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Fleet Air Arm Group Build

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  • Member since
    October 2004
  • From: League City, Texas
Posted by sfcmac on Wednesday, August 12, 2009 1:25 AM
 bondoman wrote:

 sfcmac wrote:
They needed to be used and you were just the man for the job!
Reports of my demise are a little premature.

 Uh huh that is because Dee hasn't seen that post comparing her to a T-Rex! Dead [xx(]Pirate [oX)]

 Dave you mean there is a fight song! Holy smokes that must be one swinging place eh?

 Break out the flannel uniforms and lets go on a raid!  Where is Nam again btw?  Blinded by his under garments again no doubt!

  • Member since
    October 2004
  • From: League City, Texas
Posted by sfcmac on Wednesday, August 12, 2009 1:30 AM

Also  after much searching I found another view of that cool torpedo dolly that Cropredy posted a pic of.Thumbs Up [tup]

  • Member since
    March 2009
  • From: Wirral. UK
Posted by Spike190 on Wednesday, August 12, 2009 2:30 AM
Looking good Bondo, cant wait to see her finished up.
Aaron thanks for posting all those pictures, they were a joy to see despite the sad story behind them, looks like it's slowly coming back together.

Got a couple of pics of my very slowwwwwww progress, almost finished now. took these on my phone this AM so not the best soz.




Finally got her on her wheels!
Off to work now,

Cheers folks...

Mike  Toast

 

  • Member since
    March 2006
Posted by simpilot34 on Wednesday, August 12, 2009 2:45 AM

Aaron, good luck on the dolly!!!!Thumbs Up [tup]

Mike, That is a masterpiece!!!!!! Very well done mate!!!!Thumbs Up [tup]Make a Toast [#toast]

Laugh [(-D]Make a Toast [#toast]Pickled Pirate??? I LIKE IT!!!

Cheers, Lt. Cmdr. Richie "To be prepared for war, is one of the most effectual means of preserving the peace."-George Washington
  • Member since
    September 2003
  • From: South Central Wisconsin
Posted by Daywalker on Wednesday, August 12, 2009 7:36 AM

Excellent work on your Hellcat Mike!  I really like your shading method, well done! Approve [^]

Mount Horeb, the land of Mustard Museums, trolls, fire trucks, and flannel. Sigh [sigh]

 

 

Frank 

 

  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: Carmel, CA
Posted by bondoman on Wednesday, August 12, 2009 10:10 AM

Frank, somehow the last two photos go together....Whistling [:-^]

I'm in awe of that 'cat. Very swell.

  • Member since
    March 2009
  • From: Wirral. UK
Posted by Spike190 on Wednesday, August 12, 2009 5:47 PM
Richie, Frank and Cap'n Bondo thanks for your kind words, means alot coming from guys who's work I appreciate so much. Got a few more little bits fixed up tonight so the finish draws nearer! other than "any porter do" I couldn't come up with anything so "pickled pirate" sounds good to me.
Cheers...

Mike  Toast

 

  • Member since
    October 2004
  • From: League City, Texas
Posted by sfcmac on Thursday, August 13, 2009 4:38 PM

 Spike everytime I see that dark blue RN scheme it just makes me happy! It is so well done and I am still looking at Gray and more gray and then some dark gray. Laugh [(-D]

 Great pics FRank!  Really sharp looking stuff! I like that Firetruck as well!

 Well for three days I have been painting on the 1/32 Trumpeter beast. It was at the point that it had to be done before I could proceed with the build or I could never get it right.

 I took Capt Bondo's lead and tried the paints he is using for the Stainrear and got a little diff look but still really close to the Model masters and Tamiya.  Got to liven it it up you know?

 

I have already started the weathering of the  engine and cowling. Actually it is ready to got together with a little paint on the exhaust tubing in the collector.  The Collector was covered with a copper foil and burnished down tightly. The foil was heated prior to application to give a scorched look.  Still looks shiney with the flash but can't beat real metal for a metal look.

 The color I have read depends on who manufactured it. Blackburn manufactured  Swordfish had the more brassy look. While Fairey had a dark copper look.  So much to learn as I go.

Dee got me some of this Tape called frog tape?  Supposed to be like blue painters tape but better. It does conform and hold better than the blue tape. Also comes off easier and didn't lift any colors.

 There are a lotta parts to this thing. Taking a while to get it all together and particular attention must be paid to the clean up of the parts or fit will suffer.  It is not going together as easy as the the Tamiya kit. Nothing terrible yet though.

Once this is all good and dry I will start on the PE Parts. Rigging extc. I have read that the struts  seat oddly in the wings and correcting them to sink in the foms results in the PE not fitting!

 I'll let you know.

 I chose the scheme  from the Box art which is an aircraft that participated in the ill fated Channel Dash attack.  I like the scheme because it shows yet another transition in how the Royal Navy painted their aircraft.  Sky undersides became standard in this period.

Well Back to it!

Thumbs Up [tup]Pirate [oX)]

  • Member since
    November 2003
  • From: Naples, FL
Posted by tempestjohnny on Thursday, August 13, 2009 7:21 PM
That bright green frog tape is definitely the way to go great stuff.

 

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Northern California
Posted by jeaton01 on Thursday, August 13, 2009 7:21 PM
I've been using the Frog tape for some time.  It works well when I feel like I don't really need to use Tamiya tape, but it is not as easy to work with as Tamiya.  Still, it is the best I've found other than Tamiya.

John

To see build logs for my models:  http://goldeneramodel.com/mymodels/mymodels.html

 

  • Member since
    March 2006
Posted by simpilot34 on Friday, August 14, 2009 3:39 AM
Aaron she is a stunner mate!!!! Really looking the part now!!!Approve [^]Bow [bow]
Cheers, Lt. Cmdr. Richie "To be prepared for war, is one of the most effectual means of preserving the peace."-George Washington
  • Member since
    March 2009
  • From: Wirral. UK
Posted by Spike190 on Friday, August 14, 2009 3:44 AM
Thanks Aaron I'm glad you like her, should be finished in a day or two so will post more pics. That big swordfish is moving along very nicely, you should have ago at that all black one to break up your grey phase :-). Is your back better now? These posts move so quickly, sometimes I'm not sure if I missed anything!

Cheers...

Mike  Toast

 

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • From: South Central Wisconsin
Posted by Daywalker on Friday, August 14, 2009 6:57 AM
Aaron- Three days just to paint her?  You're slowing down my friend! Big Smile [:D]  At first I thought the topside was painted EDSG and Sky, as the color looked light.  But on the last shot, I can see the three colors.  Is this one lighter than the others?

Frank 

 

  • Member since
    October 2004
  • From: League City, Texas
Posted by sfcmac on Friday, August 14, 2009 9:51 AM

 Your right Frank it is a bit slower. I have found that while this paint has great color accuracy it does need to be given time to dry and sorta cure otherwise it can tend to mix into itself. 

 I noticed that with the camera flash. (all pics with bright light and flash) the Dark Slate Gray looks almost like RLM02 to me, but the flash lets the camera capture the pattern and shows any paint flaws that I cant see with just my eyes.  The edges are harder and there is two good coats over primer and a base coat of Extra Dark Sea gray. That color seems a tad darker in this brand and makes the Dark Slate Gray jump out a bit more.  I intend to give it a bit of a blending overspray like on the German Splinter patterns to slightly fade it but not too extreme as these aircraft were freshly painted at the time of the attack.

It will look a lot more realistic when finished ( I hope)  I set it up and let it dry all day after the pics as well. Patience! What a concept!

 Spike I only have Mk I  's  With 3 of them I haven't the spirit to shell out the $$ for that Tamiya  MK II  as it still sells pretty expensive.  Talk to Frank about it cuz he has skills and chicks dig guys with skills. Or Guy? but girls just dig him cuz of the accent I think.

Ritchie and Admiral! I agree that frog tape was just the right tool for a large model like this.

Edit: I'll just add to this as I have no real pics to add. I believe I have found the flaw in this kit.

It seems as if for the most part that it is exactly a blown up expanded copy of the Tamiya kit.  This I think is perhaps the bane of this kit.  The exact precision engineering that Tamiya has in 1/48 was fine for 1/48 scale, but when expanded to 1/32 there are certain considerations that have been igmored.  For instance the fuselage fit when the parts are twice the length tends to warp causing a troublesome join.  The wings and PE sequence also have a great deal of fit issues slowing progress as they must be fixed.

 What I am saying is with the scale change you have the effect of say a marksman shooting a target at 50 yards. A slight twitch may throw the bullet off 1/2 an inch with no noticable effect. Take the same shot at 300 yards and you would miss the target completely.  Which is what has happened with the wing fit.

Compounded by the precise engineerig does not allow for much room for error without throwing off the alignment of other assemblies as well.

I guess what I am saying is this Tamiya copy does not go together like a Tamiya kit. More like a Trumpeter kit that has simply been expanded to get a 1/32 scale kit. I wonder if this is a similar cause with the other kits in 1/32 that have a bad reputation? Like the Corsair? P-38 extc.

Nothing that can't be overcome but it takes a lot of time and some pretty advanced tools and work to get right.  Not a kit for a beginner to be sure.

 

  • Member since
    November 2003
  • From: Naples, FL
Posted by tempestjohnny on Friday, August 14, 2009 5:44 PM
Ok I am officailly in for this.  Just started the old Monogram Kingfisher.  Doing it in British colors.

 

  • Member since
    October 2004
  • From: League City, Texas
Posted by sfcmac on Friday, August 14, 2009 5:59 PM

 tempestjohnny wrote:
Ok I am officailly in for this.  Just started the old Monogram Kingfisher.  Doing it in British colors.

Wow Great idea Johnny! Can't wait!  You have 24 hours to finish!  Starting um.... now!  Remember no potty breaks!

Some pics of the wings. Mis matched mislabled parts add to the confusion. I have spent all day sorting this mess out .

If you follow the instructions you get this.

Basically fitting square pegs into round holes.

After much trials I ditched the destructions and waited to put the PE on last in order to save it.  Will be a PITA but at least it won't end up bent and twisted neding cut to get out the kinks.

 Been 4 days of very agonizingly slow progress.  Going to keep at it bit by bit though.

 

  • Member since
    October 2004
  • From: League City, Texas
Posted by sfcmac on Friday, August 14, 2009 7:22 PM

All right going for broke here.  Get the wings on and straight first has become my objective.

 Looking at different angles as I tweak the fit and get it as close as I can to perfect.

 Holy cow this thing just got really big!

 I have no idea how you could do this with the PE in place, The Twisting and fitting would pop them off all over like springs.  Have it flat on the table for the lower wing then the top final adjustments will be made.

 Joing the upper and lower wings of the Bi-planes is always fun but this one is a PITA!

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • From: South Central Wisconsin
Posted by Daywalker on Friday, August 14, 2009 9:01 PM
 sfcmac wrote:

Talk to Frank about it cuz he has skills and chicks dig guys with skills.

Not with FAA schemes I don't! Laugh [(-D]  Unless of course, my skill is being able to strip a kit faster than a girl on prom night. Evil [}:)] LOL...

Aaron- Looking at that photo of the wings according to the directions, it reminds me of a Pitts Special:

Dunce [D)]

Sounds like that kit is giving you a run for the $$$, but nothing a Builder of Fonderie Miniatures kits can't overcome! Approve [^]

Frank 

 

  • Member since
    November 2003
  • From: Naples, FL
Posted by tempestjohnny on Friday, August 14, 2009 9:24 PM
 sfcmac wrote:

 tempestjohnny wrote:
Ok I am officailly in for this.  Just started the old Monogram Kingfisher.  Doing it in British colors.

Wow Great idea Johnny! Can't wait!  You have 24 hours to finish!  Starting um.... now!  Remember no potty breaks!

You don't wanna see me without a potty break.

 

 

  • Member since
    October 2004
  • From: League City, Texas
Posted by sfcmac on Friday, August 14, 2009 11:59 PM

Frank I have no idea what that thing is?  Looks like it went thru a hurricane!

Johnny? Man you gained weight!  No in progres pics yet?

ARRRG! Tis the weeks end mateys and once again you have left me alone to drift and no one has seen fit to give me the rum locker key! So all I can do is smell it!Yuck [yuck]Pirate [oX)]

Ah so pretty but locked up tighter than Nammy's chastictchy belt! Mischief [:-,]Propeller [8-]

So alone as Britain in 1940 I sit.  I decaled the string bag up so as to have that done and out the way before the control cables and PE riggings get in the way.

Thought you might like a comparison pic, The old girls are getting some personality!

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • From: South Central Wisconsin
Posted by Daywalker on Saturday, August 15, 2009 6:48 AM

LOL, here's what they look like ready to fly...

Sorry to hear you were left on deck without the rum key!  Who was in charge of it anyway?  Well, perhaps Suzanne can bring you an extra ration and warm you up a tad.

That big ol' Stringbag is coming smartly Mac!  What a difference between the two in the photo!  Maybe Trumpeter will release a 1/24 version soon? Shock [:O]

Frank 

 

  • Member since
    March 2009
  • From: Wirral. UK
Posted by Spike190 on Saturday, August 15, 2009 1:17 PM

Great comparison pic Aaron, looks fabulous now its all been bolted together, well worth the effort you put in I'd say Big Smile [:D]

Cheers...

Mike  Toast

 

  • Member since
    October 2004
  • From: League City, Texas
Posted by sfcmac on Saturday, August 15, 2009 8:51 PM
Took me all day including sanity breaks because all this PE rigging has to be perfect to  join correctly, but I finally goter done!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Have to add the tail PE which shouldn't be as bad as it is easier to reach. I drilled out the control cable holes in the fuselage to make them with thread. All the attachment points are their for them but there is no mention of them in the instructions. Have to add the torpedo siting stuff then It will be getting close. The 1/32 Trumpeter kit will be in the bag! 

  • Member since
    November 2003
  • From: Naples, FL
Posted by tempestjohnny on Saturday, August 15, 2009 9:40 PM
Aaron   absolutely magnificent

 

  • Member since
    October 2004
  • From: League City, Texas
Posted by sfcmac on Saturday, August 15, 2009 10:44 PM

 Thanks Johnny! Going back to work tonight so have to call it a day.Boohoo [BH] I did get 1/2 the tail done control cable wise and the PE. A little at a time to keep my sanity. Mischief [:-,]Laugh [(-D]

 

 Now if the XO finds that rum key lets all have a good weekend! Mischief [:-,]Make a Toast [#toast]Party [party]Pirate [oX)]

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Vernon, BC, Canada
Posted by razordws on Sunday, August 16, 2009 1:04 AM
Aaron, I've got one word...  SCHweeeeet!!!  Bow [bow]Bow [bow]Bow [bow]

Dave

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • From: South Central Wisconsin
Posted by Daywalker on Sunday, August 16, 2009 7:55 AM

Well done Mac!  That PE rigging and such looks tough, after these three I bet you will want to build a jet without any sort of rigging at all!  Think you deserve an extra ration for all of this hard work!

 

Frank 

 

  • Member since
    March 2006
Posted by simpilot34 on Sunday, August 16, 2009 8:57 AM

WOOHOO!!!Party [party] Johnny's back on the bench!!!! Looking forward to another Kingfisher!!!

Aaron, looks like it's been another hard fought battle, but well worth the effort!!!!! That looks amazing!!!!!!! and very BIG!!!!Approve [^]Thumbs Up [tup] One thing I noticed and please don't introduce me to the gunner's daughter bein how we have already met.Whistling [:-^] The routing of the cables from the fuse. The top cable goes under the horiz stab to the elevator, the middle one goes to the rudder and the bottom one goes up and over the stab to the elevator.

Cheers, Lt. Cmdr. Richie "To be prepared for war, is one of the most effectual means of preserving the peace."-George Washington
  • Member since
    October 2004
  • From: League City, Texas
Posted by sfcmac on Sunday, August 16, 2009 12:30 PM

 

  Hey thanks fellows! Thumbs Up [tup] Frank!  A jet?  If I build a jet the CAG would never let me hear the end of it!  He will be all over me like the baker's wife! Wink [;)]Tongue [:P]

 Spike! Bolted? In this forum we are so tough we hold the models together with our boogies! Yuck [yuck]

 simpilot34 wrote:

 One thing I noticed and please don't introduce me to the gunner's daughter bein how we have already met.Whistling [:-^] The routing of the cables from the fuse. The top cable goes under the horiz stab to the elevator, the middle one goes to the rudder and the bottom one goes up and over the stab to the elevator.

Ritchie! I meant to ask you about those cables earlier but got side tracked. Look at the zoomed in pic above. I routed them the way the way the moldings on the fuselage sides point. Does that make sense?  Kinda just put an arrow on the tip of the molded on detail and see where it points.

Seems like the detail may be also molded on too low and too far aft because routing the cable the way it should be actually makes it curve around the stab.

I have the middle one attatching to the rudder but your saying the top and bottom should be reversed and criss cross?  I can fix that easy enough if it is the case. No drawings or mention of them  in the kit stuff.  What would Ritchie do?

If it's wrong it,s Dave's fault anyhow. Laugh [(-D]Pirate [oX)]

Hey Johnny you done yet? What's taking so long?  It can be done!

 

  • Member since
    October 2004
  • From: League City, Texas
Posted by sfcmac on Sunday, August 16, 2009 1:48 PM

Ok Ritchie, I noticed that there seems to be some sort of guide or pulley on top the rear stabilizers and lined up the cables accordingly to not have the wrap around effect. What do you think now? any better?

That wasn't to hard a fix! Thumbs Up [tup]

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