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

Izzy, the Monogram Promodeller Ju-88 kit is retrofittable back to a BoB model, parts are included in the kit.. (a plug for the magnetic direction finder, clear nose piece, paddle blade props etc...) and the decals for a 1940 bird are available online... the kit goes together good, decent interior detail etc... worth a shot! And at 1/48 it's not too small, not too big!!!

Good luck! I think Amtech makes a 1/48 with parts for models from BoB or later as well.. will try to look it up for ya tomorrow!

darnit i havent been able to find a Ju-88 that i really like but i have found plenty of Stukas. Put me down for a Stuka instead of the Ju-88. Man i had i a cool night fighter paint scheme thought up and everything. I guess il just have to apply it to the Ju-87 huh?

Tom, you're getting as senile as moi ! .

Sorry guys, I got busy on another project & didn't get pics taken of the 109 pit. Tomorrow for sure. Well, almost for sure, barring anything unforseen .

Regards, Rick

QUOTE: Originally posted by rjkplasticmod How true Osher. I ordered some resin pieces from Ultracast the other day and then later on, looking for something else, I found the same pieces in my stash that I had completely forgotten about. AAARGH!! Regards, Rick

got ya one worse Rick... ordered the Bf110 decals and recieved them... two nights later I was online and looking around on Greatmodels and ordered them again... luckily not the same set... anyone wanting to build a 1/48 Bf110 from the BoB email me because I have your decals waiting on ya free of charge! (even international shipping) it's gonna be an expensive build! got decals for ya... PLENTY of decals! Don't think I wanna build this kit 6 times! (unlike the SBD's and now the Martlets.. plan on doing the whole decal sheet of martlets.. so much more colorful than the Wildcats)

How true Osher. I ordered some resin pieces from Ultracast the other day and then later on, looking for something else, I found the same pieces in my stash that I had completely forgotten about. AAARGH!!

Regards, Rick

Update: (sorry no pics, will try to get something for the weekend) The bf-110 has had the cockpit painted, and the moulded in seat belts and buckles painted too. Needs a bit of correcting, well, painting 1/72 scale buckles is an artform I am still mastering! Just noticed that Hannants/Airwaves do a PE set for the bf-110C/D in 1/72, so the kit is being placed 'on hold' until I get hold of the PE set (hopefully Saturday, and recommencing work next week). I've also got the Academy 1/72 bf-109E-4 to keep me occupied, and guess what: more moulded in seat belts and buckles! Well, my modelling skills in this area will certainly improve.

Raiding my 'pending' box I noticed 2xSpits & 1xHurri, all Airfix 1/72, BoB era, and all with Airwaves PE sets. I should have just used these! At least I remembered my Fujimi 1/72 bf-110. Moral of this story: raid your store, before the raiding the (hobby) store! Happy modelling y'all!

BOB Hurricanes were RAF Dark Earth/ Dark Green disruptive camo on the top sides over Sky undersides. Some had the undersurface of the port wing painted Black, so check your references. All of these are available from ModelMaster by name, don't have the numbers offhand.

Regards, Rick

Darson, what Im looking for are ref pics ( camo & markings) of a HE 111 that fly in the BOB. Every thing I have is from different theaters of war.

Thad

Okay, it's been a while, but here's what I got right now-

I've been checking out AM decals for my Hurricane, and figure I'll throw in a set when I order my underwing ordinance for the Ju 290Z.

I'm going to Ohio hopefully this weekend to pick up paint (also for the 290Z), and probably will get some for the Hurricane, too. Which raises a question- What would be the colors for a BoB Hurricane? (Model Master Acrylics.) Numbers or names, I could use either one.

Now, I really don't have any good pictures of what I have so far, so I'll see if I have something already uploaded...

[image]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v296/LHprs/My%20album/6cfe0eed.jpg[/image]

Right now this is the best I've got. It's the tiny one in the lower right corner. Becuase of my computer I can't upload pics easily, so I'm forced to use one I already have for now. Sorry. I'll get a better one as soon as other large projects are cleared up.

Decals & mask arrived yesterday for the He111. The masking is going to be a 'character building' task. Still leaning towards going with the night paint scheme.
Interior & components have been painted. Hope to start assembly Friday pm. Maybe primed by Sunday pm. Still need to Future the canopys' also before masking.

Questions for the group (being the knowledge bases that you are):
1. Was the black paint applied by spray or brush in the field? And was it flat black or just a weathered 'gloss' black? Does that make sense?
2. Were the 1000kg bombs used in the BOB?
3. I'm assuming that the black was applied over the standard RM70/71 (I think) scheme. However, I have one reference that shows the black applied to a grey upper structure.
4. What color is the seat harness (normally) on German planes of this era?

Darren-I saw that you have some reference pics of He111's-if you don't mind and have some good pics of night versions, would you please forward them to me at bobbsi@aol.com? thx.

Well you fellas are well ahead of me i still havn't done anything else to the Stuka mainly cause i'm finishing off a couple of other builds.....
But i should be in full swing by the start of Feb
Speaking of the Nth African Gb i've already decided on a Stuart Honey, should make a pleasant change from all those wings......

Not much of a modeler if you don't push your limits I reckon

Well, got the wings on the 109 tonight.
Will need a touch of filler along the wing root, and where the back section touches the fuse underneath, but otherwise, this kit is beautiful to assemble.

Hopefully will have her painted up by Friday night, and post some pics

Tweety.... somehow I knew it would do that to ya... like a moth to a porch light I tell ya! :) like I said you're a better man than me! I don't think I would want to try that!

Tom I thought you'd like that
As for the plane, well, wouldn't be too much of a challenge if I got it in 1/48.
The Hs 129 I'm doing for the Nth African GB is 1/48, with squiggle camo.

That Skyhawk wold look good sitting next to the 129..............................................(must stop thinking like this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!))

Darren Big thanks for the heads up on that! It would have gotten me, seeing as I just give my kits a quick wipe over with Alcohol before painting.

Rick Good idea about the primer.
Do you know of any other decent primers that would come close to the Floquil one you use??
I don't think I have ever seen a Floquil product here in Australia.

All East Euro kits should be given a good scrubbing with warm water, detergent & an old tooth brush. I usually don't sand them first, but always use a good enamel primer. I use Floquil Grey Primer thinned slightly with lacquer thinner to give it more bite. If you spray directly on the plastic, without primer, you will encounter paint lifting problems. Especially if you use acrylics.

Regards, Rick

good to know that Darren... The Trumpeter HH-65 I was building while back was like that... paint would not stick for the life of me! I ended up buyin another kit and lightly wiping it with first alcohol, and before getting ready for paint again to make sure there was no oil...

Speaking of which I gingerly removed my cover box from my martlet awhile ago and what to my wondering eyes did appear... the paint egg-shelled on the top of the cowl... no biggie.. a little sandpaper can take care of that and I will go for the second coat tomorrow.. need to remask anyway... the masking tape was coming off so I took it all off the body to make sure it did not get too much hold to the paint...

Tomorrow I will sand, and put the second coat of Slate Grey on my kit, then Thurs cut masks for the Dk Sea Grey camo, Fri or Sat spray it... wont need but one coat with that one I suspect, I brushed a little of each to make sure which one I was using as a base and the dark sea grey covered in one stroke... rare for acrylics! I'm thinking by next week I should be close to decaling! For now it is the sit and wait between coats game!

P.S. for those of you who expressed interest in the Fujimi kit, now is the time to buy it... for some unknown reason I bought 2 sets (different sets) of BoB decals for the kit I have.. so have decals for 6 planes now... mostly ZG 26 and 76 and one set includes them for Helmut Lent (thats best I can read it from the little pic online) email me or post here if you seriously want to get this kit, I will try to seperate one AC off the set for you... and scan the instructions...

Sean,

I just found this while doing a bit of reading of a review of another new CA kit and thought it might be of some use to you and aybody else doing the Defiant.

"I also should note that the plastic of my kit was very shiny, as was the case with my Classic Airframes Defiant kit. This means there is too much oil in the plastic. You will need to “scuff up” that surface with some paint thinner, and perhaps a good sanding-down with 600-grit sandpaper, or the paint you will be applying will have nothing to grab onto, with the result - if you don’t do this - being something you really, really don’t want to be involved in trying to save when the inevitable disaster occurs. Trust me on that one. (I have noted this problem more and more frequently with kits coming from eastern Europe - it’s not a complaint about this kit or any other, merely a heads-up that the cost of oil-base products is going up with the result that cheaper-quality basic materials are what is available at prices that make ultimate retail sense.)"

Cheers
Darren

Tweety, ya need to come on over and join us in the LAtin American GB.. I think I found the paint job you have been yearning to spray!

Can you guess which one I would think you might get interested in???

QUOTE: Originally posted by KINGTHAD Hey guys Im working on a HE-111 for this build and I cant seem to find any good pics. of one that was in the BOB, can anyone help me out? Thad

Thad I have some good reference books at home on the BoB that feature a lot of shots of the He-111. If you tell me the sort of shots you are after I can scan them and e-mail them to you.

Cheers
Darren

QUOTE: Originally posted by darson Speaking masking, this is something that annoys the cp out of me. Not just doing the masking, but what materials to use.

Darren... actually I realized how far I have gone over the edge the other night when I realized I LIKE masking canopies!!! I used the pre-cut masks on the Dauntless last time but there wasn't the same sense of satisfaction out of it...

I don't know about me sometimes...

QUOTE: Originally posted by tweety1 GOTCHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ah, that sorts out the 'Chip' thing Now, what else do I owe ya for??

HRMMmmpphhh! That's getting close to sacriledge good sir, when you mess with a man about his model!!! I figured yo were joking but I had to get up a few times and go look at it just to be sure... I dunno how many more you owe me for... I lost count a coupe of hundred ago, but we're running a tie right now so I figure we are about even!

:::Walking away muttering to myself::: A crack he says!!! and he thinks that's funny!!!

good one though!!!

Never been much for the German birds, but that He111 is one sweet looking war machine. Much sleeker looking than the lumbering Lanc's and Halifaxes, IMO.

Sean

Thanks Bob I have been beating my head against the wall trying to find a ref.

Thad

QUOTE: Originally posted by KINGTHAD Hey guys Im working on a HE-111 for this build and I cant seem to find any good pics. of one that was in the BOB, can anyone help me out? Thad

Thad-I'm in the same boat. I'm going to rely on the instructions coming with the decals to try a night version-Griffin 55 I believe. However, here is a site with some good photos.
http://www.richard-seaman.com/Aircraft/AirShows/Frederick2000/He111/Flying/

Sean,
I just got back into modelling last month (I finally re-subscribed to FSM). The last time I modelled anything was 8 years ago when I was in University (p-40B and part of a Typhoon) in Edmonton. I found the RMMC website and have posted a question there but I would like to get more involved. Life gets in the way though! I was also thinking of entering my hurricane in that contest too, maybe even my Typhoon I still have to finish (8years in the making)

If anyone is interested in checking out the RMMC here is their website (Maybe there's some RMMC members in the FSM forum?: (There is a good kit review on the Hasegawa Hurricane.)
http://www.rockymountainmodelclub.com/mainpage.htm

One of my favourite things I have re-discovered is all the fun research I get to do! Especially when you hit a dead end
Thanks for the pit pic Sean. (I really need to get a digital Camera)

Hey guys Im working on a HE-111 for this build and I cant seem to find any good pics. of one that was in the BOB, can anyone help me out?

Thad

Well, just finished the camo on the other side of 109, so now it's onto the wings.
Should have that done by Thursday, paintwise, then the final stretch to decals and landing gear.
By rights, this pidgeon should be done by months end.
Then have to get the Defiant over from the States, even with freight it ends up being $20 cheaper than getting it here.
Freight to the centre of Australia is a total con!!

QUOTE: Originally posted by tho9900 QUOTE: Originally posted by tweety1 Tom Your bottom looks Skyish to me. But when I enlarged the pic it looked broken, looks like there's a nasty crack in it. where???? I looked at it, must be a trick of the light or something... there are saggital "plates" overlapping along the fuselage... it's the way they were riveted together... I hope that's what ya mean... I keep going back and looking afraid I missed something!!!

Hey Tom................











GOTCHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ah, that sorts out the 'Chip' thing

Now, what else do I owe ya for??

Great Rick! For me it depends on the kit for me to detail a cockpit or not... like this Martlet I am doing has a basic cockpit so I just left it alone.. but something like the SBD or even the corsair I did awhile back was worth taking the time on...

Looking forward to seeing you pics!

Whytwolf, looking good, but could you size your pics a little smaller? 2048 X 1536 is about 3X larger than web standard. Takes for ever to load for us poor old dial up users. Thanks for the pic of the Cane cockpit.

Tom, I agree, Tenax 7R & MM liquid cement are the only two styrene glues I have on my bench these days.

Progress on my 109: The pit is done. Came out OK, could be better, but I'm not a real cockpit detail nut. Once it's closed up nobody knows whats there except me. Will try & get the camera & lights set up tomorrow to take some pics. Cockpit photos are not my favorite things to do as lighting & focus can be a bear.

Regards, Rick