US CARRIER AVIATION GROUP BUILD 2013

You're right about the Thunderbirds, Clemens.  Saw them at Truax Field in Madison, Wisconsin a few years ago.  Mighty impressive!

Yep, those guys are just extremely badass:

They can't be human...

Flying that close, you wonder!

Clemens,

Having seen both the Blue and the Birds for many years, I can honestly say the Blue Angels are the better team.  If you can arrange it, try to see them at Blue Angels Week in Pensacola.  You can take in the unbelievable Naval Aviation Museum while you are there.

Arent all US military demonstration teams on hiatus until futher notice due to curent budget issues? The Blues, the 'Birds, and the Knights are only allowed to train enough to stay current on flight/jump status right now... all show apprearences for this year have been cancelled.

stikpusher

Arent all US military demonstration teams on hiatus until futher notice due to curent budget issues? The Blues, the 'Birds, and the nights are only allowed to train enough to stay current on flight/jump status right now... all show apprearences for this year have been cancelled.

Unfortunately, that is correct.

Hey Clemens (and everyone else in the GB), sorry for the delay in progress pics.  I have been insanely busy lately.  So here is where I am on the Dauntless.  I drilled each hole for the airbrakes!  192 just on the bottom part alone!  As you can see, I pushed a little too hard on one pass and the section came off.  No biggy, I'll work it where the brakes are open now.  The dual MG's (they are the tiny little black spots on the cloths pin!) drove me nuts trying to glue them to the stand, but it is done.  I'm working on the figures now, so I hope to have more pics soon.  

Great builds everyone!  Awesome work being done...almost embarrassed to post mine! 

Hi SchattenSpartan,

I'd like to join in on your group build.  This will be my first group build, and only my third build since I recently returned to the hobby.  I hope I don't embarass myself too badly.

Please put me down for a Mongram Devastator in 1/48 scale.  I built one of these as a kid back in the 70s and I'd like to see if if I can give it a better go the second time around.  I'll be adding Eduard's PE update kit as well as a set of Starfighter decals.

Thanks,

Rob

lewbud

stikpusher

Arent all US military demonstration teams on hiatus until futher notice due to curent budget issues? The Blues, the 'Birds, and the nights are only allowed to train enough to stay current on flight/jump status right now... all show apprearences for this year have been cancelled.

Unfortunately, that is correct.

Just for 2013.  They anticipate having the demonstration teams in the budget for 2014.  Too important for recruiting.  My Aunt used to work for the Angels in Pensicola (I got a lot of Blues memorabilia growing up) She said that in addition to wowing audiences the demo teams are good for reminding opposing air forces that they're best staying on the ground when US pilots are around.

I'll believe it when I see it. Yes the teams are nice to watch and do have a secondary mission aside from wowing crowds at the shows. But there sure does not seem to be any sign of the current situaton that produced the stand down being rectified anytime soon. It is possible that it may continue for longer.

Rob: Welcome to this GB! Don't worry about embarrasing yourself. This GB (which is growing pretty fast) was my first attempt at hosting a GB and it is way more popular than I imagined when I started it. The Wildcat I'm building here (some pages back) is only my 6th attempt (or something like that) since starting with the hobby. So don't worry, this is a great community with lots of nice and helpful guys!

Everyone else: That's really bad news. I hope your aerobatic teams are able to fly again soon... I am actually travelling to the states in early September, but it is by far no private trip, so I'll have no time for anything sadly... I definately have to come to the US at some point...

Cheers, Clemens

Well I got the weathering done!  Now just the landing gear, lg doors and tail hook and then she should just about be done.

Oh and to gloss coat the bottom.

John

Oops,  almost forgot, I guess they will need a wind screen! 

John

That is a stunning bird, John! May I ask how you weathered her?

That budget issue is a real shame. Tose aerobatic teams are way too good to keep on the ground...

Talking about airshows and aerobatic teams: I was at my LHS to pick up a thunderbolt for the D-Day GB and decided to take a F-16 with me as well. I originally planned on buying the Tamiya kit with the Thunderbirds decals, but they only had the gray F-16s in stock. I asked the owner to order me one of the Thunderbirds-editions, but changed my mind: I thought if it has to be ordered, why not order something really special? And so I placed an order for the following stuff instead:

• Kinetic F-16AM (I heard only good things about that kit: better details than Tamiya, more weapon options and only a slightly worse fit)
• Aires F-16 Cockpit set (only 12€, so why not?)
• AM Decals by Syhart

All of that stuff is going to result in a 1/48 model of this beautiful bird (or lion?). I saw it at the airshow I was at (I even got a poster of it signed by the pilot!):

What do you think?

Cheers, Clemens

Clemens,

Thanks for the very kind words.    I used a very small brush and Black chalk dust that was scraped from one of those long rectangular bars used for drawing.  I really thought that once I had flat coated the chalk that it would have toned it down a little more than it did.

  Next time I'm going to mix the black chalk with some medium gray.

John

falconmod

 I used a very small brush and Black chalk dust that was scraped from one of those long rectangular bars used for drawing.  I really thought that once I had flat coated the chalk that it would have toned it down a little more than it did.

  Next time I'm going to mix the black chalk with some medium gray.

John

John, you might want to try ground-up charcoal for that same kind of weathering. I've found that it's a little less intense than either chalk or pastel for that sort of streaking. (Artists charcoal will work, but so will the ordinary stuff from a barbecue briquette, as long as it's not the kind with the "starter" built in.)

Stunning work on the Viking!

Greg,

 thanks,  It would be my luck for my plane to spontaneously combust! 

John

That is a great looking plane, John.  Superior work on the painting and weathering.  Good job!

Eagle, I think your Dauntless is coming along just great. My hat is off to you for all the custom drilling, looks cool! (I truly thought I had replied to your post a few days ago, guess not, sorry).

John, that looks stunning and it isn't even done yet! Really glad to have been able to see your earlier WIP pics then see what you have transformed it into. That is the sort of exterior finish I hope to be able to aspire to some day.

Falcon, your Viking is almost there... I look forward to the finished build!

Greg

Eagle, I think your Dauntless is coming along just great. My hat is off to you for all the custom drilling, looks cool! (I truly thought I had replied to your post a few days ago, guess not, sorry).

John, that looks stunning and it isn't even done yet! Really glad to have been able to see your earlier WIP pics then see what you have transformed it into. That is the sort of exterior finish I hope to be able to aspire to some day.

Thank you Greg.  Man, these 1/72 are killers!  I'm gluing the fuselage tonight and trying to paint the air brakes.  Hind site 20/20, I should have painted the red on the air brakes first THEN drilled the holes.  Live and learn.  I'm going to tackle the pilot and gunner next.  Thanks again for the kind words.

Eagle90

Greg,

Thanks for the uplifting words,  I am by no means good at weathering, at least I think so.  I've been building models for like 40+ years, did kind of take a hiatus after I got married, but then I started R/C jets for a while, I only recently returned to plastic about 2 years ago and this is really only my 4th or 5th where I've done any kind of weathering.

It's been great to have all the guys in this forum as teachers,    I think I learn something every time I   read a new thread.  although NMF still scares me!   Oh yeah and anything Japanese WWII,  someday I'll try one, salt or hair spray method, I don't know

Hopefully I should finish the viking this weekend.

And then on to more dirty airplanes

John

Eagle90- that's looking good.   192 holes drilled??  Man, I hate that kind of work but it does pay off in the end.  

Falconmod- that's top-shelf!  I'm glad to see that you had better success than I with using artist's chalk for weathering.  

Dre,

  Thanks, it has been a learning experience.   I need to get a finer and stiffer brush so I can define the streaks so the y don't fan out so much all the time.

John

try make up sponges for applying the stains. A big bag of those costs very little at stores like trget or walmart. and look at make up brushes as well... yes people may wonder why a guy is in those aisles looking at those things, but as out of the box hobby tools they are great...

I've been in that isle before!  looking for those really wide soft brushes the girls use to put foundation on there faces,  I use those to brush the dust off my models without messing up antenna's, intakes, decals and the like.

John

Dre

Eagle90- that's looking good.   192 holes drilled??  Man, I hate that kind of work but it does pay off in the end.  

Falconmod- that's top-shelf!  I'm glad to see that you had better success than I with using artist's chalk for weathering.  

Thanks Dre, I hope it looks good in the end.  The closer to the finish, the better it looks!  Thanks again!

Eagle90

John- if you have an decent artist's supply store (or crafting store) nearby, take a moment to wander through it and look at their selection of brushes to see if there's anything there to suit your needs.

I was able to get a large selection of different types of brushes for a reasonably low price at one such store.

These are also great places to find other items that can be used for our modeling needs like mixing trays, fine-point spotting brushes, oil paints and what-not.

I was just at Michaels last week and got a small detail brush to use for fine lines,  just didn't think about what kind I would need to weather with, now I have a better idea.

John

I need your help, guys.

I have Italeri's EA-6B in my stash, but I'm not too happy with hte provided marking options. I like the color scheme of VAQ-142 a lot though. I'd love to be able to build my Prowler as one of their machines.

So here's my question: Is there any way to get one set of these decal sets? I can't find them anywhere...

Cheers, Clemens