Fleet Air Arm Group Build

Daywalker wrote:

Graham- I'm looking forward to those pics!  Can never have too many Corsairs.  Aaronw wrote: That's why I don't put pilots in my aircraft, besides all they would do is break into the rum locker and wreck the plane anyway.

Lol! Ok, gotta copy them from photobucket. I'll see about having this afternoon... well, evening...

 Yawn? Where'd everybody go? Sunday Night no-joy? The  Luxery Cruise to Canada musta been too much for everyone except Boba Fett!  Good job lad!  Keep us from running aground!

 Right back to business.  I have been scratching this bomb bay for the Ventura for days it seems.  Think I can call it nearly wrapped up. At least bombbay wise.

 Two reasons I chose to do this was one it has a really cool bomb bay that is kinda odd to me and two a lot of people think this Aircraft was a recon or runabout transport.  Not so this was a beast of a combat aircraft that served as a Medium Bomber, Nightfighter, anti-sub and even an escort for the failed remote controlled Liberator Bomber that flopped killing President Kennedy's oldest brother who was the pilot.

 Ok refs are hard to get so I based an awful lot on pictures of the Harpoon that I had access too. Figured it has to be close.  Also found an old add that had a picture of a 1/72 scale Photo etch set for a PV-1 Ventura Bombbay.  How accurate is it? I dunno but better than nothing right?

 Good picture so I simply blew it up to 1/48 scale or close enough to fit the FM Ventura. Used metal shears and scrap PE frets to cut parts using this as a pattern and create a 1/48 PE Bomb bay for my model. One of a kind I guarantee it!

Lots of work and made a lot of sharp little brass spinters in the process so be careful if you try it! Owie!

The doors were cut and details added much the same way. Small higes of Tamiya Tape were made so they could be positioned. Had to make things temporarily moveable to get everything into a correct position.

 I decided to arm this newly created hole with 4 500lb GP bombs from the Academy 1/48 Armament set. I liked the detail and size of them.  Tacked them to one of the many worn out emery boards and gave them a squirt or 2 of Olive Drab!

To open and close the doors in the real thing was a pair of hydralic pistons attached to hinged braces. Well where am I getting those. I made them from brass tube some sprue that was the right diameter and  stretched sprue linkage. They also move in and out for positioning. A must!

Put it all together and it looks like this.

Not too shabby considering what was there before was just molded in recessed lines representing doors!  All it needs is 4 pieces of stretched sprue or wire from the tips of the doors to the front and back bay wall and then some touch up paint.

Whats next? Probably the Vacuform clear parts! EEKS!  At least the future is dry by now!

 Whatcha think any better?

 BTW who's turn was it to watch me and stop me from doing this crazy stuff!

You all know better than to leave me unsupervised!

Aaron, Wow   That sounds like a lot of work to show off a couple of bombs!  This is indeed going to be a one of a kind build as I don't think anyone else would have the courage to tackle this FM build the way you have.  Keep the pics coming

Boba, we need pics!!!

Got the decals on today.  I used the Tamiya kit decals and several of them broke apart on me.  did my best to put them back together and should be able to fix the rest with some touch up paint.

Aaron and Dave-   Excellent work fellas! 

Mac, you are a real masochist!  Looking forward to the next installment.

Dave- Bummer about the decals, looks like you patched them up nicely.  We all know who's fault it is, don't we?

On the decal save Dave! Can't see any issue with them and in 1/72 that can be tricky!  Always have been amazed at the tiny stuff you pull off!

 Boba Fett  I got yer back! Don't worry! ...... much ! 

 Frank I was trying to figure out why I did it?  Masochist eh?  Well at least I ain't got riding crop marks on me bum! LOL!  Poor Dave

sfcmac wrote:

...Well at least I ain't got riding crop marks on me bum!

Something tells me you're lying to me...

sfcmac wrote:

BTW who's turn was it to watch me and stop me from doing this crazy stuff! You all know better than to leave me unsupervised!

I thought it was the guy with the pink hair and gumball machines turn.  We're all too tired.

EDIT: Nice work on the Ventura by the way.

Well Mateys those be some fine craft ye be building.  Smashing jobs all around!

Brian

Dave- Its Great to see your Fine Workmanship on the pages again. Your painting skills are to be envied.. I had begun to think you were buried under a snow drift.

Aaron - Your scratchbuilding talent is always a pleasure to see. The Bombay looks Terrific. The Shadow painting gives it the real sense of depth.  The hydraulic rams are Top Notch ! Small pieces of wire with the insulation stripped half way off makes good one also..

Summit wrote:

Dave- Its Great to see your Fine Workmanship on the pages again. Your painting skills are to be envied.. I had begun to think you were buried under a snow drift.

Snow drifts all gone!  Supposed to get up into the mid 60's (F) the next few days.   

(Ya ya Aaron... don't even think about it!!!)

I worked on the propellers for both Corsairs yesterday.  I had painted them in NMF previously, and now painted the yellow tips and black blades.  After the paint had dried about 10 minutes, I took a toothpick and "chipped" the black paint of off the nose cone of the Night Fighters prop.  I couldn't find any decisive color callouts for the FAA spinner cones, so I simply left it in NMF for variety.  I also took a piece of 600 grit sandpaper and scuffed the paint of the leading edges of the blades.  The Future coat over the metal protected it from the sandpaper.  A couple of coats of Future sealed it all in and prepared the blades for the prop logo decals.

Daywalker wrote:

The Future coat over the metal protected it from the sandpaper.

So you futured the NMF before painting the Yellow and Black? 

Aaron, you are definately getting the upper hand on that thing now!!!! Really looking good mate!!!!

Dave, Great looking Corsair!!!!! Love your paint work and the decal save looks great!!!!

Frank, even your props look as seperate models unto themselves!!!!! The finish is outstandingly smooth!!!!! Really looks like factory fresh paint really showing the blade contours!!!!!

And HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!!!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!! Wishing you many more!

Ritchie!!!!!! Happy Birthday!

sfcmac wrote:

Ritchie!!!!!! Happy Birthday!

OH YEAH!!!  Looks like this is gonna be a heck of a B-day party!!!

Thanks for the feedback Richie, and

Yargh, happy birthday te ye Richie!

Last night I ordered up the Eduard Photo Etch sheet for Tamiya's Sea Harrier cockpit.  Tis me first attempt at photo etch, so it should be an interesting adventure for one and all!

Brian

Ritchie. 

Sorry I haven't been around much.  Looks like I'll be selling my house soon and a few things to get done before it goes on the market.  Like painting it.   JOHN

Johnny!  Glad you took the time to say hey!  Moving is a real pain but maybe there will be happier models in a more roomy crib!  I was starting to think we had sailed thru the Bermuda Triangle or something. Now where is Spike, Nammy, Roy, and too many to list?  Even the CAG has been gone a little longer than usual?  Makes me think they have been taken prisoner by a bunch of hostile Amazons!

sfcmac wrote:

Johnny!  Glad you took the time to say hey!  Moving is a real pain but maybe there will be happier models in a more roomy crib!  I was starting to think we had sailed thru the Bermuda Triangle or something. Now where is Spike, Nammy, Roy, and too many to list?  Even the CAG has been gone a little longer than usual?  Makes me think they have been taken prisoner by a bunch of hostile Amazons!

Ooooh, I can't wait for the day that I am spirited away by a nubile enclave of Amazonian females!!!!!!

Brian

Yessssssssssssssss!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Spring break hath come! *Dances to, "Celebrate"* Okay, after I made a fool of myself, (that rootbeer gets one really hyper!) I'm planning my modeling day. I have to finish a little more homework today, but that shall not stop me from my modeling madness! The Corsair's wings are together, but both need some more putty and sanding. Seriously, is a manufacturer makes a kit that does'nt require filling and sanding, I'll be the first to buy. I apologize about the pics, I'll have them up as soon as possible.

John, good luck with the house!