Johnson
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Posts posted by Johnson
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Great project Adrian!
8 hours ago, AdrianMF said:from box "C" in the garage (thank goodness for spreadsheets!)
Ah ha! I'm not the only one then!
Charlie
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Looks great Colin. You've got those pesky 'don't step on me' decals nicely bedded down which always seems a problem.
Charlie
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On 4/10/2024 at 8:01 AM, Rabbit Leader said:
Looking very very nice Charlie.... great work!
On 4/10/2024 at 3:15 PM, Grandboof said:Looks great in those colours . Good work
6 hours ago, heloman1 said:Coming together very nicely. The paintwork is looking very sharp. Well done
Thanks Dave, Martin & Colin!
It's slow progress, not helped by my deciding to restore a 50 year old FROGasawa E.E. Lightning at the same time. But what really been a pain (literally) is that I've developed a very dodgy neck/shoulder. It limits my modelling time and typing on the PC... ouch!
Better go. I'll be sticking some decals on this weekend!
Charlie
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'evening Froggers,
The NMF is done.
Alclad dark aluminium and jet exhaust added at the back. Nose ring - Mr Metal Color 'Chrome Silver'. Looks flat when sprayed on but can be buffed to a more or less chrome finish. Not quite as good as Alclad's chrome but it will do.
Next task will be the matt black anti-glare panel in front of the cockpit which should be fairly straightforward.
But I'm pondering the colour/finish for the gun port panels. A previous (and excellent!) build of XN793 had these as dark aluminium. But I'm not so sure. Looks to me as if they were painted black which gives them their very dark appearance.
This photo shows that the paint was either badly applied or has worn off in places, look at the bottom right of the lower panel.
Photo Macks Aviation Photography. Used with permission.
Back soon!
Charlie
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Next up is to add some darker NMF panels.
This photo from Ian Black's excellent book 'Lightning' gives a good view of XN793 from the port side.
Photo used with permission.
Some noteworthy features;
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The very rear panels enclosing the jet pipes are darker at the bottom. This is also visible in photos of the starboard side of XN793. Is this an affect of the light caused by the '8' shape of that part of the plane? Or were they really just darker? I'm assuming the latter. There are panel line breaks at just that point. But I may be wrong
. Opinions would be much appreciated.
- The blue paint on the tail, spine and roundels is very dark, almost black above (but that's probably exacerbated by the contrast with the sky). It also appears pretty dark in other photos. But is is actually darker than the Roundel Blue BS381c 110 standard?
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No canopy! That would save a bit of work!
I think I'll probably add it.
Cheers,
Charlie
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The very rear panels enclosing the jet pipes are darker at the bottom. This is also visible in photos of the starboard side of XN793. Is this an affect of the light caused by the '8' shape of that part of the plane? Or were they really just darker? I'm assuming the latter. There are panel line breaks at just that point. But I may be wrong
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14 hours ago, PeterB said:
When I used AK aluminium (polished and white) I left it a couple of days to harden, and "de-tacked" the Tamiya tape a little by sticking it to the back of my hand a couple of times as recommended in a video I saw, perhaps from Flory. It worked well for me.
Definitely good advice Pete! It will certainly get a few days to harden. Might try to stick a few decals on the Wessex later.
Charlie
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Really great Chris. Beautifully made and finished.
Cheers,
Charlie
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On 4/12/2024 at 9:06 PM, scautomoton said:
Paint looking mega so far.
Thanks! Better than I expected considering where this started.
18 hours ago, opus999 said:That's a nice finish on the Lightning! I've struggled with worn metal finishes... I can't get them to look realistic. I've used a lot of Alclad, some Mr. Color, Tamiya spray TS-30 Silver Leaf, AK's extreme metal. They all look nice and most are pretty tough, but I don't know the trick to make them look real (to my eye).
It's a difficult trick, getting a good NMF finish, certainly not one I've mastered. But, having grown up using Humbrol silver applied with a brush, I'm generally happy to accept the results I get with these spray-on metal finishes. Some slightly different shaded panels can help, and a bit of subtle weathering.
18 hours ago, opus999 said:I love the work you did on the cockpit!
Thank you @opus999. I plan to have the cockpit open so it had to be a bit better than my earlier efforts.
I'd hoped to make more progress with the paint but seem to have acquired a case of modeller's neck!
. Ah the joys of 'golden years'! 
Having to stay away from the bench for a while.
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11 hours ago, Navy Bird said:
the fuel dump(?) just below the cold exhaust on the starboard side
According to 'Aeroguide 3 BAe Sea Harrier FRS Mk 1', it's an oil vent. Same for the FA.2 I assume.
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On 4/9/2024 at 8:14 PM, MrB17 said:
Hi Charlie, I’m really interested in this STGB. You’re right, the Wooden Wonder deserves its own GB. It’s a good thing I am retired, but what else would I do .
Something I have always wanted to do is the 4 different versions that Monogram offered in their kit. I have the kits waiting patiently for an opportunity like this.
The movie 633 Squadron was a huge inspiration, with many favourite quotes, like other great movies from that era.
Please add me to the list.Thanks Jeff - You're on the list!
633 Sqn - absolutely! (If we survive the Bunfight!)
Cheers,
Charlie
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Time for some aluminium paint.
The Lightning F.2A I'm modelling is XN793 which was the 92 Sqn boss Wg Cdr Mitchell's plane. As such it would have been very well looked after. But the aluminium surface wasn't terribly shiny, typical of a well used lightning. All Lightnings look a bit different, some panels lighter, some darker. XN793 had a fairly uniform finish with a few darker panels.
My old favourite is Alclad 2 Aluminium. No longer available to buy in UK (or Europe) it would seem. Why? Too noxious for current legislation?
I also have AK Aluminium in the paint store. How do they compare?
Alclad aluminium on my test mule. I wanted to see how it looked, and equally important, how it fared when masked and un-masked. Tamiya tape was left on for several hours.
Unmasking didn't lift any paint at all. Tough stuff Alclad.
AK aluminium (and AK polished aluminium):
Removing the masking tape lifted the surface paint from the AK Aluminium. The polished aluminium fared better, but was still slightly damaged. So Alclad it is.
Lightning back in the paint shop.
Initial spraying the Alclad Aluminium, didn't go well. Splatter
. Every airbrushers nightmare and gave a nasty spotty finish. I reckoned that spraying at the recommended 12-15 PSI was too low. I polished the splattered surface with Micromesh 4000 and resprayed at a higher 20 PSI. No splatter at all. I'm not saying Alclad were wrong in their recommendation, it's just that every airbrush and conditions are different.
An acceptable finish
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I'll leave it to cure for 24 hours before spaying the darker aluminium panels and the blue spine and fin. And the shiny polished stainless steel nose ring the Lightnings had. Another trip into the unknown!
Cheers,
Charlie
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Looks really nice Jeff - well done!
Outstanding stand too!
Charlie
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Interesting to learn about the Vickers / Browning Pete, very similar.
And excellent progress.
Very envious of your Meccano jig! We had some when I was young, whatever happened to it? Parents - huh!
Charlie
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On 4/8/2024 at 3:53 PM, AntPhillips said:
Love the Golden Yellow over Blue-Grey scheme, it's coming along nicely.
Thanks Ant. It's a great combination.
23 hours ago, MrB17 said:The paintwork looks very sharp Charlie. The demarcation between the Yellow and Blue is nicely done. Really enjoying this build.
Thanks Jeff. Getting there slowly but 1:1 life is beginning to get in the way now that spring's arrived!
Cheers,
Charlie
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Very good - amazing camo scheme!
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The plastic looks excellent Peter. Looking forward to your build, and the floats will be a bonus.
Cheers,
Charlie
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Very nice work with the FA.2 Bill. I'll get round to one someday.
I got the Whirleybirds P1.B from Martin Blundell (Aircraftmodels on eBay). Looks very nice, I can send pics if you're interested. Martin told me that the P1.A should be out sometime, but might be a while - as Stuart @scautomoton said, The real P1.A WG763 has been moved from Manchester to the Boscome Down Aviation Collection which is not far from me, might have to pop along and view the real thing. The BDAC is a really great little museum, well worth a visit if you're over this side of the pond.
Cheers,
Charlie
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First attempt at the cockpit. It just wasn't going to do
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Smash moulded a new cockpit coaming
Gun sight and radar tube added to the coaming. New instrument panel and side consoles. These are from the Sword Lightning F.1 / F.2, a nice kit which I will make (one day
) as an F.1, so I didn't need the F.2 i/p. The Sword PE parts are made by Eduard (I think) who as usual got the colour wrong. Repainted in Dark Admiralty Grey. Barracuda Mk.4 ejection seat 
. Scratched control column. Some bits and bobs and bobs behind the seat. I think it will look OK.
My understanding is that F.2As either have Firestreak missiles or cannons, not both. But a very useful photo (found in Bill @Navy Bird Lightning build) showed that the F.2A I'm building XN793 did have low fuselage 30mm cannons, or the holes at least.
Photo Macks Aviation Photography. Used with permission.
So I had to drill the holes;
And the pitot tube base added.
I know, I know - there's no wheel well. You can only do so much in a restoration build.
Charlie
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Friends visiting from NZ have left for more adventures in Europe, so managed a bit of progress.
The rotor head assembled. It's not super detailed, but the FROG people did a pretty good job of capturing its main salient details, and it went together well. Needs painting, Dark Admiralty Grey unless someone says different.
Undercarriage assembled. The wheels are aftermarket Reskit parts, beautifully made. Steps and flotation tank added. The ball is Milliput, rolled by hand, needs a bit more detail and a warning triangle (if I can find one small enough in the decal stash). Rear u/c support has holes drilled.
Not sure if the various metal grills were painted or not?
The rear rotor mechanism is nowhere near as good as the main rotor head. Going to have to think about it and decide whether it's worth modifying, and if I can. It looks a bit complicated for 1/72!
The exhausts drilled out.
Engine grill on the front added.
Windscreen placed to check fit. You may notice the missing bit. Very thin plastic that didn't survive the masking/painting. I'll have to add a bit there. The roof has a central panel (which won't be very visible).
Charlie
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8 hours ago, S-boat 55 said:
You can add me.ti the list for this one, I've been itching to build a mosquito
Thanks @S-boat 55 - you're added.
4 hours ago, Roland Pulfrew said:If the dates work, I’d be happy to co-host.
4 hours ago, Roland Pulfrew said:As we are passed the magic 30, shouldn’t this GB proposal be in the Bunfight for 2025 @Enzo the Magnificent 😗🧐😇?
Hi Roland,
Thanks for your offer to co-host. That would be fantastic if the dates work for you, and it gets through the Bunfight. Looks like we're in the bunfight!
43 minutes ago, Rabbit Leader said:just wondering if any of you Mosquito experts can answer the question I posed in the Post War - Aircraft section about the differences between the Airfix 1/72 B.XIV and B.35?
An interesting question Dave.
Possibly @Dave Swindell might be able to help? He's very knowledgeable about the Mosquito and helped me enormously during my recent Mk.XVIII build.
Cheers,
Charlie
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The decals, and the whole model, look absolutely great Pete. That really was a very nice looking aircraft.
Charlie
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15 hours ago, 2996 Victor said:
I read somewhere that the Seafire Mk.III was fitted with Jablo prop blades, which caused great consternation on deck during a nose-over.
Was this something to with the bits of splintered prop flying around? Not good to be in the vicinity.
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1 hour ago, PeterB said:
I might get away with the one on the top right if they don't break up. as it would be nice to use the original decs in this GB.
Certainly worth a try Pete. They're in register which is good. Old FROG decals have been OK for me.
Cheers,
Charlie
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Haven't looked in for ages Mike, so a catch-up for me. Fantastic progress! Decals look very good.
The VC10 has great memories for me. My younger days watching it come in over SW London to land at Heathrow. Then much later flying in RAF VC10s from Brize Norton to Washington on MOD business. Sitting backwards which was strange when taking off. They kept the aircon turned up (or something) to protect the airframe and when it came in to land you'd get a shower of water from above. Every time it landed at Washington Dulles airport the MOD got fined $5,000 due to the excessive noise level. Being RAF the cockpit was open and you could go up front and (if allowed) spend time in the cockpit. If there was a spare seat some even got sit in the cockpit when it landed. Never happened to me, I was too old, not good looking enough and the wrong gender!
Cheers,
Charlie
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Double Trouble - Eduard 1/72 Spitfire Mk.IX Build - Nearly there
in Work in Progress - Aircraft
Posted
Superb. Well done Sam!
Charlie