Fleet Air Arm Group Build

 I am a bit of a midnight modeler myself. I like the quiet house free from distractions.  Hopefully I can get some progress pics up soon!

PAGE

 400

!!!!

PAGE 400!!!

WHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This calls for a drink!

Thanks to everyone here for making this the best build thread on the web! You're the best!

Darren that is one beautiful gunfighter you have there and it's not finished yet. I didn't think it could get any better but obviously it will!!! WELL DONE!!!!

Congrats evryone on 400 pages!!!!! WOOOHHOOOOOO!!!!! I have to agree this is one of the best threads going!!!!!!!!

Actually had a bit of progress on the 'bag yesterday and today. Nothing to take pics of just shaved off the chunks of plastic that were called fins from the fish in prep for the PE props and fins. Tried to airbrush some gray craft acrylic for a primer and used some windex and water for thinner. I say tried because it eventually clogged pretty good, so it was my bad, i should have experimented first before just throwing it in. Anyway tip cleared but soaking to make sure all paint is gone. So trial before error!!!!!

Well said X/O!

As a small token of my repect and admiration for all my friends here, I would like to present the men of the Fleet Air Wing Group Build with this............its a tribute you all of you here and I sincerely hope you enjoy it for what it is, a symbol of comradeship. God bless you all.

This is for you. 

CHEERS!

 What can one say to that! Darren?  That's not tears something flew in my eye. Er Allergies you know.

Thanks very much it is an even more special build now!

First, we hit a historic page, and now this?  What could possibly top this?  Darren, I really do not know what to say.  This is an amazing piece of work, and the fact that you dedicated it to us makes it all the more special.  Thank you very much, not only for this stunning gesture, but for the fellowship, friendship, generosity, and rum that has so freely flowed over the last 400 pages.  Can you believe it?

I hereby bestow upon this the O.T.T.

Thank you again Darren, I absolutely love it!

Oh Man , I can not even begin to describe my favorite features on this Super Fantastic Build.  The  title "Last Gunfighter" really makes an Impression. Some of the small things like The Drains in the base really make it "Pop". The Crew all getting their picture taken gives it that personel comradeship only known by those who work together. The Aircraft has that stance that just says Bad A$$ - Dont Mess (censored) With Me !  And then the dedication plaque - I am Speechless and Honored.

Thank You

Frank, Sean,

you are too kind! I am touched by your reaction and its me who's honored. Thank you.

Wow, 400 pages!!!  Who would've thought that this GB would have continued on like this.  I'm glad and honoured to have been a small part of it. 

Darren, what can I say. that Gunfighter is yet another stunning build and to have it dedicated to this motley crew is an honour!  Well done CAG.  We owe it all to your leadership and fine example! 

STUNNING!  Simply STUNNING!

I have been working away, but have not been taking many pictures of the build so far....I gotta learn to do that more often, but when your plugging away and having fun it is tough to stop! .  Doing the masking so I can start shooting paint on the exterior!

Brian

Oh I'm touched, truly. We're a rum lot, and the strength o' the team is it's leadership no doubt. However, my sources have given me the unofficial unretouched prepublication photos!

Prepare for pipes party to welcome the CAG aboard, men. The XO is out and about, the Admiral hasn't been seen aboard, and the Officers are drunk in their bunks again, so smoke em if you got em.

LtCmr BillyBondo FAA

Congratulations fellows on an outstanding achievement. I feel privileged to have been a small part of it. Thank you for the tribute Tango, it's a great model and a very significant gesture.

It is appreciated.

I look forward to finishing off a couple of other models and getting onto my next naval one.

Regards

Tony

 Well I for one am so inspired by this act of... ( what do you call it?) Nobility or something.  I am going to post in progress pics of my own.

 Thanks to Sean (Summit)  most wonderful gift I am being transported back to 1976 to a time when 11 year old Aaron was building a model from one of his favorite shows!

 The Revell 1/32 Corsair from 1970 a top of the line kit for it's day, reboxed to represent the prime time TV show,"The Black Sheep Squadron"

I mean to tell you the fumes this thing gives off and the smells and feel make me think I am a boy at the kitchen table building away at my newest toy!  Styrene doesn't smell like this anymore! Must have good stuff in it eh?!

This kit is in remarkable condition! Like it just came off the store shelf yesterday. No yellowing of decals or indstructions and everything in the bags still on the sprues!  Quite remarkable!  Has a price tag of $2.61 ( Gotta mow a couple yards to afford that! )

On to building!  Sean included a really nice resin set by Lonestar models to replace this kits worst fault which was a completely in accurate pit.  Last pic with old camera!

 Of course it really doesn't fit into it all that well. Hey it's old like me!  So I had to build it pretty well from the inside to get a respectable look!

Here is one with the seat installed.

You know I like to add little things like  wire levers with white glue knobs ( they look like tootsie pops to me!) and stuff. This is a pretty cramed full pit!

The floor will be easiest attached to the lower wing assembly and dry fitting has shown no visable gaps can be seen from above. It looks very cool and convincing. I added some suspended contol cables from the foot pedals aft that can be seen when you look inside thru the top! No floor ya know?!

Took a lot of time to get things just so, but I managed to squeeze in some time for the engine.

The kit engine was cool for it's day as it was complete and was there!  Now days it is a little soft and the bullet nose on the P&W radial and magneto's were never used on any version of the F4U. To remedy this I used the excellent Quickboost engine designed for the new Trumpeter kits. However I lack the supplemental kit parts and am scatching a lot of the details for what to me is the Heart of the F4U, it's radial engine.

I have made a complete wireing harness and stuff. Looked at actual pics of the Corsair engines to get the placement and colors correct.

Still have to add those wonderful black and silver pushrods!  then the stuff on the bullet front and a bit of paint touch up it should be ready to fit into the cowling which it does nicely!  Whew!  I was worried there!

 Ok Darren's Corsair dedication has sprouted wings into another Corsair from a different era but the fact that this is a gift from the heart and so much part of the fellowship here on the FAA GB makes it a perfect project for me!

 Frank has been a great help with refs ( Ya think he knows Corsairs?)  And I thank him as well!

 I think the clock has caught up with me tonight so  time to rest. See Y'all in the morrow!

bondoman wrote:

Oh I'm touched, truly. We're a rum lot, and the strength o' the team is it's leadership no doubt. However, my sources have given me the unofficial unretouched prepublication photos! Prepare for pipes party to welcome the CAG aboard, men. The XO is out and about, the Admiral hasn't been seen aboard, and the Officers are drunk in their bunks again, so smoke em if you got em. LtCmr BillyBondo FAA

Good Heavens! How did that pic get into your hands! Nice one Bondo!

Aaron,

great start to what promises to be a great build! I too am working on an old Corsair.......but more about that later!

Right now I am doing battle with the unforgiving Hobbycraft Seafury! I'll get some more pics up tonight if I can. For now, I have the day off and I will enjoy as its my last for a while.

bondo- I love that photo!  With the optivisor and flannel, I know exactly which one is me!  And Nam with the pink shorts, too funny!  Good one.

Aaron- Ahhhhh... Corsair WIP photos.  That makes my morning!  Great show too, guess we had better start drinking beer around here so we have some aluminum to patch the bullet holes with. 

I actually worked on my Corsair twins yesterday.  Spent a couple of hours adding the crankcase, and running the plug wires.  VERY tedious work I must say.  I also painted the wires.  Here's how they look:

Hey, the next one to post is post number 8000!

***EDIT***

Oops!  This is post number 8000, the next one is reply number 8000.

Daywalker wrote:

I actually worked on my Corsair twins yesterday.  Spent a couple of hours adding the crankcase, and running the plug wires.  VERY tedious work I must say.  I also painted the wires.  Here's how they look: Hey, the next one to post is post number 8000!

Those are some sweet looking radials!  Your attention to the little details is gonna make for one fine bird!

Brian

8,000 posts!

We are certainly reaching quite a few milestones around here. Frank, your attention to detail is amazing! Those engines look superb!

 Work has halted at my end as my son is back from his mates house and he has torn me away from the bench........not that I mind, its great fun being five again!

See you all later!

Sakes Alive - It is not safe to go off and catch some shut~eye.

Aaron - I can not even express how happy I am to see the Fantastic job you are doing to that old Corsair that is snubbed by todays standards, Unbelivable !  As I see it Two Great things have happened here - you were taken back to your youth and I opened up a little space in the "Tomb of Stash" Nice to see this classic kit getting the attention it deserves.

Frank - Your a Wild Man, It still boggles my mind - you building "twins" . Very precision work indeed.

8000 - Post , I wonder what Brass at FSM refer to this GB as ? 

Darren -  Have a Great time be'ing five again, I sure enjoyed spending time with my kiddos and their toys at that age. (I was a lot trimmer back then - could be on to something ~Honey ?)

Thanks fellas, glad you approve!

Summit wrote:

8000 - Post , I wonder what Brass at FSM refer to this GB as ?

Sean- I have often wondered the same thing.

Summit wrote:

8000 - Post , I wonder what Brass at FSM refer to this GB as ?

I dunno, maybe something like:

"Look at this, that thread where all those misfit peg leggers go to get sauced up on rum are still at it....do they even HAVE lives, I wonder?"

Brian

New Hampshire wrote:

Summit wrote: 8000 - Post , I wonder what Brass at FSM refer to this GB as ?    I dunno, maybe something like: "Look at this, that thread where all those misfit peg leggers go to get sauced up on rum are still at it....do they even HAVE lives, I wonder?" Brian

Well, we're still here! I guess as we keep it fun and friendly they are content to leave us to our own devices..........in fact, I dare say they admire the heck out of us!

Really! Think about it, twenty plus model builders in the same web space always having fun, helping each other and turning out some nice builds............. plus they all have other stuff (work/school/family etc.) going on in their lives.........and they still make time for each other without one rivet counted, nor a crossed word. 

Lad's- y'know what FSM's brass call us?

The Best.        

'Nuff said.!

Hey all.  First off, a lot of very nice work being done here.  I just caught Darren's Corsair over on the Aircraft forum-very impressive piece of work.

Secondly, I will not be completing (or even starting) the AM Dauntless prior to the April 2009 end date.  Which direction to the plank?

Thirdly (is that even a word?), will this GB end after the April 2009 deadline or will it continue and if so, what direction?  My schedule looks like it may be opening up late spring.....

Cheers

TANGO 1 wrote:

Lad's- y'know what FSM's brass call us? The Best.         'Nuff said.!

Well said Darren! 

Bob! Good to see you!

This GB will go on! We are in American markings until May 2009,(Deadline extended) after that, its back to blighty and the 2009 Fleet Air Arm Group build! We'll be right here-hope you join us!

You'll want to stick around around-if you thought the first two years were good-wait 'till you see what I have in store for you this year...........................