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

Sean, yeah the belly tank is optional... the fusulage has the same panel lines following on under the belly, and the big tank is a separate add-on that actually looks like it would be a bit of a job to align, haven't taken it out of the plastic bags yet but will test fit the tank just for grins tomorrow to see how easily it lines up and what kind of gaps it leaves...

but to answer your question, without the tank the fuselage looks good, it's putting the tank ON that looks to be tricky!

Tom, is the belly tank optional??????

I would really like to build a 110, but the belly tank issue put me off.
Could you let us know if the tank is not fitted, whats the detail like where the tank would have been.

Thanks
Sean

Darren - I just eyeballed the 110 kit and it actually looks very nicely done (haven't got into it too much but everything looks good)

Nice panel lines, crisp... and the various access panel bolts look appropriately scaled. (dunno too much on how they looked on the real thing but they aren't obtrusive on the kit)

Interior is ok, a bit sparse on detail and the instrument panels have no raised dials and they provide decals for the instrument panel instead. If you want to go all out on it, this would be a big area to go AM parts with. there's two figures included, one had a rather nasty injector pin hole in his chest but it looks like a little putty will have him back on his feet in no time at all.

One strong point is, they provide a full color glossy and rather detailed top, side and bottom view of the paint scheme, as well as decal placement. One is done in late BoB looking camo the other in what looks to be Afrika Korps design, maybe southern italy...

Another thing I liked is there is actually a separate instruction sheet for the C or D models respectively. No having to read fine print at the end of a step for what to change to retrograde it... this one is step by step, one or the other.

The decals look to be good quality, "possibly" a little thick but nothing like I have seen with some other kits, great color to them and they provide both sets of decals for specific versions as well.. in general there was little or no flash so it doesn't look to be a messy clean up just to get to build her.

I'll dig into it a little more tomorrow as I tore one of the decals for my USN Aviation build so am on hold for that till the new ones arrive next week.. will use this as a warm up for the BoB build...

For the $15.95 US I spent on the kit it looks so far to be comparable to a Tamiya kit minus the good interior detail... (Of course I've built a Tamiya or two with similar interiors to this one so I guess about the same)

I'll test fit tomorrow and let you know what any gapping issues look like, hopefully none as all the long pieces (wings and fuselage) didn't appear to have any warp to them and the edges looked nice and straight.

Till then! And a Merry Christmas to all!!

G'day guys,

Well I survived another Christmas with the kids and family, so now it's just a matter of cleaning up the mess. I tell you modeling is never far from my heart because as I was cleaning up the wrapping and boxes for my girls presents. I thought man that clear cellophane on the doll's box could really come in handy for modeling so day, I'd better hang on to that, pathetic I know.

I hope everybody had a happy and safe festive season and got some nice goodies from Santa.

jboutin - to the group build mate, I have put you down on the front page for a Hurricane. As for a good kit to kick off with, I would suggest the Hasegawa 1/48 Hurricane Mk.I, but do check out Modeling Madness as suggested by razordws.

tho9900 - Tom, could you give a little in box review of the 110. I wouldn't mind picking up that kit and would love to know what it's like.

j.s.harrison - Jules the 109 was coming along very nicely until I got hit with the festive season. I'll get back into it in a couple of days and hopefully wrap it up.

Cheers
Darren

jboutin - What scale do you want to work in? I would suggest checking out this site http://www.modelingmadness.com/ and going to their kit review/preview sections to get a good idea on which kit to get. The Huricane is still on my to do list but I'm sure others here will have some good info on kits.

Welcome again to the forum and to the BofB group build.

Darson, I think for my first project (back into modelling) I'll try a Canadian hurricane, I think from RCAF sqdn 1, operational from mid August 1940 onward.

Anybody know a good kit that someone just getting back into modelling can handle easily? I plan on doing some basic detailing and of course aftermarket decals.

ahh that's ok Sean, maybe she has something up her sleeve lready for Christmas and when that box arrived she got worried you'd ruin her surprise... I always used to do that to my mom... 3 days before Christmas I would do some last mnute shopping and suddenly come on somthing *I* had to have... I'd get home and my mom would turn red as a beet...

"Thomas I can't believe you did that, this close to Christmas and all"

Oh! good news on another front! While at the brother-in-laws house I asked him if he wanted some planes for his office because I am starting to fill up here... (he and his wife are both dentists) ends up his wife wants to hang them from the ceiling of one of her treatement rooms for the kids to look at while they are getting work done... No more worries about where to put the builds! haha

and if you're a fool for doing that then we all are... it's amazing the lengths we go to for the missus...

Half ya luck fellas.

Mine gave me the ominous 'Sideways' look, when a small package arrived for me this morning.

I showed her it was only 3 pots of paint, and 1 eyebrow went up, and she walked away.

It's ok though, I got her sussed.
For Christmas she asked me what I want, and I replied 'Nothing, not even a model'

Then I got her a DVD/VCR player for Chrissy, $600 bucks worth.

What a guy!!
(read-fool)

Hang on to her Tom........She sounds like the modellers perfect Wife

Although mine's not too bad, She didn't crack at me yesterday when i walked out of the LHS with that Monster 1/72 German U-Boat from Revell, I've had that bugger on Lay-by for 6 months.........

went to visit the brother in law today (a really good guy, I am really lucky... my wifes mom is nutty as a fruit cake but the rest of her family is great! <ok her mom is ok too but just has strange ideas>)

Anyway the most favorite hobby shop I could ever wish for is slight blocks from him... I picked up the Bf-110 C/D with the optional if not b#tt ugly belly tank included. So you can add that as a secondary build after the Martlet (also got the appropriate paints for the martlet there)

Best thing is they had tons of built kits around and the wife suddenly oooohh'd and aaaahh'd over the dioramas... I explained to her that if she built the dio I would supply the model for it.... this netted me the AT-6 Texan I needed to complete the Latin American build... and almost an Iwata HP-CR... ***BUT*** this same Iwata was at their shop not 3 weeks ago for 65 dollars, and is now 92 dollars which is more realistically priced for a hobby shop... think the first one was a mis-price... What a woman!!! now not only does she insist I buy more kits, she just bought her first one.. a 1/1200 Scharnhorst (sp) and is planning to buy me the Iwata for Xmas!!!

Can't ask for a better woman... now if I could only train her to take out the trash to the curb on Sunday night!!!

QUOTE: Originally posted by jboutin This seems like a good spot to jump in to my rekindled need for build models. My first question is how does a group build work? I see a lot of posts are back and forth questions/replies. I hope I could add a little Canadian content by adding a Hurricane flown by McKnight or Brown in there. I saw that there is a bunch of people already wanting to do 'canes. Am I still in time to add my name ot the list?

to FSM and the BoB GB jboutin
Basically a group build is where we all build a model to do with a certain subject such as the Battle of Britain, some GB's are a specific model like a Mustang or a Tiger Tank

Anyway the start date to build is Jan 1st, right now were just talking about what models were doing and what tools and techniques we use and anything else that might pop up like War Movies and Cow tipping eh Tom
So just pick your build and Darson will add you to the listCheers Jules.....

BTW Darson hows that pre GB 109 coming along............Any Pics Yet

Still looking for the right kit. I have my eye of a Gladiator but due to X-mas and all, i haven't been able to get to the shop to pick up up. But i was at Wally-Mart the other night picking up a few last minute things and came acroos the Monogram Spitfire MkII, so at least i have a kit to start the GB with. l might pick up the gladiator some time in Jan, unless somthing else catches my eye.So Darson just put me down as building a Spit and "somthing else". I've been stupid busy as of late, so my P-38 with the Pacific GB is taking longer then i thought but i should starton time. I'll pick a squad for the Spit at some point.
later folks

This seems like a good spot to jump in to my rekindled need for build models. My first question is how does a group build work? I see a lot of posts are back and forth questions/replies. I hope I could add a little Canadian content by adding a Hurricane flown by McKnight or Brown in there. I saw that there is a bunch of people already wanting to do 'canes. Am I still in time to add my name ot the list?

QUOTE: Originally posted by tweety1 Tom-1, Sean-0 (for now!!!!)

haha I know you'll get me back!

Tom-1, Sean-0
(for now!!!!)

QUOTE: Originally posted by tweety1 Ok, my bad! I just went back a page and read your post Darren. Soz

Tsk.. Tsk... Tsk... my grandpa started doing this right before his mind went... so sad Tweety... and so young too!

Ok, my bad!

I just went back a page and read your post Darren.
Soz

QUOTE: Originally posted by tho9900 a twister? she just got back from the doctors today with a fractured toe from karate! the doctor bills will mount then I wont be able to smuggle kits in the house! (Actually the missus is working on her second black belt so I walk a thin line here ) To be honest if I listened to her, or let her buy for me I woulnd't be here on the forum, I would be in the poor house instead! Everytime I mention a plane I like she tells me to buy the kit, whether they make it or not! Lately she found out about the Latin American group build and she already went on the net and found 3 Colombian planes she wants me to build for her.. (She is 1/2 Colombian, 1/2 American.. raised in Colombia) Pretty soon she will have me feeling like this is a second job! lol! I mentioned I wanted an Iwata HP-CS and the price and she told me go get it... she wanted to see how it did... ::evil smirk:: I think she is close to coming over to OUR side... but then I will only have 1/2 the modeling budget so I better discourage it! poor poor me!

AHA!
Y'know, she could be using reverse psychology on ya Tom
If she keeps tellin ya do it, you might not, and she wins.

Mine tried that for 3 months.
She got the hint I knew waht she was upto when every time she said 'Buy It!!", I DID!!!!!!!!

Now everythings back to normal, should have left well enough alone


Darren, what was your Iwata shipped with, I mean which needle nozzle combo comes from the factory, and how many parts do you need to buy to get a finer/larger setup?

Sorry to badger you about it, but it's easier talking to someone who OWNS one than shopping blindly.

That and the fact I'm lazy!

QUOTE: Originally posted by tho9900 Tweety, I was looking to the HP-CS... I was worried about coverage in larger scales with the .3mm needle, but then I thought about it and I already have a Badger 175 and 155 that both can do the base coats just fine! Got the missus on the right track and thinkshe is about to give in! actually I'm finding it hard to control her and myself and wait a bit to get it to save money first... Christmas bites into the wallet when you have as many neices as she does!

Tom,

I bought my HP-CS from Dixieart (great service BTW) and got the .5mm needle, nozzle and nozzle cap for an extra $20 at the same time. Now I just swap the parts over depending on whether I'm doing wide coverage or close in detail work.
If you do end up getting one you won't regret it, it's a fantastic airbrush.

Cheers
Darren

a twister? she just got back from the doctors today with a fractured toe from karate! the doctor bills will mount then I wont be able to smuggle kits in the house! (Actually the missus is working on her second black belt so I walk a thin line here )

To be honest if I listened to her, or let her buy for me I woulnd't be here on the forum, I would be in the poor house instead! Everytime I mention a plane I like she tells me to buy the kit, whether they make it or not! Lately she found out about the Latin American group build and she already went on the net and found 3 Colombian planes she wants me to build for her.. (She is 1/2 Colombian, 1/2 American.. raised in Colombia)

Pretty soon she will have me feeling like this is a second job! lol! I mentioned I wanted an Iwata HP-CS and the price and she told me go get it... she wanted to see how it did... ::evil smirk:: I think she is close to coming over to OUR side... but then I will only have 1/2 the modeling budget so I better discourage it! poor poor me!

QUOTE: Originally posted by tho9900 Tweety, I was looking to the HP-CS... I was worried about coverage in larger scales with the .3mm needle, but then I thought about it and I already have a Badger 175 and 155 that both can do the base coats just fine! Got the missus on the right track and thinkshe is about to give in! actually I'm finding it hard to control her and myself and wait a bit to get it to save money first... Christmas bites into the wallet when you have as many neices as she does!

Buy a Twister board!!!
They can all enjoy it, and then you can get your brush!!!!!

practical thinking 101, thats ME!!!!!

Tweety, I was looking to the HP-CS... I was worried about coverage in larger scales with the .3mm needle, but then I thought about it and I already have a Badger 175 and 155 that both can do the base coats just fine! Got the missus on the right track and thinkshe is about to give in!

actually I'm finding it hard to control her and myself and wait a bit to get it to save money first... Christmas bites into the wallet when you have as many neices as she does!

Which Iwata are you looking at Tom?

I had a look at Badgers 100G for finer detailed work, and I already have 2 Omni 4000.
One is used for Lacquers and Enamels, and the other exclusively for Acrylics.

But the Omni is a little to cumbersome to do camo outlining etc.

The camo on the Emil I'm doing for this GB has to be applied free hand and is pretty complex with the colour layers etc, and I really dont think the Omni with it's large cup will be very helpful.

As for the Tamiya brushes, I couldn't beleive the prices!

I saw the pistol grip, and thought YEAH! thats the one, then the price made my piggy bank cry
Yeah I could buy it, but the missus would chop off my squirrel food.

well thats not as big as the difference of what they are chargin on the Tamiya site.. or recommending... but still, glad I looked! I was curious as to if they were a little cheaper because I am contemplating an Iwata soon... will stick to dixieart!

Jules, Yeah, I loved weathering the Panther to death! First time using pastels to that extent, and worked well I think.

As for the cramp, mine goes from the thumb to the index finger, and also includes the middle finger[:0]
The worst case yet was when I was laying the Tamiya smoke on my 109.
I know why it happens, the AB is too thin for my stumpy fingers, so it takes alot of effort to hold it level and with control.

I was thinking of trying, and still might, of getting some liquid latex, wrapping the brush in some glad wrap, putting a glove on my hand, and using the latex pour it on to make some form of soft handle that conforms to my fingers etc, and also matches the silhouette of the AB.

Or I could get a chunk of wood and sand and file it till it's right.
But that would take up valuable modelling time!

[:0] Wow Tom you're right, I just had a look on great models and the price difference is huge. They have the Iwata HP-CS for $109 and the Tamiya for $133. From memory the prices used to be the other way around.

Cheers
Darren

I used to get the cramping with my Aztec, got better on the 175 but non-existant with the 155... dunno why. it's shaped differently, definitely not a big profile, it seems like that would cause it to cramp worse though but it doesn't.... of course let me get back with yall when I do the mottling on my 1/72 Storch for the yet non-existant N. Africa build... should be the definitive test on whether I will cramp with this brush or not...

---edit---

went to Tamiya's site and looked at their brushes... WHEW! quite an expensive set! For the HP-CS clone it is 180.00 USD! I can get the Iwata set from dixieart.com for about $135.00...

Ahhh the Panther i remember it now with all the mud right........

And the hand cramping thing let me guess, inbetween the thumb and index finger.....

Darren, thanks for that link

One more to investigate.

I like the pistol grip idea, my hand cramped like a mongrel when I was doing the shading on my recent 109

QUOTE: Originally posted by j.s.harrison Tweety i forgot to answer you question in my last post my total collection numbers only 5 models finished, I've only been into modelling for about a year or so now...... BTW how many have you finished from memory i've seen.... Sabre Hind Corsair(jet) 109G And i think i remember that funny looking Focke Wulf recon plane........

The funny looking recon was a Blohm Und Voss 141.
Actually did that one last year, but I love to post pics of it

Well, built this year, if I remember rightly-

Tamiya Panther G 1/35
A7 Corsair II 1/48
Hase Mil24 Hind A
CAC Sabre
Bf 109
And hopefully Tamiya A6M5 Zero 1/48 for the Pacific GB.

Next year starts with
Kamov KA-52 Alligator
Bell 47
Bf 109 E3
Maybe Bf 110
Maybe Spit 8
Maybe Bf 109 G6

Alot of maybe's, will see how the GB pans out next year