Fleet Air Arm Group Build

It's Friday night, and AAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LtCmr Sfmac is to be highly, I mean highly commended for an inspirational post over in that Turk scow scum bucket raft of lies ketch known as Odds and Ends. Reckon he set them all straight.

Second, by the full moon we look to the stars and ask for the safe return of our "Flying Dutchman (men)", our comrades missing in action, our fallen brothers, or maybe they's ajust be lying wit' wenches! (slaps back urge to be Bondo) such as Nam and Desertrat.

Last, and third, it's 4 bells and break out the Rum, LtCmr. Didn't have the oppertunity to point  pistol at the XO, (Bondo on the rise) it's a drinking moment.

Lastly, there was a little confusion abt a previous post by yer nibs, where coherence was questioned by some (one of you and ye'll be flogged), truff is I's a always cohearing on a Friday, specially affer a few, and the timing of the point was, o ne'er mind, couldn't wait fer the next fase to start wit' my wit'ley, cuz the rest o' ye take so stinkin'  long to build anything. 5/1/09 can't come soon ennuff. Sat on that Seagull fer a ha' year, I did!

If yer from the bank, my daddy sed to shoot you.

Captain Bondoman, RAF Coastal Command

By thunder, there's rum to be had!  I received a call this am from Nam, and in between his drunkin' ramblings he mentioned something 'bout being back on deck soon.  Soon he ses!  Yah, right.  He better show up for muster soon or there'll be THE DEVIL TO PAY!!!

Good call Cap'n, lets break out the rum.  Sides, with less on board there's more spirits for those of us still here!

AAARRRRGGGGHHH!!!!

Sfmac be playin' wit trains an' slammin' boxcars round south Corpus. Frank, what's your next model/ I took on/inherited the Coastal Command role in addition to joining Roy at the Capt.'s end of the wardroom, begging your leave.

The CAG has commanded me to run a sub GB in the office of the RAF Coastal Command. I'm in with the Armstrong/ Whitworth Whitley, wot's got more whits that I do; and the Sunderland.

It's a rare opportunity to not have to model a Wyvern, Fury, Vixen or the rest of those short range failures any time soon, in favor of "churn, not burn".

Men, 5/1 approaches and the best of all GB's is lined up, so cash in your chips soon. And send round your reports, please, to the XO.

Captain Bondoman USN, RAF, RN (not really)

New Hampshire wrote:

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

Daywalker wrote:

Good to see you John!  Hope all goes well with the house sale and your new place has an enormous modeling area!

bondoman wrote:

Frank, what's your next model...

Right now I'm trying to decide between a Swordfish and a Mosquito, but I also have this urge to model an FAA Avenger.   I thought I had some Avenger decals, but apparently not.  May have to do some digging for some.

You don't like RN colours on a Buccaneer? Don't swear at me!!

X/O! Take this man to kiss the gunners daughter!

OK, build it as a RAF bird, but you better redeem yourself with RN colours on the next build!

"Clear the decks!" "The CAG is hitting the deck!!"

Gentlemen,

apollogies for my absence, I have been re-deployed to a far more active area of operations so my spare time is now at even more of a premium than before.

As you are all aware, this group build transfers its flag to Her Majesty's Fleet Air Arm on 1st May 2009.  This is the 100 year centenary of the Royal Navy's Flying capability and I wanted to reflect that in our GB, so go pick a kit, and get ready for the mother of all anniversary parties!!

Fleet Air Arm 100 years video..........if you plan on being here in 2009, you need to see this.

http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-events/rn-live/all-news/100-years-of-naval-aviation/*/changeNav/6568

FLY NAVY 100



2009 marks the Centenary Year of Naval Aviation. It was on 7th May 1909 that the Admiralty first set aside £35,000 for the development of an airship, beginning a process that was to lead to the formation of the Fleet Air Arm as we know it today.

Those hundred years have seen a breathtaking development from flimsy aircraft that struggled to leave the ground to supersonic stealth fighters. As technology has developed, so too has ideology; Naval Aviation began the 20th century as an interesting sideshow in the armament of the Royal Navy, and ended it as the centrepiece.

The aircraft carrier now marks out the premier league navies from the rest. It is the punch of the nation and a symbol of its power. Countless Prime Ministers have found that the carrier has been indispensable to the execution of their foreign policy: Thatcher sent hers to the Falklands; Major sent his to Bosnia; Blair sent his once to Sierra Leone and twice to Iraq.

Those are only the most recent crises and there were numerous
others even between those. In many of these conflicts, success
was not only helped by carrier-borne aircraft – it depended on them.

Fly Navy 100 is a programme of events and publications that aims
to celebrate and commemorate this remarkable centenary. It aims
to showcase among both the public and the Service communities
the endurance, flexibility, and above all potency, of Naval Aviation.

This would make a cool GB badge, I'll see what you chaps think. 

That is all.

TANGO 1 wrote:

"Clear the decks!" "The CAG is hitting the deck!!"

Welcome back Sir!  Hope this morning's hop was a most pleasant one.  There is tea awaiting you in your cabin, and I shall notify the cabingirl that her attention is required.  Glad to have you back aboard.

I shall check out that video when I am home, as work frowns on such things.   Three cheers for the FAA!

Richie- I take it your vote goes for the Swordfish then?

Thanks X/O.

I have lots to do, and so little time-work continues on the Seafury and the big dio project is simmering away nicely. Pics will be forthcoming after the Photo reccee chaps give me my camera back.

Until then, raise a class to the crew of the Fleet Air Wing GB-the worlds hardest drinking.....er, I mean working model builers.

CHEERS!

CAG- I like that badge!

Pm inbound!

CAG, I like the badge idea and I'm sure Frank has already worked his photoshop magic on it by the sounds of it.  Had a peak at the video too.  Very nice and a fitting starting point for the GB. 

I'm out of town right now and won't get back to my corsair till next week but hopr to finish it up before the deadline.  Cheers.

razordws wrote:

CAG, I like the badge idea and I'm sure Frank has already worked his photoshop magic on it by the sounds of it.

Thanks Dave,

Frank has done some outstanding work on the GB badge front-I think its a real winner! Hopefully the X/O will post it here for your perusal..............

I, on the other hand have been engaged in a very hush-hush clandestine action this evening. Only moments ago, around 00.25 hrs GMT, a crack team of British Special Forces Easter Bunnies infiltrated the lair of the CAG's back garden, home of TSWSIE!!

Their mission: To subdue the TSWSIE cheif of Security with a string of sausages and render him harmless for five minutes  in which time, with thunderlap surprise, they planted 7 treasure eggs for CAG Jnr. to find in the morning! Only with their skill and prowess in stealth and cunning were they able to do all that and leave a treasure map for CAG Jnr to find when he wakes up. By Thunder they're good!

Here is a photo of Capt. "no flea's on him" McQueen making good his escape from the target area:

HAPPY EASTER EVERYBODY!!

Daywalker wrote:

razordws wrote: CAG, I like the badge idea and I'm sure Frank has already worked his photoshop magic on it by the sounds of it.

I LIKE IT!!!

 Thank's Darren!  Happy Easter to all here and their familys!  I think that GB badge is top notch!   Great job on the pic and the edit!  However it serves to be a reminder that time is fleeting!  My Ventura is a time killer as well!

 Got out the silly putty ( a special glow in the dark brand so Bondo can see it! ) It is so good at just adding the right amount of support to cut out those nasty Vacuform Canopies! 

Then holds everything good and steady for a good sanding and shaping! I know I speak of this often but it is just the easiest way I have found to deal with Vacuform canopies. henyou sand it it simply pushes away the putty and sands only the part. No gumming up on your stick see. Just markes from the sanded plastic!

 Absolutely essential when messing with complex curves or cutting out gun slots!

That was yesterdays piece as I spent much time filling, rechecking and resanding seams and sinkholes. Bad part was once I use filler and Mr Surfacer I have to let it all dry and set up before proceeding! More time!

 Getting there. Today has been scratching Guns and the top turret. More time but it shows when you look in the open door and I don't want to take a short cut now! ! I will get this thing together if I have to get Nam! to help me make the deadline!  ACK!

Ahoy CAG!  I have a fine cuppa Earl Grey (with a wee nip o rum....just for medicinal purposes ye see) waitin fer ye in the wardroom!  Welcome back aboard!

Aaron, she gets better looking with every update.  Can't wait tosee her dressed in her sunday finest!

Brian

Aaron- You make it look so easy!  When are you gonna write a book demonstrating your techniques?  I would definately buy a copy.

Buddy- Well done!  And you finished just in time to start the "new" Gb here.

TANGO 1 wrote:

Daywalker wrote:  razordws wrote: CAG, I like the badge idea and I'm sure Frank has already worked his photoshop magic on it by the sounds of it. I LIKE IT!!!

Happy Easter Everyone!!!!!!!

Welcome Back CAG!!!! Thank You very much for obligeing my wish on the Buc!!!! Have to find suitable letters and numbers to make the right ones as the two RAF birds supplied in the kit were never in the navy. I also have a Fulmar, Sea Fury, and Lynx so have the RN colors covered boss!!!! Going to finish the 'bag and then will finish Corsair... who am I kidding? They will get finished when they get finished lol but will try and finish these before I start the Buc! Anyways Thanks again!!!!

Frank, I love the GB badge!!!!!

Aaron, you defanately have the upper hand on that Ventura now!!!!! Really looking good!!!!

Aaron, one model builder to another........I take my hat off to you fella.

Buddy, very nice work on the A-wing, I always wanted to get my mitts on one of those-great work!

simpilot34 wrote:

Happy Easter Everyone!!!!!!! Welcome Back CAG!!!! Thank You very much for obligeing my wish on the Buc!!!! Have to find suitable letters and numbers to make the right ones as the two RAF birds supplied in the kit were never in the navy. I also have a Fulmar, Sea Fury, and Lynx so have the RN colors covered boss!!!! Going to finish the 'bag and then will finish Corsair... who am I kidding? They will get finished when they get finished lol but will try and finish these before I start the Buc! Anyways Thanks again!!!! Frank, I love the GB badge!!!!! Aaron, you defanately have the upper hand on that Ventura now!!!!! Really looking good!!!!

Thanks!

a good friend of mine served with a Squadron of those ex-RN Buccs, I'l ask him if he has any pics.

Royal Canadian Navy Hawker Seafury.........................DONE!!

It fought me all the bloody way................

CAG, she be a beauty through and through!  And the presentation, base and all.....it gets two thumbs up in my book!

Brian

New Hampshire wrote:

CAG, she be a beauty through and through!  And the presentation, base and all.....it gets two thumbs up in my book! Brian

Those pics would be much appreciated, Thank you!!!! Also here is a site that a mate put me on to and it gives individual histories of almost the whole fleet of Bucc's!!!!!

New Hampshire wrote:

CAG, she be a beauty through and through!  And the presentation, base and all.....it gets two thumbs up in my book! Brian

Those pics of the ex-RN Buccs would be much appreciated, Thank You!!!! Here is a site that a mate at work put me on to. It gives individual histories of almost the whole fleet of Buccs and some technical info as well!!!!

http://www.blackburn-buccaneer.co.uk/0_Contents.html