SEARCH FINESCALE.COM

Enter keywords or a search phrase below:

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

75043 views
2563 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: A Spartan in the Wolverine State
Posted by rjkplasticmod on Wednesday, January 5, 2005 9:56 AM
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
RICK At My Age, I've Seen It All, Done It All, But I Don't Remember It All...
  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Alice Springs Australia
Posted by tweety1 on Wednesday, January 5, 2005 7:30 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by j.s.harrison

I'll make sure i'll tell em TweetsThumbs Up [tup] that way the 3 of us can share the same benchLaugh [(-D]
Only problem is they will probably put a cork on the end of our hobby knives so we can't hurt ourselvesBlindfold [X-)]Tongue [:P]

Ah, see, the untrained eye doesn't realise modellers have LOTS of knives Wink [;)]Wink [;)]

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


Sign - Oops [#oops], my bad, but thanks.
Actually, was the camo scheme wrap around, or did they have a 'sky' colour underbelly on their aircraft.
Whistling [:-^]Whistling [:-^]

--Sean-- If you are driving at the speed of light and you turn on the headlights, what happens???
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, January 5, 2005 2:51 AM
I'll make sure i'll tell em TweetsThumbs Up [tup] that way the 3 of us can share the same benchLaugh [(-D]
Only problem is they will probably put a cork on the end of our hobby knives so we can't hurt ourselvesBlindfold [X-)]Tongue [:P]

BTW I didn't mention the rubber mat thing but yes the RAF had hard edges on their camo jobs........
  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Alice Springs Australia
Posted by tweety1 on Wednesday, January 5, 2005 2:36 AM
'tis ok Jules, just tell em Tom's making one.
A return to sender kind of thingWink [;)]Wink [;)]

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.
--Sean-- If you are driving at the speed of light and you turn on the headlights, what happens???
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, January 5, 2005 1:57 AM
QUOTE: [i]Originally posted by tweety1
Oh, aint you the funny one!!!!Wink [;)]Tongue [:P]
Thats ok, I just told em your planning on making the Sabre too.
It's suddenly got very lonely hereWink [;)]Wink [;)]Evil [}:)]


Now Tweets what did ya go and do that forEvil [}:)]now they're gonna be following me aroundBlack Eye [B)]
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 roomWink [;)]Tongue [:P]

Oh BTW I'll have a Pic up tommorrowBig Smile [:D]and yep no filler on the Tamiya 109 except on the underside where the back of the wing meets the rear fues[tup
  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Alice Springs Australia
Posted by tweety1 on Wednesday, January 5, 2005 1:35 AM
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 SabreSmile,Wink, & Grin [swg]Laugh [(-D]
But the good news is they reckon they can bring you backThumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]

Oh, aint you the funny one!!!!Wink [;)]Tongue [:P]
Thats ok, I just told em your planning on making the Sabre too.
It's suddenly got very lonely hereWink [;)]Wink [;)]Evil [}:)]

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 slideSigh [sigh]either that or throw it across the roomBig Smile [:D]


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
--Sean-- If you are driving at the speed of light and you turn on the headlights, what happens???
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, January 5, 2005 12:45 AM
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 tubeThumbs Up [tup]

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 SabreSmile,Wink, & Grin [swg]Laugh [(-D]
But the good news is they reckon they can bring you backThumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]Thumbs Up [tup]

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 slideSigh [sigh]either that or throw it across the roomBig Smile [:D]
  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Alice Springs Australia
Posted by tweety1 on Tuesday, January 4, 2005 11:11 PM
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??'
Tongue [:P]Wink [;)]
--Sean-- If you are driving at the speed of light and you turn on the headlights, what happens???
  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: SETX. USA
Posted by tho9900 on Tuesday, January 4, 2005 9:35 PM
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!
---Tom--- O' brave new world, That has such people in it!
  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Alice Springs Australia
Posted by tweety1 on Tuesday, January 4, 2005 9:24 PM
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-- If you are driving at the speed of light and you turn on the headlights, what happens???
  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Alice Springs Australia
Posted by tweety1 on Tuesday, January 4, 2005 9:21 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by tho9900



Sean... nevermind, that guy standing behing you might be reading this... I'll tell ya later Wink [;)]



Laugh [(-D]Laugh [(-D]
Ok, paranoia may not be a good thing, but it is funny.Tongue [:P]

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 killTongue [:P]Clown [:o)]

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!!Censored [censored]Censored [censored]Grumpy [|(]Grumpy [|(]Boohoo [BH]

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.
Yuck [yuck]Yuck [yuck]Yuck [yuck]Sigh [sigh]
--Sean-- If you are driving at the speed of light and you turn on the headlights, what happens???
  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: SETX. USA
Posted by tho9900 on Tuesday, January 4, 2005 9:10 PM
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...
---Tom--- O' brave new world, That has such people in it!
  • Member since
    April 2004
  • From: Sydney
Posted by cossack on Tuesday, January 4, 2005 8:36 PM
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 Wink [;)]

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

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: SETX. USA
Posted by tho9900 on Tuesday, January 4, 2005 6:24 PM
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 Wink [;)]

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!
---Tom--- O' brave new world, That has such people in it!
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: A Spartan in the Wolverine State
Posted by rjkplasticmod on Tuesday, January 4, 2005 5:27 PM
Hey, actual progress pics! Way to go Cruzr Thumbs Up [tup].

Regards, Rick
RICK At My Age, I've Seen It All, Done It All, But I Don't Remember It All...
  • Member since
    October 2004
  • From: Fort St John B.C. Canada
Posted by Cruzr on Tuesday, January 4, 2005 3:37 PM
well i got a little done on the weekend. The flaps were cut off and new one's made, and i opened the cockpit door. i'll get more next weekend( i hope)
cheers
Cliff
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 4, 2005 12:57 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by tweety1

I'm kinda curious on this Tuskegee thingConfused [%-)]

I am so yearning to build a Mustang, but have little/no idea under which group to model it after.
What the hell, I'll build anything, so long as it can fit in my display cupboard!


tweety:
maybe u would b interested in a Tuskeegee Airmen Group Build,
starting in February ?
see the thread i posted this AM in this forum 4 some details.

frostySmile [:)]

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: A Spartan in the Wolverine State
Posted by rjkplasticmod on Tuesday, January 4, 2005 12:46 PM
Got to the LHS this morning & restocked some Luftwaffe RLM colors, so now I can start painting the interior. Hope to post some pics soon.

Regards, Rick
RICK At My Age, I've Seen It All, Done It All, But I Don't Remember It All...
  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Alice Springs Australia
Posted by tweety1 on Tuesday, January 4, 2005 8:53 AM
Laugh [(-D]Laugh [(-D]
Tom, you crack me upMischief [:-,]

I used to have 4 pairs of the flat nose pliers, one was standard which is in the pic and has no arc marks on it, and the others I ground down to give me different widths for the finer stuff.

After I remade my workbench I figured I had too may tools, and amongst other things I retired all but 1 pair of pliers.
It's all good!!!Wink [;)]

As for the suits, so long as I dont look over my shoulder, their not thereAlien [alien]Alien [alien]

As for the crowd here, scary thing is, were gonna be building ALL YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And after a mongrel of a day at work, we don't even have to build stuff, just hang out here and post.

Mind you, I dont get much privacy with them thar suits lingering over my shoulderCensored [censored]Grumpy [|(]

Burger [BG]
--Sean-- If you are driving at the speed of light and you turn on the headlights, what happens???
  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: SETX. USA
Posted by tho9900 on Tuesday, January 4, 2005 6:41 AM
haha I am glad you asked Cossack because I was gonna if you didn't. I have used PE too but usually use two Xacto knifes to bend with... might try something like Seans setup...

And Sean.... I'm starting to worry about ya friend... that Hs-129 is something I wouldn't even want to think about doing!!! Tsk... Tsk... Tsk... and at such a young age I tell ya! Wink [;)] Reminds me of that movie "a Beautiful Mind" where the guy drove himself crazy with mathematical equations! Tell me Sean, do men in dark suits follow you around trying to learn the secret to your PE bending? OOOPS! the cat's outta the bag now! [:0]

Just wanted to tell you guys this has been the most enjoyable GB I have done so far... great model subject and really great conversation!!!
---Tom--- O' brave new world, That has such people in it!
  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Alice Springs Australia
Posted by tweety1 on Tuesday, January 4, 2005 2:54 AM
Ok, this is all I use these days for bending my PE


The red handled pliers are technician pliers, from my apprentice days, they are Sidchrome brand, and should still be available in places like Tandy's and such.
And thats it.
You can spend the money and get one of those fancy Etchmate jigs, but IMHO unless you do PE on everything you build, there is no real need.

I PE pretty much every kit I make these days, and still haven't found ANYTHING that the above tools couldn't bend, from crosshair sights in 1/48, through to landing flaps.
--Sean-- If you are driving at the speed of light and you turn on the headlights, what happens???
  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Alice Springs Australia
Posted by tweety1 on Tuesday, January 4, 2005 2:26 AM
Ok, I really have to get some pics of the tools I use for my PE stuff.

Actually, gimme a minute.................

or ten!Tongue [:P]
--Sean-- If you are driving at the speed of light and you turn on the headlights, what happens???
  • Member since
    April 2004
  • From: Sydney
Posted by cossack on Tuesday, January 4, 2005 2:21 AM
OK you Aussies ... I know this isn't quite the place ... but you are all such nice and forgiving guys!! Wink [;)] ...

I am new to using PE - a couple of minor grills on my Pro Modeller F117 is it. What do you use for bending PE correctly? I have seen tools advertised in FSM, but was wondering if you had sourced them via the internet, or from the LHS.

Many thanks in advance ...

  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Alice Springs Australia
Posted by tweety1 on Tuesday, January 4, 2005 2:17 AM
Tom- Thanks for the history lesson! I was going to hunt it down on the net and do some research, but now I DONT HAVE TO!!!!Big Smile [:D]Big Smile [:D]Big Smile [:D]

Seriously though, I do recall reading about them somewhere...........in a book I have in the back shed..................I think...............alzheimers is catching up.Sad [:(]
This is bugging me now, have to go and find itAngry [:(!]

Jules, Darren It is an interesting paint scheme I'll admit, and I have NO IDEA why my eyes keep fooling my brain into thinking I can pull these things off.

You think thats bad, check out my plan for the African GB-


Gee, I wonder which one caught my attention!!


Doc, whats wrong with me???
--Sean-- If you are driving at the speed of light and you turn on the headlights, what happens???
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Perth, Western Australia
Posted by madmike on Tuesday, January 4, 2005 1:20 AM
Darren

That little tamiya 1:48 Kubelwagen is a little burster of a kit. I am going to build mine to sit next to my BoB Hasegawa Bf109-E/4.

Hope they do the Jeep soon!

cheers

MikeJ
"I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use." - Galileo Galilei
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 4, 2005 12:03 AM
Darren happy to be of help, i figured it would be safer in the stock cube containerSmile,Wink, & Grin [swg]Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg]
Tweety as Darren said it's an interesting scheme,i'm sure your gonna have fun painting that one onThumbs Up [tup]but i am starting to worry about you mate, why oh why do you keep punishing yourself with difficult builds and next to impossible paint scheme'sLaugh [(-D]Laugh [(-D]Laugh [(-D]
Tom Thanks for the run down on the Tuskegee AirmenThumbs Up [tup] and i like the idea of putting the US star in the background, it wouldn't be a problem adding it, my program allows for 6 layers so thats coolCool [8D]
I did want to cover the Nazi symbol with the Desert Rat because that particular symbol is still a very powerfuff one and i don't want to inadvertantly offend any other members of this forumBig Smile [:D]
For the general background i was thinking of either a map of africa or the desert sand colour and green spots seen on JG 27's 109's, i don't know yet but this one is going to be my most challenging GBtagThumbs Up [tup]

OK back to the BoB i managed to get a couple of hours done on the Stuka today, all that time was taken up with cutting bending and folding PE parts for the Pit but i reckon it's gonna look pretty flash when i paint it all upApprove [^]
I'll whack a little bit of paint on the instrument panel tonight and then i'll stick up a picThumbs Up [tup]
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Melbourne, Australia
Posted by darson on Monday, January 3, 2005 9:18 PM
Jules - I got the 109 canopy in the mail today, love the stock cube container by the way. Thanks again, I owe you one!
For the Nth African GB I'm going to do a tank and an aircraft or two (can you tell I'm hanging out for this). The other day I picked up the Tamiya 1/48 Kubelwagon - Africa Corps, which I am going to pose with the Bf-109E7. Should make a nice little OOB dio. Oh and the dates for the build suit me fine.
Slow but steady progress is being made on my Aussie Mustang III. I should have some pics to post in a week or two.

Tweets - Same question as Jules, what sort of scheme are you doing on your 109, you've got me intrigued?

*** edit ***
Oops, didn't look above Big Smile [:D], that's one interesting scheme you've got there Tongue [:P]

Cheers
Darren

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: SETX. USA
Posted by tho9900 on Monday, January 3, 2005 9:10 PM
A little history: The Tuskegee airmen were named after the college/airfield they trained at during WWII in Tuskegee, Alabama. They were the first all black fighter group to come into existence.

At first it started out as kind of a "bet" amongst some pentagon military types that the black man wasn't capable of flying an aircraft, might less a combat aircraft. The word was then that thier "primitive mind" couldn't comprehend the nuances of modern combat at the time. Not only did they earn their pilots wings, but went on to become one of the best fighter groups of WWII.

Where 'other' FG's would break off a certain many miles from the target, the 332 FG would follow the bombers all the way in, all the way out. And where others would break and pursue targets, the Tuskegee airmen were extremely disciplined and never strayed from the bombers, some of the main reasons they never lost one to enemy AC...

They existed in part to the push of Eleanor Wilson, the wife of the US president at the time.... she was a strong advocate of rights and equality.. and played a big role during the last term of her husband in pushing these. She had a personal interest in seeing this program succeed.

The bomber pilots soon began requesting them above all other groups as they knew they would look out for them... never leave.

The Germans began to fear them as well.... "Red Tail Devils" or something like that they were called... reporteldy (remember this was WWII where telling big stories was an art) at times some of the fighters would turn back when they saw the 332nd red tails protecting the group.

They also were one of the first groups to encounter the Me-262 and probably one of the first to shoot one down.

Other firsts with this group: the first two black Generals in the Air Force were members of this group, it produced 3 colonels, 6 Lt. Cols, all of which have the distinction of flying in WWII, Korea and Viet Nam...

A very good book about them is in the biography of its' CO, Lt. Gen. Benjamin O. Davis (titled Benjamin O Davis) and a not so historically accurate movie, but has some decent flight scenes and follows the spirit of the group, is "The Tuskegee Airmen" available online... it really does a decent job of showing what these guys were up against both at home and on the front... Including bomber pilots driving out to the airfield, seeing the red tailed mustangs and wanting to go thank the pilots who saved them the day before, and when they got there would say "aint no way you fly that thing "boy"" (boy being a derogative term in this case... very derogative relating to the slave days here)


Anyway I know, a looong way from the BoB we are talking about here, but providing a little history of WHY those red tailed fighters were so awesome...


P.S. for some reason I have no big love of the P-51, if it were not for this build... I really wanna do this...

And since I am so off topic, I might as well interject I like the idea of the desert rat resting (sleeping???) under the palm tree.. haha.. or in the center either one, it would be appropriate... maybe with a five point star shadowy 'watermark' background.. covers the commonwealth, the US and Germany in the conflict...
---Tom--- O' brave new world, That has such people in it!
  • Member since
    April 2004
  • From: Sydney
Posted by cossack on Monday, January 3, 2005 8:36 PM
Maybe the Afrika Korp palm tree with a desert rat resting underneath it Smile [:)]

  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Alice Springs Australia
Posted by tweety1 on Monday, January 3, 2005 8:24 PM
Interesting Mustang.
Love the red, for some reason red looks cool on aircraft, makes em go faster.(yeah, I know, that line has been done to deathAshamed [*^_^*])
Reckon the reason they lost no bombers was the Axis was trying to tag the red things?

Tom and Jules, sounds like a plan to me, and your right Jules, there are a few mainstream a/c that are 'must haves', and the 'Stang is defiantely one of them.

As for the 109 I'm doing for this build-


Yellow 10 is the one I plan to do.
From my research this type of camo almost had a hard edge, but was still soft to the eye, and kind of 'light' on application, which is where the difficult part comes into play.

Doing this camo on a 1/48 size pidgeon is hard enough, but getting it just right is the biggest adventure.

Yeah I guess I could just slap it on, but for some silly reason I can't let myself do that.
I need counsellingSigh [sigh]
--Sean-- If you are driving at the speed of light and you turn on the headlights, what happens???
JOIN OUR COMMUNITY!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

SEARCH FORUMS
FREE NEWSLETTER
By signing up you may also receive reader surveys and occasional special offers. We do not sell, rent or trade our email lists. View our Privacy Policy.