Fleet Air Arm Group Build

Right on! Sounds like they were doing autorotations. I always hate it when the pilots gotta do that, but it's always a neccessary evil here. Kinda makes you wonder just how good your pilot is....

   As far as my build is going, well sufficed to say, not too well. I have been hung up all this time with the Dauntless just trying to get the flight crew halfway decent! Geometrical shapes i can deal with easily, but when it comes to figures, i'm sucking wind here! Hopefully i'll have a completed cockpit in about a week or two....

DesertRat wrote:

Well, it's friday and i'm all set... Now i'm just waiting for Darren with the bottle!

Me too!  Me too!

Roger-

I spent about a half hour today watching Blackhawks do touch and goes, and rapid descent and takeoffs too!  It was very cool to see.  I was driving along, and saw them flying around up ahead.  I went around a few curves and lost them, then they suddenly popped up outta nowhere right in front of me!  I thought of you while watching them.

Well, it's friday and i'm all set...

Now i'm just waiting for Darren with the bottle!

Looks like the recovery is coming out well, Bob.

Regards,  Rick

Lemme see....where did I leave off? Not knowing when to cut my losses & quit, the Hellcat was given a Castrol Super Clean bath to clean off the bad (my fault?) decals & paint.  Figuring that since I had changed plans to go with a one color scheme, primer would not be necessary....wrong.  After spraying on the new primer & paint, the finish was still terrible-very intersting-so I sanded/smoothed down the existing coat of paint and then reapplied-a lot better.  Still not great, but acceptable at this point.  Dunno if the plastic was 'etched' when the primer was first applied the first go-round or during the Castrol bath.  Guess it doesn't really matter at this point....also picked up a new bottle of Future for the final coat....the old Future (maybe 3 yrs old) might have contributed to my decal issue.  I wonder if Solvaset can go bad?  Think I'll try a test decal & setting solution first this time...

Sorry for the quality of the photo, but gloss black just doesn't take a good picture indoors....

Anyway, the plane I'm attempting to build is the Hellcat I of S/Lt. C. Campbell, 885 Squadron, HMS Ruler, June 1945.  While on station off the coast of Japan, he had his normally Slate & Extra Dark Sea Gray Hellcat painted gloss black.  The new paint job increased the speed & performance of the plane.  At least that's what the AeroMaster decal sheet says....

OK, I checked!  The REAL number is LA546, does that change the scheme?

Frank,

going off the ser.no. that you have told me I have pinpointed your Mk.46 to RNAS Anthorn, in Cumbria. These fighters were used as a reserve squadron and they were painted EDS Grey on the top side, sky on the underside. 

I hope this helps,

Here is a pic of a Mk.46 in a camo paint sheme.

Frank,

some did have camo-some didn't. It will depend on which particular machine you are building, if you have'nt started yet let me know theb airframes unit and serial no. I just might have a profile of it.

My references all show the extra dark Sea Grey over Sky.  I'm certainly not an expert but I didn't think the disruptive camo with dark Slate Grey was used much after WWII.

Regards,  Rick

I posted this over on the Spitfire GB as well...

Gents, I have a querry for you...

I am in the process of painting my Seafire Mk.46, and am not sure of the colors on it.  The Aeromaster decals I have (Thanks again Jon!) call for a two tone upper of dark slate gray and extra dark sea gray, but the only book I have on Griffon powered Spits mentions that they were painted extra dark sea gray on top with sky on the bottom.  The only photo I have is a black and white photo which seems to show a solid upper color, confirming what my Warbird Tech book states.  Are the Aeromaster color recomendations incorrect?  The Airfix instructions call out for a solid upper color of the dark gray.  This seems right to me, just wanted to get your opinions before I continue.  Right now the gray is on, waiting for a decision to paint the green or leave it all gray.  Thanks fellas!

Would ye, could ye in a Lynx? Would ye, could ye with a minx?

I do not like green eggs and ham. I do not like them Sam-I-Am!

Roger-

you may be able to do that in a Blackhawk...........but could ye do it in a Lynx?

I agree with that.

Roy

No sweat, Roy! Guess i didn't realize i still hadn't been added. But alls well here on this end!

Just past the 12 year mark a few months ago myself. Military life certainly has it's ups and downs, but you have to admit that it does provide the opportunity to do some things and have different relationships with others that you never thought you would have. It's been interesting for sure, and i don't think i would change much if i had to do it all over again!

Thanks guys.  Had a great weekend.....they never found the empty bottles

Desertrat, I remember my good old days in the military  Outside my wife and the birth of my son it was the best 12 years of my life.  My bad, I forgot to add you guys and the FAA GB

Roy

TANGO 1 wrote:

Steady lads! I've just got back from the sharp end and I'm pleased to report I've got the weekend off! I suppose I had better do the honours then................. "Ahem!" To the ships company of the carrier HMS FAA GB HQ: Wherever you may be in the world, take time to relax, eat, drink and be merry  Gentlemen, your very good health! CHEERS! Enjoy your weekend lads!

Arrrrrrrrrh! Me military duties be keeping me away from the rum this weekend, but i've dropped anchor in the home port and i be taking that drink now or else i be keelhaulin ye!

(And that's pretty severe in a blackhawk too! )

Cheers!

Daywalker wrote:

I'll drink to that!  Glad to hear that, Roy.  Better make one last pass through the house to make sure nothing embarassing is laying around.

Yeah Roy-make sure you hide all those empty rum bottles!

Great to hear that you will be re-united with your family my friend.

razordws wrote:

wyoroy wrote: Good news my shipmates, my wife and son arrive here tonight   Now that's worth celebrating!!!

I'll drink to that!  Glad to hear that, Roy.  Better make one last pass through the house to make sure nothing embarassing is laying around.

wyoroy wrote:

Good news my shipmates, my wife and son arrive here tonight

Now that's worth celebrating!!!

Steady lads!

I've just got back from the sharp end and I'm pleased to report I've got the weekend off!

I suppose I had better do the honours then.................

"Ahem!"

To the ships company of the carrier HMS FAA GB HQ: Wherever you may be in the world, take time to relax, eat, drink and be merry 

Gentlemen,

your very good health! CHEERS!

Enjoy your weekend lads! 

wyoroy wrote:

Is ti Rum time yet?  I need some

It's not even 11:00 AM where I am!!!

There you go!

Don't worry, its rum night tomorrow.

TANGO 1 wrote:

bobbaily wrote: I just wonder if Future can be mixed with rum....   Frank...........move away from the bottle!! BTW, great news mate!

Oh, allright...

OK, is that better?