Fleet Air Arm Group Build

Aaron and Sean- Looks like you fellas are really enjoying your Revell kits!

Sean- PE parts?  AAAAACK!   LOL, looks like you are doing a bang-up job with them.

Aaron- Did you want me to post some pics of the LG I did on the Corsairs?

You mean these ones? Frank you know me too well!

Looking good Sean! Thanks Ritchie!

sfcmac wrote:

You mean these ones? Frank you know me too well!

LOL, exactly!

Daywalker wrote:

Aaron and Sean- Looks like you fellas are really enjoying your Revell kits! Sean- PE parts?  AAAAACK!

I agree, what ever made me decide to mess with that stuff again. Must be something to do with a certain Gloster Gladiator that came with PE parts.  I figured I had better practice on something.

Have taken a Break from making little boxes , been getting some plumbing in also. Still quite a few PE parts on the fret still to go on this side. 

Thanks Guys for the comments. Hope the C.A.G. doesnt Spring a Leak from a P-40 taking up space.

 I have been getting kinda jiggy with mine too Sean. I shall let Frank see what I got done on the gear thus far. Real slow going. Took a long time to clean out all the spokes in the wheels  but hey what can you do?  Think I shall future the thing for decaling and let it dry while I am doing this tedious detailing stuff. Canopy needs some stuff and I have another gear to go. and still have to detail the door covers and rework the rear wheel! ACK!

Aaron - here are a couple of pics of the gear off that Blasted Corsair of mine back in Happier Days .

Looks like you got yours under control, but just in case. Franks sissors look to collapsed to me unless it just hit the deck. hmmm  Now that would make a cool display - front gear touching tail up and hook grabbing the cable  

I think that collapsed shock look is a Tamiya thing Sean. You'd have to cut it apart and rebuild it I think if you want a diff look.  To me once it's together you'd have to be looking close to notice. Eh? what do I know?

Those Trumpeter gear look really sharp!  Are they out the box like that? Wow! I dunno if I can get that outta my scrap garbage or not? LOL!  It will be better than the stock ones though.  Yowzers that Trumpeter kit was ok cept for the Wing fold thing or were there other issues?  Terrible shame about the crash. I hope you get it together enough to hang in your son's room for him! Still really high on the cool factor with that detail you have shown in the engine, extc.

Mine is future drying topside coat as I sit.

 All right you two! You got me reading books and checking refs at 1 O'dark oclock!  but here is what I have come up with see if you concur or deny. What you both (Sean and Frank) have are most excellent representations of the F4U-4 or F2G late war gear configurations. The most obvious thing to set them apart from the earlier birds is the shape of the supports attaching to the main gear. Early birds most up to 1945 have round pipe like shaped gear retractor arms/supports. The F4U-4's are flat steel strengthened rectangles.  This was when the Corsair was developed to maximum efficency and heavier faster landing speeds required a stronger gear.

Early F4U-1A's gear.

The tail wheel config was much the same but appears to have only two lightening holes as opposed to three in the -4.  Who knew? fear not I shall make the needed adjustments and perserver!

Summit wrote:

Lt. Richie  - Where have you been Hiding ? Off with the Gal's with the Grass Skirts ? .......

Ummmm, gal yes!!!, grass skirt, no!

Great work Aaron and Sean!!!! Looking very nice indeed!!!!

Buddy,   hope it was a good one.

Sean, lot's of work going into that pit.  Should look quite smashing when it's done.

Mac, that Corsair is really starting to come to life.  Baaaaaaa

Speaking of corsairs.  I'm almost done my RA build so I pulled my 1/72 Tamiya corsair out again last night to see where I left off.  Pit is almost done and should be well under way again soon.

For all you Revell Diehards out there here is a pic of how they want you to build the P-40 pit.

  Not too bad, I remember as a kid thinking it was Way Cool .. Back then to have a seat and stick was a prize. 

Here is where I am at on Pepsi  using the Edward / Scratch version. 

The original looks like under the hood of my old 69 Nova wagon. What an improvement, way to go. Mountain Dew unfortunately was a momentary burst of irrationality, so I'll leave that subject to my betters.

Can't wait to see more. I remember the first glimmer of hope for me as a modeler was on those big beautiful Revell birds. I probsably painted the sidewall silver with a "0" brush.Nice trip on memory lane.

bondoman wrote:

Mountain Dew unfortunately was a momentary burst of irrationality, so I'll leave that subject to my betters.

Ahoy! Apparently I have the watch! Well I gots work tomorrow night so be on your toes to draw straws for me relief!

Bondo I saw your Mavis finally! Better late than never ! I live for those momentary burst of irrationality but far no better than ye in sheer talent!  I understand you be on a flying boat kicker so be it! I wish there was such a revell 1/32 beastie to fit in!

What Have I done all day.... a bit.

Gear and gear doors reworked /scratched details and the beastie is decaled!

The reworking and modifications are finally paying off in the pics!  There is much more detail than before and with a few touch ups will be looking pretty swell me thinks!

Even the gear doors got the treatment! They were simple flat detailess doors before! Thanks to FRank and Sean I really think I improved the wheels and Gear as well!

If you zoom in with super human vision (Frank) you can tell that the stuff is scratch built and  carved out. Photo etch scrap made the scissor gear and the brake lines are wire painted over. The Gear doors are basically carved out of nothing. They were smooth as the CAG sweet talking the ladies!

Hey anyone notice that red pinkish primer color on the small front gear door covers? It's called Salmon like the fish. Found on some early Corsair parts due to contractors not being notified of the change or not caring.

Frank told me about that.

Whoops looks like I bumped a gear door. A sign I better call it quits for the night. I still have to paint some touch ups and dull coat the beastie. I want to add mirrors and a canopy detail or three before attaching it and have to paint the figure as well.  Until tomorrow Men!  Let the wind be at yer backs!

Sean- That is some mighty fine work on the office!  So, are you gonna be using the PE from now on?   Well done!

Aaron- What can I say?  Gotta love a big Corsair!  You are really going to town with this one, looks like she ought to be done very soon!

Bondo -  Well I am Dissapointed Mtn. Dew wont be joining us. A 69 Nova wagon - Way Cool 

Aaron - That old Corsair sure has became the "Belle of the Ball" . Amazing what a little scratch built details have done to make this kit Pop.  I have the P/E canopy framing with little mirrors left over from the Trump project in the mail for you.

Frank - P/E in my future - just planned for one more build then I will hide the bender up on the back of the top shelf again. Then back to my old ways again. Thanks for likeing the work, you should drag out one of these old beast yourself. 

Hey cant you kids keep the noise down over here? Geez, a man is trying to run a GB dontcha know...well while im here ill have a squiz at whats going on.

mmmm......pretty respectable too. How the heck did you lot get 400 odd pages for a man to search through. Cripes, you guys are like dames, yackety yack LOL.

...Guy

Oh Great another Englishman! There goes the neighborhood!  Getting to be where a man can't keep the tea stocked in the cabinette anymore! Oh well guess we shall stick to rum!

 Guy you need to Inquire about a 1/48 Tamiya Corsair and the Aires # 4225 detail set that looks just up your alley!  Resistance is futile!

  Thanks Sean!

Well my internet has been acting up all day so let me see if I can post another update before work. Anyone else haveing net woes today?

Sean has kindly offered up some spare PE stuff for the canopy interior so I am postponing the scatching until it arrives. In the mean time I have nearly finished everything else I can.

Some things like final dot painting and weathering need to be done but I am waiting for FRank to tell me how? What do the exhaust stains look like on an F4U with exhaust on the bottom? American fuel exhaust were more gray than black I believe. Better quality fuel?  The Machine guns look like many have gobbs of tape residue all over the openings. More tape than powder marks it seems.  All this and more is waiting for Frank to answer.... unfortunately he seems to be still in hiding from the rioting villagers!  Oh well such is the exciting life of our FRankie!

Anybody recognize this fellow?  He always reminding me of the Rocky of the South pacific as it looks like he liked to block punches with his face more than once.

I was going to rework the figure into a less stiff pose with a new head but you know. He was just ugly enough to pass as a Marine so I left him. ( no offense you uncle sam's misguided children.)

Now a bad figure is a bad figure and paint can't fix that but you can try. He looks to even change expression a bit as he turns.

 The canopy sits well. The big grooves on the side give it away as the revell kit but with the canopy open it isn't so bad. Odd that a 1970 model has a good fit there but the new Trumpeter offerings are figity!  What you think Sean?

So there she sets to dry out a bit awaiting parts and weathering advice from those who know better than I?

 Almost there I hope I put enough love into it to do her justice! I must say I stooped everything to work on it and haven't been able to leave it alone since I started! I really enjoy this old bird!

Gonna have to fix that seam up fron't I heard it pop when I fit the Prop on!  Oops!  I made a kinda bearing so it spins but the fit to the resin shaft was a bit stif. Musta used too much ummmmph! Not enough finesse!  

sfcmac wrote:

Anybody recognize this fellow?  He always reminding me of the Rocky of the South pacific as it looks like he liked to block punches with his face more than once.

That be the man himself, Pappy Boyington!!!! I saw him at the '85 Reno Air Races. Couldn't get his autograph though. Aaron, I would say you are doing that kit justice hands down!!!!!! Very Well done indeed, and you aren't finished yet!! Yes, he did stop a few punches with his face. A good read is a book called 'BLACKSHEEP ONE'. A true as possible biography.

Sean, I had that kit as well but let a guy I knew in Georgia have it with all my paints and glues when I left to come down under. Looking very nice as well!!!!!!!!!!

I bought an entry for the next FAA GB yesterday but will not reveal what until I finish what I have started here first. Nothing to write home about, just an appropriate Airfix kit.

I am Very Impressed with all the extra details and TLC you have put into this kit. That pit is is the bizz. Are the seatbelts resin also ?  T the teach said your pilot looks like the Gerber Baby grown up, must be those cheeks. 

Wait until Frank see's it, he will be Blue to his elbows cranking out the Corsairs. 

Well done my Friend. And now you have Dave wanting to upgrade his  - I would say this Mission so far Has Been a Success

sfcmac wrote:

Buddy!  Happy B-day again in case you missed it!  Houston in April? You got a date and location? I wouldn'y have much excuse to miss that one!

Aaron,

4 April 2009 Stafford Center, 10505 Cash Rd., Stafford TX.  More details can be found a www.ipms-houston.org

Also mark your calendar for Scalefest 30 May 2009 in Grapevine TX just north of DFW airport.  Very good contest, also Squadron opens it's warehouse to the public that weekend.  The Mailman's union and UPS and FEDEX guys request that you save up your orders and come get them yourself, they're scared of your neighborhood.  They call it the Triangle of Death.

Aaron- Nothing quite like stopping in before work and seeing a Blue Beauty like this!  Looking very good, will it be done by the time I get home tonight?  I want more pics!!!

Summit wrote:

Frank - P/E in my future - just planned for one more build then I will hide the bender up on the back of the top shelf again. Then back to my old ways again. Thanks for likeing the work, you should drag out one of these old beast yourself.

Just one more, hmmm... think I have said that before myself.  Good luck with that!

 Well you got Corsairs Frank LOL I was looking at one of your threads from May 2008 where you finished one and left a comment on how far your skills had advanced in detailing in such a short period of time.  Now three others have Congratulated you on finishing your Corsair LOL!  No attention to detail LOL!!!!  To the date of the build. I believe they think you just finished it. Still well deserved Kudo's though!

 I'm taking pics in the dark with a flash. Really screws up the colors making the blue really blue... when it is dark Navy Sea Blue.  All looks kinda glossy and every little thing shows up like Sean told me today. Stuff you can't see with the nekid eye. HEHHEHEHE I said nekid.

I shall take somemore in the daylight sunshine and see if it makes a diff. At least you can see the progress and shout out any fixes or weathering I should do!

Added the little glass light covers on the wing tips. Dee came in and looked at it when I was filling the seams and thought I had wrecked it.

 The Mr Surfacer threw her off.

You can see with the flash the color diff where I wet sanded the Mr Surfacer before repainting. This is another thing that does not show without the flash and zoom.

You can see the paint drying or the future coat,

Here is a bugs view.

Nothing too terrible when you consider the checklist if what was reworked. Engine, Pit, Cowling, Wheelwells,Wheels, Rear gear, LG Cover doors extc it just goes on and on. I musta got carried away or really like this kit! Thankyou Sean!

LOL, thanks Aaron!  I was VERY surprised to get home and see that thread on page one.  WOW!  What a blast from the past.

You look to be doing quite well with your large scale project!  I would call this operation an overwhelming success.  Especially with that laundry list of upgrades.  Well done my friend, sure is great to see another bent-wing bird on the flightline.

Aaron, that looks superb mate!!! Really top notch work!!!!! You finished now???

 Thanks Frank and Ritchie. I still have to do a bit of weathering. Nothing too drastic as this was a show bird for the media and I am sure they had it done up as cleanly as possible for the dog and pony show. Still shouldn't look too new though and the touch ups will follow.

The only real main step I want to add is on the canopy.  In this photo from one of the links I posted you can see an idea of how I want it to look.  Sean has offered some spare PE from a Trumpeter kit to add to the effect so it shall be so!

No rush  though whenever they arrive I shall attack it again!

Two pics diff colors of blue. I am hoping the sunshine of tomorrow will let the true colors show better.

May just be having too much fun with this one but I think I have done everything to it I can with-in reason.