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danbuoy

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Everything posted by danbuoy

  1. Quick update before I'm off on holiday for 2 weeks. Got the anti glare panel, the red panels on the inner wings, and the black area on the fuselage spine masked off and painted. Also elected to paint the wing tips, as I'm not sure how well the decals would have worked. Also got the main undercarriage ready to install; I don't understand why the Italeri kit has a small gap on top of the fuselage, just before the tail, and also why they provide a clear part to fill it, when this area is all metal.
  2. Thanks @TheyJammedKenny!, that's really interesting, especially about the training with the security forces and the alternative exits off the base, should the main ones be blocked. It must have been a constant battle against the protesters, and a source of pretty constant irritation.
  3. Greenham Common is very much somewhere I want to visit if I'm ever down that way. The GAMA compound was also the location of the Resistance base in Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
  4. Wow, can't believe how quickly this group build has come around! I'd like to enter with this; An (in)famous part of USAFE, controversially based at Greenham Common and Molesworth in the 1980s. It'll be something a bit different to join my USAFE collection anyway! The decision to house US BGM-109G Gryphon Ground Launched Cruise Missiles at UK bases led to huge protests, and especially at Greenham Common, the establishment of a women's peace camp. This actually stayed (in diminishing numbers) until 2000, despite the last missiles leaving in 1991, and the base itself closing two years later. I've not visited Greenham Common yet, but I have been to Molesworth, and a public bridleway borders the former GAMA (GLCM Alert and Maintenance Area), with its large, grass covered bunkers, and watch tower still in place. So, on to the kit. I'm not familiar with Model Collect, but it looks a nice kit. Not particularly common, I picked this up off Ebay for £30, a couple of years ago. Quite a few parts, considering it's 1/72! Some photo etch (eeek!!), which will be a new experience, plus some totally superfluous decals. As the truck is a MAN, I'm guessing Model Collect have done another version that was actually used by the German Army. Nice looking instructions (just a sample here, as they are fairly extensive); So, Greenham Gryphon or Molesworth Missile? Actually it doesn't really matter, as the vehicles carried absolutely no markings whatsoever. What does matter is the MERDC camouflage scheme! I've got quite a few photos of these TELs, which will help a lot. Won't be getting started for a few weeks anyway, as I've got two other GB builds underway, plus we're on holiday for the first two weeks of April!
  5. I'd like to enter with this please; Bought a few years ago, along with the Airfix Curtiss Tomahawk, each costing me the princely sum of £2.49! The Mustang is my all time favourite aircraft, and many moons ago I built the Matchbox and Academy 1/72 P-51Ds, so it will be interesting to see what this much newer kit is like. It certainly looks nice upon initial inspection; Mine actually came with two sets of decals; This RAF scheme is nice, but its not how this one will be finished. Back in 1995, when I built the previous two Mustang kits, I had just started to get interested in the Eighth Air Force, and, whilst on holiday in Suffolk, had recently visited my first old airfield, which happened to be Leiston. Ever since then, Leiston has been a bit of a special place for me. Ended up visiting Hannants, and buying some Repli-Scale "Yoxford Boys" decals. The Matchbox kit was finished as "Old Crow", and the Academy as "Glamorous Glen III", which leaves me with these options: I'm thinking of going for "Missouri Armada". The decal instructions show this as an early model D, but I consulted this; There is a photo of Missouri Armada showing it with the fin fillet. The serial number given on the decal sheet (414709) is not amongst those listed at the rear of the book, however 414789 is, which is only 1 digit different. Using other numbers on the sheet, I can cobble together the right number for the model. Time to saddle up and get started!
  6. Nose stuffed with pieces of lead sheet, stuck together and attached, along with the wings and horizontal stabilisers. Canopy and undercarriage next.
  7. Well, now my 2 Matchbox ships have sailed over the horizon after the KUTA group build, its time to drag this up off the third page! Actually started on it last week, but felt my progress wasn't really worthy of an update! Now got the fuselage together, and assembled the wings. Cockpit detail is sparse to say the least, but the masking tape harness at least adds a slight bit of interest. First time I've tried doing that, but will definitely do it on future builds if I'm not using the pilot. Next step is sorting 10 grams of weight for the compartment inside the intake.
  8. That's annoying about Humbrol discontinuing 163 spray cans. I've used a few of those myself on my USAF vehicles project. Plus I've noticed that 163 from a tin is a noticeably darker shade, so both types can't be used on one model.
  9. Thanks for that, yes I suddenly thought I'd better check which way round the torpedo tubes should be. Luckily, they aren't glued in place, so it was easy to swivel them round. I didn't know about the purpose of the pillbox type structure, but that explains why only one set of TT's has one. Thanks, it was tricky to mask in places, but I'm really pleased with the result!
  10. The three that didn't make it! Indianapolis was completed last year, but San Diego and Fletcher have just been finished as part of the latest KUTA group build! Roll on Salty Sea Dog II!
  11. Finally got round to finishing San Diego, thanks to the annual KUTA group build!
  12. And nearly 11 months later, courtesy of a KUTA group build, Fletcher is finally finished!
  13. And to accompany San Diego, this is the Matchbox 1/700 USS Fletcher, finished in her 1942 camouflage. Quite fiddly in places, but overall I have to say I really like these Matchbox ship kits. Thanks for hosting, looking and encouraging, and see you in the next KUTA!
  14. Wow, a whole day still to go, and here I am in the gallery of a KUTA group build! Here's the first of my two pieces of plastic flotsam which were both lost at sea after the Salty Sea Dog group build from early last year. Think in both cases it was the camouflage that was putting me off! This is the Matchbox 1/700 USS San Diego. Built out of the box, and finished in her 1944 Measure 31a/24d scheme (a faff to mask and paint, though I do like the result). Link to WIP:
  15. A final shot of both San Diego and Fletcher before its off to the gallery. Well, OK, not quite a final shot as I couldn't resist one including the Matchbox USS Indianapolis I finished last year (another one started, but not finished in the Salty Sea Dog group build!).
  16. Fletcher is finally finished! Camouflage was quite fiddly to paint in places, but I do think it lifts the model. Will get some gallery photos for both San Diego and Fletcher this weekend!
  17. San Diego now done! Will get her properly photographed soon, and into the gallery. All bits now attached to Fletcher; For ships that weighed less than one of Yamato's main turrets, the Fletcher class sure did pack a punch. The forward torpedo tubes would not fit behind the funnel, so I decided to angle them outwards along with D and E turrets. Gives the model a bit more attitude anyway. The 6 secondary guns were a real fiddle but most other bits went on OK. Just paint touch ups and camo to go!
  18. Virtually there now with San Diego. Turrets, lifeboats, masts and all other bits now attached. Just needs a few tiny touch ups on the deck, then we're done! Have started to turn my attention to USS Fletcher. Got the lifeboats and davits fitted which were a real faff, as they are at different angles, and one on each side is very close to the bridge wings. Still, they are on now, as is one set of torpedo tubes. Few more bits to attach, then some touch ups, then it's irregular camouflage time!
  19. Yes, I've always liked the look of them with the long flush deck, and the 6 turrets in a line. The Dido class were the RN's equivalent, so yes, it would be interesting to compare the two, though I'm not aware if anyone does one in 1/700.
  20. Been getting quite a bit more done on San Diego. Got the superstructure attached, and most of the other fittings. The instructions really aren't very clear regarding the pipes on the funnel rears, so I referred to the photos in the Atlanta class cruisers book. The parts provided by Matchbox aren't enough for the full length on the forward funnel, so I added a piece from my spares box. Some touching up required, plus finishing off of the camouflage, then need to add the lifeboats, masts, anchors and of course all 8 turrets.
  21. I'm just trying to get a bit more done on my two Matchbox ships in the KUTA group build, then I'll get started on my Thunderstreak. Washed the sprues last week, so it's all set!
  22. I'm using this same set of Microscale decals, they look great, but do they have a reputation for disintegrating?
  23. I would like to enter with this please; As well as the Eighth Air Force, I have a very big interest in USAFE, especially those aircraft based in the UK, and in particular the 81st FBW/TFW at Bentwaters/Woodbridge. Must have had something to do with all those A-10s we saw flying over our campsite in Suffolk in the 80s and early 90s! Between diecast and plastic kits, I'd like to get a model of each of the main types operated from the twin bases. Regarding the Thunderstreak, they weren't actually flown by the 81st for that long, from 1954 to 1958, but their introduction brought a change of role to the 81st from air defence to tactical nuclear strike. They were replaced by F-101 Voodoos. My kit was bought, appropriately enough, from Bentwaters Cold War Museum in 2017, on their 10th anniversary open day. A couple of years ago, I finally managed to get a set of Microscale decals for Bentwaters Thunderstreaks, which came from France and cost more than the kit! So, here are the sprues. Some pieces have become detached, but they are all there; Instructions; And here is the Microscale decal sheet. They look very eye catching, although that is a lot of stencils too! I think I will be going for the red markings from the 78th Fighter-Bomber Squadron "Bushmasters". The decal instructions aren't great; So, I had a look on Scalemates, and downloaded the instructions for the Hobby Boss 1/48 version which has the same markings; I quite fancy picking up a cheap Airfix F-84F, which would enable me to do a double build, and compare it directly to the Italeri kit, and it would also let me use the 91st FBS markings too! I'll see what I can find, but I'd like to get some progress on this one first!
  24. Well, not brilliant, but could have gone a lot worse; A few small touch ups required, plus there was one small area that I masked off, then stupidly painted the wrong side of the tape! Have painted over this now, and will try again next time!
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