Fleet Air Arm Group Build

TANGO 1 wrote:

"Now hear this.........." Its the weekend!   Gentlemen.......eat, drink and be merry.    "Extra rum rations for all!"   Frank........don't tell me you've drank it all so soon!

bobbaily wrote:

...err...uhh...what is 'PVA'?

White Glue.

Regards,  Rick

Hi Leon,

I know exactly what you mean! My method is to dry fit the finished canopy part to the finished airframe. This will show up any obvious gaps. Sometimes shaving a bit off the canopy will do the trick, but usually I end up having to add filler.

I use a PVA to attatch the canopy and let it dry.  Then I position the model with a light source behind it to show any gaps. This is where filler comes in, I use a thin brush just barely dipped in PVA and run it alomg the gaps. I leave it for about a minute then wipe the excess off with a damp cotton bud. The PVA will set hard overnight and you can mask/paint it the next day.

Job done!

Enjoy the weekend!

Nice work Darren,

The spit looks really nice. I am always afraid to leave canopies until the end - I have a hard time getting them to sit perfectly and almost always have to add some type of filler. Do you have those problems? or better yet, a trick to not have that problem?

Thanks and have a good weekend.

Leon 

"Now hear this.........."

Its the weekend!

Gentlemen.......eat, drink and be merry. 

"Extra rum rations for all!"

Thanks Frank!

Cheers!

Nice work Darren.

Regards,  Rick

Right, some pics!

Spitfire Mk.IX-decals on now, I'll get the gloss coat on tomorrow.

Lynx Mk.8-got the fiddly bits on, did some more filling etc.......Also got the tail rotor blades down, took ages to mask and un-mask! Plus a pic of one of the filters with those pesky mesh bits.

Thanks for encouragement chaps!

I've actually had a nice peaceful afternoon in the workshop and progress has moved on a little more. I have got all the markings on my Spitfire and started work on its display base.

I will soak the decals with microsol later and let them dry off in a warm room overnight, a tad long winded-but it works for me. So this one should be done soon with any luck. I'll post some more WIP pics later on.

I sat down with the Lynx and did my best to fill the gaps, its not a very smooth finish but I recon with a few layers of gloss over it, it will pass as OK. I've just started on some of the fiddly bits for the tail boom and the landing gear, I really want to get this one moving now.

Again, I'll get some pics up later.

Darren I feel your pain that has happened to me more times than I can remember.  I really hate having to admit to myself that the kits not going to be quite the show winner I had hoped for.  However as we are desperate for photos it is your duty as commanding officer to press on and display the results

Frank I have seen that book and flicked through it a few times at a local specialty bookstore.  It looks great but the reason I didn't get it was it didn't have a great deal on the Seafire in there.

Cheers 

Darren-

Sorry to hear about your Lynx woes.  Hang in there bud, judging from your previous work it should be a stunner.

Hi folks,

just a quick update from me. I am about halfway through doing the decals on my Spitfire so with a bit of luck I might have it finished before the end of the month.

The Lynx has been resprayed again and I can still see problems with it. I am really getting fed up with this kit now, the kit does have its faults but a lot of the problems have been of my own making. The areas that have been filled and sanded still have a few inperfections that can be seen through the paint. I was very close to giving up with this one as I am so tired of trying to put it right, however I have decided to just make the best of it now. If nothing else, it'll raise a few laughs.

Hi Triumf,

sounds like you've made great progress! We're all looking forward to seeing some pics.

Hey there triumf, would you mind pointing me in the direction on that build report as I'm building the Gannet myself at the moment and I'd love to read it.

Cheers 

Dave-

Great job on the office!  She's really coming together.

Well hi and hullo to ya all

Prpgress on both my Wyvern and  and Gannet is going well. Actually so well that tyey are done, or almost done. I didn`t dare to put any weight in the Gannet because I read in one of the buildreports that the undercarriage could give if I did.

And neither could I use the sonardome as support as this would never have been done in real life.

So what I am to do is to use some clear sprue as a support.

How the kits was???

Wonderful, but in retrospect I think I should have painted the rockets differently...Well bugger, And I`m not sure if it is overloaded.

I`ll try to get a couple of shots of them during the week with my cellphone to show...

Happy building

The front office looks awesome Dave, nice job . The multi part seat belts may have been a pain but they sure turned out nicely.

Cheers 

Dave,

that is superb work on the Barracuda's 'pit. The detail and weathering look very realistic. I can't wait to see more of this build, it is going to be a good one.

Here are some more images of the cockpit, it's almost time to put the fueslage together. All I can say about the multi part PE for the seat belts is - WHAT A PAIN IN THE #$%@!!!!!

Have fun on course Roger

Thanks Leon!

I've just left our new "calling card" over on the Aircraft forum to see if anyone else wants to join in. 

I thought it would be good to spread the word and order a few more cases of rum.....

Nice Signage Darren!

Cheers,

Leon