Fleet Air Arm Group Build

bondoman wrote:

Daywalker wrote: Cap'n- Your weekend sounds blissful!  I shall spend mine in retail hell catering to all of the young lasses coming in to look at jewelry.  Wonder if any will let me help put it on? Well if they do, here's that latest style! Modeled by me, Sir, beggin' yer pardon. MEN IT"S WEEKEND IN THE ISLANDS!!! TIME TO BREAK OUT THE ALOHA SHIRTS!!! I WANT ART!!!

OOWW!! MY EYES!  Going on vacation wit me dad starting Sunday.  Captain sir, will try to acquire appropriate attire by Friday maybe even a grass skirt.  Sean, what a view, nice work on the engine.  Aaron, I found your prop, Dee's avatar ate it (check the xray).  Glad to see you're still around Dee, hope you're feeling much better.  To all the Dad's out there, Happy Father's Day.

 Bet there is Salmon for days in the season!  Looks great and cool compared to here. Worked another 10 hour day and then had to do a bit of yard work when I awoke before dark. Now I am hot and tired and gotta go to work again!  Jeeze not much time for modeling today but I did get the glass mask and painted. Going open canopy on this one. Pilot painted and seated the touch up painting done and started a pretty intense rigging. Lots of that to do on these bi-planes. Even on the tail of this one.

Sean that Engine looks detailed for days! Looks like the same resin nightmare exhaust hook up that were on the skua and Roc!  I knew when I saw the work you were doing It was going to make me want to do more detail work.  Thats why I have to hurray and finish or you will make mine look really bad.

Cpt Bondo Sir, Have to clean up the plumbing a bit and I shall look and see if I have an appropriate attire to meet the dress code sir!  Is there a deadline?

BTW for the record I have once again misplaced my Propeller. Painted it a good base coat and set it somewhere safe to dry no doubt! Yes Sean I checked the Cutains this time . Man I must be getting really excentric. Think I will install a special shelf on the wall and label it put your propellers here dummy!

Well I am back up and running and able to upload piccys again. Had to get serious after reading Capt. Bondos  challenge to Loud Island Shirts...

Here are a few pictures of the Sea Gladiator kit I am working on. The kit is by Roden in 1/48 scale, there are aprox. 100 pieces of plastic. The P/E frets have over 200 parts. (I quit counting after that)  The engine inside the cowling.

And the start inside of the fuse.

Yes I know not much to show, but I really do not spend much time at the bench this time of the year when I can go Mtn Biking... And see stuff like this near my shack here in the PNW

On into Canada the river flows..

Daywalker wrote:

Cap'n- That's gotta be one of the loudest shirts I have seen in a while!  Thank you for not putting on your grass skirt for the piccie.

Ahhhhh Frank!!!! We weren't going there!!!! Now you have put the idea in his head!!!!

You'd better darn well believe it sailor. Order of the Day. The XO is having one commissioned in tartan, the CAG in Green Flight Suit, Nam in pink and the Commander in BNSF Pumpkin/Green. Don't ask.

Order of the Day.

Admiral, if it would please your nibs, and wiping the caviar from your chin, please put down that glass of Port and agree to judge the falling out of the men (?) in their Hawaiian shirts, to be the first order of business this next Friday evening. And of course you are invited to submit as well.

Needless to say I will be conducting inspirational exercises on the gratings all week. I will give the winner a model, parcel post, of my own choosing. Seriously.

And you haven't seen my good ones.

Spike, and I like that tag, although you have to share it with the great Roger, who swam out and retreived that Turkish cannon ball, wot dint no no better, as was quoted at the time; Spike that F6 is a nice model and the belts look much better. But what do I know.

Here's the Rum thing, no worries, be on call when needed and a good Aloha shirt will allow you access to the head again, otherwise please use the LEE  rail.

Mahalo, brothers. And think of those who had a nice tour, but risked all.

Daywalker wrote:

Cap'n- Your weekend sounds blissful!  I shall spend mine in retail hell catering to all of the young lasses coming in to look at jewelry.  Wonder if any will let me help put it on?

MEN IT"S WEEKEND IN THE ISLANDS!!! TIME TO BREAK OUT THE ALOHA SHIRTS!!! I WANT ART!!!

Mike- That wash on the 'belts did the trick!  Looks much better to my eyes.   Well done!

Aaron-

Painted, decalled and ready for action already!  Man, you do not disappoint!  Glad you liked that tip, and the one with the dish soap/Future as well.  Really helps it lay down, doesn't it?

Cap'n- Your weekend sounds blissful!  I shall spend mine in retail hell catering to all of the young lasses coming in to look at jewelry.  Wonder if any will let me help put it on?

Sfmac said:

"A trick I learned from Frank is by simply drilling out and opening a few holes and vents it adds so much to the look of it with just a bit of effort."

I tried that with my 73 Vega, didn't work...

Glad you finally settled on the proper scale. it's Friday men, and suddenly there's a flotilla, a flock, a shoal of flotsam if you will. Never before on this forum have I looked forward to summer so much...

This Capital GB, War in the Pacific GB, Guadalcanal GB, with recommends to the RA GB II of course,

But I'm looking forward to awakening most Saturday mornings with a boar tusk necklace, on a matt of palm fronds, smelling of rum, while the island girls gently sway.

Life is good. May have to get a tattoo.

Oh, 411 and thank you Commander, tho that's not official yet until the CAG wakes up: got the quick Boost gun barrels today, 16 in all .303 for the Whitley and Sunderland. I also was appraised of the state-of-the -art in Coastal Command color references, and they are that coming from Chris Hall.

Humbrol paints, have shipped from Squadron. Interesting thing- there was a "shadow effect" color palette for the upper side of the lower wings of CC biplanes- see Stranraer, one shade lighter. Also, despite a comment on another thread recently, white gloss bottoms versus matte white sides are ideal, but probably not anything that held up.

More later, including this weeks TJ recipe over on WIP GB. And I'll have pics of that necklace.

Captain Bondo

Aaron, simply stunning mate!!! Hope looks beautiful!!!! I have purchased the 1/72 Airfix kit and the sisters markings are included. Plan on doing Faith one day!! The story of the sisters defending Malta is definately one of valor!!!!!! I can't help but have the utmost respect and admiration for those pilots!!!!! True FIGHTER PILOTS in EVERY sense of the words!!!!!!! Not just guys that knew how to fly, but guys that truly knew the art of flying and FIGHTING with an airplane!!!!! A real tribute to them Aaron!!! GREAT WORK!!!

Mike, Your Hellcat office is topnotch!!!!! Looking forward to seeing this one finished as well!!!!

 Well I am not quite as far as I wanted to be.  I discovered the Elastic repair thread I was using for the rigging doesnt play well with enamel paint or laquer dull coats. Gotta save it for last. I really pummeled the model paint wise and have only a few small items left such as the canopy Crew figure , exhuasts and oil cooler. All painted waited to be put on at the end. Used my pin vise to hollow out the exhaust pipes and MGS on the fuse sides to really make them pop out!

A little trick I learned from Frank is by simply drilling out and opening a few holes and vents it adds so much to the look of it with just a bit of effort. Also Used the dish soap in the future to let it lay smoothly and it works well!

Got a few streaks and touch ups to do but nothing big. Did a lot of test on the lower wing and it shows but an easy fix.

Also spent a lot of time researching the markings, As my choice is not available in the kit.

This is  Hope. One of the 3 famous Gladiators of Malta circa 1940 when the three sisters Named Faith, Hope and Charity fought off the Italian Blitz alone against incredible odds and really inspired the populace of the island who were busy carving out shelters in the rock caves and stone.  Can you imagine? WOW.  Again storys of Valor abound in the early days of the FAA. Feats all accomplished with aircraft that really were classified as obsolete. Incredible.

Get er done Carlos! We need Harriers cuz all I got has props!

Should be quite a show from the sounds of it!

Speaking of shows some great pics there Spike of your procedure! I like it. Usually I end up just picking out details with a wash of burnt Sienna or something like that but your extra efforts are showing some very sharp results!

 I am just watching paint and future dry so I can get on with decaling and rigging. My fav part is watching the paint dry I think!

Great job again Spike and Carlos I think that Harrier kit may surprise you and dress up pretty good!  Especially with your experienced efforts!

Aaron, the speed your going I thought maybe I'd been asleep six weeks or so. Great progress on the Gladiator and as for that Swordfish wowzers! I'm looking forward to seeing that get started.... prob sometime before I wake up in the morning the speed your going!

Thanks everyone for the kind comments about my Hellcat office. Cap'n I'm ashamed to say I aint got no optivisor although I was wishing I had one when I was struggling to see. Will be seeking one out for my next build.

Thought I should post some more pics.

After the Interior Green I lighten with yellow and then pick out the centre of panels etc.

Then some PE,

After A wash of raw umber I pick out details and add highlights with even more yellow mixed with the Interior green. I dont have much success with drybrushing, at least with acrylics.

.

Some pics of how it all fits in the fuse.

I gave the harness a wash (used that pro-modeler stuff)

Sorry if I'm a little late for second dog watch Cap'n Bondo.

Cheers folks...

 Wow some of the compliments you fellows come up with are  making me blush! Thanks Dave and Ritchie. 

Frank here are a couple decent reviews. It seems to be almost a blown up copy of the Tamiya kit. Minus the Figs BOO! and the cool 250lb bombs and smoke floats/flares. Only has the Torpedo as a choice of ordinance.  It has an extra fuselage in clear plastic and the Markings are for the Channel dash or HMS Ark Royal flight that went after the Bismark.

 Looks like a really well made kit. A Tamiya blown up to 1/32.

http://www.cybermodeler.com/hobby/kits/tru/kit_tru_3207.shtml

http://www.modelingmadness.com/reviews/allies/cleaver/gb/tmc32swordf.htm

Dave sorry to be so slow with the Gladiator. The Resin pit I used wasn't made for the kit and took some extra time to tweak.  I'll try and do better.

sfcmac wrote:

AAAAACK!!!   That's a lotta plastic, how's the kit look inside?

Okay, first of all.  He's already got paint on the bloody Gladiator!!!

sfcmac wrote:

Then he pulls this out of the stash!!!    

sfcmac wrote:

Your right Aaron, there are modelers and then there are real modelers!!!  We know which one you are!!!

"Now that's a knife!"-Crocodile Dundee. CAN NOT WAIT TO SEE THAT ONE COME TOGETHER!!!!!!!!!!!!! I saw the test shot for that at the model expo and I was drooling!!!!!! I have neither the funds nor the space for such kits, but if I did..... Classic Fighters have plans in place to make a 1/24!!!!!!! So, Aaron if you testeroniness prevails, let us know will you when that one becomes available. Honestly waiting with baited breath for the breaking of sprue for your 'Bag build mate!!!!!!!!!!!!! The Sea Glad really is taking shap quickly!!!

Oh btw, is UPS flying F-117's now??? Don't know how that 'Bag got past Dee to be honest!

simpilot34 wrote:

A Stringbag!!?? Aaron I will try and get copies of stuff to you for that one as well!!!! The Sea Glad is looking great Aaron!!!!! This is a build you have needed, it goes together with no fuss!!!

A Ha! Right you are Ritchie!  Man Frank have you been dippin into Bondo's stash?

Brian make him a pot of coffee and don't add water! We gotta get the XO feeling right!

 Well speaking of Capt Bondoness you all know that each build I do is a journey in learning and comraderie here and I have been thinking real hard on how Bondo would approach this build!

 CPT Bondo Likes 1/72 and the Swordfish that Rowdy Ritchie has done is above reproach!

 Look at the size of the Torpedo he did all that scratching and PE with!

Now I have the 1/48 Tamiya Swordfish as well. Very impressive kit. Used the crew as masters for the Skua and Roc builds. And like Cpt Bondo sez it has a bigger torpedo to size up yer machoness!

 But then The Xo and Guy both are going to do a Mark I and Mark II with all the frills bells and whistles.  So why overkill?  Still I need something appropriate to show my er attitude of testosteroniness with this crazy group of Pirates. Haligan and Dee excluded of course.

 So I need a Torpedo about this size! To better represent!

So there you have it! As Cpt Bondo would say! There are men and then there are MEN!  Think he has been watchin too many Bow Flex commericials!

 Somebody pass the CAG a vitamin cuz it's gonna be a bumpy ride!

Daywalker wrote:

sfcmac wrote: ...I have one more aircraft to build that you would see on a British carrier in 1939-40 does anyone know what that may be A Lancaster?  I would love to see one of those  on a carrier.

Now don't be silly!.......Lancasters don't have arrestor hooks!

Brian

sfcmac wrote:

...I have one more aircraft to build that you would see on a British carrier in 1939-40 does anyone know what that may be

A Lancaster?  I would love to see one of those  on a carrier.

 Bondo thank ye fer the kind words. I am glad you approve so far! Thanks to you as well Brian I am actually pretty far along with it. It is yet another unannouced unlisted build that struck me as to Honor our fellow crew man Summit the Mountain man who is on a shaving sebatical!

 I am anxious to see his progress as to see how the newer kit compares to my quickie attempt.  I expect mine will seem very simple in comparison but I think it is coming along and has character!

Here is the Engine work and a little added to the cowling to represent a simplified exhaust channeling from the pistons!

For the price of this kit which is usually $10 or less it is really quite an enjoyable build. Externally the detail is good. We fixed the pit so as to bring it up a lot in detail.  The parts fit is top notch!  Dryfitted with no glue it fits tightly. No gaps or seams and really is a joy!  For an old cheapie kit it is putting those  modern pricey special hobby beast to shame. 

I decided to try a bit of an experiment as Cpt Bondo mentioned earlier about the blue tape pulling off his Tamiya acrylics!  I mummified the whole smoe in it during the painting process and sure enough I got some small spots on the Tamiya black pull up where I had not used the dull coat. Oddly it pulled off only from the spots where I used Tamiya Primer. 

 Well I have the upper wing attached well. There are pre made tiny holes for the rigging already in the wings and tail. Bonus! Just letting paint dry to finalize the construction and add the rigging and decals. Shouldn't be too bad.

After this one I have one more aircraft to build that you would see on a British carrier in 1939-40 does anyone know what that may be?  Anyone? Ritchie?

Aaron, that Gladiator will be one FINE example when completed!  Bravo matey!!!!

Brian