North African GB "All Subjects" (Start NOW - Finish 31st of Oct)

Looking good Tanky nice work pics are a little dark but............

oh yeah Tanky - I noticed the same thing... a desk lamp behind you at an angle (so you dont block the light) will do wonders.. especially with one of those Reveal bulbs by GE I think... still a good looking seat...

Looks good tanky. You need to adjust the exposure setting on your camera. The pics are very dark, making it difficult to see any defects that we could rag on ya .

Regards, Rick

Tanky - I've had it do that to me on occasion.. I think it does it to irritate us... not other reason!

Cockpit looks good! I am especially impressed with the seat... very nice job on the harness and buckles.

Sadly I have completed no modeling this weekend as I am nursing a sinus infection and asthma kicking in...and am afraid to get around glue and paint with it... and you can't wear a respirator with any type of breathing insufficiency so...

OK, I think I got it working. These should be pics. Cutting edge resin cokpit with csratchbuilt wiring, handles, and reflector sight for revi gunsight.

















Guess who finally figured out how to take really close detail shots with his digicam?

AAARGH!!! Photyobucket is giving me a headache!!! I put in the picture locations, and it says *Pictures required. WTF?? It's like I din't put them in!! But they are THERE!! dAMN IT, i GIVE UP FOR NOW.

Tanky - just got off the phone wit her... says she's on her way to inspect it... I'd look sharp if I were you! She's in one of those "moods" again!

OK, I just finsihed scratching some pieces for the cokpit (wiring, handlkes and a few things for the revi gunsight) now I'm just too lazy to go take pictures, so you guys will have to wait some more. Unless Kremps shows up and threatens me into posting...

Finally got back to my 109 which has been languishing on the bench for several days. Got the primer on, did a little minor seam touch up, and painted the RLM 76 blue this morning. Hope to mask & paint the RLM 02 this evening, if the blue has dried enough. Yeah, I know this is an African build, but the 109 I'm doing was in RLM 02/71/76 with mostly field applied camo. I think duplicating the field camo will stress my AB skill, but fortunately the paint job wasn't that great on the real bird . I'll post some pics when I get her painted.

Regards, Rick

QUOTE: Originally posted by tho9900 g.a.retread - welcome aboard!!! I know some people talked about doing an M4 early in the build but I think most stuck to aircraft... there are a few armor heads out there but I havent heard from them in awhile... J.s.harrison is moderator here and can offically welcome you but glad you're here!

Hmmm the Scepter thing again eh Tom, Outstanding

to the GB g.a.retread i've added your name and build to the distinguished list of members on page one

Matt, Mate that build is awesome, the weathering is great

Sean I'm glad you like my wash method mate, the best thing is when the mix dry's up in it's little cup you just stash it and add water the next time you want to use it.....
BTW I'm starting to long for a bigger project cause i've been doing the "shake n bake" kits for over a year now......You on the other hand have been doing things like the Sabre and the Bell 47 so you probably wanting to take a break and do a nice Has or Tam kit......
Oh yeah for the Battle of the Atlantic GB i'm thinking of doing the revell 1/72 Flower class corvette, with all AM weapons on it

Karl Jeez mate after all the alterations you've done to this kit you could probably call it scracthbuilt when it's done...I'll be looking forward to seeing it all finished, i think you and i are the only one's venturing into "Vichy" territory..........

Matt Great looking 109, can't wait to see it all dirtied up.

Like Tom said, the markings look perfect, I'm always impressed with Eagle Strike's products, both in the quality of the decals, and more importantly the research that has obviously gone into them.

You have to love Revell for those Hasa re-releases, especially here in the UK where they retail for about 30% less, leaves you with more money for all the AM stuff.

Now if only we could get Italeri to rebox some Tamiya stuff at a discount...........

Progress Update

Still sorting out the wing root on the MS406, have aso done some work on the rear stabilisers as these were the wrong shape.

Still wondering whether to fill the rudder hinge line and rescribe, as currently it's about 2mm too far back, having said that the fin flash on the AM decal sheets fits the fin as is. Can I really be arsed?

This is definitety no 'Shake and Bake', more like a 'Shake and Bin'!!!!!

Karl

Nice looking build so far Matt. Can't wait to see it finished.

Tom Sounds like you're going crazy with those walkarounds, you'd better save some money to buy kits as well mate .

g.a.retread - welcome aboard!!! I know some people talked about doing an M4 early in the build but I think most stuck to aircraft... there are a few armor heads out there but I havent heard from them in awhile... J.s.harrison is moderator here and can offically welcome you but glad you're here!

P.S. hope you like to gab a lot.. seems to be the main thing in our GB's

Tanky - which kit are you doing again? a 109? I know you mentioned it but I have slept since then... waiting to see pics... I am about to embark on my Martlet at present.

I found out the missing carb intake was only on the Mk.i and Mk.Iv Martlets... the rest had the intake (somehow I aquired the walkaround for the wildcat complete with references to the Martlet) I have to scour some more and find out about the cowl flap...

I did find a discrepancy in the instructions for my Ju87 B/R2... they didnt accomodate for the desert intake on it.. in fact there is no mention of an intake whatsoever... I was wondering what the extra piece on the sprue was.. now I know!!! (I aquired that walkthrough as well!)

yup my 1/48 revell is reissue hasegawa as well.

Matt - I am finding more and more of the Hasegawa kits remolded as Revell DE, and Monogram ProModeler kits... I just went through the aircraft topic and at least two were mentioned in there...

difference is they are half the price of Hasegawa...

Excellent build Matt. Looks like a real winner.

Regards, Rick

QUOTE: Originally posted by Tankmaster7 What kit was that? Excellent build.

This is the Revell Germany Kit of the Bf-109 G-4 trop, but i am almost positive that it is a reissue of a Hasegawa kit. Am planning on getting another to make it Marsielles wingman!!

What kit was that? Excellent build.

In recent news my cockpit detail painting is almost finished. I'll post pics before I assemble it into a tub, because much of the detail is lost then.

QUOTE: Originally posted by tho9900 oustanding build there Matt! Who are the decals from... they are stunningly crisp!! Looking forward to seeing the finished product!

The decals are from Eagle Strike Productions and I must say are the nicest decals that i have used in a very long while. I setteled them down with just a small dab of white vinegar, which is a cheap decal solvent, and then just blotted them dry.

I now have the gear completed, tail wheel installed as well as the pitot tube and long whip antenna under the wing. Will shoot the final gloss tomorrow as I dont want to wake my youngest at 1am.

Will keep you guys posted!!!!

Take care,

oustanding build there Matt! Who are the decals from... they are stunningly crisp!! Looking forward to seeing the finished product!

On the home front Pingy was nice enough to send me some info on the Wildcats and Martlets. Seems I'll have to do some modifying to get this one to look like a Martlet. They were missing the carb instake on the cowl that the Wildcat had, and instead of 4 cowl flaps there was one double wide one... so some putty and sanding is in order... there was more but I haven't had time to look at it all yet.

The walkaround did mention the Wildcat had gloss black legs so I guess that answers Tony's and my question.

Pics of my progress, one more coat of future and I'll get to making her look war weary!!!











I really love this kit - fit was spot on and the detail is wonderful!!!

I swore it wouldn't happen for a while longer, until my skills improved drastically, but you've suckered me in. This just happens to be my favorite theater of the war. I can't believe that no one else has listed an M3 Lee. I'll try my hand at one.

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"Airborne! All the way, Sir!"

Sean - hmmm --- maybe a Qantas 767 in Alclad polished aluminum? (you can see yourself in it, it shines so much) Actually maybe I need to make the missus something like that so I can get another present!!!

Karl -haha... a case of the Pink Baron? Furr lined cockpit and rhinestones on the instrument bezels...

QUOTE: Originally posted by tho9900 Sean - good, I was beginning to worry.. each kit you take up was getting increasingly difficult.. I was worried you would spontaneously combust!

Not yet mate.
Still have the squiggle camo to go, maybe then I can light my own ciggies with my finger.

As for shiny a/c, must be a female thing.

My missus loved my Zero when I finished it, all shiny and green, and promptly went ape after I weathered the buggery out of it.
Since then she would always give it a dissapproving look whenever she walked past the cabinet.

So just to shut her up, I promised to make her a Concorde model, which will be happening soon, cause she is already nagging me about it

Tom, my mom's like that too. She gives me a hard time whenever I go to flat coat or weather something. She likes them shiny and clean.

Tom Just goes to show Hanna Reitsch wasn't the only Nazi queen of the skies.

Max Rumpf went on to write an account of his experiences, entitled 'Mein Camp', which was later translated into English by the noted Oxford academic Benjamin Dover.

Karl

Karl - that was hilarious!!! I imagine the distinguished pilot getting out of his plane and adjusting his pink scarf....

Jules - hmmm I dunno, I think I like riding the line between the two... some shake and bake, some more complex... I like grey areas... don't like extremes either way!

Sean - good, I was beginning to worry.. each kit you take up was getting increasingly difficult.. I was worried you would spontaneously combust!

QUOTE: Originally posted by j.s.harrison Thanks for the word's fellas, im glad you like the 109 Sean the wash is made from the derwent watercolour pencils you can by at K mart or Target, i break the pencil apart to get rid of the wood and then crush the pigments into powder, for that one i used 50% Cinnamon brown and 50% black, just add water until it's real thin and thats it, the excess wipes off with a damp cloth............

Thats a brilliant idea Jules!
Learn something new everyday here.

QUOTE: BTW the Battle of the Atlantic GB won't be starting up for another year or so yet and it will be a long one probably 8 or 9 months...The only other GB's i'm planning on joining next year is the annual Aussie GB plus the Anzac GB and Atlantic, I'll be doing some more complex models next year for all three instead of all these "shake n Bake" kits that i've been doing lately, lotsa Resin PE and White Metal planned for next year

Just when I'm starting to go back to 'Shake & Bake' kits cause I'm tired of the headaches.
Maybe we can see the Sabre for next years Aussie GB huh Jules?
Or aren't you going THAT complex

Thanks for the word's fellas, im glad you like the 109

Sean the wash is made from the derwent watercolour pencils you can by at K mart or Target, i break the pencil apart to get rid of the wood and then crush the pigments into powder, for that one i used 50% Cinnamon brown and 50% black, just add water until it's real thin and thats it, the excess wipes off with a damp cloth............
BTW the Battle of the Atlantic GB won't be starting up for another year or so yet and it will be a long one probably 8 or 9 months...The only other GB's i'm planning on joining next year is the annual Aussie GB plus the Anzac GB and Atlantic, I'll be doing some more complex models next year for all three instead of all these "shake n Bake" kits that i've been doing lately, lotsa Resin PE and White Metal planned for next year

Just had a bit of a read through, and it looks like the Battle of the Atlantic GB is going to pick up alot of momentum!

When is the likely start date going to be Jules???