AIR RACER GROUP BUILD BECAUSE WE FEEL THE NEED FOR SPEED

Avadon I have a couple more vintage racers in the wings One of them will be practice for the paint job on Miss America. That would be the Travel Air Mystery Ship. I have also been toying with a couple of ideas for fantasy racers, a FW190 with a merlin engine or a ( I must hate myself after the last one I build) a P-38 reengined with Griffion engines, and contra props.

avadon - That A2D1 would be cool as a racer! I would also like to build the H-1... that's a gorgeous plane.

Randy - I would love to see you build a Travel Air Mystery Ship. I have it hiding in the stash somewhere but I've been afraid to try and paint that thing up. At least it has recessed lines to guide you in the painting. Maybe if all goes well I'll pull that old thing out and give it a go.

Avadon check out this link for the Travel Air Mystery Ship over at Swanny's models.

http://www.swannysmodels.com/Mystery.html

It has a bit of the history of the racer and pictures of the kit itself. I am thinking I will build this one before I do Miss America because of the tricky masking that needs to be done on both of them. As for the P-38 I dunno I just finished one of the nightmares not too long ago but am giving it some thought. Its over in the natural metal finish build group.

Jmabx Hey go for it man it looks to be a fun little build. I want to try using frisket paper for masking my Travel Air because you can see thru it. I want to try sizing the scallops from the plans to fit the model then print them on the frisket paper cut them out and shoot the paint. Just want to see if that will work.

Ahh, that's a mystery airship. ;)

 Speaking of P-38's.. check out this small metal model I altered to make it look like a racer.I changed he wingtips and squared up the tail some. I just think it looks cool this way.

Here is also a P-40 I altered a bit.

Anyway, hopefully this gets the air racing juices going :P

Avadon They both look really sexy, thanks for sharing them. Gives me an idea what the 38 would look like too with clipped wings and tail. The P-40 really catches my eye I have to admit. Thanks for sharing those pictures

My sticking point for the moment on the P-38 racer is the cooling system for the Griffons, the air frame will really need some cleaning up to be a convincing racer.

 Alright, I've finally started the 51.

 It is Hasi.'s 1/48th 51D, with Red Pegasus decals for #77, as mentioned before. Very little modification. For the pit, the armor plate behind the seat has been deleted(scratched frame with stretched sprue) along with the gun sight. Also filled in ejector chutes in the wing with styrene and sanded smooth, and will be smoothing out the gun ports. I don't really have anything for good WIP pics(my cam has no macro setting), besides, I'm sure we all know how 51's go together!!! Anyways, here's a pic of where I'm at so far.

 Just as proof, that I'm not cheating!!!

 Oh yeah, also added some shrouded exausts from Cutting Edge(resin) these things are really nice, hollowed out!!!

vetteman42 wrote:

Avadon They both look really sexy, thanks for sharing them. Gives me an idea what the 38 would look like too with clipped wings and tail. The P-40 really catches my eye I have to admit. Thanks for sharing those pictures My sticking point for the moment on the P-38 racer is the cooling system for the Griffons, the air frame will really need some cleaning up to be a convincing racer.

Yah I too thought they looked pretty good, after a little clip and crop. That is I clipped the wings, give them more of a P-51 look, and then either clip the tail or totally reingineer it. I mean and these are just crappy little toy planes, but they do give you a quick look at what a prototype design will look like before you start cutting into an expensive kit.  Vetteman, are you famaliar with the P-38 swordfish?

One could definitely gather some cool ideas from this aircraft. It almost looks like it should be a pusher with that spiney nose going forward. 

 This page below also has some really good info on variations of the lightning just in case people here want to get really creative and push the classic look of the 38 to the extreme.

http://www.vectorsite.net/avp38_1.html#m1

Dug through my archive.. here is a better angle of the P-38 swordfish

Here are some rather loose photoshops of what it might look like as a flying wing with two pusher engines. 

and this one below is my favorite

Fermis An offical start ??? Wow ! Now I have to update the front page again geeze. I am looking forward to seeing your build Fermis but also wanna know how the new decals work out for ya. Oh wait you posted your start yesterday ?? Hummm must be finished by now Just messin with ya my friend.

Avadon To be honest I have never heard of the P-38 Swordfish, and from the pictures can see hwere it got its name from. That is one strange looking 38, and is giving me some good ideas too, thanks for posting the pictures and the link. I more than likely wont be starting the P-38 ( if I do build it) until after the first of the year.

Fermis - Off to a great start I see. I really like the Hasegawa P-51D kits... they build up pretty nice. I can't wait to see your finished #77. By the way, where did you buy the Cutting Edge exhaust?

Did some work on the Spit MkXIV today... got her nice and smooth and ready for paint.

I pulled the canopy out of the bag and noticed that it has a huge seem running down the middle of it. I'm not a big Spitfire aficionado but I just don't think that it belongs there. Yes, no?

If it does not belong and I need to sand it out, where do I start? 400, 600, 800grit? The seem is rather large and it's going to take a heavy bite to get it out but I don't want to start too rough and ruin the part. 

Any help much appreciated with my love and affection for all time.

If you guys haven't run across this, I'll post it over in the aircraft forum. Thanks!

 Time at the computer has been limited lately, but I have been keeping up on things.

 First, let me say, Jeremy, that is one beautiful Ryan. I started that kit many years ago as a land plane. Was trying to use silver leaf on the fuselage and it wasn't looking to good ,so I shelved the project. Seeing yours reminded me , I have that kit. I also have better ways of doing the metal finish. Might have to drag it out of the stash in the near future. A neat ,sporty little airplane.

 I like the interest shown of fantasy/dream machine racers. Some wicked stuff coming from this GB.

 On the subject of wicked flying machines, here's current WIP of the twin 'Stang.

 Extened the leading edge of wings a bit, and built up the vertical stabs and rudders. I still need to putty in low spots and sand to shape. I've also got the cockpit opened up with canopy donated by an old(20plus years) Revell F-16 built up that had been retired to parts. Same F-16 donated the dashboard hood , also will take seat from same and modify into a modern looking seat(not ejection). Trying to take care of most major bodywork and airframe shape , Next I'll scratchbuild a basic racing cockpit. Bare , functional, slick . Then I'll close up the bottem and build the radiators with NACA style ducts.-

 Paint scheme is running somewhere around all black or dark blue with some kind of flames and or scallops. Lots of ideas.

jmabx wrote:

Fermis - Off to a great start I see. I really like the Hasegawa P-51D kits... they build up pretty nice. I can't wait to see your finished #77. By the way, where did you buy the Cutting Edge exhaust?   Did some work on the Spit MkXIV today... got her nice and smooth and ready for paint. I pulled the canopy out of the bag and noticed that it has a huge seem running down the middle of it. I'm not a big Spitfire aficionado but I just don't think that it belongs there. Yes, no? If it does not belong and I need to sand it out, where do I start? 400, 600, 800grit? The seem is rather large and it's going to take a heavy bite to get it out but I don't want to start too rough and ruin the part.  Any help much appreciated with my love and affection for all time. If you guys haven't run across this, I'll post it over in the aircraft forum. Thanks!

Does it run on the inside of th canopy too? Looks bad enough to start with 400 and work your way up , finishing off with a couple dips in Future. Good luck. I've got a similiar poblem to overcome on the turrets of my Liberator.

daddy1 wrote:

Does it run on the inside of th canopy too? Looks bad enough to start with 400 and work your way up , finishing off with a couple dips in Future. Good luck. I've got a similiar poblem to overcome on the turrets of my Liberator.

Only on the outside... that's why I didn't know if it belonged there or not.

I never could figure out how to get the seam out of those Liberator turrets. I built one a long time ago that never survived. I now have four "D"s and two "J"s waiting for the day I can figure out those turrets.

Daddy1- WOW!!! That thing is gonna be sweeeeeet!!!!

J- exausts from a contest vender(everything I get, comes from vendors!!!)

Jmabx I havent had much luck polishing canopys, if it works out for you can you let me know how you went about it ? I know I must be doing something wrong. When I have that trouble I chicken out and look for a vacuformed one.

Daddy1 what Fermis said !! I just cant wait to see what happens next in the devlopment of the F-82R. Beautiful work so far.

Fermis You said you found the right props for your F-82 at the contest ?? What props are they and who has them ?

fermis wrote:

Daddy1- WOW!!! That thing is gonna be sweeeeeet!!!! J- exausts from a contest vender(everything I get, comes from vendors!!!)

Second this. Do I get to ride in Daddy1's dream machine when he's done! 

Jeremy,

If your going to try to polish it out, you're going to need a polishing kit like the car modelers use.  Start at 400 grit and work your way up to the 12000 grit.  Probably need to get one of the Novus polish kits as well.  Or you can go to your favorite online retailer and order Falcon's Spitfire Special vacuum formed canopy set.

Thanks for the help Buddy! I think I'll try to get the seam out myself just for the sake of experience and if that doesn't work, well, then I'll get the Falcon canopy. 

I trudged forward today and sprayed a few thin coats of MM gloss black on the old gal. I think she looks pretty cool like this. The way that the panel lines are highlighted makes her look like something from TRON.

avadon wrote:

fermis wrote: Daddy1- WOW!!! That thing is gonna be sweeeeeet!!!! J- exausts from a contest vender(everything I get, comes from vendors!!!)   Second this. Do I get to ride in Daddy1's dream machine when he's done!

Avadon I believe Daddy1's daughter gets the first ride in it then the first completed build for the group gets the second ride

Trying to improve Tron is like trying to paint some add-on's to the Mona Lisa. It was an awesome genre movie at the top of it's game for it's era. I don't see why people always feel the need to re-make movies. Oh yah I forgot, it's because they have no new ideas.

I saw someone on netflix rented it and said "Special effects were bad and it was cheesy". I just shook my head in shame. If your going to watch movies from a different era then you have to have some appreciation for technology at the time and the cinematography used. There are certainly times where I think the average person should not critique films, unless they have a degree in film.

avadon wrote:

Trying to improve Tron is like trying to paint some add-on's to the Mona Lisa. It was an awesome genre movie at the top of it's game for it's era. I don't see why people always feel the need to re-make movies. Oh yah I forgot, it's because they have no new ideas.   I saw someone on netflix rented it and said "Special effects were bad and it was cheesy". I just shook my head in shame. If your going to watch movies from a different era then you have to have some appreciation for technology at the time and the cinematography used. There are certainly times where I think the average person should not critique films, unless they have a degree in film.

If you liked the first one, you will definately watch thesecond one, then you will make your own judgement. Some will love it, some will hate it, as always the case.

simpilot34 wrote:

avadon wrote: Trying to improve Tron is like trying to paint some add-on's to the Mona Lisa. It was an awesome genre movie at the top of it's game for it's era. I don't see why people always feel the need to re-make movies. Oh yah I forgot, it's because they have no new ideas.   I saw someone on netflix rented it and said "Special effects were bad and it was cheesy". I just shook my head in shame. If your going to watch movies from a different era then you have to have some appreciation for technology at the time and the cinematography used. There are certainly times where I think the average person should not critique films, unless they have a degree in film. If you liked the first one, you will definately watch thesecond one, then you will make your own judgement. Some will love it, some will hate it, as always the case.

but ..but ....but .........but ..........hey doesnt that Spitfiretron look cool ??????

vetteman42 wrote:

simpilot34 wrote:  avadon wrote: Trying to improve Tron is like trying to paint some add-on's to the Mona Lisa. It was an awesome genre movie at the top of it's game for it's era. I don't see why people always feel the need to re-make movies. Oh yah I forgot, it's because they have no new ideas.   I saw someone on netflix rented it and said "Special effects were bad and it was cheesy". I just shook my head in shame. If your going to watch movies from a different era then you have to have some appreciation for technology at the time and the cinematography used. There are certainly times where I think the average person should not critique films, unless they have a degree in film. If you liked the first one, you will definately watch thesecond one, then you will make your own judgement. Some will love it, some will hate it, as always the case. but ..but ....but .........but ..........hey doesnt that Spitfiretron look cool ??????

Oh how silly of me where are my manners!!! Jeremy, your Spitfiretron looks fantastic!!!! Something bout a black spit that just looks right you know?

vetteman42 wrote:

avadon wrote:  fermis wrote: Daddy1- WOW!!! That thing is gonna be sweeeeeet!!!! J- exausts from a contest vender(everything I get, comes from vendors!!!)   Second this. Do I get to ride in Daddy1's dream machine when he's done!  Avadon I believe Daddy1's daughter gets the first ride in it then the first completed build for the group gets the second ride

 Heck, she's liable to be the prime driver in my speedster. Would be interesting to see what this beast could do if some one were to build the full size bird. I'm no areospace enginier, but I do believe the consept could work. I've basically applied what a lot of teams have done with P-51s , just with an extra fuselage . 

 Thanks for mentioning my girl. Given me some more paint scheme/sponser ideas to play around with.

 Not to far away from a coat of primer . I'm going to use auto sanding primer. Used it before on model cars and it does a great job of filling minor imperfections. Also seals the plastic ,so I can use automotive lacquers or even nail polish and other "hot" paints. 

 Yes, I said nail polish. Have you ever noticed all the great hot rod colors avalable in nail polish. Not to mention  some neat little decals and transfers meant for ladies fingernails.

 One of my favorite things about this build is being able to apply custom/race car modeling skills to an aircraft. Lots of fun.

  Jeremy- Check out your local auto parts store for some ultra-fine sanpaper and possibly some rubbing compounds. I've had success with plastic windshields before. Another good polising compound is toothpaste