AIRCRAFT - "Prototypes and Paper Projects" Group Build - Still Open.

Just finished this one last week:
http://www.inpayne.com/models/ta183searaven1.html
:D

I had seen that one in another post of yours already, John. It's a marvellous model, and I like the way you have layed out the web pages to suit the model.

Norite-
Would it be possible if you somehow used, I don't know, something like decal strips instead of masking? That's what I did on my (really only finished project) 1:72 RB-36F. I kind of had a way out for that, though- natural metal finish, coupled with Bare-Metal Foil. It was very convienient, and gets a really nice finish! (Do you guys have something similar on that side of the Atlantic? It's really great stuff. A little expensive, but good!)

As for you, I've heard you can get stock decal sheets, and airbrush them the color you need. Then cut the strips, lay them on the canopy, and there you go! I'm tempted to do it on the 290... (I've never done this myself. I've just read about it.)

Or, you could go with the solid nose. The heavy fighter with fighter escort! Why not!

Traveller- I'm sorry, I don't think I'm qualified to give that kind of advice!

John- Good stuff! It's amazing what fine detail you can get with that axe...

Filibert- Sorry to hear about the mishap with the YF-23. I'm sure you'll get if fixed. God knows you don't have a time crunch or anything! Would like to see some pics of this stuff if you could.

So what's going on with me- Not much. (What else is new?) Anyway, I had (yet another) idea for the 290. It'd be nice to make custom decals for the thing, seeing as how I'm going all out anyway! I have a word and graphic processor program, so all I really need is some decal sheet to print on. (Did the Germans have nose art? If not, once again, I'll make something up.)

I got a system for the motors all worked out; I just need some more non-existant cash to pick up the supplies. And the kits. And the airbrush. And the paint. And the....


Side note- As most of you know, today is the 60 year anniversary of D-day, the Allied invasion of Normandy. I think we all should just take one second and remember all the men from every country who died to bring the entire world freedom. Take a second to remember the men behind the machines we all build models of. Thank you.

I'm done now.

john great looking plane. love that unit emblem!

Thanks for the decal strip idea Lucien...I'll have a poke around Hannants later.....

Couldn't agree with you more Lucien. I spent most of yesterday looking at the memorial services/ speeches in Normandy on television. Having visited the beaches twice myself, I have a vague idea of the sacrifices made on that day (and after). I know we have those soldiers to thank for the fact that we live in freedom, here in Europe. Freedom doesn't come free.

Very good. This GB is going along very well. We have at least two people with projects in progress, and a lot more with plans on the table. Woo hoo!

As for me (alas, still in the planning stage), my biggest concern right now is to try and wire eight motors to a 9v battery! (Battery life is not an issue- I've heard it all before!) My goal now is to find batteries that pull the least amount of voltage. I've seen on this forum a while ago a topic where someone motorized a He 177 using one AAA battery, so two motors on low voltage is possible.

(For those of us who need a refresher in wiring, a AAA battery gives out 1.5 volts. The smallest motors I've seen pull 1.5 volts each. Unless it was wired in parallel, [which increases the amperage, not the voltage] as apposed to series [increase in voltage], a series curcuit that draws 3 volts optimally [1.5 x 1.5 volts = 3 volts] can be run on a lower voltage. Which would be great for me, as I plan to wire up a curcuit that draws 12 volts and power it with a 9 volt battery!)

(Did you get all that? Don't worry.)

Don't forget, I have a Dornier 335 kit lined up after my Misteltoe build...

Lucien, what are those decals called? I tried searching for decals at Hannants but was swamped with thousands of decal sets......

Personally, I've never used them before. They're not really a particular set (I think). Instead of markings gut out of film (like the normal ones you get in kits), this is just a solid film, one color, that you can then cut out strips from. Once again, I've never used them before, I've just heard of them as a possibility to use. I'll google it today, and see if I can find anything. I'll get back ASAP.

(Sorry about the 335! )

Okay, you know what? I know they exist; I just can't really find any proof of that on the internet! Geeze! Well, barring that, if you're willing to sacrifice some decals from another kit, paint those, cut those up, and use them... I don't know. Whatever you want to do. Like I said, I've never done this before myself, but I've heard that it is possible.

I know they exist!

Really!

The decals are usually just referred to as clear decal film, or white/red/yellow etc. I don't know who makes sheets like that at the moment, but Hasegawa used to do sheets and stripes in several colors (for airliners and cars mainly), and I have a clear sheet from Microscale Decal (number TF-0 Clear trim film). Don't know about availability though. Hope this helps.

hiya folks !
i opened the box w/ the PM Models 1/72 Horten 229 this AM...
the kit looks very basic, about 16 pc. total
but the fit seems ok... i need 2 scrounge decent wheels
& cockpit parts from another German wwii a/c & so now
i need some suggestions as 2 a possible donor kit in 1/72
thanx in advance !

frosty

Excellent! I think the Ho 229 is pretty cool, if just for the undercarrage. Sorry, can't help with the wheel situation.

Hmm. Must be nice to actually have a KIT TO BUILD!

I'm sorry. I'm just a little frusterated by not having anything to do. I'm really anxious to start this kit, as it could be one of the most interesting I can build. I'm pretty sure no one has this model already, that's for sure!

Believe it or not, once this kt is finished, it still won't be the biggest airplane in the hanger! I have a 1:72 B-36 that beats it out wingspan-wise by 5" or so. Hm. Now, to find the space for both...

Say Lucien, why don't you build a little in-between kit? At the LHS I saw a Roden kit of some weird Fairey delta jet plane for 8 euro's. Also they had MPM's XP-56 and lots of other stuff. Just an idea. These Eastern European kits don't fly together so they will keep you busy for a while, at a low price. I like my MPM XP-55 challenge.
On progress: the YF-23 is in the paintshop, but I can't find any 1/72 pilot figures. Does anybody know where to get those? I could use a couple dozen.

I'm keeping an eye out for PM model's Me 328, the one I plan to use. It only costs a few dollars, so that's good. My main concern is I'm hesitant to start anything before I get an airbrush. (Which is coming, I promise! And yes, I don't have an airbrush yet! [:0])
[image]http://modelingmadness.com/scotts/axis/luft/me/328bt.jpg[/image]
(This is the kit I'm talking about.) -^

OK.......the Me-328 is 99.9999% finished....All I need to do now is cut the canopy in two so's I can have it swing open like the Bf-109 did....
Been experimenting with my airbrush....getting used to using it

.....I also need to find some decal swoostickers from somewhere, as they didn't come with my kit

As this was a prototype that was only flown a few times, I'm not going to weather it.

Here are some piccies of the Me-328....hurridly taken with a digital camera, under non-ideal lighting conditions...again, apologies for the fuzziness, and the blue colour of the plane...it's actually green! I will have better pictures soon, under better light and up on my site properly...right now it's late and I'm orf to count some sheep....

Here's the *temporary* link:

http://www.norite.v21hosting.co.uk/models/Messerschmitt_328.html

put two more piccies up now (canopy for show...hasn't been glued yet....)....still can't get the lighting right...it looks too dark...hmpf...the model looks better than the pictures...!

Nice job! I can't wait to start my own stub-wing version w/ pulsejets...
True, the pictures aren't that good, but I think I can get what's going on.

How's the Dornier half of this enterprise coming along?

Me- I plan to run the eight props off a 9 volt battery, if you didn't know before. The Revell-Germany kit works great for this, as the top is designed to be removable. Maybe I'll disguise the battery as a packing crate or something...

I might have a chance to FINALLY get a kit in a couple weeks. Most likely the 328. Now, what to use for pulse jets...

The Dornier is almost built. Still having hassles with how to paint the cockpit canopy.

The Me-328 is finished - I chopped the canopy in half, painted it and glued it in an open position, Bf-109 style. Just needs some swoostickers on the tail.


As for your own Me-328, I can suggest balsa wood for the engines. Easy to sand and paint...
For motorising the engines, what a bout those ickle tiny remote control cars? (sell over here for about £10) they have really tiny engines, plus you can remotely control them - on and off....

I'm thinkin' about using those little pager buzzer motors for the engines. I know what you're talking about, though. I have a couple. The singular reason I'm using the one's I'm using- I know the voltage of those, and I'm too lazy to buy one of those thingys that measures voltage! Thank's for the idea, though. I will look into the balsa idea...

Good to hear about the canopy coming out in... well, two pieces. I was a little worried about that. Glad it came out good, though.

Well...I didunt chop the canopy in half samurai style....got me a box cutter nife and gently sawed it in two...I recommend you do that to your Me-328 cockpit, because that's what the canopy looks like (v1 model!) in the pictures I've seen.

I was also worried that I might crack it...but that went unfounded....fewwww......

There has been some mention of the PM Ho 229 kit in this thread, I built one of those kits a few years ago and remember it as a very easy kit to make but had hardly any cockpit detail at all.
Here is a photo that has my Ho 229 in it.


As soon as I can I will be joining the group build with a nightfighter version of the Monogram Do 335 kit. I am still working on my new aircraft hanger, most of the construction will be done tomorrow and painted next weekend.

Matrixone

Maxitrone, Can I recommend you get the 1:72nd scale Do 335 kit made by Revell? It's very detailed, with over 150 parts to it including two detailed engines, detailed cockpit with raised instrument panel, detailed landing gear, access ladder; even the tyres have the manufacturer's name stamped on them!
there are two versions, none of which are the night figher version, but I'm sure you can get decals for it elsewhere...

I'm going to be starting this when I finish the Me-Do mistel kit.

I like that picture - it looks VERY realistic; but can you tell me what type of vehicle is shown there, and who makes it? I want some 1:72nd scale german utility vehices for my giant diorama (tankers, supply trucks, staff cars, etc)

norite,

The main reason I want to use the old Monogram Do 335 kit for the group build is I have had that kit for 20 years now and its time to build it. I want to build something easy to make, interesting to look at, and if is does not turn very good no great loss. After making my photobase and building my airplane hanger I need something easy to build for a change.
I know the 1/72 scale Revell Do 335 is far more accurate and better detailed than the Monogram kit, I have built the Dragon kit which the Revell kit is based on and found a few fit problems here and there.
The 1/72 scale truck in my photo is the Italeri Opel Blitz, a very good kit. I already have another one to build. Some of the parts are very tiny but the kit was easy to build.
If you build any 1/48 scale Luftwaffe aircraft you should look into getting one of those Tamiya Kubelwagon kits. It is the best fitting kit I have ever made, it also comes with two figures that are very well molded.




Let me know if you would like to see my Do 335 Dragon model, the weather might clear enough later today to take a few new pics.

Looking forward to joining the group build in a couple weeks.

Matrixone

Excellent! New blood! Just kidding!

Matrixone- By all means, pics of the 335 would be great. Pics of that hanger and base would be good, too.

Norite- I'll think about chopping up the canopy. It's a good idea, and I'd like to do it. I just don't really trust my skills that much! We shall see...

I like the hyperlink to nowhere! Dangblasted technology...

Lucien,

The weather might clear enough to take some pics of that Do 335. This way you can see some of the fit problems I had with it.
My new hanger may be two weeks away before it is finished, work has been very slow on this project mainly because I am used to making airplanes and not buildings, if it does not have wings I am lost!
I have a 1/72 scale PM Ho 229 two seat nightfighter that I may also build during this group build, this might work out very well since both aircraft will use almost the same camo colors and I could paint both at the same time, saving me paint, time, and the times I need to clean out my airbrush.

Matrixone

The weather did improve somewhat today, no sun but barely bright enough to take some new pics of that Do 335 and Ho 229 I mentioned before.

Here are the pics,




The Do 335 is in ''Luft 46'' markings.

Matrixone

Two more pics from todays photo session,





Matrixone

[:0][:0][:0]

Wow. That stuff lookes very nice! One question, though- how did you simulate the chipped paint on the Do 335? I stink at weathering, and any help you could give would be great!

And the only fit problems I can see are with the canopy. Other than that, I think it looks good!

matrixone:
those r some great pix !

frosty