US CARRIER AVIATION GROUP BUILD 2013

I am not sure where the Scooter nickname came from. The other nickname for the Skyhawk, "Heinemann's Hot Rod", is just as apt.

Nice video! Not my preferred style of music though

Those Scooters sure look good in the colors of the blue angels! Just one really dumb question: where does this nickname of the A-4 come from?

OOOOH yeah. I remember that one!! Ha ha !!! Cool stik!!!!

DiscoStu

Well I feel like quite the flake.  I apologize for my long absence on this group build.  I think when last I left I had completed my Eduard Hellcat and had started work on my Hasegawa A-4.  Well the A-4 has been completed, it was at the 99% done stage for almost 3 months waiting for me to paint, of all things, the red-and-green nav lights on the wingtips.  Well I finally got around to getting it completed and mounted to a in-flight wall stand.  It will go on my daughter's wall.  When she was very little she used to watch the old Van Halen/Blue Angels video on YouTube, so I figured she'd like this pretty plane in her room.  Pics to follow.....

For those of you who may have never seen said video...

gregbale:I thought I saw that in FSM as well. Good tip man.

adj:Good progress on that Corsair.

Looking good, ADJ!

Stu: No worries. I'm looking forward to the pics! Would you mind postign some pics of your Hellcat as well (i think it wasn't completely finished at the time you posted the pics)

ajd, body work looks good, so do the open cowl flaps.

Stu, good to hear from you, been a while!

DS, that is still one of my favorite music videos. Right after ZZ's "Sharp Dressed Man" & "Gimme All Your Loving"

Well I feel like quite the flake.  I apologize for my long absence on this group build.  I think when last I left I had completed my Eduard Hellcat and had started work on my Hasegawa A-4.  Well the A-4 has been completed, it was at the 99% done stage for almost 3 months waiting for me to paint, of all things, the red-and-green nav lights on the wingtips.  Well I finally got around to getting it completed and mounted to a in-flight wall stand.  It will go on my daughter's wall.  When she was very little she used to watch the old Van Halen/Blue Angels video on YouTube, so I figured she'd like this pretty plane in her room.  Pics to follow.....

Nice work so far. FYI, I was just looking at a thread about the salmon primer on F4Us over on another forum. Per the Navy Erection Manual for the F4U (basically the official specifications of what goes where and how painted) the wheel wells and cowling interior should get a final coat of light gray. Only areas not normally exposed/visible such as the baggage compartment, interior structure, etc, were left in salmon primer. Per the EM, the cockpit should be Dull Dark Green.

A well-deserved nod, Greg. Bet I was more excited seeing it than you were, mate!

Clemens, how is your post office messing up delivery of a periodical, I wonder? Wait, we have a post office here in the US too, I get it.

Greg

Curious if everyone saw Greg Bale's ejection seat release tip in the current (Jan) issue of FSM, Reader Tips, page 52?

If I'm not mistaken, Greg posted this with his 1/72nd EA-6B build here many pages back. I thought that was the coolest idea and very much enjoyed seeing it in FSM.

I appreciate the nod, Greg.

Work on the EA-6B (and several other projects) has stalled, between holiday stuff and a new job. But I'm still following the GB with much interest, impressed with all the work being done.

Ed: She's a real beauty! You really make me want to build a Demon myself!

Stik: Great work on that 'pit!

I didn't get my January issue yet (the December issue arrived neither). I think my local post office messed things up again...

Curious if everyone saw Greg Bale's ejection seat release tip in the current (Jan) issue of FSM, Reader Tips, page 52?

If I'm not mistaken, Greg posted this with his 1/72nd EA-6B build here many pages back. I thought that was the coolest idea and very much enjoyed seeing it in FSM.

ajd, sometimes I wonder if kit builders do stuff like that (open cowl flaps molded together) because they figure we like challenges? (I would guess it really goes to the injection molding process, over my metal fabricating engineering head though. :)

Ed, really appreciate your input on the Hobby Boss kit, my friend. I want to try one some day, now I won't hesitate to try one. (and please don't be offended if one day I post an thread asking for feedback on HobbyBoss kits. Me and my memory.....

VS, my stash is rather extensive and wide ranging...  and at times like this where I find it hard to afford new kits,  buying like mad when I could was wise. Yes I have a fairly inclusive 1/48 USN Carrier Birds stash (widh the exception of the Demon, Vigilante, Skyray, Cutlass, Skywarrior, and a few other 50s types), but I also have a decent Soviet Cold War, USAF Cold War, some NATO/RAF types etc., as well as an extensive WWII stash. When someone on here lists a GB, it is so hard for me to say no, because 1) I am already overextended in those and 2) I probaby have a kit handy that will work...

Whatever your next project, I look forward to seeing it built...

Greg-When I bought the HobbyBoss kit I had heard good things about it, but had never built one of their kits before. Glad I got one as it is on par with some of the known great kits out there. Molding was fantastic, the photoetch was real easy to work with and the decals although a little transparent went down nice and look great. If you have any interest in '50-'60's era jets I highly recommend it. I may get another one just to do the VF-21 Freelancers a/c.

stik-I am like you in that it seems like all I have in the stash are Navy carrier based craft. I guess you like what you like! The GP kit is great, lots of resin pieces, metal and photoetch, but that nose join scares the crap out of me! The fit is terrible and it looks like several long hours will be spent making both of mine look decent. I wanna get that right cuz let's face it, that is a very distinct feature on the Fury. Those kits have been calling me but so has that F/A-18E with the VFA-143 Pukin' Dogs markings. Decisions, decisions!

VS, I have the 1/48 Matchbox Fury in my stash. The Grand Phoenix kit has to be an improvement on that kit. Lets just say I would have to have been at my adolescent skill level and expectations not to find THAT kit wanting. But it was cheaper the the GP or Hobbyboss Fury kits when I go the foolish idea to do the 'between the (other) wars' Navy birds. I have at least one of each of the manufacturers (except Fujimi) various 1/48 Scooter kits as well. The Hasegawa ones look SO good in the box. I may think about one for Round II here as well. Lord knows I have loads of carrier based aircraft to choose from there.

Greg, I am quite human... LOL! And this hobby tends to bring it all out in me, the good and the bad. It truly is a passion for me. Now that I have realized that, I am still not sure how to handle it at times. But as long as my loved ones tolerate that in me I am good.

Stik, frankly, it is nice to know you are human, my friend. And would never know of your trials and tribulations on this office had you not said so.

Ed, actually I'm quite glad you picked up your Demon and decided to finish it for the GB. Being unfamiliar with the a/c, I recall when you started it looking forward to your progress. Paid off, seeing yours now I want to try one one day.

stang-Thank you my friend, I admire your work so a compliment from you is

stik-Looks like everything is coming together nicely. I have a 1/48 Hasegawa Scooter in the stash, now I think I may bump the timetable up on that one after seeing yours. Either that or save it for round 2, the Grand Phoenix Furys I have will be a real p.i.t.a. so they may get pushed back a lil bit. Keep up the good work!

Greg-Appreciate it buddy, I didn't know if I would get a chance to complete it before the end of the year! I should have her wrapped up this weekend and get some photos done. BTW that is Felix the Cat. Thanks again!

Thanks Greg. This one is feeling a bit sloppy to me. It is sure not feeling easy. I have had a couple mishaps along the way (but will not point them out...) and the coffee I had with breakfast today was a tad on strong side while I was painting the yellow on the emergency handles on the IP today... a bit of caffeine induced tremble there to my dismay. Thank goodness enamels clean up easily enough with a thinner moistened brush (unlike yesterdays mishap with an acrylic on the IP)

Ed, your Demon is truly looking great. I just took a second look at your post from a few pages ago showing some closer views. Outstanding detail work and weathering, in case I didn't already mention. I really like the cartoon cat with bomb decal (senior moment, can't remember his name).

Stik, you make cockpits look so easy. I was just noticing the absence of too much paint (note to self.....). and now nicely your corner details/weathering blend into the clean corners.

Yes, Blue Gray over Light Gray with a soft sprayed demarcation line. Tamiya paints would have to be mixed for both shades, while Model Master makes both colors.

Ok guys, question. My -1 Corsair is from Guadelcanal in '43, so I'm looking at USN blue-gray over light gray, correct? If so, what paints would you suggest? I'm thinking modle masters, unless tamiya has a good match.. also, were the camo lines hard, or was there some over spray? Thanks!

Almost there VS! Looking real good!

Well I have made a bit more progress in the cockpit. Washes are done but I still need to do dry brushing, touch ups, and a bit more detail work...

This is looking great so far VS!! The decaling turned out great!!

Update for y'all. I've been doing what little work I can to the Demon but it is slow going. I can see the home stretch now though!

Thanks for your interest!