Battle of Britain GB 2006 - 1 May to 31 Oct 06

Rick and Marc thank you.

Marc top build mate!!

 

David nice work on the pit.

 

Well, building on the 109 is going slow.

Had to order a canopy set from Tamiya as I lost mine 'somehow', and the vac formed item was to much of a mongrel to try and retrofit.

Mind you its going together well, the PE set is testing what little patience I have left but I intend to nut this one out.

Then I still have to figure a way to do the speckle camo thats looks 'in scale'.

One mountain at a time.

 

edit :- speeeling helps alot!

Marc, stunning job on the Emil.

The weathering looks spot on.

Very nice indeed.

David, nice job on the pit.

Is it 1/72?

Dave, what Eduard masks are you using, is it the older vinyl ones?

Anyway, hope you get that canopy sorted. I used to have similar problems with canopies.

Progress Update

Not a lot!

Back at work this week so my near miraculous progress of last week came screeching to a halt.

On the Dornier I've sanded all the previously applied codes back, and am about to repaint with the base colour.

Once that's done I'll touch in the red crosses, before applying the codes again.

This time the codes are coming courtesy of a set of rub downs. The font isn't quite right, but near enough for me.

As for the Heinkel, I've put that on the back burner, while I try and finish the Nieuport 17 for the Allied Aces GB.

I'm trying to finish two kits before I head off to Normandy for a week at the end of the month.

Karl

Karl - The Eduard mask packaging says its flexible foil.  The product number is XF 001.  It didn't seem like "foil" to me, though.  But it did seem different than the Black Magic mask I have used before.  It had the texture of like a thick scotch tape and was transparent.

Still haven't generated the desire to mess with the canopy again...  But I'm about to continue on the rest of the plane.  It's all painted, just needs to have the rest of the assembly done and a coat of future so I can put the decals on.  My 1/72 scale 109 is in the same stage.  However, I masked it with the trusty masking tape and it's going to have a closed canopy, so I wont remove those masks until the end.

I'll post some progress pictures once I put the tail wings on both planes.

Here is a update picture of my 109s.  I'm not to thrilled with my mottling job on the 1/48, but it was my first attempt.  I need to spend some time practicing freehand, close-up airbrushing.  I'm hoping it ends up presentable though.  The 1/72 wont have mottling.

Dave, your mottling looks like the sponge applied mottle, which would be right for the BoB.

From your description, you've got the old Eduard masks. The new ones are make out of Kabuki tape, which looks just like Tamiya tape to me, and these ones go around bends, unlike the old ones.

Karl

Wow, there are some awesome looking projects getting done here.  Here's hoping I can measure up to the high standard being set.    I love the challenge of trying to improve my skills on each kit.  Anyway, back at the aerodrome the cockpit is getting toward done and only needs to details picked out here and there.

Now for a question for those in the know.  I'm looking at my reference material on the Hurricane.  I see two things and can't decide which is accurate.  It "appears" that the paint line between the bottom and the top is a sharp "taped" line, especially around the cowling/front of the fuselage.  I "think" this is also true on the aft end as well.  As for the camo pattern on the fuselage and wings, it looks like this is a soft "non-taped" line that I should be shooting freehand.  On the other hand, I have seen photos where the camo pattern has a sharp paint line.  What is it?  I know the answer is only moments away.

Try to get some photos posted later today.  I'm off to the spray booth and keep chopping parts off the wings.  Anyone ever done the Eduard PE flaps for the Hurricane?  If so, I got some questions!!! 

Cheers!
Hal

Hal, I've always understood RAF aircraft to have a hard edged demarcation, both between upper and lower colours, as well as the upper colours themselves.

The upper surface camo was applied over rubber mats laid over the airframe, thus leading to a sharp edge.

Can't help you with the Eduard flaps though.

Karl

Nice work Tweety, Tryingtomodel and everyone else in the list who I forgot because I haven't posted in so long!!!  The He-111 is about 90% + done, just some fiddly bits left on it... I switched over to the B-25 to see if I could rekindle the modeling mood but although the mind is willing... I have got some work done on it though but that is for a different GB...

I hope to get back into things soon and get to modeling like I used to!!!

Dave,  Nice work on the Emils.

Hal,  The disruptive camo on the Hurricane was hard edge.

Regards,  Rick

Well Saturday was almost an entire day at the bench...as of right now the first of what will be two coats of Future has been laid down on my Emil.  Working on the landing gear and transparencies until the Future dries...Hope to post some pics Friday evening.

Sean, Tom... thanks.

 

Dave - I like the look of that mottle.  Granted it has more of a late war look to but I really do like the way it turned out.

 

Joe-FRIDAY???  It's only Monday... you tease us and make us wait 'til the end of the week!!! 

Hey.. Joe-FRIDAY???... Sgt Joe  Friday...I miss that show...

I agree with Tom, great work Marc & Dave.

Marc once again you have showed us just how bloody good you are.  One question for you though, what did you use to tone down the white on the nose of the bird, it really looks effective?

Dave sorry to hear about the canopy and I'm afraid I've been there done that myself with those older style Eduard vinyl masks.  I found I could get round most of the problems by spraying lightly from an angle that wouldn't allow the spray to creep into the bits that you knew were going to lift up.

Hal definitely hard edged & standardised camo on BoB Spitfires & Hurricanes applied by placing rubber mats over the aircraft and spraying.  The reason the Brits used the mats was that aircraft production was split amongst a lot of factories some of which were very small. The component parts for the fighters were pre-painted at the factories and the camo needed to match once the aircraft was assembled.

Cheers

Thanks Darren I appreciate that.  I use white Rust-Oleum Specialty Plastic Primer as a primer and white finish coat.  Decanted and degassed it sprays extremely smooth with an AB with excellent adhesion.  While it is white, I don’t think it is quite as stark as a pure white.  While I have not done a side by side I think if I did it would be somewhat toned down but still a real white.  It is really toned down with the weathering.  A wash of pastel powder, water and dish soap.  The powder is ground extremely fine with a mortar and pestle… much finer than scraping with a blade produces.  Very liberally applied to the whole area not just the panel lines, wiped off leaving a thin film over the surface.  If it gets too clean I go back over with a dirty spot on the paper towel.  That is how I do the entire model.

I think I have forgtten to thank you for hosting A great GB so please considered that corrected... thanks.  Sorry I missed the 1st BOB GB... very gald I was part of the 2nd.

Thanks Sean and  Karl

Dave those Emiles look really nice

So now my kit is ready for painting, just need to give it a bath. Here are some pictures of the kit

Landing grears are not glued in yet nor the cowel.

Nice build so far Dave.  Good luck on the painting.

Regards,  Rick

Thanks Rick!

Darren:
Interesting bit of trivia there.  Something I never knew about British production.  Time to stock up on good ole Tamiya masking tape and go for it.  Actually, not quite time yet.  Progress report.  Shocking as this may sound to those out there.  The fuselage is glued together with the cockpit all done.    Yup, real progress has been made on the Hurricane.  Still chopping off parts left and right, but just about done with that.  Big problem now is getting the resin ailerons to fit well in the wings.  Meanwhile, I am trying to figure out the Eduard PE flaps for this little .  The flaps themselves are no issue, but Eduard gives you these really nice inserts for replicating the top of the wing when the flap are in the down position.  According to the sheet, there is a bend to be made to cover the hole in the wing and look like the spar area.  Somewhere, not sure as there is no bend line in the PE.    So, with that in mind I can take a SWAG at it, or scratch build the spar area in the wing.  The later is sounding like a better idea since it would give the wing some strength.  Once I get that figured out, should be heading toward closing up the wings and moving toward paint.  This will be really nice when it gets done.... when. 

no progress on my end but wanted to drop by to say I haven't forgotten about this!  No progress on anything as this is the first week of school and people are starting to figure out this or that doesn't work.  Some of my servers were acting up today and I looked and they hadn't been rebooted in a yr or so, so had to arrange getting everyone off etc.. fun fun!  In a few weeks I'll be sitting there in my office with a blank look on my face wondering where I've been the past month...or better yet, where the past month went! 

YAHOO!  Finished decals last night and the wash (which really worked well this time!)  Will be attaching landing gear and the transparencies tonight and photos should be up...

 

Darren, same as last year...great group build !  I am already thinking on what to do for next year...maybe a Spitfire...

JoeRugby wrote:

... I am already thinking on what to do for next year...maybe a Spitfire...

 

BoB '07 ?  I'M IN!!!

wing_nut wrote:

JoeRugby wrote: ... I am already thinking on what to do for next year...maybe a Spitfire... BoB '07 ?  I'M IN!!!

 

Of course I need to finsh BoB '06 first!  I might switch builds as the Ju 290 for the BoA is taking way longer to complete than I thought, or rather, life is getting in the way more than I anticipated.  Anyway, I'll keep you posted if I do in which case I'd save the Fiat Br 20 for next year.  I do have a Heller Spitfire I in the stash which may be a suitable tribute to the recent passing of Heller.

Same here.  I'm way behind on the 06 GB, but I'll be done in time for the 07 .

Regards,  Rick

Well I am all set for BoB 2007...BoB is complete (for me at least)

1/72 Tamiya Bf109E-3.  Straight out of the box.  Brilliant kit!  Great fit...no filler what so ever.  Finished with a mix of Testors and Poly Scale paint.  I hope I have done it justice.  Canopy came off a bit shoddy though.  My wash came off okay for the very first time to try it...

 

For a personal comparison I have included BoB 2005 {1/72 Airfix Hurricane with Sky Model Decals and Poly Scale paint)...I figure I am improving...

 

Well leasons learned, fun had...on to the next one!

Nice Joe, very nice.

There is no way on earth I could do a 1/72 109, not patient enough. Hats off to ya.

 

Well, the 1/48 109 is in a holding pattern but it WILL be done for this GB.

And if a BoB '07 happens I'll have to do an Allied craft, got to many Axis models, starting to look like a fanatic the missus reckons

Looks real nice Joe, and you are right about the wash... well done.

Joe - looking good!  Very nice paint/weathering job on her!!! 

Tweets - you???  a fantatic???    I'd like to hear what Kremps would say about that one...

Dave, Marc & Joe-fantastic work guys!

Back from vacation. I made a little progress on the 109 today.  I had the decal on the IP before I left and discovered that I had painted the IP the wrong color!.  After a few minutes soaking in Simple Green, a little paint took care of the problem.  Still not as nice as the decal instruments though. I am happy with the Ultracast seat.  The Hasegawa kit seat leaves a little to be desired. Now I have to decide whether to do Wick's plane as a white nose or yellow nose.  Decisions, decisions....

Joe, Nicely done Emil.  Looks good.

Bob, Nice work on the pit.

Regards,  Rick

Joe, great looking build. Did you sy no seam filler at all???? I may have to try some of the Tamiys 1/72 kits some day.

Bob, Nice job on the pit

Sean, my missus has always thought I was a fanatic, when I got back into modeling it only confirmed her fears.