Fleet Air Arm Group Build

 Spike everytime I see that dark blue RN scheme it just makes me happy! It is so well done and I am still looking at Gray and more gray and then some dark gray.

 Great pics FRank!  Really sharp looking stuff! I like that Firetruck as well!

 Well for three days I have been painting on the 1/32 Trumpeter beast. It was at the point that it had to be done before I could proceed with the build or I could never get it right.

 I took Capt Bondo's lead and tried the paints he is using for the Stainrear and got a little diff look but still really close to the Model masters and Tamiya.  Got to liven it it up you know?

I have already started the weathering of the  engine and cowling. Actually it is ready to got together with a little paint on the exhaust tubing in the collector.  The Collector was covered with a copper foil and burnished down tightly. The foil was heated prior to application to give a scorched look.  Still looks shiney with the flash but can't beat real metal for a metal look.

 The color I have read depends on who manufactured it. Blackburn manufactured  Swordfish had the more brassy look. While Fairey had a dark copper look.  So much to learn as I go.

Dee got me some of this Tape called frog tape?  Supposed to be like blue painters tape but better. It does conform and hold better than the blue tape. Also comes off easier and didn't lift any colors.

 There are a lotta parts to this thing. Taking a while to get it all together and particular attention must be paid to the clean up of the parts or fit will suffer.  It is not going together as easy as the the Tamiya kit. Nothing terrible yet though.

Once this is all good and dry I will start on the PE Parts. Rigging extc. I have read that the struts  seat oddly in the wings and correcting them to sink in the foms results in the PE not fitting!

 I'll let you know.

 I chose the scheme  from the Box art which is an aircraft that participated in the ill fated Channel Dash attack.  I like the scheme because it shows yet another transition in how the Royal Navy painted their aircraft.  Sky undersides became standard in this period.

Well Back to it!

Frank, somehow the last two photos go together....

I'm in awe of that 'cat. Very swell.

Excellent work on your Hellcat Mike!  I really like your shading method, well done!

Mount Horeb, the land of Mustard Museums, trolls, fire trucks, and flannel.

Aaron, good luck on the dolly!!!!

Mike, That is a masterpiece!!!!!! Very well done mate!!!!

Pickled Pirate??? I LIKE IT!!!

Also  after much searching I found another view of that cool torpedo dolly that Cropredy posted a pic of.

bondoman wrote:

sfcmac wrote: They needed to be used and you were just the man for the job! Reports of my demise are a little premature.

 Uh huh that is because Dee hasn't seen that post comparing her to a T-Rex!

 Dave you mean there is a fight song! Holy smokes that must be one swinging place eh?

 Break out the flannel uniforms and lets go on a raid!  Where is Nam again btw?  Blinded by his under garments again no doubt!

Hold me over the rail while I vomit, dommit!

or

I Nam what I am!

Ha!  Just googled it.  Like there fight song. 

Who needs Harvard, who needs Yale?
At POUPON U, you'll never fail!
Stanford, Princeton? Big mistake!
POUPON U's a piece of cake.

Maybe we should make upone for our crew?  

over and out!

sfcmac wrote:

Pickeled Pirate?

sfcmac wrote:

They needed to be used and you were just the man for the job!

 I have developed a fondness for these. The Stranraer has been a pleasure, and I've started the Privateer over in War in the Pacific GB. I've also got a Heyford in the stash, and am building the Mystere 4 for my collection of Israeli stuff. They are all original molds, and go together like the good old kits always do, not too many parts but they fit, which to me is much more satisfying than these Trumpeter things where 400 parts later it's all a mess of gluey fingerprints, no sense of alignment.

 Pickeled Pirate?

razordws wrote:

sfcmac wrote: Dave did you notice the town and state that shirt was from? Flannel land USA!!! Oh yeah Roy! I'd call it Air Wing Ale!!! Actually no Aaron, can't read what I can't see.  Now that you mentioned it though I can see what looks like Wisconsin on the bottom line.  Must need stronger reading glasses, man I hate getting old. Roy, In honor of the CAG who started this whole sorry motley cruise and for major suck up points I'd call it Tango 1 Ale!!!

.....or CAG cool-aid!!

Cap'n Bondo sir, Very very nice work on a true classic!!! Looking forward to the top deck going on!!!!

sfcmac wrote:

Dave did you notice the town and state that shirt was from? Flannel land USA!!! Oh yeah Roy! I'd call it Air Wing Ale!!!

Actually no Aaron, can't read what I can't see.  Now that you mentioned it though I can see what looks like Wisconsin on the bottom line.  Must need stronger reading glasses, man I hate getting old.

Roy, In honor of the CAG who started this whole sorry motley cruise and for major suck up points I'd call it Tango 1 Ale!!!

Da Plane Boss! Da PLANE!!!!!!!!

Looking great Capt Bondo!!!!!! I bet they smooth out fine when dry! They needed to be used and you were just the man for the job!

Dave did you notice the town and state that shirt was from? Flannel land USA!!!

Oh yeah Roy! I'd call it Air Wing Ale!!!

Bondo, she's a fine looking ship there fella.  Glad Aaron found you some replacement decals!

Speaking of Aaron, I'm beginning to think he's got a cloning machine.  Pumping out builds by the dozen, works 40 shifts a week and still has time to take the family on outings to Jurasic Park.  Not to mention attending Poupon U (and how does he know they wear flannel - did Frank tell him)!!!

Report from the Matchbox Mayhem GB, Captain Bondo here:

Got the decals on. Thanks to Aaron for giving me his as mine were shattered; they are 40 years old.

I soaked each one for a half hour, brushed off the muselage and let them sit for ten minutes. Then I peeled each one off the paper with tweezers, doing the old lift-flush in solvaset- lift bit until it came up on the tweezer like a contact lans. Layed down in a lake of Solvaset, brushed off the bubbles and flooded with Microsol. They are sleeping in Microsol right now and look like alligator skin, but in the morning I will respect them. I love old kits.

MMMMMMMM would love a taste of ye brew Cap'n Roy!!! My entry in the pot is "Portside Porter" Aaaarrrgghhhh!!!!!

Hehehe well we are a talkative bunch aren't we??? Good stats to see, thanks Cap'n bondo sir for the heads up!! Also saw that you and Frank are in the top ten most active users. Frank is #10 and Bondo is #5, when I checked. GREAT STUFF!!!

bondoman wrote:

For a laugh, go to the bottom of the forums homepage and click "forum statistics".

Ar, impressive indeed cap'n.  And to think we are but a mere pittance from 500 pages!!!!

Brian

Aaron, looks like you had one helluva great time, and the pictures are worth a thousand words!  Those are some saaaahhhhhweeeeeet looking birds they have there! (both metal and winged prehistoric! )

Brian