Fleet Air Arm Group Build

Darren, that looks real nice! Ditto to what Rick said about the IP....top notch work, my friend!

I was going to post pics of my Hurricane so far (thought I'd at least have the assembled 'pit painted by now), but I got sidetracked doing minor surgery on the underside of the fuselage to accomodate the scratchbuilt arrestor hook that is currently under construction. Darn near forgot about that detail, but it wouldn't look like a Sea Hurricane without it. Pics tomorrow for sure!

Darren, on your IP is the instruments decals or what I have never really been able to get that look without using Waldron punch sets.   I love the look of your cockpit thus far. I like the photo of the engine.  It's a shame that you can't do much with a 1/72 scale engine.  If I did the detail would be so small that no one could see it.

Roy

Darren-

Check it out, I think you will be quite impressed!  The amazing thing is that the restorers stripped off all of the paint that was covering up the ORIGINAL wartime paint from '44.  Now, it looks just like it did then, worn, scuffed, and faded.  great book for warbird fans who want to see how those planes really weathered. 

Right now, I am reading a book about Swordfish pilot Commander Charles Lamb from the H.M.S. Courageous.  Very interesting book.  Only difficulty is picking up some of the English dialect, hard for a colonial to understand sometimes.

Mike-

I am really looking forward to seeing pics of your Sea Hurricane!  It's not often one gets to see one of those.  A rarely modeled bird indeed!

ruddratt wrote:

Darren, that looks real nice! Ditto to what Rick said about the IP....top notch work, my friend! I was going to post pics of my Hurricane so far (thought I'd at least have the assembled 'pit painted by now), but I got sidetracked doing minor surgery on the underside of the fuselage to accomodate the scratchbuilt arrestor hook that is currently under construction. Darn near forgot about that detail, but it wouldn't look like a Sea Hurricane without it. Pics tomorrow for sure!

Thanks Mike! It would be great to see how you are doing the conversion, I was wondering how you would tackle the arrestor hook. Looking forward to seeing your pics.

wyoroy wrote:

Darren, on your IP is the instruments decals or what I have never really been able to get that look without using Waldron punch sets.   I love the look of your cockpit thus far. I like the photo of the engine.  It's a shame that you can't do much with a 1/72 scale engine.  If I did the detail would be so small that no one could see it. Roy

Thanks Roy,

I did the I/P with the kit decal, its needs setting solution to get it to snuggle down into the detail, but it looks OK when its done. I would'nt like to detail an engine in 1/72, maybe Eduard do a PE set for it? To be honest, I would'nt bother if it was me.

Daywalker wrote:

Darren- Check it out, I think you will be quite impressed!  The amazing thing is that the restorers stripped off all of the paint that was covering up the ORIGINAL wartime paint from '44.  Now, it looks just like it did then, worn, scuffed, and faded.  great book for warbird fans who want to see how those planes really weathered.  Right now, I am reading a book about Swordfish pilot Commander Charles Lamb from the H.M.S. Courageous.  Very interesting book.  Only difficulty is picking up some of the English dialect, hard for a colonial to understand sometimes. Mike- I am really looking forward to seeing pics of your Sea Hurricane!  It's not often one gets to see one of those.  A rarely modeled bird indeed!

Wow! and to think I was stood right next to that Corsair too. I have found where I can get a copy of the book-I will get one next pay day.

Your Swordfish book sounds good too! And you are learning the "Queens English" at the same time

My current read is about Sharky Ward, who commanded 801 Sqn during the Falklands air campain. Its full of really interesting stuff about the FRS.1 Sea Harriers that flew off HMS Invincible during the conflict.

Daywalker wrote:

Mike- I am really looking forward to seeing pics of your Sea Hurricane!  It's not often one gets to see one of those.  A rarely modeled bird indeed!

TANGO 1 wrote:

It would be great to see how you are doind the conversion, I was wondering how you would tackle the arrestor hook. Looking forward to seeing your pics.

Thanks, guys! Pics should be up shortly. Reference photos were hard for me to find, but I did find a site that showed the installation of a resin conversion, so I used that as a guide. All in all, I'm pleased with how my scratchbuilt conversion is turning out.

As promised guys, here's what I got so far.....painting on the 'pit will commence shortly.

The 'pit. I added some wire using stretched sprue and .010" solder, piping with .020" solder, a resin/PE control column, and a small spring wrapped around thin styrene rod and painted with white glue for hose sections. The trim wheel was cut away from where it was mounted, and reattached along with a PE chain to a new frame piece made from styrene rod. Seat mounting points were also added.

A resin seat from CMK, with a PE height adjustment mechanism and a headrest made from sprue. I read where headrests were added to a lot of sea hurricanes.

The IP, pretty much OOB except for a few levers/panels made from sheet styrene, stretched sprue and white glue knobs, and I enhanced the framework around the compass.

The arrestor hook....

....where it's gonna go....

...and sort of what it looks like installed. The fit needs just a bit of tweeking, but it should work out OK. I shaved the back surfaces of the two long rods so the cross-section is almost semi-circular in shape to give the illusion of it being deeper into the fuselage. When I press it down into place, it fits fine.

L & R side panels...

That's it so far....now it's on to the spraybooth!

PS- just want to say that I'm havin' a blast with my first GB! Thanks again, guys!

Everyone peers at Mike's photo's..........

"oooo! aaaahhh..........that's how he did it! "

Mike- very nice work indeed! I like all the extra details that you are adding. Your arrestor hook looks great!   I will have to try that myself one day. Thanks for all the pics, its great to see how you are progressing with this one.

Speaking of Sea Hurricanes..................this is a Mk.Ib.   Nice!

Sweet!! Nice pics, Darren!

I know I'll probably get whacked for saying this, but I love the lines and the overall shape of the Hurricane. The Spit is definitely cool (it's my Dad's favorite bird, bar none!), but the Hurricane just seems to me to have just a bit more character.

*ducks and runs!*

Very nice work Mike.  Should be a great sea Hurri.

Regards,  Rick

Thanks, Rick!

Although I've never completely scratchbuilt a model, there's a certain satisfaction in taking a kit of one version and turning it into another. I'm enjoying this immensly!

Mike-

Your Hurri looks AWESOME so far!  All of the little extra touches you are adding really enhance the detail on that plane.  I really like the arrestor hook-looks like a factory part.  Cockpit looks truly awesome!  I could go on and on.  I really am looking forward to seeing more pics of your work, keep the pics coming!  And, I won't throw anything at you for liking the Hurricane better...   I really like the rugged looks of the Hurri myself. 

Bob & Frank, thanks for the compliments guys! I've seen your work, so hearing praise from you is quite an honor.  

Daywalker wrote:

And, I won't throw anything at you for liking the Hurricane better...   I really like the rugged looks of the Hurri myself.

LOL! Thanks Frank! I liken my comparison of a Spit to a Hurricane like comparing an IROC Z-28 to a '65 Hemi 'Cuda.

ruddratt wrote:

Bob & Frank, thanks for the compliments guys! I've seen your work, so hearing praise from you is quite an honor.    Daywalker wrote:  And, I won't throw anything at you for liking the Hurricane better...   I really like the rugged looks of the Hurri myself.  LOL! Thanks Frank! I liken my comparison of a Spit to a Hurricane like comparing an IROC Z-28 to a '65 Hemi 'Cuda.

LOL, good analogy!  I used to have a 1970 440 6-pack Dodge Challenger R/T (lime green).  Love those old Mopars...

Mike,

Excellent work! I definitely will enjoy watching you build this one. It is neat to see what things you have added and how you added them. Looking forward to more...

Leon 

Mike,

outstanding work, look forward to more pics.

Roy

i know what i`m going to build now, if i can find one, trumpeters new sea hawk.

 Alain

Hey guys! Been a couple of weeks since i checked out the boards! I figure since the internet was finally available, i'd check and see how y'all were doing!

Sufficed to say being out of state, all builds are on hold. Mainly because TSA tends to get touchy when ya try to fly with modelling tools, ya know?

Friggin cold out here in Pennsylvania, but i at least wanted to drop in and say hiya!

Where is the rum??????????

Roger-

Good to hear from ya!  We kept a bottle stashed for you.

Hey Roger!

Good to hear from you mate! I hope you are wearing your cold weather gear!

We have saved a case of  the good stuff for you. We'll keep your seat warm for you while you are away.

"Quick lads- get your rum ration before Frank gets here!"

Its the Weekend!

Have rum! .....er fun! everybody.

Cheers!

*grabs 2 bottles of the good stuff*

I'll need both of those after I finish doing my  taxes!

TANGO 1 wrote:

"Quick lads- get your rum ration before Frank gets here!"

LOL

Ahhh the weekend at last, I tell you there is nothing better than a short week at work following on from a long weekend.  Ok now on to some modeling.

Frank I'm sorry but I have not had a chance to get to the post office yet to mail your decals to you.  Also I noticed on that in the photo that Darren posted (below) which is the Corsair you are doing, the Royal Navy on the side of the aircraft is in white.  Unfortunately with the decals that I have the Royal Navy is in a dark grey color.  Let me know if you still want them ok.

Darren I know its a few pages back now but that is some great work on the IP for your Corsair, nicely done sir.

Mike ditto on the few pages back but "wow".  If the exterior of your sea hurricane comes out anything like the interior it should be an awesome build.

Cheers