1944 Group Build

Sorry I can't comment Rob.  Since returning to the hobby this past year, its been all Tamiya and now Wingnut for me.

Rob, I havn't heard of that issue before. I bought a couple of new tool airfix kits last year, but am yet to get round to them. Is the rough finish very noticeable.

Bish: Yes, the rough texture is VERY pronounced, especially on this big Lanc. I can totally believe it makes it easier to brush paint, but, it wreaks havoc when you are trying to get a totally smooth shiny finish for effects and decalling. Next time, I will take the time to sand down all surfaces (I have a Gloucester Gladiator and Hurricane in the hopper after this Lanc).

This will be my last installment for a few weeks as I`m heading to Mexico for some sun and fun and get outta this winter nightmare that`s gripping N. US and Canada!! So, I got all the black underside done and applied a few coats of Future (as you can see in this pic, the sheen is quite pronounced BUT as I`ve ranted about, the textured plastic that is now Airfix, has caused me some grief):

Wheels are easy on and off, so, here they are in place (love the bulged out tyres!! Nice touch Airfix):

Here`s a close-up of one tyre. Beat it up a bit to make it look like it`s been crashing down on dirt aerodromes:

Here she is flipped over showing the contrast:

I don`t know if it shows well, but, I applied a medium grey pinwash to the panel lines on the black. I also pinwashed the entire upper surface with a dirty mix of black and browns:

Upper roundels on, no probs. The first of the `walk here`line applied to test if they will silver. Not bad on that textured surface with 3 coats of Future, so far:

So, that`s it for now. Off on vacation and will get back on this in April. I look forward to SALT weathering this beasty when I get back. Take care all!!

I'll have a look at my kits and see if they are the same, I have the Gladiator Mk II and Swordfish, so will see how they look.

The Lanc's looking great. Have fun in the sun, we will still be here when you get back.

Hi Bish,

I am boxing my P-38 for now.  Long story short, I've decided to switch which particular aircraft I want to do, and it doesn't qualify, as it would be from March 1945. 

That brings up the replacement.  I have a new tool Airfix 1/72 Typhoon that I can do as a Dec 1944 bird, so if you don't mind I'd like to switch up to that.  From what I can tell so far, it is a wonderful little kit with lots of detail.  For info, the finish is not rough on this one.

Thanks,

Allen

No worries Allen, SS can switch it over later. Hopefully we can see the 38 at a later date.

Looks great Rob.  Have fun in Mexico.

That is looking great Rob!  It's too bad for us that we'll have to wait for the finish.  Are you sure you have to go on vacation?  Doesn't seem very fair to keep us hanging...

schmidty

That is looking great Rob!  It's too bad for us that we'll have to wait for the finish.  Are you sure you have to go on vacation?  Doesn't seem very fair to keep us hanging...

It could always take it with him, give him something to do while he is away

Bish

schmidty

That is looking great Rob!  It's too bad for us that we'll have to wait for the finish.  Are you sure you have to go on vacation?  Doesn't seem very fair to keep us hanging...

It could always take it with him, give him something to do while he is away

Yeah, I could see me at check in: Sir, your bags are overweight!! Me: Crap, I gotta carry my air compressor in my carry on !!

Rob: Your Lancaster is looking absolutely fantastic. Although you will be sorely missed please enjoy the ever living daylights out of yourself. Lord knows, you definitely need a well deserved thaw of the mind and body. Besides, Take a little time away from the bench because I'm in no hurry to see you finish up with the GB too soon and move on. Just love having you around.

Chanter: I'm looking forward to the Typhoon. I really like that particular aircraft. About 4 yrs ago I built the Hasegawa 1/48 Typhoon as my second model since returning to building. It looks great in my display case.

Bob: You are doing some really nice work on that landing craft! I'm very interested in seeing the diorama take shape.

Rob: I love your Lanc! The camo and post-shading look ace!

After a couple of direction changes, I settled on this nice little Airfix 1/72 Typhoon.  There will be some firsts for me (there usually are; I don't have a lot of experience at this yet).

• First 1/72 scale
• First Airfix model (up to now have only built Tamiya and the old Monograms as a kid)
• First time cutting panels away (gun bays are visible)
• First time using a dual action airbrush (had a Paasche H, now a Badger Patriot)

So, there are lots of potential excuses waiting to be unleashed should I run into difficulty.   

For now, here's the box.

I'm going to do the one shown on the box cover which according to instructions was flown by Squadron Leader Basil Gerald "Stapme" Stapleton DFC, No. 247 (China-British) Squadron, No. 124 Wing, 2nd Tactical Air Force, Royal Air Force, Eindhoven, Netherlands, December 1944 (just qualifies for this build).

The Canadian one depicted is from Feb 1945, or I would have done it instead.  Oh well, that will give me a reason to pick up another one.

Allen 

Allen: I am going really enjoy watching you build the "Tiffy" up. I've seen you at work and I am quite sure you are going to turn out a beaut. I believe you are going to love your new Badger Patriot. I find mine to be an excellent all around utility airbrush. Like all others, it takes a bit of practice with varying air pressures and paint thinning to get the hang of the various effects you can achieve. I do have a suggestion for you though. I found the bare metal on the top of the trigger button to be a little slick on my fingertip thus, limiting my ability to effectively control the paint and air flow. I took a small piece of non-skid tape, like you use on stair or step surfaces, and cut a small round piece that fit the top of the trigger. I just peeled of the backing paper and stuck it on and I now get a nice grip on the trigger. You can also use a piece of masking tape to help out.

Hi Joe, thanks for the vote of confidence.

I've been playing around with the Badger a bit, and already it's won me over just in how easily it cleans up. You had recommended it to me, and I appreciate it.  I'll give the non-slid tape a try as well and see how it goes.

Well, this beast is teeny for sure.  It's going to be carrying rockets, so I started with trying to drill out the back ends without drilling my thumb or forefinger.

So far, so good...all rockets done, all digits intact!

I should be able to get some good bench time tomorrow.  Crummy weather forecast and the house to myself = playtime.

Allen

Looking forward to this one as well Allen. Nice job on the rockets, off to a good start.

Looks great so far, Allen.  Count me in the "looking forward to this build" group!

Thanks guys.

I worked on the RP-3s today and am tickled with how they turned out.  I crazy glued hair to the inside of the tail pipe for the electrical wire and painted it X-7 red.  Then dipped the end in a little blob of white glue to build up a bit, then dipped the glue in XF-16 to represent the connector. 

Joe may remember from the 190 Group Build that I used one of my wife's hairs for my antenna.  For whatever reason, common sense wasn't with me that day, and instead of grabbing one from her hair brush, I plucked it from her head.  Needless to say, her hair is off limits for my modelling requirements these days.

I thought that eyebrow hair would do the trick...it's a bit thicker and has a natural bend to it, so I grabbed some tweezers and started plucking my own. (note - I didn't even attempt to approach her with tweezers this time)  That wasn't much fun.  Every time I dropped a hair or the glue didn't take, I had to pluck another one.  I think some of those little buggers are connected right to the tear ducts!  So that was this afternoon's progress.

Glad there were only 8 rockets.

Allen

Now that's some nice work, you sure you haven't worked in 72nd before.

So how did the wife take to have her eyebrows being plucked rather than the head 

Bish, I just re-read what I posted and edited for clarification.  That's why I still have fingers available for typing today...none of her eyebrows were harmed in the wiring of these rockets.  

Interesting work there, Chanter.  Talk about putting blood, sweat and tears into a build, you've taken it a step further by including actual human parts. - it looks great!

regards,

Jack

Hair as a modeling accessory...I love it!  Very good thinking Chanter.

Looking really good Chanter!

Finally got a chance to get the LCVP assembled, minus the .30s which are on their way here from Korea.  

After doing a bit of research, I found a way to busy up the other side of the engine where the battery box and bilge pump were located.  Both parts came of my spares stash, I think the battery box is a part leftover from an Italeri Panzer IV, and the bilge pump is a part of a landing gear off of an X-Wing.

Allen: The rockets look great! Sweet work. The hair seems to work well. But, as far as pulling it out the head of your significant other tells me that you are either brave and bold or that the grain doesn't quite go all the way to the top of your silo.

sb: Very very marvelous work on the LCVP.  That is shaping up quite nicely.

Some really good work going on here.

Rob's Wellington is such a gem.  Working on large models I've recently gotten a real sympathy for, as you can only do so much with the parts before you have to put them all together.  Then it becomes cumbersome, but that paint job is great!

Chanter is going above and beyond the call of duty... though if he had just used a pair of trim scissors, he wouldn't have had to go through all the pain...      I figure if the rockets look that good, the Typhoon is going to be a stunner.

SilentBob, the LCVP is coming along nicely!  Good work on modifying parts to add detail to her.

Gary

bob, that's looking really good. And even got a bit of Star Wars in there, nice.

Can't go wrong with a bit of a galaxy far, far away...

So Chanter... are you trying to say that there is a lot of you in this build??? Damn! You are indeed a dedicated modeler! LOL!

So....I decided against going anal on the Sherman, but I am planning on adding a few items - to give it the lived in look.

This week I managed to mate the upper and lower hull together and add the bits & bobs, as they say.  

Here's a few ammo cases that'll be added to the engine deck