1944 Group Build

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

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.

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.

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.

At least you have a good excuse.

 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?

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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

Thank You Bish.

Looking good Joe! I like it...

Doug

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

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.

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.  

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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?

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

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