Civil aviation group build Mar 3, 2007 to Dec 17, 2007

Updated the list, if I've missed anyone or have the wrong thing listed for you let me know and I'll fix it.

Aaron-

I'm trying to locate a Special Hobby 1/48 Super Corsair in race markings, but am having trouble locating one.  If I can find one, I may switch to that one.  Thanks!

Daywalker no problem just let me know if you change.

Ok, I'm waking this up since we are just a few days away from the start. If there are any last minute changes or new people wanting to join now is the time to speak up.

Aaron-

Can you change my entry?  I bought a Minicraft 1/144 B-377 Stratocruiser last week at the LHS, so think I'm gonna do that one instead of the Hughes racer.  If I can get it finished before the end, I may try to do the racer too.

Got it changed.

Its kind of ironic but I'm in the middle of changing jobs and moving so I probably won't get to start building until the 12th or so, I was supposed to have had this settled by now, but everything got pushed back 2 weeks.

I should at least get a little time on the 3rd to officially kick this off, but I won't be around much for the following week so behave yourselves and don't take my absence as abandonment, I'll be back.

Daywalker wrote:

I opened up that Stratocruiser tonight, and after looking at the horrible canopy fit, gouges in the plastic from packaging, misshapen parts, and general poor fit, immediately relegated it to the scrap box.  I only paid four dollars for it, and decided that the frustration I saved myself by NOT building it was worth the money I spent on it.  But, it will make a good paint hack for practicing my NMF skills.  I will check and see if I have anything else I can build for this GB.  Sorry to keep making changes!

 Hi Frank,

  That's too bad about the Stratcruiser; I done the same thing to a 1/144 DC-3 a couple years ago after seeing how many modifications that was going to have to be made to make it look halfway accurate.    It went the way of the "spares box" just like yours has!!    

  I've got a Heller 1/50th Cessna 337 "Skymaster" that I was going to build as one of the Army's O-2A's, until I found out Heller made a 1/50th O-2, which I bought.      The "Slymaster" doesn't have decals or an instruction sheet (I got it off ebay), but if you'd like to "wing it", send me $5 for the shipping cost and you're more than welcome to it.     Message me.

  Aaron,

  I'm at the double yellow lines and holding on the GB, looking forward to getting started.

Take care,

Frank

Well fellas, I think I'm gonna have to bow out on this one.  I have a couple of other Gb's going, and think maybe I should just keep it to two at a time.  Enjoy the Gb, and happy modeling!

Daywalker,

Frank, sorry you won't be participating in the GB, but understand.    You take care and don't forget to drop in and comment once it gets going.

jeaton,

Roger that, John!    I breifly went through your page yesterday, and returning there this evening to cover it better; you have some NICE walk-around pictures!!       You're the one who signed the Guns A Go-Go website guestbook a while back, and traded pictures of the CH-37 in another forum?      I see you're using the J-3 GB badge.... here's a "stereo image" of the picture I used to make that badge, I thought you'd like to see.      

(for those who don't know how to view a stereo image: position yourself directly in front of your computer screen about 2 - 3 ft back and look at the little DOT between the two pictures.  Now begin crossing your eyes slowly until a "third" image appears in the middle.    Now put your wrist and fingertips together about 6 inches in front of your face, looking at the "Third" image through the hole between your hands.)

 Tomorrow's the day it starts!       Oh yeah, remember the story of the 172 that me and my wife first met?    Well, that airplane was in a crash later which removed the front end, nose gear, and half of the right wing.     It was bought as scrap and sold to someone who restored aircraft.... I had heard it was undergoing restoration, but that was a long time ago and the subject eventually died.     I always wondered what happened to it, as N number searches returned a No Longer a Valid Registration.       Anyhow, I get a phone call from this guy out in Little Rock who'd seen my pictures of N9690H on the web, who currently OWNS & FLIES it!     He does aerial photography with it, and said he'll send a good "plane to plane" photo of her, restored in the original colors even!!     I can't wait to see it.... and I'll let you all see too!

Take care,

Frank

Is it too late to join this GB?

I would like to do AModel's PZL-104 Wilga in 1/72.

Frank-

Thanks for understanding.  I will keep an eye on this GB, and look forward to seeing everyones progress!  Good luck!

Guys

The Heron is under way !

Here are some early pics. As stated the molds are in pretty good shape for a 40+ yr old !

The kit has large transparencies down either side of the fuselage, so I scratchbuilt a floor and some passenger seats, to give an impression of an interior - you won't be able to see much through the fairly thick transparencies anyway. I have dipped all transparencies in 'klear', and they aren't too bad. Also  there is a solid bulkhead between the flight deck and the passenger cabin. References shouw an arched doorway , so I have carved that in as well.

The kit features movable ailerons and retractable undercarriage - with a nifty feature on the mains that 'clicks' the wheels in place when 'up' so they don't sag. However, I will be cementing them in the 'down and welded' position. Ailerons, whilst posed to indicate a slight roll, will be cemented. The kit also comes with an 'air stair' and some standing crew and passengers.

Box Art

Fuselage halves, festooned with rivets - ahhh memories.

Kit flight deck and scratchbuilt cabin floor seats.

Installed in fuselage halves

Fuselage persuaded to come together and wings assembled.

More progress pics to come !

Simon

Looks like your off to a great start Simon. 

Nice choice for the build gulfstreamV.  Someday I want to build a DC-3 model after one still flown today by MFI, it has been updated and is powered by 2 two Pratt & Whitney PT6A-65AR turbine engines.

Well, this is what I was able to get done today, not much but far enough to see how strange looking the Super Guppy really is.  Doesn't look like it has enough wing to lift itself.  Wings halves are cemented together, the rest is just a mock up.

Model Grandpa wrote:

Looks like your off to a great start Simon.  Nice choice for the build gulfstreamV.  Someday I want to build a DC-3 model after one still flown today by MFI, it has been updated and is powered by 2 two Pratt & Whitney PT6A-65AR turbine engines. Well, this is what I was able to get done today, not much but far enough to see how strange looking the Super Guppy really is.  Doesn't look like it has enough wing to lift itself.  Wings halves are cemented together, the rest is just a mock up.

Looking good on the Guppy so far Grandpa ! Gulf - I've never built a DC 3, and I just got one on ebay. It's the airfix ( ex Italeri) one in 1/72 with BEA circa 1950 markings. I may get it done in time for this GB also as I intend to pose it alongside the Heron with a refuelling tanker.

Sort of 1950's/60's airport diorama.

More progress on the Heron - it's pretty basic really ;the nacelle/ wing joints leave a bit to be desired - but hey, it's an old airfix kit ! Anyway basic airframe is done, sanding joints etc is proceeding and intend to spray on the main paintwork tomorrow .

Thanks guys, hope to find some time today and get some progress made. 

I could see opening the front of this kit and scratch building an interior but that's a little out of my skill level. The kit comes with no cockpit or interior detail.  My Guppy will have the infamous "black" interior for this build. 

Looks like I'm not the only "tail dragger"!  I thought I'd have my 1:48 F.M. PV-1 Ventura done by now , but it has gone from being a challenge to trying the patience of a saint.   If I don't make some significant progress in the next day or so, it goes into the closet and I'll be starting the Amelia Earhart Lockheed Electra tribute. Pics will follow!  All the builds look great so far, and what kit is the Heron?  I'm not familiar with that ac, but I'd like to build it one day!

Brian 

The Heron is now more or less complete.( Brain 44 , it's the airfix kit, originally issued in 1959, and recently re-issued as part of their Civil Aviation set - see my post earlier with pics) Missed out on a few progress pics as my wife was out with the kids and camera.

The wing/fuselage joint was surprisingly good.

Painting basic - silver all over, and a white fuselage top. I applied the kit decals which were good and include the curving cheatline on the nose, I then brush painted in Humbrol midnight blue in between the two decal lines.

 All it needs now are the doors ( undercarriage and cabin) installed and it's finished. More pics soon.

I started on the Staggerwing this evening.  I think I am going to build it in flight.  The Staggerwing in the air is like a shark in the water, to be groundbound is just cruel!  I was going to write beached, but that is too close to a very bad pun...groan.

So far I have been fitting the stabilizers to the fuselage and workiing on the fit of the cockpit tub.  It sort of reminds me of a car model.  I am a little curious as to the order of painting things, I suspect there is going to be a lot of back and forth on the interior. paint, glue, fit, paint, glue, touch up, etc.  Blue grey carpet, mohair seats.  I'm thinking a blue grey with some brown mixed in for the mohair, does that sound right?

Chugging right along here.....

I put the base white stripes on the blue-flake base coat this week, but not exactly sure I'm going to keep it that way.... maybe dress up the stripes with red.... or move the diamond on the cowl to the wheel pants?

Speaking of the wheels, I removed the wing mounted kit gear struts in favor of a raised gear installation which I scratch built, but used the kit wheel pants after sanding off the strut tabs.    I'm going to mount a 4 bladed prop and an enlarged spinner, and have to finish furnishing the cockpit.

I'm thinking about mounting the model diorama style when finished, as if it's taxiing out, passing near a fence line.     Two little boys are standing on the other side of the fence (one holding a model plane), waving at him as he goes by.... the pilot looking to the left and returning the wave.    Here's a sketch I did of the idea....

Are we having fun yet?

Take care,

Frank

Here it is Friday; the slick stuff's on and the masking tape's off!      

I removed the flag and diamond from the forward fuselage, applied a red with white trim lightning bolt decal down the side, the diamond shape to the wheel pants, added a red stripe between the two white ones on the wings and vertical stabilizer, and a tail number!

**the canopy is dry fitted for the pictures**

Now it just needs to hurry and dry!!

Take care, and looking forward to seeing more in progress coverage from others,

Frank

Some nice work coming along there !

Here is the Heron. Still without doors and exhausts, tranparency masking still in place as I haven't sprayed any varnish as yet.

Next to a 1/72 Mini van I found.

Wow...you guys are fast!

Looks great Frank and Simon.

I've made a little progress on the Guppy.  Fuselage is joined and seamed filled. I am working on the engine nacelles and wings.  Should have a picture update by the end of the weekend.