ANZAC GB Sept 2012 to Sept 2013

Yeh, it was a fun kit, and a lot less frustrating than some of the other brands like the Revell/Monogram kits in that scale.  I agree about the flaps.  It would have been nice if they had given at least the option of retracted flaps.  I wouldn't recommend this kit fo an inflight build for that one reason, but for an on the flightline build, it's perfect.

Scorpiomikey

Ah, in that case, fantastic job. That kits a nice kit to build isnt it? Although i found the flaps infinitely frustrating.

Very nice looking finish Sparrow. What blue did you use for it?

Just standard Testors Model Master Dark Sea Blue.  I use that for most WWII USN and USMC aircraft like the Corsair, Wildcat, Hellcat, etc...  When it dries it has that kind of dark slate hue I like from that era.

Rich

Blitzwing

Very nice looking finish Sparrow. What blue did you use for it?

I was curious, what boneyard to we have here in TX  an where Sir ?

My Bad.  I don't know why I always think Texas.  I was actually referring to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson Arizona.  Ever since my Aneurysm, I tend to get things mixed up sometimes.  It drives my Wife nuts, but there's not much I can do about it. Sorry.

Rich

Rattler

I was curious, what boneyard to we have here in TX  an where Sir ?

In a few thousand years time. Archaeologists are going to dig up that site and wonder what in hell was going on.

Although i feel sorry for whoever recovers the facebook archives.

Okay.. She's done.  I decided to go with the just off the assembly line approach.  I didn't want to have my crappy attempt to weather her kill the look.  Here is the finished product.

First Side View

Second Side View

And Front View

She's probably one of the best Corsairs I have done.  Hopefully the F/A-18D will get here soon, and I can get that one started.

So if there are no objections, I'll grab the Badge now. 

Rich

Looks awesome man. Im glad those decals got used.

OWL should update the front page shortly. That blue is alot darker than i was expecting. But i like it, really makes the yellow pop.

Couple things though. Cowl looks like its not seated properly? And pitot tube missing from port (left) wing.

updated!

My resin cockpit has arrived and my armoured car is complete so work on my Tomahawk can begin. Looking at the resin cockpit I'm glad I've decided to replace the kit one. 

Here are the two sidewalls, next to each other and the height difference of the walls is quite apparent. 

The two seats next to each other and again the height difference is very apparent, with the kit seat almost looking like a low backed chair. 

Here are the two instrument panels. Oddly Trumpeter don't even provide a decal for the instruments and the clear part has holes drilled out where the glass should actually be which actually makes the clear part unnecessary if you think about it. You can also see the Aires gunsight under the instrument panel which makes Trumpeters etched metal one look ham fisted in comparison. 

It's a shame Trumpeter got the dimensions so wrong in the cockpit because I think the mouldings look alright and would have been quite useable, but this would have just been too weird .

Anyway I'm excited to get the build started.

Good looking, Corsair, Rich.  Something I've never built.  I know what you mean about weathering.  I'm always leary of it, too.  Don't do much with beyond a pin wash.

Yeh I noticed that this morning too..  I'll have to go through the sprues again to find the Pitot tube.  I want to wait until everything has a day or so to set and properly cure before I mess with the cowling.  It must have slipped while it was sitting on the shelf drying.  I ended up using the original decals you sent, not the redone ones except for the numbers.  When I tried to use the ones I made, I discovered the decal sheets I got were the transparent kind, not the white backed kind, so they weren't usable.  The package was mislabeled.  I need to get some more sheets now before I can print anymore decals.   The Blue isn't really as dark as it looks.  It's just my cheapo camera. lol

Rich

That sucks dude, at least you can replicate them now though.

Yeh, there is that.  I just fixed the cowling and put in the missing pitot tube.  Now, one of the stupid little tiny exhaust stack pieces fell off somewhere. lmao.  Not worth bothering with.  I got the last coat of gloss on and she's a beauty.  Now I need to find a nice cat proof place to put her.

Scorpiomikey

That sucks dude, at least you can replicate them now though.

"Now I need to find a nice cat proof place to put her."

Plastic storage boxes with the snap-on lids--when your models are not out on display.  Even sitting on top of them, the cat is powerless to destroy.

Yeh, I was thinking along those same lines.

My F/A-18 Hobby Boss kit arrived.  Now I am working up the nerve to open the box.  I still can't believe I got the thing for $20, still in shrinkwrap...   I'll probably start on her later today.  I had to order some more Blue Angel Blue and Light Ghost Gray.  Why is it you always run out of the paint you need when you start a kit.  Never something for any other kit, just paints particular to the kit you are starting...?  lol

Anyways, I will try and get some box and sprue shots later today.

Rich

checkmateking02

"Now I need to find a nice cat proof place to put her."

Plastic storage boxes with the snap-on lids--when your models are not out on display.  Even sitting on top of them, the cat is powerless to destroy.

Well.  I got a little start last night.  Here are the Startup images..

First the obligatory box images...

And now for some sprue shots...

And finally.  the little bit I got done last night.

As you can tell by the sprues, this is going to be a pretty involved build, lol.  The fit is pretty good so far, on the few pieces I have assembled.  I am definitely not looking forward to painting all that cockpit detail.  It's a bit soft in places, but nothing a good Xacto knife can't fix.

More images as work progresses

Rich

Looking good dude. Its a shame you couldnt find the single seater. But it should look wicked when its done.

I was watching the great race yesterday (Bathurst 1000) and they had some amazing shots of the RAAF F/A-18 doing an aerobatic display. Wish i could find it on youtube. Ill just post some footage of the race instead lol.

Lap 161, last lap. Both cars are running on fumes and their tires are stuffed.

That Hornet looks like a pretty nice kit. Nothing like the 1/72 scale ones.

Sparrow' , your Corsair came out great ;

Well done .

Looking forward to seeing the F/A-18D come together too .

Blitzwing , I also bought the 1/72 scale Hobby Boss Hornet and was extremely disappointed with what was in the box . I never built mine , instead I put it in a pile with other stuff and gave it to the Salvation Army Thrift shop .

Anyway nothing started from me yet , I still have a back-log of other project piled up on the bench and in the sprayboth . Hopfully I can start something soon .

John .

Yeh I don't do 1/72 anymore, except for subjects that are too big to be practical at 1/48 or above.  I just don't have the dexterity anymore.

Thanks Helo.   The cockpit is almost ready for final assembly.  I just have to do some detail cleanup, then install the forward joystick and the seats.  Then it's on to bigger and less frustrating things. lol

Rich

I thought the exterior of the 1/72 hornet wasn't too bad, but that cockpit was just terrible and the worst thing about it was you couldn't even replace it without fairly major surgery because it was moulded as a part of  the upper fuselage.

Dang...  Has anyone else ever done one of these Hobby Boss kits?  This one is a nightmare...  I haven't been able to get one sub-assembly to go together without having to practically hammer them into position.  When I installed the lower front landing gear assembly it was a full 1/8 inch off and I had to do major surgery to get it to fit in properly.  Then more surgery to get the nose to go on without bumping into the landing gear pod.  I won't even go into what the engine assemblies are doing.  One of them was so bad it popped out at some point while the glue was drying, even with tape and clamps, and split open on the long seam.  The glue set before I noticed it had come undone and now it's going to be a mess to fix...  If I can at all.  I got frustrated and made a trip to our storage.  It took me over an hour, but I found my 2 Revell Blue Angel F-18 kits..  I'm going to build one and sell the other to try and get some of what I wasted on this kit back.  At least I know what demons lurk inside that kit.  I don't have any more money to waste on more replacements for this one.

Rich

Oh dude, that sucks. Never built hobby boss. Always looked at the boxes and though "um, yeah, nah, not today" (Another kiwi term, yeah nah lol) PM me about your F-18. Might think about doing one myself.

Anyone interested in a 1/48 Revell Blue Angel F-18 kit?  I'm going to put it on eBay unless someone here wants first grabs at it.

ooh! PM sent

For those interested in Ran or the New Zealand Navy, here are a couple of choices for you.......

Perry Class in 1-350 from Academy

Charles F Adams in 1-700 from Dragon and 1-350 from White Ensign

Hmas Canberra or Hmas Australia from NNT

Current Anzac Class Missle Frigates from Fleetline Models Australia

Hmas Vampire in 1-700 from Tamiya

Hmas Manoora or Hmas Kanimbla converted from JAG Amphib Kits.

There are probably others but they are the better known ones.....Cheers Mark

Thanks for the surfsup.