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Hunting After Dark, 2011-2012 Night Fighter Group Build

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  • Member since
    March 2010
  • From: New Zealand
Posted by Scorpiomikey on Monday, February 7, 2011 2:52 PM

Nice builds guys. I started my A-6 last night. I now remember why i gave up on this kit when it was popped by italeri lol.

I have a question for you guys. What would be apropriate battle damage to an A-6E that would cause a massive fuel leak? Im going to create a dio based on stories ive heard of other aircraft being piggy backed to a safe airfield by a tanker aircraft.

"I am a leaf on the wind, watch how i soar"

Recite the litanies, fire up the Gellar field, a poo storm is coming Hmm 

My signature

Check out my blog here.

  • Member since
    August 2009
  • From: Borlando Fla home of the rat
Posted by TREYZX10R on Monday, February 7, 2011 3:34 PM

Hercmech thanks

Scorpiomikey not found a lot but there might be a useful source in here

http://geociti.es/Pentagon/bunker/7316/greenlizard.html

  • Member since
    August 2009
  • From: Borlando Fla home of the rat
Posted by TREYZX10R on Monday, February 7, 2011 8:41 PM

Good paint session today got the mottle finished and some floor polish sprayed on. I also scratched up some exhaust flame supressors

not sure if the N/F conversion maintaned a tail gun so I opted for the single mg instead of the supplied double set up

  • Member since
    March 2010
  • From: Democratic Peoples Republic of Illinois
Posted by Hercmech on Tuesday, February 8, 2011 8:29 AM

Trey,

That camo job is looking awesome. Your coming along like gangbusters with this one.


13151015

  • Member since
    September 2007
  • From: Relocating
Posted by Mobious on Tuesday, February 8, 2011 4:08 PM

Trey, Awesome camo! Very nice A/B work!Yes

"It's a problem of applied physics" Roy Brown

  • Member since
    August 2009
  • From: Borlando Fla home of the rat
Posted by TREYZX10R on Tuesday, February 8, 2011 4:20 PM

Hercmech,Mobious thanks appreciate it! I finished up the decals got the gear and flaps in place . Next will be some light weathering followed up by some dullcoat

  • Member since
    October 2009
  • From: Texas
Posted by Gregbbear on Wednesday, February 9, 2011 11:04 AM

Trey, you are a craftsman my friend!  One museum quality piece right after another.  I feel like I am building with Legos compared to you.

Mikey, does the Italeri A-6E have issues?  I have the most recent release in the stash, how does it compare to lets say the Fujimi or Hasegawa?  I picked it up on sale at Greatmodels along with some great looking GRU-7 seats from SuperBug.  I was hoping of building it as an "easy" build.  Heaven knows I need one...

On that note, with a lot of filling, sanding repeat, I have the nose on the P-70.  The fit was attrocious.  Looking at my Squadron book, it shows the radar aerials in a different spot too.  So, drill and fill.  I spent a few hours yesterday trying to thin the trailing edge of the wings down.  In some aspects, the kit reminds me of a limited run kit.  I can't fault AMT for trying to get as much mileage as they could for their tooling buck.  The fact that they released this little known and used variant, was gracious of them.  I think the end result will be worth it.

Cheers,

Greg

 

- yat yas!

 

   

  • Member since
    March 2010
  • From: New Zealand
Posted by Scorpiomikey on Wednesday, February 9, 2011 1:30 PM

Gregbbear

Mikey, does the Italeri A-6E have issues?  I have the most recent release in the stash, how does it compare to lets say the Fujimi or Hasegawa?  I picked it up on sale at Greatmodels along with some great looking GRU-7 seats from SuperBug.  I was hoping of building it as an "easy" build.  Heaven knows I need one...

Nah, its basicly a good kit overal. But the wings dont go together very well (the folding hinges are too tight) and alot of thick flash. Otherwise its actually a really decent kit. Just brings back bad memories of crappier building days on the carpet in front of dads tv.

"I am a leaf on the wind, watch how i soar"

Recite the litanies, fire up the Gellar field, a poo storm is coming Hmm 

My signature

Check out my blog here.

  • Member since
    July 2010
Posted by jbrady on Wednesday, February 9, 2011 7:38 PM

Been working on this one for a while. It's Major R. Bruce Porter's F6F 5(N) in April of 1945 when he was Commander of VMF (N) 542

This is the Eduard kit one of the two issues I had was with the wing to fuselage join. Because of the engineering there is very little gluing surface.

Because of that I got the dihedral all wrong

luckily I found this.

Had to rip the wings off but the end result was right on.

 

The other problem (for me) are of the kit was the landing gear. Very fiddly. A lot of microscopic parts but in the end a good representation of the Hellcat's gear.

More later.

   

  • Member since
    July 2010
Posted by jbrady on Wednesday, February 9, 2011 8:22 PM

This is only my fifth kit and all the others have been OD over Grey. The blue was a shock.

This particular aircraft had been in frontline service for 9 months by April of '45 so I wanted to show some wear and tear without beating it up too much.

I like to leave the final weathering until the decals are in place. It tones them down to match the rest of airframe.

Ya gotta laove a nightfighter named "Black Death" with a whiskey bottle on the nose. That's where I'm at now more later.

   

  • Member since
    August 2009
  • From: Borlando Fla home of the rat
Posted by TREYZX10R on Wednesday, February 9, 2011 8:34 PM

Greg thanks ! Hhmmmm legos let me think, lol you're too kind sirEmbarrassed

jbrady great looking office and nice catch on the dihedral,great looking build you have going!

I just about wrapped this one up ,got some final detailing yet to do heres a few teaser pics

  • Member since
    February 2010
  • From: Maine
Posted by Stage_Left on Wednesday, February 9, 2011 10:10 PM

jbrady- looking really good so far.

Trey- wow. Simply fantastic build, and I love the weathering. Really looks like a bird that has seen it's share of combat.

  • Member since
    September 2009
  • From: Spring Branch, TX
Posted by satch_ip on Thursday, February 10, 2011 7:11 AM

Scorpiomikey

Nice builds guys. I started my A-6 last night. I now remember why i gave up on this kit when it was popped by italeri lol.

I have a question for you guys. What would be apropriate battle damage to an A-6E that would cause a massive fuel leak? Im going to create a dio based on stories ive heard of other aircraft being piggy backed to a safe airfield by a tanker aircraft.

 

Scorp, you could punch a big hole in the wing.  That would cause a massive fuel leak.  Google A380 damage to see a good picture of a punctured wing.

Satch

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Rothesay, NB Canada
Posted by VanceCrozier on Thursday, February 10, 2011 7:19 AM

(Hey gang, don't mind me - I've just been lurking this one!)

Trey - I'm a sucker for odd-looking German stuff anyway, but you have a darn-near perfect build going on there from what I see in the finished pics, should be proud of that one!

jbrady - nice job dealing with the one-colour camo, I may draw some inspiration for the P-38 nightfighter I have going on in another GB.

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

  • Member since
    March 2010
  • From: Democratic Peoples Republic of Illinois
Posted by Hercmech on Thursday, February 10, 2011 7:52 AM

jbrady: Looking good I am a big fan of the hell cat and looks like your doing it some justice. Nice looking pit.

Trey: As usually the build looks fantastic love the weathering on the bottom and the engine detail.


13151015

  • Member since
    June 2010
Posted by Night Fighter Nut on Thursday, February 10, 2011 8:49 AM

Ok, it's been awhile but I have been busy and have not forgotten this forum...  just to keep things straight, I'll try to put my photos in chronological order.  Forgive me if I post something twice.  On another forum I'm working on a P-61A  Nocturnal Nemesis.  I've done extensive research into this aircraft but my skills are so so.  Any helpful hints would be welcome. 

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  • Member since
    June 2010
Posted by Night Fighter Nut on Thursday, February 10, 2011 8:53 AM

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  • Member since
    June 2010
Posted by Night Fighter Nut on Thursday, February 10, 2011 3:52 PM

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  • Member since
    June 2010
Posted by Night Fighter Nut on Thursday, February 10, 2011 4:02 PM

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  • Member since
    March 2010
  • From: Democratic Peoples Republic of Illinois
Posted by Hercmech on Thursday, February 10, 2011 4:08 PM

Nightfighternut,

 

That widow is coming along really nice. I am really looking forward to seeing her done. You encountering any big issues with the kit?


13151015

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • From: Australia
Posted by Helo H-34 on Thursday, February 10, 2011 5:56 PM

Hi Greg ;

My apologies as I will have to withdraw from your GB for the time being .

My father has become ill quite suddenly .

 Good luck to you and everyone else with their builds .

Kind regards ,

                                       John .

  • Member since
    March 2010
  • From: New Zealand
Posted by Scorpiomikey on Thursday, February 10, 2011 6:33 PM

Dude, hope your dad will be alright.

"I am a leaf on the wind, watch how i soar"

Recite the litanies, fire up the Gellar field, a poo storm is coming Hmm 

My signature

Check out my blog here.

  • Member since
    October 2009
  • From: Texas
Posted by Gregbbear on Thursday, February 10, 2011 8:13 PM

John, I am sorry to hear that.  I hope your Dad gets well soon.  Being that Auburn and San Antonio are pretty far apart, all I can offer you is moral support, but if I can help in any way, I'd be glad too.  Take care buddy.

Greg

- yat yas!

 

   

  • Member since
    October 2009
  • From: Texas
Posted by Gregbbear on Thursday, February 10, 2011 8:16 PM

NFN, that is fantastic scratched detail.  You really brought that kit up several levels!

Cheers,

Greg

- yat yas!

 

   

  • Member since
    June 2010
Posted by Night Fighter Nut on Friday, February 11, 2011 8:12 AM

Hercmech

Nightfighternut,

 

That widow is coming along really nice. I am really looking forward to seeing her done. You encountering any big issues with the kit?

There are fit issues with the kit but as long as you know about them in advance and plan ahead you can work through them.  One major issue is the fit of the canopy.  There are some modifications that need to be done in order to get through it without spending a lot of money..   This is not the first time I've built this kit so I know the work arounds.  Just follow what I do as I address these issues.

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  • Member since
    June 2010
Posted by Night Fighter Nut on Friday, February 11, 2011 8:19 AM

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  • Member since
    June 2010
Posted by Night Fighter Nut on Friday, February 11, 2011 8:50 AM

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  • Member since
    March 2010
  • From: Democratic Peoples Republic of Illinois
Posted by Hercmech on Friday, February 11, 2011 8:57 AM

NFN,

Interesting way to do the recognition lights. Still coming along good.

If you could, would it be possible to add a blup or two about some of the pictures to explain what they are and what your doing?


13151015

  • Member since
    June 2010
Posted by Night Fighter Nut on Friday, February 11, 2011 10:23 AM

Sorry about that.  I'm actually quite a bit ahead of what you are currently seeing and I forget sometimes I need to explain why I chose the route I did...

Ok.  First off I think I posted earlier my using lead fishing weight balls and epoxy in the nose.  These current pictures show my use of aquarium plant weights, which are just strips of lead, and the places I glued them.  The model is inherently tail heavy so a bit of weight must be added.  Aside from the nose, as long as the weights are placed before or infront of the rear wheels, it will keep this plane from sitting. 

For the foreward cockpit area, I search several photos from as many places as I could find and all dealing with the P-61A series.  There are a few differences between the A and B cockpits that are not well known.  I incorporated what I could from my research.  One thing I did learn was there is a kind of push rod to the back right of the pilot's seat.  I saw it in several photos but was not able to identify it or it's purpose.  It seems there is an incredible lack of photos for the space just behind the pilot's seat and just infront of the gunner's chair.  I finally contacted the president of Mid Atlantic Air Museum to help me identify this area.  From him I found out that the push rod goes to a release mechanism in the pilot's chair that allows the back of the seat to fall backwards so that should the pilot have to bail out, he can.  There is a bar that goes around the back of the pilot's seat that is not included in the kit so I scratch built it.  I then made the push rod and attached it.

The ladder is another enigma.  It is very difficult to find any information on it and how it's suppose to look.  The kit has it wrong in this case.  I learned what it looks like and how it works from MAAM.  As you are facing the front of the plane, the ladder has a push rod on the left side.  The push rod has teeth on the bottom part that fit into a half gear.   The half gear is attached to the bottom folding part of the ladder.  There are also two lubber handles on the assembly that the kit misses along with two red latch handles.  To raise the ladder, the push rod is stepped on which swings up the lower ladder and it is clipped into place.  The upper lubber handle is then pulled, swinging the ladder assembly upward.  The second lubber handle is then pulled on bring the door to a close and the latch handle is turned locking the door in place.

I found only one photo of the R/O section for a P-61A.  All others I've found belong to the B model.  The R/O section on this model are based off of that photo and from what I've been able to figure out off of the B models.  By the way, the kit is mostly based off of the A model.  The B model looks completely different in the R/O section.  As for the seats I posted earlier, those are made based off a photo of the actual seat and was virtually the same for both A and B planes depending on if there was turret on the plane of not.

The rear section of the model are concave due to the molding process.  I didn't like it that way so I filled in the concave part and sanded all detail off of this area.  I then used sheet styrene 0.020 thick cut into strips to add the ribs back.  The walls were then redone based off of my research.

The signal lights I did this way because I didn't want to just have painted spots for lights.  These were colored bulbs.  I used stretched clear sprue with one end painted in the needed colors.  I thought this was a decent solution.  I'll try to add some passage when I can for future photos.  Please feel free to ask or critique as I don't know a lot of things.  I'm still new to building models and my skills are so so.  :)

  • Member since
    June 2010
Posted by Night Fighter Nut on Friday, February 11, 2011 10:31 AM

For the canopy, the manufacturers botched it big time.  There is a lack of material on the sides of the plane and this prevents a good fit for the canopies both front and back.  I cut strips of sheet styrene, 0.020 thickness, and set them on the sides and back until both canopies fit properly.    :)

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