Crickets around here! 

Progress continues on the Wildcats. Got the wings on last night. Required some very awkward positions to hold things in place while swapping CA for my touch n flow. If I were building these all over again, I'd seriously consider trying to scratch even a small wing spar to aid in the attachment process.

The good news...the upper join looks solid and the dihedral appears correct. Unfortunately, there are some pretty nasty gaps underneath. 

I also ran into a nasty realization that the windscreens and canopies don't align. The windscreen actually seems too tall by a millimeter or two. Shimming the canopy won't work, since then it wouldn't match up with the fuselage immediately aft. And it's too thick to be staged in the open postion. I tried filing the windscreens down, but if I go any deeper I'll start removing frame and probably wreck the fit. 

Ultimately I broke down and ordered two Squadron vacform canopies. First time working with vacform, and to be honest, it freaks me out.

I'm planning to do what I can up until then. I've still got filling and standing to do. Got tires to paint, and engines to paint, assemble and detail. Hopefully the canopies and my Gunze Orange Yellow will show up by then so I can keep going. If not, guess I'll set these birds aside and dive into something else. Hmm. La-5 or Hellcat?

its been really quiet around here...what gives??  Hellooo--anybody home?? 

Thursdays are really busy for me, So I didn't get much done. Just sanded down the intake cone because it had a weird smoosh to it...here is what it looked like before:

OWL

Have to agree that things are a bit quiet as of late.... Hope everything is going ok in my most favourite of all the GB's...

Makes me think about the fact that i do have a shiny new bottle of Alclad standing here doing nothing and also the fact that my I-16 build for the Ostfront GB is looking like it won't take as long as i expected....

While i am really concentrating/ trying on doing a few panels of foil on my MIG 15 every week i really wouldn't mind trying my Alclad on an Academy P-38 i have sitting here gathering dust....

Wonder what our gracious and always witty host thinks of it.... *wink wink*

Richard

CallSignOWL

its been really quiet around here...what gives??  Hellooo--anybody home?? 

OWL

It seems like the entire site's been about half as busy as I'm used to seeing?

I'm with you, OWL. Didn't get much done last night. Or maybe I did, but seam filling is such a tedious activity that it doesn't really feel like progress.

I did, however, finally manage to get the engines and cowl interiors primed. Going to hit the LHS today over lunch to add a metallic or two to the paint stock. I've kind of got a gap between steel and gunmetal, and think I want to paint the Twin Wasp darker, but not gunmetal-dark. Just dark enough to contrast with the aluminum fuselage.

Hey Richard - I've been meaning to ask - how are the decals for the early Wildcat's cowl ring? I was going to try to mask everything, but nailing those black pinstripes and maintaining uniform thickness around the entire fuselage like that...I'm not sure it's within my abilities. But I could see the decals having issues up at the cowl opening and around the various scoops.

Doogs,

I am afraid i have to say i don't really know as i have painted/ masked the cowling. I can, however say that the hobbyboss decals sofar have never been a real problem. They are thin(ish) and respond well to sol and set.

Believe me. With some careful masking you can get fantastic results. Trick i found out that helps with keeping a straight thin masking line is to start off with a very thin, long strip and carefully applying it around the cowling using your old trusty eyes and patience. After that crucial first strip you can mask with progressivly wider strips of tape. If i can do it..... Good thing about the cowling black pinstripe is that it is more or less round and straight and not a compound curve.

Richard

Yeah...I'm always mistrustful of decals that curve around the front of a cowl like that. Guess I'm back to masking, then! 

Think my plan is going to be spraying the yellow first, masking it, then spraying the black, masking it, then the NMF.

Fortunately I've got some tape I picked up from Micro Mark that...man it's pricey...but it handles curves like nobody's business.

Well, computer back in the shop here. Work on the B-29 still proceeding at a slow but steady pace.

Great work all around everyone!!!

Doogs,

That canopy issue had to have hurt! Who says our hobby doesn't drive you to perfection or madness?

Let us know your thoughts on the vacform!!!

Doogs, kermit and Owl

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyFd3gjCe_g 

Alright! Some color.

IBuild48: If that video was on Facebook, I'd 'like' it! 

OWL

IBuild - yeah...it wasn't a very pretty ten or so minutes in the garage after I discovered the canopy issue!

To be honest, I'm scared to death of the vacform. Ordered one for my P-51D since they cost pretty much nothing and people harp on Tamiya's two-piece canopy setup. Took one look at it in the backing sheet and thought "F- this!". But now that I'm between a rock and a hard place...

At this point I'm jut hoping the canopies and the Guzne orange yellow arrive before I hit a stopping point. Fingers crossed I Great Models and Squadron cooperate and help me pull a little "just-in-time" manufacturing...

And the video - LOL! That's pretty much the sound I build to every night. 

I got a bit more done yesterday, than I did the day before.

The Front wheel well was just bare plastic, and I just could not accept that!!  This was my first time using some 'creative gizmology' ( i love that phrase!) to spruce up some details.  I used some plastic-card, sections of paper clips and wire. I think it turned out pretty good. It is much more convincing than bare plastic in any case!

BEFORE:

AFTER:

OWL

Great work all round peoples!!!

Looks like it's picking up here!  Good work from everyone.

I'm still at a complete stand-still on the B-36 due to my lack of foresight in evaluating how much Alclad I had on hand and am now awaiting delivery of more paint.  Until then I've been working some on another kit I'm doing (F9F Panther), watching football, and this morning hanging a new ceiling fan.  Hopefully I'll get my paint delivery early next week and can resume working on the Peacemaker.

Started my F-100 yesterday and got it all buttoned up and thought "F@#K, i forgot to take photos" lol so i got a few since then. Had my first experience with foiling a kit (just done one wing so far as you'll see below) I think i need to get thinner foil. or keep practicing. I used a buffer on the dremmel to polish it up and i think it came out looking quite cool. It looks oxidized in the photo but i assure you. in person it looks almost mirror finish. I futured it after but im not sure if that was the right thing to do.

For a tamiya kit, this is a bit off. The vertical tail is crooked. Theres quite a bit of flash. And if you look the 2 halves on the fuselage are slightly different lengths. So theres a couple steps that need cleaning up. On the plus side all the small bits fit together like a dream. Its just the fuselage thats a bit off. Quick build. not putting a huge amount of detail into it (pretty much straight OOB with no modifications) Just needed something relaxing to get back into things. Thanks for looking.

Cheers. Mike

Got the engines done tonight. Another case of Hobby Boss inconsistent fit. Both cylinder heads went together with very positive fits, but the crankcases were just the opposite. It's like someone forgot to include the mounting ring on the backside of the crankcase. Whatever, Loctite took care of it!

At this point I'm very close to running out of things to do until the vacform canopies and Gunze paint arrive. And I still haven't receiving shipping notices on either...

Great work people!

Scorpiomikey, The Hun looks good so far, I always thought it was a very smooth looking aircraft. What markings are you planning on putting her in?

DoogsATX, I too am approaching a waiting stage. I wont be able to do much either until the Foil Adhesive arrives, and then I still have to get it from home to my dorm!

I didn't get anything done yesterday: I was way too busy! Work at 700--1030, get to the Stadium at 1100 (early enough for student seats to still be open), watch the Football game until 230, then did Clean-up afterward with my AFROTC detachment until 700!   I was on my feet for 12 hours, but I got to see two P-51s do a Fly-Over for the game!

I am planning on work for the main gear wells today, but they at least have some detail already. Not much, but the photos I can find of MiG-21 wheel wells show them as pretty basic so I'm not too concerned. I'll probably have pics of my work tomorrow!

OWL

DoogsATX your Wildcats are going together nicely. Hey don't let vacuform canopy's rattle you, they aren't that hard to work with at all. A new sharp blade to scribe them out with and taking your time goes a long way cutting them out, just be careful when sanding them to fit as they cut very quickly. A trick that helps me cut them out is to fill them with play dough to cut them out with, makes seeing the scribe (cut)  lines easier for me, and they aren't quite as flimsy to work with that way. Once I like the fit I dip them in future so I can wick CA glue under them. Works well for me anyway.

IBuild148 man the youtube link has been removed Your build is coming along nicely  I see

CallSignOwl nice scratch work you have done there. The office and wheel bays look much better now, the seatbelts came out really well IMHO. Its just amazing how a bit of wire here and some plasticard and tape can really make a build stand out isnt it. 

Jmabx the B-59 is coming along well, I have been waiting to see this unusual subject come to life under your masterful hand.

ScorpioMikey the Super Sabre is lookin good, some nice foil work going on there too.

Aggieman I hope your Alclad shows up soon I have been chompin at the bit waiting to see the B-36 in NMF.

Life has been getting in the way of my building time, and I have been spending, selfishly what spare time I have had the past week building when I can and not here on the forum as much as I should be. Anyway the T-6 is waiting for the canopy so I can get that on and she will be ready for paint. I have been putting it off in hopes that Squadron will get some in as they are out of stock. I think if they dont get any in by the end of next week I may have to settle for the kit (cough) canopy.

Owl - Nice work getting those gear bays busy.

Doogs - You're flying right along. The gaps on the wing root don't look bad at all to me. You must be a perfectionist!

Mikey - The foil job is looking good! I had a chance to see a flying F-100 at the airshow a few weeks back. That thing is awesome!

Randy - Thanks! I haven't been doing many WIP photos with any of my builds lately. Feeling lazy I guess.   I don't think we've seen much of your T-6 though.

The Airacomet is 90% together. She needs some touch-up sanding and I'm waiting for the canopy to dry from it's Future bath. If all goes well (and it never does), I'll have a base coat of black on her next weekend.

Thanks for the comments guys. The version im doing is USAF 353rd TFS, 354th TWF 1958 63020. Looks like a CAG bird. bright red markings.

Jeremy - Your Airocomet is looking "crsip".    I think all is going to go well for you on this one!

Aggieman, DoogsATX, - Delays, Delays! It seems that we are always waiting for something.

Scorpion - Another aircraft that I hope to build someday. In the meantime I'll enjoy watching your build.

Vetterman - Life! It always pulls us away from the things we want to do!

Wow, a guy gets the flu and is away for a couple of days and the builds take off...This GB just keeps cranking them out....

OK i read through the last 3 pages and caught up with everyones work..

48, looks like your T/bolt is ready for the paintshop, knowing your skill level it's going to be one nice looking Jug...

Owl, your fine detail skill just keeps getting better and better, the wheel wells went from nothing to everything, well done...

Doogs, buddy your a machine, the wildcats are looking great...I checked your Mustang out, very nice build...That blue tape is great stuff eh, i use it on most of my builds, athough i slice it down the middle to make the expensive tape last longer...

Mikey, Good to see you back in action, your got more courage than me, i'm still not willing to try foil...

Jeremy, mate everything you build always impresses me....I'm loving the look of your work...

Must be my turn....

I've had a dose of the flu so not much to report but i did get some of the bits done...

Thanks IBuild! Amazingly enough, this is one of the nicest and easiest kits I've ever built! Hobbycraft... what gives?

Julez72

Jeremy, mate everything you build always impresses me....I'm loving the look of your work...

I greatly appreciate the compliment Julez but my work pales in comparison to yours!

Julez,

I do like the different shades on your P-51 panels!

The T/Bolt was painted flat black Friday night. I am going to lay the NMF # 106 in about an hour and let that dry overnight. Then do some masking and panel shading of my own.

Julez72

Mikey, Good to see you back in action, your got more courage than me, i'm still not willing to try foil...

 

Meh, cheap kit. cheap foil glue. kitchen grade tinfoil. whats to be scared of? im finding it easier than paint. if it goes to pot i just pull it off and reaply it. The only thing thats frustrating me is overlapping the foil edges. so im trying to put the foil joins on the panel lines.

jmabx

Thanks IBuild! Amazingly enough, this is one of the nicest and easiest kits I've ever built! Hobbycraft... what gives?

 

 

Julez72:

 

Jeremy, mate everything you build always impresses me....I'm loving the look of your work...

 

 

I greatly appreciate the compliment Julez but my work pales in comparison to yours!

I don't think so buddy, i think our skill level is very comparable but you have a little extra finesse in your work than i do....

jmabx - LOVING the P-59! Not even painted and it's already looking sharp!

Julez - That's a Tamiystang, right? The bits look familiar!

Reached the end of the line with the Wildcats last night. I'm now officially stuck until shipments start arriving.

Also, if I ever get it in my head to spray Tamiya white primer straight from the can again, somebody smack me. Ugh. It flooded the flaps and surround areas...came off easy enough with lacquer thinner...but on each plane the lacquer thinner decided to eat a bit of surface detail on the starboard wing. Not the port...just starboard. Still not sure why the one and not the other...

I got the main wells finished. As I said before, reference pics showed the MiG-21 to have simple detail, so I didn't add much, just some wire and bits of styrene.  I got the fuselage halves glued together...but getting everything lined up inside was a challenge. There are NO locating tabs in this thing!!

OWL

The 21's are awesome. ive got a what if one floating around. If you need any detail photos let me know theres one down the road i can get plenty of shots of. Its sitting in an auction yard waiting to be sold (prolly only have a few more days to get photos, so yeah lemme know)