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

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Ok, I guess I am going to try an do something responsible for this GB and finish something I already started! If I get this done, I may enter another project that is a bit more 'fun'.

Gona try an finish this Italeri AC-47  Gunship. Some work has been done such and joining the upper and lower wings. Fuselage still yet to be joined. It has a busted main gear strut so I am going to have to dig up another one somewhere...

Having some nice weather here in central Florida this week. Highs around 80 and no rain. Time to paint! Shot primer on the Panther this morning, Model Master gray enamel primer thinned 2/1. That dark blue plastic was difficult to cover. Had to use a lot of primer. I'll let it sit for a day before I go back and do some pre-shading. The goal is to show how the sun can really beat up the Dark Sea Blue camouflage on these planes.

Here's a little update on my progress.

Main construction is moving along nicely with a little filler needed here and there. I decided to paint and decal the vertical stabilizers separate as I thought it would be easier to do the gloss coats and sanding needed to blend in the decal film. As you can see the one on the left needs a little more work to get rid of all the silvering but the one on the right is looking good. I also decided to paint and decal the stars and bars on the side since it will be easier to do the decaling blending before the intake covers go on. Green/white stripes at the top were painted on as I didn't look forward to getting the decals to conform to those complex shapes.

RATS!  I've had a MAJOR setback with my AH-1G kitbash.

*sigh*

While cleaning up the canopy/fuselage seams, I heard something rattle around in the cockpit. I peeled off some of the tape to see that the gunners console had come loose. I super bummed because I had just finished getting good seams and started to clean everything up. I couldn't think of how to remover the canopy to reinstall the loose part, then it came to me, I could just remove the nose!

I was able to remove it cleanly, reinstall the loose console, and reattach the nose. Unfortunately, while I was doing that, I noticed a different, much larger problem.

Somehow, some thin CA had splattered inside the canopy. I have no idea how that happened!

In the photo, you can see some vertical scratches. Those are from my fingernail to see if the blemish was on the outside or on the inside. Sadly, it was on the inside.

I couldn't leave it. My only option was to remove the canopy, after I had spent all that time getting it bleneded into the fuselage, and sand/polish the canopy. Luckily, I was able to cleanly remove the canopy.

The strange thing was that it seems as though the thin CA affected the "inside" of the plastic, not just the surfaces.

Even after sanding you can see that the blemish is unaffected.

I tried polishing, and even dipping the part in Future, to see if it would help. Unfortunately it didn't.

I have no idea what I'm going to do now. I can use the part and spray some fake frames in hopes of hiding the blemish. I could scratch a canopy cover, but that would hide the cockpit. I can shelve the project in hopes of finding a new canopy...I just don't know. 

I will press on with my AH-1J. If anyone has any ideas, I'm all ears...

-O

That's a shame oortiz.  

O, ordinarily I wouldn't recommend this, but since the canopy is already pretty well toasted, maybe you can try some CA debonder on that area?  Never tried it myself on clear plastic, so I have no idea if it'll help or do more harm.  I'm pretty sure CA attacks polycarbonate on a molecular level, so it probably won't do any good.  Might be worth trying though if there are no other options.

Got to work filling and sanding all the cabin windows. Going to black them out like an airliner model. Same for cockpit... 

cbaltrin

Ok, I guess I am going to try an do something responsible for this GB and finish something I already started! If I get this done, I may enter another project that is a bit more 'fun'.

Gona try an finish this Italeri AC-47  Gunship. Some work has been done such and joining the upper and lower wings. Fuselage still yet to be joined. It has a busted main gear strut so I am going to have to dig up another one somewhere...

 

 

Seems like a shame regarding the Cobra glass. I will check my stash. If I have a replacement I will PM you. 

The A-10 is looking good so far, as are the AC-130, AC-47 gunship brothers too. 

The F-9F Panther reminds of the William Holden, Mickey Rooney, and Grace Kelly movie, "The Bridges of Toko-Ri", which is an all time great one. I assume your painting it in the deep Navy Blue of the period?

So how are the Sky Hawk and F-111 going? I've built both of them before, but not those kits, so it will be neat to see how you finish them out.

UPDATE:

We finally installed all of the little portal style windows (15 total). We also began cleaning up to internals and cockpit making it ready to sandwich them between the sides of the fuselage. Before we go that far, I mentioned I had to modify and add the last member in the cockpit, the navigator. Here is a view of the cockpit ready to go in the fuselage:





I finally got the 7.62 minigun barrels just to find they appear way to small when compared with the kit parts. I was hoping for more detail in-scale but received something only half the size. Worst yet, I had already removed the kit barrels and lost one of them. With Jarrod's direction and motivation, I had a try at making my own barrels out of fine solder. What you see in the photo below are the original kit barrels in the black plastic, the after market parts in the gray resin (yes they are even smaller than they appear in the picture), and the barrels I made in the middle. After some trimming and barrel bands, the barrels Jarrod and I made look better than either of the others (IMHO). 





I also started on the engines and props while waiting for the gun barrels. As previously mentioned, there will be little to see of the engines once in the cowling and behind the props. At this point here are the painted engines and propellers:





I still plan on adding the silver detail on the black leading edge of the props like the picture below:



I added the flare launcher to the right rear door in preparation of sealing the fuselage. The next thing to finish off is the illuminator to the left rear door. Before I do that I wanted to detail it closer to the actual unit as seen below. If you look close it also shows the control stand for the illuminator just inside the door:



This is what the extra detail looks like before I paint it flat black (note the numerous wires on the face of the illuminator. Once I dry paint the illuminator and dry brush the details we will paint the electrical lines in testers rubber and bend them to resemble the photo and send them to the control stand (photos of the completed process later).



I also received the stand I am going place it on. Originally I ordered the Special Operations crest in the stand but they are sold out. My next choice was for the U.S. Air Force shield; here is what it looks like:



I'm beginning to think about how the Camouflage paint will be applied. Looking at the hard lines between the colors in photos and considering the scale I may hand paint the scheme versus airbrushing it. On the other hand I may mask the hard lines and air brush it anyway. I believe the air brushing will allow me to bring out the raised panel lines better, I guess we will see.

Lots more to come, so stay tuned.....

Ben and Jarrod

I'll tell ya, Ben, I certainly admire y'all's discipline. The propellers look really good. And the flight deck. What a crowded space. Those guys would really be bumping elbows while out on a mission.

As for the F9F, Ben, I was thinking more of Van Johnson in "Men of the Fighting Lady." I remember reading the story in Saturday Evening Post when I was a kid. Actually, I'm going to paint the airplane Model Master Dark Sea Blue enamel. All of the period pictures I've seen online, it seems there is a choice of dark blue or dark sea blue. I built Jesse Brown's Corsair a few years ago and it was painted a dark blue.

Today's update on the F9F: I shot MM enamel primer a couple of days ago. Today I did some pre-shading. First, I dusted the upper surfaces with Tamiya Flat White thinned 4/1. Just a dusting to lighten the primer, then I highlighted the panel lines with Tamiya Rubber Black. When I spray the MM Dark Sea Blue, I hope the difference shows. I mean the salt air and the sun had to affect the paint during carrier operations.

.

Thanks for tuning in.

DRUMS01

...I will check my stash. If I have a replacement I will PM you.... 

Hey boys, much appreciated. Oh, and your Stinger is looking amazing!

-O

Thanks "O", but I have bad news.. I evidently sold my cobra kit so I cannot help you with the canopy.

Well photofrank, I have to say that is a great movie too. Your finishing ideas sound like it will come out just great. Looking forward in seeing the colors applied.

How is that 1/72 A-10 coming along? I have the 1/32 kit I will build some day.

Funny thing about the AC-130... I was looking at it and comparing the model to my 1/72 kit. I thought to myself just how different mine was molded and then I remembered it was 1/144. That is good detail for 1/144. So, how is the C-130 progressing?

We have been very busy trying to close up the big bird. One of the last items to finish before buttoning up the fuselage was the illuminator. Here it is painted, detailed, and fixed in the left tail door of the AC-119:



And here is the aircraft glued, de-seamed, gap filled, ready to prime and paint. The engine nacelles are pressed on so I can paint them prior to adding the engines. The canopy glass is also just sitting in the fuselage as I still need to paint the overhead control panel prior to attachment:



Here is some of the detail I hope to keep through the canopy:



Overall, the main components fit rather well, only needing a slight bit of putty in just a couple spots. Now comes the fun stuff... painting camouflage! I told Jarrod that he gets to help with the airbrushing and he is very excited.

Till next time!

Ben and Jarrod

Wow DRUMS , impressive work there!  Really nice!

I finished filling and sanding all the windows and was getting ready to button  up the fuselage;  however, my plan was to install the gun mounts and close the fuselage. Then, after painting and and decaling was done, I would slide the guns through the windows and glue them in place...   Problem: The guns don't fit through the windows!  Now I am going to have to slide the whole gun unit through the cargo door and try to position it somehow...

cbaltrin

Got to work filling and sanding all the cabin windows. Going to black them out like an airliner model. Same for cockpit... 

 

 

 

cbaltrin

Ok, I guess I am going to try an do something responsible for this GB and finish something I already started! If I get this done, I may enter another project that is a bit more 'fun'.

Gona try an finish this Italeri AC-47  Gunship. Some work has been done such and joining the upper and lower wings. Fuselage still yet to be joined. It has a busted main gear strut so I am going to have to dig up another one somewhere...

 

 

 

 

 

 

DRUMS01

...I have bad news.. I evidently sold my cobra kit so I cannot help you with the canopy...

Hey Ben and Jarrod, no worries. I appreciate you checking. As it turns out, I might have an option. I'm working on getting a replacement.

In the meantime, I'm working on the -J and enjoying your work on the -119. Keep it up!

-O

Howdy all,

I'm back with an announcement and a quick update.

First, the announcement. I'm happy to report that I've been able to procure a replacement canopy for my AH-1G. I will be able to press forward with that project. (WOOHOO!)

Now for my update. Progress on my AH-1J continues. I've been able to get the fuselage together and painted.

I started with a base coat of Light Ghost Gray.

Then I got the Dark Ghost Gray and Medium Gray sprayed to complete the camo. I couldn't find references or pictures that showed the camo pattern, so I used a little artistic license.

The stub wings, skids, and elevators are just dry-fitted for the sake of the photos. It's tough to see the difference between the LGG and the DGG, but I'm happy that's the way the two colors appear in my reference photos. The Medium Gray seems a bit blue when compared to my references though. I play on misting on some LGG to tie the three colors together. Maybe that will help tone down the Medium Gray.

Next will be prepping the airframe for decals and assembly of the fiddly bits.

Comments, questions, and criticisms welcome. Stay tuned for more!

-O

Made some good progress on the Su-25M1 cockpit this weekend.

Cleaned up all of the fuzziness on the cockpit tub details with a microchisel.  Found that MEK applied with a microbrush to the resin melts down the resin to smooth out the "dusty" sections left by the microchisel.  Also added .010 X .250 styrene strips to the side consoles, since the detail I removed from them was about 2 times as thick as the Quinta Studio decals I'll be using.

Mods complete to the shape of the instrument panel to make it Ukrainian.  Not exactly the same shape, but as close as I could get while still having clearance for it to have the windscreen fit over it.

The beginnings of my own version of a Quinta Studio decal for the Ukrainian panel.  More .010X.250 styrene sheet which will get the modified annuciators and assorted avionics.

Got the cockpit tub and details painted today.  Just have to do some touchup of a few spots, apply a Tamiya Hull Red wash to the wire bundles, and an overall wash with Flory Grime.

Panel painted.  The glareshield part of the assembly will eventually get its different shades of black.

Sculpted some Milliput with a wet toothpick to simulate the canvas cover the Ukrainians put over the top of their modified panel.

Excellent work going on on some very nice builds on this GB. Great job to all.

Test fitting the rockets and got the 500 pounders and pylons together and ready to be cleaned up.

Got the office done

Got the Super Hornet primed...

Marbled...

And painted...

So I sprayed some gray on the A-10 today. I used the Vallejo AV cause that's what I had but I'm not a fan of this light ghost gray/surface primer that they sell. It looks good in the photo cause I gave it some lite coats of Future to seal the Vallejo.

Double post cause things are acting up again.

Fantastic work guys specially your recovery Ortiz!

got the wings together 

And the fuselage closed up

For some reason the clamped fuselage reminds me of Uncle Fester when he needed to clear his head in a head clamp.

Hey, lewbud, I re-read the list again of attack aircraft and decided to pull my AMT F7F-3 out of the stash. Don't know what it will look like yet, most probably something during Korea though.

Buddy can we change my entry. Gonna go with the Hobbyboss 1/72 Hawker Sea Hawk. Thanks 

I'm a little shy about posting photos of my models, they don't hold a candle to the work I see the other posters put up.  But here goes

Hey Boris, no reason to be shy. I've always liked the looks of the Stuka. Your build looks great from here. Keep it up! I'm looking forward to seeing more.

I've managed to make a little progress on my AH-1J. I got the elevators and stub wings installed. Also, I've got the markings on it too and started a little weathering.

The airframe I'm working on didn't have a lot of stencils, at least not that I could see. The other airframes in the squadron wore minimal markings too. I didn't have decals to match the squadron code nor the modex, so I has to make stencils and paint them on.

From what I could see in my references, not all airframes in this squadron had their serial number painted on, and it looks like the airframe I'm modeling didn't either. Although they did have the MARINES stencilled on the tailboom and a stars-and-bars on the fuselage. Again, markings and styles varied from airframe to airframe, even within the same squadron, but it looks like this is how my subject was painted up. On my build, the MARINES and national insignia are decals from my pile.

This one's nearing the finish line. I hope to have it wrapped up over the weekend.

Thanks for looking. As usual, comments, questions and criticisms are welcome.

Cheers!

-O