Fleet Air Arm Group Build

chester101 wrote:

One question about painting invasion stripes, on a lightning i have been working on i found that i couldn`t get the stripes on straight on the tail booms, does anyone have any advice on how to get these straight? Alain

Hi Alain,

I have not built a lightening myself, however here's how I would tackle it.......

Get some good quality low tack masking tape and on the side of the boom mask a straight edge by placing the tape on the highest bump facing you. When thats stuck on, pull the tape over the lower surfaces by stretching the tape gently then pressing it into place, trying to maintain the straight edge. Continue by overlapping the tape all around the boom in the same way keeping the same straight edge by slightly bending/pulling the tape into position.

This is not easy and often fustrating....but with patience it does work.

I hope this helps you out. 

Leon,

I know exactly what you mean, that lovely bit of detail and there's a seam right the way through it!

Well I asked myself the same question......so I went back to look at a previous build of the same kit I did a couple of years ago and it all came back to me.

I removed that bit of seam with a new scalpel blade then got in close with some wet sanding cloth. I lost some of the small rectangle, but saved the circle detail. It was a pain in the rear to do, but worth it. I was not brave enough to try and restore the central rectangle so I left it as is.  With some weathering, it looked OK when finished. I'll tryy and get some pics up for you to have a look at if you like?

This is awesome!!

Bob, Scott, & Rick......it's great to be able to see the faces that go with the names and at the same time learn a bit about our fellow modelers! Thanks for sharing, guys!

..and Rick, no worries....the monitor is just fine.

OK, here's me.  I'm a 69 year old retired Automotive Engineer.  Been building models most of my life.  For the last several years, my main focus has been on 1/48 WWII Aircraft, although I dabble in other scales & genres once in a while.  Recently I've been fooling with the new 1/48 Armor kits from Tamiya.  Just finished my third & starting the fourth, & having some fun with them as a change of pace.  In addition to modeling, my other long time hobbies are photography & golf.  Married to the same Gal for 48 years, have 2 grown kids & 3 grandsons.

Hope I didn't damage any monitors with the mug shot .

Regards,  Rick

Hey Bob, I sunk the Tirpitz with a buddy of mine on the Carolina Coast back in 78... heh heh

Here is a shot of my wife and me from a few years back.  We were at a Lobster feed at an old neighbors house, her brother had flown to Reno from main and had brought an ice chest full of fresh lobster!   

This photo really demonstrates the contrast between my German and my Italian wife's skin  

Drum roll please........

Took this shot will on our annual pilgramage to the shores of North Carolina last year.  On a personal note, I have a wife and 13 yr. old son who has little interest in modeling at this point.  Too many other activities at the moment....

Good point

Something else I want to try, cutting the flaps, rudder and control surfaces.  I have never attempted these before but there has to be a first.  I'm going to do the flaps first and see how that goes.  If it goes smoothly then I will move to the rudder and so on.  My goal is to enhance the over all look of the kit.  Plus practice some skill building. 

Roy

Mike,

I checked the canopy on my Corsair and there's a problem.  If I go and cut it into two parts it sliding part will not fit over the fuselage. It is too thick plus too narrow to fit properly.  I was looking at the squadron website and the have a two part canopy for the 1/72 Hasegawa Corsair.  So it seems I will go with that. 

Roy

I think posting the pics of ourselves is a great idea too, Leon & Darren. It's been a fun GB so far, and that just made it even better.

As to your question Leon, I know the lines you are talking about on the Corsair. Most times I will sand over panel lines and rescribe them later. Heck, I just finished assembling the wings on my Hurricane, and there must have been at least 8 or 9 panel lines that wrapped around each leading edge. I figured sanding the entire leading edge was the best way to assure a seamless look, but now comes the task of rescribing all those lines. It's time consuming, but I think it's worth it.

It's really good to put some faces to names and learn a little about you guys aside from what sort of models you build, thanks for posting.

I didn't mention in my blurb that I have two little girls 8 and 4 who aren't into kit building so much but they do love to paint Games Workshop figures in their own unique color schemes.  It's pretty cool actually as the oldest is now learning about base coats, shading, highlighting, dry brushing & washes etc.  You never know they may turn out champion figure painters one day.

On modeling front, Darren I thought that the Corsair came with droppable elevators, or is it droppable flaps that I'm thinking of?

Cheers

One question about painting invasion stripes, on a lightning i have been working on i found that i couldn`t get the stripes on straight on the tail booms, does anyone have any advice on how to get these straight?

Alain

Wow, I love the idea of sharing a picture. It is really nice to have an idea who you are talking to. I have to try to find an acceptable picture of myself - I'm sure you all thought I was an eagle lord, but I'm not...

Darren, I am in the process of doing my Corsair fuselage right now too. In front of the windscreen there is the large circle. In that circle on the seam line is a small rectangle, did you sand around it, sand it off and try to replace it, or just sand through it and not worry about it - looking for what others did. I am inclined to sand away and try to replace, but worry that might not end up looking great...Thanks for advice/thoughts.

Leon 

Now onto the modelling front............

I have been doing some more touch up painting on the Hellcat and I also put the Corsair fuselage together.....what a sweet kit! No filler need at all, simply brilliant.

I also butchered the Corsairs elevators into a dropped position. I hope it'll look right when its all done.

Oh, my fingers can get green, Darren, but it's usually RAF Interior green or FS34151.

Seriously though, my wife (bless her) is the one with the green thumb. She loves it, and it shows. Anything she plants, grows. She's amazing! We were very lucky to find the house we're living in now complete with a full greenhouse. When she's not inside I always know where to find her....and I happen to love fresh veggies, so her garden runs the gammut! It's got everything! I swear she knows her flora better than I know my modeling!

Dave, Roy,

Nice to see you! 

Mike ,

sorry to hear that you don't have green fingers! Give it another go if you get the chance, its very relaxing and rewarding. As for my son, he has'nt caught the modellling bug just yet, but he does like to wonder into my workshop and look at all the finished builds. When I finish something, I'll ask him if he likes it  and he always says "Its fantastic daddy" Obviously he is my favourite critic!

ruddratt wrote:

Very nice pics Dave &  Roy! Thanks for sharing! Man, this is just an awesome thread so far!

Have to agree, great to see everyone and see that we are all having fun.  It's also nice to see some familiar faces on the new Spitfire GB!

Very nice pics Dave &  Roy! Thanks for sharing!

Man, this is just an awesome thread so far!

Daywalker wrote:

Glad to see the Spitfire GB!  Mike- Looks like you have a reason to go to the LHS-to buy a Spit!

Unfortunately, there's not one of those to be found up in this neck of the woods, Frank, but mail order always works, so I ordered 2, both Tamiya 1/48 kits (a Mk.Vb and a Mk.I). My wife says those should keep me happy until if & when she decides on that 1/1 version for me!

here's the most recent picture of me.  The little guy is my 2 1/2 year son, Alexander.  All he wants from modeling is for papa to hang them in his room

Glad to see the Spitfire GB!  Mike- Looks like you have a reason to go to the LHS-to buy a Spit!

razordws wrote:

Okay, Okay, but you've been warned!!!!!

Hahaha... That's the same pic as your avatar.  Wait, oops!  Sorry.  It isn't.

Okay, Okay, but you've been warned!!!!!

Now......THAT'S more like it, Darren!   So, has your son caught the modeling bug yet?

....and I'll stay away from the subject of gardening....that's my wife's department. Me....well let's just say I've killed more than a few cacti in my short gardening career.

OH no! You don't get off that easy!

Get a picture of your mug on here! 

Did I mention I like modelling?

Yes, yes......all-right. Settle down at the back there!

This is me and my son Thomas.

OK.....a little about me. I'm married to a lovely woman and we have a great little boy, I'm a Prison Officer and she's an Emergency Nurse. We live in the countryside near England's west coast. Other hobbies are gardening (yes I know, typically English.) ,military aviation/history, photography, cars and fine dining.

TANGO 1 wrote:

Mike, you old romantic you!

What can I say, Darren. She brings out the best in me!

Now....how about a pic of our fearless leader! I mean, c'mon man!....you started this thread!

Mike, you old romantic you!

Nice to see you and your Mrs.