PACIFIC CARRIER AVIATION GROUP BUILD

Yeah Bakster don't cut yourself short. You've got "the look" going on man! Lookin' good from this angle!

Thanks Joe for the pics on the tires. I'm gong to go ahead and go with the smooth tread on this build and save my resin tires for the Hellcat. I do consider even the base Eduard wheel / tire assys an upgrade this ol' Corsair. Anything helps at this point. I have been doing odds and ends on the bird all week. Stuff like a slight amount of weathering by silvering some of the rivet heads around the cockpit, painting landing grear doors and arresting hook, touch up paint on the zinc chromate inside the folded wing that'll be showing, cleaning up and working with the Eduard replacment wheel/ tire assys, installing the main canopy section and dunking the windscreen in future. I'll be ready to mask that sucker tomorrow and hopefully paint the frames on Friday.

  Here's a shot of the wheel/ tire comparison with Eduard on the left and Monogram on the right:

Steve, Joe is absolutely correct. Do not bemoan your efforts as they are really first rate. Your engine looks great. The painting and detailing is excellent. I realize that we are our own worst critics but, you honestly need to sit back, pat yourself on the back and tell yourself "You know what? I did a really nice job on this."

Joe, You're welcome. It is interesting to note that for pretty much all aircraft in all air forces, it came down to using what was available, regardless. Maintenance crews were all to often at the whim of availability, logistics and shortages. Crews were constantly having to scavenge from damaged aircraft in order to keep others flying. You can even find pics of aircraft with mismatched tires. 

There's really not a whole lot left to this build right now. I have to install the landing gear and related parts, prop, windscreen, gun barrels, folded wing section and touch that up, aerial antenna, pitot tube, drop tank and bombs. It sounds like a lot but it aint. Getting close to the finish line!!!!

Joe--Checkmate--Mustang...thanks for the support!  I do appreciate your input...  

Yo Ho Ho! That's what what we're here for dude! Lookin forward to more pics.

I got the decals for the forward gear doors applied tonight and had a slight set back with the positioning of hte folded wing on the port side. I will have to cut the wing hinge point and extend it out another 1/8". I cut some styrene stock to add as an "extender". Will have to paint and weather it to make it look decent. We'll see.........................

 I'll be back tomorrow morning to kick off this weekend's  power build surge! I would very much like to finish this weekend but will probably be "married" to this thing for another week or so. lol

I'm back.  What a long week.  Gotta go in early Saturday too.  bakster- The engine and wheel looks sharp.  My Mr. Color paints arrived from China today.  Now I just gotta find time to work on the plane.

Craig

Man I hear ya on those Saturdays. I know that sucks. Hang in there flyer, you'll get a break in the clouds.

Ok guys. Main gear is dropped, doors installed and same goes with the tail wheel plus the arrestor hook. I still have alot of work to go on the tires as shown but I'll get there. It's almost a coast in from here.(God willing!!! lol) . I had to modify the wing hinge as it was too close to the inner wing and not permitting the wing to fold up and inwards towards the fuselage all the way. I cut it in two and installed a piece of sprue stock in the form of two pieces glued together to create an extender to give me the needed length to fold the wing properly. Still gotta zinc chromate that and weather it a bit so it doesn't look so jicky-ish.  

Yeah Joe, having to work sucks.  I was supposed to be off Monday, but I gotta work.  Maybe I'll find an hour or two to work on it on Vets day.  Anyways...Looks like you're in the home stretch.  That plane is going to look really slick.

Vets day is coming up quick. Looking forward to some progress and thanks for the uplifting word man. I'm a hopin' and a prayin' that it comes out ok with no mishaps between now and then.

flyerduke: Glad to see that your paints have arrived. Is this your first go with Mr. Color? If so, you are going to love them. I started using it last year and I am immensely impressed. I will be interested how your Navy Blue comes out. For my Hellcat I'm using MM paints for a couple of reasons. First, I have an over abundance of it that I have stashed over the years. And secondly, their Dark Sea Blue is the closest match to the dark blue I have found. Although I have not compared Mr. Color's Navy Blue. I tried their Midnight Blue but that didn't quite fly.

Joe: You have that Corsair looking better each time I see it. Looking forward to the finishing touches.

Corsair looks superb, mustang!  Nice going.

Thanks Joe and checkmateking. Hopefully I'll be well underway to finishing everything but bombs and the aerial antenna tomorrow.

Just about there....................................

A few more things. Bombs, starboard cannon barrels, port wing installation, bomb painting and install and aerial antenna. A little bit more weathering here and there too. Exhaust staings and stuff like that. We're on the home stretch now fellas.

Mustang...it is looking awesome...  I am smiling over here.

Oh yeah! Now she be to lookin' like a warbird. Nice work.

Thanks Bakster and Joe! I simply never thought I would get this far with this thing!!! lol

Outstanding, mustang.  What a great job you've done!

Thanks checkmateking! I've still got a little ways to go and trying not to rush through this part of the build. Still got bombs, aerial antenna, pitot tube, exhaust staining and light weathering and touch up here and there. Oh yeah .....the biggie............the port wing assy. lol

Small update here. Got the bombs painted OD green , pitot tube painted and installed but still needs to be weathered and the gun barrels are now installed in the starboard wing.

I do have a question though. The 1000 lb bombs I did find out from Joe Rix and others here and there were OD green but to my knowledge there's no yellow ring around the front............or is there. Also what color is the (and I don't know my way around bombs so forgive me if I get the terminology wrong here) primer fuse at the very front of the bomb?

Here ya go ... picture is linked to more info:

regards,

Jack

Thanks Jack!!!!!

I have some Dauntlesses from both Airfix and Hasegawa I was thinking of putting into the next carrier GB, and was idly wondering on and off what color the Navy/Marines painted their bombs.

Is it usually OD, or is there some variation with them?

Hi Guys--I need your advice.  I need to glue the two sides of this turret canopy together and I need something stronger than an white glue.  I already tried the white glue method and it does not have the bonding strength. This will be highly visible, so I need a glue that will dry clear and not make a mess of things. It has been recommended that I try Gator Glue.  Do you guys have any thoughts on this? Whatever the solution, I  really want it to be something I can pick up locally.  I don't want to order on-line and wait 7-10 days for it.  

Just spit-balling here but what about Tamiya Extra Thin? What would that do to clear plastic?

Also--what are your thoughts about the sprue attachment marks?  I hate that they are there.  I suppose the only solution would be to sand and polish.  This would be yet another first for me on this build and another skill set to develop.  I just don't know if I want to get bogged down into that too.  

Your advice would really be appreciated.

Thanks guys.

Steve

Not sure why the image didn't post.  Tying again.

Steve

Hey Steve, First off do not use Tamiya thin cement. Asking for trouble there. You will want to get yourself some Testors Clear Cement. Usually available at, say, Hobby Lobby. It is made specifically for gluing clear parts and for creating "windows" in small holes or gaps. Mind you, it is not an overly strong bond but should do the trick. As for sanding and polishing clear plastic, it's really not a big deal. Just go to any makeup section of a drug store, Walmart, etc... and pick up a nail polishing stick. They are usually 2-3 sided. Those will work wonders for you. I hope this helps you out there good buddy.

Joe: That Corsair is a real beauty! I can't wait to see some more pics of her!

Steve: Looks like our Reverend Joe got you covered on that one!

I had a bit of truoble with my internet security program not allowing me to view this website, but the completed build pics will be up on the front page tomorrow! (that goes for all the GBs I'm hosting)

Yep..found the things that Joe recommended.  I will start working on it tonight. Maybe one day I can hear why you call Joe, Reverand.