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

Well, Tomcat, you're going to a lot more effort than I did for my A-26. I decided early on that posing the airplane gear-up and the blacked out clear parts were just easier for the shelf-sitter. I admire your patience. Press on.

Anyone sighted lewbud? Sure hope he is ok... Have not seen a post from him since last year...

fotofrank

When I built my Airfix A-26 a couple of years ago, I indeed painted the inside of the canopy black. To me that made a lot more sense than trying to scratch a cockpit in that tiny space. Looks good on the shelf too.

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I guess I shoulda blown the dust off before I took the picture.

 

BTW: Does this qualify as close air support? This old kit (1983) has been hanging around for a long while and it needs to get built.

 

Dang Frank, I wish I'd thought of that. My decision to install some sort of cockpit was influenced by the inclusion of cockpit instrument panel and radio equipment(?) that came with the AM landing gear set I bought.

A quick update. cut off the molded on gun barrel blobs off the nose and drilled holes for the replacements...

I cut out the front wheel well and boxed it in...

I created a hydraulic manifold thing-a-mabob (techno babble) to add to that wheel well for some visual interest...

Now I am modifying the fuselage to incorporate the AM control panel and other equipment...

I scratch built some seats for my pilots...

Still quite a bit left to add but it's a start. Then I had my first major setback. The canopy glass had a modeled "back" that I had to remove since I incorporated the equipment behind the pilot. Well I broke the glass removing the unwnated pastic. Here I gluded it back together and did an initial sand on the seam...

You can see where I removed the rear portion of the glass...

I see a lot of polishing on that canopy in my future. Already looking for  a replacement but something this old it will be difficult. I am even comtemplating vacuum forming a replacement. Hey Frank, it looks like painting it black was the way to go. Hindsight is really clear isn't it. 

jeaton01

I'll be watching the F7F, Frank.  It looks like a pretty good kit.  Hard to balance on the gear, I've heard.  Don't lose the barrel for the tail just in case.

 

 

Such a great picture of a Tigercat.

Yeah, Jeaton and keavdog, the resin wheels are on order for the Tigercat and the barrel for the tail is assembled. I decided early on that I wasn't going to pack the nose with weights. I did buy the white metal landing gear for the kit though, just to be safe. It's interesting, Jeaton, to see an actual Tigercat sitting on its tail in Korea. I guess weight and balance was an issue on the real thing too.

Decaling in progress

The A-10 is looking sharp.  Nice work on the Tigercat.  If it hasn't been said already, don't use the rubber wheels - they are nice but melt the plastic.  I buit the kit way back when and was bummed when the wheels started melting.

I have the kit in the stash now and I have the Lonestar tanker conversion and Draw decals - and the resin wheels :)

I'll be watching the F7F, Frank.  It looks like a pretty good kit.  Hard to balance on the gear, I've heard.  Don't lose the barrel for the tail just in case.

The A-10 looks very nice, good work!

Just have to do a little gun work.

Not much to show you today, except that the Tigercat build is coming along. It's starting to look like an airplane. I've been a fan of the F7F since I was a kid. So slick and fast looking. I've built a few of the old Monogram 1/72 scale kits and I've been hoarding this AMT kit until this group build came along. It never occurred to me how big the F7F is. It would have taken up a lot of space on those old WWII carrier decks for sure. I bought the complete Montex stencil masking kit. It has the only canopy mask I could find for this kit plus the masks for painting the national insignia This is gonna be good.

castelnuovo

Looks super good PJ, well done

 

Looks super good PJ, well done

fotofrank

I indeed painted the inside of the canopy black. To me that made a lot more sense than trying to scratch a cockpit in that tiny space

Agree, doing same thing on 1/72 AC47 and 1/72 revell Jolly Green... a lot of those old kits have air bubbles in the clear parts so what else can you do?

fotofrank

BTW: Does this qualify as close air support? This old kit (1983) has been hanging around for a long while and it needs to get built.

He'll yes it qualifies and then some! :-P

When I built my Airfix A-26 a couple of years ago, I indeed painted the inside of the canopy black. To me that made a lot more sense than trying to scratch a cockpit in that tiny space. Looks good on the shelf too.

.

I guess I shoulda blown the dust off before I took the picture.

BTW: Does this qualify as close air support? This old kit (1983) has been hanging around for a long while and it needs to get built.

Tomcat, you're disturbing all my fond memories of building that kit as a kid!  You should build it exactly stock just to keep my Karma undisturbed!

Thanks Tomcat.

I would either scratch out a simple office or paint the inside of the clear canopy black.

PLastic Junkie your Thunder jet came out awesome! Love those checkerboards.

Now some work on my Invader...and some hurdles to over come.

I scribed the wings and removed the blobs that were supposed to represent wing mounted machine guns. I glued a strip of styrene to use as a stop for when insert the after market guns in place...

The scoop on the engine cowls were filled in, so I opened them up...

Now onto some challenges. on the underside of the fuselage is the front landing gear well???

WTF! I have to build a proper gear well so I can mount my aftermarket landing gear strut. Proceeding to the top side...

NO cockpit...of any kind. Just two pegs to mount the pilot/co pilot onto. This is going to take some research and effort to fill that void. I am not going overboard, this model just isn't worth the effort, but I'll attempt to make it look, how should I say...OK.

PhilliePhan79

F-84 is gorgeous!  You nailed the NMF.  Well done.

 

Thank you.

F-84 is gorgeous!  You nailed the NMF.  Well done.

jeaton01

Just a great model, well done!

 

Thanks John.

Just a great model, well done!

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!

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.  

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.

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

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

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.