Battle For Germany 45 GB Starts Now - 08 May 06

Sean, from where I'm standing, alright it is 12,000 miles away, or whatever, it looks just peachy. Definitely nothing to complain about.

But I know what you mean about losing your mojo, I've gone through the same thing with the 109, and it has suffered as a result.

BTW drove past a Seafire on the back of a lorry on the way home from work today. Very cool.

Tom, don't sweat the roundels, bear in mind these things may well have changed over time, and therefore the photos merely reflect a different period in the machine's life.

Looking forward to the finished article.

Darren, the start of the Comonwealth Games was a complete non-event here, with very little coverage on TV or radio, especially compared with last month's Winter Olympics.

Jay, sorry to hear about the decs, sound like a duff lot. BTW I find Mr Mark Setter is just the best.

As for the GB thing I find myself reluctant to join GBs which don't contain the Usual Suspects....

....."Hi! I'm Karl, you don't know me but........".

I think we are all on a similar wavelength with our approach to the hobby, and also the appreciation of the history behind it, which is what makes these GBs so much fun.

Progress Update

The 109 now has decals, most of which went on without a hitch being Eagle Cals. The only heart stopper was the spinner spiral, but copious applications of Mr Mark Setter sorted that out.



My other half is away this weekend, so it's just me and the kids, which should mean plenty of time to finish the 109.

I'll probably also get the wings, tail, and engine covers of the 162 painted. The fuselage will have to wait because I'm having trouble rescribing the curved panel line to the rear of the engine. That and I still haven't got around to masking the canopy etc.

Don't post for a week, and end up writing War & Peace!

Karl

Jay:  For future reference (so I can avoid them) what set did you use?

Sean:  Great looking spit!   I recently read Johnson's biography and I defintiely have to do one of his crafts.  I already have the decals for his early spit.  As for the 1/72 Do335 that you mentioned is that the Dragon Kit?  I would be interested to know how it builds up.  I built the Linberg kit many years ago but it has very poor detail.

Darren:  I still Olympic hangover and work is really busy right now but I hope to catch up this weekend on what has been happening this weekend.  The Commonwealth games were in my home town of Winnipeg not too long ago and it was great fun.  Enjoy it because stuff like that doesn't happen very often.  Now that I live in B.C. I'm really looking forward to the 2010 winter olympics in Vancouver.

Tom:  Looking forward to seeing your finished Do335.

As for the catch 22 thing I have definitely been suffering from a lack of enthusiam myself lately.  I have been working on an Airfix Sunderland kit for many months now with breaks to do/start some smaller projects.  I was working on up to three projects at one time (trying to keep up with too many GB) and I found that was a mistake.  I rely on the joy and satisfaction of a finished product to spur me on to the next one and with 3 on the go I just wasn't getting anywhere with any of them.

Darren, I have been keeping an eye on it, I actually totally forgot it was starting this week till I got an email from a couple co-workers (one's from Scotland and the other from England), they commented on how bad Canada was doing (after 1 day) but we're comming on strong now! I think we're in third now behind you Aussies and the English. 

Is it true that the host country gets extras medals just for hosting?...

just kidding!  You aussies have a much better program for developing your athletes than we do here in Canada, besides, your weather is much more conducive to summer sports than our short season.

ARRGH! These decals blow chunks!  I pray that the future will help some what.  There is all kinds of residue left over, some of them aren't sticking down, even with several applications of setting solution. I tried putting on the nose spinner decal, I even cut all the extra film away and it broke up.  and didn't stay down nice.  I hope touching it up a bit will make it look halfway ok.  I think I should just chuck the rest of the decals in the trash.  luckily it wasn't an expensive AM decal set. (maybe thats why....harump!) 

Thanks for your replies guys.

Tom nice looking 335, might actually get my 1/72 out and have a look cause it really is an unusual looking craft.

Geez Sean she looks just fine to my eyes, what's the prob? Oh and it's good to see you back again btw

As you may have noticed it's time for an icon change, Tom set me off with his so I had to do it.  Although I'm staying with the Mel Brooks theme,  I think in a couple of months I'll try an find a pic of Gene Wilder as Baron Fronkonshteen

OK, general question to Karl, Jay and any other member of the former British Empire.  Are you guys watching the Commonwealth Games at all because the Poms and the Canadians are doing really well. Sort of kicking our buts in the rugby 7s actually .  It's taking place in my home town of Melbourne and I was wondering if you guys are taking any interest at all, or is just us die hard sports nuts?  Please note that this has absolutely nothing to do with modeling but what the hey.

Tom you have incoming email.

Cheers

The G.B. Shaw thing was when I had a brief reminiscence on "Pygmalion" in one of the threads here.. I went out saw how cool he looked so decided on that one...   This one is "Getafix the Druid" from the Asterix the Gaul comic series during the 60's and 70's... in the 80's his name was changed to "Panoramix" because of the connotations with drugs.  (He made special potions that made Asterix super strong, or another person this and that, etc.. hence "Getafix", now he is PC and dropped the name)   Next will be "Obelix" trusty but bumbling companion of Asterix... 

BIG NEWS!!!

I am scant hours from completing the Do335... all the decals are on and setting up, slight pastels for exhaust smeared, ready to tape the NMF nose for the dullcote on the rest of the body... once that is done a few tids and tads and she will be ready for your viewing pleasure!!!  However I discovered something disturbing last night.. after ordering the decal set for this specific plane and putting them on, I realized the roundels are ALL wrong!!!  They are the blue circle, white circle, red dot roundels WITHOUT the yellow outer circle!! 

Also on the fuselage it had a white bar behind the roundel similar to the US insignia.. Wierd, because all the other visible captured aircraft at that field had the standard 4 color roundel without the stripe...  So another one of these is definitely in my future with corrected decals (wherever I might find them) a PE set for it, if only for the IP and side control panels alone as they are very visible....  And a hold on all other GB's I am in at the time...

Anyone know of any other craft that used the roundel with a white stripe behind it?  I know I have seen it on one or two occasions, can't remember what AC..  if worse goes to worst I will pull a white wing stripe from my P-51 decals and cut it down...

 

 

 

 

 

I guess I did the same as Marc and Tom (Some times I get too self absorbed).  Sean your Spitfire looks great, if you didin't tell us about the issues, we'd have been none the wiser. 

BTW Tom whats with the revolving avator, first you're one thing, then another, then another!   Who's yer latest?

Sean - I got so wrapped up in feeling sorry for myself about the decal thingy I forgot to mention your spit as well..  it looks good to me!  no worse for the wear... as always a model to be proud of!

Sorry Sean... I had meant to start the other post with a disagreement with something you said... having to do with your Spit.... looks fine to me

Jay - yeah I have had it happen and the future did seem to make it all go away....  good luck to you! 

I know it is a bummer when you've made it all the way to the decal stage and something happens.  I had it happen with the Do335 recently.  Somehow I tore one of the AM decals for the wing roundels.. I quickly snipped two of them from a Hasegawa Typhoon sheet I didn't use and put them on... they would never settle down so I decided on plan B, so I took the Micro-Sol and began softening them good and tried taking them off... ended up with gooey residue on the wings..  I finally had to remove all the future with Windex, sand down the wings to get the goo off and then retouch up the paint...

All for one stupid decal that ripped in half and wouldn't mate back up well with the other half.....

Sean, Nice work on the Spit.  Looks like the repairs were a success.

Regards,  Rick

Sean-very nice Spitfire.  I'm just looking for a reason (GB) to build one now.  Well, maybe not 'right' now.....

I'm in agreement on the Catch-22 thing.  Finding myself in a lot of interesting GB's, just not the time...and it get's tougher with summer coming up.  As long as no one starts any more 'till fall, I'll be ok.....maybe.....

Yuppers, I agree, I've learned a lot the last year hanging with the usualy suspects.  BTW Sean, I kinda like primordial soup, it's a bit like chicken soup don't cha know!

I sure hope the future will help with the decals.  I think the decals I bought are not really good.  They had some residue that dried white on the model and they seem a little thick to boot.  I tried wiping the residue away once the decals were completely dry but it didn't help much.  Mico set/sol didn't do a thing to them but GS Mr.Mark Softer seems to do okay.  Future has helped a bit in the past with white from decal residue, has anyone else had this problem and have they had future help take it away?

tweety1 wrote:

I think 'Catch 22' is the phrase we are looking for................ Besides, I only really get into GB's that involve the 'Usual Suspects'. The info and conversations that go on are priceless, not one of us is a rivet counter and the quality of each build as time goes by just gets better and better.

 

Could not agree more.  I find myslef torn between the feeling of the "need" to finish a project... and the "desire" to finish one.   Was thinking a break may be healthy but like you said.... I learn an awful lot from the usual suspects.

 

 A few more GB's and then I think my "break" will be working on the 1/16 T34 tank.

Well after a few breakages and some patch up work, here is Johnnie Johnsons Spit...........

 

Not one of my better efforts, kinda threw me when bits broke of it, and when the 190 turned into the kit from hell I kinda lost my joojoo for modeling.

At least she's done, and the next spit I do will be a gem and a half!!!!

 

I agree with you both as far as GB commitment goes, and as much as it bums me out having too little time to build, and too many builds to do, I find it's the only way I can force myself to make the time for the hobby I enjoy so much.

I think 'Catch 22' is the phrase we are looking for................

Besides, I only really get into GB's that involve the 'Usual Suspects'.

The info and conversations that go on are priceless, not one of us is a rivet counter and the quality of each build as time goes by just gets better and better.

Kinda like evolution, but without the primordial soup thing going on.

darson wrote:

Btw who is that in your icon now? Cheers

It's George Bernard Shaw... thinking about Pygmalion yesterday I looked something up on it online and decided I liked the pic haha..

tho9900 wrote:

I really think I need to take a break from a couple of the GB's I am in... One so I can finish the P-47 for the Latin American GB, and be able to donate it complete with base to a recent immigrant immersion class.  Two so I can get back into enjoying modeling more... this kit would have been so much more fun if I had taken more time and worked into it more... oh well, it still looks pretty good and it definitely is looking better now that 90% of the decals are on..

Amen to that Tom, with the group builds we are all in I find I am just committed to turn builds around in the minimum time possible and with minimum effort just so that I can move to the next GB.  Oh and it hasn't escaped my notice that I'm the idiot signing up for these thing either

Btw who is that in your icon now?

Cheers

darson wrote:

in the immortal words of Mel Brooks "it's good to be the king"

They just don't make good movies like that anymore I tell ya!!! 

Thanks for the kind words... I rushed this one for the very reason you said... deadlines and too many GB's... The only problem I had was a few rough spots on the wing and body from future "bounce"  I got most of it off with windex and/or 2000 grit paper but it still bothers me as it still has a little uneven texture in places, hopefully the dull coat will hide that.  The kit itself is a real charm and I plan to build one of these up in it's natural clothing down the line.  I really think I need to take a break from a couple of the GB's I am in... One so I can finish the P-47 for the Latin American GB, and be able to donate it complete with base to a recent immigrant immersion class.  Two so I can get back into enjoying modeling more... this kit would have been so much more fun if I had taken more time and worked into it more... oh well, it still looks pretty good and it definitely is looking better now that 90% of the decals are on..

Tom great looking progress on the 335 and always remember, in the immortal words of Mel Brooks "it's good to be the king"

David (Armour_freek) you are more than welcome to join the group.  Just start building and posting and I'll add your name to the list of participants on page 1.

Karl, Bob & Boyd, you are making excellent progress there guys, I'm looking forward to see some more shots.

Progress on the Panther is still zilch.  I'm almost finished my Tiger 1 for the local Wheels & Tracks competition on the weekend but it's going to be a close run thing.  I tell you guys I hate building under pressure like this as it takes all the fun out of modeling.  It's like coming home from one full time job and moving on to another

Cheers

Exactly what Dave said!  as I heard someone say once, I'm the one who runs things in my house, I run the dishwasher, I run the vacuum cleaner...I do anything I want, when my wife says I can.

Progress - I have the future on the Dora and I'll be starting decals very soon.

Anyone have experience with "Ministry of Small Aircraft Production" decals? I bought a decal sheet a while ago with 5 different Doras on it.  They look good, but sitting on paper is totaly different than sitting on the model.

tho9900 wrote:

Well Bob - ya know they say a man's home is his castle... which infers I am the king.. and should be able to make a rule where I put things!!  (yeah right...  )

It's a very lonely man who came up with that saying, either that or a very dillusional one!    As for me I am king of my 3'x5' modeling desk in the corner of the garage and that is it!!!  At least I am until my wife sees this post.  

To all, too many posted updates for me to catch up on so I just want to say what a great job everyone is doing.  Keep the pics coming.

Well Bob - ya know they say a man's home is his castle... which infers I am the king.. and should be able to make a rule where I put things!!  (yeah right...  )  

Looks great Tom.  And I feel your pain regarding your wife "cleaning up".  Of course, I'm reminded that if I put things where they belonged, they wouldn't get 'put-up'

Hey guys can I join in on this build? I want to build a Tamiya panther G

 

Cheers David

well I just went back and realized I have been promising pics "tomorrow" for 5 pages worth of posts... I'm surprised Rick hasn't provided me with my comuppance for laxing in this area.  Here's a quick peek at where I am at on the kit.  All I have to do is paint over all the German insignia while leaving them barely visible and then future and redecal with the RAF roundels.  The props and antenna and such will come next.  Then after a dull coat I will be done!!

P.S. the canopies are still just laying in place until after dull coating.  I still haven't cut off the little mounting studs to display them open so they aren't sitting straight.

-=edit=- the cowl looks two shades of grey but in real life it definitely looks metallic.  the wife "cleaned up" this weekend and now my light to take pics with is nowhere to be found..

Kris - if you are talking about the ugly trainer I am doing I got it at Hobby Lobby but all the online places carry it as well.  It's the Tamiya 1/48 Do335-A12 Trainer Anteater.

If it was the pics of the twin Do335 reconnasaince aircraft you were referring to, they are scratchbuilds not done by me.  Basically 2 Do335 single seater kits put together.

nice  bird bobbaily
and tho9900 where did you get that kit? I haven't seen 1 like it before and i need to get sum kits and supplies anyway.

Good looking progress Bob, Karl and Boyd.  No progress for me, though it is going to be a little above zero here for the next few days so I'll be able to put a light coat of future on and then decal the doras... hmm I like the sounds of that..."decal the doras".    Anyway, decals should be on by the weekend! then some more progress pics fer y'all ta injoy lukin at.

Rick & Karl-thanks

Karl-the 162 is looking good. 

Interesting how many 'multiple builds' there are/have been for this GB.  I've not seen that in previous GB's....or I didn't notice...