Nice job on the A-20 Havoc Cliff!  It looks outstanding!      The wash is great!  Paint looks fabulous!  Decals are nice and smooth.  Masking on the canopy looks really nice.

If you want to wait for better pictures, just let me know and then I will post it on the front page.  Great job Cliff!

Ken

Ouch I'm sorry to hear that Jim, I'm not looking forward to going though the same thing...

On good news I did snap a few photos of the A-20 so I guess she's done. I need to glue the nose wheel to the strut it looks like. And I carefully weighted her out and then added a little extra weight and she's STILL a tailsitter... grrrrrrrrrrrr... I started to snow on me so I'll try to get some more photos later.

  I know what you mean; it didn't hit me completely until I received my dad's death certificate 3 weeks ago. It makes it all so final and I don't know why but it  was difficult for me as well. It does get better, that I know; not easier, just better.....

jimbot58

Well, tonight was not good. I received email notification that Mom's marker finally came in. It kind of caught me off guard, and I sort of just lost it. Who knows what kind of reaction I will have when I finally see her name there....

At least it will be done and you won't have to be anticipating it anymore.  That will be the good thing about it.  I always thought it was bad that it takes so long to get that part taken care of.

Ken

Well, tonight was not good. I received email notification that Mom's marker finally came in. It kind of caught me off guard, and I sort of just lost it. Who knows what kind of reaction I will have when I finally see her name there....

Oh Ken, Zotz decals are great! You're going to love them.

Hi Everyone,

Well I made a score finally.  I have been waiting for Sprue Brothers to finally get it in stock.  As soon as they notified me they had it, I ordered it.  It is a set of decals for several different aircraft from Zotz.  They are in 1/32 scale and are labeled "The F-105F/G in Vietnam; Wild Weasels II at War".  It has decals for eight different aircraft including the EF-105F.  Here is a link:

http://www.zotz-decals.com/decals/zotz-32055.shtml 

Ken

Gamera

Ken: Nice work, looks like she's ready to pop into the fuselage now, shame about the missing handle but done that, been there, got the T-shirt myself!

Jim: Yeah almost there, I get really bogged down on adding the little stuff like that too. Still she's getting there. And gee you can't resist adding to the stash, believe me I'd tried!!! I've developed a recent obsession with US tanks/ tank destroyers- am resisting rushing out and buying a M18, M36, M4A3, M4A3E8 and a couple of other pieces of American heavy metal...

Russ: Interesing article, I'd always wondered if the Soviets came up with codewords for Western aircraft !  I had no idea about the using of one syllable words for props and two for jets.  

Thank you Cliff for the kind words.  Yes, that handle is so small and like I said, I didn't even see when it took flight so I really have no clue which direction it went.  I will try Russ's idea with the magnet.  If I don't find it, I will scrounge something else up.  It won't look as pretty but I am not going to worry about it.  I need to get this thing moving.

Ken

mikeymize

Hi Ken, thanks for the publicity. 3 pics in a row; I'm honored! LOL. As far as the paint ,I used MM Topside Green (Russian) and Underside Blue, also Russian. I did indeed use gloss coat before and dull after. The kit was the old Revell one circa 1977; I know this because it was printed on the horizontal stab that I had to sand off. That being said, the decals were not the greatest either but solvaset certainly helped . Then I dirtied them up as best I could as the color seemed a bit off (too bright). The other thing lacking in this kit was the cockpit. There was virtually no detail on the side consoles but as this was more or less a side project I wasn't real concerned. It was quick and relatively easy so I'm happy.

Also, I found the info on naming quite enjoyable as well so thanks Striker!

Hi Mike,

Well you did a great job with the paint and the decals!  Kudos man!

Ken

jimbot58

Nice work there, Mikey!

Ken, seeing all your doing there makes me wonder why we put ourselves through this madness! Oh, I suppose if it wasn't a challenge, we wouldn't do it! Great work there!

Still trying to find a minute or two here and there to work on the Corsair. Between extra hours at work and dealing with destructive arboreal rodents, Scirius Carolinensis, it's hard to find the time. I have been picking away at the landing gear:

The strut is just stuck in place for a test fit. I need to do a bit of a wash as it is a bit too plain. As you can see, many things are still needing to be done, such as the missing tail hook, weapons, gear, doors, avionics bay doors, etc., etc.,. At this rate, I may have no choice but to carry this project into the second build. I know it's all about participation, but it would have been nice to complete something for the first build.

In the meantime, it seems that my Corsair is about to gain a Naval brother. Squadron had the Hobbyboss A-7E sale priced for January. I kept trying to make up my mind, then I get this e-mail about taking an additional 30% off if ordered before 12 midnight on the 31st..... couldn't help myself. Added a cockpit detail set and the whole works with shipping came to less than 35 bucks! Dang! I needed another kit like I need.... well, another kit! Already had another Eduard avionics bay detail set, so I guess I had to justify having that by buying a kit for it!

Jim

Nice work once again JIm!!  You do amazing work with that wash!  And I still can't believe how you do it at 1/72 scale.

Hey, don't worry about not finishing before the end of this build.  What we can do is this.  If you don't get it done before the next one starts, just carry it over to the next one.  Then when you get it done, I will post the finished picture in this build and the second one.  That way you can have a finished build in this one and still be posting in the second build with the rest of us.

By the way, nice score on that A-7E!

Ken

Ken: Nice work, looks like she's ready to pop into the fuselage now, shame about the missing handle but done that, been there, got the T-shirt myself!

Jim: Yeah almost there, I get really bogged down on adding the little stuff like that too. Still she's getting there. And gee you can't resist adding to the stash, believe me I'd tried!!! I've developed a recent obsession with US tanks/ tank destroyers- am resisting rushing out and buying a M18, M36, M4A3, M4A3E8 and a couple of other pieces of American heavy metal...

Russ: Interesing article, I'd always wondered if the Soviets came up with codewords for Western aircraft !  I had no idea about the using of one syllable words for props and two for jets.  

Son Of Medicine Man

Hi Everyone,

I got a little bit done at the bench tonight.  I started to test fit the cockpit to the fuselage and realized that the braces molded into the fuselage had to go shown in this next photograph:

Here is a shot with them properly disposed of:

 

Next I trimmed off those ridges from the cockpit:

And here is the other side:

 

That is all I got done tonight.  I will chat with everyone later.

Ken

You're making progress, Ken. Keep up the good work!

Russ

Nice work there, Mikey!

Ken, seeing all your doing there makes me wonder why we put ourselves through this madness! Oh, I suppose if it wasn't a challenge, we wouldn't do it! Great work there!

Still trying to find a minute or two here and there to work on the Corsair. Between extra hours at work and dealing with destructive arboreal rodents, Scirius Carolinensis, it's hard to find the time. I have been picking away at the landing gear:

The strut is just stuck in place for a test fit. I need to do a bit of a wash as it is a bit too plain. As you can see, many things are still needing to be done, such as the missing tail hook, weapons, gear, doors, avionics bay doors, etc., etc.,. At this rate, I may have no choice but to carry this project into the second build. I know it's all about participation, but it would have been nice to complete something for the first build.

In the meantime, it seems that my Corsair is about to gain a Naval brother. Squadron had the Hobbyboss A-7E sale priced for January. I kept trying to make up my mind, then I get this e-mail about taking an additional 30% off if ordered before 12 midnight on the 31st..... couldn't help myself. Added a cockpit detail set and the whole works with shipping came to less than 35 bucks! Dang! I needed another kit like I need.... well, another kit! Already had another Eduard avionics bay detail set, so I guess I had to justify having that by buying a kit for it!

Jim

Hi Ken, thanks for the publicity. 3 pics in a row; I'm honored! LOL. As far as the paint ,I used MM Topside Green (Russian) and Underside Blue, also Russian. I did indeed use gloss coat before and dull after. The kit was the old Revell one circa 1977; I know this because it was printed on the horizontal stab that I had to sand off. That being said, the decals were not the greatest either but solvaset certainly helped . Then I dirtied them up as best I could as the color seemed a bit off (too bright). The other thing lacking in this kit was the cockpit. There was virtually no detail on the side consoles but as this was more or less a side project I wasn't real concerned. It was quick and relatively easy so I'm happy.

Also, I found the info on naming quite enjoyable as well so thanks Striker!

Hi Everyone,

I got a little bit done at the bench tonight.  I started to test fit the cockpit to the fuselage and realized that the braces molded into the fuselage had to go shown in this next photograph:

Here is a shot with them properly disposed of:

Next I trimmed off those ridges from the cockpit:

And here is the other side:

That is all I got done tonight.  I will chat with everyone later.

Ken

Striker8241

Very nice job on that MIG, Mike. As for the naming convention, here is a link to information on the method used by NATO to select names for Russian and Chinese aircraft:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NATO_reporting_name

There are also some links to US methods and lists.

Hi Russ,

Very interesting read there at that link.  Thank you for providing that.  I always thought the names they came up for the Soviet and Chinese aircraft were funny, but now I understand why.

Ken

Hi Mike M.,

I updated the front page with this picture:

Nice work!  The finish looks real smooth.  What kind of paint did you use?  Did you gloss coat it before the decals then paint the flat finish over it?  The decals look like they are pretty smooth and even too.

Ken

kbuzz01

Really nice intricate work on that cockpit, Ken.  Looks great!!     

Kbuzz

Thank you Ken!  I appreciate it!

Ken

Hey MikeM- she looks good!!!

Very nice job on that MIG, Mike. As for the naming convention, here is a link to information on the method used by NATO to select names for Russian and Chinese aircraft:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NATO_reporting_name

There are also some links to US methods and lists.

Got a couple more photos taken of the MiG. I have been very happy with the Badger Patriot. The best aspect for me is the ability to create my own colors which I never had before, it's so cool and gives me many more options than I had with rattle cans. I will still use them as they are very convenient. I painted the canopy free hand so it's not quite as good as finish as I would have liked but overall I'm happy with this one. I did forget to put some weight up front & had to use the stand I'm so used to tail draggers! The three prongs on the fuselage just forward of the nose wheel is an IFF antenna, the NATO designator was "odd rod". I just thought that was a great name. Also I wonder who had to come up these names and how much did the government pay him?!!!

Really nice intricate work on that cockpit, Ken.  Looks great!!     

Kbuzz

Gamera

Ken: I know what you mean, I hate it when parts seem like they aren't even designed for the same friggin' kit. Still, nice work there, looks like you beat 'er into shape!

MikeM: Looks good, I like her!

Thank you Cliff, it did take some persuading but I won!

Ken

mikeymize

I agree with Mr. Striker on the cockpit tub; you have so much going on there it's hard to imagine how you could top that one! Your patience and dedication to recreating that is very impressive. About that pesky squirrel, yes they can be a pain but what I really hate are what I call flying rats, that is any pigeon, gull, or any other common variety bird that uses my car as a toilet.

On another note, finished my side project and have one pic, more to follow. Nothing fancy just a small diversion which allowed me to improve airbrush skills. 

Thank you for the compliments Mike, I really appreciate it.

It looks like you have that new airbrush pretty well mastered!  Nice smooth finish on that MiG-21 Mike!

Ken

Striker8241

Wow, Ken, that's looking great! You don't even need the rest of the plane - just finish the tub and display it!

Russ

  Thank you Russ!  I am beginning to think I will want to put this in a sealed case once it is finished so it doesn't collect dust.  It would be impossible to clean!

Ken

Ken: I know what you mean, I hate it when parts seem like they aren't even designed for the same friggin' kit. Still, nice work there, looks like you beat 'er into shape!

MikeM: Looks good, I like her!

I agree with Mr. Striker on the cockpit tub; you have so much going on there it's hard to imagine how you could top that one! Your patience and dedication to recreating that is very impressive. About that pesky squirrel, yes they can be a pain but what I really hate are what I call flying rats, that is any pigeon, gull, or any other common variety bird that uses my car as a toilet.

On another note, finished my side project and have one pic, more to follow. Nothing fancy just a small diversion which allowed me to improve airbrush skills. 

Wow, Ken, that's looking great! You don't even need the rest of the plane - just finish the tub and display it!

Russ

Hi Everyone!

I wish I took some pictures before I started the repair on the cockpit so I could better show what it was I had to fix.  Oh well.  Here is a picture with the clamp in place after the second batch of epoxy was applied to fix the side wall:

Here it is from another angle:

 Here is the finished repair in the next picture.  To try and describe what exactly was happening, the bottom seam of the cockpit wall was not true to the seam of the cockpit tub.  It wanted to raise up towards the front.

 Here are some pictures showing the side walls in place:

Next is filing down those ridges off the exterior of the side walls to make room for the cockpit to fit into the fuselage.

Ken 

Striker8241

Ahh, bummer, Ken! After all that work you did on those handles. Did you try running a magnet around on the floor - maybe you can find it that way - or is that metal magnetic?

Hope everything works out ok,

Russ

Hi Russ,

Very good idea.  I will have to find a good sized magnet and give that a try.  I already looked around for a good hour with no luck.  But I have no idea where it went since I did not even notice it gone right away.

Ken