Fleet Air Arm Group Build

Frank,

thanks mate! I've been looking at it for so long now, I just needed some fresh eyes to give it the "once-over".

Sorry to hear about your bad weather, we had all the snow over here last month so I know the feeling.......Now, have some rum! That will warm you up

TANGO 1 wrote:

Scott , I take it you are up for this one then? I'll add your name to the roll call on page 1. Good to have you on board.

Totally count me in on this one, just trying to decide on what to build.  For some odd reason that Wyvern seams to be calling my name..... 

Darren-

WOW!  I think your carrier deck looks AWESOME!    I would be proud to display any of my aircraft on that deck.  Drink up me hardys! 

We got almost two feet of HEAVY snow yesterday, and it's still coming down!  Looks like I will have to share my free time with the models and the snowblower. 

Hello Chaps!

After last nights rum consumption I thought it prudend to get a crack on with my Tomcat build. 

Its not FAA I know, but it is naval and its for a good cause, here are some pics of the carrier deck display base I've cobbled together for the F-14 I'm building for a friend. I'd like to know if it looks OK, in other words....if it looks stoopid, please tell me! Its a "first attempt" at this sort of thing

Here, have a look.... 

 Scott ,

I take it you are up for this one then? I'll add your name to the roll call on page 1. Good to have you on board.

Thanks Bob.

Scott, I have the first release of the kit (Late Version).  Trumpeter recently released the Early Version as well.  It looks great in the box, but I haven't done anything with it yet.  Has a small PE set for the IP & belts, but mostly Injection molded parts.  It's a big aircraft, so make some room on the bench .

Regards,  Rick

Rick-as always, another stunning build.

Frank-Thanks-someone pointed me to a spot on the ModelingMadness web site,

http://www.modelingmadness.com/splfeat/kr/researchfeat.htm

 that has a kit comparison that was helpful in comparing the spruces included in the two kits.  Only difference is the fron canopy and the armored glass.  A squadron canopy might do the trick though.

Tango-I'll check out the Airfix-it didn't come up in my searches at Squadron & Great Models.  However, I am leaning toward the low cost option, the Tamiya Sea Harrier & a small Eduard PE set. The kit is only $11.00 at my LHS, vs $26.00 for the Hasegawa Hellcat plus aftermarket decals & PE (or Ultracast seat). A little sanding (and scribing) never hurt anyone....

rjkplasticmod wrote:

Scott, I plan on doing the Trumpeter 1/48 Wyvern for this GB. If you decide to do one also, we can compare notes . Regards,  Rick

That would be cool!  Do you already have the kit?  If so, how does it look and what do you think of it?

Thanks guys.

Frank,  The prop comes in the kit.  The Seafire build is OOTB.

Scott, I plan on doing the Trumpeter 1/48 Wyvern for this GB. If you decide to do one also, we can compare notes .

Regards,  Rick

You guys are posting some fantastic pics of some really nice models!  It amazes me all the skill we have here on these forums. 

I read an article in the latest Model Airplane International (sorry I mean no offense to FSM) about Trumpeter's new Westland Wyvern, that's a really interesting aircraft!  I may have to do that Wyvern for this build instead of the Sea Fury as it's oddly very cool!

Rick-

WOW!  Great looking plane.  Does the contra-rotating prop setup come with that kit?  I really like the looks of it.

That is a real beauty Rick. A hundred times better than the one I built when I got back into the hobby.

Your Seafire is how it should be done, a real pleasure to look at.

Speaking of the Airfix 1/48 Seafire 46/47, here's one I built way back in 2001.

BTW, the Airfix 1/48 Hellcat is a rebox of the old Otaki/ARII kit, but it's a pretty decent kit.

Regards,  Rick

Bob,

have you considered the Airfix Hellcat? Now I know its not a Tamiya/Hase standard kit, but OOB its not too shabby. Its what I'm using for my Hellcat build, I'm pretty sure all it needs is a extra work on the cockpit and canopy and it''ll be right. It has resessed panel lines and the box decal options are nice. Just another option..... 

Bob-

Thanks for the kind words!

As for the Hasegawa -3, I THINK all of their Hellcats use the same basic fuselage, my -3 looks like a -5 with score marks on the inside of the fuse to cut out the holes for the rear windows for the -3.  Not sure if they provide the little windows on the clear sprue for the -3 in the -5 kit, though.

...all this talk of rum...I had a bad experience whilst in college 30+ years ago-cost me a letter grade in calc class.....forced a change of majors...haven't touched the stuff since.....however, beer is another story...

Darson-Your are correct in the amount of subjects available.  I'm struggling over whether to go the Hellcat route (trying to find a -3 Hasegawa 1/48 but no luck-might have to go -5) or the Tamiya 1/48 Sea Harrier, despite what Tango advised in a seperate posting of mine....oh bother.

Frank & Tango-excellent work posted.  Looking forward to more projects.

Talking of 1/48 Seafire's........

You can still get hold of the F.46/47 Airfix Seafire, this is the later version that the Royal Navy used in Korea. This kit was a new tooling and its very good. Nice engraved panel lines and rivets, plus a wingfold option too. Only two things need fixing, the office and the canopy. Both can be replaced by aftermarket items.

Another one to look out for in the future is the new Special Hobby tooling of a Mk.III Seafire, due for release heaven knows when, but I think it will be worth looking at when it eventually turns up.

Thanks for your kind words fella's

Easiest way is to convert the Tamiya kit. There are a couple of conversion kits out there. In my opinion, the better one is the MDC coversion kit. If memory serves, all you need do is add the kit fuselage to the resin wing they give you. Then add some of those cool Aeromaster decals and you are all set!

Go have a look here:

http://www.shopcreator.com/mall/tplsearchstore.cfm?hidedeptmatrix=yes&did=54287&page=1&action=search&prodformat=&useverity=1&store=ModelDesignConstruction&searchstring=seafire&checkfield=&searchpricegt=&searchpricelt=&displayorder=descending&orderby=relevance 

Hope this helps.......

Nice work on the Seafire Darren.  Well done!

Regards,  Rick

Wow!  Great looking Spit!  You did a great job on the camo! 

As for the 6 pages, it seems like everyone here is already having a lot of fun and we haven't even started building anything yet!  Probably 'cuz of all the extra rum rations the Captain keeps handing out...

After seeing your Seafire, now I want to build one of those!  How hard would it be to convert a Hasegawa Mk.IX or a Tamiya Mk.Vb into a Seafire?

Here's one I made a while back, its the Airfix Seafire L.III, its not exactly a shake and bake kit and it was my first attempt at re-scribing too

It was accepted last year for part of a NAS history display at the RAF Mallom museum. One of the guys there let me wonder round on my own, its a great place to go if you get the chance. I was allowed to get very close to the exibits there.

Hey....six pages into this thread and we have'nt started our builds yet! Is that some kind of record here?

Either way it does'nt matter, its just shows that we have a good thread here

Thanks Darren!  Now, I can finish my extra rum rations!

Did I hear someone say a release of K5054?  I WANT ONE!!! 

Frank,

your Spitfire is fantastic! I really like the finish you have on it, looks superb! Glad to see it here.

Darren,

A release of K5054? Now that is good news! I have wanted to build that one for many years.

You are certainly right about it being a good time for FAA subjects, the new Gannet and Sea Venom are certainly high on my list. 

I am currently building a Spitfire, this one is MH434 which is owned in the UK by the Old Flying Machine Company at Duxford, its the 1/48 Mk.IX Airfix kit. Not a pefect kit, but should be fun to do.

I'll get some pics up on the A/C forum when things get going.

TANGO 1 wrote:

Someone from below deck has just reminded me about the weekend rum ration.......   "Now hear this.....all crew are to be issued extra rum this Saturday." "Build models and be merry..........that is all." ..................................

And there was much rejoicing

I was doing a bit of research the other day and I tell you what it certainly is a time of plenty for anybody with an interest in British/Commonwealth naval aviation. 

This year the releases include in 1/48 Fairey Gannet AS Series (RAN), Fairey Gannet AEW (RN), Grumman Martlet Mk III, Grumman Martlet Mk II 'Operation Torch', Fairey Fulmar Mk I, D.H. Sea Vixen F(AW).1, Fairey Barracuda Mk II, Fairey Firefly Mk IV/V, Blackburn Skua Mk I, Blackburn Roc Mk I, Seafire Mk II/III, Fairey Swordfish Mk II, Hawker Sea Hawk FGA Mk 6 and Westland Wyvern S Mk 4 'Early Version'

In 1/72 we are looking at Supermarine Sea Otter, Blackburn Firebrand TF Mk IV/5/5A/TT.5, Boulton Paul P.120,  Blackburn Buccaneer S Mk 2/2C/2D 'FAA', Supermarine Seamew, Fairey Flycatcher, Fairey Flycatcher (Floatplane), Fairey Flycatcher (Amphibian), D.H. Sea Vixen F(AW).1, Fairey Gannet AS Mk 1, Seafire Mk XV, Seafire FR Mk 47, Hawker Sea Fury T.20, Blackburn Skua Mk II, Blackburn Roc Mk I, Fairey Fulmar Mk I, Seafire Mk II, BAe Sea Harrier FA Mk 2, Hawker Sea Fury FB Mk 11 and Blackburn Firebrand TF Mk II.

I reckon in anybody’s book that a pretty good selection of kits to choose from.

Oh and Darren Silvecloud are going to release a kit that I have been after for ever, a 1/48 Spitfire prototype K5054

Thanks Rick and Dave!  Here's a couple more pics:

Nice looking Spit Daywalker!    Got any more pics?

Did somebody say more rum on Saturday?!?!   Better get some modeling done tonight then.

Good looking Spitfire.  Nice work.

Regards,  Rick