Fleet Air Arm Group Build

Wait a sec did Frank say I was right about something? Lets keep that between us!

Well got the wings and just about all the major asseblies together and began painter the 1/48 Hasegawa Sea Hurricane all up. One of Frank's favorite schemes of the Dark sea Gray and Dark Slate Gray over Sky.

 So Far just have the Sky and Dark Sea gray on but it is progress! Getting a good finish with the paint to boot! Over the Tamiya Primer.

 Getting my $$$'s worth outta the MkIII point 7 paint stand. Pat Pending by the XO. Best $627.37 I ever spent Frank.

Only spot I have to touch up is the right wing as the plastic is slightly scratched where I had to remove some of the raised details off the wing that didn't belong. I use one of those fancy nail polishing files with the 4 surfaces that feel almost smooth as the grit is so fine but it does a bang up job on such repairs.

 Well have to nap for work again. Some time I may get time off. Hopefully timed when the PE and stuff arrive for the stringbags! No mail on Sunday booo!

For those vents, I don't know this for certain but most jets have supplemental air inlets which are open during run-ups and takeoffs.  Once the jet is at speed, they often close as the air coming in is enough for the engine.  They are usually shut when the jet is parked to keep FOD to a minimum.  Perhaps someone who knows more about that aircraft can help?

Aaorn is right about the fine wire, that is where I get mine.

Yes Frank, they sell the individual supplies seperate to replace what is needed as well.  As a matter of fact I read a tutorial in the FSM special issue that used the same resin, release and mold rubber (IIRC).  One thing to note (according to the article) when you crack the bottle open there is a limited shelf life to the un-used portion, so it is suggested you collect a number of things you want molded and do a big batch of things right away.  I have a bunch of things all lined up for when I get around to casting (a lot of 1/35 armor stuff like boxes, ALICE packs, Mauser rifles, and I just picked up two carrier kits, a USS Essex and IJN Junyo in which I want to cast more of the aircraft since 20 planes each is just silly )

Brian

Daywalker wrote:

That is something I would really like to try myself someday.  Just need to research the resin and RTV to get.

Hey Frank, I am looking to start casting a few tings myself real son.  What I am going to do is use a resin starter kit from Micro Mark.  I don't know if you are interested, but here is a link to the kit:

http://www.micromark.com/COMPLETE-RESIN-CASTING-STARTER-SET,8174.html

Brian

swingr1121 wrote:

I know it's RAF and not FAA, but damn.. How about raising a glass in honor of Henry..   He would have appreciated that one..   Mike

I heard on the radio that he started in the RNAS in WWI as an aircraft mechanic, so he must be good here.

Here here, to henry!  May he fly with the angels now.

simpilot34 wrote:

Aaron, thats great work mate!!!! Want to try casting some things later on. Still looking for a homemade something to make molds and casting stuff. Just something I have on the back burner to think about.

That is something I would really like to try myself someday.  Just need to research the resin and RTV to get.

Aaron, thats great work mate!!!! Want to try casting some things later on. Still looking for a homemade something to make molds and casting stuff. Just something I have on the back burner to think about.

To Henry!!!!!!!!

 To Henry! May he be flying high once again! The world has lost a true treasure with his passing.

 Well have worked 2 12 hour days in a row so am really beat and this kills my bench time but I managed to eek out a little progress.

 I really liked the resin fuse replacement part with the arrester hook on the 1/48 Hasegawa Sea Hurricane. So much so I made a mold of it in two part putty. You can see the resin drying in it.

So now I have that part able to be reproduced and stashed for future builds if needed.

 Got the fit as close as my meger skills allow but a quick run over the seam with an emory board and some Mr Surfacer and it looks like one solid part again.

Got the Fuse halfs together and ready to tackle the wings again. What a great project to do while the Swordfish are stalled.  I am really having a ball with it.

Don't want to put a damper in anyone's parade here, but I just read an article that kinda pertains to this GB right now...

LONDON – Only death could silence Henry Allingham.  He went to war as a teenager, helped keep flimsy aircraft flying, survived his wounds and came home from World War I to a long — very long — and fruitful life....He was the last surviving original member of the Royal Air Force, which was formed in 1918. He made it a personal crusade to talk about a conflict that wiped out much of a generation. Though nearly blind, he would take the outstretched hands of visitors in both of his, gaze into the eyes of children, veterans and journalists and deliver a message he wanted them all to remember about those left on the battlefield.

Full Article at http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090718/ap_on_re_eu/eu_britain_obit_oldest_man

I know it's RAF and not FAA, but damn..

How about raising a glass in honor of Henry..

He would have appreciated that one..

Mike

sfcmac wrote:

Alas the kit they went to was a casualty in a move back in 1989 when the nearly complete build and an accompaning Corsair ( don't tell Frank) Were left in a car windows closed  during the July heat. Both builds warped and curled beyond recognition. I still grieve their loss.

Poor little Corsair.   It seems the fatality rate of those bent wing terrors is rather high right now.

Well he little package tracker shows the Swordfish parts not arriving until next Weds.

Then My camera battery needs charging so my pic update will have to wait until tommorrow.  I did get the Fuse Halfs joined and glued.  What a joy as this kit fits nearly perfectly on even the complex assemblies.  Lots of little surface details to remove but clean up is very minimal and standard. Should be a quick build that looks grand if I pull off a good paint job.

Quiet here tonight. JUst as well woke up at 6:30 PM and time to go back to work and do it again!

 Ha FRank only you know the secret of the surgery!  I have been told I would make a great lobotomy candidate does that count? That got nixed cuz I enjoy the shock treatment to much!  Ever see Young Frankinstein? Oh sweet mystery of life at last I've found you..

Bondo... great that it finally made it through the customs and EPA. Thought the inks may not pass as it could effect the breeding habits of certain roaches. I know. Not funny.

Alas the kit they went to was a casualty in a move back in 1989 when the nearly complete build and an accompaning Corsair ( don't tell Frank) Were left in a car windows closed  during the July heat. Both builds warped and curled beyond recognition. I still grieve their loss.

Glad I could help really.

Ritchie! just cuz!

Thanks Aaron!!!! As you see the seats in the pic, there are only 4 parts to each one!!! just detail painted and washed!! Another one started!!!!!!!!!! Mate you are a machine!!!!!!!! Looking mighty good already!!!! I see what you mean about the OOB office, that IP is awesome!!!!!!! Looks like you surgery went well too!!!! Great rapid progress!!!!!!!

Frank, thank you as well!!!!!!!! Really going to like this kit me thinks, even with the typical Airfix issues!!!!!

My letter from Texas apparently cleared customs into CA and arrived today. The TSB looks carefully at that stuff, after the little incident with the red BBQ sauce and Senator Boxer's white suede coat.

Anyhow, thank you very much Aaron for your generosity, and I trust there's not a Stranraer out there missing a set of decals. Your storage system worked well.

Yer aces, chap!

Excellent work on those bang seats Richie, can't wait to see them with the PE bits attached!

Aaron- So glad to hear you are enjoying that Hurricane.  Certainly fits in with your "every FAA bird to serve in WWII" theme!  I will certainly watch you build all of them with a sense of joy.  You really are doing a bang up job on that office, well done!  Your surgery looks like a great fit as well, were a brain surgeon in a past life? 

Very Impressive Ritchie! I am loving those seats!  They are the ones with so many parts they are like mini kits in themselves!

Well sadly today I found out my 1/48 PE and stuff for the Swordfish is delayed. Won't even be shipped until tommorrow. Which means they will probably arrive right with Ritchies gift and completely drive me over the edge! 

 Now in the mean time I have too many kits to build so I started another to keep me in the swing of it. This is a most wonderful Gift from the XO!  and right on with what I was looking for!

 I added the Fuel tanks (again largely unseen when fuse halves are joined but what the hey. I have gone as far as I dare with the Stringbags until all the goodies arrive if I plan on using them!

On the Sea Hurricane I have completed the pit and done the tricky needed surgery to replace the bottom with the resin one that has the arrester hook detail. Lotsa fine sanding but I have a good mate which is crucial as the detail would easily be sanded away doing the seams.

Probably one of the best OOB pits I have seen detail wise. Odd there is no open canopy option. Alas no pilot fig either. How is one supposed to Varoom them around the back yard without a pilot?

Thanks Frank your the bestest FAA XO in the forume!

Damn Richie, those seats look AWESOME!  Looking GREAT so far!

Brian

Yeah, automatic slats if you will lol. I read a story once about a spit and a 109 in a scrap, and the 109 had automatic slats as well. The spit was being chased by the 109 and was in a tight sustained turn. The 109 pilot thought he had enough lead and sqeezed the trigger, thus dropping his airspeed to slow just enough from the recoil for the slats to deploy causing him to enter a high speed stall and spin in. Talkin' about Murphy's law!!!!!

Anyways, had a bit of progress on the Buc, well enough to take pics of at least. Got the office chairs almost ready to start putting the PE belts on. Still a couple little minor paint touch ups to do, but wanted to get some pics up!!! So here they are! Enjoy!

Dry brushed some silver on the rails, also here and there. Really made the the detail pop out!!! Put a wash on the cushions so they didn't look so new, and picked out a few bits in black on the side of the buckets according to a couple refs and the kit instructions. So these are basically out of the box at the moment, minus the horrid overscale thickness I'm outta here handles, which will be replaced with PE ones.

Aaron, the L/E slats were spring loaded and popped out at  low airspeeds, and as the Capt. mentioned it uses it's 4 ailerons as flaps. There is a little wheel in th ecenter of the trailing edge of the top wing just above the windscreen that th pilot turns to droop the ailerons to the desired angle. Very early use of 'flaperons'!!!! So on the ground, the slats would be out definately, but as you said haven't seen to many pics at all of the flaps being used. There are some good videos on youtube of the Swordfish as well you might want to check out!!!! One they show the FAA memorial flights 'bag being started by the handcranked inertia starter!!!

Jason- Now THAT is what I am talking about!  If those ladies are willing to give up their knickers for the silk, then I feel it's my sworn duty to accept them graciously.  The things I do for this GB!

sfcmac wrote:

I am thinking hard about giving the open look a go though as it really seems to add to the look.  Maybe I could open one and leave the others be? Oh I hate these decisions!  One lump or two?

YIKES!!!  You are crazy Sarge, to even consider such major surgery!

 I am going to check out Ritchie's refs.  He has a real good cut away exploded view included.

 I am thinking hard about giving the open look a go though as it really seems to add to the look.  Maybe I could open one and leave the others be? Oh I hate these decisions!  One lump or two?