Thank's for the kind words on the PBM-5 Mariner , Simpilot34 ;

The pic of the Mariner outside on the sea ramp just after it stop raining was a spur of the moment decision , as it turned out it's probably the best photo I have ever taken of my scale models .

Anyway I glued both chassie's to the underside of the cabin floor and added the front and rear axle's and suspensions ;

Everything sits nice and level , so I'm really happy how this has worked out for me ;

Revell instructions call out for the interior of the cabin to be 'Dust Grey' 77 , is this the correct color for the interior ?

I was thinking that apart from the seat cushions everything might be olive drab inside and out ???

I'll airbrush the interior pieces first , once I figure out what color to do and then add the cabin and tray parts to the front section .

Everything seems to be going along well .

Stik hope it all works out buddy!!!

Greg your double pony is looking great!!

John, what can I say but WOW!!! That Mariner looks awesome!!! Love the shading you have done and the pic after the rain, WELL DONE!!!! As for the truck, I'm glad you solved the prob of the chassis! As with most things produced during war time, a LOT of standardization was made to speed things up. So the luck of finding a similar chassis from an entirely different kit isn't too surprising and a darn good save!!! Another well done!!

Well I did a little sawing and filing....

Both chassie's fit nicely into the underside of the cabin floor , so this will be of additional help keeping everything lined up ;

I'll keep going with the build seeing I've made a nice start , I'm really happy how this has worked out .

                            John .

Hi Aaron ,

Thank's for help , I like your idea of the reinforcing plates for added strength overlapping the join on the inside of the frame , that will certainly help . I'm felling more and more confident about this each minute

I think I may have had a bit of luck with a replacement front chassie section .

While I was looking around some on-line hobby stores at military vehicles , I suddenly remembered I had an old Airfix A.E.C Matador refuelling truck in the spares box ;

The main chassie of the AEC Matador appears to be the same width and probably in length as well as the Revell M19 ; Revell's front suspension pieces fit in the same spot as the Aifix one's originally fitted ;

The Airfix chassie also fits quite snuggly into the underside of the Revell M19 cabin floor ;

So I'm now thinking of grafting part of the Airfix AEC Matador front chassie section to the Revell M19 rear chassie section , I'll just have to figure out exactly where to cut the Matador chassie .

I think this might work , I'll have a try and see how things go ...

Most truck chassis are pretty simple and that doesn't look any different. I also build 1/25 fire apparatus models which requires lots of scratchbulding. I frequently stretch the frame of truck kits with rectangular or C channel styrene, so I don't see why you couldn't build the missing pieces. You should be able to figure out the length from the sprue attachment and can figure out the size of styrene strip similar in size to the remaining frame. If you are concerned with strength you can make reinforcing plates from thin strip overlapping the join.

Thank's for the kind words on the Mariner , Gamera

Last night out of curiosity , I had a bit of a look at my Korean War armor stash and noticed an issue with the Revell 1/76 M19 Tank Transporter kit .

While looking at the parts on the sprue I saw that part of the main truck chassie had broken off . It wasn't floating loose in the plastic bag and the way the parts are securely attached to the sprue frame it would take quite a bit of banging around for anything to come loose ; So to me , it seems like a manufacturing /packing problem that has occured...

I checked out Revell's web site and they say for non European customers who require missing or replacement parts to take the kit back to the store where you puchased the kit for an exchange along with the original reciept ...

Stupid me didn't keep the receipt

As you can see from the instruction sheet , the shaded area showing what looks to be the transmission is the section that I'm missing ; I was wondering if there was another type of 1/76-72 scale truck with the same type of chassie that I could buy to replace my broken one ?

I suppose I could try and add some plastic strip to extend the broken chassie but this looks a little difficult , I thought maybe another inexpensive truck for spare parts might be easier .

Any thoughts.......

                               John .

Helo: Heck yeah! The Mariner looks even better with the decals. I love the panel shading. Looking forward to the F4U and F9F too.

Greg: Only thing better than a pony is TWO ponies!

Getting tempted to pull out my F9F too now.........

Greg and John ,

Thank's for the compliments on the PBM-5 Mariner

The weather has been a little overcast and light showers these past few days here in Sydney but I did manage to get one pic of the Mariner on the sea ramp....

I'm really happy with the build , like all the Mach 2 kits I have built , I would alway's love to have another go at the same aircraft again , I can see a few minor things I can improve on . However the kits so darn expensive , I can only afford one type at a time .

Anyway I have the Mach 2 RB-45C Tornado , C-54 Skymaster and AJ-2P Savage to come , so I'm looking forward to the Challenge .

                                       John .

Real nice work on the Mariner, John.  Excellent.

Fantastic!  John, your Mariner turned out great.  In my mind, that will probably be the stand-out A/C of this group build.  Where you lightened up some parts, looks real good too.

Cheers,

Greg

I've finished the 1/72 scale Mach 2 PBM-5 Mariner ;

'Baker Able 9' , Martin PBM-5 Mariner of VP-47 ;

Based at Iwakuni , Japan .

Used for long range patrol operations off Korea 1951 .

Here's some pic's...

                                 John .

Nice work so far on the F-82G Greg .

The cockpits look really good , those extra bits you added to the fuselage cockpit insides stand out nicely ;

I like the open machine gun access panel too .

Gamera , I'm glad your still plugging away on your K1 tank

                      John .

Gamera, glad you are finding the pieces.

John (helo),  your Mariner is one cool bird!  The Panther will be a nice addition to your fleet.  I had been wondering who flew those in Korea.  I now know at least VC 61 did by looking at your picture.  I am building a 1/48 Monogram version for the Alley Cat GB.  I didn't include it here because I didn't have KW markings, now I at least have an idea, so thanks.

The Twin Mustang is moving along (slowly).  It took a lot of clean up work on the fuselage seams.  The wings were about average.  One area that could stand improvement is the instrument panels.  Hopefully, one of the AM guys like Eduard will make a p.e set for it.  I would certainly build another one of these if they do.  Unless I screw something up, I think this will turn out  pretty nice.  This Monogram kit has stood the test of time, as far as I'm concerned.  Off topic, but I would love to see Monogram follow Airfix's lead.  They have come out with tremendous value.  They are releasing some oldies, but for very reasonable prices.  Their new releases are very nice, and very affordable.  I just bought a Bf 110 for $10.  If it was made in Japan, it would have cost 4 times as much.  Anyways, it was just a thought.

Cheers,

Greg

Travis: Great Banshee, stripes look good to me!

Helo: Sharp job on the Mariner!

Well I found most of the parts for the K1A1 but the support arm for one of the hatch mounted MGs and a small pitchfork shaped thingee that I assume might be a wind sensor for the targeting computer. Going to keep looking and will scratch build parts if they never show. The main gun is solidly cemented in place now...

Stik ,

I hope things improve on the home front for you and your family ; Hang in there buddy .

Well , no stickers on the Mariner as yet ; but I did add all the bits and pieces , so she'll be ready for decaling first thing tomorrow ...

I decided to airbrush a slightly lighter shade of dark blue on the underside of the fuselage and outboard wing floats ...

I got the idea from some color profiles in the USN/USMC over Korea book

I also picked up the Airwaves resin nose for a F9F-5P Recon Panther ...

It's designed for the Hasegawa kit but I thought I would use it on the Revell F9F-5 Panther ...

                             John .

Very nice Banshee Travis! she looks great! I am glad to see another completed kit here!

My apologies to all for being away for a week or so. Life on the home front has been quite difficult and had me in spirits where I was not good company online or in person. I will try to be on here and keeping track of this GB as best I can.

Well after getting some enthusiasm to actually work on the Sabre, my compressor has died. I'm not sure how long until I can get another. So unfortunatly everything is put on hold...

Something else I found out about the PBM-5 Mariner while looking through my newly aquired Korean War reference books , there was a B&W photo of the mariner with what appears to be white beaching gear struts and white wheel hubs ...

I had airbrushed my beaching gear and wheel hubs the same as the aircraft color and actually thought at the time that they probably won't stand out that much apart from the red box's attached to the side of each strut ; Anyway I re-painted my struts and wheel hubs white , so it will match the pic above and certainly be a nice contrast up against a rather large blue aircraft ...." I love reference books with lot's of photo's"

                    John .

jeaton01

Here's the build log on an Academy B-17E I built a while ago.  I just removed some material from the fuselage on both sides at the bottom of the wing fit, no sanding on the wings.  Had a little issue fitting the cockpit transparency and the seam from there to the upper turret.  It's a little flimsy there.

http://www.yolo.net/~jeaton/mymodels/b17/1b17e/1b17e.htm

John [jeaton] ,thank's for the tip on fixing the wing dhedrial ; I removed both sets of wings on my two PB-1W's [B-17] , it took quite a bit of effort but I managed to get them off without damaging anything , apart from the fuselage join re-opening and I'll have to re-glue and putty , I did what you suggested and just filed the bottom section of the fuselage where the wings fit in . I should have them back together in a day or two .

Thank's again for the advice and help

                                    John .

Thank's guys , I'm quite happy with PBM-5 Mariner .

I also gave the two F4U-4B's a few coats of Gunze H-326

Tomorrow I'll remask the two H03S-1 Dragonfly's and give them another go with the airbrush .

                                   John .

Gregbbear

The Mariner looks great!

Really looking good John!!! Can't wait for the stckers!!!

The Mariner looks great!

Cheers,

Greg

The airbrushing of the PBM-5 Mariner went really well ...

I used Gunze Acrylic H-326 [FS 15044] Blue .

Tomorrow I'll airbrush a few coats of clear and mask the yellow tips on the propellers and paint the props flat black , I'm very happy with the overall finish , looking forward to decaling her as well shortly .

                            John

Yes, it certainly has motivated me! (this GB that is).  My Corsair was languishing for several years, and I'm glad I finally built her.  The twin mustang wasn't even on my radar let alone all the cool stuff John (helo) has dug up.

John (jeaton01), thanks for the info.  I will probably ask for more as this build goes from the planning stages to the actual build.  From what I've read, the Has AU-1 isn't totally accurate in the cockpit, so I would have had to get an AM anyways.  The minicraft -5N is really weak.  I'm thinking, I might modify my academy -4B, since it is a little better.  Regardless, the cowl for the either will have to be modified.  The -5 is devoid of detail, so not just will I have to work on the chin scoops, I will have to scribe in all of the detail.  That is why it is called modelling instead of constructing, I guess.  It is fun, as long as you get the info before you build it, not right after.  That is no fun, when somebody steals your sunshine by letting you know all you wanted to know about the subject  AFTER you finish.  Sometimes compromises have to be made though.  Regardless, I love this hobby.  I would rather continue to glue my fingers together and try and find obscure pictures than most of the things my contemporaries do ( play video games).  I'm not knocking that or anything anyone else does for a diversion.  I just really enjoy this one and the camaraderie I get from this site and the LHS, other than having, lets say my own 1/1 Corsair or Ferrari 250 GTO, to play with.......

I did get my seat belts for my Mustangs, they come in two different colors: green and yellow.  Anybody have an idea what would be right for an F-51 or an F-82?  If not, artistic license will come into play.  Tomorrow at work, i will finally be able to seal up the fuselages on them.

Cheers,

Greg

Love the Mariner, can't wait to see it in some paint.

I got hooked on the Korean war during the GB last year. It really stands all on its own due to the odd mix of technology, lots of WW2 equipment and just missed the war stuff mixed with helicopters and jets.  

I should be getting the finishing touches on the Panther soon, I had a couple of other GB's ending soon so shifted my attention to other projects.

I have to agree with everyone! I was never really a "Fan" on the Korean War kits. But after doing some research I i am totally sold. In the last 2 months I have  picked up an F-86, F-84E, and a F4! Plus and F-84 Thunderchef! Thanks to all.

Travis

Gregbbear

I have been a fan of the Corsair since I was a little kid.  Even so, I have learned more about my favorite bird (and Korean War aviation) during this GB.  You've come up with planes I didn't even know existed!

Cheers,

Greg

I agree about this GB being a great learning experiance ; I originally started with the Mach 2 H04S-1 Dragonfly , 4 months later I have nearly 70 Korean War kits in the stash with about 10 books associated with aircraft and armour used during the korean War . With 15 kits at various stages of construction , I need to pull my finger out and get a lot more finished !!!

                           John .

I had a bit of a search on the net for the Aires AU-1/F4U-7 cockpit but sadly I couldn't find one , I may just have to use the one from the Italeri kit . I also went and checked High Planes web site and they have both the F4U-5N and F4U-7 kits available . The 7 only comes with French markings , I was a little curious about what type of engine cowl came with the F4U-7 kit ?

Anyway here's a pic of the wing cannons on the two F4U-4B's , there both ready for masking , so I wanted to find out if I need to correct them or not , to me they appear to be sticking out too far ???

On another note I have finally got the PBM-5 Mariner into the spraybooth ...

I'll be airbrushing this afternoon , I'm really looking forward to getting some paint on her !

                          John .

Gregbbear

Unfortunately, the part two Detail and Scale book on the Corsair is made of unobtainium.  It has all the later marks of Corsair,

I have the Detail and Scale book you are asking about.  If you let me know what the questions are I will try to find the answers.  The AU-1 prototype was an F4U-5 and the cowl is the same but the cheek intakes were blocked off.  A lot more armor was added underneath the airplane and a low altitude engine (R-2800-83W) replaced the -5 high altitude engine.  The exhaust looked like a -4.

The -7 was built in the early 50's for a French order and was a mix of -4, -5, and AU-1.

There is a lot of confusion about the lengths of the Corsair and it is not helped by drawings from Vought that look good but are not consistent.  I am not sure where the length difference took place but am pretty sure the AU-1 and -5 are the longest and the same, the -4 and -7 are the same and shorter.  There was a 10 inch difference and my guess is it all happened firewall forward, but I don't know for sure.