US CARRIER AVIATION GROUP BUILD 2013

Greg, that Avenger is looking better and better.   I'm happy that you fought through the paint issues and are getting it finished.

Alas and alack, my weekend turned out to be really restful (read, lazy) and all I got accomplished was to work out some seams on the main landing gear, test fit the gear to the resin wells and to think about what plastic surgery is needed to fit the resin wells to the fuselage.   But, the intent to be productive was there but not the effort.

Greg: I'm glad I could help you, buddy!

Dre: Don't worry about that. I'm kinda lazy as well ATM. Waiting for those rivets is really frustrating...

I'd say that it is probably more frustrating to try each different method and have none of them work out.

Hope the resin rivets work out for you- I'd have long since moved on.

Yes, it was indeed frustrating, but I want those rivets to be there...It just looks odd with raised rivets everywhere and 2 areas without them on the fuselage...

Dre, your ongoing encouragement has been and continues to be appreciated my friend. Sorry about the lazies, they come and they go. Sometimes I find I am content just to go to the bench and wander about, see where I'm at.

Clemens, am almost embarrassed to post this, but I told you I'd explain. On the oil wash, I hadn't really gone beyond slopping it on in interior details. I've read about the rubbing it down part, but it wasn't working for me.

Anyway, I think the error of my ways was I thought it was like slop it on, run a rag over it and done way of thinking. Your idea of streaking led me to take some time, go through a lot of q-tips, and see what happens. Also, have read about mixing brown with black but never really tried it. You're right, it works!

Anyhow, this is what I ended up with. The flaps actually look much better in real life than in the pic, the pic shows almost too much detail

And if these suck, I hope I don't give you a bad name. But regardless, a giant learning step for me so thanks again, Clemens.

I think you were talking more specifically of streaking the business side of the flaps, and that's next. But my point is I listened to you and applied some techniques new to me and good or bad, at this stage of the game, I'm a happy camper!

Greg, i am truly impressed! Those flaps look gorgeous! I love the subtile streaking on the large flat areas! I am really looking forward to the streaking you are going to do on the other side! I'd suggest you do more - and less subtile streks on the outside. The insidde looks perfect to me though!

Really impressive work on gluing them together as well!

Thanks Clemens! Really pleased that you like them. And thanks again for the help!!

.....and I wish those rivets would get delivered to you. Sometimes waiting isn't fun, especially when it is holding up a project.

Yep, and that is the second thing holding up this project already... (the other one being the broken canopy)

That wash/streaking looks good, Greg.  You've got game.

Thanks, Dre!

Aside from waiting for a product I ordered to try my hand at running an antenna, time to call her done.

I posted these bigger than my usual 800 pixels wide, so a click on an image will show better rez.

This is, boo-boo's and all, the best aircraft I've built by far. Being able to build this as a part of this GB has been an amazing and enlightening experience. Thanks to Clemens for letting me into my first ever group build, and to everybody for your incredible help and encouragement.

And thanks for putting up with my rambling.

FWIW, my favorite features;

the propeller (hadn't tried one since a kid, finally got one right!)

Bomb bay (got LOTS of help from y'all in there, big thanks)

Dipping clear parts in Future. Absolutely amazed me how well it works

The arresting hook, because I managed not to break it during all those months of construction

Office interior, because it was my first shot at PE and I had a blast with it

Least favorite features:

My sandpaper-like paint job

Some messed up decals, mostly because of the sandpaper paint job

Exhaust stains. Hey, I tried.

....and perhaps the 'arrow' decals, which I realised after flat-coating I had applied upside down

Now I wonder, will the Focke Wulf also take me 5 months????

I cannot believe how much I learned by participating here. You guys are incredible!!!!

Your avenger looks incredible, mate! You really inspired me to build mine! I guess it will be my next project  after the Wildcat is finished... I'll build it completely OOB though, so my cockpit interior won't look as nice as yours...

Just send me a PM with the pic you want me to put on the front page and I add your amazing model to the "Completed Builds"-section.

That's beautiful work there. I really like those dropped flaps!

Wow Greg, fantastic job, particularly for just having come in from the cold!

My apologies guys, life just sometimes gets in the way.  That and I was questioning my sanity for attempting to go so far beyond my skill set. That doubt was compounded by the realization that I was scratching an EW panel from diagrams from the early 60's for an airframe in the 80's.  My inner 'it's got to be perfect' got fired up and I was really in a rut.

Finally have gotten some time, and squared my head away, so progress slow that it may be is underway.  I've got some pics to upload and show you.  More after a word from our sponsor.

John Cameron Swayzee says: "Timex takes a licking and keeps on ticking!"

Gosh, Greg, that is one great-looking Avenger.  Congratulations!  What an outstanding job you've accomplished!!

Marty, your scratch-built stuff looks really good! Even if nothing of it is visible, at least WE all know that it is there, thanks to your pics!

Greg - The Avenger is awesome. It's just a beauty to behold, and one you should be deservedly proud of. [I keep going back and looking at the weathering on those flaps; for something so "simple" (yeah, right....), they really just help "sell" the whole thing.] A hearty well-done.

Marty - Have been following your WIP post with great interest and empathy. Having a kit "bully" you into added detail (and expansion of modeling horizons) is an all-too-common experience, for most of us, probably, but I'm enjoying the ride (and the growing passive-aggressive relationship ) with your Whale. Keep up the inspiring work.

Clemens, Stik, shivinigh, Marty, CMK....

Thank you for your kind words, and all the support throughout my first GB. Truly appreciated! One heckuva learning experience for me. I was pondering last night, wonder how many years of building 'alone' all those years ago it might have taken me to learn what I learned in months here?

Marty, your scratch building in progress is way over my head but it sure is looking impressive! FWIW, perfectionism gets in my way too. Sometimes it creates a stall, so I understand what you are talking about.

Paraphrasing what is, IMO the most awesome advice I got during this GB, take your time but keep going. Good to see you are back at it!!!

Hey Clemens,

I see this one doesn't end until December; are you still taking sign ups??  May possibly do a 1/72nd scale Revell F-4B (yes, ancient, kit from the 60s), or another still yet undecided....what do you think??

Greg, we apparently cross-posted. Thank you so much for your kind words, sir!  Being as this is the first kit I've ever built beyond OOB and painting stuff the color that the instructions say to, it is indeed a source of pride for me.

Dave, as soon as Clemens sees your post, I am sure you can look forward to being welcomed with open arms! Look forward to following your build!

Sounds good, Greg.  BTW, your TBF Avenger is pretty dang awesome; one of the reasons I wanted to get on board with this build!!  Till then, I'll be lurking...LOL

yeah, that avenger looks awesome, I can only hope mine looks that good when I get back around to working on it.

Greg, to simply say that Avenger is great would be damning it with faint praise.

That Avenger is freaking awesome, you have every reason to be proud of that model and the effort you put into it.   I think that you may have set the benchmark for this GB.

Really, really well done.  What will we see next from your bench?

Dave: Sorry for the late reply. As Greg mentioned already, you (and everyone else joining this) ARE welcomed with open arms by me. I put you on the list.

Greg: I put your pic on the front page, in case you didn't look at it since then.

Ghost, thank you! I've been hoping you get back at your Avenger soon. Hope you have as much fun with yours as I did with mine.

Dre, you are far too kind, sir. Thank you! My next will be a 190-f8 I believe it is, 1/48th Hasegawa (my first Hasegawa .....for the Butcher Bird GB ....my first Luftwaffe aircraft, far as I recall). I'm scared of it because goal of this one is first freehand camo, and it is so small I thought it was 1/72nd when I cracked open the box!!!

Clemens, thanks, mate! I did go look.

And Dave, officially welcome to Clemens GB!

You are right, Greg. It is an F-8. Don't worry too much about the camo. I'm sure you can do it!

I'll try to get some work on my Jug done tomorrow and then I'll start something for this GB for the time the rivets take to get here.

Wow!  There is some really great work here!  You guys rock!

Here is a quick update on the Dauntless.  It's not a detail enriched kit, but she is cute and has been good to me for a return to hobby build.  The decals did not set well, and I did a double dose of Micro Sol.  Of course my Micro Set and Sol are old, so it my not be very effective! 

Anyway, here are a couple of pics.  She is close to being finished!  Maybe this weekend!

Eagle90