SEAPLANES & AMPHIBIANS Official Group Build May 08-09

Hi guys,

I'm awfully tempted! I have five or six other GB committments in the same timeframe, but seaplanes are such cool things! Lessee, what do I have in my stash???

• Airfix 1:72 Arado Ar 196 and Short Sunderland
• Hawk/Testor 1:48 Supermarine S6B
• Monogram 1:48 PBY-5A
• Revell History Makers Martin P6M Seamaster (fit-the-box scale)
• Revell Germany Bv 222 Viking (don't remember, but it's HUGE)

And there's anything else that coms along in the next year... I don't have a lot of display space (make that almost none) so something small... The Ar 196 is small! And it gives me a chance to rig the floats, which I've been thinking about for a long time (knitting cables together has a perverse attraction...) I also photographed the real S6B in the London Science Museum 18 months ago in preparation for a build, and that also features rigging.

I can't promise to be aboard, but if I can squeeze in a project, I will!

Cheers,

TB379

JoeRugby wrote:

About six months ago Idropped out of this forum for whatever reason ans swore off GB's...until now...I would like to get in; 1/72 scale Sword Goose in Alaska Department of Fish and Game livery...would a small dio be acceptable for this GB?     On second thought...never mind...

Sorry for the slight delay everyone. People said they needed time to finish builds, so i gave everyone a little time.. about a month... hopefully most people are done with what they are engaged with. Would you like me to add this kit?

Thunderbolt379 wrote:

Hi guys, I'm awfully tempted! I have five or six other GB committments in the same timeframe, but seaplanes are such cool things! Lessee, what do I have in my stash??? Airfix 1:72 Arado Ar 196 and Short Sunderland Hawk/Testor 1:48 Supermarine S6B Monogram 1:48 PBY-5A Revell History Makers Martin P6M Seamaster (fit-the-box scale) Revell Germany Bv 222 Viking (don't remember, but it's HUGE) And there's anything else that coms along in the next year... I don't have a lot of display space (make that almost none) so something small... The Ar 196 is small! And it gives me a chance to rig the floats, which I've been thinking about for a long time (knitting cables together has a perverse attraction...) I also photographed the real S6B in the London Science Museum 18 months ago in preparation for a build, and that also features rigging. I can't promise to be aboard, but if I can squeeze in a project, I will! Cheers, TB379

WOW, you got some awesome kits, if you want to be on board with any of those just let me know. Thanks for posting.

Here are some pics from a few weeks ago. These are pics of the interior before I close up the fuse. Since their old I've gotten a few more things done such as adding some windows, side blisters, assembling the flight deck, and gluing the wing halves together. Should have a new update in a few days.

 I was going to put electric motors in the engine nacells to spin the props that is why the wires are there but I decided against it seening that I couldn't find motors that would fit. Instead I am going to use photo-etch propblurs to simulate the spinning props. I need the spinning props b/c I am making a dio of my Black Cat taking off.

Hi Avadon,

Thanks for having me! I just checked my log and my Ar 196s (I think I have two) weren't properly logged in, so I've no idea where in my stash they are! I have nearly 40 cartons of models and use a check-log in my computer to find things. One day they'll all be on shelves and look like one of the better hobby shops, but until then my log is the key to my stash!

The upshot is I also have an Arii 1:72 Cessna 172 floatplane that I'd forgotten about!

So I'm leaning toward the S6B at the moment, though if I could snare Matchbox's 1:32 Tiger Moth floatplane on eBay I'd build that one in a heartbeat!

Cheers,

TB379

Thunderbolt379 wrote:

Hi Avadon, Thanks for having me! I just checked my log and my Ar 196s (I think I have two) weren't properly logged in, so I've no idea where in my stash they are! I have nearly 40 cartons of models and use a check-log in my computer to find things. One day they'll all be on shelves and look like one of the better hobby shops, but until then my log is the key to my stash! The upshot is I also have an Arii 1:72 Cessna 172 floatplane that I'd forgotten about! So I'm leaning toward the S6B at the moment, though if I could snare Matchbox's 1:32 Tiger Moth floatplane on eBay I'd build that one in a heartbeat! Cheers, TB379

(Ryan)Nice Engines Ryan! I can practically smell the oil off those radials from here ;)

(TB379) sounds like you have some good choices to build from. 172 on floats is pretty nice. I really want to scratch build a pilatus Pc-6 too.   I think we can extend this build to the end of next summer.. why not.. right.

12Wings wrote:

Hey avadon thanks for the comment. I really spent a lot of time trying to get those engines looking just right. My hard work really payed  off, I put the engines in there cowls and I think they look awesome.

 Trust me when i say I know it can be hard to get good small motors to power little radials like that. Just one drop of epoxy can stall little DC motors. But if you have patience, can build a little housing or shelf for the motors to be epoxied to, align them perfect with the prop wire them correctly and hide the battery well well then it pays off ini spades. :D:D:D   That said though since your making a diarama I think your decision to go with propblurs is better. To me the motorized prop is only really great when aircraft is not going to be anchored to anything. But thats just my preference.

All you water wings and float afficionados here's an interesting conversion I think you'll appreciate from the Pikes Peak Model Expo put on by Centennial IPMS of Colorado Springs, Colorado June 7, 2008.

I don't know if she's a plane or not; She's certainly amphibious! For more go here:

http://www.centennialipms.org/

12Wings wrote:

Hey Avadon, I looked into my username and Kelly Shaw took out the # sign for me. Try quoting this post!

 Test test test..  (looks like it was the # sign)

Awesome! I'd really would like to try to get hold of a Glencoe Models Martin China Clipper and this extension will give may give me time to get one.

And thanks for including me in the build. 

Kenjitak, you may notice I'm also a big fan of Porco Rosso.  I also have the S21 and Curtiss' R3C. The S21 is partially built.

Here's an update on how I'm coming on my model. So far I have glued together the fuse, glued the wings together, and puttied everything up. I have also washed all the parts and gotten them ready for painting. I had no idea that the wings were going to be so BiG!

all comments welcomed

Thanks for the SMER comments, John. I think I'll try getting hold of one.

Looking over the parts of my Tamiya Mitsubishi F1M 'Pete' last night and reading some on-line comments about the Tamiya kit, I've come to find out that the kit is sort of a mix of a F1M2 version body and F1M1 canopies. I've got to decide to either get new canopies or modify the fuselage depending on which version I do.

kenjitak wrote:

It's great to see some seaplanes and some progress. What do you think of that Academy kit?

This kit is actually very good except for the interior detail (there is almost none). The exterior detail is very nice. There are thin panel lines and rivets on the entire model. Hopefully the decals are of good quality. 

raider83 wrote:

Since this is the seaplane GB, have any of you guys built the monogram 1/48 kingfisher?  It looks like a decent kit if I can find one. I want to build a WWII Pacific dio with a float plane rescuing the pilot of a downed plane.  I wsa going to use the revell 1/48 catalina, but that is too big

You also have choices of floatplanes, certainly the Seagull and Seamew if that was ever a rescue plane.

Hello,

Just checking in with the group build.  Been too busy this summer to even think of starting on the goose.

I too would like to see the old Monogram Kingfisher.  I havn't seen one in years.  As I rememer, it was a good kit, then again, that would be from a 10 yr olds point of view.

Scott