PACIFIC CARRIER AVIATION GROUP BUILD

I have not heard a YAY or a NAY on posting pictures of the before mentioned "Hellcats".  So I am guessing that the lack of an answer, is indeed my answer.  I am however starting a Tamiya 1:48 scale F4U-1, and I know I can finish that before the new deadline in March!  So I'll post those as progress permits, and I'll get in on this group build that way!!

Regards

Freddie from LI

Thanks Greg!

Bak, you're making good progress, mate. Looking good!

Rob, that is a very nice looking Devastator. Nice work!

Hey Rob...thanks for sharing all that.  In reading about your build, I see a number of things in common.   Older kits with lots of fit issues, the PE, the paint, and your frustration about the canopies.  I agree about the over scale.  I can imagine that if we could scale up the canopies to real size, they would be 3 inches thick, if not more.  Down the road that is something I would really like to get a better handle on in building  something far closer to scale.  Right now it would seem vacuum form is the only solution for curved canopies.  I can imagine though that VF offers its own problems.  If you don't mind me asking.  What issues did you see with vacuum form?

Again....nice job!

Hi Steve,

since this was the old 1970s Monogram kit there were some fit issues with the wings and the fuselage.  I also used the Eduard PE update kit on this build but eventually abandoned using some of the really tiny bits of etch (and some were lost to "battle damage" along the way).  The larger PE stuff made a huge improvement on things like the flaps and torpedo fins, while it also added some nice detail to the MG and cockpit.  I also replaced the canopy with a Squadron vacuum formed replacement.  It was my first ever attempt to use one of those (I racked up a lot of "firsts" on this build...) and I have mixed feelings about the job I did with it but on this build the kit parts are far too obviously over scale.

As for the finish, it is all acrylic, with Testors MM for the blue and gray on the exterior and all the rest Tamiya.  Compared to the Tamiya I am not at all impressed by the MM, as it is far more fragile as discussed here earlier.  Weathering was simply a wash, after a clear coat of Future, using Flory Models grime and the basic technique he demonstrates on his website.  It was a lot more subtle before I put on the Dullcote finish (if you got a little bit up thread you'll find the pre Dullcote shots of the upper and lower surfaces).  I think it looks a tad overdone now.

I remember building this kit in the yellow wings scheme back in the 70s and I did it far more justice this time around.  Of course I also spent a lot more time putting it together.

Greetings folks... Here is a small update.  The fuselage seams are cleaned up and the engine cowl is installed. There is a front ring to install yet but I will put that on after painting. This will allow me to install the engine after painting.  My main reason for doing this is so that I can use the engine mount as a holder during painting.

Below:  As mentioned earlier I plan to close the bomb bay for in-flight. This is a view without the bay doors.

Below:  This is a view with the bay doors on and loosely fit.  There will be a lot of sanding and fitting to make this look decent.  The model was not designed to have the doors closed.  I will post another image once this is done and with how it turns out.  

Outstanding Devastator, Rob!  Looks great.

Keep it up, Joe.  You'll conquer this thing yet!

Hey Rob...way to go man.  It looks awesome and it's nice work all around. The weathering and detail work look great!  Good to hear too that you could make the CA work.  Thanks for the tip about the EZ line.   I might have to pick some up.  

How did the rest of the build go for you?   For painting did you use acrylics or enamels?  

Congrats!  

Steve

Rob, the devastator looks fantastic! Great job! 

I think I am going to finally say Ta Da!! It is finally finished.

I did not have fun with the clear parts cement for the canopy though. The Squadron canopy was very "flexible" and did not want to stay in place, while the cement had a rather long setting time. In the end I tacked down the larger part of the canopy (which was the worst offender) with some very carefully applied small drops of CA, despite the potential to fog up the canopy. The antenna wire is EZ-line, if you have never tried this stuff I highly recommend it. The stuff is incredibly elastic but easily tacks in place with a small drop of CA.

That's two builds since coming back to the hobby. I learned a LOT on this one and want to thank all of you for the advice along the way. I am going to try to pick up the building pace having already thrown my name into two more GBs for 2015, but I look forward to Clemens announcing the start date for the next Carrier Air Build!

She's looking fantastic, Joe! I'm sure the clear coat is gonna work out this time!

Good to see you making forward progress Joe.  Looks good.

Thank you Steve, Dave and Bruce.

Hey Bruce, If that's the kind of reaction I get from a couple cups of coffee then I definitely want to know what my work looks like to you after a few double espressos.

Alright, Joe, think positive thoughts! 

It WILL turn out fantastic! I have faith in you! 

Looks fantastic already!

Sorry for all the exclamation points, I just finished two cups of coffee... 

Joe, your Hellcat is looking awesome!!

Way to go Joe!  

Steve

Hey dude, you've given me plenty!! lol

Thanks for the vote of confidence Joe.

Fingers crossed Joe! You'll get it man as I have complete faith in you and your ability.

So far everything is looking good in the repaint department. Shot the primer and dark sea blue on today. Next, the fading effect and then..gulp..the gloss coat.

Joe: Looks like you pulled the paint removal off well man!

Bakster: I think it's starting to look like an Avenger! With all those parts I can only imagine it takes a long time to get that far.

Joe and Steve - Nice work guys.  Lookin'  forward to more photos.

Steve: getting the fuselage halves together really is a milestone in every build (especially with big birds such as your Avenger. She looks really nice so far!

Joe: I can't wait to see her with a new coat of paint!

Freddie: Please do post some pictures of your Hellcats! I can't include the finished one on the front page because you built it outside this GB, but the unfinished one is a go!

Thanks Joe.  For my tastes, I am entering the fun part of the build. When things get buttoned up, wings attached, and it takes the form of what it is... an airplane.  Nice to see the Hellcat deskinned. Way to go Joe!

CMK.  Thanks buddy. Yeah I have some twists and turns planned for this build and I am just entering the bigger phase of it..  If it goes as planned, it should be fun.  I will share those things as I go along.  

Looking better all the time, Joe.

Great looking Avenger, Steve.  Glad it's not me that has to figure out how to mask the turret.  It'll be an education seeing what you do with it.

Well, The "Cat has been skinned", as Clemens so eloquently put it. Overall the process went quite well. I have some touch up painting to do on the underside white where some of the magic elixir found it's way on to. I'll now do some maintenance sanding along the edges to feather the existing paint edges and then on goes the primer.

Congratulations on reaching this point Steve. I know it has been a long time coming. It looks fantastic so far. All that patient work is definitely paying off. You've certainly got a point with masking off the turret. A challenge indeed.

Well, I have reached a milestone on this build.  The fuselage halves are now one.  That turret gun has really held me back from this moment and it promises to be challenge through the rest of this build.   I will have to carefully mask it so that it does not get messed up in the primer coating and color coating process.   Not to mention in all the other processes I have yet to go through.  Hopefully, I won't accidentally break the gun off too.

I will probably work on the fuselage seams next and then install the engine cowl.  After that, I will tackle the bomb bay doors.  The kit is designed to have them in an open position.  I am choosing to have them in a closed position.  So it will take some fitting, cutting and sanding to make it work. I will probably have to add some styrene as well to fill some gaps  As is, it does not fit correctly.  I will post some images when I get to that point.

Greg--you might be wondering about the tail gun.  I am adding that after painting.  I will have to shorten it some in order to get it in there, but that modification won't be seen from the outside anyway.  Also, and unlike what you did with yours, I have glued that side hatch closed.   Again, just a preference of mine since my build is as in-flight..  It sure looked cool though on your build with seeing that hatch door open.

Looks like you're making good progress on skinning this cat, buddy! The gear legs and prop look very good from here.

Nice work Joe.  The weathering of the struts looks good.