She's looking fine PJ.  

Eric

Paint looks VERY good!

Damian

Love that jig!

A little update here on my Spit....got the decals on both sides of the fuselage on last night. I found it peculiar to see the ID numbers painted over by the squadron letters as shown in the instructions but a quick search on the web revealed some pictures showing the numbers as listed by ROG.

The kit decals are of EXCELLENT quality and responded very well to Solvaset. I used SOL on a couple and had to go over with Solvaset to snuggle them down into each ressed detail.

They look as if they were sprayed on

Plenty of options there Eric. I am hoping we will see some of the less covered nations represented. Aswell as a few British ones,m i am planning a MiG 29 in Bangladesh markings.

A Commwealth GB? Let's see - I have an AMT (Italeri) P-40E with Oz and NZ markings; Kiwi Markings to match an Accurate Miniatures SBD; the new Airfix P-40B that could be fitted out for Caldwell & company, and an ICM (Italeri) Hudson also with RNAZ markings. And a midwar Tamiya Corsair - another buggy we lent to the Kiwis. Something might work. I'd guess that there were more Commonwealth aircrew in Bomber Command than in their own air forces - dangerous work that. Oh yea: Special Hobby has both 1/48 and 1/72 versions of both the Wirraway and Boomerang. I think the Wirraway was the first plane I did after returning to modeling in 1/72: it was a wretched kit: amazing I stuck with things after that experience. (Actually you can blame two cheap and perfectly neat Tamiya kits: a PzII and a Ki-84 for not selling my first airbrush on eBay and starting a stamp collection. Those 70s Tamiya kits are probably still the best beginner/kid models available. And they still are widely available for about $10.)

Eric

damouav

The following is sort of related to my next S.E.5a build, but not specific to it. I have wanted to make a modelling stand to make things easier when decaling, painting etc. After looking into my options and cost, I decided that I could easily design my own and find a business to CNC Router or Laser cut it for me. Mt original material of choice was plywood, but it became very clear that the complexity of making something and putting it together with ply was too hard/expensive.

The local business I discovered suggested an alternative, acrylic sheet. As they have a laser cutter the following and with materials and hardware came to roughly 1/3 of the cost of the retail version. And the best part as it can hold a 1/48 aircraft and I would hazard a guess could go to 1/24 if needed for Mono, Bi and Triplane.

 

 

Gamera

Damouav: Wow, now that's a nice stand! If you hadn't told us I'd have thought it was something you'd bought instead of custom made. 

I should look into something like this rather than sitting here cursing the next time a model propped up by paint bottles falls over. 

 

Bish: If you're going with a general Commonwealth build I've got so much stuff in the stash my issue will be narrowing it down to one or two kits..... 

 

That my plan, to cover all branches of all current 52 members and the 4 former members.

Damouav: Wow, now that's a nice stand! If you hadn't told us I'd have thought it was something you'd bought instead of custom made. 

I should look into something like this rather than sitting here cursing the next time a model propped up by paint bottles falls over. 

Bish: If you're going with a general Commonwealth build I've got so much stuff in the stash my issue will be narrowing it down to one or two kits..... 

damouav

Bish, Look forward to it, count me in.

 

Will do. I plan on taking a couple of months break from running GB';s, so will be kicking that off next July.

Ilike that stand. I have been planning for ages to knock one up myself, but this might be a better option.

There is a guy at our model club who hashis own buissness doing lazer cut wood products such as paint racks, figure stand and so on. Might have a word with him.

Bish, Look forward to it, count me in.

The following is sort of related to my next S.E.5a build, but not specific to it. I have wanted to make a modelling stand to make things easier when decaling, painting etc. After looking into my options and cost, I decided that I could easily design my own and find a business to CNC Router or Laser cut it for me. Mt original material of choice was plywood, but it became very clear that the complexity of making something and putting it together with ply was too hard/expensive.

The local business I discovered suggested an alternative, acrylic sheet. As they have a laser cutter the following and with materials and hardware came to roughly 1/3 of the cost of the retail version. And the best part as it can hold a 1/48 aircraft and I would hazard a guess could go to 1/24 if needed for Mono, Bi and Triplane.

damouav

Gamera - Thanks for your comments.

Eric - Your Beau is looking sensational, well done!

Bish - Don't tease about an RAAF GB...

 

O, not RAAF, a bit wider coverage than that. Think 52 nations.

Gamera - Thanks for your comments.

Eric - Your Beau is looking sensational, well done!

Bish - Don't tease about an RAAF GB...

Eric: Love the results you're getting, looking forward to seeing more!

Bish: Oh yeah, I've got a bunch of Aussie stuff, I'll be sure to have something for that.

Looking real good there Eric.

The real world has been pesky but I did the initial "black base" paint stage of the Beaufighter. The Swatch worked pretty well actually - it was not too tacky and I had little trouble with overspray (under spray?). It would have been a lot easier if I had not felt the need to follow a precise pattern which I more or less did.

Here's the top with the masking removed. I'm pretty happy with the RAF Dark Green that I made. It's a dark combination with the gray - but this was a night fighter. Golden High Flow has a satin finish, but that won't last through the build.

On the bottom you can see the great tonal variation achieved with the gray over black:

Well....now what? This is only the beginning of the weathering. I'll do some kind of pinwash and perhaps accent some panel lines. Some filters are coming - trusty Com.Art or oils? Both? And of course the clear parts. Where to put in the decals? I put myself outside my comfort zone, so I'll have to give this one a good think.

Eric

Gamera

Lol no worries Bish, I'm still working toward finishing the Tempest! 

 

But I'll admit I was looking at some decals in my stash the other week for an Aussie un-named aircraft with the cool shark mouth. I have to wonder if a shark mouth would fit a Typhoon/Tempest- with the giant oil cooler under the nose it seems a natural. I don't think the Aussies ever bought any of these aircraft though.  

 

Well, just kep hold of those Aussie ones, might come in handy next year

I was going to build it for the GB but wasn't sure if my parts were going to surface. It took a while but I finally got them. 

I just may build it after the Spit For this GB.

OMG that's awesome PJ! 

Found two dealers with the same set in 1/48th. I'm going to order a set for myself! 

When you build that 1/32nd I assume you're going to post her, I really want to see that!!! 

Gamera

Lol no worries Bish, I'm still working toward finishing the Tempest! 

 

But I'll admit I was looking at some decals in my stash the other week for an Aussie un-named aircraft with the cool shark mouth. I have to wonder if a shark mouth would fit a Typhoon/Tempest- with the giant oil cooler under the nose it seems a natural. I don't think the Aussies ever bought any of these aircraft though.  

 

Thanks Gamera. Funny you mentioned the shark mouth. I have the old Revell 1/32 cardoor Typhoon and managed to get all the required parts to make it a bubble top. I recently ordered some Aviaeology Sharkmouth Typhoon decals from 245 Squadron that are just  gorgeous.

Lol no worries Bish, I'm still working toward finishing the Tempest! 

But I'll admit I was looking at some decals in my stash the other week for an Aussie un-named aircraft with the cool shark mouth. I have to wonder if a shark mouth would fit a Typhoon/Tempest- with the giant oil cooler under the nose it seems a natural. I don't think the Aussies ever bought any of these aircraft though.  

Gamera

PJ: She's coming along great! At the risk of getting on the bad side of our host you're giving me the hankering to build another of that not to be named aircraft...

Damouav: Wow, I think I like those photos even better than ther earlier ones you posted.  

 

Its funny how some subjects just seem to apprear in groups on here. Even outside this GB, where you would expect plenty of those aircraft, every where i look somone seems to be building one. Its like its taunting me

PJ: She's coming along great! At the risk of getting on the bad side of our host you're giving me the hankering to build another of that not to be named aircraft...

Damouav: Wow, I think I like those photos even better than ther earlier ones you posted.  

PJ - Thank you for your kind words, sort off put this to bed a little while ago but hadn't gotten around to taking good photos of the final build (which is somewhat still the case). If I get time tomorrow and the sun is out I will take some other shots. Thanks again.

Thanks guys. The Silly Putty trick is great for creating semi-soft edges if you know how to hit the correct angle as one goes. I believe they had hard edge lines but semi soft look better IMO.

Damian- Apologies for missing your beautiful Mosquito. It looks super and the ground work is equally impressive.

Its no problem Damian. Thank you. I dolike that outdoor pic but i used the otehr one as it nicely shows the whole aircraft. Again, thank you and great build.

Bish,

Maybe one of these?

Bish

Damian - Have you had a chance to get those fresh out door pics of the Mossie.

 

Humm, aarr, humm, no.

Give me an hour or so and I will drop a white sheet in my model room and get an image or two. 

Its late afternoon here so I will just do it inside.

Sorry.

Damian - Have you had a chance to get those fresh out door pics of the Mossie.

Looking very nice PJ, can't wait to see those decals on.