Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted January 10, 2022 Author Share Posted January 10, 2022 (edited) 3 hours ago, VT Red Sox Fan said: Dennis, glad to see you back--really liking this build--you inspired to pull out my F6Fs for my next build! One question and sorry if I missed the run down--how did you work the weapons bay panel shading on the wings--your dark blue finishes are highly effective! Looking forward to the Avenger, best, Erwin Hello Erwin, I sprayed my base coat of Gloss sea blue. Then for the fading I add a few drops (3-5 maybe 7). It all depends on how light I want it. Then i just spray the panels a lighter shade of the blue into the specific panels. Less on metal more on fabric. Fabric always seemed to fade faster than metal. The beauty of it is if you overdo it just respray the dark gloss blue. These planes were touched up for corrosion control often. So they get a very patchy appearance. It still happens to this day. Take a look at F-18’s or Harriers on ships after they've been at sea for months. They're 20 shades of grey. Dennis Edited January 10, 2022 by Corsairfoxfouruncle 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookenbacher Posted January 12, 2022 Share Posted January 12, 2022 Great stuff Dennis! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted January 19, 2022 Author Share Posted January 19, 2022 Hello everyone … I was finally able to make a start on these tonight. Started with the Curtiss Helldiver. The only gap was minor at the front of the bomb bay, and along the seam between the two crew positions. The rest can be taken care of with some minor filling and sanding. The bomb bay gap was slim enough I though sheet plastic. However I miss placed my stash of it during the move. I remembered an old school trick and used an index card cut to shape. Once in position it was soaked with C/A. Some minor filler and it’ll be good. Please feel free to ask questions, post comments or add thoughts. Dennis PS - Hopefully I can start the Grumman tonight. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookenbacher Posted January 19, 2022 Share Posted January 19, 2022 23 minutes ago, Corsairfoxfouruncle said: I remembered an old school trick and used an index card cut to shape. Nice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted January 19, 2022 Author Share Posted January 19, 2022 7 minutes ago, Cookenbacher said: Nice! It has the added benefit of covering the gap at the front of the bomb bay. Not that thats going to be an issue, as Im leaving the doors closed. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted January 19, 2022 Author Share Posted January 19, 2022 Good morning everyone .. Well the Avenger is moving now. I was able to get the entire interior built up and painted. According to this website. https://www.ipmsstockholm.org/magazine/2004/05/stuff_eng_interior_colours_us_part3.htm The interior colors are bronze green for the cockpit, interior green everywhere else except inside the cowling. And Grumman grey for the cowling. Then I did the instruments. And last but not least the big old hunk of steel out front. I did get a little more on the Helldiver as well, drilled out the exhausts. Also did my first wave of sanding on the seams. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted January 20, 2022 Author Share Posted January 20, 2022 Good morning everyone … Well the Avenger is catching up. The fuselage is intact and looking good. The seams on this are pretty good. Nothing a little sanding, filing, and filling wont handle. Please feel free to ask questions, post comment's or add thoughts. Dennis 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
giemme Posted January 20, 2022 Share Posted January 20, 2022 Nice progress all round, Dennis The Avenger is looking menacing, already Ciao 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted January 21, 2022 Author Share Posted January 21, 2022 Hello everybody … wings day today and Im impressed by Hasegawa’s wing build-up. I was thinking while working on this, this is the first Avenger I’ve built in a long time. I think the last one I did was the medium blue plastic 1/48th monogram kit in High-school circa 1988. This one is way better all around. Funny thing is I went to test fit the bomb bay doors, and they fit so well I couldn't pull the two apart again. So did the right thing and just glued it in place. Please feel free to ask questions, post comments or add thoughts. Dennis 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted January 21, 2022 Author Share Posted January 21, 2022 Good morning everyone … Time to mount the Curtiss Helldiver wings. Now being this is a very old Airfix kit with foldable wings, I knew that would be an issue when I bought the kit. However I formulated a plan and it worked as expected. First step was to build up the outer wings. Then I added a serious spar in each wing so the outer panels wouldn't droop. Once the had set I used C/A to set the spars and a combination of tube cement and Tamiya extra thin. I find in situations where there will be a serious amount of flexing the old fashioned tube type glues are still the best. The Tamiya and C/A can be too brittle. You will note in the port wing a wee tiny white square. Thats strip plastic cut and sandwiched to replace the original blue tab from the out wing panel. I think were good on wing straightness ↕️ what do you think ? Added the stabs also at this time. Not quite as good as the Avenger but the bomb bay doors almost a drop in fit but with some minor gaps. Oh and no the spars aren't in the gear bays in case anyone was curious. Next up is the gaps and filling sanding stage. Please feel free to ask questions, post comments or add thoughts. Dennis 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
giemme Posted January 21, 2022 Share Posted January 21, 2022 Clever job with the Helldiver wings, Dennis The Avenger is looking mighty fine too, with wings on Ciao 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookenbacher Posted January 21, 2022 Share Posted January 21, 2022 It's amazing how sleek both of these monsters appear when viewed from head on, but back to being beasts when viewed from any other angle. I can't wait to see them both next to your Essex Corsair and Hellcat. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted January 21, 2022 Author Share Posted January 21, 2022 45 minutes ago, Cookenbacher said: It's amazing how sleek both of these monsters appear when viewed from head on, but back to being beasts when viewed from any other angle. I can't wait to see them both next to your Essex Corsair and Hellcat. I wonder does anyone make a 1/72 deck crew ? I know I can get a deck base, not so sure about crew and equipment. They would look good together parked on a wooden deck. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted February 21, 2022 Author Share Posted February 21, 2022 Good afternoon everyone … My apologies for such a long delay in posts. Unfortunately Ive had a family situation occur at the end of January and its slowed my work down. However I’ve been doing what I can when I can and the last four-five days have opened up. So much so that I have done almost all of the painting on all 11 of my builds. So without much more of my lonely babbling. All markings so far are painted on both builds, first up is Grumman’s B.A.B. And now the Curtiss HellDiver. Seeing as the engine in this Airfix kit is molded in, I decided it would be easier to paint after the main camouflage. This way I didn't need to mask it. And finally a family photo of the two together. Please feel free to ask questions, post comments or add thoughts. Dennis 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
giemme Posted February 22, 2022 Share Posted February 22, 2022 Painted markings looking the biz, Dennis! Neat job all round! Ciao 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted February 22, 2022 Share Posted February 22, 2022 Nice work, mate 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookenbacher Posted February 26, 2022 Share Posted February 26, 2022 The markings look awesome Dennis! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted February 27, 2022 Author Share Posted February 27, 2022 2 hours ago, Cookenbacher said: The markings look awesome Dennis! Decals should start this week, clear coat is on and drying. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdrianMF Posted February 27, 2022 Share Posted February 27, 2022 Nice progress on both. The Avenger is massive - I walked around one in a museum in Florida and it was huuuge. I didn’t realise how big the Helldiver was until I saw your picture above. When I built the Airfix kit in the 1960s all I can remember is trying to get the orange stripe to cover up the dark blue plastic and not quite succeeding! Regards, Adrian 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted February 27, 2022 Author Share Posted February 27, 2022 1 hour ago, AdrianMF said: Nice progress on both. The Avenger is massive - I walked around one in a museum in Florida and it was huuuge. I didn’t realise how big the Helldiver was until I saw your picture above. When I built the Airfix kit in the 1960s all I can remember is trying to get the orange stripe to cover up the dark blue plastic and not quite succeeding! Regards, Adrian Yeah they're big, I got to sit in one when I volunteered at a Museum in the 90’s. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VT Red Sox Fan Posted February 28, 2022 Share Posted February 28, 2022 Dennis, just catching up—impressive—thank you for your dark blue weathering tips earlier—thanks for posting this incredible work—best, Erwin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted February 28, 2022 Author Share Posted February 28, 2022 7 minutes ago, VT Red Sox Fan said: Dennis, just catching up—impressive—thank you for your dark blue weathering tips earlier—thanks for posting this incredible work—best, Erwin Always happy to help or pass on info, better I write it down than forget it in the deep dark voids of my memory. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted March 4, 2022 Author Share Posted March 4, 2022 Good morning everyone … Had a little tome tonight so did what few decals I have for these two. First up is the Grumman or Eastern Avenger. To be 100% accurate this should have a little white 309 on each side of the cowling. However since I have nothing in my spares the correct size It’ll have to just be this. And now the Curtiss Hell-diver. Now photo shows that this plane had a clean fuselage other than Stars & Bars and main #. Oddly enough both aircraft are in the 300 series just like both fighters were in the 100 series. Please feel free to ask questions, post comments or add thoughts. Dennis 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted March 26, 2022 Author Share Posted March 26, 2022 Good morning everybody … Into the final stages of this build. Ive added landing gear and canopies to the Avenger. I will need to paint it tomorrow and add some antennas, rockets, and pitot yet. I did a modification and opened up the seat for the gunner. Sadly I forgot to photograph it before I closed everything up. Dennis 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark.au Posted March 26, 2022 Share Posted March 26, 2022 Very nice! Those Essex AVG 83 tri-colours look damn nice, and this is no exception. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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