1944 Group Build

Thanks Bish. I do regret the that I ran so far past the end date on the GB. Yet, I do thank you for letting me finish. It added some impetus to hanging in there with this build.

Just lovely Joe. I have added one to the front page. Thanks for all the hard work, it really did pay off.

JOE RIX

Sounds like a plan Ken. Keep us posted as I sure want to you finish that B-24 up.

Ditto I want to finish it too,. It's been going on far too long

I didn't know any one made something like that.  Good to know; I have a few USN carrier planes.  Thanks, Joe!

Thank You Checkmate. The flight deck is a 1/72 cardboard replica that I got from Squadron. Initially I'd planned on cutting out a section of it and mounting it to a base for the Hellcat. But now I believe I'll just keep it as is for photographing future USN 1/72 aircraft. I do need to hit with a flat coat as it is glossy.

Great looking Hellcat, Joe, very aptly displayed.  Realistic looking flight deck.  Outstanding work on the whole display.

Sounds like a plan Ken. Keep us posted as I sure want to you finish that B-24 up.

Okay, since the nose gear broke on the B 24, I decided to get the metal landing gear for it. It's not going happen anytime soon though. I have other things $ to get caught first.

Very Well Done Joe!! she looks great and the carrier  base makes it seem all the more real.

Well, it has seemed like an eternity, but, by God, I'm finished. Yeeeah, I finally got the 1/72 Hellcat DONE!!!

Bish, Thank you so much for running an absolutely outstanding group build. There has definitely been some very magnificent builds of all types here. I have been truly impressed. And Thanks to each and everyone one of you for providing me with the encouragement and confidence to stick with it when things seemed to be going gunnysack on me. You guys are a tremendous lot.

Overall I am quite pleased with how it came out. I'm not overly fond of the antenna as the EZ line seems a tad out of scale and my CA attachments are a bit messy. I may very well remedy that in the future. As far as the kit goes, Eduard turned out one fine kit. Excellent detail and engineering. My one complaint I have is that the sliding canopy sits a bit high.

The final touches that I added were the exhaust stains that I made with pastels/pigments as were the gun and ejection chute staining. Chipping was done using a silver Prismacolor pencil. And the antenna is EZ line.

So, enough of the babbling. Let me show you some pics.

And now for some added scenery:

Thanks for having a look gents. Comments to both the pro and the con are more than welcome.

Cheers! Joe

The Landing gear had no where to but out because of the way I sealed it up to put in the lead sinkers. I'll get a pic or 2 in a little bit. The pic has to wait till tomorrow, My camera batteries are dead 

I thought about getting metal gear for it, but I didn't, guess I'll know better next time

Thanks guys

I'll echo Joe here. That would be the first thing I would try if its possible.

Hi Ken. Do you have any pics of the issue? Did the landing fall inside the fuselage? Would it be possible to install a metal rod inside the landing gear leg to provide strength and remount it?

Hi  all

I have a slight problem with the B 24.

I'm open for suggestions on this.

The nose wheel snapped off up inside where it mounts to the bulkhead

one thing I thought of is cutting it open and getting replacement parts from Revell

Thanks guys

Ye, I think there is certainly a modellers block. I have had it a couple of times. Funny thing is, it was usually after I had been on a deployment for several months. I thought I would be itching to get back to the bench, but when I did, it took time to get motivated.

Sometimes you can't make much progress until the Muse speaks.  

After posting last night, I started looking at a lot of posts and pictures & I went in and started working on the B 24 I have the seam puttied. That didn't take long. Then I started doing the figure for Lydia Litviak for my aces GB. I won't say I got a lot done, but it did seem to go better.

I think sometimes it helps to talk about things, It releases things. Thanks for listening (sort of) guys.

Is there a thing called modelers block? I also have writers block, but that's a whole other critter that I need to deal with.

Thanks CMK & Bish.

That picture would make one heck of a diorama.

Ok, I need to seal up the seems. It will be a couple of days till it goes in to the paint shop.

Bish

I am sure we all have those moments from time to time Ken. And no ,i would not have said there was a seam. And check's photo certainly seems to confirm it.

I am sure we all have those moments from time to time Ken. And no ,i would not have said there was a seam. And check's photo certainly seems to confirm it.

It doesn't look like there's one from this photo.

Thanks Guys,

I haven't touched any models lately. The trouble is "Inspiration" I don't have it. And I don't know where to get it. My apologies to everyone for my absence.  

I sit down at my desk and I just sit there. I'll keep trying.

I do have a question. Do the B-24s have a seam line. Like the models have when we put the fuselage together.

Thank You Greg. I'm able to take the splint off now when I'm relaxing at home and to do some exercises. No pain at all just really stiff and weak. But, with it off today I may take a shot at getting the landing gear on.

Indeed, give the Flory washes a try.  

Good to see you plugging away despite the injury/splint, Joe. Your Hellcat is looking very good.

Thanks for the tip about the Flory wash, never thought of that.

Hey, Thanks Doug. I sure do appreciate that coming from you.

Looking good Joe! I like it...

Doug

Thank You Bish.

The finger doesn't seem to have effected your building at all. She's looking great.

Hey There Guys. Although it has been a challenge with the splint on the finger I've been able to make some progress. Created the exhaust stains using pastels and Mig pigments, sprayed a light coat of Tamiya light gray heavily thinned with Iso alcohol and painted the ID lights MM chrome and then Tamiya clear colors. I should be able to make a little better progress now as I get to take the splint off in the evenings and do my physical therapy. As such I am able to handle the model a little easier and should be able to work on some of the fiddly bits.

Probably a good idea if your going to be moving it around a lot. My bases are always bigger than the aircraft, so the edge of the base helps to protect the kit if its being moved.