80 Years of Airfix GB

Lol, thanks Mark.  If you squint just right, my blobs of white paint might just pass as switches and dials!

Tales of the Omnibus - Chapter 5

The freelance work I was expecting to start this week is delayed slightly, so I was able to get a bit of work done on the Omnibus the last couple of days.

Started off by glueing the steps to the stringer.  Had to do this in sequence, because the parts needed to be adjusted along the length of the join.

I had to add some styrene to the stairway platform (artificially highlighted in yellow), to improve the mating surface between this part and the underside of the chassis.  Original surface was flat but angled, so the platform would not have been level.

At this point the the bits are ready for paint.

The red (and dark brown on the reverse side) has been laid down, and now I'm brushing the Titan Gold onto the railings.

The stairway parts ready to be assembled.

Sequentially glued these parts together, starting at the bottom and working my way up. 

Rear platform attached to the vehicle.  the added styrene worked perfectly to ensure a good bond and a level platform.

Glueing the stairwell to the vehicle was quite fiddly.  I glued the base of the stairs to the platform first, and allowed it to completely cure.  Then I glued the top.  I had to improvise a clamping solution, because of the shape and the delicate railings.  I cut a rubber band and threaded it through the side wall and around the front vertical railing of the stairway, clamping the two ends after pulling a slight tension.  This worked much better than I expected.

I'm super happy with how it's looking.

One bit of weirdness happened.  While dry-fitting a part that goes on the rear wall, I dropped it... and it fell into the enclosed lower deck.
"It's okay Mark, just shake it out of there", I thought to myself.
I gently shook the vehicle and didn't hear anything.
Hmmm... I looked inside and saw that the part had landed, and wedged itself, between the front bench and the wall.  ARGHHHH!  Here's a pic.

Well after giving it a long think, I dug out a stiff bit of wire and bent a little hook on the end and carefully fished the part out.  Happily, I didn't scratch up any paint, at least that is visible.  lol.

Update on the figures.
Um... there probably won't be any.  hahaha...  seriously, I've been trying to paint them, and the results are somewhere between hideous and repulsive.  I've been working on this kit for 2 1/2 months, and really want to finish it up and return to building airplanes.  I've enjoyed working well outside my comfort zone with this vehicle, but I think the figure painting will send me over the edge.  Maybe sometime in the future I will revisit the figures, and add them to the vehicle.

That's it for now.  In the next chapter we'll get the fenders on, and give this machine some wheels.

heers,
Mark

Wow Mark, your making this Omnibus into a real gem.  The figures are a bit on the silly side but I’d love to see what you’ve done with them!

Very sharp looking Bus !

That is completly stunning Mark. Figures would make a nice addition but understand why you don't feel like tackling them. Some times you just want to get a build done and move on.

crown r n7

Very sharp looking Bus !

Thanks Nick.

Bish

That is completly stunning Mark. Figures would make a nice addition but understand why you don't feel like tackling them. Some times you just want to get a build done and move on.

Thanks Bish.  Yeah, even though I've enjoyed the challenges of this build I'm ready to return to airplanes.

Mopar Madness

Wow Mark, your making this Omnibus into a real gem.  The figures are a bit on the silly side but I’d love to see what you’ve done with them!

And finally, thank you Chad.
Here's a pic of one the figures.  Just remember, you asked for this.
Don't blame me when you can't sleep tonight.

I actually can't show the other one I started.  Makes this one look like the Mona Lisa. LOL. 

Cheers,
Mark

Mark, that... is... awesome!

Decals are on, panel lines have been “washed”, time to start the weathering then I’ll call this one done.

Tales of the Omnibus - Chapter 6

Oh, we're getting close now.  Time to install the front axle, the fenders, and the wheels.  Here's what we're working with in this chapter.

The rear fenders had huge amounts of flash on the front edge.  Took a while to clean up.

Meanwhile the front fenders have a support member molded into the part, that should fit into a round hole on the chassis.  LOL.  I ended up cutting off the vertical slab of flash, and sanding the square peg into a roundish shape.

Here are the rear wheels.  The one on the right has a base coat of Tamiya XF-9 Hull Red.  The left wheel has been weathered with pastel chalks on top of the Hull Red.

I love working with pastel chalks for weathering.  I guess this goes back to my younger days when I did fine art (portraits, landscapes... etc.) with chalks and charcoal.  I use a short, stiff brush to apply layers of chalk, building up the darks and lights in successive layers until I get the result I want.

Wheels masked, ready to shoot Tamiya XF-85 Rubber Black on the tires.  I read that the tires on these buses were solid rubber, so no need to make them look weighted.

After some light dusting of chalk on the tires, here they are ready to go on the bus.  I'm very happy with how they look.

The fenders were fiddly, but not too bad to attach.  Then the wheels went on.  This kit was "engineered" so that the wheels could rotate.  But they fit so poorly on the axles that they would never sit perpendicular to the ground, always angled one way or another.  So I decided to glue them in place, carefully setting the alignment as they cured.

Feels awesome to finally see the bus up on her wheels.  Just like that moment of satisfaction when an airplane gets to stand on it's gear for the first time. 

That's it for chapter 6 of Tales of the Omnibus.  All that remains now are about a dozen little exterior parts that need to be added (including a newspaper for the upper deck), and finally a whole bunch of decals.  I get started on all that in chapter 7.

Cheers,
Mark

Mopar Madness

Decals are on, panel lines have been “washed”, time to start the weathering then I’ll call this one done.

That's looking awesome Chad.  The metal finish looks fantastic.

Cheers,
Mark

Hey everyone...great work here!  I must say they all are very cool, but the Omnibus is neat.  Different.  I like it!

I haven't forgotten about my part 2 of this GB.  The Nimrod is off the shelf and on the bench! 

Being I was in Desert Storm and spent a lot of time in Saudi...I'm going to do the aircraft that was stationed at Prince Sultan Royal Saudi Air Force Base.

After opening the bags and checking out all the sprues, I have come to a sad conclusion....I will have to build this kit with the gear up.  I have no room on any shelf for this beast.  LOL!  She's a big one!  But I will have her flying with the bay doors open.  Shame about the gear, it was nicely detailed and would have been impressive sitting on a shelf....if I had one big enough for her.  LOL!

Watching this one closely Boddy. I saw one built up at our club last year and yep, its a good size. I have heard there is an isue with the fit of the fuselage halves, possably needs some clamping. Been keen to see if thats true.

With Janets daughter soon to finish Uni and hopefully getting her own place, i am planning on getting the spare bed out of my room at the end of the year and getting in a double depth shelf mainly to accomodate this and the Victor. My current ones are certainly not deep enough.

That is looking really nice Chad. Interesting that your going this far before fitting the wings.

Nice to see her on her wheels Mark, those have come out really well.

Got a start on the Mustang.  Been working on it at club meetings.  Have the details painted in the office, just have to put in the placard decals then can button it up in the fuselage.

Hey, Bish. Hey, y'all. I'm back. I haven't been doing any building for some time now. I spun into a pretty deep depression when I lost a beloved pet a few months ago, but I'm back now. I'm taking medication and coping pretty well so now it's time to get back to the hobby.

Bish, I've shelved the WB-29. It just seemed that the more work I did on it the less I was accomplishing. Rather than deal with the frustration, I put the kit back on the shelf of doom. Meanwhile, I recently picked up an old MPC/Airfix 1/72 scale A-26 Invader in a plastic bag. Is it possible that it can replace the B-29? Also I have a second Boeing Clipper that will be another "what-if" when it's done. The Clipper is out on the paint bench as I write this. I'll have some pictures to share in a couple of days.

I have been lurking every once in a while. Y'all are doing some good stuff, especially MrStecks and his Omnibus. Very cool.

It's good to be back out in the light. I'll have more to share soon.

Chad nice wash! what aluminum paint did you use? 

Mark good looking wheels on the bus.. realistic.

Eagle90 I believe that should be very interesting to watch.

Goldhammer what markings on the P-51?

I primed the sea fury tamiya flat black now to paint it in RAF high speed aluminum. I tried the Tamiya flat aluminum but it leaves flecks of aluminum behind coat it with clear gloss looks beauitful for a car (for later car build) but not for a plane. I tried model air aluminum with a drop of windex and its  smooth coated with clear gloss it really looks right what do you guy's think here are some pics

the tank on the left is model air. the right one is gloss coated.(both model air painted)

both tamiya aluminum the right is clear coated

Crown- kit comes with two options....Little Indian as the box art, and Jersey Jerk with red nose and blue rudder.  Probably going with the Indian/lightning bolt scheme.  Going to be the first foray into Alclad, so will be something new to play with.  Got a 1/72 Chipmunk to practice on already in gloss black.

Bish

Watching this one closely Boddy. I saw one built up at our club last year and yep, its a good size. I have heard there is an isue with the fit of the fuselage halves, possably needs some clamping. Been keen to see if thats true.

With Janets daughter soon to finish Uni and hopefully getting her own place, i am planning on getting the spare bed out of my room at the end of the year and getting in a double depth shelf mainly to accomodate this and the Victor. My current ones are certainly not deep enough.

 

So far the fit has been good.  I cut the fueslage halves off the sprue to check them out....They didn't seem bad, but I haven't put the cockpit and the bomb bay in yet.  That may make a difference.  As for the cockpit.  No detail at all in therre, but after you get the windshield on, you can't see a bloody thing in there anyway!  Like I said, I'm going gear up but going to have the bomb bay open.  Hope to post pics soon!

Cheers Bobby, that doesn't sound to bad. I may be building mine next year depending on if the right GB comes along.

my latest sea fury pics.

I sprayed flat black with Tamiya.

Then I sprayed with Model air aluminum .

Then I sparyed with Tamiya gloss clear .I think I found RAF High speed Silver.

only one problem. I used Tamiya mark fit Strong on the rudder and it attacked the paint all the way to the flat black base coat. no problem cleaned up with windex start over.

I like your metallic finish! I have been experimenting with Vallejos Metal Color products and have been completely satisfied with the results!  I’m glad to see that you broke through all the fit issues. 

Thanks chad yes I got over that hurdle. The sea fury's Im doing wasnt natural metal but painted aluminum dope or High speed silver. Alcald offers this color but maybe the next RAF plane I make will.. but the vallejo aluminum and gloss clear looks very close.

Nice job there Nick. I have the Xtracolour High Speed Silver and that looks pretty damn close to me.

Hello friends. I think I’m going to call this one done.  Bish, I think the first picture would be most appropriate. Thank you for hosting this wonderful group build!

Beautifully done I really like the panel lines and the weathering top notch 

It's interesting that the long-range tanks are carried over the wings on the Lightning.

 Chad, now i do like that. Really nice paint job and great weathering. I like the look of the tanks over the wings, i have an F.2 but might have to grab a 6 as well, just for the grey scheme and those tanks.

Thanks for shareing the build with us, will get the front page updated tonight.

Thanks guys for your kind words!   Those over wing pylons are definitely are unique feature to this bird!