Battle of Britain GB 2008 - 21 June to 31 Oct 08

Hi all, after a couple of very trying weeks I'm now properly back on board and more importantly back at the bench .

I've just gone back through the last 10 pages of posts to catch up on what I missed and wow are there some nice models on display.  Congratulations to Aaron and Guy on their completed builds, I've posted your completed status on Page 1 of the build.

Frank the 109 and Spit are looking great, you're well and truly into the finishing straight with those two.

Guy are you completely insane with those little teeny weeny levers , I mean the cockpit of you He 111 looks simply amazing but how on earth do you keep your sanity working with PE that small?

TBolt I have to ask, just how big is your stash?  Checking my stash simply involves just opening a double cupboard, oh yeah and checking two sets of book shelves, as well as crawling around behind a filing cabinet, oh and then I would have to check the two piles of kits stashed with the Xmas decorations, sigh oh just forget it I know exactly what you men

Cheers

Hi all,

I've not forgotten this GB! I've been doing some research to see if my Ju 88, that arrived recently, is applicable, or would be a minor conversion, but I don't think so -- it's the C-4/6, with Jumo 211J engines, and to convert her to the C-5 with BMW 801 powerplants would be a lot of chopping!

I'm trying to source a new Tamiya Bf 109 E-3/Galland at a good price -- it's so frustrating to know you have the very kit but not know where in the stash it is because it wasn't logged in when it arrived! Same with the Ar 196, I have one ... somewhere.

Hoping to contribute,

TB379

Stan-

Came across this scheme over at Wings Pallette for a Mk.I, definately out of the ordinary markings:

Thanks again Aaron!  She's really coming along now.

SC- Roger that!  Sounds like you are really going to town on that Hurri.  Just like the British in WWII, the aircraft factories are gearing up fighter production in preparation for the battle to come.  I shall be in the shop into the morning hours tonight working away to finish up my fighter.

Red Section, vector 230 to Angels 13 for incoming bandits.  TALLY HO!

Oh he's winding me up now! Laid down some sand and spinach camo tonight. Hopefully time permiting some decals tomorrow. mabye by next weekend the old Merlin will be roaring over the channel and turning german bombers into scrap metal. Lets go Frank I'll watch your six while you line them up.

                                                                                         Soulcrusher

 Excellent work on the decals and painting Frank! It reminds me of an interview with a BOB pilot that spoke of momentarily being mesmorized by the beauty of the Aircraft and colors then being brought back into the deadly serious business! SC! Getting nervous with good reason! Hate to see you suffer from a loss of backbone, Channel sickness indeed! The morale of the  Luftwaffe is high and herr Goering is smiling at you!

 My Do-17 dropped leaflets unmolested today take heed! Next time It will drop more than paper.

Thanks Aaron!  Here's a lil' WIP summary on mine.

The Spitfire received her tail feathers, bottom nose part, air intake, and some other minor bits.  I also started the weathering process with some subtle exhaust staining, gun stains, and a dark brown panel wash.  I also gave her an overall mist coat of med. gray to tone down the markings and blend the colors together.  The spinner is just sitting on her for effect:

The '109 now has all of her decals on, and most are finished just have to finish the "8"s.  A few more apps of Mr. Mark Softer to really pull them down into the panel lines.  Here's how she looks:

Extremly impressive work there Guy! That cockpit is just increadible! You did'nt miss a beat right from the 109 to the He 111. Frank hurry up on that Spit! I'm feeling real lonely out here. I mean I'm a good shot but the odds are starting to stack up agianst me! Help!

                                                                                         Soulcrusher

 Holy guacomolie! I have caught colds from germs bigger than those photo-etch levers. That is just some fascinating detail for that scale. Need some coordination to rival a brain surgeon I would think. . Can't say you all haven't delivered some fine phots and work! Looking forward to seeing what Frank's next installment as well.  I am betting the mutant monkey that there is going to be a British fighter soon as well. GZT has been hiding in the wings. Bondoman and SoulCrusher we dont need a Large wing! Or a small one. We need pilots. Those we have are exhausted and long due for relief. We must find more pilots! Or Lose. Remember there is yet another Dornier about 99% done as well., and a Stuka!  Men will say this was their finest hour!

 AND I still insist that there is no FEW quote in the blooming movie!

Who said that? Where are you? What am i talking about? Who am i?

Clunk click curly wurly cookoo.

Its not sent my batty at all!!

...Guy

Well, Karl needs a mate for his formation flight so heres my efforts so far. The kit is the hasagawa 111P and so far its going together great guns. The detail in the pit, i thought was reasonable but, to me, not good enough for that huge greenhouse,

as you can see the resin pieces come up pretty good IMO,

next was the 2 resin sidewalls. The starboard side had the wireless operators seat and a couple of spare magazines for the nose gun,

on the port side the main consol thingy has about a thousand little levers to fit all this size,

ah well, my tweezerpult was working fairly well but i got some on,

so a final wash with a little burnt umber and a highlight here and there and Voila,

Im calling the pit, done.

More soon.

...Guy

Looking good Karl!  Your paint finish looks super-smooth, very nice!

I've been in the workshop all day today working on the Spitfire and '109.  I hope to have some pics up later!

Darn another bomber! I better get back to work and start that upper camo paint. Looks like war is iminent!

                                                                             Soulcrusher

Guy, same kit as yours, namely Hasa's 1/72 He111P.

Typical Hasa kit in that it generally goes together without any issues, however there are a number of places to watch.

The engines nacelles and their fit to the wing need careful attention, as they have a tendency to sit out of alignment. 

There is also a gap at the lower wing joint where it meets the bomb bay. Every review I have read of this kit mentions this one, so it's not just me.

I had trouble with the glass house fit, but I think this may have been due to a build up of Future on the locating ridges.

If I built another, I'd assemble the fuselage and glasshouse before attaching the wings, just to give some room for manoeuvre.

Time to let mine sit overnight, before I mask up for the RLM 70.

Did you get the Eduard masks for yours?

Karl

Wow Karl, that 111 is looking peachy. Did i miss any WIP shots? Whos kit is it and what was the build like? Im getting the pit of my Hasa 111P ready. The resin and etch stuff is going together sweetly. The whole kit seems to fall together nicely. But what about yours?

...Guy

razordws wrote:

bondoman wrote: Damn, no Sussanah York, but PE wouldn't have done her justice anyways; too many folds I think you mean to many curved bends eh?   Threw my back out today playing baseball (what was I thinking?) so my start date for this build will likely be pushed back a bit.

Been there done that Dave except I pulled a shoulder muscle playing Golf. Relax and take it easy buddy there is still plenty of time left in this build.

                                                                                   Soulcrusher

Aaron, what no PE belts!?! What ever were they thinking?

Oh, hang on these kits are designed for those without AMS. All is clear.

Dave, hope that back gets better soon. Whenever I do mine in I take a trip to the osteopath, always works a treat.

Progress Update

Just applied a second coat of Gunze RLM 71 Dunkel Grun to the upper surfaces.

I had real trouble getting a decent fit between the fuselage and the glass house, more to do with me than the kit.

Karl

bondoman wrote:

Damn, no Sussanah York, but PE wouldn't have done her justice anyways; too many folds" border="0" width="15" height="24" />

 Baseball? EEks! I sure hope your back gets better soon those can be tricky and very inconvenient injuries. As far as your photo - etch Susanna York? I have a spare. You can have cheap if you can save me from the wrath of that LtCdr next door.

 ( Image not to scale) Contents of box may vary from artwork,  ( Fine Print)

 Karl, yep maybe less than 8 hours just goofed around waiting for the paint to dry in front of the fan. ( The secret is it doesn't come with photo-etch belts... Can you believe it?) Glad to hear you are over that bug!

 Well some sleep then  good building and stuff!

SC, great progress on that Hurricane.

Aaron, you did all that in 8 hours?

It takes me that long to put the PE belts on the captain's chair!

Stan, for some reason the Hurricane units had more flamboyant markings than the Spit units, possibly as a result of service in France.

Progress Update

Not a lot of progress on the He111 this week as my children kindly donated a stomach bug to me, however back on my feet now, and the Helllp! is in the paintshop.

Karl

bondoman wrote:

Damn, no Sussanah York, but PE wouldn't have done her justice anyways; too many folds

I think you mean to many curved bends eh?  

Threw my back out today playing baseball (what was I thinking?) so my start date for this build will likely be pushed back a bit.

OK bondman well be waiting on you for our ground support! I hope there will be a latrine!

                                                                                Soulcrusher

Oh Happy Day

The padded envelope came in the mail from across the pond, with two beautiful PE sets for the Watch Office. One all scale windows and doors, the other all of the radios, met instruments, rocket, flares, chairs, desks, and about 100 other things a fellow could want.

Damn, no Sussanah York, but PE wouldn't have done her justice anyways; too many folds

We've got to get an airfield up and running. While the main building is under construction, a few officers and a tent will have to do. more tomorrow.

Daywalker wrote:

sfcmac wrote: Thanks again to all now show me some stuff! I can't, I'm at work!!! LOL... Stan- For some reason, I seem to recall seeing an unusually marked Spit in a book at home.  I'll take a look tonight when I get home. SC-LOL, What say ye to three shillings, and we forget the name?

Done!

                                                                 Soulcrusher

sfcmac wrote:

Thanks again to all now show me some stuff!

I can't, I'm at work!!! LOL...

Stan- For some reason, I seem to recall seeing an unusually marked Spit in a book at home.  I'll take a look tonight when I get home.

SC-LOL, What say ye to three shillings, and we forget the name?

 Thank ye fellows. I am glad you like the Spit. Every once and again I get an urge to do a one day wonder to return to the simpler days like Razor said. Getting ready to dive into a couple bigger projects so I wanted to get my mind right before counting riviits and breakingout the heavy tools.

 Probably looks good as the competetion be scarce but once Frank, GZT and Sc get their fighters up it will be a much more proper force to be sure. I really just played and had fun with it. Trying different painting stuff and weathering that I would be too afraid would ruin a larger investment.  I was thinking of adding a few parts from an old broken Monogram Spit for the pit and such. May still since it is a snap and can be disaxssembled easy enough. I certainly will add the lower roundrals as per Guy's point it is a sin not to have included those.

 The Prop stands too far off the nose and such but if someone with a limited budget on either cash or time wanted to participate this is a good kit for that or to practice things on.

Thanks again to all now show me some stuff!

My Hurricane should be in primer tonight. Just have some touch up sanding to do and then a primer coat. Hopefully no ugly spots will turn up and I can start painting! The hard edge camo should not be to time consuming. Making the masks for the upper camo will probally take up more time than anything else.

Frank I knew i could get you takling in pirate talk with that one. By the way the monkey Jack is doing just fine.

                                                                                     Soulcrusher

sorry busy at work this week, falling off my post.

The spit look good.

Mike's right, E-1/2 had 17's in the wings as did some early E-3, but this would be the exception to the rule. Most E-3 were requipted with 20mm in the wing postion. It looks like most eariler E's were quickly rearmed with the 20mm. Hence why my E-1 bob has 20's.

I'm building an adversary dio with my E and a spitfire MK.I. I would like to use some not so common marking/camo for the spit as well. From what I have seen the RAF was pretty straight laced with there marking and such. anyone come across anything that might fit the bill? I would like a fighter unit as opposed to a recon. I'm just not finding anything I like. The more unusual and less known the better, but still flew in combat.