Eye In The Sky GB - January 2010 - October 2010

I am really just about done with the Arado, and have a few photos to post here tonight.  All I have remaining is to finish the beaching dolly, which I painted last night but still have the tires to paint and weathering to do on it.  And I have opened up the Storch that I'm building for this GB, boggled at the Tamiya quality found in the box, and come to a screaching halt with the canopy masks.  I'll get back to that some time this week.

The three pictures I have here of the Arado are of the under-carriage rigging, in the process of the glue setting the connections to tiny holes I drilled into the struts.  In one shot you can see a piece of tape, and in another a clamp, used to to put tension on the monofilament while the glue dries.

It looks like lots of progress is being made here by most folks but me... I have made no progress worth taking pics of lately, but I have made some progress. I had to backdate the stabilators on my RF-4. Sanded off the stiffener plates and filled in the slots on the leading edge. And all raised paned lines were scribed with the raised ones sanded smooth.

I am just about done with the Arado.  I have a few fiddly bits to attach, plus the canopy and aerial wiring, and I need to put on a good coat of flat clear to seal up all the weathering.  I read recently that Tamiya is actually going to come out with this kit some time soon.  While I always enjoy building Tamiya kits, I think the Italeri kit is actually of pretty good quality.  The detailing in the cockpit is pretty well done but could stand for some upgrades.  The mold is new and is up to new standards.  The biggest problem I had was attaching the supporting wires among the float braces, but that would have been a difficult deal regardless of who the kit manufacturer is.

I'll plan to post some photos over the weekend.

And then I am moving on to my second build for this GB, the Tamiya Storch that Vance has already completed so well.  So Vance has set the bar real high ....

simpilot34

One something like this?

That be the one.

Art

A mossie is pretty in any colors it wore!!! Just a beautiful design that really is quite elegant IMHO. To me, I would have to call it, DeHavilland's Spitfire as far as aesthetics go, just one of those things that just looks right you know.

You laid that paint on nice and smooth B-17... looks great.

Richie - I have the 1/48 Airfix Mosquito that comes with that scheme. Pretty.

One something like this?

Great looking work guys!!

I don't remember where it was, but, I saw a pic or article about an USAAF Mossie in PRU blue with a red or orange tail. Interesting paint scheme.

Art

B17 that is looking sweet!!!!!!!! Love the lines of a Mossie no matter what color they wear!!!

Finally was able to get some paint on my Mossie.  Although looking at it while drying, am going to have to hit it again with more paint.  Did get the landing gear fully painted and its awaiting assembly once the paint is dry.

The Mossie painted PRU Blue.  I actually found PRU Blue paint.  Thought I was going to have to mix and match, but luckily the LHS had some MM PRU Blue. 

vetteman42

simpilot34:

When all else fails, do what us aircraft mechanics and sheetmetal guys do, get a bigger hammer!! BTW what is a sprinkler doing on your bench!!!???? LOL Sorry had to ask!!!

 

Well Simpilot34 I do have a 3 pound sledge hammer and the crowbar LOL 

As for the sprinkler, that's my secret weapon. I have a 3 year old nephew who likes to play with the stuff on my bench, he also has a thing for that sprinkler so I keep the sprinkler on the bench so he has something on uncles bench he can touch and play with a bit. Keeps us both happy

Ahhhhhhcccc hahhhhhhh

lol good thinking 99 would explain alot of odd things on our benches!!

Good idea on the sprinkler.  I do the same kind of thing with my daughter, keeping pencils handy so she can stick them in the manual sharpener I have mounted along the facing of my work bench and have some fun.  All the while keeping her from grabbing things on my work bench that 4-year-olds really shouldn't grab.

simpilot34

When all else fails, do what us aircraft mechanics and sheetmetal guys do, get a bigger hammer!! BTW what is a sprinkler doing on your bench!!!???? LOL Sorry had to ask!!!

Well Simpilot34 I do have a 3 pound sledge hammer and the crowbar LOL 

As for the sprinkler, that's my secret weapon. I have a 3 year old nephew who likes to play with the stuff on my bench, he also has a thing for that sprinkler so I keep the sprinkler on the bench so he has something on uncles bench he can touch and play with a bit. Keeps us both happy

great stuff, just catching up on the last month of posts!  Good info on the canopy/masking...   look forward to more great work.

Randy that is starting to look more like an Avenger now!!! I'm sure you'll get the wings into submission soon!!! When all else fails, do what us aircraft mechanics and sheetmetal guys do, get a bigger hammer!! BTW what is a sprinkler doing on your bench!!!???? LOL Sorry had to ask!!!

Thanks Aggieman I will see if I can find it next trip to the LHS

Work on my Avenger was slowed down on Sunday as my Mancave was invaided, check out the story on the aircraft thread. I do admit I had a blast and it was well worth the slow down.

Here are the promised WIP pictures

The center section had some huge gaps at the wing roots both top and bottom, rather than doing the fill and sand thing I used an idea I saw here in the forums. Slid some plasticard into the gaps and used Tamiya's thin liquid glue on the outside joint only.

Then with my trusty hobby knife I trimmed the extra plasticard away and ran the brush full of the liquid glue back over the now trimmed card, Worked out great no filling or sanding.

Now comes the outter wing panels they didn't want to line up or fit at all what a nightmare they turned out to be. My last resort was to threaten them with my 3 foot crowbar They are on but will be needing some work to fill the gaps and mismatches, but hey that's what this hobby is all about right ?? Challenges

Randy, it's simply German yellow (Gelb).

Jmabx Very very well done The Tailfun looks fantastic, a beautiful restoration subject. Thanks for sharing it with us.

Artabr What do you mean not happy with the paint job, your Peacekeeper looks great. Love the camo and the sharkmouth.  Hurry up I wanna see decals and wheels.

Aggieman your Arado is coming along well and looking good. Just wish my canopy masking worked as well as yours does. May I ask what color yellow you used on the wing tips ? It looks very close to a Cub yellow which I have been looking for but havent found yet for a J-3 Cub build I will be doing soon.

Made some progress on the Avenger today and will have some pictures tomorrow evening.

simpilot34

Aggie she's coming along fine!!!! Looking forward to seeing her on floats soon!!!

  Nice work on that canopy framing too!

Aggie she's coming along fine!!!! Looking forward to seeing her on floats soon!!!

Progress pictures of my Arado:

jmabx

B17 - When are we going to see some paint on that Mosquito?

Actually been wondering that myself!  Been extremely busy at work the past two weeks.  And have been gone on the past two weekends.  When I try to get her painted, something else draws me away.   I should have her painted this week!!  Or at least that's the plan.  She's been sitting on the bench waiting to be painted, starring at me saying, "Well?"  In the mean time I did get the landing gear started. Hopefully have an update this week.

Hey on another note, excellent work on your Taifun!

Jeremy, your Taifun looks great!

Art, fabulous painting on your Peacekeeper.  Especially like the teeth and eye.

Jeremy you are correct on that!!! hehehe Gotta dullcoat my Jake in the War in the Pacific GB and that should be done soon, and have just started a 262 for the DOR GB II,hopefully will get that one done by the end of May.  Your Taifun is just stunning!!!!! Very clean and proper build as if restored for museum display!! BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!

Art your teeth and paint look great!!!!

Well, here she is. I still have a little touching up to do and add the wheels & decals.

I'm not real happy with the paint. I have a LOT of flaws. Being the first kit that I've done in a couple of years, I suppose that I coulda done worse.

Art

Mods, please delete this post.

Art

Jeremy, congrats on the Taifun. She looks great.

My teeth came out alright.  I hope to post some pics tonight or tomorrow.

Art

Hey guys... sorry I've been absent here for awhile.

Steven - The Arado is coming along. Nice work on the cockpit!

B17 - When are we going to see some paint on that Mosquito?

Art - The masking for the teeth is amazing. I have to try that someday... great tip.

Vance - What can I say? The Storch looks wonderful. I love the weathering and the winter camo. Well done!

Randy - Good work on the Avenger. I once had that kit and it ended up being donated to the spares box due to the horribleness (is that real) of it. You have your work cut out for you but you always seem to make something beautiful out of those nasty old kits.

Richie - One of these days I'm gonna see you build something... maybe!

I finally finished my little Taifun. 1/48 Eduard Bf-108 just to refresh your memory. OOB, no weathering, no nuthin'. Nice and simply and fun. Here you go...

Hope you like it and thanks for letting me be a part of this group build.

I know how you feel Randy!!! I spent a few weeks just pondering masking the greenhouse on my Jake in 1/72 and then spent a couple sessions over a couple days masking it all out. I purchased a dvd from ebay awhil back that I would recommend to everybody!!!! It is titled ' Realistic WWII aircraft finishing techniques". In it Geoff Illsley explains the easiest way to mask and spray a canopy I have ever seen. Makes an He-111, Ju-88, or Ca-311 look easy!!!

Guys thought I would give you a bit of an update on my Avenger build. I kept looking at the turret and thinking about the masking I will have to do when I paint it. The more I thought about how I was going to mask it the more nervous I became sooooooooo. I spent a couple of days splitting the rear of the fuse apart again removing the turret and hand painting the frame on it.  So here is a pic of my wobbly handed frame painting should be worth a giggle or two LOL

Now that I have gotten over this worry maybe I can get on with the build