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50th Anniversary Vietnam War Group Build

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  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Central Florida
Posted by plasticjunkie on Tuesday, January 20, 2015 10:41 AM

Forgot to add the tail picture to the last post. Still learning to use the Imageshack format.

Decals using the Future method

 GIFMaker.org_jy_Ayj_O

 

 

Too many models to build, not enough time in a lifetime!!

  • Member since
    March 2010
  • From: MN
Posted by Nathan T on Tuesday, January 20, 2015 11:30 AM

Neat future trick Pj. Did u have wipe off the excess future? Did it leave any puddles or ridges?

 

 

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Tuesday, January 20, 2015 11:39 AM

Nice save on the tail codes decals PJ.... I love your nose art!

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Central Florida
Posted by plasticjunkie on Tuesday, January 20, 2015 11:41 AM

Thanks gents. No wiping, just brush on a light coat and it levels out and dries in about 3-4 minutes.

 GIFMaker.org_jy_Ayj_O

 

 

Too many models to build, not enough time in a lifetime!!

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Central Florida
Posted by plasticjunkie on Wednesday, January 21, 2015 10:43 PM

I'm also scratching out some early M31 Cluster Bombs, otherwise called Funny Bombs by the Nimrods. They  were loaded in the bomb bay and were very effective against trucks and other vehicles on the Ho Chi Minh Trail. I will post some pictures once the fins dry and both bombs are painted.

 GIFMaker.org_jy_Ayj_O

 

 

Too many models to build, not enough time in a lifetime!!

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Thursday, January 22, 2015 2:33 PM

Ok guys, after much delay (and no excuses, it just happened), I have added the GB badges to the front page. Pick whichever you prefer to use when your build is finished. Many thanks to all of those who submitted badge artwork for here.

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    May 2009
  • From: Poland
Posted by Pawel on Thursday, January 22, 2015 4:02 PM

plasticjunkie - nice job on that Invader! The camo looks good, although I personally prefer to mask it rather than freehand such pattern. Future sure is handy when handling decals!

Recently I've been scratchbuilding a little - I noticed I'm missing the insides of the so-called dittching hatch - a hatch on top of the Whale cockpit meant to be used to get out of the airplane when the normal way (the hatchway in the belly) couldn't be used - like when landing wheels up or in the water. I read that this hatch was supposed to be open during the carrier takeoff by Navy regulations.

I have only very few references of how this thing should look like. Here's what I scratched using some styrene sheet, yoghurt can lid and some copper sheet and wire on paper backing:

I scribed all of those soundproofing seams, then went on to paint that thing:

After that was doneI glued it inside the canopy:

Now I can finally close that cockpit up and start some serious painting.

Thanks for looking and have a nice day

Paweł

All comments and critique welcomed. Thanks for your honest opinions!

www.vietnam.net.pl

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Central Florida
Posted by plasticjunkie on Thursday, January 22, 2015 5:03 PM

Pawel

Thanks, glad you like it. The Badger Renegade with Xtra fine tip  I have does a great job at free handing the scheme. I mix my enamel paint 50/50 and go down to about 6-7 PSI to get the demarcation lines. It's easier and faster if the areas are masked.

Great job on the pit details.

 GIFMaker.org_jy_Ayj_O

 

 

Too many models to build, not enough time in a lifetime!!

  • Member since
    January 2014
  • From: Toronto
Posted by Rob S. on Thursday, January 22, 2015 5:08 PM

Great looking Invader so far plastic...love the nose art too!!

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On the Bench: Nothing on the go ATM

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Central Florida
Posted by plasticjunkie on Thursday, January 22, 2015 8:21 PM

Thanks Rob.

I went to my spares box looking for anything that looked like the body of the M31and found some left over parts from a completed armor kit that fit the bill. I used the tails from two M117's and glued them to the parts I found. Then went back to my scrap pe left over frets and using the Xuron shears, cut the pieces to make the semi circled tail fins that were glued on after being bent to shape over a drill bit. I used a diagram from one of the B-26K sites as a guide and it looks pretty close to the prototype.

The M31's were assembled as described above and ready for paint.

The completed cluster bombs

Got all the armament ready to be mounted.

These Nimrods could deliver a very impressive blow.

 GIFMaker.org_jy_Ayj_O

 

 

Too many models to build, not enough time in a lifetime!!

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Central Florida
Posted by plasticjunkie on Friday, January 23, 2015 10:33 PM

Some more progress. The bomb bay was loaded one side at a time to let gravity do its work.

 

 

 GIFMaker.org_jy_Ayj_O

 

 

Too many models to build, not enough time in a lifetime!!

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Central Florida
Posted by plasticjunkie on Friday, January 23, 2015 10:43 PM

All the hardpoints received their loads and the bay doors went on. The extra hand gizmo comes in very handy holding parts at the correct angle. Those M31s look very cool in the bomb bay.

 GIFMaker.org_jy_Ayj_O

 

 

Too many models to build, not enough time in a lifetime!!

  • Member since
    January 2014
  • From: Toronto
Posted by Rob S. on Friday, January 23, 2015 10:47 PM

Yes...super wicked!!

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On the Bench: Nothing on the go ATM

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Friday, January 23, 2015 11:25 PM

Looking real good there PJ... the warload really adds to it!

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    November 2010
  • From: Florida-West Central
Posted by Eagle90 on Sunday, January 25, 2015 3:15 PM

PJ!  That is one mean looking plane!  What great work and great subject!  Awesome job!

Eagle90

 

  • Member since
    November 2010
  • From: Florida-West Central
Posted by Eagle90 on Sunday, January 25, 2015 3:24 PM

What great work being done here!  You all are awesome!

Well, I'm calling her finished.  She has been a challenge since opening the box!  I know, I know.  Older kits, you get what you pay for.  I realize that and I'm starting to feel the same way I did when I used to buy cheap guitars.  It'll do!  Then, one day, someone bought me a 50th Anniv Strat!  WOW!  Night and day difference!  Now the cheapest guitar I own is $2000!  So, yes, I do have much better quality models, but can't bare to get rid of any of these older ones!  So, I complain about cracking decals (if they don't disintegrate first!), bad fitting kits, etc...but I still love them old kits!  Embarrassed

Yeah, the decals all but cracked to pieces as I put them on.  I doctored them as best I could.  MANY fit issues, lack of detail, and having major life stuff going on, I think she turned out fairly decent.  I know, cheesy background, but had to have something for it!  Wink

So here she is!  Thanks for checking her out!

Eagle90

 

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, England
Posted by Bish on Sunday, January 25, 2015 4:18 PM

PJ, that's .looking good, really liking that.

Eagle, nice job, that does look a sweet aircraft, I may even have to try and get one myself.

I am a Norfolk man and i glory in being so

 

On the bench: Airfix 1/72nd Harrier GR.3/Fujimi 1/72nd Ju 87D-3

  • Member since
    November 2010
  • From: Florida-West Central
Posted by Eagle90 on Sunday, January 25, 2015 8:22 PM

Bish

PJ, that's .looking good, really liking that.

Eagle, nice job, that does look a sweet aircraft, I may even have to try and get one myself.

No doubt PJ's build is spectacular!

Thank you Bish!  I half a 1/72 Airfix Vig if you get crazy and want to do one soon!  Wink

Eagle90

 

  • Member since
    January 2014
  • From: Toronto
Posted by Rob S. on Sunday, January 25, 2015 8:25 PM

What a beauty Eagle!! Just love it. I totally want one now....congrats on a wicked build YesYes

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On the Bench: Nothing on the go ATM

  • Member since
    November 2010
  • From: Florida-West Central
Posted by Eagle90 on Sunday, January 25, 2015 8:39 PM

Rob S.

What a beauty Eagle!! Just love it. I totally want one now....congrats on a wicked build YesYes

Thank you Rob!  She was a challenge from the start, but seeing her up on the shelf....she is a pretty one!  I would suggest a newer tooling of a Vig!  Just sayin'  Wink

Thanks again!

Eagle90

 

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Central Florida
Posted by plasticjunkie on Monday, January 26, 2015 8:26 AM

Bish, Rob stik and eagle

Thanks for the comments. Eagle, your vigilante looks maaarvelous!

My Invader is finally done and here is a little info on my Counter Invader:

This particular aircraft was an A-26A, ex-4435375 that served in the Congo as RF 646 in 1964. Was transferred to the 609th SOS, SEA on 3-67 and was lost in combat on 7-8-69.

On the night of July 8th 1969, TA 646 flown by Major Elmo Sizemore hit a stone outcropping in the Plaine des Jarres in Laos, after making a strafing run on the VC, killing all aboard.

Major Sizemore and Navigator Major Howard Andre were the last Nimrod crew to perish in Viet Nam. The crash site was located in 2012 and the remains of both airmen were recovered and interred at Arlington National Cemetery the following year.

The final touches were done including the missing red light on the top of the tail fin and the wing tip lights. I found some self adhesive custom jewelry multi colored stones at Hobby Lobby a while back and had them in my junk box. They come in different sizes that looked very close to what I needed. Using a #11 blade, I carefully sliced the stones I needed for the lights and applied clear red and green Tamiya acrylic paint to make the colors a bit more brilliant then attached them to their respective locations.

The stones

Tail light and wire

Wingtip light

The strakes are just ahead of the front bay area.These strips dropped down once the bay doors were opened to create turbulence to prevent the bombs from sticking to their mounts at above 240 knots.

Unit patches of the 609th SOS

 GIFMaker.org_jy_Ayj_O

 

 

Too many models to build, not enough time in a lifetime!!

  • Member since
    February 2014
  • From: Michigan
Posted by silentbob33 on Monday, January 26, 2015 9:32 AM

Great job PJ!  I like the idea you have for the lights...I might have to try that in the future

On my bench: Academy 1/35 UH-60L Black Hawk

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Central Florida
Posted by plasticjunkie on Monday, January 26, 2015 9:36 AM

Thanks bob. If the light color is off a bit then just dab some Tamiya clear red or green paint to correct the shade.

 GIFMaker.org_jy_Ayj_O

 

 

Too many models to build, not enough time in a lifetime!!

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Monday, January 26, 2015 11:23 AM

Your 26 is simply outstanding PJ! excellent finish on her. I like those little hobby lobby light additions. I bought up a batch late last year for the same purpose. Thank you for the back story on the aircraft and the fate of both it and the crew. I will get your build added to the front page here soon. Thank you for participating in this GB!

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Central Florida
Posted by plasticjunkie on Monday, January 26, 2015 11:48 AM

Thank you stik for being a great host. I had no idea as to the tragic end of this aircraft and its  crew when I started building it. But as usual with most of my builds, I start digging for info and details and sometimes end up with stories like this one.

 GIFMaker.org_jy_Ayj_O

 

 

Too many models to build, not enough time in a lifetime!!

  • Member since
    May 2009
  • From: Poland
Posted by Pawel on Monday, January 26, 2015 1:55 PM

Eagle90 - congratulations on your Vigilante build, aint that aircraft something to look at?

plasticjunkie - your Invader is something special - congratualtions! I hope mine turns out as well as yours when I finally get to building it!

Thanks for sharing and have a nice day!

Paweł

All comments and critique welcomed. Thanks for your honest opinions!

www.vietnam.net.pl

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Monday, January 26, 2015 2:27 PM

Eagle and PJ, your completed builds have been added to the front page. Beautiful work guys! We have eight completed so far, and several moths to go... Very nice! it has been a real privilege to host this GB.

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, England
Posted by Bish on Monday, January 26, 2015 2:32 PM

PJ, that's just lovely. I really like what you have done with this, who would believe that was a WW2 design. And those lights look great. I saw someone else use something similar a while back but I think that was a 48th kit. I thought 72nd might be two small for anything like this. Those must be tiny. Going to have to try and find some of those.

Again, awesome job.

I am a Norfolk man and i glory in being so

 

On the bench: Airfix 1/72nd Harrier GR.3/Fujimi 1/72nd Ju 87D-3

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Central Florida
Posted by plasticjunkie on Monday, January 26, 2015 7:02 PM

Thanks gents!

 GIFMaker.org_jy_Ayj_O

 

 

Too many models to build, not enough time in a lifetime!!

  • Member since
    January 2014
  • From: Toronto
Posted by Rob S. on Tuesday, January 27, 2015 5:09 AM

PJ!! INVADER!!! Wicked...love it. What a friggin' cool build and subject. Yup, I echo all the comments on the lights, great idea...now, I gotta find a Hobby Lobby in Quebec...Nope, well, we have Michaels, so, I'll prowl the isles there. Great job, congrats on the big finish...YesYes

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On the Bench: Nothing on the go ATM

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