Larry Wolf Memorial Close Air Support Group Build 2021 Needs YOU!

I know it is well past the dead line for this build but I don't like giving up on a project. If you remember my build for the B-26 Invader I broke the canopy trying to modify it to accomodate the interior I planned to scratch build and install. 

I have failed after many attempts to vacuform a replacement. I simply couldn't get enough suction...err vacuum to completely form over the master. I then fell back on plan B. I used my replacement canopy I acquired and sucessfully modified it.

So here is the completed interior of the B-26...

Here are the two pilots ready and installed into their respective positions...

Now the canopy will be added and entomb the two pilots forever. So onto paint...finally.

Going SEA with this one.  I like the distressed scorched paint look on the rear and always wanted to try to replicate it.

Thank you dwsrazor & John.

Anxious to see your build Caveman-I have a half started Monogram kit sitting up in the stash looking for a good reason to build.  You doing NMF or SEA camo?

Made some progress and taking some pics. before I start to close things up.

P1012220 by Tim Bowers, on Flickr" target="">P1012220 by Tim Bowers, on Flickr

P1012223 by Tim Bowers, on Flickr

P1012230 by Tim Bowers, on Flickr

P1012231 by Tim Bowers, on Flickr

Sourcing the ordinance from a Hasegawa weapons set and plan to find a pilot in the spares box to hide the rather simple cockpit.  Should start looking like a jet soon.

Nice Me 109 Bob! 

Nice job Bob.  I've got you on the front page.  Let me know if you want a different pic.

Hey Guys!  Some really great work here!  I know I was supposed to do an F-111 and I did start it.  Unfortunately I lost all interest after I built the cockpit using color PE from Eduard.  It looks wonderful but it felt like I was cheating and I have not touched it since.

However, I am starting a new build for Weekend Madness.  An F-100 loaded up with snakes and napes.  I know the build was supposed to end today, but if you will permit me 48 hrs., I would like to submit this build.

P1012213 by Tim Bowers, on Flickr

P1012212 by Tim Bowers, on Flickr

Let me know!  

Thanks and a Happy New Year to you all!

The 109's a beaut, Bob - that paintwork is superb!  Happy New Year!

First-John, thank you for taking over the reins of this GB.  It was good to run this one to completion for Lewbud.

Secondly-great builds everyone.  It's been awhile since I posted but I followed all the posts daily-really great builds.

I finally finished the bf109E4/7 Jabo (Hasegawa 1/48)

On that note, I think I'll grab a Sam Adams from the fridge and toast Lewbud.

Cheers

Dave, as French planes go that one is a looker.  Very nice work.

Great job Razor - not sure I've seen that one before.  I've got you on the front page.  Let me know if you want to use a different pic.

Mach1

I really like how your build turned out, as does one of my nephews.

Thanks, Mach 1, and please thank your nephew for me, too.

Cheers, Razor - the Breguet is a very unusual subject, and done very well.  As I mentioned earlier, the camo look great!

Hutch, great looking Beaufighter! 

Mach1, thanks.

Day and a half to spare and here are my finished pics.  This is the first French aircraft I have built since the 1970's and I think only my second ever.  Lol  I have a few more in the stash.  All Heller kits.  I'll have to do some more soon.  Thanks for letting me play in this GB.  Lewbud will be missed.  I saw some others add Lewbuds initials to their build and couldn't resist doing the same.

Thanks Hutch. I really like how your build turned out, as does one of my nephews.

Razor, liking how the Breguet is coming along. That's a subject I don't see too often.

Hutch6390

That sounds like it would solve the problem, all right, but could be tricky in the smaller scales.  Having said that, the locating holes would just need to be drilled out & the bushings placed behind them - good idea!

I managed to pull something off that was similar with the 1/72 F-16B I just built.  Used 0.3mm copper rods for that, and just drilled corresponding holes in the plastic on the wings and hardpoints.  I'm trying the 1mm rod/bushing theory on the 1/48 F-4B I have on the bench right now...heh...as soon as the bushings get here from China.

keavdog

Let me know if you want a different pic. For external stores I have read about some folks using tiny rare earth magnets to secure the stores ( and maybe play 'Rearm!  Rearm!' like Midway - lol )

Thanks, John - that photo is fine.  I'll leave the magnets to those who are less accident-prone than I am - there'd be all kinds of stuff stuck in all the wrong places!

Thanks again for the time and effort you have given to us.

      Cheers,

                  Hutch.

Eaglecash867

I'm going to be cutting off the kit-provided mounting pegs, replacing them with 1mm brass rod, and gluing 1mm ID brass bushings on the inside of the model

That sounds like it would solve the problem, all right, but could be tricky in the smaller scales.  Having said that, the locating holes would just need to be drilled out & the bushings placed behind them - good idea!

Great job Hutch!  I've got you on the front page.  Let me know if you want a different pic.

For external stores I have read about some folks using tiny rare earth magnets to secure the stores ( and maybe play 'Rearm!  Rearm!' like Midway - lol )

I've gotten so frustrated by those end-of-project issues with external stores that I'm trying something new.  I'm going to be cutting off the kit-provided mounting pegs, replacing them with 1mm brass rod, and gluing 1mm ID brass bushings on the inside of the model.  Should make it so things just slip together with nice, strong connections, and no extra glue having the potential of screwing up the paint work.

Eaglecash867

Beautiful build, Hutch!  I hear ya on the external stores.  Those are always the bain of my existence at the end of a build.

Thanks, Eaglecash - the rockets are getting until tomorrow to dry, and I'm just going to make a very simple replacement mount for the fuel tank.

Beautiful build, Hutch!  I hear ya on the external stores.  Those are always the bain of my existence at the end of a build.

Mach 1, that Jaguar is a great build of an old kit (memories of my time in the Air Cadets as a lad), you've made a much better job of it than I did

JR215, the A4's looking good, and the pilot's great!

Razor, keep going with the Breguet - the camo looks excellent.

John, I hope we get to see the A-10 soon, and I have no doubt it'll be a showpiece.  Sometimes, the clock just won't slow down!

Well, I'm calling this one done.  I dropped one set of rocket rails when preparing to fit it this morning, so no rockets on yet - until the glue has dried - and I've managed to lose one of the mounts for the external fuel tank, too, so it's in "clean" configuration for now.

Once I've attached the rockets & fuel tank (actually, I quite like it as it is), I'll apply some light weathering but, for now, it's done.  I hope Buddy would approve.

Many thanks, John, for taking this on and allowing us to pay our respects to the man who started it.

Stay safe, everyone, and very best wishes to all for 2022.

Barring a disaster I should be done by the end of the year.  I got the decals on yesterday. It was touch and go.  This was a 1960's boxing of this kit so the decals are almost as old as I am.  Anyway, I gave them a heavy coat of Testors clear coat laquer and that seemed to help.  The clear coat created a thick enough film that I actually had to cut around the decals to remove them. I only had problems with the tail flashes, 3 of the 4 broke apart but I was able to piece them together and get them looking half decent. 

keavdog

Some of  you guys look like you're right on the finish line - hope you can wrap them up.

Yes, I aim to get mine posted tomorrow, just a few finishing touches to do now.

Thanks, John, take care.

Not going to be able to finish mine by the deadline either.  Ran into horrible fit and alignment issues on the fuselage that I haven't yet come up with a plan to even begin to address (they're that bad).  Its on my shelf of doom now until I have a miraculous idea pop into my head. 

Coming down to the wire folks.  I know I'm not going to be able to finish my A-10 in the next 5 days.  Some of  you guys look like you're right on the finish line - hope you can wrap them up.

Lots of great work in this Group build guys.  Sorry I have not been keeping up but life has been busy. 

I have been picking at my build here and there over the last few months and finally have the time to move it forward.  I painted the camo today for the second time.  I masked the camo the first time around and used the wrong brown but removed all the masking before realizing what I had done so I freehanded the other brown on and made adjustments on the rest of it to make it all look the same.  I'm happy with it now.  I'll give it a clear coat and then on to the decals. I'll have the same problem as Mach 1 with some old decals.  I can see a couple of them are already broken up on the sheet.  I'll try a clear coat and see if that helps.

Just a reminder that this is the old Heller Breguet 693

Hope everyone is having a great day with family and friends!

Things have finally slowed down at work and I was able to get some much needed bench time in.

Camo put down:

Next was some touch up of the detail painting and the decals. I'll be honest, I was worried about the decals since they are older than I am (kit was made in '77). A couple of them split in half, but it was a clean break and I got them lined up again so it looks like nothing untoward happened and the rest went on without fuss.

Here it is finished.

many thanks John, I appriciate it.