to hear you dont have many airshows there. Maybe next year when you come to the states you could plan to come here in September. Take a drive down to Reno the 3rd weekend and take in the Reno Air Races the ultimate air show IMHO.

I got a bit more done on the T-6 last night, got the sanding of the wing roots finished. Then I got side tracked, went to glue on the air scoop on the side of the fuse and hated the way it looked. So out came the tiny drills and files. I opened up the intake then got some water pipe screens that I had left over from another build and cut a piece to fit. Looks much better now, I will paint the inside of the scoop then glue the screen in place and post a few pictures.

Julez,

Thanks for the "star" idea. I have some decals in 72nd scale in my stash somewhere and if that fails I checked out microscale and they have what I think will work if the stash turns up empty.

For anyone in the NorCAL area don't forget this years California Capital Airshow September 11-12, 2010 at Mather Airport.

This one promises to be special because they will have P-38's one of which will be Glacier Girl.

here is the link:

http://www.californiacapitalairshow.com

Happy to announce that I officially started the Wildcats last night! 

Well, I primed a few parts...but it's a start. Hoping to get started on the interior in between Dauntless work over the next couple of days.

And hopefully I can avoid dripping CA on these after they've been painted and had decals applied...

Great work all around guys! Sorry to have been absent I'm still without a workable computer to post with. When they installed my new video card, which says on the package 500 watt power supply or greater, the 'professionals' at the computer repair shop told me my old transformer was bad and replaced it with a 450 watt unit. Worked fine for two weeks until the power supply burned up, they replaced it with the right one for free but now the computer locks up after running a short time. I wonder if now they've burnt up the video card from not getting enough power before. I dunno, it's been a month and a half of problems from just replacing the video card... 

And then my favorite uncle passed away last week (sigh).

Will try to get some updates when things calm down around here.

Gamera,

My condoleances to you and your family. Always sad to have a relative pass away...

The sheer incompetence of some "professional" repair guys is sometimes mind boggling. Usually you end up replacing parts that weren't the problem anyways. Ofcourse you shouldn't use 450 watts where it says 500 ...

What processor are you running with that video card? And a tad of a personal question: How clean is that pc? Fans clogged up? From my own experience i found that at least 6 out of ten times, heat is the culprit.

Anyways....

It has finally happened!.... Richard is gonna get his mitts on the long desired bottle of Alclad! For months and months my LHS has been sold out but they have a stock of it again and so i rushed in an order right away I am so excited.....

Got the perfect candidate too: Academy 1:48 P38

Richard

Okay everyone, need some opinions if you don't mind.

So...I hate masking canopies. In my opinion it's a bigger drudgery than filling and sanding, even with pre-cut masks (or maybe especially with, since they always line up close, but never quite exactly right).

With the Wildcats, I'd been planning to order some Eduard masks. Thought I finally found some at Lucky Model, but ten days on, with the order still processing, I checked in and learned that they haven't had them in stock in months and don't foresee getting any new stock any time soon. Same story with my La-5 masks for the Ostfront GB.

I guess I could order them straight from Eduard, but they charge something like $20 for shipping, and I'm not spending close to $50 for four paint masks.

So I've been casting about for alternate methods, half-resigned to the "lots of tiny strips of Tamiya tape" route. Then I discovered this article about using bare metal foil as a canopy mask. 

http://www.clubhyper.com/reference/maskingbmfds_1.htm

Anybody ever tried this? It seems so crazy that it just might work. And it feels particularly fitting for this group build.

kermit

The sheer incompetence of some "professional" repair guys is sometimes mind boggling. Usually you end up replacing parts that weren't the problem anyways. Ofcourse you shouldn't use 450 watts where it says 500 ...

What processor are you running with that video card? And a tad of a personal question: How clean is that pc? Fans clogged up? From my own experience i found that at least 6 out of ten times, heat is the culprit.

Who are these repair professionals affiliated with? If it's a big retail chain, a lot of time the incentives are all out of whack with actually fixing your computer. Instead it's often as not seen as an opportunity to upsell you to a whole new computer, and shenanigans often result.

If you're running a desktop, replacing the power supply is as easy as a few screws and a plug (or two...don't remember exactly, since we've been all-laptop since 2006). Video card is almost as easy, but there's usually some setup to do once you get the computer up and running again. I used to swap video cards probably every 1.5-2 years back when I was really into PC gaming. 

NiceFit

Question: I'm putting the canopy on the AT-6 Texan but it's not a nice fit. What do you use to fill the seam between the canopy and fuselage that you feel works really well (i.e., quick n' easy). I've tried white glue, Testor's Contour Putty, and Bondo on various builds. Obviously, great care needs to be taken applying and sanding (if necessary) since the canopy's mask is so close to the seam. How do you get those great canopy-to-fuselage finishes? Inquiring minds want to know...

In my hunt for canopy masking techniques I came across something called RC56 that looks like it might be exactly what you're looking for. Never used it, though...

DoogsATX

 

In my hunt for canopy masking techniques I came across something called RC56 that looks like it might be exactly what you're looking for. Never used it, though...

doogs: I saw your earlier post about canopy masking techniques. I have been using Parafilm M for some time and it works well. You basically stretch the material over the canopy, rub it into place, and cut around the windows removing the mask over the canopy frame. Score the film lightly with a sharp Xacto so you don't scratch the underlying canopy.

Ok boys,

Been a long time since i mentioned my mig foiling... Kinda lost heart after my first attempts failed....well.....miserably LOL.

Stripped the foil off, cleaned the model of all glue residue and grabbed it from the shelf to start a new attempt. This time using the dull side out. Looks so so much better in my eyes...

Question that is on my mind just now is this one: after burnishing it down on the model, how long do you foil guys wait before you cut the foil to the desired shape? Also, what places do you cut. My mig has raised panellines and details so my logic tells me to make the seams appear at raised edges, trying to get it to lie down butt end to butt end?

Richard

To illustrate my efforts of tonight:

Looks far better to me and i am quite happy with these two silly little patches. Cut them a bit long at the front of the wings (couldn't get it all the way to the front without wrinkling).

Not sure if i should trim them towards the panelline behind the cut or leave it like that and overlap with the next strip... Anyone?

Thanks for watching, cheers

Richard

kermit: I think i read about overlapping raised panel lines when foiling....I will be watching your build closely. I too am going to be doing my first foiling job! 

OWL

Gamera sorry to hear about your uncle it is always a hard thing to go through. My deepest sympathies to you and your family.

DoogsATX I have tried all kinds of methods to mask canopys, and always end up using masking tape. Liquid tape left very rough edges for me, ande was difficultg to remove, the foil was promising but was a pain to remove and clean off the adhesive residue. I believe I even knocked off the canopy cleaning the foil off of it. I even tried hand painting one once and well my hand just wasnt steady enough for that trick. So I guess there is just no easy way to mask them. Just my worth.

Kermit   I like the look of the dull side much better too, seems more fitting for a MiG. You laid the foil in there nicely too by the way. My sugestion would be to trim the foil at the front of the leading edge panel line, as close as you can get to it, then behind it when you apply the leading edge foil. If left the way it is you will be able to see it in a big way after the leading edge panel is foiled.  As far as how long you have to wait before you trim the foil after applying it, it can be trimmed right after application. Just remember a brand new blade in your knife and it doesnt take much preassure to cut through the foil.

Thanks guys,

The shop isn't part of a chain but a couple of local guys, I've had good luck with them before but still after using a 450 watt power supply when the instructions called for a 500 - gee I'm going somewhere else from now on. The CPU is an Intel 3.06 GHz single core processer I picked up cheap about five years ago when the first duo cure units came out. I know the insides are clean because when I took it down to the shop the first time I used my airbrush compressor to blow out about twelve tons of dust.

I'm assuming my problem is either with the video card or it could be a heating problem. Still I've got two fans in the case, one fan of the CPU and number four on the video card and I've never had an over-heating problem before.

hey guys!

I've just gotten all the Airshow pictures uploaded to Photobucket, so if you're interested, go ahead an check them out. I had a great time!!!   The only thing I can say is that I wished I brought a second battery camera with me: it ran out halfway through the F-22 Demo (which was totally sick!) , but luckily came back to life in time for me to snap a couple of shots of the Thunderbirds!     (you'll have to copy this to a new browser...sorry)

http://s1024.photobucket.com/albums/y309/callsignOWL/Offutt%20AirShow%202010/

not too many NMF planes there, but a few, mostly Mustangs:

and it looks like we Modeler's are not the only ones with a tail-sitting problem!

and a fast moving MiG for Kermit:

enjoy!

OWL

I'm glad you had a good time OWL! Nice pics!   I always fill my pocket with a couple sets of camera batteries when I hit the airshow. Saved my friends a few times too. I caught the F-22 demo here in Quonset a couple of years ago and it was insane! We had a low ceiling do to some cloud cover so they were limited as to what they could do but they still left everyones jaw dropped! Awesome to say the least! I wish everyone could see the F-22 demo.

Owl,

Airshows are always fun and sounds like you had a good time. I know how you feel about the battery going dead.

I saw the F-22 perform at Mather 3 years ago and it was "sick".

Thanks for sharing the picks. You didn't by chance get any close ups of the B-25?

IBuild48: I got a couple of shots, but it was behind a fence because it was going to be flying later. None of the crowd was allowed to get too close

OWL

CallSignOwl thank you for posting those pictures and the link to the rest of them. Two of the pictures will be of great help to me with my build of the Streak Eagle. Two of the best shots I have seen of the burner cans, ya dun good girl Nice shot of the MiG too, I think Richard will be droolin over that one.

Mig..??.....Mig??

Oooooh now i see it!! Thats a mig guys, a real flying mig!! I want it.... LOL

Great pictures there Owl, you must have had a blast with that airshow. I'm so jealous...

Richard

OWL - I know what its like to have the batteries die while at an event like that.  Couple years ago, the Collings Foundation came into Dallas Love Field with their B-17, 24 and 25.  I grabbed my camera and down I went.  Then the batteries died almost all the way through , was barely able to take a few shots of 909 when she flew by after takeoff.  Hope you had a good time at the airshow, hasn't been one in Dallas for a long time, though I think they have one one occasion in Ft. Worth.

Kermit - From what I read about foiling, you have to do one panel at a time.  Cut a little bit larger piece for the panel you're doing, barnish it down then cut the foil at the panel lines.  Just my worth.

Slow progress has been made on my 757.  Ready to paint the NMF, when I noticed a seam opened up and then the weatherman calls for scattered t-storms for the week, though the weekend is looking good!

Great work ppls!!!!

Richard, if you keep your foiling like that you will do fine!!! As mentioned, trimmingback to the panel line is a must, otherwise when you put the leading edge bit on with out trimming it, you will have a surface irregularity. As you know a BIG no no for a BMF.

48, wish I could be there for the airshow!!! Mather is one of my old stompin' grounds and have been to many airshows there while it was still an active SAC/ATC base.

Gamera, my condolences go out to you and yours as well.

OWL, love the pics, thanks!!!!

I know what Richard wants for Xmas.. For $3000 Au you get a 25minute hellride, catch is it's here in Queensland...

Oh almost forgot, Randy those are the burner cans with out the turkey feathers which aren't the right ones for Streak Eagle. It's a good shot for the inside though. All the workings that are visible would be covered alot like what the F-16 ones look like.

Julez72

I know what Richard wants for Xmas.. For $3000 Au you get a 25minute hellride, catch is it's here in Queensland...

Not just Richard! 

A few years back I got to spend a day out at the BMW Performance Center racing M3s. Believe it or not, it was for work (they were a client). Easily the most fun I've ever had in a mode of transportation, but I imagine riding in a fighter would make it look like riding a tricycle by comparison.

OMG...

Who do i have to kill.???

Seriously, i would pee my pants out of sheer pleasure, not fear LOL. There's one thing i saw on tv once that would give an even better thrill... I saw this show about some company offering a real dogfighting experience in (i believe it was) Texans using some kind of laser technology. Would give anything to experience that...

Especially the bit on your mig website about going low for some strafing like manouvres would be awesome. You would really get a feel for the speed when youre closer to the ground methinks.

Soo....

Anyone wanting to make my xmass experience a memorable one can pm me and donate your life savings

Thanks also to everyone pitching in with foiling advice. I already figured to trim the foil to the panellines, just needed the confirmation

Richard