AIRCRAFT - Battle of Britain Group Build (Jan 1st 2005 - May 31st 2005)

Hey, actual progress pics! Way to go Cruzr .

Regards, Rick

cool Cruz! I haven't taken pics yet, just a bunch of green interior parts os far...

Sean... nevermind, that guy standing behing you might be reading this... I'll tell ya later

Rick, good going! I am afraid I will have to take stock of my selection of paints tonight... not sure I have one of them... of course it is an exterior color so there is time left to get it...

Well, gonna try to put some modelling time in this evening before I get back on here!

Sean,

Thanks for that. I just didn't want to stuff some PE frets through inappropriate handling. And I will also put the 8lb mallet away as well

Cruzr - glad to see someone is actually modelling in the Build ... still waiting on the LHS to get stock in for me .

got the cockpit together tonight... will post pics tomorrow... didnt feel like pulling out all the lights and what not for it tonight (I am very tired)

It's not the best cockpit I have done in some ways, some parts are pretty good I feel.. I'll let yall be the judge tomorrow. I wasnt worried about doing much to it once I dry fitted it tonight and saw the only thing you can see of it are part of the seat and the control stick.... I am more concerned with doing the exterior camo and decals on this one... definitely gonna be a different looking wildcat!

there's really not much to be done after the cockpit is done.,.. mostly big parts EXCEPT this infernal looking landing gear.. really a different set on this aircraft... will have to take pics to show you..

oh yeah, I also primered the gear and parts to be painted tonight,t all except the fuselage which will get primered tomorrow before I stick the cockpit in.. I am using Vallejo acrylics on this and they are pretty certain about needing primer so I have yet to question that...

QUOTE: Originally posted by tho9900 Sean... nevermind, that guy standing behing you might be reading this... I'll tell ya later

Ok, paranoia may not be a good thing, but it is funny.

QUOTE: Originally posted by cossack Thanks for that. I just didn't want to stuff some PE frets through inappropriate handling. And I will also put the 8lb mallet away as well

7lb mallet is as heavy as you need to go, 8's just over kill

Seriously, nice to see some progress pics, Cruzr your well on your way.
Rick, you got any pics of yours yet?

As for me, the PE set I ordered from Squadron has been sent SURFACE mail, so come late March, they should be in my letter box!!

I made sure I ticked AIRMAIL on the website.
This is not a very happy camper here. Will be the second time this has happened.
So going to have to either order the parts AGAIN, and attach a seperate email with Airmail in big bold type, or accept the fact this 109 will have to be built OOB.

Tom, what lights do you use for your pics?
Incandescent, flouros, both???

I am curious as to how you guys get such decent pics of your builds as far as lighting goes, this twit uses the flash on the camera.
Looks pretty ordinary

Sean, I use two reading lamps.... here in the states they call the bulbs "Reveal" bulbs.. they have a slithgt purple tint to them.. it's supposed to be near what actual daylight is.. Depending on how much ambient light I get from the windows and such I also set my exposure a bit higher... so I dont have to use a flash.

If you are using a 35mm try setting your aperture lower (i,e, a lower number, the lower the number tha more light gets in) digital it has to support it, but a lot of them have it.. tell me what camera and I can look up how to do it...


some of them have whats called "Auto white balance" where you can point it at a sheet of clean white paper and set the white balance then take your pic... bsically though, adding light makes the pic look better... I am still playing with settings and lights but am getting there... Tell me what kind of camera ya have and I can see how I can help you!

Well, I have a Fuji S5500.

I got it around 2 months ago, and have used it very little to be honest.
The missus went a little nuts, considering I already have 3 SLR's, (love film!)
but since I got htis digital, she has gone nuts with it, and on principle, I refuse to ask her how to use an electronic item.
May seem strange I know, but I am an engineer for crying out loud, we can't go round asking the women folk 'Love, which way do the batteries go in??'

Tweety your PE bending set is very similar to mine, small plyers with the teeth linished off, i also use a razor blade and a piece of square brass tube

OHHH AS FAR AS THE GUYS IN THE SUITS GO, sorry i called em, they have been watching you for a while now, ever since you built that CAC Sabre
But the good news is they reckon they can bring you back

Well i have most of the PE in the Stuka pit but i kinda dropped the instument panel and bent the rudder pedals all out of shape, trying to get them back into shape only made it worse so i'm just going to let it slideeither that or throw it across the room

QUOTE: Originally posted by j.s.harrison OHHH AS FAR AS THE GUYS IN THE SUITS GO, sorry i called em, they have been watching you for a while now, ever since you built that CAC Sabre But the good news is they reckon they can bring you back

Oh, aint you the funny one!!!!
Thats ok, I just told em your planning on making the Sabre too.
It's suddenly got very lonely here

QUOTE: Well i have most of the PE in the Stuka pit but i kinda dropped the instument panel and bent the rudder pedals all out of shape, trying to get them back into shape only made it worse so i'm just going to let it slideeither that or throw it across the room

Got any pics of the Stuka c/p??

I just started on the 109 c/p, bit the bullet you might say.
Got it painted up, after that dries, some drybrushing, and a light wash to give it some depth.
I checked out the Tamiya fuselage fit, and I am really blown away by how tightly they fit together.
Wont need one iota of filler.

*still wish I had the PE*

Thats ok, should be here in time for the Nth African GB, and can use it on the Tamiya E4/7 kit I have.
Might start looking for a paint scheme for the 109 that is just as hard as the 129 I'm gonna do

QUOTE: [i]Originally posted by tweety1 Oh, aint you the funny one!!!! Thats ok, I just told em your planning on making the Sabre too. It's suddenly got very lonely here

Now Tweets what did ya go and do that fornow they're gonna be following me around
Oh well i don't think your going to be lonely for long, hey maybe the staff at Happy Acre's will let us share a model bench in the recreation room

Oh BTW I'll have a Pic up tommorrowand yep no filler on the Tamiya 109 except on the underside where the back of the wing meets the rear fues[tup

'tis ok Jules, just tell em Tom's making one.
A return to sender kind of thing

Well seeing as I can't PE this bird, should be a cinch to bang together, seeing as most focus will be on the camo.
HopefullyI'll have the dosh together so I can order the Defiant, or if that doesn't look promising, I'll bite the bullet and go with my original plan of the 110, thanks to Tom that seems like a decent kit to build.
Just need to find a REALLY hard camo scheme. Gotta stick with tradition

Guys, the RAF a/c had hard edges to their camo schemes didn't they??
I think Jules mentioned they used rubber mats.

I'll make sure i'll tell em Tweets that way the 3 of us can share the same bench
Only problem is they will probably put a cork on the end of our hobby knives so we can't hurt ourselves

BTW I didn't mention the rubber mat thing but yes the RAF had hard edges on their camo jobs........

QUOTE: Originally posted by j.s.harrison I'll make sure i'll tell em Tweets that way the 3 of us can share the same bench Only problem is they will probably put a cork on the end of our hobby knives so we can't hurt ourselves

Ah, see, the untrained eye doesn't realise modellers have LOTS of knives

QUOTE: BTW I didn't mention the rubber mat thing but yes the RAF had hard edges on their camo jobs........

, my bad, but thanks.
Actually, was the camo scheme wrap around, or did they have a 'sky' colour underbelly on their aircraft.

RAF birds had hard edge disruptive camo on upper surfaces. For BOB , most had Sky undersurfaces, although some still had the Black/White scheme. Have to check your references for the bird you're depicting.

Regards, Rick

Yeah i have 6 knives all up 4 normal hobby knives plus 1 combo scribe and knife and one i grabbed for the exclusive use of cutting BMF from canopy framing that you got me on to..........

Speaking strickly of Hurricanes and Spitfires during the Battle of Britain i think they may have used two colours for the undersides, Duck egg Blue And Duck egg green...
The Spitfire MK1 i did recently had the D E Green colour on the undersides.....
Also some SQD's painted one side of the udersides Black for recognition purposes.....
Here's apic of that spit again with the Duck egg green colour......

Jules, couldn't sleep either huh.

I like the look of that Spit mate, the trailing smoke from the guns, and the red tape just visible under em really set it off
That DE Green is pretty................................................... ugly!

I have no idea how that would NOT stand out with the sky as the back ground
Does Gunze or Tamiya make DE in acrylic?, or did you have to mix it yourself.

Well, I managed to get the c/p done on the 109, minus the PE it looked pretty ordinary, so I tried my needle work and picked out the dials etc with some colour, cause the Tamiya decals supplied for the instrument panel looked nothing like the pic I have.
Just applied the wash, so will post a pic tommorrow.

Must sleep now, last time I looked at the clock it was 11pm, now it's 2.30.
Not good.

Jules.

Is the the Tamiya Spit or the old Revellogram offering?

Looks mighty fine!!

I am going to build the old Monogram Spit mkII, but will need to do some surgery on the tailwheel as it looks a bit odd.

I just need to source some replacement decals now!

cheers

Mike

Well haven't WE been busy! I come back and have to read through about 500 posts to catch up!

I'd happily share a modeling bench with you two... only because I know they would have you in the funny jacket with no openings and the sleeves tied behind the back, so I could build away without you messing with it!

Almost done with my cockpit, here are some shots before I get into doing more on the levers and dials and what not... the cockpit is done overall all in this spring's most exciting color, RAF Interior Green. Gauges were picked out with a very sharp artists silver pencil then futured over several times for the gloss effect. All it is waiting on is the various green bits you see that need some coloring to them on the side panels and a little (not much) more weathering.

These planes were brand new in Sept 1940, so by Oct they would be dirty and some wear and tear but nothing compared to the Spits and the Hurricanes (especially because they were more a backup unit to fill holes in the defense from what I can read)

This kit goes together better than any Tamiya kit I have built. The pic below of the assembled body is it just sitting there unglued and you can see there is no seam at the wing root... I required zero (yes none, nada, a lack of) filler on the seams... I wish there was a "little" more detail to the cockpit, especially the floor and side panels but beggars can't be choosers! I can see another build of one of these coming soon, but with PE!

Without any further adieu... my Martlet taking it's first steps:

Cockpit:







Body:

Well got a pic of the instrument panel.
This was fun to do, I dont have any magnifying glasses, and the magnifier on the lamp I use was cleaned with thinners by some fool who forgot to label the bottles on his bench

I used a pin, and by dipping the tip of it in a paint blob, managed to pick out the needles etc.
Had to be done, the pit looked far to boring without it.



Sorry it's a little blurry. The missus can get a pic of a bugs head that fills the screen, I cant focus on a brick!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WOW!!! I think it looks great like it is Sean! very clean and crisp looking!!! I think you got it about where it is near perfect!

---edit---

also if you bring it into your photo program and crop the pic to only include the panel and a LITTLE white around it it would make you focus on the panel as well...

Mine aren't perfect I know... it's what I get for having dreams bigger than my photographic skills... I got a Sony DSCF-828 and it is quite a handful! If I could only figure out how to use it!!! I am used to 35mm Nikons not this monster!!!

QUOTE: Originally posted by tweety1 Sorry it's a little blurry. The missus can get a pic of a bugs head that fills the screen, I cant focus on a brick!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

P.S. I am going to look up your camera and see if I can help you with close in shots... but that one looks good! What would set it off is a piece of plain printer paper behind the panel to provide a plain white surface so it MAKES you focus on the detail and brings out the detail inside the dials more!

Hey Sean & Tom, very nice work & progress on your builds. I got sidelined with a touch of Flu & didn't do much modeling today. Should recover soon, I hope.

Regards, Rick

Rick, thats no good mate
You are getting plenty of rest yeah?, those flu's can turn pretty nasty.

I kinda figured I would try and get as many progress shots as possible this time, it something I have never really done so thought I'd give it a go.

ATM the fuselage has been glued and is drying while I work on my Hokum for the Helo GB.
After the fuse is dry, I'm gonna try and do a basic outline of how the camo is on this pidgeon, I reckon I can pull it off, but it will require some creative thinking.

Great pits Tom and Sean - not sure why Tom is in the "Old Guns" build ... his eyes certainly don't belie his age

Rick - sorry to hear about the flu. Those decals turned up this afternoon - you're an absolute champion!!

And still no word yet from the LHS over my 1/24 Spit . Oh well - more time on other builds.

You guys are putting me to shame, I haven't even ordered the Ultracast parts for my Hurricane yet, and you lot are already building!!!!!!

Can't see any of the build pics at the moment because I'm at work (Don't tell the boss!) and they're blocked, but I'm sure they all look great.

Karl

Thanks RIck and Paul!!

Karl, sounds like where I work.. I'm sure you've seen me complain already but they have this new monitoring software so I Dare not come here duing the day.... And this is really a warm up of sorts... surprisingly this kit is going together EXTREMELY well and FAST!!!

---Edit---

Paul, I hire the 12 yr old down the street to paint my cockpits for me... haha kidding, no, the silver artists pencil makes it a LOT easier to pick up the details on those dials! that and my 2x magnifier visor

Had a first look at my Pavla Miles Master kit. I think I might forget building it as a Fighter, and just as the Miles Master, not quite confident enough in my scratchbuilding abilities. Did the Westland Whirlind take part in the BoB? I have a kit of that too...

The Academy bf109E kit though looks beautiful: can't wait to start, once I finish my Tamiya Spit, in BoB colours as it happens.

Tom, we have monitoring software here too, but as long as you only use the internet during lunch and coffee breaks, nobody really cares. We're actually encouraged to use the net rather than the phone as it works out way cheaper for the company!

Just need the company to pay me on Monday, then it's on the net to order the parts from Ultracast for the Hurricane! I feel a replacement, seat, bulkhead, wheel bay and flight surfaces coming on, along with a nice open cockpit to show it all off.

Karl

Well tonight I spent most of my time masking my canopies for the 109 and hokum helo.
Not very productive, but had to get it out the way.
(I LOATHE masking)
Here is the end result


I also attached the front cowl, and noticed an ugly lump, and I had to use a piece of styrene to make up the gap, when thats dry I'll bang on some putty and sand smooth like it SHOULD be.

But thats tommorrows effort.
Once thats sorted out, I'm going to attempt the first run of the camo scheme.
This will be alot easier to do without the wings attached seeing as none of the camo runs onto the wings at all.

Just realised, with out the PE, I have no seat belts for this bird.