Regia Aeronautica GB II (06/15/09 to 06/15/10)

Sean, she's looking good mate!!!!!!!!

Jeremy, you call that a mess? What happened to your cockpit?

Sean, I love the condors interior. Especially the tilted tanks. Thats just logic to me. You want every last bit of juice out of the things. Tip em up. Also the 'Naughty chair' is just hilarious. 'Who Ze Hell let zat vun go, you filthy beech, get in ze back, and dont come back till your purged, Swinehunde' LOL.

Jeremy, how many models do you have on the go? Im counting 3 but im sure theres more.

Im still unable to get much time at the bench this week due to shifts. Hopefully next week ill get back into the swing. Ive had some rough news too. The house we were all ready to buy, looks like has fallen through. In the UK its Gazumping! This is where someone offers more money at the last minute. After youve already shelled out a small fortune on solicitors, surveys, estate nazi's fees etc etc. Boo, pretty bummed out.

...Guy

Guy, sorry to hear about your house deal falling through.  That just .  hopefully something else will come along soon.

Jeremy, love the bench shot.  looks like you have a lot going on there.    Just out of curiosity, have you or are you building a Revell Snowberry?  That orange spindle of thread looks very familiar.

Sean, that third seat seems very weird.  Either its the naughty seat as Guy has suggested or maybe it folds out into a cot for the pilots to sleep.    I pulled my Revell Condor last night and they totally ignored this section of the interior.  Just the cockpit/radio section and the rear cargo door sections are included which is as it should be since you can't see the middle anyway.

 Well I survived another Thanksgiving, Trying to lay low and ignore the black Friday that follows.  Had a busy week that is keeping me from the bench but I am still deep involved in step zero that has sub steps listed alphabetically from  A  to Q. The 1/48 Greif is no slouch!  Very demanding resin clean up which is basically carving small tiny parts out of solid resin blocks.  Then adding PE to those and having to paint as you go.  A lot of work fr a handfull of parts for step 1.

 Sean the Condor is looking grand!  Love what your doing with it.

 Cpt Billy Bondo! The beast you are undertaking is a feat within itself. Are you really doing a dio as well? Golly?

That has to be huge!

 I feel your pain Jeremy!  After a build it seems I have stuff tossed ascue all over and when I straighten up?  Where did I put that stuff?

Guy you know they say moving and house hunting is one of the most stressful things one does in life!  When things happen they tend to happen quickly so be ready!  Bummers come and go but looking back someday soon I am sure you may find yourself happier for it.  Sounds like  your  common buck up speech but it tends to work out that way. You will see!

 I was able to go to the website of the red X's and see all the profiles. Thanks. I think I am stuck doing that complicated squiggle pattern or Sean will flog me!

Jeremy - I cant get my bench to look that nice no matter how many times I clean it off One Square foot is about all the work space I ever see - the rest is cluttered up..

Guy - Poo doo on the house news. We had something similar happen to us in Vegas. And man are we happy about it now as all those mortages are under water now..

Maybe you will find a castle instead and all your forum buddies will come over and have a castlewarming part.  Im gonna check the tower for princess while everyone else has a pint.

Aaron -  You mean Dave is not getting blamed for something this time around ?

I am real close to closing up the Fuse halfs on the Condor.  I could of had it done but I spent the morning in the Tomb looking through the collection for Airfix, Matchbox and Frog kits....

 I dunno Sean.  I am trying to put an all out effort into this Grief. Problem is it is slow going.  Just spent the entire morning adding the PE seat belts. 6 parts per 1/2 a belt jeeze! Who comes up with this stuff? Probably Dave!  Finally made it over to page 2 of step zero! Now I have to add the arm rest? More carving!

sfcmac wrote:

...jeeze! Who comes up with this stuff? Probably Dave!

HEY!!! I wish... if that were the case I could be making millions off of suckers like you. 

Jeremy no wonder you had problems with the Cr 42 cockpit. You probally tried to install the 262 cockpit in the Fiat! Your bench looks like an aircraft hanger after its been hit by a hurricane! I am a neat freak when it comes to my bench. Only one model is on the bench at a time. I have yet to loose break or misplace a part thanks to my need to keep everything very organised. I'll come up there and tidy things up a bit if you want. As long as the misses is making meatball sandwiches!

Guy that really sucks about the house. Here the seller and buyer sign a contract once a price is agreed upon. That does'nt sound fair that you are out all of that money. Do you want me to come over there and make him an offer he can't refuse? I will put on my charcoal pinstripe suit and explain to him how us Italians do buisness. Bondo can be your conciliari.

Sarge I hate those kits that the resin bits are attached to huge chunks of pour stubs. The plane is called a Greif ( German for Griffon) as was pointed out before so you have to expect some headaches.

Sean how much of the cockpit detail will be visible when you close it up?

                                                                                           Soulcrusher

SC-  I took these pics to try and show you what little of the cockpit there is to see. They are not of the best quality but they should give you an idea.

The gauge cluster sits 7mm up under that lip. No matter how I move the fuse I can not see them at all.  Fact is I wish I would of saved that really nice film for cutting up and adding gauges in fighters....

Last look at the innerds as she is ready to close up. I left out several things  like the row of oxygen bottles and the seat belts to use for a build where they will be seen.

The pictures are dark but this thing is really big so I needed more lights to brighten her up!

It does'nt look like you can see much there Sean. I would have done like you and kept the parts for something where you could actually see in the cockpit. That thing is going to look cool when it is done. It's huge! That fuselage seam is going to take a while to clean up I bet.

                                                                                                Soulcrusher

Sean, great looking interior from front to rear. Too bad about the IP but you know its there. I know how you feel, mine was in 1/72 and I dont know why I put so much effort into it.

Steve

 I agree a terriffic fantastic spasmagorical interior Sean!  I cannot believe so much will go unseen either. Very odd that they put so much detail into hidden areas eh?

 Speaking of details. I have finally progressed enough to show something. Still on step zero believe it or not. Have some cannon works and the rudder pedals left to go but I have left them off and combined everything into step one as they will protrude far forward exposed to breakage.  I do tend to break things being large and clumsy!  Don't have Guy's great coordination or physic rythm I reckon.

 Days of work have gone into just a handful of small assemblies. All these parts are resin with a full large fret of tiny PE  dials and parts. Each had to be individually cut and shaped from it's solid pour base and these were tough as the side attached in most cases was a visible side of the part.

Again things have to be painted as I went. A lot but not all the PE is colored complicating color matches and building sequence. The details are pretty sharp though.

Experience with limited run multimedia kits like this has taught me that resin parts that can look so good just won't fit right. This was the main reason I combined steps 0 and step 1 so I could actually construct the pit inside the fuselage. Harder to get good pics but will ensure things will fit before superglued andall that can go with CA.

So I set out adding a bit at a time. Almost like a puzzle so one part will not get in the way of another.  Things get busy quickly as there are many parts and sub assemblies in a small area.

Carefully adding and fitting bit by bit.  Added some white glue knobs to the many levers to make them a bit more 3d and visible.

I tried to contrast a few colors keeping things kinda accurate.  The Gray interior can seem bland  by itself. The seats are a khaki drab and since I do not want to hide these days work I have abstained from adding a crew.

 So I shall finish step one and step zero simultaniously by design. Protecting some delicate parts for now. After that is a step question mark?  Adding the mask to the clear parts inside and out.  should be fun.

Sorry for all the pics  that look alike but there is a lot of hours behind them trust me.

It was just too much for the dog!

Sean, she's coming right along!!!! Looking real good!!!!

Aaron that is gonna be a whopper of a masterpiece!!!!!!! Great work on all the resin bits!!!!!

Aaron - That is quite the lever populated cockpit.  Your really making all that detail pop. No crew this time around  . Are you using the MM RLM 66 for the interior ? When I use the same it always seems so much darker ~ but that could be my lighting as there is rarely any natural light here. We live in the shadows with Sasquatch nearby...(and Dave) 

Were all those seats resin ? Anyway Outstanding Work Looks like it will be a Stunner

My cats look like your dog when they sleep in front of the woodstove minus the sleeping bag of course.

Excellent work here fellas!  Those beasties are really coming together.

Aaron- My goodness, will the madness ever stop?  That is some incredible work my friend. 

Aaron, your work goes from strength to strength. The work on the Grief looks looks fan friggin tastic. You are, most definately, the machine of the GB.

Dont forget that we have the 1/32 Ju88's

...Guy

soulcrusher wrote:

Jeremy no wonder you had problems with the Cr 42 cockpit. You probally tried to install the 262 cockpit in the Fiat! Your bench looks like an aircraft hanger after its been hit by a hurricane! I am a neat freak when it comes to my bench. Only one model is on the bench at a time. I have yet to loose break or misplace a part thanks to my need to keep everything very organised. I'll come up there and tidy things up a bit if you want. As long as the misses is making meatball sandwiches!

SC - You are more than welcome to come clean my bench! I just can't seam to do it... it's too far gone!   I'm no neat freak but I'm usually a little more organized than that.

razordws wrote:

That orange spindle of thread looks very familiar.

Must be a Revell thing Dave. That's been sitting there for a few years now. I used probably a whole 2 inches of it. Came with this...

Sean - That Fw 200 is looking great! I can't wait to find one for a decent price.

Aaron - I don't know if I have the patience for all that PE! You've done an amazing job so far... looking forward to some more. Step 2 maybe?

Guy - You're ace! Sorry to hear about the home buying situation.   Wish I had some advice for ya. How's that 290 coming or are you still busy at work? I know you can whip it up in no time!  

Well... here's my progress. The Ju 88 is looking like an airplane and the CR-42 still looks the same. That Hobbycraft Ju 88 isn't a bad fitting kit. In fact there is more filler in the CR-42 than in that thing. It really does lack in the detail department but I don't mind because it was cheap and has been fun so far.

Speaking of lacking detail... this kit is supposed to have the BMW 801 engines. One noticable thing are the 14 exhaust pipes that should protrude from the rear of the engine cowlings. Absolutely nothing on this kit. Cowls glue right to the wing. For a quick representation of pipes, I started to file out an area where they would stick out. I now have room to put the exhaust pipes. Should be six pipes on top and four on either side. Now I just need to figure out what to use for the pipes.

Jeremy I would be more than happy to clean up that bench for you. Just make sure there are plenty of meatnall sammies waiting for me. I'll even put your paints in numerical order like mine are! The 88 is looking good. Thoses Hobbycrap kits are pretty basic but make for a nice simple build sometimes. Some brass tubing might fit the bill for the exhaust pipes. I used them for the pipes on my Cr 42. The trick is to bend the tubing before you cut the pieces off. It is much easier to bend a long piece than a short piece.

                                                                                        Soulcrusher

Jeremy - Wow that Ju 88 is looking pretty Dern Good.  For the exhaust I would use some solder. I did a quick check and some .062 " looks like it would be just about right. Not only is it easy to bend and shape you can flatten the end real easy to give that oval shape...

As for a Condor kit - the 1/72 Revell ( I hear from out local troublemaker it is a sweet kit) might be more to your liking as the Trupeter is nice - but way overpriced unless you find one on sale..  Also For that kind of cash outlay I would recommend getting the 1/32 Revell Ju 88A-1 as that is the Queens Jewels.

Summit wrote:

As for a Condor kit - the 1/72 Revell ( I hear from out local troublemaker it is a sweet kit) ...

I didn't know Aaron had a 1/72 scale Condor... 

Wow. what a lot of great work here, and good friends too. I've been so busy all weekend that I'm just now able to get online and say "ciao".

First personal stuff; those of you who've suffered injuries and have been sick this last month; I have you in my prayers and may your ills be cured asap! I talked to a guy...

Guy, I'm sorry abt the casa, but these things DO happen for a reason. Maybe after the first of the year your fortunes will change in that regard. Crush and I will have a couple of the fellas look into dis ting...

(they're my cousins)

I find it really kind of hysterical that we are all building big ugly German goflugengefahrtmaskines all of a sudden! So much for the the kind and gentle little Reggie! Although the CR. is keeping the faith, and there is an SM.81 Pippistrella in my future according to Squadron.

Here's my humble contribution to the madness, TWO bottles of RLM02 and half bottle of RLM66 later.

Because I know you will ask- those are 6" tiles.

When I get to the exteriors, it would seem the colors of choice are 72 and 73, which are warmish versions of 70 and 71. Lucky me MM makes 'em.

Oh and things are wrapping up in the Junk yard- soon to be posted.

Your fratello, Biondo. And I figured it out; Crush doesn't so much look like Scott Baio, or even Al Pacino- he looks like RALPH MACCHIO! And I'm sure he's my cousin.

Where in the hell is Nam?

Hey! How did I go from being Al Pachino to Ralph Machio! I do'nt think it matters to Guy anyway Bondo. He probally things all of us Italians look alike anyway! Father Guido Sarduichi! Man he use to be really funny. Lets face it if its not Monty Python Guy probally has'nt seen it.

It Looks like you are going to need a spray gun to paint that beast of a plane Bondo. You probally wiped out the local hobby store of 02 and 66!

Should be starting on my He 177 next week after I finish up on the 262.

                                                                                               Soulcrusher

Bill, the Junk yard is looking awesome.  What are you using for the NMF?

As for the BV 222 that is one big pile of plastic...

Sorry ive not been on as much as id like. Done even less modelling as such. Seriously bummed out. We have a last ditch with the estate agent but it dont look promising. Ah well, dont want to bore you good fellows with my ails.

Jeremy. If it was my prob with the zausts, i think id do em out of hollw evergreen tube and stretch it like sprue. Then give it a crimp with some flat pliers but im sure youll suss it with any of the ideas. Great looking bird hanging fromt heh ceiling. What and who's is it?

Billy Bondlikins. WHATAWHOPPER!!!! I even saw wingnuts giant penny in there and that was dwarfed. She is going to take up some realestate!!! I got the Junk (ers) yard pun. I thought you septics didnt do subtlety. Or is that cos your all Irish Italians

Crusher, Ralph machio? mmmm, you may have something there. LOL

...Guy

Wow, gone a few months and the whole GB turns German?!?!?

I'll resurect it with a little reggie. Finally got motivated to clean up the bench and knock out the CR32. Should be putting on the finishing touches tonight, will post a pic or two. Months late but done none the less.
Have a couple of commisions pieces that have been tossed uncerimoniously in my direction and demand to be built asap so the CR32 has to be completed.

Guy sorry to hear the whole house thing has gone South. The offer is still good if you want me and Bondo to handle the whole thing our way. You know big guys in suits making them offers they can't refuse!

hkshooter you have stumbled upon our secret multi-engine GB! The GB within a GB! Its a secret so do'nt tell. Looking foward to seeing the Cr 32 finished.

                                                                                                Soulcrusher