Thanks Gamera. Yeah, I pop in now and then. Right now I have to go find the Braille Scale 2017 Group Build to start too.

Stay tuned; I hope to have more done on this soon.

Gee, I've seen you around the rest of the forum Duke but wow Ken, haven't seen you in forever! Same ol' same here, hope you're doing okay. 

(Cough, cough!)

The dust is pretty thick here!    

How is everyone?

Ken

My apologies gentlemen. I just found the model I started for this among all the other stuff in my Hobby Room. I hope to get re-started in this again.

Yeah, I think the 'In The Buff' B-52 build is still going on but otherwise haven't seen much of anyone from this build in forever. 

Seems there are still only tumbleweeds and drifting dust here....

Lol, not sure you need an excuse to add another beautiful F-102/106 to the stash. And I know what you mean about the Chinook, sometimes it seems like you can't have enough clamps...

I'm already running one GB and really don't feel like trying to do another, even one as open as this one...  

Gamera

Hey Jim the Chinook looks good. 

I have no idea what's going on either, haven't seen hide nor hair of Ken in months. I hope he's ok, I don't remember him saying anything about getting bored of the forum or otherwise leaving. 

 

I'm not sure where to take it either. I like the idea of participating in a non-specific group build instead of being locked into a particular aircraft or catagory build. I thought about maybe starting some sort of anything goes build, but I'm not that dedicated to maintain and lead one.

I do wish to announce my latest aquisition. Did I need another kit? No. Did I want this one? YES!

I can add it to Meng's F-102 I got a while back.

The Dart looks like a really cool kit kit with options for early or late cockpits and canopies, and some options on the landing gear, there again early or later versions.

The 106 comes with a small set of P.E. parts, and for the instrument panel, it uses decals with this to go over it: (2 cockpit options)

There was a Eduard cockpit set for the Dagger already, which I have, and I can only assume that they will follow with a set for the Dart.

In the mean time, I'm still torturing the Chinook and getting those seams to match just the way I want. I think seams in flat areas are harder because it has to be alligned just perfect to avoid a "step" between one side and the other.

The one towards the front is not actually open as it appears. I couldn't get the 2 sides to pull together, so gap filling CA to the rescue!

Jim

Hey Jim the Chinook looks good. 

I have no idea what's going on either, haven't seen hide nor hair of Ken in months. I hope he's ok, I don't remember him saying anything about getting bored of the forum or otherwise leaving. 

Hello, (If anybody is out there...)

A few photos of the Chinook before I button the two halves of the fuselage together:

Left rear:

The cabin window is too thick and I could have thinned it to fit flush, but not much of it can be seen once it's closed up.

Right side:

That drooping ceiling panel gets cemented in place once closed up. Should have added some flash here....

Forward cabin:

That door is an Eduard PE part. (actually 5 parts glued together with the window) I couldn't find any good reference photos of how this is to go. Eduard shows this position with the curved (outside) up. I have to assume that the door must roll up into the cabin? Hinged? Who knows? It's there now. Looking in from the outside looks like this:

Most of the photos I have seen in operation show the upper door open and the lower half closed.

Credit to the OP on that photo, I use it here for reference only. Also of note is the open area above the ramp. Kit provides a part that covers that but I don't see it used much. I will probably leave it off.

Now I have to ask if what the status of the group build is. It's supposed to end this month, and I don't know if there will be another. I can't modify or edit my signature anyway and have not had an answer from the owners of the forum. It's stuck in "Third Annual" and the Fourth is nearly over.

Jim

mikeymize

Seatbelts look fine to me Jim, as does the rest of the "front office". I'm in agreement with everyone else here on the frustration and tedious nature of individual-link tracks. They certainly look more realistic to the trained eye but I'm more about having fun with builds and so that's one area too much like work for my taste! 

As for the La-7, I'm not real sure on the materials used but it would make sense that wood would be used as that was one natural resource Mother Russia had planty of

By the time it came along, the La-7 and to a large degree the La-5 were both worthy advesaries to the 109 and 190. Also the quality of Soviet pilots was ever improving while the Luftwaffe aircrews had been decimated by attrition.

 

Interesting! I did do some reading and they say the La-5's were mostly wood, but the 7's incorporated more aircraft alloys as builders became more confident of the supplies. That's according to Wikipedia anyway.

Seatbelts look fine to me Jim, as does the rest of the "front office". I'm in agreement with everyone else here on the frustration and tedious nature of individual-link tracks. They certainly look more realistic to the trained eye but I'm more about having fun with builds and so that's one area too much like work for my taste! 

As for the La-7, I'm not real sure on the materials used but it would make sense that wood would be used as that was one natural resource Mother Russia had planty of

By the time it came along, the La-7 and to a large degree the La-5 were both worthy advesaries to the 109 and 190. Also the quality of Soviet pilots was ever improving while the Luftwaffe aircrews had been decimated by attrition.

jimbot58

 

 

 

 

Ha Ha! I did an armor binge for a time as well, mine being 1/72! I trried a 1/35 scale tank but all those little links and tracks that had to be cemented together whupped my tail! The smaller tank have those simple rubber band tracks!

Here is a photo of the Chinook cockpit so far. I think the lap belts are a bit out of scale myself.....

I also got the left and right sides switched on one of the shoulder belts. I'm not concerned as you won't be able to notice through the glass anyway. Those tiny little loops are supposed to be bent at a 90 like the ones on the left. Missed that too.....

 

Jim, that looks fantastic! So clean and sharp, I could swear I'm looking at the real thing if it weren't for the background.

I also build 1/72 scale armor for one of the reasons you mentioned: 1/35th scale tracks! I love building the small scale stuff!

Keep going guys, everything is looking fantastic!

Mike, she looks terrific! I've built a La-5 but not a 7 yet. One of the amazing things I've read about the fighter is like the British Mosquito most of the fighter was built out of wood but the performance was better than most German fighters of it's era.

Jim: Very nice work there, the seatbelts look perfect. Are they PE? I can barely handle 1/48th PE seatbelts, 1/72nd they must be the size of a gnat's whiskers.

mikeymize

  Hey Jim, the model is a Lavochkin La-7; it was the pinnacle of Soviet aircraft designs in WW2. The markings are from an aircraft flown by Maj. Amet-Khan a Russian ace from late 1944. Like you, I'm not as familiar with Soviet aircraft but always thought the La-7 was one of the cooler designs.

As you indicated being on a helicopter binge I too am on a binge, mine being an armor one. I'm up to my elbows in a M4A3 Sherman build now and have ordered the new Tamiya Panther Asf. D After that's done I'll go back to my first love; fixed-wingy thingys!

Best of luck on your chopper builds!

 

Ha Ha! I did an armor binge for a time as well, mine being 1/72! I trried a 1/35 scale tank but all those little links and tracks that had to be cemented together whupped my tail! The smaller tank have those simple rubber band tracks!

Here is a photo of the Chinook cockpit so far. I think the lap belts are a bit out of scale myself.....

I also got the left and right sides switched on one of the shoulder belts. I'm not concerned as you won't be able to notice through the glass anyway. Those tiny little loops are supposed to be bent at a 90 like the ones on the left. Missed that too.....

  Hey Jim, the model is a Lavochkin La-7; it was the pinnacle of Soviet aircraft designs in WW2. The markings are from an aircraft flown by Maj. Amet-Khan a Russian ace from late 1944. Like you, I'm not as familiar with Soviet aircraft but always thought the La-7 was one of the cooler designs.

As you indicated being on a helicopter binge I too am on a binge, mine being an armor one. I'm up to my elbows in a M4A3 Sherman build now and have ordered the new Tamiya Panther Asf. D After that's done I'll go back to my first love; fixed-wingy thingys!

Best of luck on your chopper builds!

mikeymize

Well, here they are. It's the Academy 1/48 kit. I used MM Metalizer for the panels just aft of the exaust manifold and MM Ghost Grey, Gunship Grey and Russian underside blue as well as Russian red for the cowling.

There were a few issues with lack of definitive placement pins/holes but otherwise a pretty nice kit. Hope you like the pics. 

 

Nice build although I have to admit that I don't know a lot about planes with those things that spin on the front, esp. Rusky ones. What is this plane again so I can look it up?

I have continued my current obsession with those aircraft with the things that spin on top, with some work done with the PE parts on the Chinook. Boy are they getting tough to do anymore! The parts get smaller and smaller! (I know it's not me getting older!) Once I get a bit more done I'll get some pictures up. I had better anyway, because once the cockpit is closed up, nobody will be able to see much of it! I'll be able to look at the finished kit and think about the $25 worth of unseen detail parts inside...

All I know for now is that my desktop is covered with choppers - I said it was an obsession, didn't I?

Jim

Well, here they are. It's the Academy 1/48 kit. I used MM Metalizer for the panels just aft of the exaust manifold and MM Ghost Grey, Gunship Grey and Russian underside blue as well as Russian red for the cowling.

There were a few issues with lack of definitive placement pins/holes but otherwise a pretty nice kit. Hope you like the pics. 

Sounds cool Mike, looking forward to them! 

Gamera

Jim: Good to hear you're still hanging in there. It's getting to the point now I'm not sure how much longer I'm going to have my dad... 

On a happier note really nice work on the UH-1 and the CH-47 looks really cool. 

And we've had about 65-70 degrees here but with rain, rain everyday for about two solid weeks now and more forecast for next week. Guess I should stop complaining, I'd rather have it than your snow and ice. Glad to hear you made it back ok.

Mike: Guess I missed your post, the La-7 sounds cool, probably my favorite Soviet fighter.  

 

Nothing like a little inspiration Jim! The instrument panel looks really good. 

Hey all, how's it going?

The other night I watched "Apocalyspe Now" for the first time. (I know, 30+ years after its release?) Very strange movie, but I love the footage of the UH-1D Hueys in action. Now when I look at my workbench and see this sitting there:

The sound of Wagners "Ride of the Valkyries" fills my head. Perhaps one more project to add to my already full plate?

Since the last post I worrked on filling those interior seams on the Chinook. Not the greatest job, but since you can't see much of the interior, it won't matter. They are just less noticable if you look in the back:

Work on the instument panel PE parts:

And I had to see what one of the bubble windows looks like. Should be fun to mask when I paint the exterior:

That's all for now....

Hey Duke, Jim, thanks guys. We're kinda just trying to trudge along day by day. 

Jim, looks really cool to me. And yeah see what you mean, even with an open door and those big open windows not much of the interior will be visible. 

Thanks for the compliment DM, about the Huey. I'm sure yours looks fine. We are all critical of our own work.

Gamera, sorry to hear that about your Dad. My thoughts are with you as well, what ever the future holds for you.

Well, we are actually supposed to go above freezing on Saturday! Break out the bathing suits and suntan oil!

I got the PE set for the Chinook and got started on some of the interior:

There are PE pieces that go onto the surface of the 2 black boxes on the bulkhead. (I assume circut breaker panels?)

Inside of the cabin. There are various pieces from the PE set to go in here. Kind of a shame as you won't be able to see much of them.

There is also an exterior set available, but I didn't want to spend another $30 for it, plus it just looked like way too much work.

Jim

Jim, very nice work on that Huey! I just completed one myself. Yours looks far better though. Glad to hear you made it back; that reminds me of the times I drove through blizzards in Minnesota. I also have problems staying focused on one build too; that's why I have about 15 projects on the go all the time.... but at least I get a lot finished too!

Gamera, I'll be praying for you and your dad. Spend whatever time you can with him, family comes first. alos, enjoy the rain for now. I'm still hoping we get some more here in Southern California.

Rock on guys! I may not be getting much done for this Group Build, but I'm still following along closely.

Jim: Good to hear you're still hanging in there. It's getting to the point now I'm not sure how much longer I'm going to have my dad... 

On a happier note really nice work on the UH-1 and the CH-47 looks really cool. 

And we've had about 65-70 degrees here but with rain, rain everyday for about two solid weeks now and more forecast for next week. Guess I should stop complaining, I'd rather have it than your snow and ice. Glad to hear you made it back ok.

Mike: Guess I missed your post, the La-7 sounds cool, probably my favorite Soviet fighter.  

Hello friends!

First off, I hope Christmas finds you well and safe! I guess I made it through it. It was the fourth Christmas since Mom passed and still it's hard. It did drive out on the plains Saturday to spend time with my friends and their family. It's nice of them to do that, but still it's always a bit awkward for me. I've known my friend for nearly 40 years, but I still feel just a little out of place, as they all have connections as a family. I'm just sort of there.

The drive back was interesting: the weather report was for 1-3 inches of snow, which is no big deal normally, but coupled with strong winds and that snow fell in less than an hour! I was caught in a blizzard! I couldn't see past the bumper and I could only navigate by looking for the road side reflectors. I couldn't pull off as I was afraid of driving off an embankment or just getting stuck for the night! It let up outside of Denver and I finally made it home! I think I left imprints from my fingers in the steering wheel, not to mention a stain in my......

That aside, I did finally finish something! My UH-1B!

The pictures are a little dark, but the weather right now in not good for getting some decent photos. Maybe next wekend I might be able to try outside.... weather permitting.

My next project? Hard to say. I have worked on and off on the A-10, the Blackhawk, the F-8 Crusader, the Cobra, and then I have been piddling with this:

I was just test fitting a few pieces, and then a few got cemented in place, and before I knew it, an Eduard interior P.E. set got ordered somehow!

I just don't seem to focus on any one project!

Jim

Hey Jim, I agree with you abou the holidays being not that great at times. It's going to be just me and my two dogs for Christmas which sucks but what can you do? I did get to have my mom here for Thanksgiving so at least I had that. Anyway, I'm still plugging away at my Lavochkin La-7 and trying to figure out what to build after that. Sounds like you have too many potential builds and I'm on the other side of that conundrum. 

Ken: Ouch! Sorry I missed your last post there! Yeah, they do fly them at other venues- they flew the B-25 over a college football a few days before and had just got her back. And they have a Spitfire that they'd flown out at another show and had broken down and they were working on her so she wasn't on display.

Jim: Sounds cool, you're making me want to build a chopper now!