Fleet Air Arm Group Build

I've put you up for Commander, Mr. McNeal and I'd say you deserve it. Very nice Jaws gallery, very nice. A good Robert Shaw movie, certainly better than the "Battle of the..." maybe not quite up to par with "The Taking of Pelham 1-2-3" and certainly not in a league with "From Russia With Love". Oh not the Scot oh no, but I still am in love with Daniella Bianchi after all these years...

Your twins from Blackburn are best in show. First of all, only the truly literate on the Norway/phony war campaigns even have a clue, but in their hundreds, and at Dunkirk, we see that the FAA/ RAF was not born with a Spitfire in their mouth. Bruce McCall had a nice drawing in "Zany Afternoons" which I'd have to go find, but it's a cartoon of Mum in her kerchief and slippers listening to the radio during the Blitz, while Da' installs the turret into a Defiant fuselage in the sitting room, suspenders down over his white shirt and color undone. Sorry, you'd have to see it.

Second, hard, hard kits. I'd say you captured the spirit of the things just right. As I mentioned before, i used to have a bio by a British test pilot that had a bunch of good stuff aabout the Roc and Skua, but long lost. So, you should build a Bucaneer.

My favorite counting sheep exercise, while she snores next to me, is can you name a British a/c company, from a to z. Yes, you can. Except for Q and Z

How is D? I really hope that all gets back to normal.

I bought a bushel of gun barrels from Mega Hobby per your tip, he's a nice guy, and will have enough for the Whitley and Sunderland, plus 16! .50s for the Privateer! But now I'm committed to a Mariner as well. Look round at Darrens newest GB; War in the Pacific. John Eaton and I have agreed to go hand in hand into the darkness with the Mach 2 Mariner, although it's not going to be as challenging as any FM merde.

I expect you to present yourself up on the Quarterdeck at 4 bells of the second dog watch on Friday for application of a stripe. Roy is off to wherever and the XO doesn't seem to be about much, but I've got the ratings and the boys up for deck croquet, drink if you miss, with the 9 pound balls that we found in the locker.

Orders given.

Captain Bondoman, RN

Bondo -  Dont be digging for clams in the "Grotto" Great Joke

Had a call from  Capt. Roy today. He has been spending his leisure time "Brewing Beer" and making "BBQ Sauce from scratch....  No Doubt getting ready for all the Crew when we get "shore leave". He said to say Howdy to all the Crew

Myself - other then having a Hidden Grotto in the Backyard now has been working on the Roden Sea Gladiator again. The engine is complete and mounted inside the cowling. Pictures to follow as I have not been able to find the "camera program" to load on the new system.

 Well Wind tunnel huh?  May need them to help fill the sails an get underway! Too bad Cpt Bondo and all his flatulence jumped in the pool! Not nekid of course he had on a suit. Just not a swim suit. More of a Leisure suit from the 70's me thinks.

Anyhow He started bubbleing away in the pool as the Cpt often does after a nip or twelve O rum and the girls got all excited thinking it to be a giant jacuzzi! All woulda been well exceptin when the bubbles popped the resulting fragrence of stale ale and exotic San Franciscan bean dip not only cleared the pool house but resulted in a HAZ MAT team being rushed to the scene effectively ending the party and puttin us all back to work.

 The only real memorable moment was when during the mass exit it became apparent that the XO had tied all the bikini tops together which sprange free simultaniously in a violent flap of elastic and underwire which unfortunately struck lewbud head on knocking him unconcious face down in the water. 

As if this weren't bad enough the now freed ample (er) bosums of the lovely ladies all splashed into the pool in a modest panic( yeah right) causing a  minature tsunomi which swept poor lewbud atop the rock faced piller spitting out the now fouled water from his nose.

 All the time Richie was screaming something about thar she blows and testing out his torpedo building skills in the kiddie pool?  Dunno you'll have to ask him the details, My view was blocked by Brian and Spike who for some reason had come prepared with a resparator apparatus and were happily recovering the Bikini tops.

Very suspiciously the CAG and Sean were prepared with an arm load of  fresh soft towels and nose plugs to greet the poor frightened girls as they escaped the  churning whirlpool of now muddy colored water.

Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water!  Allthough We believe there was a recent sighting of CPT Roy! near the cape.

Ive not seen anything like it since the BOB GB!

Somebody get Guy out the water the poor fellow seems to be in shock!  Probably from an Englishman playing a US Navy Sailor!

I don't get it either, and I'm the snorkel tip in the piccie! Nice clam bank down here! Haha a pun.

A blonde a brunette and a redhead get arrested in a banana republic (don't listen Kelly) and get convicted and sentenced to death. The brunette is held against the wall; order "ready, aim,..." she yells "earthquake!". The squad drop their rifles and run off. She does too.(Aaron, please don't listen).

So the redhead gets dragged up, "ready, aim..", she yells "Lightning!", same results.

The blonde gets tied to the post. "Ready, aim...". She yells "Fire!".

Thanks Frank! Ummm it's a blonde joke I heard years ago! The answer is, a wind tunnel!

Aaron- By thunder, 'bout time you got to work on your next build!  No rest for the wicked my friend!  I also seem to recall a couple of Roden Sea Gladiators around, haven't seen hide nor hair of either one!

Richie- Sorry, didn't get what you meant about the photo.  Would you mind explaining for us slow folks please?   Great work on the Corsair, love seeing another one here!

Hmmmm? There's a joke in living color on the right side of the girl pic happening!!!!!! Anyone get it? Aerodynamically speaking of course!

Aaron, as with your recent builds, you know sometimes you have to beat them into submission!

Thanks Frank!!! Lots of lil things I had forgotten about Corsairs, the shark fin on the pitot tube being one. On the -4B the outer hardpoints had the second from the inbd staggered, actually directly below the outer gun port. The Italeri kit had provisions for 10 stations on the outboard wings there were only 8 and staggered not abreast of each other. This kit is EXACTLLY the same as the Revell -5, which there are extra parts for in the -4B kit. So some compromises had to be made I reckon. Now my delimma when I get around to building the -5, with PE again, is that the side exhausts are going to have to be moved up. Not looking forward to doing that, but that will be much farther down the track!

 Well been long enough of a break.  Cpt Bondo and the XO are crackin the lash again.  Really can't have a good complete FAA 1940 flight deck with out a Sea Gladiator.  We got a few of those around somewhere? By Roden the newer kit. But all I have is the Old Lindberg 1/48 dinosaur!

What a cool kit ! Actually goes together great and looks good externally. But the pilot has more parts than the pit!

That won't really cut it with what I want it to represent. So I found one of these on sale for $4 a while back.

So lets see what we can do with a $7 kit and $4 resin set.

Hack grind dremel cut!  Yadda yadda yadda!

Paint paint paint! No film or PE panel here not even a decal! Gotta paint and paint somemore!

I thought my quickie paint job looked good on the IP. When you zoom in you can tell I did it without an optivisor!

But in a regular size view and closed in the fuselage it looks pretty sharply detailed! A Picasso of an IP! LOL! Maybe Monet with the colored dots I dunno! I am happy with it.

This kit actually comes with either an open or closed canopy so there ya go!  I think it needs a pilot!  Well closing her up!  Thanks for looking!

sfcmac wrote:

Ahhh, where do I report for this duty station? LOL...

Richie- Corsair pics, WOOOOOHOOOOO!!!!!   Looking good there mate.

Mike- I would go for a wash on those 'belts, dirty them up a bit and they'll look perfect.

Spike, the Hellkitty cockpit looks STUNNING!!!!!!!!

Brian

 Thanks fellows! Ritchie! Quit beating on that Corsair! It's all black and blue!

 Spike that is an intense pit if there ever was one! 

 Cpt Bondo  sir?  What have you done with all the missing crew?  Rumor has it that Summit has discovered a hidden grotto in his back yard and the CAG and he have been well  er preoccupied!

Spike190 wrote:

Let me know what you think fellas. This 1/48 PE is killing me! cant believe some use 1/72!!!! Cheers...

and ty btw

Excellent looking office!!!!!!!!

bondoman wrote:

XO, when/if the CAG comes back aboard, I'll have Lt. Summit pipe him aboard and confer Commander stripes to the fine Aaron. Of course he'll have to supply the grog this Friday, but it's in him, I'm sure.

Beggin' the Capt's pardon sir, if it's in 'im I don't want any!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Spike190 wrote:

Let me know what you think fellas. This 1/48 PE is killing me! cant believe some use 1/72!!!! Cheers...

Spike,

One of the benefits of divine scale, it's so tiny no one can see it!  You think PE in 1/72 is crazy, White Ensign, Eduard or some such outfit did 1/350 cockpits for the aircraft on the Trumpeter Yorktown carriers that came out several years ago.  As to the harness in your pit, go for it give it a bit of wear.  Looking good so far.

Aaron,

Good job on the twins!  You've done enough nightmare kits, I think you deserve a nice Tamiya or Hasegawa for your next build.  Well done.

I think you should be ashamed, ashamed of posting real Hellcat cockpit photos. A little info on how this happens would make the rest of us no longer comtemplate suicide, but really, very pro. Optivisor, yes we get that. Toothpick for paint, did you? Beyond that, how so nicely done?

And as to the wash on the belts; I can't see the hours on the airframe so I have no opinion.

In the spirit of GB's please spill out how you did all that, or I may be inclined to disrank you from the helm of the barge to the prow. Indeed, a story is a good thing, and I'll serve you rum on Friday if you are on the second dog watch.

Hi, Thanks for all comments guys.

Richie well done on the 1k and the corsair is looking good, 1/72!!!!!

Aaron, well done on two fine looking builds, if I can have a fave can I go for the skua . Thanks for all the history you included on the way.

Think Ive almost finished this bit, need to touch up a few bits and straighten some bits.

Do you think I should I give the harness a little wash or something? I dont wanna go to far

Let me know what you think fellas. This 1/48 PE is killing me! cant believe some use 1/72!!!!

Cheers...

Mister XO, and on account of the heroism displayed by one Aaron Peter, Paul and Mary McNeal we (Captain Roy and I) reccomend a promotion to Attack Squadron; Commander, to wit but he has a few, as in few, wits, our attack wing of this ship, where they all fly off and we set up a wake on deck as they don't come back. Rum for all.

But in Earnest; and I'm not in him, a title is in order and as a fellow Scot he ain't a Bonnie Prince, nor are there no knickers unner his kilt, he deserves a merit for his service.

XO, when/if the CAG comes back aboard, I'll have Lt. Summit pipe him aboard and confer Commander stripes to the fine Aaron. Of course he'll have to supply the grog this Friday, but it's in him, I'm sure.

Sf I have a rusty old book abt British test pilots, and they liked the Blackburn twins for their enclosed canopies. Very well done, a true measure of what most Air Wings were up to strength with at the start of the War.

Aaron when you work on your builds and do all the homework and know them like the back of your hand you pick up things no one else ever would!!!! I didn't notice until you said something!!! Good catch and correction!!!

Thank you Frank!!!! And will take that extra ration with gratitude!!!! Does the fair Suzanne come with da ration btw???

Here is the latest on my Corsair that has forlorned in the corner of the hangar for so long!!! Got the Flaps scribed off, and as you can see, the starboard inboard got bitten!!! Nothing super glue can't hide, just annoying lol. Little at a time till it's done, VERY good concept Aaron!!!!

I was so shocked to see the rear gunners hood missing, I couldn't even comment!  But, all is right with the world now so again I am able to post.

Some of your finest work Aaron!  I love these subjects, and have never laid eyes on any finished ones.  BRAVO!!!  Glad to see you setting the pace here, and one I cannot follow.  How DO you do it?  I shall retire my modelling knife and airbrush and go about cleaning up the place.  I shall leave the modelling up to you my friend!

Richie- 1000 posts, good grief man!  That's alot of chattering.   But, in honor of such an occasion and Mac's stunning builds, I think it's time for rum!  Congrats Richie!

Thank you Orion, Dave , Sean, Brian , Jeaton and Ritchie!  Great Liberator pics btw musta been some show!

 Anyways I thought I was done and I took all those pics and posted them all over just to realize I forgot to put on the rear canopy cover for the Skua Gunner.   I blame Frank for not catching this earlier. Always up to some mischief that fellow!

  Anyways I made it so it was positionable like the real thing pivoting on some wire hinges and just forgot to stick it on before the pics. Told ya I was tired. All fixed now for the record.  Had to get that corrected before Frank saw it!   Since both open canopies and closed were suggested I thought it best to make them moveable.

That Xo always causing a ruckus!

Forgot to post the more detailed shots of that awesome RAAF Liberator diorama at the show so here they are!!! Enjoy!!!

Aaron, WOW!!!!!! The twins turned out stunningly beautiful!!!!!!!!!! AMAZING!!!!!!!!! All the trials and tribulations ,hair pulling and splitting really paid off with perserverance and patience!!!!!!!!!! WELL DONE SIR!!!!!!! Your photography skills are outstanding as well!!!! The Skua's camo not readily seen before now stands out with the right lighting!!!! BOTH are gorgious!!! And ty btw!

Have one more flap to dismember from the Corsair and then the task of making them look dropped rather than cutoff!!! Yes, 1/72, what else!!!

Aaron, tis a thing of beauty!  You make me ashamed at the little work I have managed to eek out so far!

Brian

Fantasic Work on the two.

It has been purley pleasure and educating (History and Modeling tips)to follow these builds. The Skua is my favorite, gotta love that boxy greenhouse and the exhaust pipe ....

The Roc looks like they found parts from half a dozen fighters and a bomber or two and built something that would fly.. Very odd looking A/C , IMO .

Aaron - I really do not know how you can build such Fantastic Models in Such a Short time with your work schedule. 

Great looking builds sfcmac !!

 Guess I will post pics and move on then.... Take the Admirals advice and know when to quit!

 The 1/48 scale Special Hobby kits of the Blackburn Skua and Roc are getting called done. Both these aircraft were meant to and indeed served along side each other during probably the darkest time in FAA history.  Scorned for their lack of performance they were victims of flawed tactics and the assumption that Ships could fight off air attack with their AAA. Also being designed during the depression as multirolled jack of all trades for budget reasons.

Still  The Skua earned an intense loyalty from her crews and given the smaller production numbers when compared to other types just makes it's feats all the more outstanding to me. The first Enemy aircraft of the war a Do-18 was shot down by the Skua.  On Apr 10th 1940 ,The German cruiser Konigsburg Was sunk by an attack of 11 divebombing Skua's at their maximum range. 3 direct hits and 5 near misses with no dive bombing training due to the prewar economy.

This is how I represented my Skua in triumph. Because all the kit options for markings represnt them at the time such an attack was repeated on the Scarnhorst where 15 aircraft were lost with no result as the Germans had learned their lesson.  All kit markings are of aircraft lost in this ill fated raid.

 The pressing need for long range fighters ended the Skua's divebombing career and many heroic battles were fought by remarkably brave and resourceful crews. It is so often noted how many of the best of them were lost, but man what a fight they gave!

Reading up on the trials and handicaps these early FAA crews had to endure and overcome is unreal. The only radio they had was morse code. No voice coms between aircraft at all!  Still they achieved so much.

 The Roc was sound enough but far to slow in performance to actually catch the enemy aircraft. Can't shoot what you can't catch up too so the fighting career of the Roc was limited to only one kill and one maybe.

 However again it had a redesigned wing to cure stability problems found in the Skua which made it extremely stable and accurate in a dive bomb.  This was only really noted during the Evacuation at Dunkirk where in desparate moments the Rocs armed with pairs of 250lb bombs attacked and diverted  German ground forces pressing in. The quad .303's proved to be a nasty surprise for German fighters who steered clear of the low flying Roc's.   A lot of credit was given to the ROc here but not widely hailed as it was supposed to be a fighter!  The Admiralty being strictly by the book wanted it used as a fighter! 

 Took a very long time for them to accept a turreted fighter concept was not practical. Even the Firefly had originally been conceived as having a turreted counterpart twin.

Well getting long winded so I'll wrap it up by saying England may not have won the war on guts and determination alone but after reading into the early history of the FAA, I do feel that it is the reason it was not lost!

Thanks fellows!

sfcmac wrote:

I have kept to my philosophie of a little each day on my Skua and Roc. Bombs on day, pitot tubes and antenna wires the next. Clean up and touch ups and now I find I have run out of parts and Ideas?  What am I supposed to do now?

Post pics and start a different project. Something "Italian" sounds saucy....