Fleet Air Arm Group Build

namrednef wrote:

Aaron.....he should have rosy cheeks......we aren't seeing dandelions here right now!

The devil is in the details! That bottle isn't full! Anti-freeze!  I gotta yell at him anyways! The price for mailing a package is like 1/2 orf what it was for Christmas! The postal system price gouging now!  I'm telling ya I mailed two out today for less than one during the Christmas season!  I think ! And Gas prices ! How can they be over $4 one month and $150 the next I bet he did that too!  Oh that's it I'm going postal or at least to work!  Stay warm guys!

simpilot34 wrote:

Ice for Daqueries? Who drinks those things???!!! I was hoping for some rum snow cones!

I would stay away from any snow cones with this bunch, you never know what might be in it

The carpet monster strikes again and cost me an entire day of building. This morning I lost one of the small side windows and spent more than an hour looking for it with no luck. Knowing how carpet monsters behave I moved on to other things. I got some of my work space cleaned up, killed some zombies with my son, split some wood, chased the cat. I returned to my bench this evening and right there where it should have been and where I searched extensivly I found the window laying on the floor quite obvious in the open. I am sure I heard the carpet monster's evil chuckle.

I have now closed the fuselage up but have to wait for all the putty to dry before I can get much work done. 

simpilot34 wrote:

LOL you have a point there Sean!!!

Yeah....dont eat the yellow snow!

Aaronw: Yep! Sometimes the carpet monster burps one up!

Hi Everyone,

Here are some more photos of my Hellcat, complete with some rather gross weathering using powdered chalk pastels. I've deliberately overstated the effect I want as I know that the light coat of semi gloss that the model will get tomorrow will reduce the effect significantly. Anyways, this is how it looks tonight.

Cheers

Tony

Wow Tony! Looking good! Tough judging that mix of media.....wish you the best!

I have no Hellcat refs onhand, but is white proper color for exhaust stains on that blue? Just asking.

Spike! What are you doing up? Work today?

namrednef wrote:

Spike! What are you doing up? Work today?

Nope! Thankfully I've got a 3 day weekend! So I'm working on everything I've neglected over the last couple of weeks. Also trying to get some time at the bench too. Of course there is a catch- After finally getting used to the midnight shift, I've now got to readjust to the days for the sake of monday-I've got a post academy evaluation then. Gotta make sure I'm sharp that day and all

   And I'd been meaning to post progress pictures the last week or so. Sadly enough, progress has been slower than I really care to admit. GB deadline is in april. I'm really hoping I'll be able to make it by then.

On the other hand, it wouldn't be me if I actually made a deadline now, would it?

That Cat certainly looks great to me. like she's seen plenty of action. nice work. I'm impressed.

All the best.

Greg

namrednef wrote:

Wow Tony! Looking good! Tough judging that mix of media.....wish you the best! I have no Hellcat refs onhand, but is white proper color for exhaust stains on that blue? Just asking. Spike! What are you doing up? Work today?

Thanks for the comments everyone. I think the camera flash does whiten the exhaust stain slightly, its more of a dirty off white. I have reference pics showing a variety of different colors in the exhaust stain of Hellcats. I think it comes down to how lean they've been running the engine from memory. There is no preshading on this model, I find it too hard to achieve on small scales and also with very dark finishs. The contrast is entirely made from rubbing different blends of powdered chalk pastels into the finish, and the contrast is greater on the upper side and quite restrained on the underside. It takes about an hour in 1/72, but you get a lot of control over the type of finish you get. I have a photo somewhere of a very weathered FAA Hellcat, so I thought, why not ? I think there's also some rebellion to my last few models, which were pristine, glossy F1 cars. The last Hellcat I did was the '10,000th Hellcat' which I depicted in factory fresh glossy sea blue, so I also wanted some contrast on this one. I'm off too seal the pastels on now, will post some pics later.

Cheers

Tony

Ok Tempest Johnny! I am sorry I yelled abot the price of mailing things. I have had no new model deliveries at all this week.

You were right the cold front caused a low temp of 59. Actally got more humid and hotter after dark last night! Our mail persons drive the Jeeps with the steering wheel on the right side. Some have been upgraded to the Vietnam Armor plateing due to Dee! The mail must get through! Rosey cheeks and all!

Here is the Hellcat after the semi gloss coat. The weathering is noticeable more restrained, and nice to my eye at least. This effect is quite predictable. Hope you like it. This will be the last update for a day or two as I let it thoroughly dry before proceeding.

Okay! Looking good Tony!

I was away most of yesterday staving off flu symptoms.

 Buh dun dah dunt!

My name is Nam!

Buh Dah dun dunt!

and I sing the blues!

Ba dudda duh dunt!

Went skinny dipping with my dogs!

Dah dah dun Dunt!

and sunburned my bum!

Twang! budda de budda de butt!

Oh I got the sun burned bum blues! Ain't nobody feeling my pain cuz its so cold outside baby!

Whats a poor Nam to do with the sunburned bum blues?!

Ba dunn de dunt!

Looking very good Tony!  Like the weathering- very well done.

Mac- You're killing me!  I love it.

sfcmac wrote:

The funny part is , We all drew straws and Roger has to apply the first aid!

ACK!!!

LOL

I have been working on the twins this weekend, along with my FW-190 AND my Bf-109.  I tell you what, I don'tthink I want to build two of the sameaircraft at the same time again.  When the parts come up that I really don't like, it's twice as bad as there is another to do as soon as you've finished with one.  Progress is slooooooooooooooooow, even slower than my usual builds.

Tony -  I really like the exhaust streaks I can hardly wait till you unmask the canopy.

Aaron - I can always count on you for a good laugh first thing every day. Better then a cup of Folgers in the morning.  Hey I have been racking my brain to come up with Aniv. ideas also - our # 18 is coming up in a few months also. 

Roger - Not sure what to say - other then well "Thats the Luck of the Draw" , glad it wasnt me.

Finally, a progress report on the twins!  The cowl flap innards received their coat of Salmon primer.  The LG is done, painted in Alclad aluminum and awaiting a wash and some weathering.  One engine is plumbed, and the other should be finished in a day or so (The first one crossed my eyes for hours!).  The wheel hubs were painted with Alclad, and are masked awaiting the tire color.  The night fighter has it's stall strip, outboard gun position faired over, and the radome was glued on today.  I also dipped the clear parts, and hope to get them mounted soon.  They should be ready for the paint shop as soon as it frees up from the FW-190!

Aaron,

How long have you been in Texas?  Bluebonnets are flowers, BlueBell is freaking ICE CREAM (and some very good ice cream at that)!

Tony, the hellcat is looking great.  Should be a real stunner when it's done.

Frank, incredible work as usual. I tried four of the same at once, not a good idea.

I broke out my 1/72 Tamiya Corsair last night

Sean, #18 eh?  I'm on 18 and a half,  starting to sweat about #20 already.  Screwed up on #10 (got her pregnant) and #15 (in the process of moving out here) so I'm going to have to make #20 extra special.  Anyone got any ideas let me know.

Roger, glad it was you. 

lewbud wrote:

Aaron, How long have you been in Texas?  Bluebonnets are flowers, BlueBell is freaking ICE CREAM (and some very good ice cream at that)!

lol long enough to know better!

EXCELLENT PROGRESS FRANKIE!!!!!! lovin' those twins!!!!!!!!!

Roger might I suggest putting that stuff in a squirt gun and do it from a distance!!!!!

Tony, LOOKING GREAT!!!! The unveiling is almost there!!!!

Sweet Frankie! Such attention to detail!

Those twins should scare that 190 out of the paint shop!

No he doesnt know what the name of Ice cream is.. he is a dork .. dorkieetyy dork dork dork...

I want to go to Melting pot for anniversary ..or Cork Bar.. :)  or to hotel on seawall

DeeYankeeinTexas wrote:

No he doesnt know what the name of Ice cream is.. he is a dork .. dorkieetyy dork dork dork... I want to go to Melting pot for anniversary ..or Cork Bar.. :)  or to hotel on seawall

Very ill woman

namrednef wrote:

DeeYankeeinTexas wrote: No he doesnt know what the name of Ice cream is.. he is a dork .. dorkieetyy dork dork dork... I want to go to Melting pot for anniversary ..or Cork Bar.. :)  or to hotel on seawall Very ill woman

Ice cream is strictly a distaff thing, guys are still waiting for the PBR flavor.

Yep yep! Call me names and then ask for stuff! At that rate I'll be taking ye to  the take it all off club exotica in Houston. Place has its own spining spot light shooting high into the air! Very classy! Hey at least I got the color of the State flower correct?!  Blue Bonnet is also a margerine is it not?

 Thanks for the compliment Bondo, er I think?

Nam I still be PBYing!

Lewbud wb? I'm a Texas immigrant from the military. Some time in Elpaso and 4 years at Fort Hood. Like Ritchie said long enough to know better!

DEee hows that weight watchers a coming with all that Blue Bell?

I didnt eat blue bell .. 

or blue bonnett!