Hi folks.  This is way way off topic, but I really needed to get this info to as many folks as possible. 

My Sister Susan lives in Maine, and is having a major crisis.  Her Step Son has a large brain tumor and is going to have to go under the knife.  My Sister is holding a fund raiser to help defray the costs of the surgery and I was wondering if anyone living in that part of the country could attend.  Here is a link to a story in a paper about it.

http://www.itemlive.com/articles/2012/04/19/news/news06.txt

Susan has had a hard life.  We were both put into foster care when we were kids and separated for a long time.  Now we live close to 1000 miles apart.  She has been working her entire adult life in the social services area, and helping everyone she could.  Every day she drives for hours each way into MA to her job helping folks.    If anyone in the area could attend, I would really appreciate it.  I won't be able to.  Gas prices are just way way to high for that trip for me.  But if I can even get a few people to go, I think she would appreciate it as well.

All of the information on the event is in the story I gave the link for.  So if you can attend great, or if you know anyone who could, please pass the URL along.

Thanks everyone.

Rich

Okay.  Got quite a bit done tonight.  With the exception of a bit of touch up paint to do on the ejection seat, the main fuselage is now together, as are the wings.

Here's the Cockpit sub assembly before being put in the fuselage.

Here is a shot of the two fuselage halves painted light gray inside, before assembly.

Now the two fuselage halves together with the cockpit module in place.

Here is a closer shot of the cockpit module in place in the fuselage.

And finally a shot of the wing assembly together and clamped for the evening.

She is moving along at a good pace.  Tomorrow I plan on getting a start on the landing gear painting, which si the part I really have problems with.   I'm going to have to get some more aluminum paint for the fuselage and wing modules.  I like the finish better than the silver that the instructions call for.  Have a good night everyone.

Rich

Nice job Rich!!  

SHHIIIIISSSHHHHH.....

Very nice Re-Cals Rich!

Well, thanks to Dom I was able to get a usable scan at high resolution of the ESCI F86 decal sheet.  I am attaching it here in case anyone needs it.  It's been cleaned up and restored as best as I can.  At full resolution, it is like 4509x4534.  Note that the sections of the decals, that need to be white, such as inside the stars and bars are colored with an RGB Value of 253,253,255 so when printed, you can print the background clear since it is pure white and will print clear on transparent decal paper, and the not quite white areas will not be noticeably different from pure white.  I also added some color to the instrument panel decals.

Gamera

Hey wow Ken, congrads! I have that decal sheet and it's some really sharp work.

Hey wow Ken, congrads! I have that decal sheet and it's some really sharp work.

Son Of Medicine Man

Hi Everyone,

I got a very pleasant surprise today!  That Cutting Edge A-26A (B-26K) Nimrod Conversion kit that I won on eBay arrived today.  When I opened the package, I was pleasantly surprised to find along with the conversion kit the Albatros Modelworks "Naughty Invaders" decals along with the resin nose plug and a Squadron vac-u-form canopy!  It's my birthday again!   

Ken

Hi Everyone,

I got a very pleasant surprise today!  That Cutting Edge A-26A (B-26K) Nimrod Conversion kit that I won on eBay arrived today.  When I opened the package, I was pleasantly surprised to find along with the conversion kit the Albatros Modelworks "Naughty Invaders" decals along with the resin nose plug and a Squadron vac-u-form canopy!  It's my birthday again!   

Ken

Hi Everyone,

I stopped by the Auto Paint store today and picked up some of that striping tape for detailing cars with.  It is a lot thinner.  I was working with it but completely forgot that it has a clear top layer that you are supposed to peel off after you apply it.  I had gone a good ways when I noticed the clear layer starting to come off.  It turned into a real mess.  So I scraped the whole thing and will start over.  I painted another wire and will wait for it to dry and then start again.  But it will look real nice when I get it done.  It will easily be 1/48 scale this time.

SOMM (the other Ken)

The ESCI set would be better.  There are a few fit differences between the two and that could cause issues with them.

Bockscar

Yeah Rich;

The same set. If you are not in too big a rush, I could scan them on the weekend, I think I have figured out how to scan at 1200, if not, I may have to snail them.

I have a mono "Huff" set with the dragon I could scan as they are loose.

Yeah Rich;

The same set. If you are not in too big a rush, I could scan them on the weekend, I think I have figured out how to scan at 1200, if not, I may have to snail them.

I have a mono "Huff" set with the dragon I could scan as they are loose.

Probably the same ESCI set that came with this kit.  I'd "Re-Cal" them as you put it, but I can't get a clean scan of them.  There are speckles of brown crud of some type all over them.  I think the previous owner may have had a case of "colacaneplosionitis" near the decals...

I'm not picky about what decals on this one, just something usable.  Otherwise it's getting the same paint job as the Sabre in the movie "The Last Chase", which has no real marking and is pretty boring.  Great Movie Though..

Bockscar

Well;

This hobby is never boring, I gotta say.

I checked my first Mono F-86, and the previous owner clipped the yellow and black wing-tip and waist bands.

I checked the Combination Set with the Mi-15, it only has the decals as they are on the box-cover, and the MIG's canopy set and clear sprue is MIA.

I have an expensive Academy box-cover only set, an AM set for the F-86D,

and lo and behold, a fresh Esci set with decals for 4 variants - might be a good bet.

 

Well;

This hobby is never boring, I gotta say.

I checked my first Mono F-86, and the previous owner clipped the yellow and black wing-tip and waist bands.

I checked the Combination Set with the Mi-15, it only has the decals as they are on the box-cover, and the MIG's canopy set and clear sprue is MIA.

I have an expensive Academy box-cover only set, an AM set for the F-86D,

and lo and behold, a fresh Esci set with decals for 4 variants - might be a good bet.

Rich;

You might be able to talk me out of a Monogram 1/48 set, I'll check the stash - sure you know what they look like.

Yeah,

Rich has done some amazing 're-cals' for me. It's a nice addition to an older kit to have a fresh set of decals. Very crisp details too.

Which reminds me, I don't think I've actually applied decals to anything since I did the control panel OOB for the F-4P....I was a young man back then.....

dom

I have a 1/48 Fury, but it's in storage.

Bockscar

PS:

I suppose if I had one of these, life would have been perfect!

North American slowly morphed the 'Stang into the Sabre.

Believe me, I would have liked to have done some more than OOB but...

A.  AM parts and details are out of budget for the time being.

B.  I don't think anyone ever made any aftermarket add ons for the Scalecraft kit.

and

C.  I just want to get this done as neatly as possible. lol

The silver is nice. but it can be a somewhat bother when dealing with decals.  I don't know how they used to formulate it but sometimes you will end up with weird decal issues.  Considering I have to prime it in flat black anyway, and it's one of those cases where it really isn't much help.

Anyone have any spare F86F decals out there?  All I have is F86D AM sheets.  And these OOB original decals are hosed.

Bockscar

Ken;

Way back in the mid 60's my brother and I got a combo kit, 1/72 Sabre and Mustang. I don't know who the manufacturer was. I remember I could never make up my mind which one I liked better.

I picked up one of each though, the Mustang is Hasegawa, and I think the Sabre is Academy. They are tiny, but the detail is great, brings back memories.

 

Rich;

So, do you feel like you are cheating yet Rich? OOB?

Is there a Micro-sol product to de-fur cats?

I have to say, of all the styrene around, I still like the silver colored the best. I can almost smell tube glue when i see pictures like that. -oh yeah, and a finger prints on the canopy......

 

Dom

PS:

I suppose if I had one of these, life would have been perfect!

North American slowly morphed the 'Stang into the Sabre.

I almost always use the liquid decal film on older decals, and some newer ones that tend to be thin, like some of the Academy kit decals.  If the decals are both old and discolored, I scan them into my computer at very high resolution (usually 1200dpi) and then use Paint Shop Pro by Corel to either clean them up, or to use as a template to make duplicates from scratch.  Then just use some decal film inkjet paper, and wala..  Brand new sharp and clear decals.  Ask Dom how they come out.   I have made him a few sets for some of his older kits.  They almost always come out cleaner than the original.  And it also solves the age old problem with decals made a long time ago using the older offset processes where the registration between the different color runs didn't match up 100 percent.  But even after I print out these, I use either gloss coat or dull coat (depending on the application) on the printed decal sheets to seal the image.  You just have to remember to cut the decals exactly on the edges of the printed parts.

I love the F86.  It's one of those simple classics.  I have a 1/32 version kit as well, but I didn't have the ambition to get into that one at this time.  I don't have anyplace to display or even store something that big since we care currently living with my Mom-in Law.  But as soon as we get our own place.... Look out... I have a ton of larger kits I have been dying to do.  I have done the old Monogram F86 quite a few times.  It's a nice kit, but the fit on this one looks to be a bit better.

Rich

Son Of Medicine Man

Hi Rich,

I have not had the pleasure of trying to work with older decals as of yet.  Looks like you are winning the battle!  I think the F-86 was one of my first kits when I was a kid.  Of course it was only 1/72 scale back then.

Ken

Ken;

Way back in the mid 60's my brother and I got a combo kit, 1/72 Sabre and Mustang. I don't know who the manufacturer was. I remember I could never make up my mind which one I liked better.

I picked up one of each though, the Mustang is Hasegawa, and I think the Sabre is Academy. They are tiny, but the detail is great, brings back memories.

Rich;

So, do you feel like you are cheating yet Rich? OOB?

Is there a Micro-sol product to de-fur cats?

I have to say, of all the styrene around, I still like the silver colored the best. I can almost smell tube glue when i see pictures like that. -oh yeah, and a finger prints on the canopy......

Dom

Hi Rich,

I have not had the pleasure of trying to work with older decals as of yet.  Looks like you are winning the battle!  I think the F-86 was one of my first kits when I was a kid.  Of course it was only 1/72 scale back then.

Ken

Hey Guys. 

Well, after a few false starts, and a long losing argument with an uncooperative Mig 29, I have started a build.  Not the MIG.  I just could not get the fit right on the fuselage.

So without further ado..  I will be doing a 1/48 Scalecraft/ESCI F86F Sabre.  This kit will be OOB, except I think I may need to replace the decals.

Some work began today.

First, here is an image of the little bugger in it's box.

The very plain vanilla instructions.

Now the troublesome decals.   (You can't see it too well, but I think something spilled on the decals before I got the kit.  I had to use liquid decal film to salvage at least the instrument panel decals, which is good becaue without the decals, it's just a plain plastic panel.

Here is the obligatory "In the Box" shot of the virgin kit....  Well sort of Virgin anyways..

It's a pretty basic kit.   But has some decent external detail, and is designed well.  It was one of my eBay finds last year, and for the price, I can live with the nasty decals.  Here are some in progress shots of the initial first assembly steps.  Basically decaled the panels and pre-assembled the seat prior to detail painting.

I did get the decal to flatten out eventually.  Old decals don't adhere as well.  A second coat of Micro-Sol did the trick though.  Here is the main instrument panel.

I had the same issue here with the decal, with the same solution.  Now for a shot of the pilots seat pre-assembled prior to painting.

As you can see in the image, my 18 pounds of stupid cat decided to donate some fur to the seat...  If he does it again, it's Flowbee time for sure...

I will probably be doing more work on her later.  I need to let the decals finish setting up, and the seat completely cure, then I start painting.  While I am waiting, I have to go through my decal sheets and see if I still have an F86F of any kind.  If not, it's back to eBay.. lol

Thanks for the comments, guys.

SOMM, yup, the TF will be the typical gray.

Nope, sorry no pics of the A-26.

Buzz

Scorpiomikey

Wow, theres some good progress goin on here. I need to get a rattle on on my corsair. (Haha, i made a pun, cos im using rattle cans to paint lol)

Wow, theres some good progress goin on here. I need to get a rattle on on my corsair. (Haha, i made a pun, cos im using rattle cans to paint lol)

Bockscar

Ken;

I'm still very distracted by the bomb-load.

Hi Dom,

Now that you mentioned bomb-load, Warbird Decals has just released a couple of sheets for the B-52!  One is for a B-52G and the other is for a B-52H.  The B-52H set includes the common stencils and data.  I going to grab 'em when they hit my favorite retail shop.  By the way, they are 1/72 scale.

SOMM (the other Ken)

kbuzz01

Jailcop - that Sabre is looking nice.    I've also had good luck with the buffing metalizer - used it on my Academy F-86 and several others.

Gamera - The A-20 is coming along great.  I think the Havoc and Invader were good lookin' aircraft.  A long time ago, my unit had an A-26 Invader (aluminum finish, tho).

Keep up the good work, guys.

I have a little more progress on the TF-102:

Pit is installed:

Main pieces:

Got some fun fitting to do here:

Buzz

Hi Buzz (the other Ken)

Man, that is looking sweet.  What kind of finish are you going to put on that?  ADC grey?

Now I could not help but catch you mentioning the A-26.  Did that happen to be a converted Nimrod?  I finally won a Cutting Edge A-26A (B-26K) Nimrod Conversion kit on eBay just a couple of days ago for a pretty penny.  I have been after that kit for two years now.  Do you have any pictures of the one in your unit?

SOMM (the other Ken)

Hey guys, thanks! I'll see about getting a photo from the front, I need to do a little work there too.

Buzz: The TF-102 is really starting to come together. And cool about the A-26, I think the A-20 was a nicer lookin' plane but the A-26 was h3ll on wheels when it came to ground attack or so I've heard.

Ken;

I'm still very distracted by the bomb-load.

Gamera

Guys, here's where 'Ridin' High' currently sits. You should be able to see part of the white strip I messed up on the tail fin. Sorry the photo is a little blurry since I didn't feel like setting up the tripod.

Hi Cliff,

Great work on the Havoc!  I think you are being just a little too critical about the tail fin.  Looks good from where I am sitting.    I would like to see a shot from the front showing that skull with the machine guns poking through the eye sockets you mentioned!

SOMM (the other Ken)