2008 Airliner Group Build

Hi Guys

Long time no here.

Not much pgoress. The BOAC VC 10 was going along really well,  all paint on etc, beautiful finish.........then my two year old got hold of it......one wing off, but worse was the split down the centre of the fuse - full length. glue, putty sand, putty, sand........

He's not destructive as a rule but plays rough. Must have been a shocker of a landing.

Frank - love your tutorial on the 744 wings - how did you build that flex into them ?

Hi Kevin,

    Thanks!      

    I have come to like the Hasegawa molds because generally there's not as many "modifications" required to make the models' profile resemble the real thing, and to me, that makes the little extra cost worth it.  

 Hi Simon,

   Good to see you again, and sorry to hear about the "hard landing"!    

   To achieve the "flex" in the wing, I heated and pressed each wing half before assembly, then after I glued it together I secured the flex with tape until the bond was cured.      The plastic was thin and the stress fractures are visible on the unpainted wing, so doing it this way is risky.

   I just finished working up the inboard flap section and wanted to show it off before any painting.       I used my "wire bracing" technique to secure the upper slot, which makes the result look more like the real thing.

Enjoy, and take care all....

Frank 

Hi All

Chris - how was the Blues win over Port the other night ? They have become absolute chokers !

We've got the Pies this weekend.

I havn't been following it much of late mate.. State of Origin time for us League guys. But I was surprised to see the Bulldogs give my Lions a touch up. We had won 4 strait until then..

Chris 

Hello, gentlemen! I'm stopping by because my wrist has finally healed and (more importantly) I wanted to wish you all a fine Father's Day. Yes, that even goes for you Aussies, even if I am about three months early.

A little bit of bad news: Paint stripping on the Independence went so badly that I ended up giving the model to my son. It's dead, Jim. The good news is, I've gotten a good start on the Braniff 707 in orange and expect it to go much better.

Ricardo--Of course, we'd be glad to have you aboard. Welcome to the group. I've added your build to the front page and those birds in the photos you included are gorgeous. Your English is outstanding, BTW.

Frank--That new display technique is astounding! Sorry I didn't respond to the private messages, but that was about the time the wrist was messed up the worst and I had to prioritize my computer time. My response at the time was just like the "tricycle kid" who lives next to Mr. Incredible: "That is SO TOTALLY WICKED!!!!" Congratulations on your upcoming deal, you deserve a big bag of cash for your ingenuity. 

Also, could you tell me how you've developed the restraint that has kept you from killing that whippet? I'd like to be that patient someday.

acmodeler--I added your 737 to the front page. Hope the build goes well.

Neil--Woohoo, congratulations on your 1st place! It certainly looked like an award winner to me.

MIflyer--I added your Braniff bird to the front page. Welcome aboard! Just so you you know, I'm doing mine in orange, and another one later on in lavendar*, but really, do any color you want, because you're the one that will be looking at it on your shelf for years. BTW, there's a post upthread about paint colors that match the Braniff colors. Your pics look great so far, and I'm glad that kit is coming together well, since I have a total of 5 Minicraft 707s in the stash right now!

*Braniff only flew a jet in lavendar for about 30 days, then they found out that purple, black and white are considered bad luck in Mexico when they appear together. Since a number of their flights were to and from Mexican airports, that was very bad for business. So, they repainted her blue and soldiered on.

Believe it or not, I have been working on an airliner for this GB.  I'm doing the Junkers G.38 in 1/144 by Revell.  I made some walls for the seating area in the wing roots, used clear sheet styrene to replace the cabin windows as the kit parts had the usual sink holes, and changed the radiator arrangement to reflect the configuration I am building, which is the early years of the second airplane built, when it was marked as D-2500 and had L-88 gasoline engines.  The Wings of Peace Yahoo group has produced a wealth of information on the G.38, which of course greatly complicates building one.  The kit fits very well which helps in dealing with the corrugated surfaces all over the beast.  The landing gear has to be built "in the air" so to speak, there are a lot of parts that all have to go up at once.  The windows in the wing roots are wider than they should be and don't fit as well as they might, that's about the only gripe I would have.  Pretty minor, really.  There is a lot of detail in the interior to paint that will be quite difficult to see once built, except for the cockpit.

Here are some progress pictures:

Wow, J, I didn't even know anyone made a kit of that bird! I want one!

Your progress pics are great. Are we still going to see an F-13 from you?

Nice Junkers !

 I've been doing a bit of work othe BEA Airfix Trident. What an antique kit ! Comes with a set of stairs though.

Cheers

Looks like some great work going on there, Simon! Keep us posted!

You know, I perhaps just possibly might have sort of uh....oh, well, why yes!!!  I had terminal problems with the kit decals on this one and made new ones with my ALPS printer.  I didn't even attempt to use the kit decals on the G.38, and am doing it in an early form anyway, as it was in 1931.  There are a few more photos with comments here.

The fit was very good on this kit, but the decals were really really not any good.  I have heard that some later releases of this kit have better decals.  Putting decals on silver corrugated airplanes is probably never easy, and Revell Germany has made this and the G.38 kit with exceedingly fine corrugations.  It takes very thin flexible decals and lots of Micro Sol, and any extra clear film has to be removed for the best result.  I have done better on the G.38, but I think I will leave the F13 as is.   

Should I post the build pictures in reverse order?   It has been a few months since I put this one away, sorry for the delay.  Don't know if I forgot to post it or just thought I was doing something else for this GB!

Silvering silvering everywhere, and brittle breakups as well.  No solvent known by man nor beast softened these decals, and they flaked like a good pie crust.  

John, considering all the trouble you had, that is a very nice build. It's easier to get past the silvering than you might think, because it looks so realistic overall.

Good evening every one;  I looks like folks are doing well on this GB. The models look great and so do the in progress pictures. I like the Trident paint job. Very glossy. Frank looks to be really in the inventive and innovation mode. CD thanks for the kudos and glad to hear your healing well. Chris you out there with us still?  If I've missed someone, welcome to the new folks and cheers to the current crew.

I've been very busy with a new job, kids, a new puppy and a few scary days in my basement here in Nebraska with the severe weather of late. We've been very fortunate to have minimal damage.

Modeling is a slow but steady. I've been finishing up an armor kit to take a break from airliner modeling. I have to say that there's quite a bit different approach to those kits. I have a new found respect for those guys that can deal with all those fiddly parts and the tracks and boggies and engines and interiors.  Whew.

My Pan Am 727 needs painting and I'm still working on the landing lights.  I've also cracked open the Minicraft DC-8. I'm considering doing it in Delta Airlines. I'm also working on the big Heller AWACS plane too.

Take care and I'll be posting again soon.

Neil

Hi everyone! There is some great-looking stuff getting posted here.

John, thanks for posting your F13 and G38, those are both kits that I want to try. I have the Revell Heinkel He-70 kit, and was thinking of doing several planes in 1930's Lufthansa silver/black liveries. Yours look great, thanks for the heads-up on the decals!

Unfortunately I won't be building much in the next couple of weeks. I'm moving to a new apartment this coming weekend, and then going out of town from July 3-6. This move is a long time coming though, so I'm excited and happy about it. Happy modeling and happy Independence Day everyone, I'll see you in a few weeks!

Kevin

Good luck with the move, Kevin, and we'll see you soon!

philo426 wrote:

Did you guys happen to catch the news last night about the pilot who buzzed the airfield?He was an expierenced pilot for Cathay Pacific and was flying a brand-new Boeing 777... at 28 feet above the tarmac!He lost his job over that one!

No, I missed that story...thank God he didn't kill anyone before that.

CD: Thanks!    The Whippet (actually he's a Jack Russell/Whippet mix.... Jack Russell head on a Whippet body), will be here with my daughter until my son n law gets back from deployment, scheduled in 6 weeks, then they'll all go back out to Camp Pendleton..... at which time I'll probably be sitting here WISHING they were back, so I tip toe. :-/   [;]

John: Wow, the G.38 is certainly impressive, and don't envy the decal application at all!    I'm also glad you decided to show the F13 too!     That is a Classic design and a kit I've always thought about getting, so seeing and hearing about it's progress is a real treat!

Simon: That's another one I've had in my hands a few times, but never bought it, and now wish I had!      How's the windshield?       You sure have it looking good and thanks for showing it!

 Kevin: All the best on your move and hope you are comfortable in your new apartment!

Moving can be a pain in the APU, but hope it all goes well and you get your workbench set back up soon!       Maybe you can take a break and give somebody a couple hours of Duel!

  I have the wing pretty much built up on the B-744, and just started working the fuselage.     It's moving along slowly because of life's distractions, but moving along never the less.   Here's a couple pictures of the completed flaps.....

Take care,

Frank

Great to hear it's moving to market already, Frank, and your 747 looks great so far--no surprise.

My Ju 86 has been put on the backburner .. for a number of reasons.

However, I HAVE started a Roden He 111C

   Hope everyone who celebrated the 4th had a happy one; fireworks were completely rained out here, but presented the following evening.      

   I have not got to spend the ~quality time~ with the 744 that I've wanted to of late, but did manage to get some photos of this weekends progress!     Enjoy!

Made today as it was about to be put up to cure out in front of the fan tonight...

____________

More of the progression...

____________

The Captain's/First Officer's expression has St. Maarten written all over it....

Still have a couple of key ingredients that haven't arrived yet, but will attempt to get the fine finishing on the plane and wings done now, so maybe it can all be ready to go together around the same time.

 Awww.... no Ju-86?

 Take care,
Frank

Sorry guys for abandoning you.. But I have seriously lost all interest in airliners.. The reason?. Because Delta and NW merged... I am serious.. After I had spent the time on that NW 747-400, I was just tired.. So said, bench you go until we see a new livery..

Have been busy doing some Australian RAAF "What ifs"..

Chris 

Hey Chris,

How about continuing your build as a "What if they hadn't merged?"

Just kidding!

Frank;

The Jumbo looks marvelous. Those KLM colors look well, colorful. And the lowered flaps look great. St Maarten, will you have the dio include some of the more "colorful bathers? One of my things to do is to go there just for the awesome plane spotting!

Chris;

Glad to hear from you I was wondering what had happened to you. Looks like the entire airline industry is trying to stay afloat due to the current gas situation. I for one would still like to see your work. You have some great skills. I'm working on the Minicraft DC8 and I'm planning on doing it in the old Delta livery regardless because I still love all the different liveries out there. One of the things airliners do for me is the intense nostalgia I get from them.  The old Northwest schemes were really cool so maybe you could do a few that way.  Anyway not trying to preach just encourage.

How's every one elses building going?  I've picked up my Pan Am 727. I've painted the fueselage and now I'm working on the engines and stabilzers. I'm going to experiment with some alclad colors on the lower half of the fueselage. I'm going to paint a few different panels different shades just for some variation and fun. I'll post in progress pics soon.

Well it's been a while since I last posted, or for anyone to post as it were. Here are some more photos of the 727 engines. No modifications. Different shades of Alcad. They look cool, I think.

How do you folks hold your model or the various parts for painting. I use lots of high tech equipment....clothes pins

Looking at these pics I just now noticed how thick the nacelles are on the kit. I knew the wings were that way but wow. I could sand, file and reshape  but maybe next kit. Sorry about the out of focus.

How's everyone else?  Haven't seen much activity although it is the Summer and work and family committments take priority.

Anyway please enjoy.

Hi Neil,

    Wow, you've got that Minicraft 3-holer looking GOOD man; I love the way you did the aluminum belly!           It's hard to tell why Minicraft fashioned the thick parts like they did, but at least everything's good & solid and can take sanding.   

       Looking forward to seeing your B-722 come together, and thank you for posting the updates!

    Take care,

     Frank

Hello Frank;

Thank you for the kind words. I am enjoying this build. I'm thinking of doing some heavy weathering too. I'm now working on painting the wings.

You've been busy. Crossing the country takin' care of family affairs. Camp Pendelton, Marines you have in the military?  Tell them from a retired Air Force man they're doing a great thing serving their country. 

I love going out to airports and checking out the old planes. The B727 is a beautiful jet, along with the others.  My favorite is still B747.  I ought to do one some time.  I have a 1/200 scale Hasegawa in the possible stash.

Take care

Neil

Alright, here are the main wings and stabilizers painted and decaled(the correguard). I again tried doing different shading and panels. I did wind up not doing the oldhooker landing light method only cause I didn't think I captured them correctly after doing some more reference searching on airliners.net. I'm going to make some with bits of decal sheet.