Fleet Air Arm Group Build

Sean,

very nice work so far, I am enjoying your WIP reports. Please keep them coming!

Sean- I can almost smell the salt!  The TBD is looking very nice indeed!.

Darren- Thanks for the Catalina info.

Most excellent Darren!  Wow we need to repost that great bit of info over on the PBY GB! Fellows!  That told me pretty much everything I needed to know plus a lot more about the Catalina's service in Great Britain and elsewhere! Awesome indeed CAG! You do not disappoint! Thankyou! 

Sean have you mentioned the markings on that Devestator yet?  Coral Sea? Midway? just a guess?

Dave - Thanks for liking, the Gap is really only a paper thin split (dern camera) where the bomb doors meet. In person I did not think it looked that bad. Once the torped is mounted you will never see it again. Yes the wings are ribbed, I have not been able to find out the reason why Douglas made them that way. 

Darren - I am happy you like them

Frank - I was thinking about installing working cowl flaps, but I did not want to steal your Thunder

Aaron - You are right with Midway , I am using the Out of the Box USS Hornet Markings . I have to tell you guys this is a really Nice kit. I am going to scrounge a few more of the same and look into some aftermarket parts and decals. oops did I actually say that  

Sean, it's the bee's knees my friend. 

Did you say aftermarket parts

Razor it's a TBD not an SBD! but we knew what you meant You're right the SBD didn't have the corrugations.

The corrugations gave added strength and stability with out added weight. Engineering wise, thats my guess anyways, not an engineer lol. The Ford Tri-motor (Tin Goose) was so stable that it had to be forced into turning lol, well a short pilot report on the Bushmaster showed that to be true. Early Junkers aircraft also used this type of construction. The B-17 had a corugated sub skin below the outer skin and the fuel tanks which acted as stringers. Very strong wing structure!!!!!!!!!. Reading 'Flying Forts' by Martin Caidin, there was a story in there about one taking an 88 shell through the main spar with out exploding. Spun out of control, pilot recovered and managed to get back to base and upon landing looked out at the wing and noticed a slight curvature. But it held!!!!!! HTH!!

Quick update from me:

I am in the process of painting the complex rubber seal on the F-8's canopy and I have begun the airframes weathering process. Details about the display base are now classified until further notice..........

wyoroy wrote:

it's the bee's knees

That cracks me up evertime I see or hear that !

Hello chaps,

bad news I'm afraid. I've managed to tear the port side Star and Bar decal during the weathering process.

I have gone through my decal box and haven't got a decal that maches the same size, but I think I can make a good patch job from three seperate decals if I take my time. Shame, I was progressing quite well with this one.

Still, I'll fix it one way or another, sorry for lack of pics this week, the camera is still on charge (takes ages!!) I am back on duty tomorrow so I'll see you fella's when I see you.

On the upside, the display base is coming along nicely and it will remain behind closed doors as I want it to be a surprise. Its just one of my daft idea's-but..........you just might like it!

TTFN!

CAG! You recently showed another base, no? Want to see this one! Sorry about the decal mess.

Do you mind if I add your excellent PBY refs to the PBY GB?

TANGO 1 wrote:

bad news I'm afraid. I've managed to tear the port side Star and Bar decal during the weathering process.

Hmmmph must be something in the air - I have prided myself on using 30 year old decals without incident. Well today I killed the Star that goes on the fuse. "Dern it"  I am hoping since it is only 13mm I might be able to find one in my 1/72 decal collection.

I bet we can blame Aaron for making reference to the "S" word..

Edit - I forgot to add piccys

The first decal I have killed

Working on the rudder decal right now, yeah I still need to add the little red dot in the one star. Need some Coffee first

Looking good Sean.  If this is for midway though didn't they paint over the red dots by then so that they didn't get mistaken for meatballs?  But then again what do I know (don't say it )

If you can't find a spare decal I've got the Techmod sheet of the early US Insigna that would definitely have what you need.

razordws wrote:

If this is for midway though didn't they paint over the red dots by then so that they didn't get mistaken for meatballs?

gahh  Dave - I am not sure without looking it up.  Everytime I use the instruction guidelines it usually bites me back. That would just about be my luck though as those litle red dots have been a bugger. Off to the bookshelf,

Summit wrote:

razordws wrote:   If this is for midway though didn't they paint over the red dots by then so that they didn't get mistaken for meatballs?  gahh  Dave - I am not sure without looking it up.  Everytime I use the instruction guidelines it usually bites me back. That would just about be my luck though as those litle red dots have been a bugger. Off to the bookshelf,

They were there for the Coral Sea engagement but all was painted over by June and the Midway battle. Sorry Sean..... On the bright side if you are set on a Midway plane instead of Coral Sea it can be easily overpainted with some flat white and look the part as that is what they did for Midway. I have a Vindicator that shows the patchy paint pretty well. Even the red and white striping on the tail shows through a little.

Nah your fine really! You got two choices. A Coral Sea or Prior bird or to cover the dots and tail strips  with thin translucent look to it.  Or you can play with the leggo's sounds like fun!

Summit wrote:

Oh well, I am going to build something out of leggos.

Leggos are AWESOME!!!     I was deprived of leggos as a kid so I made up for it by buying buckets and buckets as an adult... Uh... for my kids... right!

Summit wrote:

"Pre Combat Markings" with the red dot. Oh well, I am going to build something out of leggos.

Yeah Sean, the red dot was gone shortly after Coral Sea......but the white overspray idea was very evident.

sfcmac wrote:

I betcha if you simply overlaid another spotless decal over those it would give that painted over effect the easy way> Dog gone it now you got me thinking! Stop it!  I'm building Italian and it is icky!  Needs tERRA MASSU!

What you really wanna do is get some light PINK paint and over paint the dot.

razordws wrote:

Summit wrote: Oh well, I am going to build something out of leggos. Leggos are AWESOME!!!     I was deprived of leggos as a kid so I made up for it by buying buckets and buckets as an adult... Uh... for my kids... right!

Leggo's are AWESOME!!!!! In a past issue of FSM they were shown to make very good mold boxes for casting your own parts! We ALL know that was the real reason you got them.....right?

Summit wrote:

Frank - I was thinking about installing working cowl flaps, but I did not want to steal your Thunder

Good one!  Not sure what to try next, perhaps a genuine sliding canopy.  Always wanted to try it.   And yes- let's blame those decals on Aaron with that "S" word comment. LOL...

Darren- Bummer about that decal mate!  I looked to see if I had anything like that in mystash, but nothing I'm afraid.  Hope you get it sorted out soon so you can show us your finished masterpiece!

Excuse me?

PAGE TWO!!!!! C'mon lads-we are the Fleet Air Wing GB! We're never on page two!

Who's on watch around here? I'm gonna kick their butt!

Nam-go right ahead and use that info.

Frank-thanks mate, I'll muddle through somehow-(story of my life!)

TANGO 1 wrote:

Excuse me? PAGE TWO!!!!! C'mon lads-we are the Fleet Air Wing GB! We're never on page two! Who's on watch around here? I'm gonna kick their butt!

crew scurries like cockroaches when the lights are turned on...

 It ain't getting any better CAG!  You know Tempest Johnny turned 39 today and no one has evened offered him a drink!  I'd give em one but no one has e'r seen fit to give me a rum key!  Oh well Happy 39 to ya Tempest Johnny!  Sorry it seems to be a sober party but you do look under 21!

 Now with this sorry state of affairs ye be in perhaps the CAG will allow me a more free reign with my lash!

Who's 1st!  well I guess she has to spank old Johnny 39 times poor fellow!

TANGO 1 wrote:

Excuse me? PAGE TWO!!!!! C'mon lads-we are the Fleet Air Wing GB! We're never on page two! Who's on watch around here? I'm gonna kick their butt!

I've had connection issues the last couple of days....