The Official 1942 70th Anniversary Group Build

My spit has been assembled and primed.  This week I plan to paint the yellow leading edges on the wings and maybe the underside.  Just picked up the rest of the paint to make it happen!

Also just finished coating the cockpit glass in future.

Guess I should proof read my posts in the future lol well hope y'all can translate what I was trying to say guess typing posts at 2 am will lead to errors

I would like to thank everyone for their compliments on the Wildcat I am excited it is my first model to. E completed think I might have over did the good prima silver pencil on exterior but several resources said the paint from the Cactus Air Force planes took a beating from coral.  Doogs wanted to thank you for ur blog I have picked so many pointers from and wanted to fill you how much I appreciate the info you put out for us newbies.  One day thinking about hosting a group built leaning on doing a build for night fighters .

The airfix spit looks good Chris

Here's finally an update as to the status of my spitfire, as its finally taking shape.

For the most part everything is assembled, even made it through my first attempt with PE for the cockpit.  I've puttied the seams and just finished most of the underside gluing.  Hopefully by the weekend I will be able to prime it.

I have the paint for the camo pattern, just need to pick up the paint for the underbody.

I also got the email that the decals from Canmilair are about to be shipped.

Wildcat's looking sharp! From experience, it's a shame that so much of the interior work will be invisible in the final product (big barrel of a fuselage, tiny cockpit opening...) - but can't wait to see it all come together!

All - looks like I'm back in it. Decided to start my foray into ships with another legend of Ironbottom Sound - USS Laffey DD-459. She arrives tomorrow, but I still need to get my hands on the Gold Medal Models PE set...

Good work TexasT looking good wildcat

That's a superb Wildcat, TexasT.  I like what you did with the engine, but the overall results are impressive, too.

My goal when I starting Marion Carl's Wildcat from Guadalcanal I wanted this to be the first model to complete.  I am new to the hobby and this is the fourth model I have started and glad to say finally finished with a few mishaps.  One thing I have learned is when to try to fix a mistake it can cause more mistakes .  I did learn alot and appreciate advice had a gotten from the forums.  The experience modelers that give advise to us newbies makes this hobby great and I am hooked for life long as I make momma happy.  I still have a long way to go with my weathering, but wanted to give it a shot especially on such a known warbird and Medal of Honor pilot.

Hate to do this, all, but I've got to pull out. I was going to build Trumpy's North Carolina kit as the Washington, but the work to not only build the sister ship, but backdate her to 1942 fittings, way, way outside my comfort zone. Especially as the kit is somewhat, er, special (upper hull is all warpy).

Planning to jump in later with a 1942 something, just not sure what at the moment.

My Achilles heel is radio masts and antennae.  I just can't get them tight.  When I tighten the wire, the mast breaks off or gets loose.  Oh well more practice.  Thanks for the GB.  I love me some 109s

Satch

 What are you using for the antennae wire?  If you're using a heat source to tighten it, I've found cigarettes work best (I used to steal them from my sister years ago, for modeling purposes).  If the smell of tobacco is an issue, you can use little cigars that come in flavors.  It's almost like potpourri.

I've tried incense sticks (now, I steal those from my daughter), and matches (lighted, blown out and quickly applied).  But neither of these seems hot enough.

It's also more of a problem to tighten a longer wire, I think.  It that case, run the heat source along the length of the wire, rather than holding it in one place.  That sort of distributes the heat; otherwise it tends to weaken and melt the line at the place where the heat is concentrated.

And you're right about practice.  A recent ship build took me three hours over two days just to put about ten little wires on and get them to look right.

And your collection of Heinz Bar's aircraft is impressive.  Good job on the mottled camouflage. 

Sub Rev, Yes Heinz Bar flew Bf109 Es, Fs, FW 190 As and the Me 262.  I am building all his known mounts.

Satch

I finally started my Wildcat this is my fourth model and keep your fingers crossed my goal is to complete this Wildcat to the end.  The other 3 models I started ran into some mishaps that need to be fixed.  Like to appreciate everyone's advice and help so far.  This is my first model with an engine so please be kind lol.

Happy Ides of march and pi day (yesterday) everybody!

chopper- Very nice looking pit so far! Did I read that right that it is 1/24? That thing is gonna be a BEAST!

Jailcop- That's pretty cool! Maybe some day if I actually settle down somewhere I would like to do something like that...

satch- Excellent work as always! That first picture is a great angle. Unique and looks very mean!  I cropped it a little and used it for the front page. Also love the German plane lineup! Not knowing as much as I should, I assume that Heinz Bar was a pilot who flew those three planes over the course of the war?

And yes, Nathan, I am still doing the Sturmovik if I ever get my lazy *** in gear!

Heinz Bar's stable of mounts so far.

The Luftwaffe Experten shelf.

The Kit was the Hasegawa 1/48 F2 built OOB except for the belts.  The yellow is Vallejo and the 74/75/76 are MM Acrylics.  Decals are a mixture of Techmod and kit decals. 

My Achilles heel is radio masts and antennae.  I just can't get them tight.  When I tighten the wire, the mast breaks off or gets loose.  Oh well more practice.  Thanks for the GB.  I love me some 109s

Satch

Chopper. The cockpit to your Stuka looks awesome.

Bob

The 88mm gun is done except the parts that are missing. I will have pics by the end of the week.

Of course you can ask!  The owner is an old family friend, so I try to pay him as many visits as possible.  He has an entire aisle of his very small store that has display cases that he displays his customers work.  

I don't display every model I build, but sometimes we talk about what I'm building or have in my stash, or what I'm buying from him, and he asks that I bring it by when I finish.

I like to write up a small info card to go with the certain aircraft when I put it on display.  To me, it helps round out the display.  

I like displaying my work at the store and getting feedback from the owner and his customers, I think it's helping me get my confidence up to one day enter a model in a show.

Hey all... Getting a late start but here goes. A crossover from the Airfix GB. Not super detailed but good practice as this is my second airplane in 30+ years. Just trying to get the hang of building, painting and using an airbrush again. Not going to bother detailing engine as it's going to be all buttoned up.

Good to see you back sub, I've acquired a few more kits that would work for this group build, I think I'll add them later on. You still planning on doing the Shturmovik?

Ok, sorry everyone!!! I know, I'm like the worst GB host ever! For those who missed it, I had to ride my boat back to Portland, Oregon, then I had really bad internet for a while. And if you have ever tried going to this forum on a slow internet connection. God. Help. You. I think I am finally getting caught up on everything, though.

Updated the front page, including the finished photos for potchip and jailcop. Excellent work gentlemen! Again, I think I got everyone's info right, but please doublecheck me. And yes, Ninetalis, I fixed your name.

to Casper the Chihuahua, potchip, sanderson 91, and Texas Tbone!

JBrady- It looks like everything was going so well! You sure you want to drop completely?

ww2psycho- Looking great so far! I have no problem with you calling it done when you want to. It is, after all, your model.

jailcop- Excellent job! You display your models at the LHS? That's pretty neat. What's the story behind that, if I may ask?

satch_ip- Very nice work so far, can't wait to see more!

potchip- Congrats on a (very fast) completion. That is an excellent camo job, and in such a small scale! Sorry again for just now getting to you!

Hope to see some more good stuff here soon! Did I miss anybody? As for myself, well, I'm still unpacking....

hold on ww2psyco, pieces will be out as you just finish to scratchbuild new pieces, recently i had two similar experiences

Satch magnific camo on the 109

satch_ip, well done.  Nice camo.

Bob

Cammo and mottling done on Heinz's F-2.  Ready for gloss, decals, and fiddly bits.

I've come to the conclusion PE hates me.  Feelings are mutual.

I'm using "instant krazy glue" and as I went to assemble the rest of the cockpit I had an epic failure of what was glued.

Trying Future now.....

ww2psycho

Im just not having luck with my 88mm gun, I was working on filling a piece that had a huge open spot on the back side yesterday and now I have no idea where I put it. That makes two missing pieces until found or replaced. Tamiya said that it would be like 8 months or so before they have those parts back in stock so Im hoping the host will overlook my bad luck and let me call this one done after I apply the decals.

Heh, the host has vanished, I'm sure the rest of us won't mind. Too bad about Tamiya taking so long on the replacement.

Don't give up hope, ww2psycho.  The pieces might still show up.  I lost one piece for USS New Orleans, Pearl Harbor Group Build.  After I scratch built one to replace it, the missing piece showed up--stuck to a dish towel on the kitchen table.

Im just not having luck with my 88mm gun, I was working on filling a piece that had a huge open spot on the back side yesterday and now I have no idea where I put it. That makes two missing pieces until found or replaced. Tamiya said that it would be like 8 months or so before they have those parts back in stock so Im hoping the host will overlook my bad luck and let me call this one done after I apply the decals.

No, I decided that since it's going on display, I'd leave it clean like it was a museum piece.

Nice job on the wildcat. No weathering on this one?