Eye In The Sky GB - January 2010 - October 2010

Nice work B17!!! You sure laid down that paint real nice... looks smooth.

I have the Airfix Mosquito hiding in the stash but I don't think it will build up as nice as that one.

Guys I havent forgotten this group the Avenger has be making me crazy its such an old and bad kit. But I have been back at it again, went to take some WIP pictures and the batteries in the camera are dead, go figure huh. Anyway I will get some pictures up tomorrow for ya

Finally got some WIP pictures for you guys. This kit almost beat me but now its ready for the paint shop, wont be one of my best builds but it will look like an Avenger I think.

Randy she's looking good mate!!!! Like you I have some kits I know will be a bugger to build but at the same time will be close enough to be looking like they should. may seem a bit rough to you now but, wait till you get some paint flying to judge.

Yep, looks like an Avenger.  Good work.  Are those wings in the background part of a P-40?

Thank you guys I hope to get some paint on her today or in the morning as I still need to get the masking done.

Aggieman those wings are for the retooled Revell P-51B/C kit. so far I am pleased with it considering what the old kit was like. For 12 bucks at the LHS you cant go wrong with it in my opinion. It has more detail in the cockpit, recessed panel lines and rivets. The only old fit issues it has so far are the belly scoop and the nose piece. Other than those places I haven't needed to use any filler.

Aggieman question for ya, this Avenger lit has been a bear to build and its the old revell CAF kit, I have been thinking of using the CAF markings instead of one that was in the North Atlantic ( of course those markings could have been there)  Would that still fit into the group ? The aircraft number is 309 with white arrows on the wings and tail. I couldnt find anything about it after a quick search on the internet other than the little CAF info.

I'm okay with those markings

Oh boy... when do we get to see some paint on her, Randy?

Aggieman thanks for allowing the markings.  I did more digging on this build and found an interesting history on her, I will post it when I post my finished pictures Ole 309 got around

Jmabx I hope to have some paint on her by the end of the week if not sooner.

Took my Mossie to a contest over the weekend (didn't win anything , way to many good looking models), but a representative from the USS Lexington museum in Corpus Christi, TX was there and wanted my Mossie.  So if you're in Corpus after Oct. 1, 2010, you will be able to view it on display, along with 300 other models.

B17Pilot

Took my Mossie to a contest over the weekend (didn't win anything , way to many good looking models), but a representative from the USS Lexington museum in Corpus Christi, TX was there and wanted my Mossie.  So if you're in Corpus after Oct. 1, 2010, you will be able to view it on display, along with 300 other models.

B17 I would have to say that that in itself is an honor and a prize worth far more than what could have been won from the contest!!!! WELL DONE!!!!! Told you you would win something!!!!! AWESOME!!!!

WOW B17Pilot I would think that is better than winning the contest, congratulations and well done

Got some Paint on the Avenger last night and thought I would post a couple WIP pictures for ya.

Randy that is really looking great now!!!!!

Looking forward to seeing the Avenger finished, Randy!   Nice job on the paint. Sometimes I think you're trying to torture yourself with some of the kits you build but they always look great in the end.

Thanks Simpilot and Jmabx  I have to admit this kit has been a challenge and not one of my better builds but so far I am happy with it. Anyway here is a very close to finished picture for you, I just have a few odds and ends to add with a bit of touch up to do yet. I am hoping to call her finished tomorrow evening.

Looking good!  Sounds like the kit fought you all the way, hate it when one does that.

Well as promised I am showing finished pics of my Jake. Wasn't the easiest build but wasn't hard either. I'm happy with it, hope you guys are. Here's a couple pics. Enjoy!

Chipping was done with a silver pastel pencil.

Simpilot34 you have one sweet build there, love the paint chipping. And what did you use for the float rigging, it really adds a bunch to your build. Very nice paint work too, the weathering is primo IMHO

B17pilot this build did beat me up pretty good, but its finished now and only took 3 months. The Revell P-61 kit is a cake walk compared to this one or even the P-38. Anyway here are the finished pictures hope you guys like her.

And now for a bit of camera fun and games I found another use for my airbrush.

I took this one for giggles, what it would have looked like in a picture in the 1940s maybe ?

Two very good looking aircraft!!

Thanks guys!

Randy Your Avenger looks great!!!! The rigging on my floats was done with an elastic thread, there I believe it may be called EZ line? Got my stuff at a arts and craft store and was called knitting in elastic. Great stuff!!! Properly anchored at both ends you can put a wayward finger in it and it snaps back dead straight. Can also be pulled aprt for finer things. HTH!

Thanks Simpilot34 I will see if I can find Knitting elastic at the craft store I have a couple of golden age air racer builds that would work great on.

And thank you guys for your complements, I really am happy with the way the Avenger turned out. I would like to do her justice because she had such an interesting history, so I may try and get my hands on a better kit in the future.

Randy - Nice work on the old Avenger! I love the pictures with the prop spinning... very cool!

Richie - So, I finally get to see the Jake finished. Well done! Seems like you've been at it forever with this one but it looks great so time well spent. I love the E Z Line because I can cut it a little short and stretch it taught. Plus my clumsy hands won't break it off. I use the "fine" for 1/48 scale and always wished they had it a size smaller. I never thought of pulling it apart!  Great idea!

Very nice work on the Avenger and the Jake!

Just getting started on the RF-4 and still want to use the Germen 72 Camo.  Also bringing this back around from the second page.

Thanks Jeremy and Steve!!!!

68GT Looking forward to seeing your camo job!!!

Been practicing with the airbrush quite a bit and I doing well since I replaced some parts.  I just have to shake off 20 years of rust and I’ll be back in form.

Alright guys, after much fussing and fighting, the major paint work is done, here she is now...

Last night I got the majority of the decals on, hopefully I will get the rest on tonight and put more pics up. I love this stage because it's finally starting to look like an airplane!

Nice work on the Vigi.  Looking forward to seeing her finished.

And now as promised, here are the shots with the decals added.

Just a couple of notes for these. The insignia for the wings as well as the squadron letters on the tail are cut in separate pieces which is nice if you want to have the wings/tail folded (which I am,) but it looks like it would be a bit of work to make them fit together smoothly if you don't model them folded. Also the red air intake warnings on the front of the engines are modified. They originally had a wrap-around stripe, but I realized it would not fit right and just look awkward. The reference photos I have don't have the wrap-around stripe, so I simply cut it off. Other than those, no issues.