Fleet Air Arm Group Build

Aaron-

First off, sorry I forgot to comment on your engines!  They look excellent to me, well done!  As for the gloss paints, sorry but I don't really know much about them- sorry!

As for that story, ROTFLMFAO!!!

I'm sure you did your BEST to fire that as far away as possible!

 Oh thats a sad tale. Well hopefully He will be back soon in full restored glory.

 To lighten things up I have a porta potty story. I was a young Platoon Sergeant working as an Observer Controller( referee ) for a field exercise. It was the end of the exercise and I had some pyro-technics to unlease. We can't bring em back so you toss them as a way of celebrating the end. There was this one old Squad leader that would spend hours in those porta pottys reading (I guess) He was a bit of a character so while he was in one from my APC I threw an artillery simulator high and well away from him. Well it hit a tree and did a pin ball like bouncing trip on the limbs until it finally hit the ground and rolled directly underneath the porta potty in a freak accident.

There was a very large explosion.

Very large.

He was blown out the door, pants around the ankles covered with blue toilet paper gooey ick.

Un hurt but very very smelly.  Gosh it wasn't too funny , oh who am I kidding it was hysterical.

Poor ole Roger had the porta potty of life come off the truck ahead of him on the freeway.

His wife left him, and he lost his job. He was a California ANG full timer after leaving the army, and he got downsized.

He's a great guy and we might teach him a little pirate yet!

Here's to Roger

I'd go with the gloss blue. Seaplanes get a real good wipedown after use, otherwise they fall apart.

Daywalker wrote:

Fellas- I did some digging on that DsrtRat fella over at LSP.  His name is Paul, and he's from Canada. Roger, where are you?

I wouldn't worry too much Frank. He is active duty wasn't he? I mean even if he isn't deployed he probably has most of his stuff packed away. I am betting that when he gets settled again  he will just pop up again when you least expect it. Probably in a whole different local, with the same positive outlook.

 It stinks trying to be normal when you have to rebuild your life every 2 or 3 years but he will be back. He had too much fun here.

 Hmmmm no comments on the engines so either I am doing ok or you all are horrified!!

The picture is awful I know but I wanted to show off the odd color sea blue. How do you tell when those gloss paints are dry? Geeze the always look wet.

 Anyways a question about the finish on these yellow winged birds. Were they a glossy finish?  Or toned down a bit? This is new ground for me. everything I usually do is flatter than flat and then I dull it some more.

Oh well thought I'd ask.

Fellas- I did some digging on that DsrtRat fella over at LSP.  His name is Paul, and he's from Canada.

Roger, where are you?

Lookin good sfcmac! I kept pluggin along today- wings are glued together, cowl is on, and some windows are on.  The engine cowl fit gave me a bit of trouble, but I'm sure that was my fault, not the kit's.  This Avenger is BIG! Primer and painting should be soon...

Oh, and the basement monster almost got me today! I was trying to put in a little side window (That still won't fit) and it flew off into space. I would have been completely screwed if I didn't hear where it went. Luckily I found it in about 15 minutes. Phew!

 Rats! Musta missed him. Here are a couple better pics of them dry fitted into the cowlings. Added some data plates cut out of spare photoetch framing and some bare metel chrome foil on the long silver tube thingie. It wasn't quite as thick or as bright but to make it stand out more I took some shall we say artistic liberties.  They show up pretty sharp in some pics so I wanted to highlite them. Compare to the pic and the above pic not perfect but better than a  row of cylinders around a gray hub. I hope.

Still got some trimming and touch up painting but far enough along to give an idea of what I'm going for. Any suggestions are welcome! But be warned as I may use them!.

Hey Ritchie! This is the look I am going for. I am not sure they are even wires but If you got a better pic of that 400 hp engine that shows more. I'll go for it.

Aaron, is that one or two wires going to the cylinders on your goose engines? Couldn't tell the pic was a bit fuzzy. There should be two on every cylinder. Just my ! Looking great again!!!

Cheers, Richie

Great work on the Gull and Duck, Guys!

Hmmm....Gull and Duck! Sounds like a great name for a pub!

Seeing the family pics is great too! I'll post one of herself the Priss once I take a current one. If it were up to her, she'd send her High School Sr. picture

Got done early again today, but the benevolent Boss pays us for entire days during these slow times.

The SBD fuse will be buttoned up this evening so stay tuned to that thread.

Gee, I love it here!

 Hmmm all is quiet and calm here. I sit patiently awaiting my delivery of the Ventura Parts. (supposed to be here today after a long wait.) In the mean time I have been painting on the goose. Have to give that gloss yellow a good drying time.  I ended up recoating the yellow with the testers brand Nam recommended. I like the color and results better. Was  ittl ansy about mixing the coats but no issues. Looks pretty good an Bright!

 Detaiing Goose engines is taking some time but got em almost done.

I pulled out the Ventura and decided to go for broke on it. Full boar and opened up the bomb bay which was molded in place. The plastic is at least an 8th of an inch thick so unless the doors were six inches thick I'll be scatching some new ones along with the details.

( I know I have lost my mind! ) Wish me luck!

 Thanks Ritchie, I be trying to keep up with these Pirates! Not easy as they churn out such great work.

Bondoman you be as bad as me! Proud to showa fine family and pretty ladies that are in truth hostages being held for ransom! They should catch a fair price with those happy faces. Ye deserve a pat on ye back an another tot!

As for the Sea Gull thar be a snazzy jazzy bird. When I taught Rotc at Penn State up on the third floor where the Navy be they had the original Model of The Pennsylvania that was made by the ship yard that built the real thing. Very big and sharp model ship. I would say it was done in 1/4 scale. The Ships bell hangs outside the front door of The wagner building.  Worth a look if any Football fans are at Beaver Stadium or the Bryce Jorden center. It is acrooss the street 1 building down.

 I digress where be the lofty LtCdr Nam? I fear being chased by jealous husbands or worse snarred by some enchanted Ad Exec!

BEAUTIFUL work Aaron and Bondo!!!!!!!!!! Love all the pics that were posted! Haven't had much bench time in the past few days. That be a changin' on the weekend!!!! AAAAARRRGGGGHHHH!!!!!

Cheers, Richie

Thats a Rum bird, fit ta be stuff'd an' mounted!

Pie in th' eyes o' the Occifers no doubt.

Here's my Seagull what's ab'out finished, needs only a good foto shoot to see her riggin's.

Thats a fair family ye' kidnapped, damn yer eyes sfmac. An'are te' see the Cap'n o'yer ship, she's a fair one.

Me own what's this lassie...

And me' issue wit er' mum, what ne'r can be boarded lessin' the scurvy rat feels the muzzle o' me carronade!

 Way to squeeze in some work raider 83! Figured you would be too sore to figit with the parts but glad to hear your making progress.

Nam I've been feeling guilty bout shirk me duties so I am following the Xo's example and burning some midnight oil! Trying to catch up.

 Got the fuselage together and primed. Painful clean up as you say a strange mold. Large thick injector pin marks right on some details. . Side windows didn't fit. ( Made my own again)  Adding quite a bit of scratch stuff. More than I had planned on but once started hard to stop.

Cleaning up the floats and added the center bracing wires out of real fine electronic wires. Trapped them in beween. Almost ready to paint. Odd there is no marks to show where they go on the lower wing? Have to wing it so to speak and add the 4 addition bracing wires to each float. ACK!

In betwwen drying times I noticed the tail had molded on detail that didn't cut it so I cut them out. The hinge and contol wire holes. Adding some home made conrol wires and PE hinges. EEKS! ( so much for a quick build like I said it would be)

 Looked at som photo's of the real engines and wasn't satisied with the resin copies. I painte the plastic extras in the kit and was hard pressed to fins a detail diff. So I took the resin engines and looking at the photo added data plates and wires to match them up to the photo.

 Starting to come together. Hopefully the pace will quicken once I finish the other engine. Trying to do that as paint/ glue is drying. The Ventura parts are supposed to finally arrive tommorrow so I should be able to get back into that as well!

Nam keep on with that SBD Dauntless! Skipper will find those Japs! He's part Cherokee Indian after all! ( from the Midway Movie!) My kids still scream Enemy dive bombers!!

That would be great if it was DesertRat! But why wouldn't he give a shout? He was a lot of fun!

Aaron and Bondoman Nice of ye to shirk yer duties for some liberty! One hasn't a beer tent in sight.....the other brings his own rum to the shore! Aaaarrrrgggghhhh! Who be the more resourceful?

Hi Roy!

 A new furnace AND A/C! Nice. Big money, but if it's all done correctly and well, you shouldn't need any service calls for years! The outdoor condensing units are very beautiful, indeed.

Is the furnace gas or oil? 

 Aye just to show ye I am a fair sort. Here is one of me in a pink and purple striped shirt! I spilled coffee on me normal manly attire and my wife dressed me in this. The bad part was I was holding two purses while they rode the rides. Good thing I be a rather large fellow. And one of the wife and 3 remaining home bound with us. Until I need some more modeling space and kick them out!

bondoman wrote:

'Ere ye go ye pox ridden basterds, I be wearin' me blues an' 'oistin one fer the ship. Blew 'er right outta her shoes, I did an' she thanked me fer it affer!!

 That is a swell Pic Bondo! Beautiful scenery. Finely dressed with a glass of something good. But the killer when you look closely is you left your high heels kicked off next to you or you have company sharing your drink!!!  Either way I know your from Frisco ! LOL

'Ere ye go ye pox ridden basterds, I be wearin' me blues an' 'oistin one fer the ship.

Blew 'er right outta her shoes, I did an' she thanked me fer it affer!!

Ah ! Thar ya be ya blasted barnacle of a sponge Bob!  I bets it wer a framed pic of Nam an der XO in their blooming optivisors!!!! Wait no that was my Christmas card! ARRRRGGGG!

HAd to do a wee bit a vacationing meself today as the family don't right care to believe watching me build me parts is Vacation enough fwer them. ( So demanding the ingrates!)  Here be a pic of todays festivities! E're though my plastic be left behind , me heart was still with ye all!

Did you ask if his name was Roger or something to prove or disprove it could be him?