Your certainly making great work of that LA-11 , Andy .

Sorry to hear about the fit problems .

I'm about ready to mask the canopy on the Yak-9P ; Since it's a vacuform canopy it's probably better if I mask the canopy first and then glue it to the cockpit opening .

I'm a little concerned about it flexing to much if I try and mask it after glueing in position .

The missing wheels arrived the other day , so I should be able to have the Yak  finished by early next week .

                       John .

Wonder if anyone will be doing an ROKAF F-4/5? I remember those from when I was in Korea - a friend of mine used to live under the flightpath of Pyeongtaek airbase, if we were talking on the phone I'd hear the F-4s' go over her house then reach mine about 5 mins later in Anseong.  Brought back happy memories of RAF Phantoms...

Anyways, out of the mists of nostalgia, the LA-11 has made progress, its mostly assembled and fits (after a fashion) together. Have spent the last two nights either putting filler on bits or sanding other bits until its starting to look like an aircraft. The Parafilm went on the canopy tonight and have a little bit more sanding to do tomorrow then its primer time!

Also took delivery of the Azur Sea Otter today, looks like a very nice kit. Fiddly but nice...

Excellent! Some modern types! The Wolf Pack lives! There was a great novel of Second Korean War written in the late 80s, Red Phoenix by Larry Bond, who worked with Tom Clancy on Red Storm Rising. If you enjoy that sort of read, have a go at it.

Nice work on the rotor assembly Kevin

My military vehicles are coming along well , so I started some prliminary work and airbrushing on three modern era Korean based aircraft ;

F-16A and F-16B....

Markings on both F-16's will be "Wolf Pack" 8th TFW Kunsan AFB Korea .

Academy's A-10A ...

Markings will come from the Hasegawa A-10A kit ;

51st Operation Group , "Osan"

I'll glue the cockpit pieces in place next on all three aircraft and then glue the fuselage halves together .

I'm hoping January will be a good month to get a lot of on-going builds completed .......'hopfully'

                      John .

I took a break from the Bone and assembled the main rotor assembley.  It goes together quite will.  Good detail for 1/72 scale IMHO.

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Keep up the good work everyone!

I find that quite hard to believe! I'm already having to build up the area aft of the cockpit with putty, then sand it down to get the right profile. The nose is going to go the same way. The decals look like something the Soviets would have made in the early 60s'! I'd swear this kit was engineered with the assistance of zoo animals. I'd certainly like to have a long 'chat' with whomever created this kit. Possibly involving a soundproofed room and a very sharp pencil...

To get the badge at the bottom of your posts, save the picture supplied by the GB moderator to your hard drive.  Then upload it into photo sharing site like Photobucket that I use.  Then click on 'Edit Your Profile' link listed on the right.  There is a box where you can add the badges but be sure to use the film icon to upload the picture.  Hope this helps...

You Doc Win!

I've got the MPM La-9/11 kit, it's more bare bones than yours, by far!  And it doesn't look to be any easier of a build.  Just so that you know, you probably came out on top of the two kits for this build/cram/scratch job.

Btw...how do I get one of those Korean War GB things at the bottom of my posts?

Well I started on the LA-11 this weekend and it is a pig of a kit. But after much scraping, sanding and voluminous swearing here are some progress shots...

Still have to get the wings to fit to the fuselage properly, the engine to to fit to both and the cockpit canopy to fit the cockpit. NOTHING FITS!!! I need rum, lots of rum....

Tamiya has replied and said if I send them what remains of the decals I have now they will send me another set,

Sorry to hear about those decals not working out ww2psycho , I hope you can get a replacement set .

I had some issue's with the covers that fit over the tracks on the Churchill bridge layer

It was difficult to get the pieces to fit nicely , I'm left with some minor gaps in a few places as the inside edge of the top cover piece doesn't fit tightly up against the side of the bottom hull section .

Other than that , everything else seems to fit together okay .

I was looking at the Airfix Churchill tank and it has the chassie side and top cover piece molded as one which I think is a better idea than the Revell kit ;

Anyway the Revell M-16 goes together really well ;

                                         John .

Well the Mig15 is pretty much done. Only problem is that when I tried putting the decals on they shattered before coming off the paper backing. I'm going to email Tamiya to see if they have any replacements. Does anyone know of any other decals for the Mig15?

Gregbbear

For those interested, the SAMI article is about building and enhancing and the Matchbox F3D-2.  Perfect timing for me, as I will probably start mine next month!

Cheers,

Greg

I'll start checking the LHS for both Magazines .

What Volume Number or Issue Number are each magazine , sometimes the Hobby stores aren't always up to date with the latest issue's .

                                     John .

For those interested, the SAMI article is about building and enhancing and the Matchbox F3D-2.  Perfect timing for me, as I will probably start mine next month!

Cheers,

Greg

Helo, my T34-85 and SU-76 are both in Russian colours. From what I can figure out from the limited info out there is that the North Korean kept them in the Soviet greens they were delivered in. That and its a good bet that all the spares and paint also came from the USSR. The Red Army preferred its armour painted olive green which is easy enough to find or as an alternative, you can use olive drab which looks very similar. 

Andy

Stik, my next build is going to be the 1/72nd Voko-Grad LA-11. Though looking at it build may be something of a misnomer. It looks just nasty. I did their F-80 last year, its more filler than plastic and def up for replacement with a sword F-80 when the pennies allow it! 

I probably should look at getting some white metal landing gear struts for the Academy C-97 Stratofreighter as well , maybe the C-121 Constellation also .

Andy thank's for the link on the ambulance build , I'll have a try at making some stretchers .

I would really like to find a wrecker in 1/72,76 scale too .

Anyway I thought I would share some sprue pic's of the 1/72 UM Model T-34 and T-34 Recovery Tanks .

First here's the T-34/85 with S-53 Gun ...

Here's the T-34 Recovery Tractor ...

I won't be starting these two just yet , there is no more room on or under the bench until I finish the current armor builds . I'm not sure of the color scheme for both T-34's in use with the North Korean Army ???

                       John .

Helo;

I did the same thing to the Dodge ambulance as I did with the deuce and a half!  It turned out great!  I even added a mechanic and had the doors on the back open so that you could see the stretcher and poles that I added.  Looks great with a pair of medics hauling a NKPA patient over to my ambulance jeep.  I'm going to make a diorama (eventually) of an aid station with lots of wounded, surgeon, operating table, orderlies, and the two ambulances. 

Other planned dioramas for this build:  Aircraft being serviced (will be a prop aircraft and I have the Verlinden base), Artillery unit firing (Either the Longtom and M-5 with gun crew or the M-40 and M-30 and crew), and a unit moving across a pontoon Treadway bridge (probably the Airfix M3 and 2.5 ton truck with the Verlinden bridge).

Check out the Ambulance build on my Photobucket page: 

http://s1193.photobucket.com/albums/aa345/the_tunnan/?action=view&current=PICT1058.jpg#!oZZ43QQcurrentZZhttp%3A%2F%2Fs1193.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faa345%2Fthe_tunnan%2F%3Faction%3Dview%26current%3DPICT0979.jpg

http://s1193.photobucket.com/albums/aa345/the_tunnan/?action=view&current=PICT1058.jpg#!oZZ43QQcurrentZZhttp%3A%2F%2Fs1193.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faa345%2Fthe_tunnan%2F%3Faction%3Dview%26current%3DPICT0979.jpg

It's in two parts of the page, the first link is where I start, and the second link is where I continue.  Just keep hitting the "previous" button.  One thing that's incredibly easy to add to this kit is the steering system.  I added the shaft and gear box, and then the typical Dodge link and length steering.  The pitman arm is fairly short on them and can be ignored.  You can only adjust total toe and steer ahead on these vehicles. (I was a brake and front end mechanic for ten years, I get into these details!)  Dang, you know, another really cool diorama would be a motor pool with vehicles being worked on!  Brakes, engine, radiators, etc. being replaced!  Would be excellent!  And have a jeep or two for 'hangar queens'...  Wonder if I can buy or if I'd have to scratchbuild a wrecker...  ?  ?  ?

Also easy to add is the back end and stretchers; just use lengths of stretched sprue or rod and for the stretcher fabric I use TP or kleenex that I paint khaki or olive drab.  Rolled stretchers are the easiest to produce, but the 'in use' stretcher is also not too difficult.

Helo H-34

Gamera , I'll pick up some of those white metal landing gear for B-29 , thank's also for the tip .

                                     John .

I used the white metal landing gear set on the F-84F I did for this build ... don't know if they helped keep the nose down, but they are certainly strong enough to support the extra weight caused by filling the nose full of BB's to avoid the  'tailsitdownism' malady ...

pepper

Greg , sorry to hear about the issue's with finishing off the Twin Mustang , I'll keep an eye out for those two magazine's you mentioned with the article's on the SkyKnight , thanks for the tip .

Gamera , I'll pick up some of those white metal landing gear for B-29 , thank's also for the tip .

Andy , your 2.5 ton truck build is excellent , I'm going to pick up another one and have a go at cutting open the cabin doors and bonnet , awesome work on detailing the engine . I'll see if I can also pick up the Airfix/Heller 2.5 ton cargo truck as well .

While I'm in the mood for vehicles , I added these two to the bench ;

I like how Academy include clear pieces for the windows , nice touch .

                                     John .

Draken: good luck with your job interview. And with the Academy B-29. It's a fine kit, mine went together really well. Only problem is adding a pile of lead fishing sinkers to the nose to keep her from being a tail-sitter. There's not a lot of area to stuff them and I picked up a set of aftermarket white metal landing gear for fear that the combined weight would be too much for the plastic ones. 

Hopefully I'll get her done soon, I've been concentrating on my Ho-229 for that GB, my DH trainer Vampire for the Early Jets GB, and getting the figures and diorama done for my K1A1 here. Wish I could build at Helo's rate! And BTW congrads Helo on some more great looking stuff.

Greg: Good luck with the airbrush, I think they're the third most difficult thing I've ever tried to figure out.

Women are number one. Computers are number two...

Greg, off the top of my head, the only LVT kit I know of in any"Braille Scale" is the Airfix LVT-4. Which is a shame if that is the only kit out there. Considering the importance of those things to amphibious warfare. I am a big fan of Amtracks and am working on a 35th scale collection of them.

Two more attempts, and botched them both on the F-82.  I am going to use my old airbrush next try.  Oh yeah, the new issues of Military Aircraft Monthly and Scale Aviation Modeller International both have articles on the Skynight.  Haven't read them yet.

Cheers,

Greg

Ditto on the Panther Dr Win, looks great!

Thanks for sharing some of the assembly points on the B-29, Andrew.  And good luck on the job!

Stik, thanks for the LVT info.  I'm glad you mentioned silly putty.  I had used that before, but didn't think about how it could be rolled into smaller "worms".  That is really going to come in handy for some German camo jobs I have coming up.  I can't seem to find a small scale LVT right now.  I don't want to get into 35th as of yet.  The IPMS's "Model Fiesta" is next month, so I will probably have a good chance of finding it, or anything else for that matter!

John, you have quite the mechanized army going on there.  That DUKW is cool.  I've always liked those.  I'm going to try and fix/finish the exhaust streaks on the F-82 today.  Thanks for the decal help with that John.  At some point, I would really like to build another Twin Mustang.  If somebody (eduard) ever makes a photo etch set for it, I definetely will.

To those of you having/had health and job problems, lets hope 2011 is a great year for you, and all of us.

Cheers,

Greg

Hey Helo!

Awesome work!  I simply can't keep the parts straight on so any models at once, or I'd build more at a time.  I did the fast assembly suspension for the M-8 and M-20, but did everything else as originally intended on them.  If you haven't gotten a chance, check out my Academy 2.5t truck build on my web page. 

http://sites.google.com/site/modelingthekoreanwarin172scale/home/ground-vehicles-of-the-korean-war/allied-armour/us-support-vehicles-includes-towed-artillery/academy-cckw-353-gmc-truck 

I detailed the engine with upper and lower radiator hoses, ignition wires, coil, battery, battery cables, fuel lines and painted the engine Studebaker blue.  Should've just gone with a light grey, but wanted it to look nice.  I'm also impressed with the AVRE, I've got that kit back in my stash in the states and had looked at it many times only to consider it a difficult build and put it back on the shelf.  I'm gonna have to delve into one here in Korea soon, so I'm happy to see it's not that hard.  :)

Dr Win , nice job on the F9F Panther

Draken , sounds like you have made a great start on your B-29 , good luck with the rest of the build .

I have made some progress on my armor builds .

I added to the bench , Italeri's 'fast assembly' M3A1 and 4x4 along with Academy's 2.5 ton cargo truck ;

The DUKW is airbrushed and ready for final assembly as well as the M3A1 and 4x4 ;

Starting to assemble Academy's 2.5 ton cargo truck ;

The churchill bridge layer is coming along okay ;

Italeri's M-20 Armored Car goes together quite well ;

Next I'll start glueing the M-16 chassie and cabin parts together .

                                  John .

Well, work has started on the B-29 Superfortress.  The cockpit, rear gunner area, and tail gunner areas have been assembled and installed.  Miscellaneous ZnCrO3 areas have been painted, and I'm now at the point wher I have to assemble the bombs prior to installing the other fuselage half.   The interior is _VERY_ tricky!  You have to line up the two sections with the tunnel between them.  The instructions don't tell you that the locator tabs for the sections are on the port half of the fuselage.  Another minor beef is that the decals for the cockpit controls are too large and hang over the sides of the instrument panels.  And there's none for some of the other panels in the aircraft...  Only the pilot, copilot and engineer.  The engines aren't too bad, but they could definitely have stood from having BOTH sections instead of the front section only with the back section mmolded into the plastic.

The fit is generally good, but placement of a lot of the interior parts is kinda wonky due to the locator tabs for the instrument panels being on the outsides of them, not the insides as is normally the case.  The beds are included in the aft crew area (as is the molded in toilet!  Be sure to paint it gloss white for the porcelain coating.) despite them being entirely invisible after assembly.   The tail gunner's position is incredibly spartan, and there's no interior panel to stop you seeing the rest of the inside from the opening for the tail bumper when it's left deployed. 

No WIP pics at the moment, I'm waiting to get a few more before posting them to Photobucket.  I'm going to be building the bombs next (I HATE building bombs and doing wheels on armour!) and the nice thing about the Academy kit is that it includes the striping and markings for all 32 bombs!  So not only do I get to do an incredibly repetitive hateful job, i get to do the decals for it as well.  Had I mentioned that I hate doing decals? 

Anyway, on the home front, possible good news!  I already have an interview for a DoD school teacher position just up the road at Camp Casey in Dongducheon.  Keep good thoughts for me!

Ok Andy, your F9F has been added to the opening page line up. And a fine addition she is! I'm looking forward to your next work!

Pretty cool, nice that you do get to work on a wide variety of subjects. Sorry to hear things are so bad, things seem to be tough all over