AIR RACER GROUP BUILD BECAUSE WE FEEL THE NEED FOR SPEED

Closest in Corel is Sylfaen, but it has to be tweaked for height and slant.

Here are a couple of suggestions:

Hans von Hammer oh I like the red with white border lettering over gloss black should look great ! I do agree for what you want that old english lettering for your name would work very well, besides it kinda fits   "The Hammer" The other lettering though for The Hammer From Hell, hummmmm I dunno might need to work on that a bit. IMHO it just doesnt fit for some reason. I do have paintshop pro on my computer maybe I can play with that a bit tomorrow morning for ya if you like.

Jmabx Oh but the Pete is looking good !!! I had the same trouble witrh the gear legs on the Howard Ike I did a while back infact they were so bad I had to make new ones. You did very well saving your gear struts hat is off to you. I have to tell you again the scratched engine detail really really adds to your build.

Hans - If you're going for black, then I fully agree that you should use red with white outline in the font at the bottom of your card for lettering. I don't know much about fonts so I'll leave that to someone smarter than me.

Well... Grandpappy Randy says that progress pics are a must, so here I go again...

Gear struts needed a little help as they were molded just a little better than the prop-blob.

I cleaned 'em up and slapped 'em on. Next, old Pete got himself a good couple coats of white paint. I didn't have any gloss white so flat white it is. Hopefully tomorrow he'll get a few hundred coats of future to get some shine on.

This kit also came with a neat little stand for Pete. I never was much for stands but since Pete is so small, I figured he was gonna need a little boost to be seen when he's mixed in with the other airplanes in the collection. I glued the stand together, cleaned it up and painted it Floquil bright silver.

The stand looks a lot brighter to my eyes than it does in the picture.

That's all for now.

What font would be best for making a "Hammer of Hell" decal?  Closest I got to something "Germanic" is Old English...  I don't remember the name of the font used on the bottom line of my card.. I kinda like that for "HoH" logo.. Maybe my name in Old English on the canopy rail and that other font on the nose? I'm thinkng red lettering with a white outline...

I like the Thor idea, especially in keeping with my Nom de Guerre.  Perhaps "Satan-ized" a bit... Don't want it to look like a heavy metal band album cover rip-off, though...

 As for color, I don't think there's any choice other than Gloss Black with Iron Cross markings...

In the Unlimited category, I wonder what Von Hammer would fly?  Thinking a black & red FW-190D... I can almost hear the foreign-sounding howl of the Jumo 213A as it rounds the pylons... Probably armed, too..

I know that the Von Hammer of Enemy Ace fame flew a red Dr1 and later in The War in Heaven series, a red Bf-109, but I think black is much more sinister, like the "Black Baron" in Flyboys...   Just not a big fan of red airplanes... Dunno why..

 Dayum, all this thinking about black racers has me feeling like like I may want to add another bird to the build, Vetteman...

Congatulations Randy!!!

simpilot34

jmabx:

Great... just what we need... Hans posting pictures of his hammer all over this group build! The T-6 looks so cool all dressed up for racing. What kinda colors do you run on a fine racer such as "The Hammer of Hell"?

 

I think nose art with a Thor motif would work! Wold look pretty cool too I think.

Ahem! s'ok you are excited heehee

CONGRATULATIONS RANDY!!!!!!!!! WOOHOO!!!!!!

Jmabx and Simpilot thanks for your complements guys

Jmabx ummmmm a bit of both watching TV while building and building while watching ????  It sure beats the heck outta that little one I was using. Yes Miss America is the old Revell kit # 4040 copyrighted in 1990. It does have a bunch of problems but its coming along well I think. The wingtips do curve up to the tip as closely as I can get them to the real Miss America, they should really stand out once I get the paint on them and take better pictures. Hey have you thought about Microscales decal saver ? I have heard it is great for saving old worn out decals and keeping super thin ones from shattering. I have some but havent had a chance to try it out yet.

Got the wings glued on Miss America today then a phone call from my daughter telling me I am going to be a Grandfather today or tonight. Will be my first Grandchild errr Grandson, and well I just couldnt focus on my build What can I say I am not excited at all over having a Grandson to spoil and teach man things to.

Hans I gotta agree with Jmabx, a Thor theme seems to fit well for nose art

jmabx

Great... just what we need... Hans posting pictures of his hammer all over this group build! The T-6 looks so cool all dressed up for racing. What kinda colors do you run on a fine racer such as "The Hammer of Hell"?

I think nose art with a Thor motif would work! Wold look pretty cool too I think.

Looking good there Randy!!!! Lots gotta be said for a curvaceous Miss America!

54" tv Randy? Do you watch tv while you model or model while you watch tv???   Nice to be off a tray I bet. I love using glazing putty for filler... so much easier to sand than Squadron putty. The only thing I don't like is that the glazing putty tends to be porous (sp?) or full of tiny holes.

So, Miss America is on the new bench... she must feel pretty special right now! It's good to see some progress on her. That is the Revell kit right? I can't see the wingtips too well but I'm sure they'll stand out a little better when the paint goes on. Do they curve up to the tip? That's what it looks like to me. Nice work so far!

Hans von Hammer

Sweet....  Look for Race Number 59,  The Hammer of Hell  to be rounding the pylons soon..

Great... just what we need... Hans posting pictures of his hammer all over this group build! The T-6 looks so cool all dressed up for racing. What kinda colors do you run on a fine racer such as "The Hammer of Hell"?

As for me, not much progress on Pete. I've been lazy. Sanded off the raised numbers and letters and hopefully the decals that are to replace them are okay. Pegaso isn't a name that screams fabulous decals to me.   I guess I'll worry about that after the paint goes on.

Hans von Hammer ohhh I will be lookin forward to race #59 cant wait to see what the Hammer comes up with on this build.

Ok guys the Mancave is getting in order and back to modeling finally. I do have to brag a bit though it is a long way from my TV tray bench but the really cool thing is a friend of mine made a donation to the Mancave. I have my model bench sorta setup but now I have instead of a lil 15" TV set out there a 54 inch projection TV with surround sound to keep me entertained as I model. And of course to watch the Cup Cars as I  model on Sunday afternoons.

Anyway here are a few WIP pictures of my long ago and prolly forgotten P-51D Miss America. First one I filled the holes in the side of the fuse.

Lots of filler was needed and I fount Squadron putty didnt work well so I used Bondo Glazing putty it worked much better. Then I used Mr Surfacer 1000 to blend in and fill small imperfections in the glazing putty. The two of them worked out very well for me.

Heres the new clipped wing wingtip I came up with after I found out that Miss America did have clipped wings. Thanks to Daddy1 they came out quite well I think.

I hope life settles down now and I can get this one finished soon. Thanks for looking and as always comments are welcomed.

Sweet....  Look for Race Number 59,  The Hammer of Hell  to be rounding the pylons soon..

Hans von Hammer

Question:

Regarding Rule 1:

1) Any piston driven aircraft that was or could have been raced from the Golden Age of air racing to present day air racing.

Does that mean that I can do "my" T-6 or do I have to limit it to an existing or historical T-6 racer?

Hans von Hammer yes it can be your own racer as long as it was one that could have been raced, it does not have to be a historical racer. I am going to try and build a P-51 Randy's Dream Racer if I can make the time. I am interested to see what you come up with for your own Hammer Racer.

Question:

Regarding Rule 1:

1) Any piston driven aircraft that was or could have been raced from the Golden Age of air racing to present day air racing.

Does that mean that I can do "my" T-6 or do I have to limit it to an existing or historical T-6 racer?

Picked up that same (Testor's) Travelair a few years back for a couple bucks in the clearance bin... Actually, it was closer to 15 years ago.. Still have it around here somewhere... Gotta love the old HAWK molded-in scallops!

The Gee Bee is a cool little plane. I have yet to pick up that kit. If you think the plastic is no good on the Mystery Ship, pick up a new Testors kit of the plane. It can be had for pretty cheap and the box contents are amazing. My kit is nice and crisp and well molded with absolutely no flash. It might have the typical fit issues of those kits but at least there's no cleanup involved.

Can't wait to see some more Miss America... keep us posted!

jmabx

Randy - Which old Hawk kit are ya gonna start? Huh, huh, huh? I pulled out my Testors Travel Air Mystery Ship to have a look the other day and it has a Hawk stamping right inside the wing. 1965... not quite as old as you sir!

 

Hummm what are you tryin to say there Jmabx ???? Sumpthin bout bein old maybe LOL.

I have the same Mystery Ship a Hawk from 1965 in the orignal box no less, and also the Hawk Gee Bee R1 from 1960. A bit closer to my age wouldnt you say ? I will more than likely do the Gee Bee first,  the plastic on the Mystery Ship has a powdery look to it I am not sure if the plastic is bad now or what.

I want to finish Miss America before I start the Gee Bee and did some work on it today, got the wing clipped and the new wingtips on. Now for some shapping and filling to get them looking as they should, I should have a few pictures for the group next week.

Your Pete is looking great you really added to it with the extra work you did on the engine. Nice work on that prop too, man that started out a mess, but you made it look like it should look.

Thanks Richie!  It's not fantastic work but it adds alot that wasn't there before. 

Randy - Which old Hawk kit are ya gonna start? Huh, huh, huh? I pulled out my Testors Travel Air Mystery Ship to have a look the other day and it has a Hawk stamping right inside the wing. 1965... not quite as old as you sir!

A little progress on ol' Pete here. Main bits are together and the fit was actually much better than I had expected.

The propeller was a mojor problem. Here's the random prop-shaped blob I cut from the sprue...

A lot of sanding, filling, sanding, filling, etc and here's what we end up with. Still needs a little more work...

Thanks for lookin' in!

Hans von Hammer your slot is on hold there buddy. I will list your build as TBA on the front page. Hope to see a cool SNJ/T-6 from your bench soon and welcome to the group.

Jmabx very nice work on the scratch building, these old kits just scream for help in that department. I have to get to a point where I can start another old Hawk kit for the group soon.

Jeremy, she's er.. he's looking great!!! Nice work in the engine area!!

C'mon Hammer... let's see some sprue fly in here!

Got some progress on ol' Pete.

Started by opening up the molded over cockpit one side at a time...

Looking at this picture, I had to do something with the complete lack of opening in the front for the engine...

Slice away...

Now, examine these next two photos closely... notice the opening for the engine and what looks to be an intake manifold and also a carb at the lower front of the opening...

I have this to work with...

So, first we make a hole... a little off but close enough for me...

Next we add some sheet styrene to represent the engine and throw in some bits and bobbles for the intake and carb. In the front we put in a hunk of sprue so it looks like an engine in there and all done...

Nothing fantastic but it sure looks more like Pete than it did before. Need a seat for the tiny cockpit and I'll call the interior done. Then comes trying to fit her together.

Coming in late, but I feel like doing something different, Vetteman... Put me down for a "Tenentive" 1/48th Monogram, err...  I mean REVELL,  SNJ/T-6... Aircraft owner/pilot/racing number TBD ( I need to do a little research first and determine whose to build) just to hold a slot here... 

daddy1

That is a slick little racer,for sure. Should make for a nice build with a little challenge thrown in for good measure.

 Getting close to finishing Witchcraft in the next couple weeks and I'll be able to get cookin' on the twin 'Stang again. We need to get this thread back up to speed ,if you'll pardon the pun.

That is a slick little racer,for sure. Should make for a nice build with a little challenge thrown in for good measure.

 Getting close to finishing Witchcraft in the next couple weeks and I'll be able to get cookin' on the twin 'Stang again. We need to get this thread back up to speed ,if you'll pardon the pun.

what simpilot34 said. I have been waiting for this build.

Looking forward to seeing the progress Jeremy!!!!!! You have a canvas to make a masterpiece!!!

Hey guys... me again.

I've decided to finally crack open the next project for Randy's fine group build. You may remember it. The Pegaso 1/48 Howard "Pete".

Somehow, I would like to make her look like this...

And this is what I have to work with...

Oh joy! I need to make a simple cockpit and an opening on the starboard side for the engine (hopefully). I'll be working on it between other builds but I'll keep you updated when there is progress.

Wish me luck!

A friendly little bump and I hope to get started on Miss America again in the next couple of weeks.

Looking forward to seeing it progress Jeremy!!!!! You have a Happy and safe New Year as well!! That goes to all!!!! Happy and Safe new year!!!