Secret Santa- WWII Aviation GB

Jon and all, I liked the way things went this year. I agree with Jon on all the fun things, and the things that went not-so-fun. I made 3-4 great friends that I likely would not have. And built a great kit that I likely would not have even bought myself! That is what this was about. I sent a kit someone that they would not have bought either. Sheer surprize was better than having someone pick something off a list.

I can understand if someone with a good reason does not want to build a axis subject, or an allied one for that matter. But let's not go to "here's what I want," two or three aircraft that are that persons favorite. A theme would be fine. I liked the idea of everyone building the same scale too. That kept everything and everyone on an even field with similar details and size all around (Notice I didn't say fit). I know it excluded the dedicated 72 or 32 builder, but if this was a 72nd GB, I likely would not have joined and said "oh well." I build what I build and would not ask someone to change the rules to suit me.

I had more fun picking something that my recipient (in my mind) didn't have and would likely not buy. A kind of evil I suppose, but fun!! Than it's getting that "Mystery" kit - one or four engines, allied, axis (could be more than one - Japan and Italy were axis remember) or something civilian. So it's not in your genre - is it that big a deal.

DrewH wrote:

I had more fun picking something that my recipient (in my mind) didn't have and would likely not buy.

I agree.  The model I got was one that I would not have bought in a million years and I just love the thing.  It really stands out on the shelf and I find myself checking it out up there quite often.

And speaking of kits that were picked out for someone else... Avus... that 129 is looking mighty fine.

If you share your passion - you can not go wrong :). This is why I wish to participate in this group this Xmas :)

Greg 

wing_nut wrote:

I agree.  The model I got was one that I would not have bought in a million years and I just love the thing.  It really stands out on the shelf and I find myself checking it out up there quite often.

Same goes for me: I didn't even know of the existance of such an aircraft; the only tank hunter I knew of was the Stuka.
Thanks for broadening my knowledge.

wing_nut wrote:

And speaking of kits that were picked out for someone else... Avus... that 129 is looking mighty fine.

Thanks, Marc!
Just like James (Mist086) I applied some new (for me) techniques like preshading and paneling and I must say i'm satisfied with the result.

Regarding the next SSGB as I said i'm definitively in.
I agree that there shouldn't be a whish-list but something like a limitation list. I myself asked not to be sent a bomber due to space problems (next year this won't be an issue, since I'm moving!)
I'm afraid there's nothing to be done about people dropping out; we might think of a way to "replace" their gifts somehow. Something like creating a fund, just an idea.

P-38J update - I'm just about done with the seam work on the twin booms and wings.  There will be some more seam work to do once I join the booms to the wings which shouldn't prove to be too difficult to handle.  I'll post some update pics once the booms have been attached. 

jwb wrote:

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!

Count me in, Jon!  This has been a great group!

Brian 

brain44 wrote:

jwb wrote: 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!   Count me in, Jon!  This has been a great group! Brian

How many more days till Christmas!   If it matters, we are getting snow up in the mountains about 45 miles from home.  What about the "Christmas in July" thing; it works for several Retail stores!

Miracle of Miracles!!!

After more than 6 months Im done with my 'Chop Chop' Plane!

For those that forgot, the P-40 Warhawk in FLying Tiger motif is my wife's favorite plane, although she only refers to it as the Chop Chop plane due to its teeth.

(P-40 is too technical to remember.)

At any rate enjoy, and tanks for this coolest of group builds!!

I took these pics early in the morning, which might explain the slighly foggy look to them.

I kinda like it.

Excellent job CJ! It sure looks the part.

No worries, my wife is no good with technical terms like "Corsair" either. It's more: "You know, the big blue one I like."

Very nice work cj95! That's a great looking P-40.

Thanks for the kind words on the GB- I am so happy you've enjoyed it. 

No....thank you. :)

 On the subject for next year, I am against the idea for wish lists for the reasons you mentioned.   I want to be surprised, and also I dont want to be limited in what I buy for somebody else.  I want to try and come up with something unique.

Second of all as far as subjects go I think a broader subject is better than a more limited one for the same reasons.  More variety and less repetition.

Early Us jets is cool, but depends on what you classify as 'early' or well end up with a dozen P-80's.  :)

Heres a few of my ideas:

 Desert Air...jets or props but fought in the desert somewhere.

Artic Air....same idea jets or props in snow cammo.

Ground Attack......Close air support fighters

All Bare metal finish.......LOL just kidding...dont want to give everybody a heart attack

I finally found some time to work on the P-38.  The I finished the seamwork on the booms and have attached them to the wing assemblies. 

There will be lots of seamwork to be done where the booms attach to the wings, but it shouldn't be too difficult.

espins1 wrote:

I finally found some time to work on the P-38.  The I finished the seamwork on the booms and have attached them to the wing assemblies.  There will be lots of seamwork to be done where the booms attach to the wings, but it shouldn't be too difficult.

Love those clips espins1! you talk of lots of seamwork at the booms, how did the two bodies come together up front?  I have dry-fit two P-38s that I am working on, and that looks to be some future headache for me.

Coming along nicely Scott

I still say those clips look like some futuristic plastic eating thingy that the carpet monster made to feed itself

Glad you all like the clips.  My wife picked up a bunch of clips for me a while back, they work great!  Best of all they all have a magnet on the back of them so I just stick them up along the top of my paint booth so they're out of the way, yet right there. 

The upper and lower wing/fuselage assemblies actually fit better than I had expected.  The only really issue was that there was some over lap on one of the wingtips of about 2 or 3 mm.  I had to sand around the tip to make them flush.  On the booms, the only realy issue is along the underside, mostly on the inner portion, which will help conceal them a bit as the putty and sanding will wear down some of the raised detail.  I'll have more progress to post later today. 

Here are a few pics to give you an idea of what the seams look like between the wings and the booms.  I'm going to tackle those now. 

So far so good with the Seam work.  I applied Squadron Green Putty to all the gaps.  I then followed up with Q-tips and nail polish remover to remove the excess, especially where there was raised detail, such as rivets.  I'll need to follow up with some light sanding in a couple of spots to get the surface of the booms flush with the fuselage.

Hey guys, I was working on masking my canopy of my Me 109E today, inching closer to paint. Suddenly, the windscreen I was masking took a fall. It looked like it went under the bench. I put my foot down. CRUNCH. "". So now I'm short a part. Anyone have the Tamiya 109E-4/7 1/48 kit and aren't using the windscreen, part D3? Thanks.

                                                                    Sadly,  

                                                                    Max
 

Whew!  I am finally finished with the seamwork around the boom/wing assemblies.  That was a lot of work. 

I'm going to plow forward with as much of the assembly as I can tonight.  Things will speed up so hopefully I can lay down some paint in the next day or two. 

RadMax8 wrote:

Hey guys, I was working on masking my canopy of my Me 109E today, inching closer to paint. Suddenly, the windscreen I was masking took a fall. It looked like it went under the bench. I put my foot down. CRUNCH. "". So now I'm short a part. Anyone have the Tamiya 109E-4/7 1/48 kit and aren't using the windscreen, part D3? Thanks.                                                                     Sadly,                                                                       Max

Ach........The carpet ate my 109E canopy as well for the 109 GB.  I had to order a new one from Squadron. 

So technically I do have one laying around on the floor somewhere.....I'll let you know if I vacuum it up. 

I had some major ejector pin marks to fill and clean up on the props of the P-38J, the putty has been applied, just need to do a little sanding tonight. The wheels have been painted.

Tonight I'm painting the spinners and tips of the tail plane red. I should be able to get the BMF down tomorrow. Oh, and the canopy pieces required a lot of cleanup. I don't think I've ever seen that much flash before! Anyway, they were dipped in future last night. I'll mask them tonight in preparation for the spray job tomorrow.

Nice progress with the Lightning Espins.  Can't wait to see the finished product.  As for me the Corsair is coming along.  Got the cockpit painted and the wing done.  Now I need everything else to finish.  Kind of hard when you have little time on the bench.  Hope to have everything assembled and ready for paint this weekend. 

 Has the deadline changed for  the group build?  If not, just to let you know, I will be a little late.

Hey Guy's, it's been a while since I posted an update so here it is. Have not had much of a chance to work at the bench lately but things are getting better and now back to doing some work. I have had the C-47 fuselage and wings together for a while but had to try 4 times at getting the invasion stripes correct. Still dont know if they are correct but good enough. I even waited for this months article on invasion stripes but found that it was the same way I was doing it. It just is not as easy at it sounds to get them straight so in the end I free styled it a little. Will not know exactly till all the tape comes off. In addition, I had a hugh gap at the wing to fuselage joint that was a big as the grand canyon. Tons of filler needed there with plenty of sanding etc. Anyway, it's getting there little by little.

It's all ready for the paint shop now with just a little more sanding needed at the bottom of the fuselage/wing joint. Really having a great time on this GB and looking forward to the next one.

Steve

Coming along nicely Steve! 

Progress update - P-38J.  The wheels and prop assemblies are finished.  The red has been sprayed on the spinners, wingtips and tailplane tips.  The gun assembly is finished, just needs to be installed.  The canopy has been masked, probably one of the easiest masking jobs I've had to do in recent memory.  I still need to find my box of lead weights.....

I was thinking of using epoxy to glue the clumps of weights in the front of the engine nacelles.  What do you guys use to clue nose weights?

espins1 wrote:

What do you guys use to clue nose weights?

About a 1/4 bottle of CA glue

espins1 wrote:

I was thinking of using epoxy to glue the clumps of weights in the front of the engine nacelles.  What do you guys use to clue nose weights?

DON'T USE EPOXY!!!  The amount that you will need to use will start to melt the plastic!!  I found this out the HARD WAY.  Luckly, I was able to go back and putty over the damage.  CA Glue is the way to go.  I use the medium, but the thick is just as good.  I don't recommend the thin as you will have CA all over the place execpt where you need it.

The other way I go about nose weights is to use the weight strips that you can buy at the hobby store that is used by RC Aircraft modelers for wing weights.  The package usually has 2 bars @ 4" each, with the double sided tape already to go.  They are also cuttable to length, and can be 'molded' to fit a curved area.

Cool, thanks for the info MPH34.  The last thing I need is to have any self induced problems on this build.