Secret Santa- WWII Aviation GB

I've got to remember to encourage my wife to go shopping more often on the weekends, gives me lots of un-interrupted modeling time. 

I'm about halfway done with the interior detail, just have a few more knobs and switches to paint, but am waiting for things to dry before I continue.

Progress all around! wha da ya know! Coming along nicely Scott, send her shopping again

 Here's my progress as promised

Interesting technique you got there Scott, and you also proceed at a fast pace.

Keeps coming up good, DrewH!

Here's this weekend's progress:

Finished spraying the camo-scheme, but I've noticed that it'll need some touch-ups.

DrewH wrote:

Progress all around! wha da ya know! Coming along nicely Scott, send her shopping again

Looks great Drew! 

I think my wife and I are doing some yardwork today, and might spend a few hours tackling the garage.  She's still asleep right now though, I guess she woke up in the middle of the night and couldn't get back to sleep, so I have a little time to myself.  Just trying to get caught up on all the FSM threads. 

I'm almost done with the cockpit detail, then I can get a little weathering going.  If all goes well, I should be able to starty assembling the fuselage etc tonight or tomorrow.

Coming along nicely Avus! 

The instrument decal has been installed, and the cockpit assembly is complete.  Here are two quick pics.

Began working on the Corsair last night.  I primed my pieces, should begin on the cockpit sometime this week.  Will keep posted.

I'm finally at the point where I can put the fuselage, wing and boom assemblies together.  So far this kit hasn't been too difficult.  The directions aren't as clear as they could be with regards to placement of the parts, and some of them don't really match what the part actually looks like.  I've had to be really careful to make sure I'm using the right guide points for putting in the assemblies.  The gun tray is a good case in point, along with the gun firewall.  The cockpit can fit a couple of different ways, so I'm going to have to be really careful that I don't create a problem for myself that won't be realized until late in the assembly.  Come to think of it, I'd better dry fit the cockpit with the canopies.....

Oh, and here is an enhanced photo of the above cockpit pic, the original was a bit dark and I wasn't really paying much attention when I posted them late last night.  The cockpit detail is a bit sparse.  The steering yoke is a solid piece.  If I had been a bit more motivated I might have tried drilling it out.  The plastic is a bit soft though, and it might have been difficult to maintain the nice smoothe shape of the yoke so I figured I wouldn't worry about it.  When my finished builds are in the display case, no one notices the cockpit detail anyway.

Looking good Avus and Scott! Comming along nicely.

Avus: What color did you use for the "blue" on the wings?? Looks interesting

Well, I'm finished!! Finally!

 Aside from the required chopping up of a Tamiya kit this went together very well. I doubt there would have been any fit issues or filler needed if the fuselage wasn't warped. It took me longer than normal due to the large interior. It is the length is from the nose to the beginning of the tail. I thought I was painting a bomber at times. The design ensures that the correct dihedral of the wings is set. So, in conclusion, Thanks Jon for hosting this build I look forward to next year and I'd build another one without the warp this time

Made a lot of progress tonight, did the oil washes, installed the cockpit and assembled the upper and lower fuselage/wing halves.

It turned out great Drew.  Whatever the problems were you seemed to have taken care of them just fine.

Nice work on the interior Scott.

Hey.... This gives me an idea for a GB.... "The Warp Tour"  Everyone in the build sends someone else the model from their stash that has the worst warped parts.  We can set goals and give awards like who went the craziest fixing the problem or who got PO'd the most at the guy that sluffed off the worst kit on them.

Hey Drew, turned out really nice in spite of the issues you had!  Nice save! 

Marc - warp tour eh?  I'll bet I can find something in my stash that would meet those criteria! 

espins1 wrote:

Has anyone build the 1/48 Revell/Monogram P-38J before?  It has a plastic support molded to the tail of one of the booms which I'd like to remove, but obviously would need to stuff some weights in the nose.  My only concern is would I be able to stuff enough weight in the nose to keep it off it's tail?  Enquiring minds wanna know.

Scott,  I did that one last year - I used the little folding ladder in the rear of the fuselage as a prop stand.  Just made a little "dirt mound" under it, works like a champ!  I figured it would take a serious amount of weight in the nose and wasn't sure that I could get that much into it.....

Brian 

All this progress makes my heart feel good. Great work, everyone!

I've been working on my Bf 109E. It's a nice little kit. I'll try to take some pictures soon!

Scott, try buying lead fishing weights in a couple sizes and cram them into the nacelles and every bit of nose you can. have pliers and a hammer ready! 

brain44 wrote:

espins1 wrote: Has anyone build the 1/48 Revell/Monogram P-38J before?  It has a plastic support molded to the tail of one of the booms which I'd like to remove, but obviously would need to stuff some weights in the nose.  My only concern is would I be able to stuff enough weight in the nose to keep it off it's tail?  Enquiring minds wanna know.  Scott,  I did that one last year - I used the little folding ladder in the rear of the fuselage as a prop stand.  Just made a little "dirt mound" under it, works like a champ!  I figured it would take a serious amount of weight in the nose and wasn't sure that I could get that much into it..... Brian

I have THREE of those in some state of build right now.  I intend to build the "J" model, the "M" model (2 man night fighter), and the F-5 (photo recon).  I was thinking of using the metal weights that RC airplane builders use to weight their wing tips with.  But that would mean that I can't have the gun bays (or camera bays) open.  One time I saw a diorama done with a wire (hidden) coming out of the nose wheel and into the wood base.

Don't get too wrapped up with the rivits and raised panels on this kit.  I am taking the route of sanding them all off, and then dealing with the detailing if the mood hits me.

As a skill building exercise, I'm going to do my best to take care of the seam work without damaging any of the raised rivets and panel lines.  I've seen several tricks lately, so this is as good a time as any to try them. 

I have a box of miscellaneous fishing weights that my wife picked up for me last year, which hopefully will do the trick.  I haven't done a kit with a nose wheel since I was a kid, so I want to make sure I'm not going to have any problems.

espins1 wrote:

I have a box of miscellaneous fishing weights that my wife picked up for me last year, which hopefully will do the trick.  I haven't done a kit with a nose wheel since I was a kid, so I want to make sure I'm not going to have any problems.

Don't use Epoxy as it will melt the plastic some (I learned this the hard way).  5 min. CA glue I have found to work best.  And those fishing weights can be "hammered & pressed into submission" to fit the space.

The tail booms have been glued together and are clamped waiting for the glue to set.  Next up, the fun part..... attaching the booms and tail section, hopefully I can get the alignment right! 

A thought just occured to me, I think I should to the seam work on the booms and wings before I attach them.

Hey all-

I'm so amazed to see this GB still going along strong. Someone emailed me about the end date.... and it made me realize there's no need for one! Rule change- no end date! No reason to have one.

(And by the way..... times a flyin'..... SSGB2 might just be around the corner.... ) 

There's going to be lot's of seamwork to do on this baby.  I test fitted the booms to the wings, the fit is good, but the seams will need some work.  I can do that stuff in front of the TV this week. 

jwb wrote:

Hey all- I'm so amazed to see this GB still going along strong. Someone emailed me about the end date.... and it made me realize there's no need for one! Rule change- no end date! No reason to have one. (And by the way..... times a flyin'..... SSGB2 might just be around the corner.... )

OK, so I am signing up ! Please take my name into the list :)

It is a great idea and I am sure we will have fuin this year :)

PM with address is OK ?

Greg 

jwb wrote:

Rule change- no end date!

GREAT NEWS! I'm close to completing but due to other things I'm busy with (moving!) I was afraid I wouldn't do it.

jwb wrote:

(And by the way..... times a flyin'..... SSGB2 might just be around the corner.... )

You can already count me in!

And now ... new progress pics! Finished paneling and worked ont the gun and bombs (no pics of that):

jwb wrote:

(And by the way..... times a flyin'..... SSGB2 might just be around the corner.... )

Is it too early to put our towards the subject matter?  This past year was WWII.  Do we want to stick with that?  Or do we want to try something different?  My neice the other day (who is 16) was signing Christmas carols and was already making gift ideas.....

gzt wrote:

jwb wrote: Hey all- I'm so amazed to see this GB still going along strong. Someone emailed me about the end date.... and it made me realize there's no need for one! Rule change- no end date! No reason to have one. (And by the way..... times a flyin'..... SSGB2 might just be around the corner.... )  OK, so I am signing up ! Please take my name into the list :) It is a great idea and I am sure we will have fuin this year :) PM with address is OK ? Greg

Well, the date to get into it is passed..... the people who are in won't have an end date on their builds.

But when SSGB2 rolls around- I'll let you know!  

mph34 wrote:

jwb wrote: (And by the way..... times a flyin'..... SSGB2 might just be around the corner.... )  Is it too early to put our towards the subject matter?  This past year was WWII.  Do we want to stick with that?  Or do we want to try something different?  My neice the other day (who is 16) was signing Christmas carols and was already making gift ideas.....

PM me if you have ideas. I'm trying to cook up some ideas to make it a little different, to really focus on the giving aspect of it, make it a bit more fun and open, and to try and avoid some of the (minor) issues that cropped up last year.

Some of the fun stuff:

• Quite a few folks suggested wish lists, etc. My thought was wish lists could cause two things- one, no one would be surprised (what fun is that?) and two, wish lists could put some folks under financial stress (A Tamiya wish list is much different than a Revell wish list). Still, I think a general list might be a decent option. Say time period and "side" preference? (Sides meaning something like "WWII Axis" or "Early US jets")
• Allowance for scale preference- somewhat tied to the above..... makes sense I believe
  
• More emphasis on the friendship aspect of it- pictures, cards, etc. A few folks really went all out on that, and their recipients appreciated it.

Some of the not-so-fun stuff:

• A few people dropped out without letting me know, which resulted in a last minute scramble to find pinch hitters. Thankfully many stepped up to fill the gap (you now who y'all are and THANK YOU again!), but it meant a few folks got their gifts late. I know "life comes at you fast", but it's important to keep commitments.... even little ones.
  
• I worried I started sounding more like a nag than someone in on the fun. In a few instances, it was really hard to get someone to just say "Yeah I'm in" or "No, I over-committed" or "Yes, it's in the mail- leave me a lone." I hated playing the "bad guy" role.

The fun results:

• Some really cool models were built and are still being built
• I think the GB really started some new friendships and strengthened existing ones, and drew many of the GB members together. (Group hug!)
• It was a lot of fun, I think, for everyone
  

So all of that is going into my planning for SSGB2. Let me know what you think, and what you liked and what you didn't like.

Again- thanks to everyone who has made this GB a success. It's done exactly what I wanted- brought people together to have fun. the fact that some plastic got glued together is just a bonus in my thinking.