Eye In The Sky GB - January 2010 - October 2010

Good to see you getting the whole family involved!!!! Hopefully the bait will get them hooked!!!

Stikpusher - the Phantom is shaping up well, one of the few non-prop planes I'm interested in. Can't wait to see it finished up. I don't recall which manufacturer your kit is from... best of luck with the re-scribe.

B17 - loving the Mosquito, I'm ashamed to say I have yet to add one to the collection, although I built a Beaufighter a few years back, both amazing machines.

Aggieman - "The family that models together, uhh, always has paint under their finger nails! I have a 12-year old girl who occasionally looks at what I have built & a wife who patiently tolerates - but there is always hope right!!

Well I would have gotten more done this weekend if it hadn't been so gorgeous on Saturday. First softball practice of the year on March 13 & it was outdoors!

I used the decal for the tail stripe because I didn't want to get into masking that close to the vert. stabiliser, good colour density though, and it lined up perfectly. After all these years, I tried a new method for aligning the swastikas, other that "eyeball"! I drew some guidelines on my decal guide to see where the angles intersected with something, and laid tape on to give me a guide. Perfekt!!

Underside ID numbers look reeeeeally far apart, but that's what the references are showing me...

Masks removed from the cockpit glass & all looks good. There is one spot that I need to touch up (misaligned) but the masks did perform well, despite having to cut them out myself... I did however find that a little of the underside colour worked its way through the cabin door & hit (of course) a piece of the roof glazing. Trying to decide if I leave it & call it "frost", or try to get it out with some rubbing alcohol & a q-tip. Interior is mostly done in enamels so it should be safe enough to try - anyone know what alcohol does to future-dipped canopies?

And the underside from the front.

And thanks for the positive comments gang, this is my first group build project, and I'm really enjoying it. Talk to you all later,

Vance

jmabx

B17 - Which Mosquito kit are you building? Cockpit looks great so far.

I'm doing the 1/48 Tamiya PR Mk IV version.  The kit also gives to the choice to do a fighter bomber if you want, but I think the PRU Blue PR version will look cool.

Out of town the past weekend, so no progress has been made.

The Storch is looking sweet, Vance. Great looking build.

Art

Liking the Storch, Vance!  Not sure what alcohol will do with Future but I'm thinking those two don't play well together.  I am not a chemist and I did not stay at a Holiday Inn Select last night, though.

Aggieman

Liking the Storch, Vance!  Not sure what alcohol will do with Future but I'm thinking those two don't play well together.  I am not a chemist and I did not stay at a Holiday Inn Select last night, though.

Now that I'm thinking about it, the Germans were pretty strict about not allowing alcohol in the cockpit, I probably should follow their lead!! Maybe I'll try scrubbing with a wet (water) q-tip first, see if that does anything.

Of course, the Storch did come with 3 different sets of upper glass, I could Future & alcohol one of those & see what happens.

The Storch is looking great Vance. I like your idea for lining up the swastika.

I'll be watching how you clean up the windows because I have a bit of an overspray problem on the Taifun. As I feared, the problems I had with the Eduard masks lifting led to paint finding it's way underneath them.   All of them!

Other than that, she's lookin' good.

Vance The Storch is really looking sweet. Those decals really brought the paint job to life.

Jmabx everytime I see your fine build I cant help but think of James Garner and Donald Pleasance flying one in The great Escape.

Guys I have used 70% alcohol to clean Tamiya acrylic paint off of clear parts with no problems, it does tend to remove the future though, or cloud it a bit. I just brush on more and it clears the future right up. I do make it a habit to try it on an unused clear part though just to make sure it wont attack the plastic, course I build mostly Monogram and Revell kits.

Vance the Storch is really coming to life now with the decals!!!! Yes, alchohol and Future don't mix!!! It will desolve it. Not as fast as ammonia will but still will desolve it all the same. Best of luck!!!

Jeremy she's looking great mate!!!

stikpusher

Wow there is some great work coming along in this GB! I hope I can keep pace!

But, the model building muse seems to have escaped me for much of the past three days (not to mention a full schedule of family business). After getting my fuselage glued together and then sanded once dry I could not find the motivation to do the scribing. Perhaps during the upcoming week on my next days off.

So here is what she looks like so far.

Carlos, you going to do the armed version ?  I was stumped for some 1/32 sidewinders but Hawkeye is very kindly sending me some !

I have finished up the pit and closed up the fuselage on the Arado.  I should have some photos posted by tomorrow night (I'd do them tonight but it is my daughter's birthday so it is unlikely I'll have the time).  My impression of the Arado kit is that while it may not be up to Tamiya/Hasegawa/Accurate Miniatures detail standards, it's a good kit.  Fit has been extremely good although I do have one seam line along the fuselage that is going to need some extra attention.  The cockpit shell fit together perfectly and the tolerances of the mating pins seemed to be quite snug.

Alrighty then I dug out the TBF last night washed and did some dry fitting to see what problems this old kit has in store for me. There are the normal Monogram fit issues, not much trouble, and a slightly warpped wing that will need some attention.  What I did find suprising was the canopy and turret ball crystals. They are surprisingly clear and,  fit very well, seems strange on one of these kits. I should be able to get rolling on it midweek next week. Here are some pictures including box art.

Aggie thanks for the update on the Arado, think I will seriously consider getting that one. Have always like the way it looked. I have the 1/72 Airfix kit and hope I can do half as well as this OOB entrant at last years ModelExpo did here in Oz!

Got a lot of work done on my Mosquito today. Got the CP all finished and the fuselodge glued together.

The fuselodge before joining

The CP all painted and ready to be put in the fuselodge

I'm going for an OOB build, so the seatbelts are decals provided in the kit.

And finally, the cameras that make it an "Eye in the Sky"

Looking good B-17Pilot.

I've made a lot of progress on the Arado.  This kit is pretty simplistic yet has enough detail to be satisfactory OOB.  It also has seemed to have put itself together.

B-17 that looks superb!!!!!! I am lovin' that!!! Great progress!!

Aggie, that is excellent quick progress!!! Really looking good!!! Kinda give you the impression of how it would look as a landplane with R/G at the moment!!! Could be a future what if project for someone maybe??!!

Great looking work guys!!

Sorry about the photo quality, I'm a newbe at it.

I'm making a little progress. The kit needs a little filler in a couple of spots, but overall I like it.

I have a kangaroo update. I found some black roo decals, ironically they come from RedRoo out of Australia.

Art

DOH!!!!! I live here and didn't even think about them!!!! There is Aussie Decals as well. Great progress on the peacemaker!!!!

Aggieman, the Arado is shaping up well. I saw one at my LHS on the weekend & was tempted to pick one up but resisted... I've got to cut down the stash first!

artabr, not familiar with your build subject but it seems to be coming along well, can't wait to see it with the 'roos in place.

My update:

Didn't finish up the Storch as hoped over the weekend... (computer issues - as in "Vance dropped his  laptop without a parachute - didn't end well" ) What's done is done, so back to the modeling on Sunday. Progress pics here:

Sitting on a paper towel - at least it's the right colour. (although I haven't seen much snow anywhere in southern NB in weeks, it was downright tropical here on Saturday.) The "VK" had to be touched up with pieces from a donor decal after getting pealed by masking tape. Sitting under the starboard wing are three gas cans (kit-included) and the three engine panels that I will be leaving off.

Engine detail left out in the open...

From the front, will have to make the skis a little more used looking...

And from above.In person, you can see a little more of the splinter pattern showing through, I think the flash hides it a little. Rear gun, pitot tube, underside lights and drop tank, various exhaust bits are really all that are left so I shouldn't have any trouble finishing up this week. I gave that interior "overspray" a little rub with a wet q-tip (no alcohol) with no luck, so I'm leaving it & referring to it as "frost" from now on!

Vance

SWEEEET!!!!! Really looks the part already!!!!!

Vance, your Storch looks fantastic!

Vance, your Storch looks great!  Looks like you're setting up for a little diorama.

Wow I am away for a couple days and lookie here lotsa sweet builds coming together.

B17Pilot that is some nice detail painting I envy you guys who can do that

Aggieman The Arado is coming together nicely. I am not familure with that aircraft so cant wait to see it when finished.

Artabr Interesting subject you have going, I cant say I have ever seen a Fairchild AU-23A. Almost looks similar to a Storch

VanceCrozier Oh that Storch is looking great I really like the last picture, looks like it is sitting on snow with the fuel cans an all. I hope you were thinking of doing a dio.

From these builds looks like I have my work cut out for me on my Avenger just to keep up with you guys. I finally got started today, by doing my first figure painting. Hope it works out ok as this model needs a couple of figures to go with it. I should be posting a few WIP pictures in a few days

As I mentioned when this new build got started I was building the 1/72 Hasegawa Jake. I was too far along with it to enter this build, but however it fits the theme and still want to share. I don't have much more to do, I am dragging my feet is all lol. Anywayyyyyyyy instead of using the prop stripe decals which looked way too big or wide to me, decided to paint them instead. .4 and .7 mm tape was used to get even spacing, then a few quick passes with Tamiya gloss red.

Vance, she's looking awesome!!

Vetteman, the AU-23A was a licenced built copy of the Pilatus Porter PC-6 that was built as a gunship. It was a STOL a/c as was the Storch, although a little bigger. Not many were made in the armed version (17 total, I think), but quite a few of the standard unarmed Porters were used by Air America, the U.S. forces & the Austrailian Army in Viet Nam and elsewere in Southeast Aisa.

http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=3228

Well, it's ready for paint.

Art

Its been busy at work, so I was only able to get a little progress done.  The Mosquito looks like an airplane now, complete with engine necelles.  Now I just need to deal with all the seams.

Top and bottom pics of where she stands at the moment

Nice progress on the Peacekeeper and the Mossie.  Looking forward to seeing some paint.

Birthday parties for a 4-year-old this weekend may very well keep me from the bench, alas, but it's all good.

Artabr

Ahhh ok I know the Pilatus Porter and now I reconize it from you newer pictures, just cant mistake the nose on those. Its coming along very well too cant wait to see a bit of color on it..

B17Pilot

Awww but that's lookin sweet. Don'tcha just hate the way those seams get in the way of a nice build ?

Well guys its been slow going but I have one WIP picture to share with you. Its not much, but it is a first for me. My very first attempt at figure painting is finished, although I still need to add a dullcoat to them.

The kit itself does it turns out have some problems to be dealt with like warped wing panels, but I think I may have that beat, we will see in the next few days.

vetteman42

Artabr

Ahhh ok I know the Pilatus Porter and now I reconize it from you newer pictures, just cant mistake the nose on those. Its coming along very well too cant wait to see a bit of color on it..

B17Pilot

Awww but that's lookin sweet. Don'tcha just hate the way those seams get in the way of a nice build ?

Well guys its been slow going but I have one WIP picture to share with you. Its not much, but it is a first for me. My very first attempt at figure painting is finished, although I still need to add a dullcoat to them.

The kit itself does it turns out have some problems to be dealt with like warped wing panels, but I think I may have that beat, we will see in the next few days.

 

Vetteman, no kidding, the fellow in the middle kinda looks like the Duke.

Sorry to hear about the warpage. My kit was another one with windshield issues. It was wider that the frame and needed a little help in a couple of other spots. All in all, it worked out alright, as long as ya don't eyeball it to closely. lol

Art