The Forgotten War GB (6/25/08 - 2/28/09) - Deadline Extended Yet Again!

GA.modelmaker wrote:

ok guys i am about to start on this gb now. i have just a few more tiny bits and do the tracks for the priest kangaroo. i hope to start on the jeep monday as i am going fishing on sunday. so here is what i am going to build for this gb.

That Jeep is a fun little build. I did one about two years ago, just a nice stress free build.

I've been making headway on the Sabre, I have the fuselage closed up and the wings on.  I have had some problems with the fit around the nose, it seems like Acaademy got the cockpit tub a little too wide, which surprised me because compared to the Hasegawa kit the instrument panel is too small.  The Eduard Hasegawa PE won't fit at all on the panel.  I may have squeezed the nose together too much, but not much.  A lot of pieces come together at once up there.  Bash to fit.  Paint to match, and there you have it!

I did get a little sidetracked.  I'm building it with the fuselage together with the engine on a cart.  There is a cart in the kit for the aft fuselage, but not for the engine, which does come with the kit.  Same thing is true of the Hasegawa 1/32 Sabre, what's up with that?  Using plastic tubing, rod, h-beams, and wheels and towbar from a Pro-Modeler bomb cart I built an engine cart.  Paint is drying on it now.  I also modified a ladder from I think a Pro-Modeler F-102 to lay on the ground for clutter.  Haven't found a picture of a Sabre with a ladder yet, but it must have happened sometime. 

I had a spare tailpipe from a Hasegawa Sabre, so all is good there.  It fit fine in the Academy fuselage. 

ok guys i am about to start on this gb now. i have just a few more tiny bits and do the tracks for the priest kangaroo. i hope to start on the jeep monday as i am going fishing on sunday. so here is what i am going to build for this gb.

Charles,

Hope it was a good 4th for you and your's.  I've just put the decals on my Tigercat and it's currently sitting out there with the setting solution doing its thing.  I've managed to complete nearly all of the detail painting, ie, stuff I don't do with the AB and that I usually wait to do toward the end.  I still have to install brake lines to the main LG and paint the frame work for the windscreen and canopies, and then whatever weathering I'm going to do.  Pictures will follow once the 'Cat is ready to handle again.

How's everyone doing? I'm just about at the decal stage with my prior commitment, and should start probalby next week on a Sabre.

I hope your 4th weekend is safe, relaxing and memorable.

Aaronw wrote:

Ok, I can no longer resist. Go ahead and put me down for an F-84E Thunderjet.

Come to the dark side, Skywalker...

I knew you couldn't resist Welcome to the GB. The Thunderjets are such sleek and sexy birds. Can't wait to see yours

Mg.Mikael: Nice progress. I appreciate the little history lesson as well. It's amazing how long '30's technology was used, especially when you consider how often tanks, planes, guns, etc. were updated.

mg.mikael - very nice start, thanks for the mini-lesson, makes the build have a good context! Lookforward to the rest...

John - thanks for the heads up on the book Crimson Tide, Im having my local public library try to get via interlibrary loan. In the meantime, I decided to read Max Hasting's tome (The Korean War); he is one of my favorite military history authors.

Ok, I can no longer resist. Go ahead and put me down for an F-84E Thunderjet. I probably won't be able to get a lot done for awhile but it looks simple enough so I should have plenty of time to get it done before the end of the build.

The kit will be the 1/72 Academy F-84 E/G Thunderjet

Okay here's my first update so far... and a quick history about the M-30 Howitzer.

This howitzer was developed in late 1930s, and was in production from 1939 to 1955. It became well-known for its simplicity, reliability, and firepower. The M-30 saw action in WWII, mainly as a divisional artillery piece of the Red Army. Captured guns were employed by Wehrmacht and the Finnish Army. Post World War II, the M-30 saw combat in numerous conflicts during the mid to late twentieth century. Technology of this howitzer was ahead of its time, demonstrated by the fact that it was used by Soviet forces in the Soviet-Afghan War in the seventies. The M-30 was also mounted on the following armored fighting vehicles, the SU-122, SG-122, and 12,2-cm Kanone (r) auf Geschützwagen Lorraine-Shlepper.

 All my progress so far.....not many problems, except fit issues with pieces.

Sorry the pic came out a little blurry. The barrel had some major fit issues so alot of sanding was neccesary to get rid of the seam.  Yes, their is an AM barrel from Model Point for about $11.00. But I only paid $16.00 for the entire kit, so I didn't feel like spending that much for a barrel.

All questions, comments, or compliments are welcome!

Same to you, Harv! Have a nice, safe, relaxing Holiday.

To quote John Adams:

The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more. You will think me transported with Enthusiasm but I am not. I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory. I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means. And that Posterity will tryumph in that Days Transaction, even altho We should rue it, which I trust in God We shall not.

(The Book of Abigail and John: Selected Letters of the Adams Family, 1762-1784, Harvard University Press, 1975, 142).

Progress tonight - I've put down a splotchy black paint job on the Tigercat to hopefully replicate a hasty night fighter conversion.  What you see is intentional (the insignia blue undercoat still shows through the flat black overcoat) but I may soften it up a bit with a final misting of flat black.  I could conceivably complete this build over the upcoming holiday weekend (if life lets me).

  Mucker, just build it...Acualy I`d love to see the T33 built up. Should look great.....Harv

What a conundrum....I've found another kit that I should be receiving today that qualifies for this GB: the Hobbycraft T-33 in Korean War markings. I'm thinking of trying to work this one in, as well.

I've buily a few Hobbycraft kits before but have always used AM decals. Has anyone out there used Hobbycraft decals? how are they? I know the Academy ones are notorious for being unworkable...but how were the older Hobbycraft ones?

mucker wrote:

Mike: You're treading a fine line there on vacation!!! If I was checking Finescale while away on vacation and she caught me....ooh, I don't even want to think about it!! She let's me "play" just about all year long, so vacation time is her time.

Wiser words have never been spoken!  I ended up not packing the Sherman for our family vacation (which was great) so more time could be spent with the family.  Therefore, the Mustang will get first priority and maybe the Sherman will make the build list.....however, the interior of the F-51 has been painted with detailing to follow (after another project in the queue).

Nice progress from the rest of the group...still trying to get caught up reading posts!

Steven, Harv: nice progress so far. Keep the pics coming. Like you said, Harv, it's a start. It feels goo to get those first few pieces cut, sanded and glued together, doesn't it. You're officially on the way!

Mike: You're treading a fine line there on vacation!!! If I was checking Finescale while away on vacation and she caught me....ooh, I don't even want to think about it!! She let's me "play" just about all year long, so vacation time is her time.

   Steven, I think its going to look GREAT!! Keep it up!  Well this is it for the weekend. I know its not much, but its a start.Worked 6 days this week so the little time I had I split between my  corsair and 86. So this is what i have sofar. Enjoy.............Harv

Progress on my Tigercat.

All of the components are constructed and painted.  My intent with this build is the try to duplicate a Korean US Marines Tigercat that had been acquired from the Navy's fleet and had been previously painted dark blue, and then hastily painted black for night fighting operations.

Vacation picks or build picks?

Couldn' resist a peak at the forum (bless shipboard satellite internet connection).

Seriously considered bringing some parts to scratchbuild the cockpit until I reviewed the airport exclusion list of materials to fly with. Paints and adhesives are on the list. Probably just as well, though I would have considered some modeling as part of my vacation - the wife might think different.

Enjoy that vacation.

I'll be looking forward to some pics hopefull after you return.

The only thing I really did was to cut out the opening more for the cockpit, which itself will need to be scratch built.

Nothing worth to post, plus I was too tired last night to look for the camera. I'll be using two articles from builders who also built the Testors/Hawk kit with modifications. One is an on-line source I sited in an earlier post in this thread and the other is a Finescale Modeler issue from 2007. 

Nothing more from me until after the 7th of July when the wife and I get back from our trip.

Darnit, John! You make it look so easy!

I've also recently learned of a soon-to-be resin set from scobiedo poductions out of Canada. Supposedly it replaces the entire lower and upper wing portion, and all you do is clean up the fillet area. I'll let you know if I hear any more about it.

I'm still debating what to do.

Charles:

Here is how I think it can be done.  The lower center section has to be used from an F kit, there is no way to use the D wing center section because the D is much deeper in the fuselage than the F.   I separated the wings from the center section at the panel lines that have all the holes between them, that is where the full scale Sabre wing attaches to the fuselage. Using the Academy F kit and the Revell Germany D kit the fit is excellent.  I haven't tried the Hasegawa kit, or the old Monogram F kit yet for fit.

I have the Aeroclub resin conversion for the initial Sabre wing, and it will be more work than this is.  The OP Cutting Edge set was the same.  You have to cut the wing from root to tip and also modify the tip to get rid of the 1 foot extensions.  Not for the faint of heart, especially when an nmf finish is needed.  Then when you are done you still don't have the proper wing sweep, as the D kit is much better that way. 

Rough cut on the Academy wing:

Rough cut on the Revell Germany D wing:

D outer wing panels attached to F center section.  I filed and sanded up to the double panel line edges to keep the join precise, keeping the wing join panel line on the center section and losing it on the wings.

Initial fit of upper wing panels to fuselage.  Some care will be needed to keep the slight dihedral the Sabre has.