Fleet Air Arm Group Build

Jason- That detail work is breathtaking, WOW!  Incredible stuff.  Who needs resin bits when you can do that to a model.  I love it!

Darren- Good to see you my friend!  We shall be eagerly awaiting those Hawk pics!

Aaron- AAAAACK!!!   I didn't realize someone with a camera was at that party.  Good thing they didn't see the new guy being greased up and shot out the forward carronade by Cap'n Bondo, lest the authorities get curious and crash the next party.  Party on swabbies, I've got the watch!  AAARRRGGGHHH!!!

sfcmac wrote:

....... lewbud and Ritchy woke up hugging each other!

We were not hugging each other!!!! We were simply trying to hold each other up and passed out at the same time. That's my story and I'm stickin' to it!!

Roy, that looks great mate!!! Really looking the part now!!! Alex's P-40 is looking better all the time too!!

Jason, WOW that looks great!!!! Nice engine and office!!!!!!!

Roy, fantastic work on that Corsair.  Love the FAA colours on it.

Herc, WOW!!!  That cockpit and engine detail is top notch and has me drooling with envy. 

Aaron, how many times have I told you, you never, never, ever take a camera to the office party!!!  Good to have you back in tip top shape sailor!

Roy - I am always happy to see pics of a P 40 varient.. I cant wait to see it after Alex paints it.

Jason -  Wow, that old radial engine looks like it should be poppin ,sputtering and smoking up the bench anytime now..

Mac,

I do not recall the events of the night in question.  I will stick with Richie's version as I like his account better.

There's a lot of good work going on here, I really should get back to the bench and at least finish the A-7 from the NAVAIR build.  Speaking of NAVAIR, the Blue Angels were in town this weekend for the Alliance Air Show in Fort Worth.  I've got about 20 pics up on my fotki site of stuff that was on static display.  The aerial stuff is being developed right now and should be ready for pickup after 5.  Now to figure out this new scanner.

EDIT: I guess the link would help  http://public.fotki.com/lewbud/alliance-airshow-2009/

Good looking builds guys! 

I hope i can get an update in on my build later

 Wow Buddy those are some great photos! I wonder if they will be at the Wings over Houston Airshow?  Lots of good pics and you can tell they are from a fellow who models!

Dave! Whereare the picsofemodel only a Sean could love? I'll look tomorrow!  Off to work for now! Somebody has to ring the bell and toot the whistle!

sfcmac wrote:

Dave! Where are the pics of the model only a Sean could love?

Mac,

Yes, the Blues will be there this weekend.  If you can go Saturday because that will be the only day Fat Albert does his JATO takeoff.  Apparently, they've only got enough JATO bottles to do one day at each stop for the rest of the season, then there are no more.  If you've never seen Fat Albert do his JATO takeoff it is WAAAAAAYYY COOL!  Get there in time to see the C-17 guys do their routine as well.  To watch them manage that humongous chunk of metal is downright sick.  I watched them pull some tight enough banks that I thought he might roll it (was kind hoping he would, probably stress the airframe way beyond spec though.  Not a good thing careerwise probably.).  Am scanning the aerial stuff as I type while trying to figure out how to get a 150-500mm zoom.  That 75-300 just ain't good enough.

Dave,

You better post pics soon.  You really don't want to have to deal with Mac, do you?

Just a thought, if it's always Dave's fault who does Dave blame?

lewbud wrote:

Just a thought, if it's always Dave's fault who does Dave blame?

  You just stumbled on my little secret Bud.  See when I was a younger teen/man my best friend and partner in crime was also named Dave.  So you see, when you all keep saying it's Dave's fault I just always assume it's the other Dave's fault just like I did when I was younger. 

I just finished my Me 262 for Frank's GB (It's his fault) so I can start plugging away on this one.  I put aside the Gladiator for now, might try to get to it in the new year.  For now though I picked this gem up at the LHS.  Figured I couldn't go too far wrong for 8 looneys (bucks to you Americans).

Anyway, it is some rebox of a very old kit (most likely matchbox/frog)and has one of the most bare interiors I have ever seen. The figures aren't really good enough to use and the seats without the figures aren't going to cut it either.  Looks like the floor board is the only thing I'll use.

I'm going to use Mac's build as a starting point to scratch a few things and see what I can pull out of the spares box as well.  The propeller had one blade that was badly warped too and when I tried to straighten it out by hand it snapped.  I guess I'll have to use Guy's trick and make some tea! 

Read this:

http://freespace.virgin.net/john.dell/modelling_the_blackburn_skua.htm

Really bad old kits are what we real men live for. Carry on, sailor.

Buddy,

Ah, yes... the Blues are in town!  I go see them and the Thunderbirds whenever I possible can.  The Blue Angels were here this past summer, and my brother and I went to the show.  He had never soon an airshow before, so it was a double treat for me to see the Men in Blue perform, as well as the opportunity to share it with my bro.

Dave- A Skua, OUTSTANDING!!!  If anyone here hasn't had a chence to see Dave and Aaron's ME-262 builds, you really should go check them out.  Stunning work from these gents!

I have mailed this years FAA Christmas gift exchange mailing list to the following people:

Aaron

Frank

Richard

Mike P.

David

Sean

These where the only emails address I have.  I know there are some who want to list so please PM me you email address and I'll get that off to you.  If you could put mailing list in the subject line.

Evil Herc wrote:

I am going to try this again. After realizing my modeling skills where not going to be up to what I wabted to accomplish on the F-14 and since this turned into an FAA build while I was being slow, I went and purchased a 1/48 FAA Hellcat by Hasegawa. I have already gotten a ways into the build but I have taken Pics along the way. I started with the pit and the rear wall needed some much needed attention. and a pic of the throttles with a lil love. I have thrown a lil paint and scratch built the belts. Then following Roys Example I wired the motor. What a tedious process. Thanks for putting up with me in this build. I will have the cockpit done soon and will post pics. I cut out the aelerons and elavators. I found out later that these birds when on carrier had all there surfaces locked in the neutral position. I will try to get the aelerons back into neutral but i think i will position the elevors sagging a lil. Kannichiwa & Arigato- Jason

Jason,

just superb work mate, your detail work is amazing.

Frank, Roy

your Corsair builds are looking great! I'm looking forward to seeing more of these.

bondoman wrote:

Read this: http://freespace.virgin.net/john.dell/modelling_the_blackburn_skua.htm Really bad old kits are what we real men live for. Carry on, sailor.

I saw another review yesterday that said pretty much the same thing.  Looks like I'm going to get my moneys worth in terms of time spent on this kit!

bondoman wrote:

Really bad old kits are what we real men live for. Carry on, sailor.

That is a Great Quote..Years from now future modelers will read that and ask if Gen. Patton said that.. The answer will be "No, But Someone just as Great and Notorious ~ Capt Bondo "

Dave -  Nice subject, I went through 90 % of my collection and can not find a old Skua anywhere. I am shocked that I could not come up with for nostalgia sake..

Anyway I will enjoy watching you work your scratch magic on this one. I cant believe you are not going to use those "Easy Chairs"  you could always scribe a foot rest on them.

Bondo -  I found this kit hidden away, for some reason it made me think of you. It is a Airfix rebox I believe.. 

Summit wrote:

Bondo -  I found this kit hidden away, for some reason it made me think of you. It is a Airfix rebox I believe..

Now that is cool.   Especially the middle profile! 

Sean, that's avery cool kit.

Dave, you going to give that kit the Sean treatment?

Well... I really should just walk away from this kit but...

A) Just can't see spending $40 for the Special Hobby boxing of a single engine aircraft in 1/72.

B) Captain Bondo has laid down the gauntlet and I won't feel like a real man if I can't build this thing!

I decided to start on the wings as I feel pretty confident about being able to do the bomb recess and tail hook on the fuselage so no sense in doing those first if I can't do the wings.   So I went on-line and I found a plan view and adjusted it to the correct scale and had a look see...

  Didn't like what I saw.  Holy Beegeebers Batman!!!  Someone sure screwed this one up.  So out comes the bone saw.

Cut a strip of styrene to fill in the gap.

Add the wing tips which oddly are flared up so I'm going to glue the wing together first and then use the dremel to shape them.

Not perfect but much better than what it was.  This is my first attempt at something this major so go easy on me.  The tail planes are going to have to be completely scratched. 

wyoroy wrote:

I have mailed this years FAA Christmas gift exchange mailing list to the following people: Aaron Frank Richard Mike P. David Sean These where the only emails address I have.  I know there are some who want to list so please PM me you email address and I'll get that off to you.  If you could put mailing list in the subject line.

Dave,

you are a braver man than me..........................we salute you!!

Word of Dave's massive undertaking has reached strange new worlds..............

"He is not logical Captain. But he has courage."

Darren -  Wooo ~hoooo   Happy Birthday!  Time to head for and isle and drop anchor for some R&R. The crew is getting restless...