French a/c group build 2012-13

Que continue dans ici ?

(le bump! )

Thanx for comments guys 

i'm waiting for less hotness and less work troubles to continue kits on workbench .. holidays is near and try to clear working projects 

Don't you love the last days before a vacation... when you have to work even harder to make sure you can take your days off!!!

VanceCrozier

Don't you love the last days before a vacation... when you have to work even harder to make sure you can take your days off!!!

two days again!! or three 

Not much to show on my Mirage III. I just joined the fuselarge halves with cockpit tub and engine installed. I will have to do a little work on the front wheel well, there is a little bit of a gap between the bottom and the fuselarge.

Theuns

Finally a little something to show with the D.520!

Got the canopy glass masked up last night...

And Mr. Surfacer 1200 sprayed on tonight.

Need to polish it up, then tackle the rudder red/white/blue and perhaps the preshading. Only have two more bench nights before the road trip, so we'll see what kind of progress actually happens.

Theuns - progress is progress! Post pics when you get a chance.

DoogsATX - The more I see of that D520, the more I like the lines. A fairly small machine as well.  Where is the road trip taking you - somewhere slightly cooler I hope??

I need to decide what I'm building & start picking away at some subassemblies when I have time, lest I start looking like a BIG GROUP BUILD SLACKER!! (Also working, playing ball at every opportunity & still playing dad/chauffeur)

VanceCrozier

DoogsATX - The more I see of that D520, the more I like the lines. A fairly small machine as well.  Where is the road trip taking you - somewhere slightly cooler I hope??

It's an interesting design to be sure - pretty small but still significantly larger than an La-5 or Yak-3. To be honest, I'm in it mostly for the awesome camo scheme!

The road trip's taking me and the family to Colorado Springs. Probably about 12 degrees cooler on average than what's here in Austin. And on the way back we're looking to take the long way and hit the War Eagles air museum near El Paso. Tons of old aircraft to ogle, including I think the only Tupolev Tu-2 outside of the former USSR...

Should be some good reference for when my Xuntong Tu-2T comes (probably while I'm on the road...)

DoogsATX

VanceCrozier

DoogsATX - The more I see of that D520, the more I like the lines. A fairly small machine as well.  Where is the road trip taking you - somewhere slightly cooler I hope??

It's an interesting design to be sure - pretty small but still significantly larger than an La-5 or Yak-3. To be honest, I'm in it mostly for the awesome camo scheme!

The road trip's taking me and the family to Colorado Springs. Probably about 12 degrees cooler on average than what's here in Austin. And on the way back we're looking to take the long way and hit the War Eagles air museum near El Paso. Tons of old aircraft to ogle, including I think the only Tupolev Tu-2 outside of the former USSR...

Should be some good reference for when my Xuntong Tu-2T comes (probably while I'm on the road...)

Taking the long way home is approved!!  Xuntong kit?? Never heard of them but just spotted some info online. You have the twin-torpedo bomber on the way? Looks menacing!

Alright...last update before the trip. 

Pre-shaded the D.520 last night...

Tonight I painted the rudder white, which will next be masked and sprayed with red and blue.

Since I had the airbrush out I went ahead and knocked out the underside gris bleu clair (50% Gunze C315 Gray, 30% Gunze C1 White and 20% Gunze C337 Grayish Blue):

The D.520's an odd little aircraft that you dont seem to hear much about. I understand it was quite a nimble little diver.

DoogsATX

I like the zebra-striped camouflage!!

I hope "double cross overs" are OK LOL!

My 1/72 Airfix AS 330 Puma will be done in SAAF colours.

Theuns

Cross-overs are definitely welcome!

Scorpiomikey

The D.520's an odd little aircraft that you dont seem to hear much about. I understand it was quite a nimble little diver.

Blame history. At the start of World War II there were, in my opinion, for "fighters of a kind" in Europe. All built to new specs in the 30s and revolutionizing aviation and aerial combat. The Germans had the Bf 109. The Brits had the Spitfire (and Hurricane). The Soviets had the LaGG-3. And the French the D.520. But the D was plagued by development pains, entered service too late and in too few numbers to do anything to turn the tide. Though it could hold its own against a 109E-3, France was out of the war a matter of weeks after it finally reached the front lines.

Had France stayed in the war, I imagine the D.520 would've gone something like the LaGG when it was radial'd and rechristened the La-5. But France didn't, and the D.520 didn't.

Also a bit more progress - wasn't anticipating bench time tonight but we're setting off on the road trip later than planned tomorrow morning, so I took some time to knock out the rudder:

DoogsATX

Had France stayed in the war, I imagine the D.520 would've gone something like the LaGG when it was radial'd and rechristened the La-5. But France didn't, and the D.520 didn't.

Also a bit more progress - wasn't anticipating bench time tonight but we're setting off on the road trip later than planned tomorrow morning, so I took some time to knock out the rudder:

Looking very nice !

An interesting comment about D-520 possible development.

Gives me an idea for a future "what if" build. 

Nice touch on the rudder striping. Now you have me thinking what a D520 would look like with a radial engine....

VanceCrozier

Nice touch on the rudder striping. Now you have me thinking what a D520 would look like with a radial engine....

yes ......

Hello all!

Finally back home (actual home!) So now I am getting caught up on everything. Very nice looking projects on here so far! Doogs, I will be living vicariously through you when you go to see that Tu-2! (Pardon while I wipe the drool off my keyboard...)

I pulled out the Amiot a few weeks ago and started messing with it. To say that the part fit and finish is atrocious would be, um, generous. I can't even do a "taped together" preview because the parts are so bad! But nevertheless, sometime in the next few days I will pull it out and start chooping away, er, shaping them. Pics to follow, when I get that far!

As you can see I had to mod the wheel sponsons as the SAAF changed them on later Pumas.

There was also a plate attached to the rear side of the cowl just behind the exhausts I must sill make.

As for the Mirage I had to fill in the bottom edge of the front wheelwell.There is a small gap between the well and the bottom fuse so I will need to shape it till it fits.

Theuns

The Puma is looking good Theuns. I like the extra work on the sponsoon.

Cheers

Tony

Theuns! Racing ahead with a pair of SAAF machines. Shaping up very nicely.

sub revolution - The Amiot needs a little amour to build up then?!??

Here it is:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nukesmoothie/7745755712/" title="amiot 2 by nitsirt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8285/7745755712_1d3d5c18ae_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="amiot 2"></a>

That's what I have to work with. One sprue (plus clear parts) and an exploded diagram for driections.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nukesmoothie/7745756952/" title="amiot 3 by nitsirt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8446/7745756952_d2d8251010_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="amiot 3"></a>

Here's all the pieces laid out. In process of sanding and shaping them all down. And I need to figure out what to do with the cockpit. Sparse does not begin to describe it.

I think after this model, anything will be possible!

Thanks, Budd

I got the wings on my Mirage, the wingrott will need some carefull sanding. I filled the gap with glue and sprue.

As for the puma, the windows are a BAD fit and I will have to make some plan arround the cockpit top :-(

I also added the exhaust plastes from thin clear sheet.

Theuns

Does anyone have (or are able to find) any pictures of the cockpit of an Amiot 351 or similar bomber? My Google is turning up nothing and I'm really scratching my head over it.

On the other hand, if no one knows what it looks like, I have free reign, right?

hello sub revolution

look your PM.

Interior pics of those WW2-era french machines do seem hard to find.

VanceCrozier

Interior pics of those WW2-era french machines do seem hard to find.

Even on the French language sites 

Sprue-ce Goose

VanceCrozier

Interior pics of those WW2-era french machines do seem hard to find.

Even on the French language sites