Hunting After Dark, 2011-2012 Night Fighter Group Build

Not sure if you figured it out or not yet. save the pic to your computer (right click, save as) then upload it to your photo sharing website (photobucket, flickr, image shack etc.) then put the IMG code into your signature.

the IMG code should read something like ["IMG"]URL["/IMG"] without the " 

Unfortunately, I don't have a photo sharing website or address.  I usually post directly to the website.  If you would like to see how far I've gone, you could go to the group build at ww2aircraft.net.  I've posted several pictures there.  Just look for my avatar.  You'll see it hasn't changed much.  :)  If there is no way to post to this site, I may have to open an account somewhere.  :( 

We are officially open for business!  Happy New Year.

Cheers,

Greg

Happy New Year Greg .

Looking forward to paticipating in your Hunting After Dark GB

                                       John .

Yeah me to, I just gotta find $200+ for that 1/24 Airfix Mossie!

Cheers

Just fininshing up a build for the mighty Eighth GB. I've been working on the cockpit for the Hellcat. Should have some WIP in the next few days.

Happy New Year all.

Got some build time in tonight.

The kit  is Revell's 1/144 F-117 A, Very well detailed for the scale

The real nighthawk had mesh over the intakes. The kit supplied version is the worst part of the kit so I stole some guard rails (helicopter pad) from 1/350 USN eduard set that while are still not scale mesh they are much better then the kit.

Cockpit and intakes fitted. The baisic cockpit painting is done want to fine tune it yet.

Andrew

Helo H-34

Happy New Year Greg .

Looking forward to paticipating in your Hunting After Dark GB

                                       John .

Thanks John, I'm glad that you joined.  You have a knack for choosing the most interesting subjects, and the guys not in the Korea GB are in store for some great stuff!

Andrew, good start already.  I like your mesh solution.

I am anxious to pull the cellophane off my P-70 when I get home from work today.  Hopefully, I will be posting some photos later.

Again, thanks to all that have joined.  Happy New Year everybody.

Cheers,

Greg

Happy New Year everybody!

Andrew, the micro scale stuff amazes me, really cool!

Got the cellophane off the 219, looking forward to getting started.

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Greg, hope multiple builds are ok, have a couple more nocturnal beasties in the stash and a Ta154 on the way!

Mo

Got going on the 88 last night. Got the cockpit painted up and started on the eduard color pe. Im not sure what to think of this kit yet, the exterior detail is crisp and clean, but there is flash and ejector pin marks on everything! its gonna take time to clean up the parts...so i'll get wip up soon. here is the goods...

the decals will be totally unusable, probablly due to them being 18 years old or so...i'll have to figure out what to buy for aftermarket.

Mobious- Can;t wait to see the 219 being built...the kit is on my to do list..

Nathan

Greg and Mobious - thanks.

Nathan - Dragon's early days is alot like Trumpeter, hit and miss of nice subjects. Usually nice detail but silly things let them down (hell you still see it in some of Dragon's modern stuff).

Andrew

Happy new year everybody! This is my first ever group build so go easy on me.I got a little done on the Bf110 office this, eduard kit has lots of pe goodies. I'm doing it up as Hptm.Wilhel Johnen from 7./NJG6

    Wilhelm “Wim” Johnen was born on 9 October 1921 at Homberg in Niederrhein. In June 1941, Johnen was posted to NJG 1. Leutnant Johnen was assigned to 3./NJG 1. He gained his first victory on the night of 26/27 March 1942, when he shot down a RAF Wellington twin-engine bomber. He then attacked a RAF Stirling four-engine bomber but his Bf 110 D-3 (W.Nr. 4224) “G9+FL” was hit by return fire from the bomber’s gunners killing his crewman and wounding Johnen in the left leg. Johnen managed to bale out of the burning aircraft. He was to spend a considerable time in hospital for treatment to his burns and wounded leg. He returned to combat duty in July 1942. On 1 October, 3./NJG 1 was redesignated 1./NJG 5. In December, 1./NJG 5 was redesignated 5./NJG 5. Johnen recorded seven victories during 1943. In January 1944, he added a further seven victories, including three RAF Lancaster four-engine bombers on the night of 27/28 January to record his 13th through 15th victories. He downed a further three Lancasters on the night of 15/16 February (16-18). On 3 March 1944, Johnen was appointed Staffelkapitän of 6./NJG 5. On the night of 27/28 April, Johnen shot down a RAF Lancaster four-engine bomber. He and his crew then made contact with another over Lake Constance heading west for Switzerland. Johnen attacked the Lancaster but his Bf 110 G-4 (W.Nr. 740 055) “C9+EN” received hits in the encounter setting the port engine alight. Coned by Swiss searchlights and with a dead engine Johnen was obliged to land at the Swiss airfield at Zürich-Dubendorf. Johnen and his crew were interned only to be repatriated some days later amid much political manoeuvering. Johnen was appointed Staffelkapitän of 8./NJG 6 on 10 May 1944 based in Hungary. In a little over two months, Johnen added 11 victories to his tally, including four Russian Mitchell twin-engine bombers. Oberleutnant Johnen was awarded the Ritterkreuz on 23 July for 33 victories. In autumn 1944, Johnen was appointed Gruppenkommandeur of III./NJG 6. He led the unit until the end of the war. Post-war, Johnen attended university and gained an Engineering degree. In 1952 he worked with Professor Willi Messerschmitt before taking up construction engineering, successfully running his own business. Johnen died on 7 February 2002 at Überlingen.
    “Wim” Johnen was credited with 34 victories in over 200 missions. All his victories were recorded at night. Included in his victory total are 24 four-engine bombers.
 

Victories : 34
Awards : Ehrenpokal (20 March 1943)
                Deutsches Kreuz in Gold (23 July 1944)
                Ritterkreuz (29 October 1944)
Units : NJG 1, NJG 5, NJG 6

Nice start so far Trey.

Andrew

Awesome work so far Trey, your coming along pretty fast, always nice to find out the history behind the plane and pilot, i still need to research a some markings for my night bird

Nathan

Got started on the HE219 yesterday.  I decided to build the CMK engine first and completed it after a "few" hours of work.  The pictures show the progress of construction; I added some copper wire and a few pieces of scrap plastic to simulate tubing.  The engine was painted with MM Metallizer paint.

Ernest                                                                                                                                                                                               

A few more shots of the construction.  The last twp photos show the exhausts which I cut from the kir part that will not be used.  I don't plan to add the flame suppressors to the engine and I needed to show the exhausts.

Neat subject and awesome work so far Andrew.  I don't think I could have replicated your effort at that scale.

Ernest

Hi Nathan, I built that model several years ago and ran into the same things you have.  Though it was a pain to get rid of the flash and enjector pin marks it did assemble into a nice model.  I built Dragon's newer Ju88 A-4 kit a couple of years ago and it was nearly free of the above problems.  You have some very nice aftermarket stuff by the way!

Ernest

Very nice work on the cockpit Trey, the dashboard looks fantastic.  I like how you are linking your build to an actual plane and pilot.  I am doing the same thing with my He219 build.  I didn't think to post a short bio as you have, so now I have a good idea to work on!

Ernest

Trey/Greif - very nice work there chaps. Day 2 of the build and already the standards are high

Greg - I know you accepted my 110 into the build but it's going to be a C-7 of ZG1 (the Wespengeschwader), so not really a dedicated nightfighter. I'm planning on putting winter camo on it too, so even LESS of a nightfighter. Do I still qualify? Feels like maybe I should be in the Ostfront build instead.

Great work on the engine Ernest, Can't wait to see it on the model. Good to know dragon kits get better as i plan on building a few more of em. The eduard color pe adds alot to dragons somewhat plain cockpit, but only some of it applies to the G-6, as no aftermarket for the G-6 is made so i robbed it off the A-4.

Nathan

Fantastic start!  The builds look great.  That CMK engine is art work.  It even has the exhaust ports molded in, wow.

Mobious, multiple builds are very welcome.

Stumpjumper, yes your 110 does sound more like a day player.  I think that the 1/32 110 does have some interest here.  I'm sure several of us would like to see how it comes together.  Are you sure we can't twist your arm to a NF scheme?

As for me, your humble host, I finally took off the plastic yesterday when I came home from work.  I gave the sprues a bath, and I will begin in earnest today.  I had more ambition for yesterday, but my shift wore me out.  Between fireworks fires, car wrecks, and cold homeless people (they call 911 when they are cold), I didn't get a moments rest.  I can't complain though.  On most shifts as a firefighter, I almost always get a couple of hours of building time!

Again, great stuff.  What a great way to start off the New Year.

Cheers,

Greg

 Wow Ernest that engine looks great! I did the He219 a few months back so I'm eager to see your build The bar is set high already lol. Thanks eveybody for the kind words, I'll try to keep up. I stayed up late and got the cockpit just about ready to install,just a few pe goodies to add then I can button the office up

I've also got to add some color to the wiring harness

Gregbear - thanks, I think my C-7 would be the most unsuccessful nightfighter ever (especially with white paint!). Therefore I'll withdraw that entry and have a think about something else in the meantime. I'm not adverse to running two 110 builds at the same time... 

TreyZX10R - wow, absolutely amazing stuff. Can I ask how you got the colouring on the whicker mesh (I assume that's what it is)? I have a Wingnut Wings Bristol F2B that needs that treatment and I was wondering how to go about it.

thanks Stumpjumper, I used model master leather enamel followed by a wash of citadel flesh,then a light wash of promodeller black

Trey great job on the interior. Got my cockpit done and buttoned up in the nose pieces. real tedious work so hope it looks worth it. I wish there was pe available for the instrument panel, the one for the a-4 is alltogether different.

Nathan

Greif, amazing detail/paintwork on the DB603 Really like the looks of the Daimler

Trey, Outstanding detail/paintwork on the Bf110's office The wicker looks awesome

 Started the interior of the He219 last night. Only about a dozen or so parts involved and no PE. Everything fit and went together nicely. The cockpit is attached to a metal weight to balance out the tricycle landing gear. Most of the time spent on the pit was fixing the harness belts and hooks/latches/buckles, not 100% sure of the setup, but I plan on building a closed canopy anyway.

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 There are a few details on the fuselage halves that need paint and the armored screen installed. Have checked the fit with the fuselage and it looks good.

 Greg, Thanks for allowing multiple builds. The Ta 154 should be arriving soon.

Mo

Nathan that interior is awesome,you must have one heck of a magnifier lens,yea I was wishing for some pe when I did my ju88 as well.

Mo the 219 office is looking great as well, I repositioned my pilots headrest after  manstien  pointed out that it tilted forward too far.How do you like that big hunk 'o metal that comes with it?

Trey, didn't notice the headrest angle is wrong, probably cause I don't have any reference material. Did notice a few ejector marks on the inside of the fuselage though. They would be located in a spot that even with the canopy closed they would stand out. The chunk of metal is ok by me as long as it keeps the front wheel down. Had to use at least a bucks worth of change to keep the P38 nose wheel down;). Thanks for the comments and the heads up on the head rest. Looking forward to seeing updates.

 Mo

Mo here are some research pics I found while doing my 219