Battle of the Atlantic Feb. 1 to Aug 1, 2006

Jay, nice progress on the Cat..

That really is a very big wing!!!!!

Karl

Helldiver update:  I'm about halfway done getting the individual instrument decals on.  Man, this Wauldron Punch and Die set is a lifesaver!  First time I've ever used one and first time I've ever had individual instrument decals.  It's waaaaay easier than I thought.  I should have the IP done shortly.  

Anyone know how long I should wait before putting a drop of future for a lens on each decal?

Man, do I feel like a complete idiot.  I've been looking everywhere, and I just found the Helldiver books and the kit directions, sitting UNDER my gym bag right next to my computer desk. 

I hate it when that happens, hopefully they'll turn up somewhere Scott.  For me stuff like that happens all the time and they usually show up in the wierdest places like finding my wallet in the fridge.   I usually blame all missing stuff on the CAT!  It certainly can't be from old age (can it? )

Ok, where the heck did I put my Helldiver reference books and the directions to my Helldiver model.  Let's see.  I had them at work, I remember putting them in my gym bag along with my Bismarck PE.  The PE is sitting on my computer desk at home now but the Helldiver stuff is nowhere to be found.  Hmm.. I hope to heck I didn't take them back out of the bag and leave them at the office. 

Dave Yep looking forward to nature time.  Works for me I've sweated enough thanks.

 

Cheers

Bear 

Chris and Sean, sorry to hear you won't get a chance to participate but I totally understand.  I have about 3 or 4 GB's that I signed up for that I'm sure I'll have to pull out of this fall due to other commitments at home etc.  There is always next time!

Bear, life on meds and going away to the cabin?  Sweet!   Don't sweat the deadlines too much.

4 weeks DOUBLE EEEEEK!!!!!!  and I'm away to the cottage next week for some recuperation after this darn cold.  I'm going to have to get my butt in gear, could be tense.

Jat looking good that's one big bird

Scott your colors look good to me however i'm still on meds so everything looks good to me right now better living through chemistry.

 

Progress has been slow still working on sub assemblys gears, turrets etc...  My research is slowing down my progress. I'm still trying to find out if my uncle flew in a MK I or III once I get that info I'll be cooking with Avgas.

 

Cheers

Bear

I thought I had a chance but it looks like I have to pull out of this GB

I really wanted a U boat to take pride of place on top of my fish tank but real life just hasn't given me the chance.

Been watching you guys go at it and some nice kits will be the result of all your work, good stuff fellas.

As soon as Darren sends me his program for the GIFs I'll remove the BoA GB badge.

cyas

Looking good Jay.  Nice work so far.

Regards,  Rick

I doubt that I will be able to finnish my Catalina in time esp as i will not really be able to do any real modeling for a couple weeks due to some bruised ribs sitting up for more than 15 minutes or so gets rather painful but i will keep you guys posted until it's completed TTFN

razordws wrote:

Scott, looks like a good mix to me.  The type of lighting you use when taking pictures can make a difference on what the colour looks like. Some digital cameras have settings to adjust for the type of lighting.

What I really need to do is get better lighting in there, and a blank posterboard or something to use as a backdrop, and a tri-pod to mount the camera.  I have some pretty good software for fixing up photos, but I was feeling lazy last night. 

Tonights plan is to paint the "black boxes" and the instrument panels. 

I'm having a tough time though with the radio operator/gunner cockpit area.  There are two frames with the ammo boxes and other tidbits that are supposed to be glued to the radio operators floor but they need to be set at exacty just the right angle as the upper deck that supports the rear tail "tunnel" then attaches to that.  No matter how hard I try, I can't figure out exactly how to glue the two support pieces.  Ther are no positive locating points other than two dimples for lining up the front of the part, but nothing for the back end.  The back end is the critical one as it has to be perfect so that the upper deck fits properly.   

Wish me luck.....

Jay, no problem, new Dad's get special privilidges when it comes to timelines!  BTW... that is one huge wing on that thing.

Scott, looks like a good mix to me.  The type of lighting you use when taking pictures can make a difference on what the colour looks like. Some digital cameras have settings to adjust for the type of lighting.

Here is a shot right after I sprayed.  I think I got pretty close to the color I needed.  I used:

2 parts XF5 Flat Green
2 parts XF49 Khaki
1 part XF4 Yellow Green
1 part X20A thinner

It's difficult to capture the actual color I sprayed with the digital camera.  I took 3 photos and all 3 look like a different shade 

This one is pretty close though

 

So here are some progress pics I promised last week, so I'm a little behind, it is summer and I don't care...

razordws wrote:

EEEEK!!!! Did someone say 4 weeks left?? I will be hard pressed to get my Ju 290 done on time but I will force myself to do it. I thought about extending the deadline but I have learned that doing so only extends the procrastination. Take a few extra days if you need it but let's get cracking!!!

Agreed, I'm going to get this done before the deadline come hell or high water. Extending the date would only make me slow down again. 

I'm almost done with the cockpit and radio operator/gunner cockpit sub assemblies.  I'm almost to the point where it's time to spray the base interior color. 

Couple of observations regarding the Accurate Miniatures 1/48 SB2C-4 Helldiver.  It's a nice kit, detail seems good.  The whole cockpit is a bit of a pisser to put together as the directions are extremely vague as to where some of the parts go/line up.  There are very few "positive" locating points so all I can say to anyone who builds this kit is "dry fit, dry fit, dry fit".  Also, the left and right consoles (especially for the pilot) are very fragile pieces, so be extremely careful when cutting them from the sprue.  Sprue snippers will come in very handy, but you'll still need to use a delecate touch.  Also, because those parts are fragile, it very difficult to clean up the snip points and to remove the flash.  This kit has more flash than I'm used to (I build almost exclusively Tamiya and Hasegawa for aircraft) but a nice file and sanding stick set will do the trick. 

I'm taking a short break to pour over my research materials before I try one more time to set up the two side piece frames of the radio operator area. 

EEEEK!!!! Did someone say 4 weeks left?? I will be hard pressed to get my Ju 290 done on time but I will force myself to do it. I thought about extending the deadline but I have learned that doing so only extends the procrastination. Take a few extra days if you need it but let's get cracking!!!

Side Note: I just got back from holidays and while visiting an old friend he hauled out a box full of models that had been passed on to him and since his eye sight isn't what it used to be (he has diabetes) he passed them on to me. In the box (all in 1/72 scale no less my favorite scale) were several dozen models primarily of Luft '46 subjects (my favorite subject) from Revell, Dragon, Special Hobby, MPM etc. All I can say is SCOOOOOORE!!!!!

A few of them don't have their canopies and there are some that have been partially assembled (badly) but I'm sure I can deal with it. I will also assemble some of them and return them to my friend as thanks.

Cool Huh?

I am finally moving foward on my AM 1/48 SB2C-4 Helldiver.  The biggest quandry was in coming up with the right mix of Tamiya Acrylics to use for the "Chromate Green" which was called something else by the Curtiss Company.  Based on some of the discussions with other fine members on these boards I'm going to use a blend of XF4 Yellow Green, XF5 Flat Green and a dash of XF49 Khaki to add the slightly brownish influence which should get me pretty close to the color in the color references I have.  The countdown is on!  Only 4 weeks left to the end of this build!   

I get so much more done when I'm under pressure

bump...and while I'm here....made a little progress on the Avenger today.  Finally got around to doing an oil wash.  Happy with the results.  Will need to let it dry a couple of days and then shoot a coat of flat.  In the mean time, I still need to 'reassemble' the gun turret and mount it.  August 1st  is quickly approaching.

Woohoo!, I just scored me a 1$ model! 

Well, I think it is pretty cool.  and it sort of fits into this one but I have no idea when I'll get to it.  It pits one of the immortal giants of the Atlantic versus one of the colussal fixtures seen every year in the spring, the battle between nature and man made steel/iron.  I am talking about the battle in which nature always wins.   Iceberg vs R.M.S. Titanic! 

I picked up the revell 1:570 model of the Titanic for 1$ at a garage sale, I just couldn't pass it up, I've only ever built three ships and the last one I did I think I was 15!  The only issue I have with the kit is the decals are missing but that can be fixed.  I am looking at this as a good opportunity to branch out and try something new.  I plan on going strictly oob, besides I did a search and couldn't find any detail sets for this scale.  I found one for a 1:400 scale but not 1:570.

Sounds good Jay.  Looking forward to the pics.

Regards,  Rick

Well the white is on everything and it looks pretty good, even for one coat (I used two whole bottles of Gunze off-white!).  Now to do the camo on the upper surface of the wings and black de-icing boots.  Things should go pretty smoothly here on in.  I'll try to get some pics soon.

Progress....well, kinda....put some more stencils on the Avenger tonight.  Really questioning my decision to put them on in the first place.  Oh bother....

Also used a little super glue de-bonder (great stuff) to 'dis-assemble' the turret.  I wasn't happy with the gun angle and had too much glue build-up where the turret goes into the 'ring'.  I just realized that August 1st will be here too soon.  Think I'll leave the stencils off of the bottom of the wings....

Thanks Dave, I'll remember that one.

Looking forward to some pics Jay!   One word of advice, make sure when you do the upper camo paint that you mask the white completely as even the slightest amount of overspray really stands out on the white.  Learned that one on the Sunderland.

Thanks Karl and Scott for your comments.

OK, I'm ready for the white to be sprayed on my Canso.  I got all the other bits on the main wing and now I just have to mask the blisters in the fuselage and this weekend, maybe I can get the white on!

Dave, great job on the interior of the 290.

Looks bigger than 1/72.

Karl

Dave (razorzws) your Ju 290 is looking great!  I didn't realize that aircraft was so big, thanks for putting it in perspective with the B-17 photo. 

Okay, just over two months for this GB, I have to get on the Canso, I am still no closer to getting on the white.  I'll have some time tonight, maybe I'll get everything masked up and ready for the first coat of white.  There is going to be a lot of white, maybe I'll stop by the LHS and pick up some more off-white...

Pretty quiet in here lately.

The good news is I got some more rlm 66 to finish off the interior of the JU 290 but the bad news is I'm going to be out of town for a week or so so there will be no progress until after I get back.