Battle of Midway Aircraft Group Build

darson

Member since
February 2003
From: Melbourne, Australia

Posted by darson on Monday, April 18, 2005 9:54 PM

OK guys I know this is waaaaay off topic but you guys seem to have a lot more Alclad experience than me.
As a side project I'm building AMtech's Focke-Wulf Ta 183 which is a fantastic kit BTW which I would highly recommend to anyone as a fun build. Anyway I'm painting my Luft 46 plane with a BMF and wanted to know if I am using a combo of Polished Aluminium, Aluminium & Duralanium for different panels, what is the best primer to use? Also, is there really any difference in using Acrylic or Enamel primers for Alclad?

Cheers
Darren

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tho9900

Member since
July 2004
From: SETX. USA

Posted by tho9900 on Monday, April 18, 2005 7:23 PM

QUOTE: Originally posted by j.s.harrison

i forgot to say that i gave the mustang 2 coats of black primer, i figured that i should put it on thick cause i intended and did sand it smooth as with 1200 grit wet...

same story here Jules - I used two coats, with a bit to dry in betweeb coats... I think I went too heavy with the second one thinking the first one would dry through the second one... I am thinking of putting a cheap kit together and trying to thin thin coats and sufficient drying time between... or maybe I will follow Swanny and Daniels advice and try either Krylon black decanted, or MM gloss black... I have a few vacation days coming this week so maybe I will get it done...

---Tom--- O' brave new world, That has such people in it!

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, April 18, 2005 9:10 AM

i forgot to say that i gave the mustang 2 coats of black primer, i figured that i should put it on thick cause i intended and did sand it smooth as with 1200 grit wet...

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Edit

Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, April 18, 2005 9:06 AM

QUOTE: Originally posted by tho9900

hmmm I smell an alclad support group forming...

Hmmm You may well be right Tom and Tweets mentioned "The Sabre" again..[:0]
Better give Old Kremps a call eh Wink [;)]

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Edit

tho9900

Member since
July 2004
From: SETX. USA

Posted by tho9900 on Monday, April 18, 2005 6:44 AM

hmmm I smell an alclad support group forming...

yeah I think I layed the primer on a little thick too.. *I* thought it was a thin coat but I think they are talking about really thin... but like Daniel was saying, it's just plain grey primer for me next time...

---Tom--- O' brave new world, That has such people in it!

Reply

tweety1

Member since
August 2003
From: Alice Springs Australia

Posted by tweety1 on Monday, April 18, 2005 1:58 AM

QUOTE: Originally posted by j.s.harrison

QUOTE: Originally posted by tweety1

QUOTE: Originally posted by tho9900

ok... the only thing I can say is wow.... I sprayed the exterior bits (gear doors etc) with Alclad and this is some good stuff.. I am sold on it... even the first time an amateur like me pulled it off... I think anyone with a little patience could!!!

I need to shoot some more black primer on the aircraft body today so I can alclad tomorrow.. I was right, if I spray the alclad on the black primer it loses it's "tackiness" I don't think it is a problem with it not curing (it's been a week) I think it is just a wierd texture so I didn't trust it...

I can't wait to finish this one to be able to start on my Martlet...

Tom I am a big fan of Alclad, but found out the hard way about how deceiving the black primer can be as far as it's cured state goes.

I finished a P-38, and laid on the black primer, left her sitting for a week to cure.
Went back and sprayed the Alclad, and all was well.
2 weeks later I looked at it, and the finish had 'cracked' all over.

That was 2 years ago, and it is still sitting in the cupboard waiting for repair as soon as someone comes up with a miracle way of removing Alclad without totally destroying the model.

AHA Thats what happened to the Mustang then[:0] i sprayed on the Alclad after letting the primer dry for 48 hours and yes little cracks have started to appear all over next time i'll leave it for a week

Yeah it really s***s ya Jules, but I reckon I layed the black on a TAD to thick, cause the Sabre (there's that word again!!) Alclad finish is fantastic and still good.
Alclad is great, but can be a little tricky, it's just such a mongrel to remove I haven't even attempted it yet, and trying to use Alclad thinners eats the styrene and stuffs the kit completely.

--Sean-- If you are driving at the speed of light and you turn on the headlights, what happens???

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pingtang

Member since
April 2003
From: NSW, Australia

Posted by pingtang on Sunday, April 17, 2005 9:01 PM

I'm nearly ready to prime my dauntless. Most of the seams have been cleaned up, and I just need to re-scribe some panel lines I lost during sanding.

Tom I found that Model master enamel gloss black works well with alclad chrome. With the regular shades (anything except chrome and polished aluminium), you can use any grey primer underneath it. I've used Tamiya gloss black as a base for aluminium and it worked well except that it did the same thing as tweets one. After a week or so, it started cracking. Next time I'll let it cure for a few weeks before spraying the alclad.

-Daniel

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, April 17, 2005 8:56 PM

QUOTE: Originally posted by tweety1

QUOTE: Originally posted by tho9900

ok... the only thing I can say is wow.... I sprayed the exterior bits (gear doors etc) with Alclad and this is some good stuff.. I am sold on it... even the first time an amateur like me pulled it off... I think anyone with a little patience could!!!

I need to shoot some more black primer on the aircraft body today so I can alclad tomorrow.. I was right, if I spray the alclad on the black primer it loses it's "tackiness" I don't think it is a problem with it not curing (it's been a week) I think it is just a wierd texture so I didn't trust it...

I can't wait to finish this one to be able to start on my Martlet...

Tom I am a big fan of Alclad, but found out the hard way about how deceiving the black primer can be as far as it's cured state goes.

I finished a P-38, and laid on the black primer, left her sitting for a week to cure.
Went back and sprayed the Alclad, and all was well.
2 weeks later I looked at it, and the finish had 'cracked' all over.

That was 2 years ago, and it is still sitting in the cupboard waiting for repair as soon as someone comes up with a miracle way of removing Alclad without totally destroying the model.

AHA Thats what happened to the Mustang then[:0] i sprayed on the Alclad after letting the primer dry for 48 hours and yes little cracks have started to appear all over Sad [:(]

next time i'll leave it for a week Wink [;)]

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Edit

tho9900

Member since
July 2004
From: SETX. USA

Posted by tho9900 on Sunday, April 17, 2005 8:48 PM

Tweets - luckily I read this.. I went to my grandmothers 98th birthday party today (talk about sharp... she can still tell you everything she did the day the Titanic sank) and got home late.. so I will let it cure some more.. I reread the alclad instructions and they said for all but their shiny colors (chrome etc) to use a very fine grey primer so I may try that on the other P-47 I have waiting on me... or actually it might be the one I build and forget about the first one... I still have an extra P-47 seat (gotta love ultracast and thinking of clumsy modelers like me, there's two in every shipment!) and the wheels from ultracast I havent attached yet....

We'll see what happens later in the week if I get time to take my vacation... (long story.. with all thats been going on I didnt realize I had 12 remaining vacation days and only 6 weeks left to take them... I've just been too busy to do so... and if I dont I lose them...)

---Tom--- O' brave new world, That has such people in it!

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tweety1

Member since
August 2003
From: Alice Springs Australia

Posted by tweety1 on Sunday, April 17, 2005 8:26 AM

QUOTE: Originally posted by tho9900

ok... the only thing I can say is wow.... I sprayed the exterior bits (gear doors etc) with Alclad and this is some good stuff.. I am sold on it... even the first time an amateur like me pulled it off... I think anyone with a little patience could!!!

I need to shoot some more black primer on the aircraft body today so I can alclad tomorrow.. I was right, if I spray the alclad on the black primer it loses it's "tackiness" I don't think it is a problem with it not curing (it's been a week) I think it is just a wierd texture so I didn't trust it...

I can't wait to finish this one to be able to start on my Martlet...

Tom I am a big fan of Alclad, but found out the hard way about how deceiving the black primer can be as far as it's cured state goes.

I finished a P-38, and laid on the black primer, left her sitting for a week to cure.
Went back and sprayed the Alclad, and all was well.
2 weeks later I looked at it, and the finish had 'cracked' all over.

That was 2 years ago, and it is still sitting in the cupboard waiting for repair as soon as someone comes up with a miracle way of removing Alclad without totally destroying the model. Sad [:(]

--Sean-- If you are driving at the speed of light and you turn on the headlights, what happens???

Reply

tho9900

Member since
July 2004
From: SETX. USA

Posted by tho9900 on Saturday, April 16, 2005 1:50 PM

ok... the only thing I can say is wow.... I sprayed the exterior bits (gear doors etc) with Alclad and this is some good stuff.. I am sold on it... even the first time an amateur like me pulled it off... I think anyone with a little patience could!!!

I need to shoot some more black primer on the aircraft body today so I can alclad tomorrow.. I was right, if I spray the alclad on the black primer it loses it's "tackiness" I don't think it is a problem with it not curing (it's been a week) I think it is just a wierd texture so I didn't trust it...

I can't wait to finish this one to be able to start on my Martlet...

---Tom--- O' brave new world, That has such people in it!

Reply

tho9900

Member since
July 2004
From: SETX. USA

Posted by tho9900 on Friday, April 15, 2005 6:42 PM

yeah I noticed a few things... most of them they had corrections for in the instruction (on my SBD-5) ... I didnt really notice any on the dash-2 though... maybe because I had already assembled 2 by then so the instructions were quick reminders versus in depth for me...

Thad - yeah the black primer is still a little sticky so I am going to give it till Sun... I am tempted to take a hair dryer on low and pass it over it from several feet back just to help it... I am desperately trying to hold off on that... Plus I am thinking once I put the Alclad on it will dry without the tackiness on the outside... I just had to sand the wings a bit because of some tiny hairs on them... I'm going to wet down my desk area before I spray them again... this is a new thing for me and want to work at getting it right the first time...

---Tom--- O' brave new world, That has such people in it!

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Jeeves

Member since
February 2003
From: Saratoga Springs, NY

Posted by Jeeves on Friday, April 15, 2005 10:36 AM

Some mislabeled parts....yes- but as the instructions say-- they only fit one way Wink [;)]

Mike

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bobbaily

Member since
November 2003
From: Nashville, TN area

Posted by bobbaily on Friday, April 15, 2005 9:36 AM

QUOTE: Originally posted by KINGTHAD

.....Has anyone had to deal with misprints in your instruction for the SBD AM kits?

Thad

As we say in IT, "undocumented features (or functionality)"...seriously, I spotted a few. Also noticed a few when reviewing the instructions for the new F6-A that I have for the NA GB. Fortunatly there are enough folks in this build that have built the AM SBD's that share their learning experiences.

Bob

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KINGTHAD

Member since
May 2004
From: Dallas

Posted by KINGTHAD on Friday, April 15, 2005 8:40 AM

Tom, I think you will like alclad, that stuff is amazing. I used the black primer and waited 48 hrs just as you are doing and mine turned out fine. Maybe with you being in Houston you have to deal with the humidity more than I do here in Dallas.

Has anyone had to deal with misprints in your instruction for the SBD AM kits?

Thad

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Jeeves

Member since
February 2003
From: Saratoga Springs, NY

Posted by Jeeves on Friday, April 15, 2005 7:44 AM

heh heh.... well at least we are all doing different schemes.... course all that means is a different number on the side LOL

Mike

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bobbaily

Member since
November 2003
From: Nashville, TN area

Posted by bobbaily on Friday, April 15, 2005 7:05 AM

Loooks good Mike. Stangely familiar though....

Bob

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pingtang

Member since
April 2003
From: NSW, Australia

Posted by pingtang on Friday, April 15, 2005 6:42 AM

Looks good Jeeves. Hopefully I'll be near that stage soon too. Thanks for sharing.

-Daniel

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tho9900

Member since
July 2004
From: SETX. USA

Posted by tho9900 on Friday, April 15, 2005 6:38 AM

hmmm... somehow that aircraft looks familar Mike.. what was it again? Wink [;)]

Good progress! Looks like everyone is just plugging away on this GB... I might have to side step the P-47 I am working on and do my Zero. (I am using alclad on the P-47 and it's my first time so taking my time on it... I am letting the primer dry 48 hours between coats etc... it is the Alclad Black Laqcuer primer and somehow it just feels sticky even after 48 hours...)

---Tom--- O' brave new world, That has such people in it!

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Jeeves

Member since
February 2003
From: Saratoga Springs, NY

Posted by Jeeves on Friday, April 15, 2005 12:10 AM

OK more progress ahead Wink [;)]

although it really should look kind of familiar to many of you regardless.....

Mike

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tho9900

Member since
July 2004
From: SETX. USA

Posted by tho9900 on Thursday, April 14, 2005 9:18 PM

Pete - that Wildcat is a nice build... not near as complicated as the SBD... but pleasing all the same. I recommend the Ultracast seats and tires for the Wildcat... about $10.00 for the pair... but I know you will enjoy building that one almost as much as the dauntless!!!

---Tom--- O' brave new world, That has such people in it!

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pmm736

Member since
April 2004

Posted by pmm736 on Thursday, April 14, 2005 8:16 PM

I definately will keep my hand inthe A/C side. I've had my eye on the AM Vindicator for a while now and I've got the Tamiya Wildcat and a Corsair on my GM wish list. If the dive bomber group build happens later this year, I'm definately in.

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tho9900

Member since
July 2004
From: SETX. USA

Posted by tho9900 on Thursday, April 14, 2005 7:21 PM

great job Pete!!! really good job of weathering.... you should stick to an AC now and then... you seem to have a knack for them!!

---edit---

AM is coming out with some new moldings this year as well... the P-51A is already out... there is a SBD-3a coming out along with a few more craft... I believe they are re-releasing the retooled P-51B as well... so should be a good year for AM!

---Tom--- O' brave new world, That has such people in it!

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pmm736

Member since
April 2004

Posted by pmm736 on Thursday, April 14, 2005 2:40 PM

QUOTE: Originally posted by pingtang

pmm736 That looks like a great build. The weathering looks very nice. How did you do the old rudder stripes? It looks very effective. Good work, and it's good to see you moving away from the dark side........

Thanks for the kind words. The stripes are the kit decals, which went on surprisingly well. The decals in general were really very good. They were thin but not delicate and layed down easily with a little bit of micro-sol. BTW, I don't see myself moving completely from the dark side butan A/C kit now and again will be a nice diversion.

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bobbaily

Member since
November 2003
From: Nashville, TN area

Posted by bobbaily on Thursday, April 14, 2005 9:56 AM

Great job Pete.

Bob

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pingtang

Member since
April 2003
From: NSW, Australia

Posted by pingtang on Thursday, April 14, 2005 8:30 AM

pmm736 That looks like a great build. The weathering looks very nice. How did you do the old rudder stripes? It looks very effective. Good work, and it's good to see you moving away from the dark side........

-Daniel

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KINGTHAD

Member since
May 2004
From: Dallas

Posted by KINGTHAD on Thursday, April 14, 2005 8:27 AM

Nice job Pete

Thad

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pmm736

Member since
April 2004

Posted by pmm736 on Thursday, April 14, 2005 8:12 AM

Well here it is. My first A/C in a couple of decades.

This was a fun build. I would definately do another AM kit and am waiting for the Devastator to be released. It has rekindled my interest in WWII Navy A/C

Hope you like these and you can see additional (and larger) pics by clicking on my link below.

Pete

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traintrak

Member since
March 2005
From: Mableton, Georgia

Posted by traintrak on Wednesday, April 13, 2005 8:37 PM

Dang Daniel, you really knocked that modified engine out, looks really good. I think the effort you put into it was worth it ! Nice re-wire job.

Tom T. Welcome aboard man, I think you'll find this a good group of guys.

Phil

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tho9900

Member since
July 2004
From: SETX. USA

Posted by tho9900 on Wednesday, April 13, 2005 7:07 PM

I just found a site hidden away in my favorites with some pics of VT-8 both on the way to Midway and at Midway...

http://www.centuryinter.net/midway/

it's rather incomplete but maybe will have some pics you Avenger guys haven't seen...

oh yeah Tom if you want to build that I will add you to the list for the Avenger...

By that way we'll need to change your name for the build... pehaps something like Bill or something, I don't think we have a Bill yet... can't have too many Tom's hanging around... (haha kidding, I am a Tom as well... from the good side of the Sabine River) Wink [;)]

Welcome aboard!!!

---Tom--- O' brave new world, That has such people in it!

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