Fleet Air Arm Group Build

rjkplasticmod wrote:

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

Or worse, you could develop an overwhelming desire to stop whatever you are doing in the middle of the afternoon and have some tea!

rjkplasticmod wrote:

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

Well that's unsettling! Didn't realize it was contagious....

Ooops... I actually have some progress pics, sorry for the interuption.

This is what came with the kit.  Basically two seats a stick and an i.p. (not in photo) 

My references were a bit bare but based on other build ups I've seen on line and what I had available in the spares box this is what I came up with. 

I have now closed it up and will add the wings shortly.

You may now resume normal programing of this GB.  

Lookin good, Dave! Question; That round thing just forward of the pilots instrument panel. What is it? From my first impression, i wonder if it would even be visible after you put the halves together.

And don't worry about the interruptions here. Seems like it's just commercials at the moment anyways

Dave,

Nice job with the scrounging.  One thing I really like about a lack of available references is that if you can't find a photo to prove how it does look, chances are good that others won't have a photo to prove how it doesn't look.  Keep up the good work, glad to see you're making progress!

I managed to do a little bit o' work this weekend on my Mk.I in between the rum and crumpets!  I just about have the office finished, with just a little bit of fiddling left to make sure everything lines up.  I thought about adding some extra detail, but figured that with the hood closed and the pilot strapped in, you probably wouldn't see it anyway.  Here's how she looks:

Dave & Frank... Looking good guys.  Keep chipping away.

Regards,  rick

The Holidays LOL.  Nothing but more Honey Do's for me .  We haven't had much snow yet, but it's been unseasonably cold in these parts.  Only 9 degrees F this am when I took the dog for her morning walk.

Regards,  Rick

I just got my Sea Hawk today, so I can finally get my entry started for this group build.

Alain

Looking forward to the Sea Hawk Alain.  A very good choice.

Regards,  Rick

Good score Alain!  I am looking forward to seeing how it turns out. 

My girlfriend and I enjoyed crumpets and tea for the first time this afternoon.  Wow, they are really quite delicious!  I highly recommend them slathered in butter with a drop or two of honey on top.  Mmm, mmm good!

We interrupt this Commercial for a short Program break....

Well, the box of styrene I started with is starting to look sorta like a Wyvern.  Got the wing sections together with minimal difficulty, although I had a gap at the leading edge of the starboard wing that I couldn't get rid of.  Finally just glued it & filled the gap with CA.  I'll rescribe the fold line after primer is applied.  The tail plane fit looked good until I realized that the built in dihedral was excessive.  I didn't have a good reference to set the actual dihedral, so I eye-balled it based on reference pics.  Fixing the dihedral made the good fit bad, so a lot of filler was required at the join to the fin.  Worst fit of the whole kit were the forward air intakes.  The front sections were too small in cross section for the mating areas on the fuselage, thus creating a very noticeable step.  Lots of filler & tricky filing/sanding required.  Suspect more will be needed after I see it primed.  Anyways, here she is ready for first stage primer.

We now return you to the normally scheduled Commercial messages.

Regards,  Rick

Nice work Rick.  You make it look easy.

Frank, the spit is looking superb.  Nice job on the figure.

Rick, I like the lines on that aircraft but I know nothing about it.  I'll have to google it when I get home.  Looking forward to seeing some paint on it.

Looking good Rick!  Can't wait to see her all dressed up.

Thanks Dave!  Unfortunately, I was trying to fit the office parts tonight and realized the Tamiya kit figures NEVER seem to fit.  I scratched a lot of paint off of his pants, jacket, left hand, and right shoulder and he still wouldn't fit!  Looks like he will not be seated in the cockpit after all...

And, I had already glued all of the bits together (mental note: test fit a lot before glueing, you'd think I had done this model thing before!) thinking "Hey, it's a Tamiya kit so I don't have to test fit!".  WRONG!  I ended up breaking the rear bulkhead, the seat, and a couple of other little bits so I'll be needing some replacement parts from my recently scrapped Mk.Vb Trop kit (needed the rear canopy part and the wing bottom).  Think I may take a little break from this one and sulk for a bit...

Bob, Dave, Frank...Thanks guys.  I'll start painting tomorrow.

Frank, I usually don't put pilots in my builds, but with most kits the pilot has to be in the seat before you install.  I know I tried to retrofit a couple in built up pits & they wouldn.t go in even with a shoehorn.

Regards,  Rick

bobbaily wrote:

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've just logged on and Wow! What can I say? Beautiful paint job! Your Hellcat looks amazing-well worth the wait my friend. Well done!

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!!!

Frank,

you're a lucky guy.

rjkplasticmod wrote:

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

Frank! Welcome to the civilized world.

You'll be speaking perfect English in no time old boy!

Dave,

great work on the interior-loking forward to seeing more.

Daywalker wrote:

Good score Alain!  I am looking forward to seeing how it turns out.  My girlfriend and I enjoyed crumpets and tea for the first time this afternoon.  Wow, they are really quite delicious!  I highly recommend them slathered in butter with a drop or two of honey on top.  Mmm, mmm good!

Frank,

great work on the Spitfire-very nice indeed. Great to hear you and your lady enjoyed your crumpets!

rjkplasticmod wrote:

We interrupt this Commercial for a short Program break.... Well, the box of styrene I started with is starting to look sorta like a Wyvern.  Got the wing sections together with minimal difficulty, although I had a gap at the leading edge of the starboard wing that I couldn't get rid of.  Finally just glued it & filled the gap with CA.  I'll rescribe the fold line after primer is applied.  The tail plane fit looked good until I realized that the built in dihedral was excessive.  I didn't have a good reference to set the actual dihedral, so I eye-balled it based on reference pics.  Fixing the dihedral made the good fit bad, so a lot of filler was required at the join to the fin.  Worst fit of the whole kit were the forward air intakes.  The front sections were too small in cross section for the mating areas on the fuselage, thus creating a very noticeable step.  Lots of filler & tricky filing/sanding required.  Suspect more will be needed after I see it primed.  Anyways, here she is ready for first stage primer. We now return you to the normally scheduled Commercial messages. Regards,  Rick

Rick,

lovely work my friend, many thanks for all the build tips on this one. As always, you make it look so easy.

CAPTAIN ON DECK!!!

Welcome back Darren, it's good to have you back aboard.

Well in case you didn't know................

I'm back!

and its Friday!

Do you know what that means?

Yes! Tomorrow its Saturday!

Gentlemen,

its been a long week. I'm Thirsty. The bar is open.................

CHEERS!

Daywalker wrote:

CAPTAIN ON DECK!!! Welcome back Darren, it's good to have you back aboard.

Thanks Frank.

Also thanks for looking after the ship in my absence-you did good.

Cheers mate!

Woohoo!  Thanks Darren, I'll have one (or two) with ya before I head off to work.  Just don't tell the boss you saw me here at the bar before work...

Cheers everyone!