Hunting After Dark, 2011-2012 Night Fighter Group Build

Time to look at the seats. The Tamiya seats on the left really don't cut it compared to the Eduard resin.

Once the PE is on and painted they should look amazing.

Cheers

If you are still accepting people then i probably be doing an Me 262 night fighter 1/144 by Eduard.

Hi all......the work is started.......Ciao Enrico.

Well all, this has been one BUSY weekend!  At King Con I scored a fair amount of Dragon WW2 German half-tracks, but the biggie I scored was a Trumpeter 1/32 A-10A kit with a set of after market  decals and a Verlinden cockpit set all for $50.  Woohoo!  

Since then I have been dilagently working to get a fully updated post on the Fw 190 night fighter and it is finally done!      So here it is folks!

Whew!  There you have it for now folks!  I will definitely try to keep it more up to date in the near future!  Now I can get some of the other stuff I need doing, done!

WooHoo!

First off, John, I wish your Mum a speedy recovery!  My thoughts and prayers are with you.  By the way, the Stinger looks great.

Where to begin?   Welcome Enrico and Frightful.  Enrico, you already are looking good with your Me-262.  Very nice indeed.

NFN, your CR42 is looking sharp too.  I hear that is a really difficult kit too.  I have a soft spot for things RA.  I have a couple of Fiats, Reggiane's, and an SM79 in varying stages of completion that I need to get back on the bench one of these days.

Paul (Heaven's Eagle), wow!  You just keep amazing me.

I finally got my compressor and paint booth over to the new house.  I have the compressor ready to go, but I still have to get the paint booth and area ready.  In the past, it was in the garage, now it is inside, so I have to make sure to get good ventilation, or the wife and kids will not be happy!  Soon, I hope, as the Corsair is held up, and the Canberra has some pieces that need airbrushing too.

The new Squadron/Signal F3D Skyknight book is out.  Not much on detail shots, but really good, nonetheless.  Some really good shots on how they weathered in color though.  Now if RoG would re-release the MB kit, or better, somebody make a new one......

Cheers,

Greg

What was I thinking?  Caspar, the Phantom is impressive.  Gotta love the F-4!

John, cool stuff on the F-111.  You are a bad influence!  Now I have F-111 on the brain.

And... The F-86D was an all weather fighter.  Since that meant night use too, and unlike today, it wasn't a common feature, I think it will fit in fine.  I'll add you if you still want Mike.

Cheers,

Greg

Hi Gregbbear and all of the group building and thanks for your attention........the work go ahead.......I haven't followed the instruction sheet and with small modifications I glued first the semi fuselages then the rest of cockpit,to have a better allignment (I hope.....) To glue (and to putty) i usually use ciano.Ciao Enrico.

Thank you kindly everyone for the kind words regarding my mum's health issue's , hopfully everything will work out okay .

Only a little progress on the Stinger and B-57G builds . The decals are on the Stinger and I gave her a couple of coats of clear flat

Unfortunatly one of the four SU-11A Guns came unglued and fell out the rear

After a few dry test runs trying to get it back into position , it's not going to be easy . The gun tip doesn't stick out all that much through the small square fuselage windows ; Holding the gun with a pair of tweezers and reaching in from the rear while trying to grab hold with a another pair of tweezers from the outside hasn't quite worked so far ....."This is going to take some time and a lot of patience" !!!

The B-57G Canberra is standing on her landing gear and wheels

I like the look of the dropped wing flaps and stabilizers slightly down

Stupid me lost those little clear pieces that fit on the wing tips , so I have had to raid another B-57 kit for some replacement pieces .

I don't know wether to paint those clear pieces red and green entirely or just paint a red and green dot on the wing edge where the clear parts fit ;

What do you guy's think ???

John .

guys, your planes look fantastic.  job well done all.  :)  In answer to your light question.  Once you've cleaned up the fit to the lights, if you are able, drill a small depression in the clear plastic.  Not a hole that goes all the way through but just a slight indentation.  In this indentation, put a small amount of  paint.  Outwardly it will look like a colored light bulb inside a protected shield.  If you are not able to do it this way, make a small hole in the center bump where you lense would go and put a little paint there.  Then attach your clear piece with white glue or some clear adhesive.    Hope that helps.  Hopefully tonight I will finish my Fiat.  Will post picks as soon as I can.

:)

John,

If you do not want to use your spares you can always heat up some clear spure and push it on then sand it to the right size. You can alos make a small impression in the "glass" then add a drop of paint to simulate the light.

John, your pair of Ho Chi Minh Trail Hunters look great!  Sorry about the minigun, and the lights.  I agree about  the lights, representing colored bulbs with clear covers.  I had read that in the recent FSM cover article on the B-57.  I am glad you brought up the lights, as it made me realize that my Airfix B-57 doesn't have any!  Not even panel lines in the area.  I guess I am going to use the Italeri kit as a pattern.  I like the flaps on the Italeri kit, and I am trying to imitate that on mine.  I wasted a bunch of time trying to thin the kit parts, and modify them.  Wasn't going smoothly, well, literally!  So, I am about half way done making flaps out of plasticard.  I am also making good progress on boxing in the gear wells, and adding detail.  If I can get my camera to take decent pictures, I will post some.

NFN, looking forward to more on your Fiat.  I have read a bit about the CR 42's day fighter exploits, but not much on it as a NF.  One of these days, I am going to have to find a book on it.  I think the lack of exposure, is due to it being used more on the Eastern Front and Yugoslavia, versus day fighter in Malta, North Africa, and even Battle of Britain.

Cheers,

Greg

Helo H-34

...

After a few dry test runs trying to get it back into position , it's not going to be easy . The gun tip doesn't stick out all that much through the small square fuselage windows ; Holding the gun with a pair of tweezers and reaching in from the rear while trying to grab hold with a another pair of tweezers from the outside hasn't quite worked so far ....."This is going to take some time and a lot of patience" !!!

...

How about a tiny drop of CA on the tip of the gun, attaching it to a toothpick etc, glue it in place, then pop that toothpick off after the glue dries?

Has not been many opportunities to spend time in the mancave recently so work on the Phantom is going slowly. But it is now "prime-time"!

Cheers

Hi Guys, here is a small update on the Airfix B-57.  I have the wings done as far as I can, until I get my painting area up and running.  Should be tomorrow.  That will also help the Corsair towards the finish line too.

In the pictures, I have the flaps still in pieces for ease of painting.  I also haven't secured the pieces for the floor of the wheel wells for same reason.  I have some plumbing that runs over the floor inserts that I can paint seperately.  Before paint, everything lines up really well.  Unlike the main gear bays, the nose wheel bay actually has some nice detail.

Cheers,

Greg

Great updates Gang keep 'em coming!

So I've laid down the tan coat, then the olive green with feathering. Blu-tak and paper to get this effect. Once this is dry I'll mask off for the 3rd colour of black green. Underside on this bird is black and then there's all the complicated exhaust and wing panels to do in various metallics!

Though that stuff should be easier once the camo is done and cured.

Cheers

Despite a couple of areas that need a tocuh up, I am pretty happy with the way the camo pattern turned out. This is the first time I've done a tri coloured pattern.

Let this dry overnight then mask off and do the black area tomorrow.

Cheers

Hi Greg,

I'd like to join please. It'll be an Eduard 1/72 F6F-5N Hellcat in the Profipack release. Note sure if it'll end up USN or RN yet.

Cheers

Tony

Tony, welcome aboard!  The Eduard Hellcat looks like a nice kit, and I look forward to seeing yours come together.

Caspar, Tyke looks great!  Being in 1/32, it must be a sight to behold in person!  What ordnance are you going to hang on it?

Cheers,

Greg

Ordinance is all done, This bird is going to be carrying MER and TER racks, AIM-7Es, AIM-9Es and an AQL Pod.

Cheers

Hi all....little progress.............Ciao Enrico.

finally finished my Fiat CR 42 CN.  first a couple of photos to show where I was and then the finished shots.

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More to follow as I get time...  :)

Casper looking great!

Enrico stunning office,killer looking IP!

NFN Well worth the wait she came out awesome,very nicely done Sir!

I'm getting back in here soon fellas just have'nt decided which build to do next!

@NFN:...........beautiful Falco!!!!!!!Ciao Enrico.

thanks guys...   Ok, here are the rest of the pictures...

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My next plane is already in the works.  A WW2 Russian night fighter...   Pe 3 Bis.   After that I'm considering either the Potez 631 or the correct version of a P-61 snuffy smith.  :)

NFN, looks great!  I updated the front page too. 

Enrico, cockpit looks very good!

Cheers,

Greg

Night Fighter, that Falco came out great - love that black finish.  

Okay, here's my falco in progress that I'm entering as a dual GB entry (That's Amore GB) . I've made more progress since this pics, should post finished pics by the weekend.

First the cockpit with Eduard PE

Top paint on and bottom bottom Camo added to wings

Finally, initial camo pattern cut into frisket paper, ready for paint.

NFN.. thats coool...

Very nice.  :)   If you can get them, you could use mid size hypo needles for the gun barrels.

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