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Hunting After Dark, 2011-2012 Night Fighter Group Build

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  • Member since
    August 2009
  • From: Borlando Fla home of the rat
Posted by TREYZX10R on Monday, December 12, 2011 10:55 PM

Greg thanks lol, that would be great to extend this I was hoping to get in a few more! Not too much to report in . I did tackle the fiddly bits on the canopy. I wound up ditching the pe upper support . The tabs would'nt fold down without crushing the assembly together at the gap. The supplied part looks fine so no great loss

  • Member since
    June 2010
Posted by Night Fighter Nut on Monday, December 12, 2011 10:11 PM

I hope this GB extends somewhat.  I would love a chance to finish the Italian build I started earlier and perhaps do some other builds like the Russian and French night fighters I have.Geeked

  • Member since
    February 2010
  • From: Maine
Posted by Stage_Left on Monday, December 12, 2011 7:10 PM

Hi Greg- I'd support your decision to extend. I got overanxious when I signed up and jumped into another GB, so I never started my He-219 due to that and other things that life sends our way (as you noted).

That 219 has been in my stash since the mid-'90s, and it's probably the ONE kit I've most wanted to get underway. Maybe I should be joining macattack80's No More Excuses GB...... Whistling 

  • Member since
    October 2010
  • From: Hobart, Australia
Posted by Casper the Chihuahua on Monday, December 12, 2011 2:36 PM

Gregbbear

Jailcop, and Caspar, awesome builds!  I updated the front page.  Great additions.

Cheers,

Greg

Hey Gregbear, I also finished my Nightfighter (see page 70)

Cheers

On the bench: A-4F 1/32 Hasegawa

Just deployed: F6F-5N Hellcat Nightfighter 1/48 Eduard

Up next: A6-E Intruder 1/48 Revell

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • From: Australia
Posted by Helo H-34 on Monday, December 12, 2011 1:24 PM

Hi Greg ,

I was hoping you would extend the Hunting After Dark GB .

I haven't even finished one of my builds , so I'm most gratefull for the extension .

I hope all is going well at Paramedic School , you certainly have my upmost admiration and respect for taking on such an important job and along with all the studying that must be involved , well done Sir...Toast

                John .

  • Member since
    October 2009
  • From: Texas
Posted by Gregbbear on Monday, December 12, 2011 1:04 PM

Jailcop, and Caspar, awesome builds!  I updated the front page.  Great additions.

Trey, you never cease to amaze me.  Number 6!

Paul, that is a great looking paint booth.

If no objections, I might extend this GB awhile.  When I started this, I didn't know I would be going to Paramedic school, so I haven't even come close to building what I wanted to for this GB.

Cheers,

Greg

- yat yas!

 

   

  • Member since
    August 2009
  • From: Borlando Fla home of the rat
Posted by TREYZX10R on Sunday, December 11, 2011 8:01 PM

Cliff ,NFN thanks! I was able to sand everything without loosing much detail at all. I will need to rescribe a few small spots but thats it, real relief to be through that hurdle.

  • Member since
    December 2010
  • From: Memphis TN
Posted by Heavens Eagle on Sunday, December 11, 2011 5:30 PM

 

Gamera wrote the following post on Sunday, December 11, 2011

Eagle: Really nice paint spray booth, I'd never have thought of using computer fans like that, great idea!

Gamera:  20 years ago I used a brushless instrument fan (120AC version) that pumped out a little air.  Just the fan and enough ducting to run the paint and fumes out the window.  With the newer fans look at the CFM ratings and do a little visualization.  The fans I am using are rated at just a hair under 70CFM.  I have 2 that I can run on this.

To see if this is enough air, think of it like this: a box 3ft x 3ft x 3ft is 27 cubic feet.  A box 3 x 3 x 6 is 54 cubic feet. A box 4 x 4 x 6 is 96 cubic feet.  If we consider that I am only using a small airbrush and with both fans going.  There is plenty of airflow going out without having to do noise and hurricane.  I could probably use large spray cans and never smell it back past about 3 feet away.  Of course there might not be quite enough power to push them as much as needed and I might need to get some stronger fans.  The main key here is BRUSHLESS .  I used an AC (wall outlet) version 20 years ago and it worked great at venting.  I know it worked as here is a photo of the air duct.  (nasty)

I had no filter over the fan to catch the paint particles at that time.  It worked quite well and didn't seem to hurt the fan even though it was somewhat coated with hobby paint too.

I should find out how well the 2 'puter fans work here soon.  It has been quite a while since I was doing any airbrushing.  So will see.

 

 

  • Member since
    June 2010
Posted by Night Fighter Nut on Sunday, December 11, 2011 2:13 PM

Good going there Trey!  :)

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: SW Virginia
Posted by Gamera on Sunday, December 11, 2011 1:57 PM

Eagle: Really nice paint spray booth, I'd never have thought of using computer fans like that, great idea!

Trey: Sharp work as usual!

"I dream in fire but work in clay." -Arthur Machen

 

  • Member since
    August 2009
  • From: Borlando Fla home of the rat
Posted by TREYZX10R on Sunday, December 11, 2011 12:09 PM

Thanks Heavens Eagle,yes shame about the eduard only being available on evil bay,good idea combining an a8 kit but I'll soldier on with the beast at hand. The wing root -engine cowl fit is aweful and in a very bad place to fix without damaging the surrounding detail. I'll do what I can to minumize the damage during the repair.

.

  • Member since
    December 2010
  • From: Memphis TN
Posted by Heavens Eagle on Saturday, December 10, 2011 6:32 PM

Hey TREYZX10R, watching your build of this kit is prepping me for my build.  Spent the last 4 months working on a devil of a build and it is only about 1/2 done.  Finally had to have a break.  Had too much scratch building going on.

Unfortunately the Eduard LE of the night fighters is only available from the ' Bay.  It went out of production quite a while ago.  I have heard from many sources though that the Eduard Fw 190's are all quite nice kits.  If you get into a real bind, one answer would be to just pick up an Eduard weekender of the 190 A8 and use the extra detail parts from the DML kit to do it.  I have that option but just want to do a kit build of something that I can build up and NOT have to do major surgery on it.  Challenge is good.  Scratch build half the kit, BAD.  (not that I am unable Sheesh! )

Tomorrow is start day for my night fighter.  Just relaxing right now.  Keep up the goodness!

  • Member since
    August 2009
  • From: Borlando Fla home of the rat
Posted by TREYZX10R on Saturday, December 10, 2011 4:46 PM

Thanks Heavens Eagle,I'll look and see if I can turn up a pic that shows whats written on that 2nd aircraft.

I made some progress on the wings and fuse. Some fit issues up front are going to be a pain,especially at the wing roots. I had to leave out the forward part #c22 it made the fit even worse. To obtain a better fit I glued the upper fuse and gun cowling only at the trailing edges and let it dry over night. This allowed me to spread the forward areas out for a better fit around the trailing edge of the engine cowl. The fit is still not great but a lot better.

the wing assembly is another bit of 'why did they mold it this way' fiasco. I glued the wheel bays at the trailing edge and let dry overnight. This allowed me to fit the top halves to the bottom and get those leading edge areas around the wheel tubs to fit better. Again not great but better

I 'm hoping after this drys it wo'nt be so bad,shoild've gotten the Eduard limited instead me thinks;)

and the drop tank fiddly bits are done a quick pass with a #11 will get the tiny bit of flash I missed after it drys good

  • Member since
    December 2010
  • From: Memphis TN
Posted by Heavens Eagle on Friday, December 9, 2011 11:36 PM

Cockpit is looking good there TREYZX10R!  As to the yellow decals, the "newer" DML decals are a bit more yellow looking than the original Trimaster decal release.  The colors are a little more heavy handed.  The Trimaster issue had the swasti's with it though.  I found a number of photos of Migge and his Weis 9.  One photo had another plane from the squadron in the backround that I will model the second kit to.  Only problem is the photos I have found show something white written in an arc on the side of the background plane under the canopy on the left side.  Just not enough resolution & clarity to tell what it is. Bang Head 

  • Member since
    August 2009
  • From: Borlando Fla home of the rat
Posted by TREYZX10R on Friday, December 9, 2011 8:22 PM

Heavens Eagle thanks for the info and the link for the PDF very much appreciated. That is a great looking paintbooth !

The office is ready to instal

 

  • Member since
    December 2010
  • From: Memphis TN
Posted by Heavens Eagle on Friday, December 9, 2011 12:43 AM

Hey TREYZX10R I see you have picked the Dragon kit to build.  I have been working up to doing this kit myself.  I have both the old original Trimaster kit of it, and a more recent Dragon release.  As to the decals, if the clear backing has yellowed, yes you need to replace them, BUT if you are taking the off white in the numbers and crosses as a sign, this is how they are supposed to be.  The white markings were an off white so as to not stand out quite as much in the dark.

Here are some photos of the decals from my Trimaster kit and the DML kit.  Also are the decal sheet and Paint page from the Eduard Fw 190A Nachtjager Limited Edition kit.  It is kit 1144 and you can still download the Instructions PDF file from Eduard if you would like.  The White on the lower part of the fuselage crosses is covered by the grey of the lower side.  Thus you have only the black cross showing.

 

Would have started myself before now except I needed a paint booth and just finished building it.  Here are some photos of it.

30 inches wide with a 22inch indirect flourecent light.  10 x 20 inch air filter to catch paint pigment and 1 or 2 fans pushing about 60 and 120 cubic feet of air respectively.  The large parts are an old Monogram B-29 in 1:48th.

Front part folds in a somewhat unorthodox way to make it a bit less bulky.  The whole thing only weighs 11.5 pounds.

Like I said it folds up in a somewhat unorthodox way.  This was the simplest and flattest way as the light fixture on the underside of the top made things a little tricky.

The backside ducting was built up from acrylic sheet .080 thick.  Cut it to size on my band saw and a little file work and sanding on the edges made it easy to glue together with Weldon 3. The vinyl ducting was dryer duct from 1985 (no longer available) but perfect for this application.

The window insert is also from back when.  I had a simple 120v brushless instrument fan just sucking the tainted air out in the old days.  Couldn't find the fan though I did find all the dryer duct.  The duct that was on the back side of that original fan is "COATED" with dried paint, thus the new booth with the air filter.

The other end of the duct hooked up.  The white flap over the opening was to keep cold air from flowing back through the tube when the fans are off, and too keep rain from coming into the duct if it happens to be raining out.  This setup works extreamely well at keeping the paint fumes around the Zero point everywhere except right at the front of the booth while spraying.  I usually can't even smell the fumes while painting.

The booth cost me about $120.  Will have to go and do a pricing of the separate items to know for sure.  The fans are 12V computer fans and then a 6 amp 12V power supply to run them (overkill I know but it was a LOT cheaper than Radio Shack) The light fixture was about $10, the fans and supply were right at $40.  The 1:8th inch thick Masonite was cut from a 2ft x 4ft sheet I picked up at Home Depot.  The acrylic and aluminum extrusions were bought at Lowe's.  If you are having to do your painting out in the Garage or worse OUTSIDE  Surprise  This might be a good way to get the spouse (if you have one) to let you paint inside.  After all her main complaint is the smell so, if there is no smell there should be no complaint.  Big SmileYeah   

 

  • Member since
    August 2009
  • From: Borlando Fla home of the rat
Posted by TREYZX10R on Thursday, December 8, 2011 10:05 PM

Casper your build came out great, really like this bird! nicely done Sir!

I'm back in my Nocturnal mode and starting the Fw190A-8/R11 1/48 Dragon

The kit looks nice with very little flash and a sheet of PE that appears to be stainless instead of the usual brass. The decals have yellowed so I have some Owl decals for relacement. This will be Ofw. Gunther Migge 1/NJGr.10

quick dry fit looks promising no major gaps

  • Member since
    October 2010
  • From: Hobart, Australia
Posted by Casper the Chihuahua on Monday, December 5, 2011 9:31 PM

Ok, my final entry for this GB completed. 4 different but fun builds. I really like this little JU88 kit, not bad despite it's age as an Italeri re-issue.

Cheers

On the bench: A-4F 1/32 Hasegawa

Just deployed: F6F-5N Hellcat Nightfighter 1/48 Eduard

Up next: A6-E Intruder 1/48 Revell

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Rothesay, NB Canada
Posted by VanceCrozier on Monday, December 5, 2011 10:33 AM

Casper the Chihuahua

So painting finished. Decals on and wheels, props etc. and assorted greeblies attached.

http://i1093.photobucket.com/albums/i438/smcintyre11/Ju88%20C-6/efd9b1e0.jpg

Next is an oil wash for the landing gear and a bit of weathering for the exhausts and the flaps.

Cheers

Nice!! Yes

On the bench: Airfix 1/72 Wildcat; Airfix 1/72 Vampire T11; Airfix 1/72 Fouga Magister

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: SW Virginia
Posted by Gamera on Monday, December 5, 2011 10:08 AM

Jailcop: Wow, fantastic job on 'Butch'. Then again I am partial to Navy blue planes in any case.

Casper: Nice! Almost done, shame to dirty up such an attractive paint scheme though.

"I dream in fire but work in clay." -Arthur Machen

 

  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: Hancock, Me USA
Posted by p38jl on Monday, December 5, 2011 9:17 AM

Looking nice guys ! Toast

[Photobucket]

  • Member since
    October 2010
  • From: Hobart, Australia
Posted by Casper the Chihuahua on Monday, December 5, 2011 12:08 AM

So painting finished. Decals on and wheels, props etc. and assorted greeblies attached.

Next is an oil wash for the landing gear and a bit of weathering for the exhausts and the flaps.

Cheers

On the bench: A-4F 1/32 Hasegawa

Just deployed: F6F-5N Hellcat Nightfighter 1/48 Eduard

Up next: A6-E Intruder 1/48 Revell

  • Member since
    August 2009
  • From: Borlando Fla home of the rat
Posted by TREYZX10R on Sunday, December 4, 2011 7:01 PM

Awesome job Jailcop ,really like what you did with this build,very clean and sharp!

  • Member since
    September 2011
  • From: Watertown, NY
Posted by JailCop on Sunday, December 4, 2011 5:06 PM

Well, calling it done!  

 

  • Member since
    June 2010
Posted by Night Fighter Nut on Sunday, December 4, 2011 7:44 AM

That Junkers looks very well done.  :)

  • Member since
    June 2010
Posted by Night Fighter Nut on Sunday, December 4, 2011 7:40 AM

Nicely done.  :)

  • Member since
    September 2011
  • From: Watertown, NY
Posted by JailCop on Saturday, December 3, 2011 10:00 PM

Decals done on my F6F-5N, needs a few more applications of micro-set, then it'll be clear coat time, then antenna, then weathering, then done

 

 

  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: Hancock, Me USA
Posted by p38jl on Saturday, November 26, 2011 1:09 PM

Casper... nice job ! Toast

[Photobucket]

  • Member since
    August 2009
  • From: Borlando Fla home of the rat
Posted by TREYZX10R on Thursday, November 24, 2011 10:15 PM

Nice crisp paint lines Casper!

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Rothesay, NB Canada
Posted by VanceCrozier on Thursday, November 24, 2011 7:06 AM

Looking good Casper!

On the bench: Airfix 1/72 Wildcat; Airfix 1/72 Vampire T11; Airfix 1/72 Fouga Magister

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