Clunkmeister

Mark, that is a SWEET kit that falls together effortlessly, until you get to the flaps. They’ll drive you to drink copious amounts of the byproduct of corn squeezin’s. Just be aware, the seat is way too wide, like almost like some areas of the cockpit were done in 1/28 scale.

Update today. Was at a concert this afternoon, then had music practice until 1900, so no building today. But, quickly assembled a couple engine mounts and hopefully tomorrow after Church I’ll close up the fuselage. Decals will be here next week and I’m not even close to being ready....

Martin, I have the P.11c. The cowl has been giving me fits. I need to build a jig. Those exhaust stubs into the collector ring are driving me insane. Typical British radial, exhausts to the wrong side of the engine....grrrrr

I’ve seen one or two ancient builds on the HPH Avia, and all seemed to fizzle and die. You gotta stick with resin, or don’t completely shelve it after you power out. I’m a sucker for Czech and Polish designs, so it’s pretty much resin for me.

I like the memorable and the unique. I have the IL-62M and Tu-154M in 1/72 scale, which is what I consider a great scale for big jetliners. 62M will be in CSA scheme, and 154M will be in their last Aeroflot colors. I’d love a 727-200 in 1/72 as well. Air Canada or American Airlines polished aluminum. Yum

Most postwar Civilian DC-3s are actually C-47s, so having the kit available is areal boon. Same with wartime Ju52s. Countless civilian schemes, but most were ex military birds.

Well, the decals being made are going to be offered commercially. Mike Belcher’s the man, and Belcher Bits should have these out in a day or two. What was originally was going to be a set of masks scaled up to 32 from his 48 decal set has now turned into a full commercial product. So you can have some too. Mike Swinburne developed the 3D files for the 3D parts and offered out of the blue to do these. I’m psyched, guys!

David, I ran a panel lines through where I needed to, but there was very little riveting to be done. My biggest concern is he exterior on this model. The interior where the windows are I left alone. Nobody’ll see it anywhere. This is such a great forum. Everyone just chillin’ out and building models.

Yup, those are certainly wasted. ugh! After seeing that, I have a few very lonely 109s on my shelf needing building...

I’ve heard the differences between Telford and the US Nationals summed up by Radu. Telford is a Gigantic Vendors Show with a competition area. US Nationals is a Massive competition with a vendors area.

Me as well. 0100 here. Time for bed.

Just to be safe, Mike. Your work is brilliant, my friend, just brilliant. I think I’ll hit them with som Mr. Surfacer 1000 tomorrow, just to be sure. I highly recommend your work, man. Outstanding!

Well Gaz, I spent a few years of my life slogging one around the north country, trying desperately not to kill myself in it, so I guess I owe the freight haulers a bit of love for allowing me to live. I just like airplanes. I have that 1/48 Ju-52 looking at me, and I’ve spent years collecting all the goodies I need to make a killer 1936 airliner

Пастухов счастлив

So, gave them a quick sanding, followed by a degrease and a shot of Tamiya extra fine.

Well, I agree with you, Gaz. 1/32 was, is, and always will be my scale. But 1/48 has its place in the depiction of larger aircraft. As for 1/72, well, I agree with you for the most part. If it’s the biggest scale available, and if it’s a huge subject, and if it’s almost impossible to see inside, (think airliners), I’ll deal with 1/72. But it had better be a 3 foot model in 1/72.....

Belfast as well. And a Valiant in 32 would be outstanding. Postwar transports and V Bombers.... oh yeah

Not sure yet Bill, but I expect I will have to do a bit of smoothing

A couple more. A Twogar! Too bad the Sea Hornet apparently has shape issues.....

Yes, we find cool kits. Plus a neat racer shows up. I guess the secret’s out. I really love Czech aircraft. That Avia is made of unobtainium and is priceless, so I’m going to do the prudent thing: BUILD THE CRAP OUT OF IT!

Got these in the mail today from a member here.

Superb build as usual, Dave. Positively Brilliant!

Thanks y'all. Building this postwar Lanc means taking more stuff off than it means putting it on. No guns, no windows, no dorsal turret, no bomb aimer, nothing. Some say it loses it's Lanc look. Not me. To me the postwar patrol planes look stellar.

Ooooh, an IL-76. Me likee. Any purpose built "civilian" freight lifter is cool with me. The Russians had the right idea; if you're going to design a freight hauler with a clean piece of paper, make it an end loader with a ramp for a forklift. Trust me when I say that side loading freight is no picnic, especially when you have a long day of flying ahead of you. Yes, the end ramp limits the appearance and configuration of the final design, making it tougher to appeal to the enlightened civilian crowd, but utility wise, they can't be beat. I missed the Bristol Freighter era in Northern Canada by several years, but the load toads still sang the praises of that clamshell load door as loudly as the crews hated on them for their lack of landing manners. Back to the early IL-76 for a moment. Those engines send shivers down my back. It reminds me of the old stovepipe turbojets on the early DC-8s and CV-880s. I get all stirred up inside.

I regularly wear a tropical style lightweight feldmutze around here instead of a baseball cap. The first one I had cost me a Canadian green wool beret when I was posted to Germany in the early and mid 80s. I've bought a new one every time it wears out. To me, they're the finest baseball style caps ever made. They're lightweight, doesn't make my head sweat, holds it's shape, and, to me the most important part is that they actually perfectly fit my big square head. IMHO, it's the best lightweight cap design ever. Plus, they're different and have just a tiny bit of attitude, having a bit of the DAK field cap look to them. Massive thread shift here...