OFFICAL NO AFTERMARKET Group Build

Jeremy great work so far! Thats some quality scratch building!

I've got a small update myself. I finished the pilot, but I'm going about this a lot slower than I'd like. On some nights, I only have about an hour or so to model, which isn't a whole lot of time. Any way, lets cut to the chase.

This here is the pilot, scrounged from my spares box and I believe he used to be associated with the Revel F-86 though I could be mistaken. This is the first pilot I've done since I've become a 'serious' modeler. Normally I don't do them. As you can see, the dimensions of the cockpit seem a little...off. He looks very large in his seat. So much so that I had to sand down his back side a large degree so that he'd fit under the ejection handle.

The entire oxygen mask is scratch built...well for the most part. I cut away much of the face mask portion and molded the rest around his cheeks using CA glue. Then I removed the hose and made one of my own out of coiled copper wire as shown here:

I stabbed myself in the finger doing this so be careful. The next picture shows the textured sides of the A-4 interior. From pictures it looked almost quilted so I used toilet paper.....

And here it is with the fuselage halves together....

Now, for all that scratching I did, you can't see a lick of it!! Oh well, at least I (and I suppose you all) know its there. There won't be much left to scratch at this point. But I intend on modifying the flaps to be extended, which will take some scratch work and I intend on repositioning the nose wheel.

Thats all for the night.

The skyhawk is looking good oddman. I think I out to try one one of these days.

I've made a little more progress (the camera is still out of comission. I'll re-charge the batteries tomorrow) but I found something interesting on-line. It's an Elkhart Sidewinder monitor, for grass and woodland fire fighting use. I may try one, but I might hold off on it so I can get rolling with another build.

Here are some links I found on the Elkheart monitor:

http://www.mulvaneemergencyservices.org/Tank%20406.htm    - The page on Tanker 406 of the Mulvane, KS Emergency services. This truck (also an ex military 2.5 ton truck) has an "aftermarket" monitor from the Elkheart company. It was retrofitted after being aquired by the department, so some photos on the page have it mounted on the front page, while others don't.

http://www.elkhartbrass.com/files/aa/downloads/brochures/Sidewinder.pdf  -A .pdf copy of an Elkheart brocure for the monitor. It shows it up close on page 1.

I may try to make one. I'm not sure, though since it's a toss-up if I'm going to go to the hobby shop any time soon (Then again, I may do like the prototype fire department in the first link did, and add it on after the model is completed, when I have the necisary Evergreen styrene pieces)

I still say, the Skyhawk has to be my favorite in this build

Railfan, if you need any ideas for equipment I have a website full of fire equipment and emergency vehicles. I think I even have a few ex-military truck fire engines in there. Lots of photos of tools, nozzles etc as well as photos showing how the may be mounted.

http://modelfireapparatus.com/

Ok, I finally got a start on my kit, it is a 1/72 Siemens Schuckert D-III from Pegasus.

The S-S D-III was a late war fighter comparable in performance to the Fokker DVII. It used a rotary engine like the Fokker triplane and Sopwith Camel but used a gearing system to reverse the rotation of the prop avoiding the characteristic torque roll of other rotary engine aircraft. 

As you can see the kit only includes the larger pieces, all the small bits are supposed to be cut from plastic sheet.

I would like to enter this group build Vetteman if that is OK. I have a kit of Jacques Cousteau's Calypso that a friend gave me. There is some damage and missing parts that would have to be scratchbuilt. and I would like to give it some more details. I have never built a ship model ever so it might be fun. Thanks

Damon

Thanks for the lead Aaronw. I found the model fire apparatus a few days ago, and I have found it to be a great source of info. I highly reccomend it to anyone who wants to try there hand at a fire department truck

Railfan thank you. I'm anxious to see how your truck is making out. I also agree, the Skyhawk is one of my favorite birds. My dad built me a 1/72 scale A-4 when I was a kid and I've been stuck on 'em ever since. This particular one will be a gift for a buddy of mine's dad who flew Scooters in Vietnam. Fortunately, the kit comes with decals for his squadron, VMA-211. Furthermore, using the kit decals I can piece together his Modex. I just have to figure out what his BuNo number is and see if I can make that.

Aaron holy smokes that is a small kit with scarce detail! I certaily don't envy you the work on the rigging! But I'm excited to see what you can do with it.

Without further ado, this is where I've progressed:

Here you can see I've repositioned the flaps. Not a hard task, just scribe the lines until they come loose....

What you see here is a problem I had to solve. The interior of the flaps have a groove that need to be filled...

In the above picture you can see a playing card, the nine of hearts. That is what I use in place of thin, sheet styrene, a resource I don't have. The cards are made of thin plastic and really do well for scratch building. They can be cut with an xacto blade and adhere easily to any surface with either CA or regular plastic cement.

Here I've solved the problem by cutting two strips and placing them over the flaps. Voila! No more grooves.....

I haven't taken a picture but I've since attached the wings. I love when it starts looking more and more like an airplane. What a sense of accomplishment. Next steps are landing gear, maybe some scratch in the wells, some hard points, then paint.

Carry on!

Oddman, the suspence is killing me. I can't wait to see the skyhawk when finished.

 Your work with the flaps (especially with the use of the playing card) is interesting.

 I like to collect the Ace of Spades (my lucky card) so I have about 5 decks just sitting there, without the Ace. Mabe I can add them to my raw material reserves.

I got to agree with you, the more the kit looks like the subject, the more of a sence of acomplishement I get. I can't wait to see the photos.

Railfan 233

Oddman, the suspence is killing me. I can't wait to see the skyhawk when finished.

Thanks Rail, your encouragement is appreciated. Don't get your hopes up too high, this is only the 2nd modern jet I've ever done . I usually work on world war II fighters and armor which, in my opinion, are less taxing than modern planes. I'll do my best.

Randy,

What is this?? I go for a holiday and you started a whole new GB in my absence?

You know i am very interested in experimenting with some form of scratchbuilding. Nobody ever accused me of using aftermarket stuff other than decals... So this GB looks very sweet indeed. I am bound to have something in my stash that lacks in detail in some area's.

I see that you entered with the revell 1:32 F16C... I just aquired revell's 1:32 F16N and wonder if the mold is the same. Probably is...

I will let you know what i wanna go build ASAP.

Richard

 Well, Oddman, you have done one more jet than I have. I have 4 jets in various stages of completion, all stalled for various problems.

Here's another update on my truck: I've finished with the pump and hose reel assembly, so now all I have to do is touch-up the paint in certain spots, add decals, and add more details (like a sciren and more tools)

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Here's an overview of the truck.I'm not too sure how well it can be seen, but behind the lightbar on the roof of the cab, there's an aentenna I made from some 26 gague florist wire.

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Here's an over view of what I have done for the bed right now. (more description on the pump in the next photo)

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Here's the completed pump and hose reel assembly. The pump is a transmission from a 1/25 scale car I found in my spares box. The rigid pipe from the tank is some extra sprue, while the flexible hose is some black electrical wire.

The hose reel is an HO scale model railcar axel from my spares box, with the bracket made from more of that .020 For Sale sign I used earlier. The hose is some sewing elastic, which I dyed yellow with thinned acryllic paint from Wal-Mart. The nozzle is some more sprue, which I shaped with a hobby knife to look right. I drilled a #61 hole in the back, which I inserted the elastic into, and I superglued it in place.

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Here's the last photo, showing all of the tools I've accumulated so far. The tool on the driver's side is a swatter, which is a rubber flap (like a rock gaurd on a semi truck) attached to a pole. It is used to smother grass fires mainly, but it can also be used for some dumpster fires as well.

A photo of one can be seen here:

http://modelfireapparatus.com/resources/wildland.htm  (it's the seccond row from the top, in the right collum)

I've still got a lot of work to do, and I'm going to scratch-build a lot more tools for the truck. I've still got to find that Revell snap-tite fire engine, so I can salvage the sciren, and I still need some decals. (I may use Woodland Scenics dry-transfers from the Hobby shop, so I can come up with my own department)

 I can see the finish line for this build, but I'm more than likely going to put it aside after I get the touch-up painting and decaling done. I've got another group build I need to work on that's done in December, but I'll keep scratchbuilding tools for the truck with any down-time I get during that build.

This is the first fire engine of any kind I have ever done (I never finished that Revell snap-tite truck) and it's been quite enjoyable with this build so far.

Oddman, I'm still dieing from suspence with your Skyhawk. I can't wait to see it finished.

Jon - Nice work on the Scooter and the idea for the flaps! The pilot and O2 hose look great. I never could paint figures.

Aaron - Boy oh boy, you sure have your work cut out for you!   After seeing some of your other builds, I'm sure you can whip it into shape.

Damon and Richard - Sure will be nice to have you two aboard this group build! A big F-16 and the Calypso?! Definitely worth seeing!

Railfan - Who would have thouight an HO wheel and axle would come in handy on a fire truck?!   Looking good so far!

Well I'm going through sand paper like there is no tommorrow, but amazingly this little kit is turning out to be a bit easier than I expected. The parts actually fit pretty well if you sand them enough and use lots of putty.  

Railfan your truck is looking pretty sharp! Good work on the tank in the bed. Keep it up.

Aaron looks nice, you're almost finished!

As for me, I'm about ready to paint. Here is how she stands now....

I scratch build the heads up display, but I couldn't take a good picture of it worth posting....so, you'll just have to take my word for it

Until next time gents!

Oh, man. It's looking better and better Oddman. I can't take the suspence!

Wow I have missed a bunch just in 2 days. You guys are ingenious scratch builders, lots of great work going on here.

Railfan your scratch built light bar is pretty slick to be sure, and the tank and pump equipment looks so real I think one could fire it up and pump water. Some very nice work there. 

Jmabx the Flamingo is really really looking good, all the added detail is paying off big time in that cockpit. Very much worth the extra effort indeed IMHO.

Oddmanrush your oxy mask came out perfect and I really like your figure well done. I just started painting figures and they do drive me crazy, dont look near as good as your either. I would never have thought of using toilet paper or playing cards for scratch building materials. They both worked out very well so I guess next time I am at the store I will pick up a deck of cards

Nomad68 oh yes yes your Calypso is most definitely in, it will bring back some fond memories of watching Jacques Cousteau's show on TV many years ago. Just give me the kit details and I will  get it listed on the front page, and to our group.

Kermit what can I say ? You leave on vacation and there is no one here to keep me in check I will offer you a word of warning my friend, scratch build can be very addictive so use caution. Richard your build is most welcome, and I vote for the F-16N. I mocked mine together today and leme tell ya its huge, so large in fact that I am thinking of posing it in a landing configuration. Only trouble with that is I have no pilot figure in 1/32 scale, oh well I will figure something out. Just let me know which you will be building when you are ready. Oh and thanks for the Group Badge Richard its posted on the front page, you know me I like to offer more than one badge.

Aaronw I am really looking forward to your build thats a really cool airframe, but the kit looks a bear to build. I know in your skilled hands it will be a stunner.

I'm glad to hear your build is comming along good vetteman. Until I get decals for my truck, it'll be stalled for the most part. (I'll try to talk my mom into droping me off at the hobby shop tomorrow) I hope to get it done soon.

  I still got a ways to go with the tools (they may be more than a year) but I hope to get enough tools done by the end of the GB to have that "rolling tool rack" look that most of the fire trucks I've seen have. That's just about all I have left for the plan.

    I got 2 other Group Builds I have to get finished,  but I hope to get them done in time to possibly do another kit for this one. (I may do another fire department vehicle. I've been eyeing the possibilities with the Monogram re-release of their Ford F-250 Super Duty truck, which will require more scratch-building)

I also agree with you on your word of warning, vetteman. Scratch-building is very adictive (I've done it before with wood and wire, but this my first time with styrene) I'm doing it again.

[I'd better stock up on plastic For Sale signs from the hardware store]

Thanks for letting me in Vetteman this looks like fun. The kit is a revell 1/125 scale Calypso. I remember watching the Undersea World of Jacques Cousteaau on tv when I was a kid. It was great they had mini subs, helicopters, deep sea divers, and you name it. The kit has all the toys even a shark cage with divers.  I was given this kit by a friend who had it it storage the mice found it interesting also they chewed on the aft deck and destroyed the railings on one of the hulls. Missing clear parts and decals. I plan on opening up the windows so you can look in and see the gally and radio room etc. great scratchbuilding specimen. This kit is rare and hard to find and worth the work. Some facts on The Calypso John Denver spent a few weeks on the boat and wrote the hit song in her name. The Calypso was first a Royal Navy Minesweeper. The Calypso was sunk in Singapore in an accident in 1996 a year before Cousteu's death. They are now working on restoring the boat in France. This june 11 would have been Cousteeau's 100 birthday. I would like to dedicate this build to him take my time and make a nice model in his memory. Below is what I have to work with.  Thanks

Damon

Calypso in the begining

Calypso in Detroit

Randy,

Thanks buddy, i was waiting inbetween painting sessions and got the idea for a badge... Ah well, more is always better

Looking at all the great builds sofar i have to admit i am eager to start on a build but at the same time i don't have any sheet styrene and my spares box doesn't provide much in 1:32 scale, let alone stuff for jets. But i will eventually start something...

Richard

Nomad68 I just cant wait to see your build and I am sure you will do the Calypso and Jacques Cousteau justice with your build. I have seen your work ya know Your TA152 shows it and is looking good.

Kermit for sheet styrene I get the for sale signs at the hardware stores. The smaller signs are .010 thick and the larger ones go from .020 to .040  thick here. Actually I like them better than say evergreen plastics, for me they are easier to work with.  Like you this is my first 1/32 scale build and only the second fast mover I have built.. Oh and Richard I did get hold of a Sherman for the fun build we talked of < EVIL GRIN>

EDIT

Nomad68 sure would be cool if you could save that box art, just a thought.

Guys sorry for the double post >>>>>>> well not really <evil grin> Thought I would post a box art picture and, I mocked up the F-16 to see what I am getting myself into. This thing is BIG !!

Thats a 12 inch ruler in front of the box

Here I placed a 1/48 Spitfire next to the mockup, its the scale I am used to working with.

Does anyone see a teaser here ???

I see your point (very clearly)... That's a beast of a model...

Hmmm......

YUP, i like it

Seriously now... On first glance, what idea's do you get for scratching? Cockpit, engine? Maybe wheelbays?

Richard

Well the cockpit can use some work not much detail there, the seat looks pretty good though. I can see some work on the engine intake, wheel bays and a strong possibility of some work on the burner can. I dont like the look of the outside of it I am thinking maybe some stainless steel foil for the feathers. Then I have to come up with a pilot figure that isnt aftermarket, that is something I have nothing of in 1/32 scale. Have lots in 1/48 though. Oh and the gun port really needs some help. 

Other than size, I don't see a teaser.

I tried my hand at a 1/32 scale F-15 Eagle (the older Revell model) and it was going good, untill it came to that mold seam and flash on the canopy, as well as the decals being a perfict match to Rustoleum Primer (my choice for military grays) Other than that, I really liked it (It's still not done. Those problems have slowed me down because, I can't seem to buy the Future floor polish, always thinking there's a cheeper alternative.....)

With all honesty, I love just about any jet loaded to the teeth with iron. Even more so when you throw rockets into the mix (mabe that's why I love Vietnam era jets, like the Phantom. They always seem to have more bombs than necisary, but they always have just enough to clear the jungle)

Railfan 233 trust me the teaser hit its intended target

I normally build WWII aircraft so the F-16 is a relatively  thing to me, I did build an F-104 with a bunch of scratch building done not too long ago. I am with you though and plan to use a full load of stuff that goes boom on the Falcon Like the WWII aircraft clean though most times I wont even add drop tanks to them.

IMHO you cant get any cheaper a clear coat than future, my bottle is 3 years old and still there is half a bottle left and I wasted about half of that. It also has so many uses that you cant pass up on a bet. I use it to glue stuff like photo etch, to seal masking tape seat harness I have used it to glue canopys on, not to mention the uses of the stuff for decals, and as a paint retarder for acrylics. The list goes on so to me Future couldn't be any cheaper a product unless of course it was free for the taking. Oh another one of my favorite uses is adding a drop on IP lenses, really makes them look real.

Vetteman cripes a'mighty that's a big bird. I've got a 1/32 Ki-43 in the stash, but it pales in comparison. I'll also give a for Future. Its really improved my decals since I first learned to use it for that purpose. Virtually eliminates silvering. I also use it for water effects but have never thought of it for using as glue. Also, I brush it on, I don't spray it.....I'm too afraid to blow it through the airbrush cuz I don't want to have to worry about the maintenance involved   in breaking down the AB and cleaning it with windex. I'm a fairly low maintenance modeler, and a cheap modeler too.....hence the playing cards as sheet styrene....

intended target, vetteman? I don't get it (unless I'm over-thinking things again)

Mabe I'll get the Future floor polish, but I'm sure I'll find it cheeper in WAL-MART if I get it from Home Depot, or vise versa. I knew Future could be used for decals, and making canopies look better, but I didn't know about the other uses.

As for the bang tubes and iron on your falcon, Oh, I'm having daydreams of it when completed

  I have good news with the other group build. I finished the model in less than 24 hours (with the exception of paint and decals) so I'll be able to do another build here. (Oh, goodie! I get to scratch-build more stuff!)

 I started on Round 2 Dodge Monaco police car (Sheriff Roscoe's car from the Dukes of Hazzard) and I've got a minor scratch-build for it, which I'll post how to do it here. (I'm saving it for now, but I'll tell you now. Go out and get a package of the cheepest gutar string you can get)

Let's see now: I got Roscoe's patrol car, and by then, I'll have the For Sale signs needed for my styrene stock, which will allow me to scratch-build the major components for that Ford F-250 fire engine, as well as (hopefully) the decals I need for the M-35 woodland truck. I'll be looking foward to it all.

 Oh, the suspence is killing me, on both your F-16, vetteman, and also on Oddman's A-4.

I havn't been more excited over a group build in I don't know how long (then again, this is my seccond one, so I'm probably too excited, mabe)

oddmanrush

 I'm a fairly low maintenance modeler, and a cheap modeler too.....hence the playing cards as sheet styrene....

Same here, oddman. I go the cheep route with as much as possible (that explains why I have never purchaced/ used aftermarket parts of any kind)

Yeah, I've never purchased anything after market either. No decals, PE, resin sets, nothing. I'm mostly an OOB modeler, with a little scratch building here and there. Nothing extreme though usually.

I have a wife, a 3 year old and a 4 month old so there is a heavy restriction on my hobby. Family comes first, so its hard to justify paying out extra cash for a few minor details. My wife is supportive...but not that supportive.

My kits usually come cheap too. I've hit up Michael's a few times, but I'm not a fan of the Revell kits so I built up my stash by purchasing a handful of inexpensive kits at the last show/contest I was at. The hobby shop I go to doesn't really do sales, so dropping $40-$60 on a new kit, depending on the subject, is a weeeeee bit much for me. A $15-$20 kit from Michael's is more in my price range, so I have to make due.

The A-4 I'm building was only about $7 if I remember correctly, purchased it from the show I was at in April. Its an older kit but the fit is fantastic , no flash, no visible ejector pin marks. Only trouble is the painting instructions....what's the trouble with it? you ask........there aren't any instructions....

 I've neve purchaced them because of the cost it can add to the kit. The only place I see myself using aftermarket anything would be for decals, and the interior of a blown up, burnt-out tank. For everything else, I'll scratchbuild.

Hey Randy... I'm hoping the teaser is the paint scheme on your pretty little Spit applied all over that monster F-16!   Haha... that would be cool!!!

Yes, Future is good for everything! I usually don't attach my canopies with Future because I man handle everything like a gorilla and it doesn't hold too well but I do attach my canopies with a couple of dabs of super glue (coat the clear parts in Future to keep the glue from fogging them). Once they are attached, dip a small fine brush in Future and just touch it to the seam where the canopy meets the fuselage. Now watch in amazement as it flows through the seam and eliminates the gaps.   I love using it for that... I'm awestruck every time!!!

Although they can be expensive, I think that aftermarket items can really liven up a build. Most kits usually don't need to be added on to, they are just fine. Sometimes though, you have the urge to build something really nice and I think that is where some good resin or PE can come into play. Not to leave out the scratch work though... no sir! A combination of the two can make a show stopper!  Of course, If I could scratch build like that Fermis fella, I would never spend a dime on extra goodies!