Hunting After Dark, 2011-2012 Night Fighter Group Build

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

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

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?

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

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.

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.

:)

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 .

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.

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

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

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!

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

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

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

Sorry to hear about your mom John!  Hope that she continues to make good recovery.

Finished my major post for my other GB.  Have a couple of pages done on the Fw 190 and will do the rest tomorrow.  We hosted King Con here in Memphis today had some nice builds and some decent vendors.  I scored a Trumpeter 1/32 A-10 with an extra markings decal set and the Verlinden Cockpit set unbuilt for $50.  What a deal that was.  Picked up 8 WW2 German half trak kits from Dragon for just a little bit more.  Like the 251's and picked up a varied selection.

Anyway, running on the leftover fumes from the last set of fumes now so off to the sack.  With luck the new 190 post will get everything all up to current tomorrow and I will be able to get some building done.

John really sorry to hear that ,hope your Mom makes a quick and full recovery! I've left masks on for extended times with no ill effect, hopefuly it wo'nt be an issue for you. The Stinger is looking sharp!

Canopies painted inside and fitted, areas masked off and wheelbays filled. Almost time to prime this beast!

Cheers

Not much progress on my Stinger Gunship these past few day's . My mother was rushed to hospital earlier in the week and has been in intensive care since . Mum is slowly making some improvement each day , so hopfully it won't be long before they can move her back to a ward .

I'll have a little time this morning to put the decals on the Stinger

There's only a few markings and shouldn't take too long to do . My only concern with the build is how long the masks have been on the front windshield and I hope there won't be residue left on the clear parts when I remove the masks . That can be a real bummer .

John .

Can I enter a Revell 1/48 F-86D sabre dog interceptor?

thanks

Hi all........i'm watching in the site while I note this gb is extended till 1 gennuary 2013.......I'm in!!!!!My model is 1\48 Me 262 B-1A/U1 Nachtjager by Italeri..............Ciao from Italy Enrico.

This profile is from 1\32 Trumpeter Kit

Gregbbear wrote the following:

Paul, I am looking forward to your next installment.  If you don't mind, I'd like to save your posts to my computer for personal use.  I have several 190's in my stash, and I would like it for reference, and inspiration.  Not that I could, in my wildest dreams, build to your level! 

Thanks for the complement Greg! I don't mind if you save my posts at all, I save posts that I find instructive helpful or informative all the time.  Hard drive space is cheap these days.  In fact I tend to migrate most of my books to drive storage and get rid of them.  I don't have that kind of space any more.  Also with the reference on the computer it makes it easier to manipulate things for personal use.

Am trying to finish up a starter post on my Great Build Seimens Shuckert.  It is going to be quite a doosie of a post.  First item is opening up 10 large louvers that have both outer and inner bulges.  The part ended up quite thin and the louvers are unbelievable!  Most folks, in fact every other build I have seen remove the rear inner bulge on these louvers.  I am doing a step by step on how I did them.

Here is a teaser if you are interested:

Not a night fighter, but if you are interested in the process have a go!

Still on track to do a post later this week!

TREYZX10R

John paint is looking great, the colors look spot on are they straight from the bottle or did you tint them ?

 

Thank's Trey , I airbrush mostly with Gunze Acrylics and sometimes Tamiya Acrylics . I thin my paint 50%/50% with Isocol ( Isopropyl Alcohol) , which also doubles as my after-shave !

I was looking at the 1/72 Italeri F-111A kit this morning

I've had this kit in the stash since 30th of November 2002 , according to the faded docket in the box ; So it's probably time I built it . Interesting Italeri supply cockpit decals , quite a rare for Italeri !

There are markings for a 4481st TFS , Takhli 1968 aircraft and a 474th TFW Takhli 1972 (NA) aircraft .

I think I'll go with the 1968 markings as the venerable Aardvark had a rather dubious debut !

There's a nice bomb load of Snakeye's and two ALQ-87 pods and I think that's a Gun pod just aft of the front landing gear ?

Like you Greg , I don't have a lot of reference on the F-111 apart from a couple of pages from some Veitnam reference books ...

Another pic shows a F-111A dropping sensors for the "Igloo White" programme

I'll have a search around for a couple more Italeri F-111A kits , I could build a second one like the pic above which would go nicely with the Wolf Pack decals for a OP-2E Neptune and on that same sheet are markings for a F-111A "Mayaguez Gunboat Killer" 1975 .

In any case I'll build the 1968 F-111A along side the AP-2H Neptune next .

John .

BTW , I'm glad to hear the Dobies are friendly .

John paint is looking great, the colors look spot on are they straight from the bottle or did you tint them ?

Greg thanks ,hope things settle down for you and the Family I know what a pita moving can be! I'm undecided just yet I've got a Ju88G,P-38M or a Do335 in the stash tho! Got 2 Me309's on the bench for the prototype GB might be a time squeezing in but I'll try.

NFN looking good so far!

[View:/themes/fsm/utility/:550:0]Ok, now I have pictures to show what I've been up to...  the Italian Night Fighter...  Fiat Cr 42 Cn.

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Stage Left, feel free to jump in anytime.  There is plenty of time left anyways.

Paul, I am looking forward to your next installment.  If you don't mind, I'd like to save your posts to my computer for personal use.  I have several 190's in my stash, and I would like it for reference, and inspiration.  Not that I could, in my wildest dreams, build to your level! 

I think I feel more lost than the dogs!  It will take me a while to learn a new kitchen, and which light switch goes to what etc.  John, don't fear the dobies.  They are really nice dogs.  If I like somebody, then they like them, except kids, they like them regardless.  If a bunch of 6 year olds wanted to break in and rob me blind, they'd let them.  If it was 26 year olds, somebody is going to get bit.  They are very protective, but in a more passive, and observant way. 

I am loving the SEA camo John!  From what I read, the F-111 was primarily used at night, so it certainly fits the bill.  I just read a little bit the other day somewhere, about a squadron of F-105's that were being used in the night attack role in Vietnam, so as to help develop tactics for the oncoming F-111's.  I need to get a book on them too, since everytime I read a little bit about them, it is always very interesting.  Thanks for the heads up, I have a F3D book on order.  I think that is what will be up next for me.

As for Trey, I wonder what is next???  I've been meaning to say that I saw your AV-8B on the Harrier GB, and it looks great!  That and Caspar's VSTOL behemoth!

I started working on the Canberra for a little while last night.  I am reshaping the tail, and trying to box in the wheel wells, and cutting out the flaps.

Cheers,

Greg

Greg , I just looked at Squadrons web site and saw the F3D Skynight book listed .

I just ordered a copy along with a F-111 in action book .

I wonder if the F-111 counts as a "Night Fighter" ???

John .

Mmmm , I'm a skinny , odd little dude and I'm sure if those Dobes of yours greg got one look at me , they would see my arms and legs as tasty milk bones 

I any case it's great to see you have a man cave in the making , with a window for natural light and fresh air , everything should look great once your properly set up .

I airbrushed the underside of the B-57G with some flat black today

I just removed all the masks from the top surface and everything looks okay

I also did a little touch up on the stinger , I thought where the black paint meet the camouflage colours along the upper front fuselage section ( between the cockpit and wing ) the scallops were a little big , so I remasked with some blu-tack and painted some more black and flattened the scallops a bit . It matches the decal sheet diagram a lot closer now .

So next I'll attach the landing gear struts and wheels on both builds and then I'll airbrush some clear gloss

Trey , Really nice work on the Corsair night fighter and as Greg mentioned the faded paint finish from the pacific operations looks excellent as does all the weathering ;

10 out of 10 from me Sir ...

John .

Greg

Our critter kids, (dogs, & cats) (yes cats too!)  Tend to go through adjusting to new places.  I remember years ago, I had a cat (was definitely MY cat, gave the ex hell till she finally gave him to me)  Was an interesting pet.  One of my moves to another apartment, I moved all the major stuff and then went back and loaded up some of the small stuff.  He went with me on the last trip.  HE WAS HAVING A MAJOR FREAK OUT at the old place with everything gone.  Loaded him up and took him to the new place and let him out.  He looked around, jumped up in the recliner and laid down.  Gave me a look "Here's our stuff!"  Didn't matter that it was a huge mess, just mattered that it was there.

Working on major post updates on several items.  Maybe by next weekend there will be a new post on the Focke Wulf as well!.

Enjoy your new place there Greg!

Greg- kinda looks like the state of organization around my bench, minus the dogs. In my mind, I'm gonna get to that He-219 soon. I swear, really I am.... 

Casper thanks really appreciate the kind words!

Greg thanks very much ! Glad to hear you're getting settled in!Looking forward to seeing you get some builds going ! The Dobes look ready too!