Monogram Mafia Group Build

Thanks Hans.  I'll ELO the paint on there now and see if I can suck up enough to the Mrs. to get her to make a Hobbytown stop while she is out tomorrow.  At least I can get the wings taken care of tonight.  I am thinking of doing the Russian one in Flight and the other on the ground. But then I have to find a standing pilot or crew chief that matches and I really can't sink any more into this build after the paint so I will see if I can borrow an appropriate figure or two from some other kits.

Hans von Hammer

 

So I will have 2 P-39 AiroCobras when I am done.  One will be decked out in USAAC markings and the other in Red Air Force markings.  Does anyone happen to know what basic color the uniform of one of the Russian pilots of the era  would be?  I am guessing dark brown or tan, but I am not sure.  The American Pilot will be the normal OD. 

 

The USAAF flightsuits were either tan (summer) or green (temperate), not OD.. A good match, IMNSHO, is ModelMaster FS 34086, Green Drab, or Tamiya XF-51 Khaki Drab, Sparrow...

USAAF (on the left) USN/USMC Summer flightsuits. Googles & helmets are "Mix & match" with the googles on the right being the M1944, so no early-war pilots had that style. Mae Wests are reversed as well... Army pilot's wearing a Navy version, Squid's got the Doggie's... Paint these guys with Green or Khaki Drab suits and "dark brown leather" helmets, and you got temperate flight gear...

Ivan's flightsuits were typically dark blue, very similat to the tanker's coveralls in both cut and color... Testor's Non-Specular Sea Blue FS# 35042, Dark Sea Blue FS# 15042, and Insignia Ble FS#35044 all will work for the flight suit.

The fligh jackets aren't an issue with the P-39 figure, but it was a mid-thigh-length, waist-belted affair, very dark brown or black in color, and fleece-lined for the Winter version, and silk-lined for the Summer version, which was more for fire-protection than warmth..(Actually, all leather flight-jackets were primarily for fire-protection, plus they're wind-proof...) I can't scan my pictures of them right now..  Don't have a scanner, lol.. I could take a picture of a picture with my camera, but it'll suck, and since he ain't wearing one, I ain't gonna try,lol..  Ivan's helmet would be very dark brown leather, about the shade of Testor's Rubber, #1183..

 

 

 

Hans von Hammer

troublemaker66:

Sparrowhyperion:

 

 

 

Hey! The green pilot looks eerily like Hammer`s new avatar picture...or am I seeing things?

 

No moustache... It was a famous ya know.. My cookie-duster was the bane of First Sergeants and Command Sergeants Major on three continents, lol... Especially during the "transition period" from a mostly Shake & Bake (Draftee) NCO Corps to an All-Volunteer one...   AR 670-1 was kinda loosely enforced for about 8 years...

For a model with few parts, this one is giving me fits.  My wing roots had about 1/8 in gap... hence the putty everywhere!!  Should be finished this weekend... or I will be.

A little progress on the Deuce.  (cockpit pics are back on page 21)  It seems to be coming together ok - some fussy fitting of the lower to the upper wing.  _

Ken

Aaronw

I saw a Monogram M-48 last week, has Lovebug painted on the turret. I'm pretty sure I built that one around the 4th or 5th grade. Anyone know much about the kit?

I was thinking I might pick it up if it is halfway decent, it was certainly cheap enough ($12 or so). 

That  kit is in the current Revell catalog and is a GO... It's been around since the late 50's, and whether or not it's a decent kit is a matter of perspective... It was the first tank I ever built, and it's got a lot of molded-on details...

But here's what Shep Paine did with it.. Tet Offensive, '68...

http://sheperdpaine.atspace.com/patton.htm

This diorama is the one that started it all for me, both in being a serious modeler and diorama builder...

troublemaker66

Hans von Hammer:

troublemaker66:

Sparrowhyperion:

 

 

 

Hey! The green pilot looks eerily like Hammer`s new avatar picture...or am I seeing things?

 

No moustache... It was a famous ya know.. My cookie-duster was the bane of First Sergeants and Command Sergeants Major on three continents, lol... Especially during the "transition period" from a mostly Shake & Bake (Draftee) NCO Corps to an All-Volunteer one...   AR 670-1 was kinda loosely enforced for about 8 years...

 

Not to argue but look a little closer at that picture....I swear I see a bushy, although plastic, mustache on that guy...that`s why I brought it up in the 1st place..LOL!!

Ok, lol... See it now..

Ya know, more than one person has told me that the "Russin pilot " in the IL-2 Sturmovik flight sim is a dead-ringer for me...   Figgers, I'd get Ivan for a twin...

Ya know, more than one person has told me that the "Russin pilot " in the IL-2 Sturmovik flight sim is a dead-ringer for me...   Figgers, I'd get Ivan for a twin...

[/quote]Don`t worry Hans...I`ll vouch for ya...you ain`t no commie...

Heh, ok...  Guess I'm like m'  Uncle John was, lol.. He hated anything with a red meatball on it, I hate red stars...

Hans von Hammer

 

CallSignOWL:

 

The wings have been attached! Due to fit issues, the resulting sanding of the wing roots and fuselage removed much of the raised detail....so I did a complete re-scribe of the plane!

 

You just gettin' all KINDS of new experiences on this one, ain'tcha?

 

I hope it doesn't break while I am sanding it. On a good note, it seems it will fit the fuselage pretty well!

 

It's a Warthog... It understands punishment, lol...

Thanks Hammer. Although, to set the record straight, this isn't the first time I've re-scribed or added detail! 

Whoops, Sorry 'bout that Owl..  Didn't know you were an experienced  'scriber..  

Take a look here, youse guys...

/forums/t/136203.aspx?PageIndex=2

I just gave him a warning though.. Donna wanna attract too much heat just yet, but it has to dealt with if it continues..

Reasoned

For a model with few parts, this one is giving me fits.  My wing roots had about 1/8 in gap... hence the putty everywhere!!  Should be finished this weekend... or I will be.

Shoulda warned you about that joint(s).. Best way to fill it is use liquid cement and stretched sprue, IMHO...

Hans von Hammer

Whoops, Sorry 'bout that Owl..  Didn't know you were an experienced  'scriber..  

Oh, its alright. No harm, no foul!

CallSignOWL

Hans von Hammer:

Whoops, Sorry 'bout that Owl..  Didn't know you were an experienced  'scriber..  

 

 

Oh, its alright. No harm, no foul!

looking good Owl ! ,, and others to.. !

Ok,, got some WIP pics...Engine with scratched starter, wiring harness, and scratched spark plub wiring/w boots:550:0]

hollowing out the pipes...:550:0]

primed chassis..:550:0]

Anyone have the PE fret from the 1/48 Kingfisher High Tech kit?  I had the pontoon braces done with thin line but messed them up and now that the plane is together I can't run new line from one hole to the other.  Really ticked me off.  Plus I have to scratch build the gunners seat since the kit parts are no good.  Chris

kg4kpg

Anyone have the PE fret from the 1/48 Kingfisher High Tech kit?  I had the pontoon braces done with thin line but messed them up and now that the plane is together I can't run new line from one hole to the other.  Really ticked me off.  Plus I have to scratch build the gunners seat since the kit parts are no good.  Chris

have u thought of trying stretched sprue ? you can make them very thin. and their flexible to try and fit in between the fuse and the float...?

p38jl

 

 

 

have u thought of trying stretched sprue ? you can make them very thin. and their flexible to try and fit in between the fuse and the float...?

p38jl

Ok,, got some WIP pics...Engine with scratched starter, wiring harness, and scratched spark plub wiring/w boots:550:0]

hollowing out the pipes...:550:0]

primed chassis..:550:0]

I love your detailing on the engine and the exhausts.  I hollowed out the trumpets on my Red Baron, though I got a little overzealous and have some holes to fill   But I thought they'd look better with some depth, rather than flat.  I haven't decided about the wiring, though; I don't know what the ignition harness looked like on the 'rod.

Best regards,

Brad

Hans von Hammer

the Baron:

Aaronw:

There is a list on page 4, but I think it is just 1/48 kits and is not exhaustive (B-26, A-26, P-61 stand out)

/forums/t/135482.aspx?PageIndex=4

 ....

SB2C, -NO GO

...

 

Hey, Hammer, that one'll need an asterisk.  The old original SB2C kit should definitely be a go, that's Monogram all the way, but the later Pro Modeler kit (such as Chuck W built in that excellent build blog a couple of years ago) should not.

For 1/72, may I add the BUFF (anyone have the old boxing with the engine sounds?) and the giant B-36, if anyone has room to display it

 

I ammended that oversight on the last page, Baron.. Thanks.. I'd forgoten about differentiating the two kits, I was only thinking of the Revell release in the current catalog... Satch has climbed aboard with that very kit..

So you want the B-FiftyTwice, and the Aluminum Overcast?

Need a new wing? For your house, I mean...

Oops, sorry for any confusion, Padrone!  I was offering those as more examples of Monogram's 1/72 line.  I'm still building the Zero and the SBD (as an A-24).

My cousin built the Buff for me, when I was a kid.  He was in the Air Force and worked on B-52s for a while.  He was stationed up in Maine for a stretch and built the kit, then gave it to me, because he didn't have any room for it, either.  He did a nice job of it, too.

thanks Brad,. I mostly guestimated the wires for the spark plugs,,, The starter, I'm 100% positive on that one.. lol

kg4kpg

Anyone have the PE fret from the 1/48 Kingfisher High Tech kit?  I had the pontoon braces done with thin line but messed them up and now that the plane is together I can't run new line from one hole to the other.  Really ticked me off.  Plus I have to scratch build the gunners seat since the kit parts are no good.  Chris

I might have what's left of it lying around... You just want the pontoon braces, right?  I built mine from sprue, so I didn't need 'em...  

Gotcha Baron..

the engine pods are on and I am ready for paint!  The nose weight does seem to be enough to keep it from falling backwards, so Yay!

OWL

Hi folks.

I have a small question.  The kits I have have two options for the exhaust manifolds on the P-39.  Does anyone know what the differences are, as in which is apropriate to use for a US and a USSR aircraft?  Thanks.

Rich

(here are the selections)

Hi Rich. Use the one on the left. The other pair is for the P-400 which I don't think the Russians used. I'm building the same kit so I'll be watching with interest.     

Mike

Yeah, the P-400 is the RAF export version of the P-39, but Ivan got mostly P-39N and Q-models, so the "six-pack" exhaust would be the one used .... The "12-Pack" exhaust would be correct for USAAF P-400s (A P-40 with a "Zero" behind it) on Guadalcanal as well...  My uncle, CPT John Thompson, flew them for the "Cactus Air Force". 

Thanks guys.  I decided it would be nice for some variety so I stuck the 12 pack in one to use as a P-400, and the Russian bird gets the six pack.  I am having one problem with the Russian plane.  The nose whel tire is missing so it's going to be gear up.  Which also means I need to fabricate the front panel for the landing gear bay in the nose.  Should have it donw by tonight providing I don't find the tire. lol  With any luck, tomorrow afternoon is paint day after we get back from house hunting.

Rich

Hans von Hammer

Yeah, the P-400 is the RAF export version of the P-39, but Ivan got mostly P-39N and Q-models, so the "six-pack" exhaust would be the one used .... The "12-Pack" exhaust would be correct for USAAF P-400s (A P-40 with a "Zero" behind it) on Guadalcanal as well...  My uncle, CPT John Thompson, flew them for the "Cactus Air Force". 

Okay, gonna go ahead and try stretched sprue for my braces.  I've used it for other stuff, didn't think of it until you guys chimed in.

Rich, I believe I have a front tire you can have if you want it, I used a resin tire in a previous build. 

Chris

Sparrowhyperion

Thanks guys.  I decided it would be nice for some variety so I stuck the 12 pack in one to use as a P-400, and the Russian bird gets the six pack.  I am having one problem with the Russian plane.  The nose whel tire is missing so it's going to be gear up.  Which also means I need to fabricate the front panel for the landing gear bay in the nose.  Should have it donw by tonight providing I don't find the tire. lol  With any luck, tomorrow afternoon is paint day after we get back from house hunting.

Rich

I can never get it right when I try to stretch sprue (man that doesn't sound right, does it?).  I'd really appreciate the tire.  The fit on the nose landing gear doors is pretty bad when they are closed.  I'll PM my address.  Thanks again.

Rich

kg4kpg

Okay, gonna go ahead and try stretched sprue for my braces.  I've used it for other stuff, didn't think of it until you guys chimed in.

 

Rich, I believe I have a front tire you can have if you want it, I used a resin tire in a previous build. 

Chris

 

Sparrowhyperion:

 

Thanks guys.  I decided it would be nice for some variety so I stuck the 12 pack in one to use as a P-400, and the Russian bird gets the six pack.  I am having one problem with the Russian plane.  The nose whel tire is missing so it's going to be gear up.  Which also means I need to fabricate the front panel for the landing gear bay in the nose.  Should have it donw by tonight providing I don't find the tire. lol  With any luck, tomorrow afternoon is paint day after we get back from house hunting.

Rich