Fleet Air Arm Group Build

Good Luck Rick

Roy

Frank-great job on the pilot.  Very nice.

Rick-We've seen your work..I've got all the confidence in the world that it will turn out great.

I'm finished....kinda-still need some touch-up decals, but this one is done.  The project started as a Pacific Theater FAA Hellcat, standard camo scheme.  However, the paint job was terrible.  Almost appeared like the Krylon primer 'crazed' some of the plastic.  And my skills (or lack of) didn't help any.  Time for Plan B-the solid gloss black Hellcat of S/Lt. C. Campbell on board the HMS Ruler.  He convinced somebody (probably for his share of the weekly rum ration...) to paint his standard issue camo scheme Hellcat gloss black.  Increased the speed & performance of the plane & made him instantly recognizable....at least that's what the AeroMaster decal sheet says...

The Hasegawa kit itself was a bit of a bear-a lot of seam issues.  And the next time I build a Pacific Theater kit, I'll attach the landing gear components before painting the underside.  And I'm looking forward to the Eduard Hellcat due this winter/spring.

Any, comments & suggestions for improvement are always welcome.

The last photo is for comparison between the Hellcat & the Zero.

Darren-Thanks for hosting.  It's been a blast watching a group of top quality guys build some top quality kits.

Cheers

Bob I have to say that your Hellcat looks GREAT  I love the all black look very very cool!

You said you would attach the gear next time?  Is that because along with the wheel wells the gear was also the same color as the underside?

Roy

Thanks guys, I'll need all the luck I can muster.

Bob, nice work on the Hellcat.  Glad to see you persevere & finish her.

Regards,  Rick

Great news my friends, I checked the status of my optivisor and it should be in my hands Monday according to the USPS  

I have painted the base interior color of my Corsair just need the visor so I can do the details then I will post what I have done.

So, a impromptu poll:

How many of you use an optivisor to do cockpits and such?  (I can not see the small detail at my age )

Roy

Rick & Roy-thanks.

Roy-I would attach & paint because the Hellcat has a couple of tie-down hooks & the landing gear in the same color.  I painted the components on the spruce, but detaching them left a lot of cleanup.  I think it would have been easier to clean & assemble the subcomponents, attach & paint.  Maybe next time.

And I use some 'off the shelf' 2.75 power reading glasses for detail work.

Excellent work there Bob!  I am very excited to see that you carried through to the end on this build. 

Roy-

As to your pool, I DO I DO!  I wear it at work, I wear it at home, I wear it...

Nice work Bob.  I like the all black look

Roy, my eyes don't work too good anymore either at my age but I usually just have my reading glasses on and use my magnifying lamp for the fine detail.  One of these days I may give the optivisor a go.  

I'm almost done the interior detail on the Fulmar.  Had to scratch it all based on another build up I saw on line.  Didn't get much done this weekend though as I worked yesterday and spent most of today cleaning snow off the car then driving kids somewhere, repeat that about five times, then finish the day off shoveling the driveway (it's still snowing) and getting a couple of toboggan runs in with the kids in the park accross the street.  Man am I tired.

Daywalker wrote:

Excellent work there Bob!  I am very excited to see that you carried through to the end on this build.  Roy- As to your pool, I DO I DO!  I wear it at work, I wear it at home, I wear it...

Soon, very soon

Roy

See?  Here I am at home wearing one I keep at the model bench (my girlfriend just took this 10 minutes ago!)  Funny, I'm wearing the same shirt as the other one...

Lucky you have a girlfriend after that pic!....just kidding.

I have one of those and don't recall where I got it. But at my age....I will be using it! 

 Hey Frank.....the paint booth in the background.....did you make that?

 It just occurred to me (like a brick falling on my head)....I build sheet metal ductwork as part of my living and make fittings and boxes that size and larger.

 I could build a disassembled booth, supply explosion-proof fan and a housing for it.....add a lighting fixture or customize to accept whatever lighting....even the exhaust hose....metal or plastic.........anyway I could build one in an afternoon or less. Ship it unassembled with easy assembly instructions.

 I know right now I will be building my own!

 Could there be a cottage industry for this? 

Thanks a LOT, Nam!

Just kidding!  As for the paint booth, it is a Paasche brand booth but all it really is is sheet metal with a filter in it and a fan box on the back.  I bet you could make one for a lot less than I paid for it!

I would have to give up modeling were it not for my trusty Optivisors.  I have 2, a #5 for close work & a #7 for really close work.

Regards,  Rick

namrednef wrote:

Lucky you have a girlfriend after that pic!....just kidding.

LOL!  Yes, I am lucky.  Here's a photo of her I just took in the shop:

....as I said.....you are lucky!

I was searching paint booth prices.....couldn't find anything like yours. Do you mind telling the cost? It appears to be stainless steel, which would jack up the price. 

Thanks Nam!

Mine is made from galvanised steel ( I think!)  I got it new from an Ebay seller's store for about 200 bucks shipped.

Daywalker wrote:

namrednef wrote: Lucky you have a girlfriend after that pic!....just kidding. LOL!  Yes, I am lucky.  Here's a photo of her I just took in the shop:

lol! Ahhh Frank! You two do make a wonderful couple! Might we see his & hers optivisors on the bench down the road?

Very well done on the cat, Bob! She looks shinier than a new penny and and sexier than a playboy bunny! She looks like she is off the assembly line and i can almost smell the "new car" scent off of her!

Dave & Roger-Thanks.

Roger-that's not the 'new plane' smell so much as the air freshener hanging from the rearview mirror....whch, btw, went flying across the room as I was getting ready to install....it was one of those builds....

Frank now that I have seen your better half I can get an idea of what the kids will look like.  I suspect the visor will be smaller but will grow with the child  Mr. and Mrs. Optivisor (the kid will very well be picked on at school for having BIG eyes)

Roy

Recieved my Optivisor in the mail today.  WOW.....I can now make out all the small details.

Roy

Very cool Mike I will check your name off.

Roy

razordws wrote:

Frank, it's not every woman that will wear an optivisor and let her boyfriend post pics on the internet.  I think she's a keeper!!!

Yes, she is a keeper!  SHe figured that anyone who saw that photo would never connect her to it if they saw her in real life!

bobbaily wrote:

Dave & Roger-Thanks. Roger-that's not the 'new plane' smell so much as the air freshener hanging from the rearview mirror....whch, btw, went flying across the room as I was getting ready to install....it was one of those builds....

Well ya know, adding the air freshener can always be pretty labor intensive!

But i think it would actually be fun to fashion one and add it to a build! Ya know, just for a goof....

Daywalker wrote:

I was finally able to locate some crumpets at the grocery store!

Congratulations Frank .  Just don't eat too many or you might develop a Limey accent .

Regards,  Rick