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

Summit wrote:

That Condor is the Trumpeter 1/48 Real Estate Hog.  Where am I going to put it I dont know. Wingspan is 684 mm (27 inches) the Fuse is 488 mm (19 inces +) I might write a letter to Santa and ask for some more Glass Shelfs to hang along the wall.

Wingspan 63.4 cm, length 50.3 cm at 1/72!

I am uncorking my true modeler, which is a railhead. I built the base today from three slabs of 2" styro, covered with brown latex. Next I spent the afternoon down at one of my favorite LHS: Gunnings in San Anselmo. Steve is a neat guy, but he has had a stroke at 62, and his dad is dying- Navy chief you know. So he's pretty sad right now and needed a "buddy afternoon". Anyhow we chewed the fat for a while, and then dug through some old boxes he has of Walthers trucks, Pacific Fast Mail castings, Bachmann passenger trucks etc. and settled on a cheapo Tyco rail crane kit that has a 12 wheel truck. I also bought a piece of HO Micro Engineering flex track, and a 1 oz bottle of Polly Scale "Old Concrete". Hear that whistle blow!!!

I'm jazzed up to put the BV 222 on a launching dio like that piccie. Problem is that I think it's the Blohm und Voss Werk in Hamburg, so the Operation Schatzgräber ("Treasure Seeker") camo doesn't fit.

Did you all know that at least one and maybe two Vikings were taken to Patuxent River NAS after the war and contributed to the Convair Tradewinds project? Imagine this thing in Navy Blue Gloss! Oh and the RAF operated one into 1947.

What fun! And the SM.81 was shipped to me today. 

Ciao, reggazzi!

Steve - That Condor is the Trumpeter 1/48 Real Estate Hog.  Where am I going to put it I dont know. Wingspan is 684 mm (27 inches) the Fuse is 488 mm (19 inces +) I might write a letter to Santa and ask for some more Glass Shelfs to hang along the wall. 

I am really looking forward to seeing the Airfix HE 177 get built up also ... 

P/E also Good Grief !

Dave -  I had to paint those gauge housings at three at a time. By then my eyes were tired and my brush was starting to get dry and stiff.

Richie -  Thanks for the comments. I feel once I get the fuse sealed up the kit is going to progress rather quickly. I have a B-29 that I was doing the same thing to also.

Guy -  Your right ! I spend too much tiome thinking on how I could spiff up a part that only would be seen during construction. I really like those fuel tanks and I may leave one out to make a "fuel truck or wagon " to go along with a FW or 109

Thanks for the comments guys. That pit was a labour of love and an expierence. I still have some more PE to go into the canopy like grab handles and instruments, and also ammo belts. Will it ever end. Dave, its the Dragon 1/48 balloon cutter kit. Its terribly overengineered and the instructions have to be read in detail before construction. The first two stages are the pit area and then its closed up but then in stage 4 it showes more PE detail like ammo cans being installed that you cant do with it closed up. Sheezzhhh. Half the parts dont have a construction instructions, it just shows them in place in later stages, no big deal for most of it. Then there is the landing gear, it shows how to put them together on one of them but when doing the other I noticed the kit only has one side gear and if you follow the instructions you end up with both LG pointing in the same direction. In other words there are two port side MLG. Sorry didnt mean to ramble on. Kit detail is very good though. Sean, really liking the Condor, what scale is it. SC, I bought the 177 in 1971 and its typical of Airfix for that era. Dry fitting looks good for the main parts and decent detail for 1/72 with a 5 man crew. I think I have a small PE set for it also. Cant believe I just said that. Looks like it will be a fun build

Steve

OOh yummy, so much good stuff that im positively drooling. The Condor is looking great Sean, but i must admit im with you on the 'what you cant see, dont bother too much with'. On my JU theres a whole heap of detail it wants you to put in but  theres absolutely no point, as once its buttoned up, your never going to see it. You do get the option of leaving the roof unglued to show the detail, but i dont think im going to bother. My builds are shelf queens, not toys. If you get my drift....someone has to, at some point LOL.

Heres a couple of 177's for you SC,

...Guy

Steve looks like you are breezing through that Ju 88. How does that Airfix He 177 look. The MPC He 177 I am going to start on soon is pretty crude. It must be an old Frog kit or something similar from the 60's.

Sean thanks for the insight on the Condor. Like I said I have one stashed away but I do'nt plan on tackling it any time soon. Looks like you are doing a great job on her so far. Where are you going to put it when you are done with it?

Guy you started on the 290 already! You do'nt even let the bench cool of from the last build before jumping right into this prodject. It must be that English tea. I can't wait to get mine then mabye I will be able to keep up with you!

Does anyone have a good color profile for the He 177? The old MPC kit color profile leaves alot to be desired and there are not alot of good pics on the net either.

                                                                                   Soulcrusher

Bondo, those are a couple of great builds you got on the go.  You never cease to amaze me with your selection of oddball subjects.  Looking forward to seeing them built up.

Steve, Great work on the JU 88.  Which kit is it again?

Sean, lots of gauges on that IP.  Would drive me crazy.  Seam?  What seam?  I don't see no stinkin' seam? 

Steve - Very Impressive work on the Ju I can relate to the P/E stuff. 

SC -  Sorry for taking so long to post since you commented. This is a pretty decent kit but I do think Trump went a little overboard with parts. I guess if a person was to build one of these with a cutawy fuse it might make sense. A lot of stuff to build that will never be seen again though.

The fuel tanks are a good example and when you assemble them there is a horrible seam line. But instead of using up all those manhours to fill and sand I just painted them. If a person can spot that seam through the windows - I did to good of a job of installing them (no fingy prints or cement smudges) or they have issues and have superhero vision.

On with the pic

Pre painted  P/E seatbelts.. This will be the last set I use as I like to heat them and bend and twist them up for a more natural look.  No point in buying prepainted as the heat will wreck the unnatural looking seams and color IMO.  Quick to use - Yes !  Happy with the looks - Not Really..

 The bulkhead is only sitting in place for a pic. Still more radio knobs to paint yet.

 Yeah the shadow is hiding the seam. Clever me Thats all for now..

Steve, the cockpit looks superb. It looks like your a PE experten. It really gives you the impression of the crampedness that they had to fly in, also you will be able to see most of it throught the huge greenhouse. Great stuff.

Crusher, Ive officially cut sprue on the 290. I cant get over the size of the thing. Shes most definately a whopper. God only knows how big Billy Bondlio's looks.

...Guy

Nice looking Tante JU Bondoman, I just finished my 1/48 Revell version a month ago. It will be nice to see a civi version.

I have been working away on my JU-88 and have some updates for ya all.

Most of the cockpit area is PE and I never see this much PE again I will be very happy. It overwhelmed me a bit but it was a great expierence. Im sticking to only belts and IP from here on out. I have started on masking the greenhouse.

When I get the 88 done I will be moving on to this little beautie

Steve

Thank you Guy. You are ace! Feeling a little better and I actually worked on the 262 last night. She should be ready for some paint soon. Let me know when you start on the 290 and I will join in with my little 1/72 He 177 Greif.

Jeremy is that Cr 42 floater done yet!

                                                                                             Soulcrusher

Bondo, i saw that schlepperkart before. Geez, what a price. Im sure it will look great though and once in a while we need to splash out a little . You have the SM.81 on the way as well? Cool beans.

Im on a middle shift at the mo, which sort of drains me by the time i get home. But after finishing this post ish, im off to attack the 290, wish me luck lads, im going in.

Crusher, ill get your recuperation tea in the post withing the next couple of days, my friend.

...Guy

Here's a diorama subject. Yes, I am going to! I figure an acre or two of shoreline still fits under the sucker!

Luftwoller wrote:

Wow Bondlikins, how fast are you going? Geez what with you and Sarge going at such a pace, im feeling poasitively Franklike.

Hey... I resemble that remark!  I just built a Corsair in under 48 hours!

sfcmac wrote:

Holy cow that thing looks bigger than the 1/48 scale Grief! A smorguesborg of styrene!

Well, I went and sprang open the Bondobank for the Gofetchumschlepperkart for the Viking. Used up the savings from the 50% off coupon, but what else to do? I'm glad that old Mavis came back, it suggests that heavy weathering is in order.

There's a whole bunch of history I am just learning revolving around the one flight where this big bratwurst got hand painted white camo. Seems as tho the Germans had a network of met stations all across the arctic, some crewed and some remote. One in Alexanderland someone shot a polar bear, they all ate it and all became sick. Serves the bastards right- animals get trichonosis from feeding on garbage. A Doktor was sent for, his FW-200 cracked up on landing and couldn't take off. So the BV was readied in Norway, flew up there but couldn't land because of ice, and dropped repair parts. All worked out. The whole thing reads like a Dirk Pitt novel!

Edit: I ordered the SM.81 too!

Ahhhhh ok I see now LOL, OOPSIES!!!!!!

Bondo, they are looking great so far!!!!! U are becoming a machine as well!!!

Luftwoller wrote:

LOL, this is my 2nd attampt at telling you that id finished the jug. The 1st time was far funnier.....honest. In the posted pics, guess why i had to go do a re-shoot,

"L 3" decals missing in the pic with the Tulip 109..

Bondo - Your going to need to switch to "Decaf" at the rate you are building otherwise there will be a kit shortage.  A very Fine looking "Iron Annie" indeed

Wow Bondlikins, how fast are you going? Geez what with you and Sarge going at such a pace, im feeling poasitively Franklike. I love those corrugated cruisers and im looking forward to seeing the colours theyll wear.

Richie, cheers mate. As for the deliberate mistake . It wasnt the canopy but the clues are in the pics.

...Guy

Here's an update from the Junk yard.

The Ju-52 "D-ALYL" 1/72 Revell. She's about ready for silver paint and a trick set of markings.

The G-24 "K-SALC" 1/72 Revell ex- Plasticart. A little more work here, and an unusual configuration. She'll be in Aero O.Y. colors.

Guy that is a SUUHHHWWEEEEEEEET looking Jug!!!!!!!!! Awesome build mate!!!!!!!! Guy did you forget to put the canopy on first time????

Bondo that looks like its WAY to small to do the job intended!!!!!! Must be built like a brick ****house!!!! Loks like the same thing as me lying flat on a skateboard!!!

Cheers Bondo, too kind. As for the yellow i use. Ive always used Tamiyas Yellow, thinned with Laquer thinners. Good coverage and sprays beauty, mate. I added a smidge of red to the yellow to get the slightly orange hue to it. Red is the colour i find the hardest to get right.

Micheal, the NMF is the ever fantastic Alclad. I love the stuff. Give it 3 mins to dry and then you can mask over it and handle it to your hearts content.

...Guy

Well done Guy. The Tamiya P-47 kit is one of the best kits around. Nice nekead lady on the nose too. What did you use for your NMF? I missed the earlier part of your build. Looking foward to enjoying some of that English tea. Am I going to have the urge to eat scones now if I start drinking English tea?

Jeremy looking forward to seeing the floater. She really is a great build right up until you have to attach the upper wing. I would highly recomend attaching the outter struts then cutting the inner struts down to fit. The inners are to tall so if you attch them first the outters will come up to short. Also be carefull to keep each strut facing the correct way and in its specific place. Are you done yet?

                                                                                         Soulcrusher

Well done Guy... she's a beauty! And a colorful one to boot!

Luftwoller wrote:

In the posted pics, guess why i had to go do a re-shoot,

Super sweet, Guy. There's a lot of work there, whats your yellow paint trick? I can't find the right one, either too thick or too thin. Great 'Bolt.

The world has gone mad. CMK makes a docking cart for the BV, the damn thing costs $ 30! Time to scratchie-poo!

http://www.squadron.com/ItemDetails.asp?item=CZ7088 Lookit that big old beast in the bagground!! Aces, I say! Think I'll make it bright yellow in honor of our Lordship, the King of Aces and I wish I was his son.

LOL, this is my 2nd attampt at telling you that id finished the jug. The 1st time was far funnier.....honest. In the posted pics, guess why i had to go do a re-shoot,

Il go and post the rest in the main Aircraft forum,

...Guy

  Bondo, wow, what a kit. Ive seen that one regularly in the LHS but always been too afeared to pick it up. Shes a whopper. But what a fantastic subject...and 6 Motors to boot. Have a 1000 Ninja points on me. It would have been 2000 if tit was Italian, ah well you win some , you lose some LOL. Great pics, again of the Mavis. I have to concur with Sean. It is definately one of your best and impressive builds...but saying that i loved your Gabbiano as well. Good man.

Frank,  that badge is the biz. Everyone. Get it in your Sigs...STAT!!!

Aaron, you are my 1st official finisher in the AotM GB. Your 234 was perfect..well, nearly. It needed a few more propellors but hey, who cares. You can get away with anything in my book.

SC, So glad you back in the land of the living. As for mocking the Irish. Geez we'd never do that  Isnt there a statistic about that reckons there are more Americans of Irish desent, than Irish in Ireland?
But in saying that, i have to let you in on my favourite Irish joke...How do you burn an Irishmans ear?......Phone him while he's Ironing!!! A box of our finest English Recouperation tea, winging its way to you for Chrimbo, my lad.

Jeremy, fantastic choice of the 88. There were so many versions of that sucker. I like that one, with the glazed peanut in the front. Also, great to see your setting into the floater. Remember those struts   and no tears. Havent you finished that bleeding egg beater yet? I have an idea whats slowing you up on it though. Has it got a spinner spiral on the blades? Thats usually what slows Frank up for a year or 2 .

Right all, Please go and check the front page to see if all builds are present and correct. If not, all blame Dave!!....oh and let me know.

...Guy

Great kit Bondo and cant wait to see that sucker built, especially with the white if you chose.

Nice badge Frank

Steve

Bondo - Thank You So Much for reposting the Mavis .. That has to be one of my most favorites out of the builds I have seen of yours. (disclaimer - I do miss a bunch on the forums also)

Wow ~wee that is just plain beautiful...

I think you should do the white over the splinter as it will give you a good medium for your weathering skills

sfcmac wrote:

Maybe if we talk real nice to El Bondo he would show another piccie of that Mauvis!  I really liked it as well.

By popular demand. Hasegawa Kawanishi H6K Mavis 1/72 scale. Highly recommended, although it's a bit of a trick. But after getting the Stranraer together this one wasn't too scary in hindsight.

The BIG BV is a little smaller than a Martin Mars, and a little bigger than an Emily. So I get Guy points for 6 mills I hope, oh acey one. The camo scheme is splinter, with a freehand overcoat of whitewash camo for one particular operation. I'll do the splinter and decide if I want to do the white, but i think it looks way cool and unique.