Fleet Air Arm Group Build

Thanks Frank! Got the control horns and wires for the ailerons done last night. Will work on the tail feathers soon. Got a pic of one of the Aileron wires. Slowly but surely all these lil bits are going to end up looking like an airplane. lol Enjoy!

Oh, I received my Blacksheep A-4 decals today! They are excellent! In the placement instructions, it also shows you how to mod the vertical with a piece of the tree to make it an 'M'. I be

, Richie

Off to work for me too!

Richie- Great shot showing the relative sizes of two very known biplanes!  That Pitts looks very nice, and that Stringbag is stunning!  Well done.

Nam- I shall take the helm this morning, but only for an hour or so!  Then it's off to me day job!  Have some time off this coming long weekend, and shall spend some time at the bench on my Corsair.  Cheers!

Thanks nam!! You're too kind. Can't wait to see the pics of the Sea Glad. I'm glad you were able to save it at least.

, Richie

Sheesh! Sim34! Nice bit of work....and good photography!

I think this scow is on autopilot, which might be a good thing!

It's late....and I've just surfaced from the workshop. Been up and down all evening toothbrushing the stripped SeaGlad. All seems good...I can reach in and repaint enough of the pit to look okay with the full canopy over it. The legs kind of fell off while I was brushing things....undamaged. Have to make a note of that!

Even though very COOL down there.....practiced AB on my P-35 testbed with nightfighter colors for this first SeaGlad. Used my imagination along with google research and I think I can present this model with a decent NF look.

I stretched some sprue for various usage on the 'new' Glad and built some cockpit detail. Man! This kit is eggshell thin! Fits are not simple......makes you think twice before applying cement. But I know from the first attempt that it 'tightens' up nicely as it goes together, but it's the tiniest 1/48 I've ever tackled!

Pics coming this week before I put the fuse together......fishing for advice when I do!

Later Mates!

Thanks CAG! Another pic, not much work done but it made an impact. The exhaust stack made from 3/32 Evergreen plastic tube, heat bent, cut, hallowed tip and whittled to fit cowl. The filler on the front of the pipe where it fares into the collector ring is PVA wood glue(Elmer's would work as well).

Cheers, Richie

Thanks nam!

Cheers

Cool little vignette Richie!

Thanks for sharing the pic and the history!

Here is a 'just cuz' pic to look at. I put my String bag next to my Pitts I built when I was 18! Am 41 now. The Pitts is an old LS kit from the '80s. Nice lil kit, very basic, not much detail, but thinking back it was just a joy to build. It went together like a champ. Hand painted the sunburst as well with plain ole cellophane tape as a mask cut in the right shapes. A blast from my past! Enjoy!

Cheers, Richie

AYE!....with the CAG permission.....TOTS for this crew!

............ahhhhhhhh! I found where the bar wench got to! She be sleepin' among the rum casks here in the hold! I'm guessin' the goats kept her warm....

Glad she happened on me.....chipped off the ice and dumped a large tot down me! She's run off to find her mandolin and we shall tear off a few sea chanties before this night be thru!

Meanwhile.....I be scrubbin' mush from SeaGlad #1.....very careful work.....this Roden(t) has thinner (plastic) skin than I've ever seen! 

Thank ye very kindly CAG! That hit the spot. (hic) Update on me as well. Drilled holes for the control horns, and am making a stubby exhaust stack out of 3/32 plastic tube on my Stringbag. Had a pipe made last night, er well this morning, and fit and looked good. Then when trial fit, the exhaust tip was directly in line with the LG leg. Forgot to turn it so the tip points straight out the side and carving the shape of the cowl at the according angle. Atleast I know it works and looks decent, only took about an hour to make and fit. So back to the bench.

G'day Mates!

Cheers, Richie

A quick update from me:

I've very nearly finished the Seafire! Just waiting for the final sealing coat to dry on the fiddly bits and she'll be good to go!

Work still continues on the Crusader and the 'pit with pilot should be installed tomorrow.

Didn't get much else done as I've been gardening...........yes! the eye is still intact!

MORE RUM!

Gentlemen.............CHEERS!

Avast ye guardians of the captains rum locker!

The CAG be here! and he be ready for a tot or two of Navy Rum! Now run along and lash my kite to the deck and I'll tell you a tell of daring do that'll make yer toes curl!!

X/O! bring me the rum!!

Aaaaahhhhhhh................thats good!

Now, unless the ship is in imminent danger or the head of state wnats a quiet word in me lug ole........do not disturb!

..............................

Better get yer backside to the bridge Mr. Bondoman! Quicktime now!

Things be quiet right now! I be workin' in the hold.....have a missive from the XO that I may answer...(if I can explain yer absence, that is!) Me own absence is yer nevermind!

Get to it lad!

But have a tot first!

I'll be takin' the watch o' the wake, kneelin at the stern and bent o'er the rail!

Arrgh it was a tough un, too much strain, but it's Friday and if the Occifers break out the rations, tomorrow may dawn bright in my eye as I wink it open.

Sleep fine and safe, Sir!

I feels Tango 1 will be on deck before long! If not.........ahhhhh....errrr.....well....Someone shall have the deck

Arrrr....I meant

I'M HERE!  I'M HERE!!

Well done Lt., I shall watch the helm (well, I'll watch the guy lashed to the wheel!) for a few turns of the glass.  Report immediately to sick bay (extra rum rations today ) then be back on deck in two bells lad!  I shall keep a weather eye for you, as I need to turn in early.  Work tomorrow you know!

In the meantime, I hope the Cap'n doesn't mind if I hand out the weekly rum rations.

Cheers everyone, wherever you are!

Aaaarrrggggghhhhh!!!!!!!!.....always a pleasure answerin' me own posts.....ye lubbers! Leavin' a junior officer up here alone! Actually, I be in the hold.....the cold, cold hold......strippin' and buildin'.....buildin' and strippin' (paint that be!)

The ship be yar....and a good thing! I comes up and no one on deck! Once the blood gets back to me fingers we'll set a course.....but right now....

It's time for a TOT!..........er, that's enough for the minute! Gad it's cold down there! Why do ye westerners send us this weather?

I've lashed an idle modeler to the wheel to hold the course....(sorry...needed that!)....and he should keep her steady while I head back to the bilge!

Bedamned the wind......we need some sun! Yaaaaah....Haaaaaaaaaaaaa

Nam-

It's all part of the fun isn't it?  Sometimes having to redo something means it will be better than you could have ever hoped for the first time around.  Here's hoping the new one goes smoothly!   PM inbound!

Roy- Got your PM, and replied.

I rec'd a new Roden Sea Gladiator this week........my original is being stripped via techniques learned here. (Thank you all!) The only 'great' part of the build was the rigging(always been good at that)....but the model was abortive from the beginning due to not being prepared.

Starting something then lacking a paint or something.....move to another ***'y....same thing....and so on...

Then trying to paint in cold temps, forcing the issue as it were........then trying to hone a Future technique....It was not to my liking at all.....even as a first build in many years because I know I can do so much better.

So I will re-start on the new Glad as I have all I need now (and weather is warmer in the basement!)....posting WIP pics in order to get some helpful criticism. The 'old' Glad...depending on how the stripping works out....may show up as a "co-build" with the new one and may well become a 247 Sq. Sea Glad night fighter based at Roborough near Devon, defending Plymouth during Battle of Britain. This is, of course my original FAA entry.

On the flip-side........the TBD for the Navy Air GB is starting off well. We learn....we grow

Thanks for your patience! 

EDIT: the ***'y........was supposed to be shorthand for ASSEMBLY! My Gosh!

Oh boy, I step away from the deck for a moment and look what happens!!! 

Looks like I had better keep a weather eye out! 

Thanks Nam, it was a bummer.  Closer inspection shows the potential for a repair and minor paint job, if all goes well.  We shall see in a few days! 

Back at you Roy!

Hello all,

 Sorry for being AWOL so long   I did chat with Frank the other day and he got me up to speed. 

Rick, Congrats on the wins, well done sir. 

I have only read up to page 195, have some more catching up. 

Frank, PM inbound.

Nam, PM inbound.

Daywalker wrote:

Thanks for the laugh, I needed it today after my lil' Spitfire disaster this afternoon.

Sheesh! Frankie!, that's tough! Knowing the care and dedication you put into your work, I can imagine how you felt. I am curious if you can clean up the bottom without stripping the entire job? Most likely not I'm guessing

Then again, I learn from a disaster 2-3 times a week.....most of your disasters are probably behind you!

BTW: The upper looked fabulous!

Haligan wrote:

Hubba hubba!  You all know I can't resist a man in a visor!

OMG!........LMAO Katie!.......

Frank! I rescued those from someone getting ready to chuck them out years ago while in the hospital. The visor was just missing the screw that held the lense in on the right side! But I packed them away and forgot about them.

Long story short....I found them last night and scrounged a proper size screw and nut....voila'.....It is going to be a HUGE help to me! Don't even need my eyeglasses with the visor! 

(sorry to hear about the Spit trouble.....I'll head over to that GB and read!) 

That's hysterical!!!  You're killing me here Nam, my sides are aching from laughing so hard.  Thanks for the laugh, I needed it today after my lil' Spitfire disaster this afternoon.

Think I need a tot, or maybe two.  I am off today so a little sip sounds wonderful!