Strategic Air Command GroupBulid

Yeah, no doubt about that! Sounded like the latest project set ya back quite alot as well! Of course with all the AM products, i guess that's to be expected these days. I suppose i'll graduate to that level one of these days, but first i have to work on the basics.

   But breaking the monotony is always a good thing. I think after i wrap up some of the GBs i'm involved in, i'm gonna look for something different. Maybe a car, or something. Not sure yet. Currently in my small stash, i have one ship (a U boat actually) but i'm waiting for the right group build to come along for that! I'll probably be tapping the swabbies pretty hard then, i'm sure!

Big downside. And thank you very much too. I bought that one; the ship I really wanted which was the Mission Capistrano; and a troop landing ship called the Montrose, all for less than $ 100. Then this big and really awesome fret like 6" x 12" from Gold medal of railings, 20mms, on and on for another $ 43. And a master set of USN ##s and letters and stuff decals for another $ 10.

The Montrose was a waste, but this has been fun. The color is Haze Gray which Polly Scale makes, and a Tamiya dark gray for the decks.

You know it has been a nice change of pace, these things take stinking forever to build, the ship is only semirespectable, but I've really liked it.

Oh, and the Shippies on the forum are really respectful.

Or more likely the Midnight Rambler, with hats off to Keith Richards. Nice call, Roger.

Bondo edit: 

Midnight Skulker:

"Gun control is hitting what you aim at".

"God uses the leaders that we choose to show us who we are. How do you like us so far?".

 I liked the guy with the big wheel, too.

Hey take a look at the Revell monogram GB, I just posted some project pics.

Ever have a holiday/day off sneak up on ya?

Actually had no idea that tomorrow is Columbus Day, so it turns out i have that day off too. So of course i'll be at the bench for awhile too. Got some painting done here with the details, and such. I know it was mentioned earlier in the GB thread that the pods on the wingtips were installed backwards on my build here, so i'm gonna see how well i can fix that. But if all goes well, i'm hoping for a 70% completion with pics! I'm way behind here, but things are starting to look up for me! Hope ya guys are all well!

   Say, Bill? I've noticed ya online lots late at night, and i wonder if maybe your user ID "Bondoman" might have been a little hasty. Ever see the BC comic strip? I wonder if maybe "The Midnight Skulker" mighta been more appropriate!

Cheers, guys!

Well, lesse what we can figure out here.

But first i think i'll go to lunch!

I'm totally serious, that is what I would do. One of my friends is/was the chief scientist for Xerox. When he graduated from MIT, he went to work for DARPA and eventually Xerox, which was a privatization of that branch of the Pentagon.

He was assigned to fix copiers and went through a multi-(I don't remember how many) week repair school.

By the way as I relate this story I sense you're going- "oh duh ,dumb butt", so bear with me.

His first assignment is to a field repair office in Santa Clara, Ca . He goes out on a call and spends 2 hours running the diagnostics, can't fix it, goes back to the office for lunch. The other techs ask "did you fix it?".

"No".

"Did you look in the wastebasket next to the machine?".

"No, why?".

"Because the first sheet in the top of the pile would have shown you the problem!".

Now mister rotor genius, maybe you need to look in the wastebasket. Again no disrespect intended.

In Northern Orange County, that certainly doesn't narrow down the options much at all! I think i'm in the minority here.....

 Seriously though, i'll see if i can get another set of eyes on it. I still have a couple more ideas here that i should try too. But it'll have to wait until tomorrow, methinks

But you can't be. Try taking it intact to an autobody shop, show it to (no disrespect) Jose and he'll probably show you what is wrong with the way it's put together.

You can then tune up his UH-1

Yep! I've used plenty of that plumbers tape, though i'm starting to wonder if maybe i need to use even more. I've actually got both. Something tells me i'm doing something wrong here, cause i've got both the plastic and the nylon braided hoses connected together. The directions to use this thing aren't exactly user friendly (much less detailed)

It sucks when you get humbled by something so simple....

DesertRat wrote:

Not rightly sure! It was a package deal from Airbrush City, and i am looking for the customer support contact info to maybe explain what's wrong. Though i'm not sure, i think the leak maybe coming from the hoses themselves or the hose adapters?Not sure, but hopefully i'll figure it out. Worst case scenario, i could at least go to the ole' rattle can method for awhile until i figure it out. But i'm hoping to make contact with them here shortly.

One trick that I have used is to use the white plumbers tape on the threads of the male end of the connection for the hose/compressor.  If you still have leaks, and it feels like it is from the hose, might be time for a new hose.  Is your current hose a nylon or a plastic hose?  If it is plastic, then I'd say try a new hose - I have gone thru several of those of the years.

steelrudi wrote:

Welcome back D-Rat.  What do you mean I got Game Bondo?  .

Thanks Rudi. And it may not be what Bondo means, but in the vernacular of the younger kids today, "having game" means you are REALLY good with the ladies! Of course on the other hand, chicks dig styrene.....!

Welcome back DesertRat

I too have been MIA a bit this past summer as well.... but not due to anything serious.

The compressor issue you are having, what is the manufacturer?  You might be able to get on the interent and look up the manufacturer's website.  I have found many have put a load of information on their products for customers to look up.  If nothing else, they might have a checklist of things to look at due to malfunctions.

Does the air leak seam to be around the hose attachment point, or from the tank?  It might be something as simple as a gasket that needs an attitude adjustment.

Boy.... that IS alot to catch up on!

I must confess though, that is an older picture of me. While alot of what you are seeing is tan, most of it is dirt. Was a ground pounder before i ever wore aviation wings, and that's been one of my best field pictures But some things are in motion, and i might very well be a-rollin in the southwestern desert sand within the next few years. Ray-Ban is gonna love me!

As for the problem, it's not so much the airbrush, but rather the compressor. It seems i'm leaking air somewhere, i just can't find it though. SInce i'm not familiar with this piece of machinery from hell, i'm not sure what to think. I can tear down a main rotor hub on a multimillion dollar aircaft, but i can't figure this thing out. This is silly......

Oh, and i'm not sure, but i think something is wrong with the PM. Other posts kinda mention issues, and i'm not getting anything

KCUF YEAH!!

Good to hear from you brother. All I can think of is drain out the water. Every time my a/b gets pesky i abolish it to a double dixie cup of laquer thinner for an hour and it comes up straight.

You look healthy if a little tan. IMHO while, and it cudda been even better, these forums have really vaulted up.

Jeaton is still Lincoln.

FightinJoe needs your P-40

Mannstein and Doog and Daywalker know whats what.

Its all kind of warm and shaggy and the wingnuts really miss your smiling face.

Oh and SteelRudi, he's got game.

Bondoman still blathers, esp. late at night.

Look for the PM

Back in the saddle again............almost

Greetings, all!

 First off, i'm sorry i haven't been around at all the last few months. I do confess, it has been a rather rocky time frame for me. But i do thank you guys for your patience (especially Bondo. Sorry i never was able to reply to any of your messages, but your thoughts, concerns and words of encouragement meant a great deal. Thank you). But i think things have stabilized enough to where i can get back to the bench.

   I'd noticed that after a few months of neglect, it seems my air compressor is jacked up and i can't seem to get the airbrush to work right. So at least for the moment, i'll be messing with that. I'm hoping for some time at the bench this weekend. But at this point in time, i leave the decision up to you all............

Can i still play?

"Strategic Air Command", with Jimmie Stewart was a very good movie and had probably the best shots of B-36s and B-47s of any movie.  "Bombers B-52" with Efrim Zimbalist Jr and Karl Malden was very good as was "A Gathering of Eagles" with Rock Hudson.  Eagles has some excellent air to air shots of the B-52.  The air to air refueling sequence in the storm was especially good.  The air borne shots were all taken from a B-25.

Darwin, O.F. 

bondoman wrote:

I suppose you/he must have seen "Strategic Air Command"? Really good B-47 stuff at the end, refueling. Three or four other really good sections too.

The best part of the movie is the great shots of the B-36 (in and out).  The crash was done pretty good (for 1950's special effects).  The other great part of the movie, my wife will sit and watch it with me when it comes on one of the cable channels.

Thats even better. Just practice with extra decals first.

My favorite scene in "SAC" is when the B-47 wing is sent to Japan. Theres a section where the C-124's (no radomes) are being loaded with gas trucks, jet engines and... an R-4360!

Then, they taxi out and look, you'll see the Airman "scanner" standing up in the open nav dome directing the pilots.

Thanks for the positive comments, gents

bondoman wrote:

That looks really great ,Windhawk. You never see this a/c modelled. What markings are you going to use? Not that there's much choice, but do you know anything about his wing?

Honestly, I'm not entirely sure that he flew for the SAC.  I do know
that he ferried bombers from the Kansas mfg plant to the various AFBs
where they were deployed.  I also know that he was trained in the
'loft-bombing' technique, so I can only imagine he was on active
combat duty too. 

I figure with his assignment, he probably flew aircraft in many liveries,
so I am just going to use the stock decals.  I've read that Academy
decals can be crappy, so i hope these are alright.

MFG photo of completed model.

There's lots of great things about the Academy 1:144 model.  It's been
a fairly easy build.  Putting the wheel doors up has been the biggest
challange.  I wish they would mold some "gear-up" parts to make it easier.

By some awesome coincidence, I saw the old "SAC" movie a week after
I bought the kit.  It was great.  I considered buying a copy to send with
the model, but somewhoe decided not too.  Maybe I still will.

That looks really great ,Windhawk. You never see this a/c modelled. What markings are you going to use? Not that there's much choice, but do you know anything about his wing?

I suppose you/he must have seen "Strategic Air Command"? Really good B-47 stuff at the end, refueling. Three or four other really good sections too.

Rudi- good job. Can you find me a set of 1/72 B-36 canopies?

Yeah, that's sweet Rudi.  Way to go.

Here's my grandpa's B-47E.  It's getting close to primer time.
I've got about 2 1/2 weeks to finish this model before I have to
mail it in time for his birthday.

steelrudi,

Glad to see that you solved the canopy problem and are back on line with the B-58.  I am looking forward to seeing some progress and completion photos.

Darwin, O.F. 

steelrudi wrote:

Sadly, I cannot find a canopy glass for my 1/48 B-58.

Hey, Rudi, I really strongly suggest that you try scratch-building a canopy.  If it's just the glass sections, you just need to cut about 6 pieces of transparent flat plastic sheet to the right shape.  Then bond together, maybe with some interior framing to reinforce.

What a beauty

I do stuff like quite commonly when I build a model.  I use metal sheeting and wires for antennas, etc.  Let me know if I can answer any questions.