Fleet Air Arm Group Build

Darren, I have the Exterior set for the Seafury and it is beautiful. I was contemplating the interior set but came to the realisation that you can spend heaps of money on a beautiful resin set and you will see bugger all when it's closed up. The exterior set on the other hand is well worth it. Here is a link to a review on Hyperscale of them:

http://www.kitreview.com/reviews/seafuryaccessoriesreviewbg_1.htm

 The Barracuda is getting closer to painting stage. I'm currently fairing in the area for the canopy to sit on as area's of the canopy don't fit and need some serious building up of the edge. I have done a bit of work on the flaps as you needed to build up the area where the actuators join the flaps. Now there is actualy something for the actuators to hang on to.

Darren-

Good score on the SeaFury!  I have wanted a good kit of that plane for years too.  I saw one up close a few years back at a local airshow, and got to talk to the pilot for awhile.  I was most impressed!

I figured I had better post a pic of my progress, less everyone think all I do is gobble up the rum rations!  The propeller is painted and clearcoated, waiting for it to dry before the decals go on.  The engine is done as well, clearcoated and all.  I masked off the IP and the consoles so I could airbrush the black.  In the past, I always hand painted them but decided the extra hours with a scalpel and tape masking would be worth the extra time.  I am very happy with them! 

I also spent a lot of time practicing today with a jewelers beading tool set.  I use it at work to set diamonds, and am thinking about using it to add some rivet detail to the Corsair.  Guess we'll see when the time comes if I want to spend countless hours riveting by hand!

Here's my progress so far:

Dave-

That Barracuda is really coming along!  Looks like you're gonna have time to build a couple more for this GB!

Dave,

thanks for the link, you are right the exterior set looks very good. I am also very tempted by the cockpit set too!  I may well invest in them both in the future.

As for your work on the Barracuda all I can say is Phew! You are putting in the hard work on this one and it shows! Looks like you are turning out a winner there.

Frank,

your progress looks good, you have done the engine very nicely. The finish you have on the engine, prop and I/P is certainly worth the extra effort.

Dave, Frank,  Nice progress guys, in spite of all the rum consumed here lately .

Regards,  Rick

Dave, the Barracude looks really good. I think the need to build up the area that much would drive me crazy - so thumbs up to you!

Leon 

Frank,

Your corsair bits look excellent! I would say the masking time was well spent .

Leon

I am hoping to get a little time with my corsair this upcoming week... 

Frank, funny you should mention about another model for the GB. I have started the Grand Phoenix 1/48 Firefly Mk 1. The cockpit is almost done and the wings are not far off going together.

The Barracuda canopy should be on this afternoon followed by some more fairing in. Once it's on it will be masked and a few extra bits will be added. I was contemplating putting some extra detail under the canopy but i'm not sure of exactly whats there. Not long now and it should be painting time! I'm a bit dissapointed that I can't have an open canopy on the front two positions as this hides heaps of detail.

 I reckon if the article goes ahead there will be a great range of good looking aircraft to select from!

Since I actualy have a few days off now I have started the 1/48 Grand Phoenix Firefly Mk 1. If this kit is classed as a limited run kit then there are heaps of companies out there that should take note of how to make a kit! Resin that fits, plastic that fits, instructions that are clear enough and it is pretty much complete in detail.

Here are some images of the cockpit in progress:

Dave-

Your cockpit looks great!  What color of green did you use there?  I really like the shade.

Looks good so far Dave.  I agree that the Grand Phoenix kit is one of the best limited run kits I've had the pleasure to build. 

Regards,  Rick

Hey Dave,

your work on the Firefly is most impressive! Is all that detail straight from the box?

I have never seen a Grand Pheonix kit before, I'd be very interested to learn much more about this kit. Please, please keep the updates coming. 

Finished my Spitfire!

I know its not part of our GB....but please indulge me. 

This is the 1/48 Airfix Spitfire Mk.IX, its not the best kit in the world, but then again I'm not the best model builder either.

Built OOB, with the following slight improvements......Full re-scribe,drilled out exhausts,dropped elevator's, new rudder and PE seat harness. Feel free to criticise/rip to shreds etc........

Darren-

Way to go!  I am so glad to see this one finished up.  You really did a nice job especially considering all of the headaches you encountered during the painting / finishing process.  Well done!  Now, sit back and enjoy a cold one!

Frank,

thank you mate! I certainly am having a cold one after my son goes to bed.

Cheers buddy!

Poor little Lynx...........

Hey lads.......bad news. I have ruined the Lynx! I was finishing off when I decided to tidy up the front crew doors and disaster struck. Both doors came off in peices!

So I have asked around for some spares. Until then, this is how she looks. Shame, I was quite pleased with this one until I messed it up.

I like it!  Your model skills are way past mine. Great job

Roy

Can it be put back together?  Or is it a hopeless mess?  The doors that is.

Darren-

Sorry to hear about your poor lil' lynx.  Maybe the crew took the doors off 'cuz it was too hot inside the cabin?

wyoroy wrote:

Can it be put back together?  Or is it a hopeless mess?  The doors that is.

Thanks for your kind words As for the doors, they are a lost cause. But one must never lose hope. I'm asking around on some of the UK forums if anyone may just have some spares.

You never know.....

Daywalker wrote:

Darren- Sorry to hear about your poor lil' lynx.  Maybe the crew took the doors off 'cuz it was too hot inside the cabin?

Mmmm........that just might work.............

Daywalker wrote:

Can you believe it?  Over 500 posts and 6000 views and we just started the build a week ago!

Thats got to make us the most industrious group build on this site! I recon that calls for a drink, first round is on me Frank.

And speaking of industrious.........

More horrid butchery from the workshop. I managed to get the invasion stripes onto my Hellcat today. The wings turned out quite well but the fuselage bands are a little ropey, so I will tidy them up later. When thats done, I'll mask it all off and start putting the camo pattern on.

Also, I have just opened up the Corsair and well........I've started construction already! Got the interior green sprayed on and will start on the instruments tomorrow. I was going to get some extra's for this one, but I recon after taking a look at the last Tamiya Corsair that I built, OOB will do.

........which means I can treat myself to those resin goodies for my Sea Fury.

Woohoo!

Great job so far on that Hellcat!  Nice thing about the nature of invasion stripes is that they were temporary, so one can get away with a few lil' spots.  Some of the photos I have seen show them painted on by hand without masks and with brushes- looked very poor as a result.

Thanks Frank!

Between you and me I love fighters with invasion stripes but hate painting them! I hope mine looks OK when I'm done.