Welcome aboard Tony By all means, please do join us! There is still a bit over a year to go here until the Cease Fire end date next July. Another Saber will be great here!

Heya!

That's an awesome kit, quite possibly the best one in that scale.  I built a 'squadron of Sabres' for the GB just this winter and did both the Academy and it's Hobby Craft "Red-headed step child" kit.  The only thing that I have to say about that kit in particular is to buy different decals.  The Academy kit's decals not only don't stay on well, but they also don't bend or conform to surfaces and won't work with any decal solvent I've ever used.

Other than that, it's a fantastic kit!  Great fit, lots of little 'extras' like the intake and exhaust covers.  Wonderful cockpit detail!  Glad to have you on board!

Thank you both. Andy, that's a valuable heads up, thank you.

I have Microscale sheet 72-289 already, which has markngs for three aircraft but doesn't indicate whether they were operational in Korea. The aircraft were FU-877 from the 8th FBW, FU-467 from the 322nd FDG and FU-698 from the 50th FBW.

Any ideas on where to find out this ? It would be good to use a decal that's been in the stash for years.

Cheers

Tony

8th FBW flew F-86s in Korea after transitioning from the F-80 in lare 1952 early 1953.

Many thanks Stik. I've also found another couple of options as I sort through the decal stash. I really need to catalogue it.

Cheers

Tony

Glad I could help.

Well here are a few shots taken in July 1952 so I can shamelessly bump our GB up

first up, a chopper approaching, landing on, and leaving pontoon floats for a Hospital Ship USS Haven

A GI with a captured light machine gun

Shermans from Lord Strathcona's Horse on the move

HMS Ocean off Korea

and a Marine M46

All 60 years ago this month...

Awesome pic's Stik ;

Especially the color images of the H-13 , I like those a lot .

A whiel back I did a little bit of a search for a 1/72 H-13D but all I could see was the standard Italeri H-13S kit , which I already have 5 of in the stash . I keep thinking Palva did one in resin but I'm not sure . While I was searching around the net I did find this pic of a HO3S-1 Dragonfly

The helicopter was embarked on HMAS Sydney and was dubbed "uncle pete" in reference to the serial numbers on the aircraft . One of my two Mach 2 Dragonfly builds isn't going to work out with all the windows badly fogged by super glue . It's a pitty too , as it was the one I had cut the side door out to pose open . I'm now thinking of buying another and start again and build her along side the Airfix Firefly , which comes with the option of folded wings .... Dragonfly and Firefly ....Two Flies on deck !

On a sad note , my father is back in hospitial battling lymphona for the second time . He started some chemo today , with more to follow over the next few weeks . Hopfully everything will go well .

John .

John: Sorry to hear about your dad, hopefully the chemo will work out.

BTW: If you dip the clear parts in Future, Johnson's Clear (sorry I forgot what it's called there) the superglue won't fog them.

John, I am sorry to hear about your father. I wish him a successful fight. As of a bit over a month ago, we had my wifes mother move in with us on hospice care due to pancreatic cancer. Those parts of life you really do not plan for until they are upon you.

On a lighter note, I agree about the vintage color photos. They really make the past come alive. Not the god awful computer colorized crud, but the honest to goodness Kodachrome or other early color film photos. There is just something about the vibrancy in the color shift that gives it a live, yet past look. When I was a kid, the local police department had a H-13 that they flew around here on patrol. Looking at those photos of the one landing on the float, I can practicly hear it in my mind.

John, sorry to here about your Dad's health problems.  I pray for a speedy recovery!  Take care buddy.

Greg

SP: Ouch, sorry to hear about your mother-in-law.

And I forgot to comment on the photos but that's some great stuff guys!

Thanks Gamera, considering the situation, she is handling and going thru it remarkably well.

I am now off work for a few weeks on vacation so I oughta be able to get work done here!

taxtp

I have Microscale sheet 72-289 already, which has markngs for three aircraft but doesn't indicate whether they were operational in Korea. The aircraft were FU-877 from the 8th FBW, FU-467 from the 322nd FDG and FU-698 from the 50th FBW.

Here's a few shots of 8th FBW F-86s in Korea...

Thank's for the kind words and thoughts everyone regarding my father and I extend my best wishes to your wife's mother , Stikpusher .

I have the AD-3 Skyraider , F9F-2 Panther and one of the S-51 Dragonfly's on the bench and I've cut the decals from the sheets and are set to finish these three off today

Here's some reference pic's as to markings in Korea

The S-51 was a plane guard embarked on HMAS Sydney . The AD-3 Skyraider will have makings from VMA-121 from K-3 Pohang airfield and the F9F-2 Panther of VMF-115 is also from K-3 Pohang .

I'll also make a start on the Airfix Firefly and paint the fuselage inside's and cockpit pieces and post some WIP pic's later today .

John .

Thank you very much Stik, that photo is very much appreciated.

Cheers

Tony

Ohhhhh, more nice stuff there John!

Our club show is tomorrow, going to look for some more Korean War kits, hopefully an AFV Club M40 SPG and the new Bronco M24 Chaffee in 1/35th. Thanks Stikpusher, as if I didn't have enough WWII subjects in my stash now you've seduced me into wanting a bunch of KW stuff too!

Youre very welcome Tony. Are the markings in the photo the same as on the decal sheet?

Here's a look at the 1/72 Airfix Firefly Mk.5 kit

The decal sheet has yellowed a little and they look kinda thick , so I was thinking of masking and airbrushing the black and white strips anyway

I did some preliminary airbrushing on the fuselage insides with Gunze H-58 interior green and some chromate on the wing pieces , with a little silver on the landing gear struts and some flat black on the wheels and cockpit control stick

Next I glued up the wings and fitted the cockpit pieces inside one of the fuselage halves

There wasn't a cockpit instrument panel supplied so I just cut one from some sheet plastic

I must say for an ancient Airfix kit everything so far has fitted together quite nicely and I only needed a few bulldog clips to hold the fuselage halves together

The inner wings were a perfect fit into the fuselage lower sides

As were the rear stabilizers/tail planes

So far everything has gone really well with the build and in between coats of paint and glueing I've managed to get the decals onto the Airfix AD-3 Skyraider and the Mach 2 S-51 Dragonfly

Next I'll putty the seams on the Firefly fuselage and wing edges and start the decals on the F9F-2 Panther.

John .

You are a machine John, you are just ripping through some really interesting subjects at an amazing rate. Wish I could match it.

Cheers

Tony

Oh a wingfold option!!! I built that kit way back when and completely forgot about that...

Oops , I forgot to mention the most important part of the Airfix Firefly kit and yes Stik , it has the option of folded wings .

The wing fold on the Airfix Skyraider is quite basic but it looks good none the less .

I'm thinking of trying a basic scratch-build  wing fold on the Airfix F2H Banshee , I've stripped back the paint finish for the second time and touch up some of the seams and I'm feeling a little brave and crazy at the moment and just might break out the razor saw . Airwaves have a PE set for the F9F-2/5 Panther and with a couple more Panther kits in the stash and some Airwaves PE , I could have some nice finished builds with wing folds .

John .

It's been quite a while since I posted any finished pic's of my builds , So i'm calling the Airfix Skyraider done .

Douglas AD-3 Skyraider VMA-121 at K-3 Pohang , February 1953

John .

Here's the Mach 2 Sikorsky S-51 / HO3S-1 Dragonfly ; Embarked on HMAS Sydney for Plane Guard duties .

Ironically this was the first kit I started when tthe Korean War Group build kicked off in 2010 . I'm a little embarrassed it's taken this long to complete . there is a pilot inside but he's difficult to see through the thick clear windows . I think I'll write away to Mach 2 and see if I can buy from them a set of replacement clear parts to fix my second S-51 build . I will need to drill and file out all the side windows as they were super glued in position but if I can obtain a new set of windows I'll make the effort and fix the second build . Especially since I cut the side cabin door open on No. 2 .

John .

Here's the 1/72 Hasegawa/Minicraft F9F-2 Panther , USMC VMF-115 , K-3 Pohang Korea , 1953 .

Well , I finished off three on-going builds this weekend , I guess that's a nice change for me . Along with the Firefly on the bench , I dug out the SHQ M4 Tractor , M2 155mm Gun and the two M40 SPG's . All four only need a few bits and pieces attached to each and I'll have some more finished pic's to post .

I also spied a partially started HO4S-3 USMC Chicasaw , so I placed her on the bench next to the Firefly .

All these previously started builds are long over-due to being finished ; Staying focused this week !

John .

Ohhhhhh, nice work there John on those beautiful blue planes! And the Firefly doesn't look too shabby either

Yeah too bad about the fogging on the Dragonfly, I'm wondering if the recovery guy looks anything like Micky Roony!

Thank's Cliff ; It's nice to be able to finish off builds , especially when they were started so long ago

I went back and looked through the first twenty pages of the Korean War Group Build and found this pic Bondoman posted

I also found some of my original posts regarding the Mach 2 S-51 build . As it turns out the finished S-51 I posted was the second build and the one I had cut open the cabin door was the first one I started .

Here's a couple of close-ups of build 1 as it looks at the moment

The front canopy is probably okay , it's really just the two windows on either side of where the pilot sits which are badly fogged . I'm thinking of removing the front canopy and then try and pull the cockpit floor and rear bulkhead out through the front . Perhaps cut open the starboard side pilots door and just replace the four windows I mentioned earlier . I might give this a go first before I send a request to Mach 2 for some replacement clear parts , I have some clear sheet plastic which may be suitable to use for window replacements . It would be nice to be able to salvage the first S-51 build and have her sitting next to build 2 , especially when they cost about $25 each .

John .

Well suprisingly , the S-51 (No.1) re-build might actually work out ...

It wasn't a difficult as I thought removing most of the windows , pulling out the guts and cutting open another door ;

I'll clean up the window openings with a light file using some fine sanding sticks and then cut some clear sheet for new windows . I'm quite sure Mr Roony is pleased that he and his copter haven't been relegated to the spares box .... It's awefully dark in there !

John .

EPIC building John!  Dang, I feel really bad here.  I haven't even TOUCHED any of my kits in over two weeks, save to move them out of my way on the desk.  I'm still working on my Thunderjet diorama.  I've got the base coat on the figures done, the bomb carts painted, and the fuel truck built.  Now to find some wire that's the right diameter for fuel hose...  Maybe this weekend I can get back to working on models.  Lately it's just been too bloody hot here in Korea.  I need to have a fan on me when I'm working but that makes all of the paint dry too quickly.  Thus, I can't do any painting, which, as you all know, is pretty integral do working on models.

We shall see...

In other news, it's less than two months before I go home.  I _REALLY_ need to stop at the PO and get some boxes (Korea Post only lets you use THEIR boxes) and start mailing stuff home.  I'm leaving all of my models that are built at the school.  I'll be sure to take good pictures of them before I go.  I'm only going to finish the two in progress builds and give away my paints and supplies to the local MWR hobby group.  At least SOMEONE will get something out of them.  Sad thing is, I've got a LOT of unused spray cans, at $12 each...  I will finish up my Thunderjet dio and the Privateer, get pictures of them in my class room, head home, and finish a bunch more kits in the US!  

Keep building guys!

John: I dunno, the fogging doesn't look too bad in the close-up. Still the windows came out neat and clean, I'd be afraid I'd wreck the whole thing.

Draken Andy: Know what you mean about hot! Plus you do still have the photos of your models on your website. I haven't checked it for a while, I've got you bookmarked on my home PC and will have to look it over again when I get home.

BTW at the show I didn't see the Bronco M24 but I did grab a AFV Club M40 and their limited run 8 inch howitzer (plus the awesome vintage BA Baracus van and the Ho-229!)

Also I was musing the other day, is there anything I can add to a diorama to indicate that it's Korea instead of the Second World War? I have some Hornet African heads that when I get around to building something will replace some of the GIs heads with since I understand that by Korea the US Army was integrated again unlike WWII. Other than that plus tiger faced tanks and knocked out T34s I'm not sure what would scream 'Korean War!' though.