DrewH wrote:

Well, I'm going to kick this thread off by being the first to actually start my kit! That's right, you heard it, started! I had a couple of hours in front of the tube watching the world Junior Hockey Championships! GO Canada! and pulled out the kit. I removed and cleaned up all the parts (I don't recommend this unless you know the kit and what you are removing . I have a few of these Corsairs, and built one before. I know what's what). I took the parts, filled some ejector pin marks and started getting things ready for add on's to come. I will be using an Eduard color etch set and Quickboost engine. I'm deciding whether or not to use some Aries and CMK sets I have for the corsair too. Maybe I'll surprize myself

I think I'm actually ahead of you Drew ... We're having a quiet holiday at home so I started yesterday and I have the pit painted and assembled with just the picking out of the detail and a wash before I can close up the fuse.

Dave, you have already started!!!!!, good going, you are going to give HKshooter a run for his money. Well here is a photo of my mugshot early on Xmas day. Thanks again Jim(Mists) for a great kit.

Merry Christmas everyone

Steve

Avus wrote:

btp2k2 wrote: Then I found a very cool Hasegawa 1/48th F/A-18E Super Hornet! I am very stoked for this, as I have just finished the Revell Super Bug and have been interested in seeing a side by side comparison! Thanks Santa! Glad to hear you like it. I'm not into jet aircraft (only made a Tomcat once) so I picked the kit for the nice decals.   btp2k2 wrote: BTW...interesting side note....my Secret Santa is actually named Klaus....Hmmmmmm.....

Yeah, the decals are pretty awesome....nice to have choices OOB without having to go out and look at AM decals. I also like the fact that they gave you the choice of using a decal for the whole tail, or painting the tail yourself and just decal on the markings.....good to have options!

Steve,

I wont be the first to finish this year as I have to much going on to even start the kit. I'm still working on that 1/32 Corsair that was supposed to be a gift to a friend of mine and am determined to finish it before I work on anything else. After that I have three more that need finishing but I'm undecided as to whether I'll do that or start on your gift. I've never been one to have a bunch of kits started at once and it's kind of overwhelming!

I'm getting to the bench more and more lately and can't hardly wait to get started on that beautiful kit! looking forward to seeing progress on your kit. I've built that one and they look great when finished.

chopperfan wrote:

Glad you like it, Scott. I'm looking forward to watching the build.

I'm really excited about building Bush Sr.'s Avenger!    And to get into the spirit I just started reading "Flyboys". 

fjs3 wrote:

Dear David  It is a challenging kit to be sure.  I had tried building one when this was first released, but that attempt ended in disaster.  I had most of it done and then dropped it to the floor and it broke up pretty much.  It is fixable but after that I lind of lost the drive to repair the damage.  I always intended on getting another and start over again.  Thank you very much for that and I can't wait to get busy.  Regards Freddie from LI

Don't sweat it, Freddie.  I'm in the middle of a "do-over" myself.  Tamiya M8 Greyhound.  Was rife with problems (of my own doing...great kit) from the get-go.  The final straw??  Tamiya Flat Base...straight.  Now I have this...

...a pimp-mobile for the really rough sections of town!

(Sorry for the armor shot plane builders!)

DrewH wrote:

Well, I'm going to kick this thread off by being the first to actually start my kit! That's right, you heard it, started!

Commendable, Drew.  But I can't start yet.  I have to buy at least 4-5 books on the Hurricane, watch the "Battle of Britain" a few times, open the kit and ogle the sprues, wonder how I'm ever gonna get part "x" to fit slot "y" while holding parts "z" and "k".  Yes...I am the KING of Procrastinators.  Thank God for the deadline!

Couldn't wait any longer to start!  Its amazing what you can get done when you don't have to go to work.  Wish I could try it more often.  Here's progress so far on the pit of the Avia B.534.  This is my first try with PE.  I quickly learned not to bother with the little 1 mm levers and such after I lost my third one and just used the larger pieces.

This kit is further proof that Eduard is now running with the big dogs.  Color PE fret, mask, full color instructions, great engineering, all included in the box.

Right on Jeff! Looking good. Your first etch set- Hoooray! Take your time and don't glue your fingers together.

 Dave, yup, you are farther than I. You both are. I'm on holidays too and am getting ready to go at it. I have only been doing prep so far. Waiting untill I have all that done then I can go to it. Once I start painting the pit, I can just assemble. By the time the pit is done, I can assemble the entire plane in a couple hours tops. Here's to the groups first completed model!

jeff wrote:

Couldn't wait any longer to start!  Its amazing what you can get done when you don't have to go to work.  Wish I could try it more often.  Here's progress so far on the pit of the Avia B.534.  This is my first try with PE.  I quickly learned not to bother with the little 1 mm levers and such after I lost my third one and just used the larger pieces. This kit is further proof that Eduard is now running with the big dogs.  Color PE fret, mask, full color instructions, great engineering, all included in the box.

That's looking great Jeff!

I wish I could get started on mine. Being on vacation is driving me crazy! I need to have a "travel kit" with me from now on! LOL

Looking great Jeff!!   I agree with you on the itsy bitsy tiny levers.  Tried to use them on a He 111 that I did and it ended looking like...  well, not good! 

Drew I plan on going down to North Van this weekend with my kids to visit my brother for new years so I only have today and tomorrow to get things done.  I hope to have the fuse closed and wings on but I'm also trying to finish up another build at the same time.  I'll see how far I get.  Then it's back to work and it will be slow progress.

Thanks guys.  Progress has been quick so far, and I'm almost ready to button up the fuselage.  Unfortunately, the next step after that is where I always get bogged down - fixing the seams.

Good point on the PE, Drew, I've already glued one piece of photoetch to my finger!

DrewH wrote:

Right on Jeff! Looking good. Your first etch set- Hoooray! Take your time and don't glue your fingers together.  Dave, yup, you are farther than I. You both are. I'm on holidays too and am getting ready to go at it. I have only been doing prep so far. Waiting untill I have all that done then I can go to it. Once I start painting the pit, I can just assemble. By the time the pit is done, I can assemble the entire plane in a couple hours tops. Here's to the groups first completed model!

Well didn't take you guys long to get out of the starting blocks.  Must have had everything lined up on the workbench just itching to go.  Happy building.  Looking forwarded to seeing the progress of each and every build.

It is sure nice to see faces with their models.  I noticed glean in the eyes of everyone.

Jon - congrates on a great GB.  Everyone is having FUN.

Isn't thats what its all about.  FUN FUN FUN.  DON'T TAKE THE GLUE AWAY.

DrewH - sent you a PM

PaPa-John

Nice work Jeff! Looks very nice so far.

I haven't started mine yet, but I have some kits that I like to finish before this year ends, and before I start anything else. Anyway I'll have a thorough "look" in the box

Azgaron

PaPa-John wrote:

DrewH - sent you a PM

Sorry about that John. Replied

DrewH wrote:

PaPa-John wrote: DrewH - sent you a PM Sorry about that John. Replied

No problem.  I thought you would be busy.  This time of the year it is hard to remember everything that was on the platter.

PaPa-John

Okay guys. I'm gonna be outa pocket until January 2, 2008!

Making the move to a bigger house with my own 'Cave'!! Cox won't be there until the 2nd to hook up the cable. Just in time, I might add. BOOMER SOONERS!!!!! Fiesta Bowl, baby!!!! 

See you all as soon as everything is set up and ready to go!! 

brain44 wrote:

First and foremost - MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!!!!! A great big thanks to my Secret Santa, Aggieman!  I loved the letter you sent, it feels like I know you well now, and you could not have made a better choice than the F-84!  I have been looking for one for quite some time now, I needed it for my Cold War collection!  I will try my best to post a pic later, but that may have to wait until I get back home on Thursday.  Again, Steve, a million thanks for a   truly superb gifet, and Merry Christmas to you and yours! Brian

As promised on Christmas Day, here is my "mug shot" and again, thanks a million to you Aggieman, I love it!

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Happy New Year, all!

Brian 

Randie, Good luck with the move to the new house! Nice to have your own spot!

Decisions, decisions, decisions! I looked into the box and it looks very nice. Why so many options? F4U-1 or 2? wings up or down? pilot or none? open or closed cowl flaps? I love the three tone scheme, but I also like nightfighters, somehow that doesn't add up Yeah, well I think I'll sort it out. A three tone camo would be a nice challenge to my new found airbrushings skills, and this will be my first Corsair since my teens, and first 1/48 Corsair ever This sure will prove to be an interesting build. Now I'll just have to check which colors I need. Now that I'm airbrushing, I'm not stuck with Humbrol, so if Tamiyas suggestions are Ok, I'll order some.

Azgaron

Brian,

I am glad you like the F-84.  I can't wait to see what you do with it.  And I liked the kit so much I bought one for myself but I have no idea when I'll get to it.  This is a great idea for a group build, as it gives us some ability to get to know others who we otherwise would not.  I spent a lot of time searching these forums to try to determine what kits you might already have and pretty much eliminated nearly every one of the Monogram/Revell choices that the local Hobby Lobby usually carries.  But it was a recent issue of FSM with a review of an F-84 kit that spurred me to get that one for you (and myself) as I was unable to find any references you made any where along the line that you had built this kit.

Randie, you may be able to deduce from my user name that I am no fan of the Sooners.  I do think the Sooners will take West Virginia out in their bowl game, but you best hope that the State of Texas does not ever decide to secede ( and close down the borders to schools like OU, because with about half that team coming from Texas I don't see any way the Sooners would remain a national power.  Ha ha, the secession thing isn't going to happen so I guess Mike Sherman just needs to recruit those Texas players better than Bobby.

Today I eventually got my Secret Santa's gift!

Thanks Steve! Those are two interesting birds mainly the Kyofu.
I'll post some "smiling-mug-shots" as soon as I find my Photoshop CD.

EDIT: Found it! Here i am:

Almost forgot: thanks for the pin and the sticker, too. 

Glad to finally see most of you all It's great to put a face to the name and humorous postings

Well, as promised, here is my un-shaven, non flattering, drivers licence is better mug.

Cam, Thanks again for the Corsair! I needed a great reason to build one, you gave me that. Thanks so much.

Here is some of the progress I have. I am not finished in the cockpit. Still have some detailing to do with the etch handles and levers etc.

For the rest of you guys building this kit, here is how i get around the wing problems that go with the wings in flight position. First assemble the inner wings according to the instructions. Fairly straight forward. Include the wing rib that is seen. I glue mine in first to the upper wing. Then add the lower wings to that.

Now add the outer upper panel only! Do not glue the outer wings together. That will cause the problem. Align the top of the wing accordingly and glue it in position. That prevents any step or miss matched gaps at the wing fold. Then glue the lower wing in to place working from the wing fold out will prevent any steps, gaps or miss alignment.

Once I have the cockpit together, the plane will be complete in a matter of a couple hours and ready for paint. I'm trying to have this done while I'm on holidays. We'll see how that works

Looking good, Drew!

Very good tip on how to do the wings.

Azgaron

hkshooter wrote:

Excellent, Drew. Nice tip. You go boy!

.  Nice work Drew.  Will have to keep in mind all your great tips.

Out and about at the book store.  Picked up a couple of books:

American Aircraft of World War II (Aircraft that served iwth the US Airforce from 1939 to 1945)

British Aircraft of World War II (Manufactured in Britain during WW II)

Each book features over 100 aircraft.

Should help me quite a bit.

PaPa-John

Klaus, glad ya got it finally and thanks for your patients. i am happy that you liked the kits and the stickers. happy building to you.

Steve