pepper kay

PSS   Still have not received my Korean War Bell 47 helo from Brookhurst Hobbies ... p'haps time for a personal visit by my daughter who lives out that way ? ...

Pepper, give them a phone call and speak with the manager there. He is a good no nonsense guy. The delay of this long ahs no excuse.

Thought I'd post this link to the Nellis AFB Air Show.  There's some nice pics of KW era birds.  And not just the F-86 and MiG-15!  Fairey Firefly, Seafury, and and AD4 are included!

www.richard-seaman.com/Aircraft/AirShows/Nellis2007/Highlights/

Hi Everyone:

Herman the Sherman is busted ... tried to, ever so gently, put the tracks on last night and broke each one ... a later look shows them to be each about 3 links too short ... Bah Hobby Boss kits !! ...

Now, two questions for the group - A) how do you put them on and B) how do you keep them from  breaking ?? ...

Now I remember why I build only thingies with wingies :-) ...

Thanks,

Pepper

PS  This Thursday night, my city (Garland, TX) is sponsoring a presentation by 3 of the Tuskegee Airmen, complete with pictures from 'in their day', autographs and other things ... will be held at a branch of our local library and I'm pumped - I have a P-51B model, finished in their paint scheme that I'm taking with me for autographs on the wing(s) ... Woo Hoo !! ...

PSS   Still have not received my Korean War Bell 47 helo from Brookhurst Hobbies ... p'haps time for a personal visit by my daughter who lives out that way ? ...

Heya Helo!  And everyone else;

I've won the auction for the Matchbox F-86A.  I know that the windscreen has the correct railing shapes, but it doesn't have the 'wedged glass' for the pilot's straight ahead view.  Any idea on how I might build that up?  i was thinking maybe just layering micro crystal clear on it and then carefully sanding, then polishing it.  I'll snag some wing tanks off of my Hasegawa bomb, and do a wee bit of detailing to the gear wells and the cockpit area.  I'd really like to have the cockpit open, don't know if that'll work out, though.I've also won an auction for another Airfix halftrack to replace the one that was horked by a 6th grader.  I'm going to use that along with my Academy and Airfix trucks to represent a convoy on my Verlinden pontoon bridge.  For my Airfix rigid bridge I'm going  to have some armour of some sort.  Back in the states I've got a Hasegawa 1/72 M-2 Longtom 155mm gun that I'm going to convert to a 280mm towed gun.  It's the same general breech design and the carriage is identical.  I have to change the tube is all.  I'll put that behind my Milicast M-4 and a few other things on the Airfix bridge.

The only thing that I'm disappointed with at the moment is that my Korean LHS (Two hours away by train!) didn't have the Academy Banshee.  Currently every Hobbycraft/Academy Banshee is running over $20 on eBay when shipping is included.  That's too bloody much for a $6.00 kit!  Seriously, that's what it runs here in Korea.  The price is on the end of the box, it'll be a figure in the thousands.  The KF-16 has the encap and the item catalog number with the 14000 below it.  And it runs $25 in the US.  BAH!  Don't get me started...  I'm also searching for the Tamiya F-84.  I might also invest in a Heller T-jet, if I can find one cheap.  I could just go and buy up a diaper load of excellent Academy kits and give them different decals, but I want to expand my horizons as a modeler, not just throw shake and bake kits together.  BTW, the Academy F-84 is a BEAUT to build!

Anyway, my wife will be here in 5 more days!  WOOHOO!  I don't know whether I'm more looking forward to seeing her, or the model supplies that she's bringing me?  She comes bearing bottle paints to replace the dried out or separated ones and Squadron white putty!  I've also sat down and written up a list of stuff that I need to bring back with me; including a cheapy Harbor Freight motor tool.  I've found that I just can't live without one! Not with that bloody danged Heller Starfire needing gun ports.  I'll also be bringing back a Hasegawa Avenger, a DML LCM III, and the 'motorized' Lindberg LSU.  I've said before that I won't motorize it, but, I'm giving that second thoughts now...

Just thought I'd let all of you know how things are going in Korea.  I'm hoping to get decals on that C-46 one of these days soon and get pictures of it then hang it in my classroom.  At least, hanging up, they won't be able to steal it!

MilitaryAircraft101

Is it still possible to enter a new build? If so, could I enter the 1:72 Academy P-51D and the 1:72 MPM Meteor Mk.VIII? Thankyou

Hi 'MilitaryAircraft01':

There are some other conditions though ... you should have a 'stash' of unbuilt kits - you should not be afraid to ask any questions of the group - don't get discouraged by John (Helo(, who'd built more than a dozen of us have in a decade - hopefully your first name is not Andy (we already have about 19 Andy;s in this Group Build).

And, you should have a sense of humor !! :-) ...

pepper

Welcome and enjoy yourself ... this is a great group !! ...

pepper

MilitaryAircraft, welcome aboard!

We all look forward to seeing your work here. Please keep us updated on progress...hopefully with lots of pics...

Is it still possible to enter a new build? If so, could I enter the 1:72 Academy P-51D and the 1:72 MPM Meteor Mk.VIII? Thankyou

Gregbbear

Cool stuff!  I finally ordered the Squadron Armor in Korea book.  All the great pictures that John (Helo) keep showing are very inspiring.  I also picked up the Amtracs in Action book from the LHS.  It doesn't have hardly anything from Korea, unfortunately.  It does have good info on differentiating between the LVT models.  Darn armor bug!  I don't think I can resist the LVT-(a)4 at my LHS much longer.  Only fear of the wife keeps it from coming home.

Cheers,

Greg

It's probably the best reference book I have in my collection ;

Unfortunatly it's slowly sending me broke ........ After looking at the great in action war photo's , I can't help but go in search on the net for another 1/72 Armor build to add to my already ridiculous large stash of kits .

I must confess , " I'm not normal "

                                Anonymous .

Cool stuff!  I finally ordered the Squadron Armor in Korea book.  All the great pictures that John (Helo) keep showing are very inspiring.  I also picked up the Amtracs in Action book from the LHS.  It doesn't have hardly anything from Korea, unfortunately.  It does have good info on differentiating between the LVT models.  Darn armor bug!  I don't think I can resist the LVT-(a)4 at my LHS much longer.  Only fear of the wife keeps it from coming home.

Cheers,

Greg

Wow, draken ...

Great photos of days gone by ... the newer generations have no clue the way things were or what the Greatest Generation is/was ... and, of course, in most schools these days, thee is very little history taught and if so,m it's been corrected politically to represent a different point of view ...

I digress and don't want to get into politics here ...

The Sherman is coming right along ... now decaled and washed, ready to clean up and flat coat - then, add the tools, gear and stowage and it will be DONE ... photos tonight ...

Don't have a clue for my next project ... made a visit yesterday to my LHS, saw a ton of delectables, but came home only with 2 bottles of paint ... guess I'll spend the weekend working around the house and think on what's next for this great GB ...

Again, many thanks for the great pictures,

pepper

Hey all!

Found this link courtesy of a friend.  It's not wartime photos, but 1961 era post-war photos.  I currently live in Yangu-si, which is in between Uijeongbu and Dongducheon.  The nearest posts are Cp Casey in Dongducheon and Camp Red Cloud in Uijeongu.  Both of which are mentioned in the photos.  The area that I live in is HIGHLY built up, and it all occurred in pretty much the last decade.  Even during the Olympics, the area that I live in was incredibly rural.  In fact, I look out my living room window at a 'stump' of granite and a bunch of farms, one of which is being developed into an apartment complex.  And there are still farms that use human waste for fertilizer on their rice fields.  It's amazing what has happened in the last ten or twenty years.

OH!  and "Gate 2 of Cp Casey" is where the site of the MASH unit that the TV show was based on really sat.  There's no monument, but everyone knows it.  And Cp Casey is a wonderful place!  It's going to be growing soon now that they have families coming with troops, and they're closing down other minor posts.

Anyway, enjoy the link to 'old' Korea!

http://www.qsl.net/wd4ngb/17thpics6.htm

GREAT work everybody!!! Looking forward to everyone's progress shots!!!

Good grief, John:

Do you ever eat or sleep ??? ...

Herman the Sherman now has gloss coat and decals on ... later tonight I'll start dirtying it up while I'm eating ... since I  miss my mouth so frequently, anything that lands on it is fair game for a hosing down with clear gloss ...:-)

pepper

Here's a sprue pic of the 1/76 Airfix Bridge Layer ;

Also a sprue pic of the 1/72 Italeri Morris Quad Tractor and 25 pound gun ;

I really like the Morris Quad Tractor , so I'll make a start on both today .

                                  John .

the_draken

  Considering that it's already 10:30 and me and the boys went out for a social evening together imbibing a small quantity of adult beverages, it would most likely have a negative outcome if I started in on the C-46 at this time.  BTW, I have to be at work tomorrow at 0800hrs.  I've had worse...

So, anyway...  Great job all! 

 

Hey Andy , does this mean you will be sitting in the classroom with sunnies on .........

Untill you just mentioned the Airfix Bridge-layer , I had forgoten about her sittin in the armor stash .

So I'll get that one out today for some pre-airbrushing of the parts .

I have another Ambulance and Cargo truck on order and I'll do the same as you and cut open the cab doors and bonnet on both .

                             John .

thanks all for the kind words, last night i put a sludge wash of burnt umber on the panel lines and hopefully soon ill get to those decals!!

@Helo:

ARGH!  I've been sitting her with this Commando ready to get decals for several days.  Between cleaning, laundry and tae kwan do, there's not been much tie do do anything with it.  You're making me look bad!  I'm gonna have to do some more armour to catch up with you!  Ha ha ha!  BTW, great job on everything so far!  Love how the bambuhlamps is coming along, and the Churchills make me want to do some more of my own.  You'll love the Airfix AVBL when you get around to it, the same hull as the Mk VII, but with the different turret base and bridging gear.  I noticed that your bambuhlamps has a much nicer fit to the front and rear sections.  Mine had about a .8mm ridge between the two!  Lemme tell ya, that was a beeyauwtch to fill and sand.  Considering that it's already 10:30 and me and the boys went out for a social evening together imbibing a small quantity of adult beverages, it would most likely have a negative outcome if I started in on the C-46 at this time.  BTW, I have to be at work tomorrow at 0800hrs.  I've had worse...

So, anyway...  Great job all! 

A little more work on the Academy 1/72 Ambulance , with the cab and rear compartment ready to glue to the chassie ...

I mentioned the other day about pre-airbrushing some olive green on the Airfix 1/76 Churchill MK VII and Revell 1/76 M-24 Chaffee ;

The Airfix Churchill MK VII tank is a lot easier to build than the Revell Churchill bridge-layer , especially the lower assembly and the side skirts/top track covers which are molded as one piece , unlike the Revell Churchill kit which had the side and top track cover pieces seperatly and nothing fitted at all with the Revell kit .

Airfix have lots of seperate wheels and suspension , it's a little time consuming to put together but everything fits quite well , which was nice ;

The Revell M-24 Chaffee is quite basic and went together very easily , I have dry fitted the side skirts but will leave them off untill I paint the tracks ;

So both the Chaffee and Churchill are ready for a bit of paint touch-up , then some clear gloss for the decals ;

I'll mask the windows on both the Ambulance and Cargo Truck for a few light coats of clear gloss as well and hopfully I'll have the bridge span hooked up to the Chrchill bridge-layer some time in the next couple of days as well .

I have some bullet hole decals I was thinking of using , perhaps on the Churchill MK VII and I can sit her on the Dragon Wagon , which I will start next !

Everyone else is making great progress and I agree with Cliff , that the different NM shades on SAR's F-86 looks great

                              John .

Gamera

Pepper: Quarantine?!? That doesn't sound good. Best wishes and prayers for your brothers swift recovery.

On a less seroius note another great photo of your sharp looking F-86 and the Sherman looks really good. Nice thing about American armour is if you have some OD green you're good to go. Just spray the whole thing the single colour and then pick out the tires, tools and stuff with a brush.

QUARANTINE - Yikes sez me ... still no word yet ...

The tank is painted with a rattle can ... love your comments re American armor ... such is the case with this build :-) ...

pepper

Pepper: Quarantine?!? That doesn't sound good. Best wishes and prayers for your brothers swift recovery.

On a less seroius note another great photo of your sharp looking F-86 and the Sherman looks really good. Nice thing about American armour is if you have some OD green you're good to go. Just spray the whole thing the single colour and then pick out the tires, tools and stuff with a brush.

Helo John: Nice! You've got two more winners there. I think I said before that between you and Draken Andy you two have built more models for this GB than I think I've done in total in 30 years of modeling.

SAR: Sharp job on the sabre. I think all the extra work on masking off the different NM shades was worth it. It really sets off the model.

havent been able to do much on my f 86. i did shoot some tamiya TS 76 mica silver and some testors metalizers to give some diff. tones. the finish isnt that great because of a failed previous attempt at NMF.but im going to finish and try out some new techniques. here are some pics to prove my pain!

Hi All:

Thank you for the good words on the F-86 and the kind words on the Sherman ... I'm pleased that my efforts at giving the turret a 'cast' look to it (subtle) worked out well - see the 'painted' picture from last night ...

I'll have it completed this afternoon, then sprayed with clear gloss in preparation for decals and washes ...

I'm posting now a photo I forgot last night ... it has an evocative feel about it because of the (unintentional) lighting effects ...

Also, many thanks for your thoughts re my brother ... this morning, there was a large QUARANTINE sign on the door and i wasn't allowed to enter, so I have no idea what's happening now and the nurses wouldn't tell me ... gonna have to wait to speak with the doctor ...

OK guys, that's it from here - already way too hot to be outside and to be hotter yet today - 104 - 108 ... whew !! ... Greg, down San Antonio way is sweltering as well ... sure do miss those sea breezes from home, San Diego :-) ...

pepper

Pepper-  Your Shermie is looking real good so far!

Helo- I am afraid I have to surrender... there is no way my army can defeat yours because of the size of your army now.  Nice work on those 1/76 kits. 

Pepper , my thoughts and best wishes go out to your brother ;

Your Sabre Jet is certainly cool , I particulary like the port side markings

You also seem to be making good progress on your M4 Sherman , which is good to see .

As for me here are some finished pic's of the M-16 Halftrack and DUKW ;

1/76 Revell M-16 Halftrack ...

1/72 Airfix GMC DUKW 353 ...

Group pic of both ;

                                        John .

pepper kay

SABRE JET REVISITED ...

Now I know I'm tired ...

You remember the old saw that if a plane looked good, it would fly good ? ... the P-51 Mustang was such and so is the Sabre Jet ... impressive when you think that the same folks who were instrumental in bringing the P-51 to the forefront as the top fighter of WW !!, were for the most part, the same folks who then put the Sabre Jjet together ...

Anyhoo, I wanted all to see one more picture (actually, I want to see one more) of the airplane, this time from it's left and much more colorful side ...

pepper

SABRE JET REVISITED ...

Hi Guys:

First off ---Thaks for all the great advice, comments  and suggestions about my airbrush adventures ... got ready to paint and the regulator has stopped working on my compressor, so guess it's back to the LHS tomorrow to replace that ... for the life of me, I can't figure what the problem is ... oh well ...

Sherman news ... for all you who have been giggling at the thought of my struggling with an armor project, cease and desist ... I have photographic proof that progress is being made ... bear in mind that I had to use a rattle can for the paint, so it's not evened out as yet, but - progress is being made ...

Instructions for the Mentally Challenged ...

Here's the way I 'mark up' all my build projects ... most of the time, I find that I've used all the parts where they're s'posed to be :-)

And in the beginning ...

Movin' right along now ...

[And here we are as of a couplea hours ago

pepper

PS I hope all the above makes sense ... been at the hospital most of the past 3 days with a very sick youngest brother and I'm draggin' my fanny ...

Gamera

Pepper: Glad to see you've got your airbrush up and running. Just grab some cheap paint and an old model and give her a whirl! Nice thing about painting is if you should screw up on a good model you can just paint over it.

Yeah dry weather and fireworks go together like... well fire and gasoline. I think it's a universal human thing- 'Sorry, I burned down my neighbor's house but it seemed like a good idea at the time.....'  

Thanks ... gonna try some spraying later today on the Sherman ... I figger if I don't get that satin smooth finish, it'll look just fine on a tank :-) ...

Heard a guy interviewed Saturday at a fireworks store - when asked why he was buying, knowing there was a ban in effect on shooting them off, he said " doesn't matter to me ... I've only burned up my own front yard the past 10 years ... My neighbors have been lucky" ... well duh, sez me !! ...

pepper

Pepper: Glad to see you've got your airbrush up and running. Just grab some cheap paint and an old model and give her a whirl! Nice thing about painting is if you should screw up on a good model you can just paint over it.

Yeah dry weather and fireworks go together like... well fire and gasoline. I think it's a universal human thing- 'Sorry, I burned down my neighbor's house but it seemed like a good idea at the time.....'

Sometimes things just don't make sense here in the Lone Star state!  Luckily, they banned the sale of fireworks here in Bexar county.  That will at least slow it down a little!  Even then, the smokers are intent on scorching the earth around every freeway here too.  Soap box, sorry.

Glad you got the Airbrush worked out Pepper.  Nothing stinks like having a shiny new toy and not being able to use it!

Cheers,

Greg