mikeew

Not sure where to post this, but as its pertaining to a WW2 subject... I want to make a diorama for my 1/72 Sunderland flying boat that includes it sitting on the ocean moored up. Now I know that resin can be tricky not to mention expensive given the amount i'd need. So, what ideas can you give me? what have you used in the past ? I'm guessing the base would need to be approx 45cm square maybe a bit bigger. Would it be easier to waterline the model to save depth? TIA for all answers. Mike

Hello Everyone, I am building a FROG 1/96 Bristol Britannia. This is for this years Telford display with the Classic British Kits SIG. I am going to build it straight from the box (technically straight from the bag) including inaccurate markings for RAF transport command. The RAF used a stretched 300 series airframe IIRC- not the 200 series passenger version. I like the scheme and its truly authentic, as in being built from what is supplied. My thanks go to Paul Bradley who is kindly supplying new decals, as you can see the ones in the kit are awful, they are crazed too, which is harder to see here. I am missing some undercarriage parts too, but thats no problem as I will build her "In flight" on a stand of some description. My intention is to rescribe some of the major panel lines for interest, not all of them though. I will also need to sand off the raised lines which were... ahem... helpfully included to aid decal alignment for what appears to be BOAC markings on the tail.I am missing one spinner too, if anyone hasa spare, please let me know! If not i'll endeavour to scratchbuild a replacement if I can't find something suitable in the spares box. So, here we have the card header and awful decals... ...and open it up to reveal good old fashioned exploded diagrams and "locate and cement "type instructions... and here is where I am at after only a couple of hours of gluing and clean up. Next job is the rescribe and paint the nacelles in a nice shiny Alclad shade

Thanks for the reference ideas guys, and Alan- wow! what a set of photos. i'll certainly be in touch!!

Superdooper Gunfighter Shaun!!

Many thanks for th input and info, i've bookmarked this page for when I (eventually) start this project. Do any of you know good refernce/modelling books for the Sunderland? (excepting the recent Wings on Windermere which I have on order) Mike

Suitably filthy ndeed Shaun! Looking very good my friend.

VERRRRRY Nice!! Is there an aircraft that doesn't look good in the ripple scheme?

Hi All, I have an ambitious project that I'm looking into with regard to building and superdetailing the venerable Airfix 1/72 Sunderland flying boat as a present for my fathers upcoming 60th birthday next August (2010). Now, I know of the WEM etched stes and will no doubt be using these, and probably the Aeroclub engines too as well as a vac form canopy. Does anyone else make anything for the Sunderland regards details? like resin engines or interiors etc? My idea is to have her at rest, moored ,on a resin sea base with servicing taking place on engines etc. I know a lot will need to be scratchbuilt, but just wondered if there is anything that could make my life easier! TIA for any/all info! regards, Mike

Hi All, I have an idea for a little 1/72 diorama with a kettenkrad towing out a Bf109E. I have both models but have no idea how they were towed and where the attachent point(s) would be. I am thinking they could be towed by the tail wheel, but have no idea what sort of towbar they would use. Any one have ideas/pics/refs? cheers, Mike

many thanks for the input guys, seems there are varyiong methods then. I do like the look of Shauns Invader though, seems to work well. I may give that a go .

Hi Guys, just interested to hear you input as to best way(s) of painting aircraft black? I have a Bf109 nighfighter that calls for an overall black scheme. I want to break up the colour a bit so it isn't too plain and stark with just Matt Black. I was thinking of lightening the black with some grey or maybe a preshade of matt black covered with very dark grey? Any ideas considered!! TIA, Mike

Hi All, Just finished this one off. Its the Hasegawa recent re-release of their superb 1:72 Beaufighter , this time in Australian AF Mk.21 guise. Its built right outta the box and should feature in a forthcoming edition of SAM with full review. Hope you like it!

Thanks guys, glad you like it! Just a couple at this state...

Thanks for the input guys. I have been having fun with this winter camo lark! I useed the method I mentioned by sealing the camo in with Klear then using Revell Matt White enamel sprayed on randomly and then wearing it away and scratching it away with thinners and cotton buds, toothbrushes and big fat coarse paint brushes, also added some promodellers mud wash to the wheels and lower areas of the body. Just need to add decals tracks now and paint and weather them. All comments welcomed!

If your top coat varnish is matt then there aint a lot you can do now i'm afraid. Did you gloss the surface before decaling? If not then this is probably what went wrong. I use klear as a gloss finish before decaling and then use Klear as decal set, never had a problem with silvering since. You could try the pricking and microsol method but I doubt it'll save them completely, also the Micro Sol might react with the varnish too. HTH. Mike

Been on the back burner for a bit with this, but finally gave a big push on it last couple of weeks and got the main building done so today I got some paint on it. The colours aren't 100% accurate, nor is the pattern come to that! but as I am going to cover it in a white winter distemper, it doesn't really matter . Any idea how I should do the distemper? My thoughts are, as I've used acrylics for the camo, to seal this with a couple of coats of Klear, then use enamels for the white, sprayed on in a random pattern. Then using cotton buds and old brushes dampened with thinners, gradually add wear to the distemper after a few hours of drying for the enamel. Your thoughts would be appreciated on this

Lovely selection Sandy! The four ship pic really makes a good collection. Thanks for sharing.

Hi peeps, Anybody know how good/bad/indifferent Owl decals are? I am wanting this sheet, but don't wanna waste me hard earned . http://www.hannants.co.uk/search/?FULL=OWLS7204 All info gratefully received!

WOW! Shaun, can't believe I missed this one! Lovely job mate and I really like the idea of the FOD covers, must try this some time myself!!

very nicely done! Good idea for a conversion!

Excellent selection Shaun. Looks like you really took your time with composition on each one. For me though, the long shot on the B-17 inside the American Air Museum is brilliant use of lighting and cropping. Good to see Sally B too, is she flying again now? last time I saw her she had a engine missing.

Very nice Shaun. You nailed it buddy!

Very VERY nice Shaun, I tried that winter wash effect on my matchbox one last year and screwed it up big stylee. Kudos to you matey

Beautiful photos Mark. You say the light was variable, but the in flight shots are spot on with the light on the subject rather than behind. That Hawker Hind in flight one is my fave. I look forward to seeing some more

Brilliant job Speedy, i like the canopy cover, really neat touch! You are right, it needs a base to set it off with the canopy cover and the wings all folded with the rbf tags etc