1944 Group Build

Bish - I have a bunch of sinkers in front of the dash board and a lot more in the compartment behind the nose wheel assembly. I extended the wall behind the nose wheel up to the floor boards above it for that purpose.

I won't be securing it, I'm also thinking about not gluing the wings in place too. They seem to stay in place pretty good. I think it would make it easier to pack away to take it to model club meetings and a show or 2

Joe - Its coming along albeit slowly Thanks Maybe I'll have it finished by the end of the war. When is VE Day? LOL

I gave up trying to put nose weights in mine, in fact the last one I did was my first B-24. I couldn't never get the right amount and it was such a pain trying to cram it in. And as I secure the aircraft to the base, I realised it was a waste of time anyway.

That's looking great Ken. It certainly does look good on that base. Keep it coming.

Thanks Bish I think I'll re-spraying the plane tonight Its a good thing you can't see all the lead sinkers in it I had to use a ton of them. Well that's a scale ton LOL

Looks good there Ken and I think the base is spot on.

 2 shots of the B 24 on the base.  Its coming along The base is a plaster circle that I was gong to use for something else, but It turned out too thick for that. So I put it aside. I figured I would find a use for it. Does it look okay for the B 24?

At least you have a good excuse.

Thanks Bish. That is some interesting info on using Flory washes. As far as being careful about flipping the bird, well, you see, tourist season has kicked into full on overdrive here and..well...let's just say that I am in a target rich enviroment. They get the message much clearer when you have high viz gauze on.

Good to hear your able to keep building Joe. I always had the same issue with Flory washes, I find they would much better on a matt surface. Well, that was until I tried them on an Alclad matt clear, and it beaded up on that. I found it did work on a coat of future though.

The hellcat is looking great, but as for the figure, just be careful you don't go around giving people the bird.

Good news. Finding that despite having a big ole splint on my middle finger, I am able to handle things enough to get some work done. Prior to my injury I had managed to apply a Flory (ex Pro Modeller) wash to the Hellcat. Used a mix of brown and black on the bottom and sides of the fuselage. On the dark blue I darkened the light gray (dust) with a bit of black for the wash there. I normally use an oil wash but I was not at all happy with how they were reacting this time. I've had the Flory wash mixes for a while but never used them as they were always beading up on the gloss coat and not working. Then I got my brain to work in a momentary bout of common sense and added a drop of dish soap to it and, Voila, it worked perfectly. The Flory washes worked out splendidly. Love this stuff! Yesterday I applied the overall flat coat. Here is some pics of the Hellcat so far:

I'm quite pleased with e results so far.

Also. here is what I am dealing with at the moment. Not my choice of colors for the gauze but, I have to admit, that I do look rather charming sporting it.

My next challenge is going to be spraying the exhaust stain on. Thanks for taking a look gents.

Thanks guys. I just wasn't sure What to think.

Looks good sitting there, Ken.  I think the smaller base even enhances the effect; makes the plane look large and looming.

checkmateking02

Gee, Joe, that is too bad.  Hope you get better soon.

Ken, I like your base. Certainly it comes down to what you think looks good. I don't think the smaller than wingspan base takes away from the build at all.

Ken, no there's no hard rule on that. I don't do it for dio's, but for an aircraft just on a base I would.

ok here's 2 pics of it on the base

Bish - Thanks Question: is there anything that says the wings can't hang out  over the edge of the base?

Ken, I just did a search and found some pics. From the looks of it, the airfields in N Africa were sinply concrete strips with the aircraft parked on the desert floor. Check this pic.

www.armyaircorps-376bg.com/photo_gallery_usaaf_6.html

This one is being maintained on what looks like a concrete hardstand with sand all around.

www.armyaircorps-376bg.com/photo_gallery_usaaf_65.html

I think a simple sand base, and remember this isn't the soft sand of the Sahara but hard pack sand stone with no more than dust on top, with maybe concrete hard standing under the aircraft, or you could have it just on the sand.

Bish - I mean the Base  I have to see what I can dig up. Maybe I can do just the hardstand for it. I don't have the space or the $$$ for a full blown air base.

Gee, Joe, that is too bad.  Hope you get better soon.

Thanks Bish. You know, regardless of the set backs in my modeling, life is very good. Very good indeed.

Joe, this really isn't your year is it. I hope it heals soon, and we have waited this long, I know we can wait a bit longer.

Hey There Gents, I've been making good progress on the Hellcat lately but, unfortunately, I've encountered another obstacle that will slow things for a bit. Yesterday I tore the tendons in the middle knuckle of my left hand. Thus, I have a big splint on that proves cumbersome for handling my model. Not to mention a bit painful. I will see if I can rig a jig that might allow me to paint the details that I need to. I will get some pics up soon though.

ken, as your doing a N African based aircraft, I don't think they would have had the large well developed bases that were in the UK. But to be honest, I have never really looked into the bases out there. In the UK, the bases were bult for a specific purpose, bomber or fighter for example. Bombers of course needed larger runways than fighters, and I would imagine that the hardstands would be bigger, but not sure.

When you say lots of sand, do you mean the paint scheme or the base.

Just thinking out loud here The Strawberry B. served in North Africa. So its needs lots of sand. I can do that.

Thanks Guys

That's looking great Ken. I agree that that would look fantastic on a base.

Bish

Looks good there Ken. Are you planning on putting it on a base.

I hadn't thought about that. So I'll think what  that I can do I am doing one for the jug and the

p-38 Were the hardstands bigger for the bombers ?

Thanks

Looks good there Ken. Are you planning on putting it on a base.

B 24 in Mock up stage.

 I have lead sinkers in the front and it sits perfectly, until I put the tail sections on it. Its good thing I made a way to put more in.

Lol. thanks Checkmate.

It seems the "Hellcat" is well-named!  You're doing well with it, Joe!  Nice save.