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

Just a quick update on the 1/72 Academy A-10.

Not ready yet, I just wanted to take this photo

Cool shot of the A-7 loasoit!

Great progress gents. Nice weapons there cb.

Have a quick update on my F84. Got most of the left side decals on except for a few tiny stencils. 

Started on the right side decals

That's looking mighty nice PJ

Thanks cb

Been adding decals and trimming as close as possible to get rid of the carrier film. The included kit decals have quite an extensive set of stencils, many super tiny but will eventually get applied. 

tempestjohnny

Ernie the colors on that Hog. Eye popping. Definitely worth the work

 

Thanks TJ. Yea those checkerboards pop specially the black on yellow ones.

Will have some updated pictures up soon.

Got the 250 pounders done. They were sprayed OD and once dry, they were decaled and had oil paint filters applied to get some tonal changes in the solid color. The oil paint needs to dry before I can shoot some clear flat. Still need to add the fuse wires.

The rockets are painted and decals applied.

Those pesky tank checkered decals are finally on, all 16 parts that cover the tanks.

About 95% of the decals are on except for a couple of very small stencils.

The bomb pylons were also attached.

While I have another project in the paint booth, I have started this antique B-26 invader. My intention is to sand off all of the raised rivets and rescribe the panel lines. Here are the wings sanded to a nice smooth surface...

Despite the "image" of the rivets, the surface is very smooth.

Here is an engine cowl, bottom one sanded and top one unsanded...

and a close up of the sanded wing...

I am replacing the wheels, landing gear and machine gun barrels with after market replacements. Research I've done suggests this model is a 1/67 scale, which is pretty wierd. My replacement parts are 1/72.  Here are the new parts compared to the kit originals. The greater detail on the replacements far outweighs a marginal sacrifice is scale fidelity in my opinion...

Well I have more sanding, polishing and scribing to do. 

Report cards are done. Benchmark testing is done. Parent-teacher conferences are (mostly) done. There is BRRRT! progress to report!

So, this build is totally fighting me! Well, the plastic is. The aftermarket resin has been a pleasure to work with. I got the nacelles assembled and the fans and intake shrouds installed. A little putty got things smoothed out pretty well...

The biggest problem is the assembled nacelles are not round. Quite a bit of filler and sanding was required, but things looked pretty good after a coat of primer. There are still some spot-fixes that need to get done, but I'll do those when I'm doing the final prep.

I was able to get the fuselage assembled. I put in one of Terry Dean's nose weights to keep this thing properly on its legs. This weight is big and heavy. Despite its size, it fits perfectly into the nose.

After the fuse halves went together, I attached the nacelle assembly. Fit was not good. I had to use some stryene to fill the rear gap and, in order to keep the gaps at the bottom of the assembly to a minimum, the upper-forward seam has a step.

The seam between the fuselage halves wasn't too bad...until I had a little mishap. The kit has you install the nose gear before the fuselage halves go together. I was very worried about breaking the nose gear during assembly. Well, I had the kit sitting upside down to protect the nose gear when the nose gear must have gotten caught on part of my clothing. I pulled the kit off my table and onto the floor. Not only did I break the nose gear, but I split the fuselage seams. They split about halfway back. The seams, which I had carefully glued together to minimize clean-up and loss of raised detail, needed to be readdressed. Um...they didn't turn out as well the second time. (GRRR!)

I'm starting to have flashbacks to my B-1's fill-sand-repeat-drink nightmare. Still, I press on with this thing. Wish me luck! I'll post more when there's more to post.

Cheers!

-O

Looking good O.

A short update on the build, the F84 has legs! The gears, wheels  and flaps were finally attached

Took stik’s  suggestion about darkening the fin assemblies since they were kept separate from the bombs And added some very fine stretched sprue painted in silver as the fuse wires. Thanks for the tip and pictures. I also added more oil paint filters to break up the solid monotone OD color.

PlasticJunkie, I am really liking your F-84. The checkerboards are really something.

fotofrank

PlasticJunkie, I am really liking your F-84. The checkerboards are really something.

 

Thank you. I somehow missed the finish to your beautiful Panther. Harry Brubaker would have approved.

The older pre G F84s were eventually retrofitted with the reinforced canopy and multi hole perforated dive brake. I  decided to make the earlier 4 squared dive brake pattern out of wine foil which just happened to have a mustard yellow back side matching the yellow zinc chromate correct for it. 

Bent the foil over the plastic part and attached it.

Looking at all the updates for our close support GB and all I can say is that I am impressed. Fixing the A-10 fit issues is looking really good, and the F-84 is really setting the bar.

Then there is Tomcat's invader that has me intrigued too....and how's that Corsair II moving along?

Ben

Tiny bit more progress on the Frog.  Its been a busy couple of weeks at work with learning the ins and outs of the Cirrus SF50 jets that are now coming up for their first 24-month RVSM re-certifications.

http://cs.finescale.com/fsm/modeling_subjects/f/2/t/188047.aspx

Another short update. Replaced the molded pitot tube with thin metal tubing.

 
Attached the landing lights and 250 pounders

The canopy deck got some scratchbuilding thingies to busy things up and needs to be painted.

 All decals are finally on. Just a few more steps and she will be completed.

Nice job on the pitot.  Broke that off when I built mine, of course.

Made a start on the A-18 today, removed all the parts from the pour stubs and did preliminary clean up.  Only broke one part, a landing gear strut, but it was in the piston area of the oleo and I like to replace that area with embedded music wire anyway.

Lot's of great working going on here.  The A-10 is coming along and the finish on the F-84 is sharp as heck.

I had to lookup the A-18 John, not familiar with that plane.  Oddly enough, they suffered from weak landing gear 

Hey thanks guys. I haven seen lewbud post in a while so I hope he is well. 

My F84 is completed. A short recap, used Eduard pit set, added pe pilot mirror, replaced plastic pitot tube with metal tubing, replaced dive brake with older stile one made from wine foil, added fuse wires to both bombs, added scratched bits to canopy deck for added details, several Alclad colors used for subtle contrasting panel shades.

 Thanks for letting me participate with a bunch of talented guys. Feel free to use the last picture for the completed page.

PlasticJunkie, your Thunderjet is simply awesome! The NMF and checkerboards are excellent.

I'm still waiting for accessories for the F7F, so it's on hold right how. I have an early P-47D bubbletop in the closet I may have to break out. The kit has bombs and rocket tubes that would work for ground support. I'll have to look into that.

Thanks Frank. I have two MPC F7s in the stash, love that big plane and will be looking in on your build. 

Turned out great PJ!  What a great addition to the shelves.  

Such a great looking 84 PJ.

My stepfather, who has since passed, was almost killed by a crashing 84. He was in the RADAR shack when the plane lost it's gear on landing. He saw it comming and took off running. The plane hit the shack square on.

keavdog

Turned out great PJ!  What a great addition to the shelves.  

 

Thanks KD. I think I got bit by the NMF bug and the bite is red soar and itching for more shiny metal things. I have several 1/48 ones in the stash waiting.  

modelcrazy

Such a great looking 84 PJ.

My stepfather, who has since passed, was almost killed by a crashing 84. He was in the RADAR shack when the plane lost it's gear on landing. He saw it comming and took off running. The plane hit the shack square on.

 

Thanks Steve!

Ouch!! That was a close one and he had the Lord by his side!

Just a great model, well done!