Fleet Air Arm Group Build

Gentlemen...

Looks like we have some rough seas ahead of us here.  To be completely honest, I am not impressed with the new forum layout.  Difficult and cumbersome to navigate, prime space given up to advertisements instead of posts, and new features added which add up to a very tricky site to find your way around.  I certainly do hope that they either work the bugs out of it QUICKLY, or change it back to what it was.  I am going to give it a week or so to smooth out.

(the ditto smiley would have went here) these are some of the smileys from msn!!! How unoriginal and lame!!!

AAACCCKKK!!!

I feel like I have dial-up again here.  Sure hope they get it sorted out soon, as it is maddening to use right now.

I can't talk about Bondo cuz the site keeps crashing here!  It seems pretty useless so far!  Where is the Pirate happy face?!

Good golly it is even sending me e-mails that I posted myself!  I kinda know that already!  These fellows were told it wasn't broke so don't fix it!   I don't know about you all but I argue with my business.  Right now it looks like 4 Kalmach subscribtions are not being renewed!   I am not happy!

John, that looks like the TF X at Hendon so I reckon you're set.

Hope my post above didn't suggest you weren't.  The Beau is definitely my favourite aircraft so I tend to get a bit carried away.

Andy, this is the best picture I've found of the inside of a Beaufighter cowl, it's from the net.

Bill, it seems like just exchanging personal email addresses is simpler than the friends or PM method, I believe you have mine. 

Following your build closely, John, as I really want to have a go at a Beau soon.  Have been trying to find some pics of Hercules' but haven't had a lot of luck with detail ... and when I find detail, I don't know what mark engine it is.

This one is at the Bristol Industrial Museum in the UK.  No idea what mark it is but can find out if you need to know.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bristol.hercules.arp.750pix.jpg

This might be of some help.  They do a bit of a walk around when it's running.  If it's no help at least it's really cool!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQZOc49ezX0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANPcL99nGEg&feature=related

This is a Hercules 264 as used on the Varsity.  Gives a good look inside the first minute:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6Zw1_NiSWg

Here's the other side of the engine in the very first clip above:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEbDlNeMtLM

Sorry, probably not of much help as I think they're all pretty late engines (post-war) but pretty cool to watch.

Well, count me in.

Which brings up my next question, which I tried (and failed) to ask the mods. There doesn't seem to be a PM button anymore. Just this business about conversations, which involve friends. I'm trying to connect the dots, so I looked at conversations and that has the sobering news that "no one has asked to be Bondoman's friend recently". It looks to me that PM's and their attendant bloodsport have been firewalled.

Yes it all looks fine, although it's gotten ad heavy. And I don't miss the red. Looks like a nice RAF Interior Green.

I think there are a few growing pains to work through, Bill.

I looked at my friends list, it said something like "John has no friends"  Afraid to go back and look again.

That looks good, John. My sources one complaint about that otherwise stellar aircraft was the unerving feeling of sitting directly in the propeller arc.

This new site has at last sped up. I haven't discovered much about it I don't like, although I miss where the latest post in any category used to be shown on the home page.

There's also a fair amount of dismaying info in my profile:

"Bondomans friends have not been active lately".

"Bondoman has no biography..."

I feel a little better that "There are no comments about Bondoman", although I don't believe it...

More work on the Beaufighter.  I thought I had more references on this airplane, but I don't seem to.  I do have the Camouflage and Markings pamphlet, but it doesn't cover the marks after the VI.  Bummer.  Haven't really researched the magazines, maybe I should do that.  I did work up some exhaust pipe detail, it is only 7 pipes instead of the 14 that might be visible, but it would be pretty crowded with all of them in there and not too visible.  I just drillede .040 holes in the cylinders where the exhaust ports are and pushed in some .040 rod in and bent them all to the left. 

Thanks Dave and Bondo.  Dave, I had a look at that review yesterday while I was suffering withdrawals from here.  Was really happy to read it was a good kit especially the rendering of the wing surface.

Put me down for the Italeri 1/72 Wimpey for this GB please.

Bondo, GREAT idea re the Anson.  Not something you think of what with Lancasters etc immediately coming to mind but Ansons were in BC at the start of the war.  Speaking of Ansons, during my research yesterday I read a lot of reviews about Classic Airframes and am really looking forward to building some of their kits eventually.  Really keen to do their Baltimore and Blenheim as I'm a sucker for twins.

Need some rum to make the transition to the new forum layout easier.

The following have recieved thier FAA Christmas gift exchange:

Bill

Darren

John E.

Guy

Sean

Jason

Aaron

John H.

Frank

Richie

Mike

as of today 8 Decmeber 2009.

If I have missed someone please let me know.  We have 17 days till Christmas

The other choice would be Trumpeter, 1/48 or 1/72. I'd stay away from Revell (Matchbox) as it's really basic, although I like them for the history. As the review noted, the Italeri model is a relation to the MPM model, which comes highly regarded.

I've been thinking about this too. Another front runner is the Special Hobby Anson.

I'm working off the Falcon Clearvax No. 8 set. A worthwhile (small) investment. It has Anson, Battle, Hampden, Blenheim, Mosquito, Wellington and Whitley (used that).

Gees Aaron, I'd buy tickets f you put on a production!    I'd love toplay the angel of death too. 

Frank, great work on the badge! 

Andy,  Here's a review on the Italeri Wellington.  Looks like a good one! 

sfcmac wrote:

Of Course  I also have experience in graphic destruction! Time to sing! Who lives in a rum bottle under the sea? Sponge Bondo forgot his pants! If a salty kind of living is something you wish. Sponge Bondo forgot his pants!  I miss Nammy he would have made a most excellent Mr Crab! However I hear Summit has a grinchy nickname as well? Time to sing again! ( Dave's Fault!) I'm grounded on Christmas! Probably until next year. Grounded on Christmas... with no Christmas Cheer.  Then there is The CAG and Frank out being one with nature seeking the perfect Christmas Tree!    Yes Time to sing again!  Chesnuts roasting on an open fire. Rum fumes nipping at our nose. Yule tide carols being sung by the fire... Merry Christmas to you.... Then some need no embelishment! Christmas is coming... Jeremey's getting fat! Please put some pants on him so I cannot see his lap! Then the classic Grinchy Guy!  Waa Hoo WaHoo Christmas coming.. Welcome welcome Christmas time.  Wahoo wahoo I have gas cuz too much egg nog I have had!  Merrry Christmas Y'all and don't think I am not looking for more photos to hack up especially that one of Admiral Jeaton up the tree!  CApt Bondo... Please accept this as my portfolio just in case I ever move out your local....

You're a talented man, Aaron.  Not sure about the falsetto but nobody's perfect...

Added to the stash today.  Tamiya 1/48 Thunderbolt (bubble) which I'm hoping to build as an RAF Jug operating in Burma; Tamiya 1/48 F4F-3 Wildcat (might do it as a Martlet) and an Airfix 1/72 Boston.  Had researched Tamiya kits in general and know what to expect from Airfix having built many ages ago (and I love the Boston/Havoc).  Almost bought an Aademy 1/350 Perry-class frigate but hadn't researched it so gave it a miss for the time being.

Am considering the Boston for this build but am leaning towards an RAAF or desert scheme so, da*n it, I'll have to buy something else.

Does anyone know what the Italeri 1/72 Wellington is like?

Thanks for the tip Cap'n, I didn't even notice that!  I went ahead and changed those to line up better.  Also changed the date style to more properly reflect the English style.

Aaron- AAACK!  I see you are up to your old tricks.

 Of Course  I also have experience in graphic destruction!

Time to sing!

Who lives in a rum bottle under the sea?

Sponge Bondo forgot his pants!

If a salty kind of living is something you wish.

Sponge Bondo forgot his pants!

 I miss Nammy he would have made a most excellent Mr Crab! However I hear Summit has a grinchy nickname as well?

Time to sing again! ( Dave's Fault!)

I'm grounded on Christmas!

Probably until next year.

Grounded on Christmas... with no Christmas Cheer.

 Then there is The CAG and Frank out being one with nature seeking the perfect Christmas Tree!

 Yes Time to sing again!

 Chesnuts roasting on an open fire.

Rum fumes nipping at our nose.

Yule tide carols being sung by the fire... Merry Christmas to you....

Then some need no embelishment!

Christmas is coming... Jeremey's getting fat!

Please put some pants on him so I cannot see his lap!

Then the classic Grinchy Guy!

 Waa Hoo WaHoo Christmas coming.. Welcome welcome Christmas time.

 Wahoo wahoo I have gas cuz too much egg nog I have had!

 Merrry Christmas Y'all and don't think I am not looking for more photos to hack up especially that one of Admiral Jeaton up the tree!

 CApt Bondo... Please accept this as my portfolio just in case I ever move out your local....

bondoman wrote:

Very nice Frank. Just try to get the italics lined up; they are two different slopes. (I'm a graphic designer)

Oh yeah?  I have seen your work Capt Bondo! LOL!

Very nice Frank. Just try to get the italics lined up; they are two different slopes. (I'm a graphic designer)

TANGO 1 wrote:

Daywalker wrote:  TANGO 1 wrote: So...we will be the Fleet Air Wing GB on detatchment to RAF Bomber Command. Rules: 4. Start 1st March 2010. Finish 01.03.11 Oh-oh, just realized that we only have 9 months to build these kits!  I may have to downsize to a Mosquito- two less spinners to deal with! Eh?  Ahhhh.............in England 01.03.11 means 1st March 2011. I guess I should have been more considerate and wrote 03.01.11 for you American chaps. Two great nations once again seperated by a common language...................

OOPS!!!

Is this better?  I also took Andy's suggestion and changed the wording a bit.

sfcmac wrote:

OK, Mr. McNEAL..........step away from the workbench.........we have you surrounded! Give yourself up!

Classic!!

Daywalker wrote:

TANGO 1 wrote: So...we will be the Fleet Air Wing GB on detatchment to RAF Bomber Command. Rules: 4. Start 1st March 2010. Finish 01.03.11 Oh-oh, just realized that we only have 9 months to build these kits!  I may have to downsize to a Mosquito- two less spinners to deal with!

Eh? 

Ahhhh.............in England 01.03.11 means 1st March 2011. I guess I should have been more considerate and wrote 03.01.11 for you American chaps.

Two great nations once again seperated by a common language...................

LOL, yes, practice is the operative word.  Have never even held an airbrush before so...

All the various mixes and pressures to master will be interesting.  Good thing we've got lots of scrap cardboard.

Love the GB badge.  I'd argue the BC chaps aren't forgotten but that's just me.

Some good news from here.  My wife is supportive of me getting back into models and is currently googling to find a 1/350 warship of some sort as an Xmas present (any recommendations?).  Also hoping to pick up some of those A$30 Tamiya 1/48 kits tomorrow that I found on special on Friday.  No idea if that's a good price in Australia but a cheap kit off Evilbay in the US would cost roughly the same from what I can gather.

Was thinking about my stash - currently 700 kms from where I sit - and realised that other than a couple of Airfix kits and a Tamiya King Tiger (and the Dragon Spruance I have here), it's all 1/48 Monogram kits.  All bought new so you can imagine how long I've had them for.  These seem to be 'classic' kits now?  That spins me out as they were 'da bomb' 15 years ago.  The B-29 seemed a bit brittle last I had the box open.  Is that a common thing for old kits?

Other good news, my brother-in-law, who collects and runs trains of all scales, has offered to lend me his airbrush and compressor.  He's never used it and doesn't need it at the moment.  I'd said I was going to start off with spray cans to make sure I was happy with building before investing in an airbrush set-up.  That deserves rum all round, I reckon!