Fleet Air Arm Group Build

More work on the Beaufighter.  I thought I had more references on this airplane, but I don't seem to.  I do have the Camouflage and Markings pamphlet, but it doesn't cover the marks after the VI.  Bummer.  Haven't really researched the magazines, maybe I should do that.  I did work up some exhaust pipe detail, it is only 7 pipes instead of the 14 that might be visible, but it would be pretty crowded with all of them in there and not too visible.  I just drillede .040 holes in the cylinders where the exhaust ports are and pushed in some .040 rod in and bent them all to the left. 

That looks good, John. My sources one complaint about that otherwise stellar aircraft was the unerving feeling of sitting directly in the propeller arc.

This new site has at last sped up. I haven't discovered much about it I don't like, although I miss where the latest post in any category used to be shown on the home page.

There's also a fair amount of dismaying info in my profile:

"Bondomans friends have not been active lately".

"Bondoman has no biography..."

I feel a little better that "There are no comments about Bondoman", although I don't believe it...

I think there are a few growing pains to work through, Bill.

I looked at my friends list, it said something like "John has no friends"  Afraid to go back and look again.

Well, count me in.

Which brings up my next question, which I tried (and failed) to ask the mods. There doesn't seem to be a PM button anymore. Just this business about conversations, which involve friends. I'm trying to connect the dots, so I looked at conversations and that has the sobering news that "no one has asked to be Bondoman's friend recently". It looks to me that PM's and their attendant bloodsport have been firewalled.

Yes it all looks fine, although it's gotten ad heavy. And I don't miss the red. Looks like a nice RAF Interior Green.

Following your build closely, John, as I really want to have a go at a Beau soon.  Have been trying to find some pics of Hercules' but haven't had a lot of luck with detail ... and when I find detail, I don't know what mark engine it is.

This one is at the Bristol Industrial Museum in the UK.  No idea what mark it is but can find out if you need to know.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bristol.hercules.arp.750pix.jpg

This might be of some help.  They do a bit of a walk around when it's running.  If it's no help at least it's really cool!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQZOc49ezX0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANPcL99nGEg&feature=related

This is a Hercules 264 as used on the Varsity.  Gives a good look inside the first minute:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6Zw1_NiSWg

Here's the other side of the engine in the very first clip above:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEbDlNeMtLM

Sorry, probably not of much help as I think they're all pretty late engines (post-war) but pretty cool to watch.

Andy, this is the best picture I've found of the inside of a Beaufighter cowl, it's from the net.

Bill, it seems like just exchanging personal email addresses is simpler than the friends or PM method, I believe you have mine. 

John, that looks like the TF X at Hendon so I reckon you're set.

Hope my post above didn't suggest you weren't.  The Beau is definitely my favourite aircraft so I tend to get a bit carried away.

I can't talk about Bondo cuz the site keeps crashing here!  It seems pretty useless so far!  Where is the Pirate happy face?!

Good golly it is even sending me e-mails that I posted myself!  I kinda know that already!  These fellows were told it wasn't broke so don't fix it!   I don't know about you all but I argue with my business.  Right now it looks like 4 Kalmach subscribtions are not being renewed!   I am not happy!

AAACCCKKK!!!

I feel like I have dial-up again here.  Sure hope they get it sorted out soon, as it is maddening to use right now.

(the ditto smiley would have went here) these are some of the smileys from msn!!! How unoriginal and lame!!!

Gentlemen...

Looks like we have some rough seas ahead of us here.  To be completely honest, I am not impressed with the new forum layout.  Difficult and cumbersome to navigate, prime space given up to advertisements instead of posts, and new features added which add up to a very tricky site to find your way around.  I certainly do hope that they either work the bugs out of it QUICKLY, or change it back to what it was.  I am going to give it a week or so to smooth out.

Daywalker

Gentlemen...

Looks like we have some rough seas ahead of us here.  To be completely honest, I am not impressed with the new forum layout.  Difficult and cumbersome to navigate, prime space given up to advertisements instead of posts, and new features added which add up to a very tricky site to find your way around.  I certainly do hope that they either work the bugs out of it QUICKLY, or change it back to what it was.  I am going to give it a week or so to smooth out.

(again 'Dito' smiley placed here) You are absolutely correct Frank!!!! It is harder to navigate and certain features I liked alot are gone! There were ads on th eold one too, however, they were not as big and the whole thng just ran a LOT smoother. (another soap box smiley placed here)

Anyhoo, have been at the AB again and touched up some of my sloppy AB handling booboos and created a couple more @^!@$!^@#*#!!!! Tried the highlighting technique and think it came out alright. Might have to tone it down just a ____ hair, what do you guys think? Comments and critiques welcomed.

One good thing I just noticed putting pics up, it doesn't prompt you to allow access anymore!!! Yayyyyy i found one thing I DO like about the new stuff. Anyyyyway enjoy!

mmmm, I like to give new things a try so I will hold judgement for a while, tiz a little slow though at the minute. Richie I like your highlighting, a good way to break up the monotone camo, when you do the panel lines it will set it off great. I've toned my highlighting down in the past with a very light coat of the original base colour.

Cheers...

John, sorry I forgot to say the Beaufighter is looking great, I like what you've done with the engines. What scheme will you be doing?

Cheers..

Richie, looks great.

I'm really frustrated with the new forum, it's so slow not even a retired dummy like me feels like I have the time for it.  And posting pictures is a pain, the tree thing won't come up bright until I post the url in the filmstrip box, then I have to do the tree and edit my own paste because it has changed it.  The rest I can deal with, it seems like more testing should have been done before the change.

I'm doing the Beaufighter in early coastal command colors.

Well, it seems like the speed is getting better now. 

test

LOL errr ummmm thanks guys. I meant to post that in the War in the Pacific GB!!! No wonder I couldn't find it there!!! LOL too much and a forum navigational error.

John, the Beau is looking great!!!!

Daywalker

Gentlemen...

Looks like we have some rough seas ahead of us here.  To be completely honest, I am not impressed with the new forum layout.  Difficult and cumbersome to navigate, prime space given up to advertisements instead of posts, and new features added which add up to a very tricky site to find your way around.  I certainly do hope that they either work the bugs out of it QUICKLY, or change it back to what it was.  I am going to give it a week or so to smooth out.

I don't know if this is happening to everyone, but my recent topics menu is blocked out by the search and shortcut menu on the forum homepage.

Sitrep on my portion of the Secret Santa exchange.  My gift is finally on its way to its intended target, I mean victim, errr recipient.  Should be there by Monday, Saturday at the earliest.

Well it seems that FSM has listened to us. We have most of our smilies back.  The speed is getting there and they seem to have fixed some of the menu problems.  Hopefully the new site will be as good as the old one.  It will just take some getting used too.  JOHN

Scott, I have three of the 1/48 Hobbycraft Sea Furies, HC 1593 and HC9583 are the kit numbers I have for them.  Been a while since I looked at them, but as I remember they are not so bad and not Tamiya. 

I'm having a terrible speed problem, soooooooooo slowwwwwwwwwwwwww.............

Also, there's now a ghost dropdown under the "magazine" tab that says "shop" of course... It won't go away and it also won't let me click back up the tree underneath it, so every time I switch posts I have to go all the way "home". Hope that makes sense.

Frustrated, so I'll go model for a while.

I must be a glutton for punishment, I picked up the Eduard 1/48 Fulmar Mk II so I now have the MPM Mk 1 with Eduard PE and the Eduard Mk II to build along with all of the other FAA aircraft in the stash.

But the SMER Swordfish Mk II on floats is the next to be started when I clear a few more of the bench. I have found a few articles on the updating of the kit so I now have a better idea of where to start as well as some plans to go off. I might even have to start it at the same time as the Tamiya Swordfish I think.

Dave,

You might want to track down Aaron as I think he did the Fulmar (or see if you can scroll back through the thread).  Don't know if he is still prowling and growling around here.  Haven't seen him since just after the new look appeared.

lewbud

Dave,

You might want to track down Aaron as I think he did the Fulmar (or see if you can scroll back through the thread).  Don't know if he is still prowling and growling around here.  Haven't seen him since just after the new look appeared.

Actually, Aaron had his account suspended, so I don't think we will be seeing him here for a long time (if ever).

Daywalker

lewbud:

Dave,

You might want to track down Aaron as I think he did the Fulmar (or see if you can scroll back through the thread).  Don't know if he is still prowling and growling around here.  Haven't seen him since just after the new look appeared.

 

Actually, Aaron had his account suspended, so I don't think we will be seeing him here for a long time (if ever).

That would explain why. 

Here are some progress photos of the Beaufighter.  I'm doing it in Dark Slate Grey/Extra Dark Sea Grey over Sky Type S.  There is supposed to be a photo of the airplane I am modeling, MB E, that supports this rather than the scheme that Tamiya suggests. I ain't got no picture, but I do like the DSG/EDSG/Sky scheme I'm believing the other guessers and doing it.  There are decals for the invasion stripes but I didn't like my chances of getting them to go down over the lumps and bumps on the wings or fit right on the fuselage so I painted them on instead.  I have used up considerable Tamiya tape, Frog tape, and paper masks on this thing.  Here it is.  Paints are Model Master, Floquil, Tamiya, and Polly Scale.

John that looks absolutely fantastic!!!!! Love those stripes!!!! WOW!!