Artful69

INTRODUCTION PART #1 Hi all ... One of the most annoying things in life is watching people have a great deal of fun, while standing on the outer as you're wishing you could participate (for whatever reason)! There are always Group Builds (GB's) going on ... and although my skill set is as dodgy as a $3 bill, I've always wanted to have a go - provided I have something that fits within the subject matter - which is usually not the case! This year, more than any other, has been busy as all get out and I've usually only had time to pop into the forums to check the mail and post the odd comment - never mind Group Builds, I haven't even had time to dust any kits off and fondle plastic!! ... I've watched in frustration as LSM has had no less than 3 current Group Builds that all give me an entry point ... and they all end on 31st December. Work has now changed (I was informed of this while on Annual leave with my wife-to-be in the Philippines back in November) ... and with the end of the FIFO contract work, I'm back on the road locally - which means that, along with the rest of the technicians I'm on Christmas break from Dec 24th to Jan 3rd ... which sparked an idea ... As per the below discussion thread started a couple of weeks ago: http://forum.largescalemodeller.com/topic/4272-tools-for-resin-and-photo-etch/page-1 I'm going to attempt this mission ... to build a Bf.109E-1 (1940) with a full Eduard Brassin upgrade, before the Dec 31st deadline! This build contains a number of "Firsts" for me ... * It will be my first ever public build - I've never posted my work online before ... largely because my skill set fits firmly into the beginners category ... and when you're just gawking at the amazing work of others posted online, while learning some new techniques, you're also learning how far behind the rest of the pack you really are! ... no matter - everyone has to start somewhere, right??!! * It will be the first time I have ever worked with resin - I've bought a number of resin kits (and a couple of mods) for the stash ... but apart from having a look inside the boxes, I've never touched them. * It will be the first time I've used Photo Etched metal parts this extensively - Previous metal components have been limited to brass barrels from various manufacturers and the odd sticky (self adhesive), pre coloured Photo Etch detail. In reference to my first point above, I decided that I'd document this build in detail - hopefully so that more "First Timers" or beginners will gain some understanding from my experiences on the "How To's" and gain some confidence to have a go in future. ** so bear in mind as you read AND comment that this thread is worded and targeted for BEGINNERS ** ... I mentioned above that there were 3 Group Builds going on simultaneously ... I wanted to at least have a go at the "Spitfire" GB as well so I was thinking of a simple, straight Out Of Box (OOB) build of the 1/32 Tamiya Mk.IXc ... but then I figured I might not have enough time. With the sad passing of Edgar Brooks (a leading specialist on the aircraft and an irreplaceable reference, really!) a "Tribute" Spitfire GB has started on the LSP (Large Scale Planes) forum - so even if I can't complete a build here, I'll have time to finish it off over there! Then I also thought of this resin upgrade caper, I also thought of my Hobby Boss Mk.Vb - and the HpH resin correction set I have on the shelf ... and that's when the idea was born for Build #2. There was no way I was going to have enough time to get involved in the HK Models GB ... BUT (Merry Christmas to me!) ... there's a new "HK Models Official Contest" arcing up as of January 1st - so I get another opportunity! Thanks guys - Build #3!! ... I digress ... Back to the the 109 and Build #1 ... It's Christmas Day ... and I have to do some family stuff etc ... I've run out of time for the moment ... Introduction Part #2 to follow later today! Rog

Well ... The package from Supplier 1 arrived today with the correction set and some tools ... so we're off to a good start ... Better think about setting up that build thread soonish ... 1 more working day to go, and then I'm on leave, yay! Rog

That's the beauty of this one (I think??) ... I'm not sure anyone (at least with a build thread, that is) has used it before!! I'll have to wait till I get it and cut/clean the parts for assembly before I decide exactly how to proceed ... I have a couple of ideas I'd like to look at (One involving spare Tamiya magnets from an old P-51D build) ... further musings about the what, when and how, I'll stick on the build thread. BTW ... that link to your efforts for ease of access will be appreciated. Rog

John ... With the upgrade - I'm thinking this won't be an issue anymore ... http://www.eduard.com/store/Eduard/Bf-109E-1-32-1.html Especially since the above comes with a new resin cowl!! Now that bit ... I didn't remember seeing! ... Don't worry - If I run into any difficulty in the build, I'll be throwing the "really obvious clarifying questions" out there ... there's a couple of Eduard Bf109E-1 build threads I remember seeing around the place ... I saw a nifty simple fix (gap fill and scribe) for the oversized leading wing edge slats somewhere ... so that's the sort of thing I'll be trying to emulate ... maybe some paint mixing and weathering too! Rog

Hi everyone ... I wanted to thank you all for your input - and let you know how I got on ... I've done a double order - through two Aussie suppliers (ex-east). As you can probably understand, I had to keep the order local in order to have any chance at all - of getting the gear before the Christmas break. Hell ... As it is - some of it may not be here at all during the break, but I've given it a red hot crack! ... I'm going to have to improvise with some of it - No-one has any RB stuff in stock ... One of the suppliers rang the morning after I did the order to tell me they hadn't got the CA glue applicator, that I ordered from them, in stock! ... helpful hint from the IPMS sales dude on the phone? - use bamboo skewers from the local supermarket?!? ... Well ... it's worth a crack, I guess! Mission Impossible: Build, to completion, a Bf109E-1 (Probably using the Eduard Profimodeler kit in the stash) with the BigSin upgrade ... Hopefully, during the period I'm on break (24th Dec to 3rd Jan - inclusive) I've never posted a build thread anywhere before ... partly to avoid criticism of my retarded building skills - I'm seriously deficient when compared to the majority of builds posted online. I've never done anything exciting like pre-shading ... never played with resin ... weathering has been pretty much none existent and I tend to use my Tamiya acrylics straight from the bottle (excepting thinners) with no colour modulation - so nothing is ever 100% as it should be. I see plenty of scratch, resin and PE work online ... but it mainly comes across like "... and this is what I did." -> posted as a fait accompli instead of showing the entire process used. I, therefore use the forums to - A / Find out about new products, B / Buy products I'm chasing and C/ Ogle everyone else's work. **Edit** - I just read this part after posting - and it looks a bit too critical and arrogant ... I've actually learned quite a bit from forums, really ... An example of what I'm talking about above, would go like this: Joe has a build thread for a resin model kit ... a wing-half, out of the kit box, is discovered to be out of shape ... some sort of warping. He mentions that it's no drama ... He's just stuck it in some hot water for a while ... the wing returned to it's original mould shape. Ta-Da! ... Ok ... So ... What was the water temperature when you inserted it? ... Was the Water "held" at the same temperature during the process? (i.e. under heat?) ... For how long was the item inserted ... What consistency was the Item when it was removed from the water ... When did it "return" to it's correct shape - during or after? So this will be my FIRST EVER online build ... And although I'd like to label it "Modelling for Retards - adding enhancements" ... I don't think that is PC enough. But it will be something, I hope, to encourage those with a "beginners" skill set - by showing all my "first time" efforts online ... and posting a bucketload of really obvious clarifying questions (that most experienced builders would know the answers to). Here's a "shopping list" of all the gear currently incoming ... From Contestant number 1: * Super Detail-Up Resin parts for 1/32 BF109E - Eduard BigSin * Photo Etch Workstation - The 5.5 (5 Speed) Hold and Fold Works. * Tamiya Thin Blade Craft Saw (2 blades) * CMK Saw Blades 5 Pcs - 2 Sided (Ultra Smooth and Extra Smooth) * CMK Saw Blade Handle * Diamond File set 3 Pcs From Contestant number 2: * Tamiya Paint Stirrer * Tamiya Modelling Scissors ... [PE Specific] * Zap-A-Gap - 5 Minute Quick Set Epoxy - 4 oz * Zap-A-Gap - Cyanoacrylic Thick Viscosity Slo Dry - 2 oz * Zap-A-Gap - Debonding Agent For Cyanoacrylic - 30 ml * Zap-A-Gap - Kicker - 2 oz * Zap-A-Gap - Canoacrylic Medium Viscosity - 2 oz * Zap-A-Gap - Flexi Tips (24 pk) ... [these things are some sort of flexible applicator] Cheers for now ... Rog

I looked this one up (always ready to look at something new!) ... The JB site is telling me that JB Quick Weld is epoxy?! Rog

Thanks John ... Any Idea about the glues brands to look for? ... Or the accelerator? ... What is Future? Rog

Thank you James and George!! I've found the Small Tools section on the site I'm purchasing from and they have RB gear too ... Found some diamond files also They have a whole bunch of glues ... is there a list of particular brands that are decent (Googled, and not sure we have Devcon in Australia) - I know from experience that some are just not worth the bother! ... I've used some really cheap 'thin' CA in the past - for brass stuff ... but the only epoxy I've used before is Araldite, which was a 24 hour proposition. Cheers Rog

Hi all ... I need some help here. Due to the company I work for shutting down over Christmas/New Year, I'm looking to do something a little more ambitious than the average OOB build. I wanted to have a crack at a Bf109E with Eduards BigSin resin and photo etch set. Since my AM work has been limited to Master barrels and some decals in the past, I have no idea what I need in order to do this work ... I remember various people taking about sanding, different glues, saws, bending tools etc ... but I don't really have any idea where to begin. I have the BigSin set lined up for purchase ... but I'd like to add the tools etc to the cart before finalising. Thanks in advance ... Rog

You forgot 'D - All of the above' ;) lol ... Rog

Am sworn to secrecy, but they've another American built twin on the way (NOT the C.47/DC.3!) ... I can tell you - I cannot wait for this one!! ... a bigger manufacturer SHOULD have tackled it - and HpH should make some serious dough of it ... even at their prices! Rog

Did you grab the bus's rego plate details? (the one you were thrown under?) ... you may be able to recover some of the cost in accident claims! Rog

Thanks for the heads up ... Just saw this ... I hope these aren't just musings in pictures ... I would LOVE one of these! Rog

Thanks Mike ... Been waiting for this one! ... Reveal kit parts always looked a little off to me ... These 'Reaver' corrections are a work of art - for both kits! Rog

I'll expect a report on your thoughts after eyeballing the resin up close!! Rog

Go the 'Man-Flu' ... ham it up ... you'll be right ;) Looks like there's some Walrus references in there! Rog

Camouflage ... and money laundering! Rog

HpH advertising the Ta.154 kit now on their website: http://www.hphmodels.cz/index.php/en/news/item/365-focke-wulf-ta-154-moskito Rog

And now ... Some formal advertising from HpH ... http://www.hphmodels.cz/index.php/en/news/item/365-focke-wulf-ta-154-moskito Rog

Yes I saw Heinz' example ... lucky so-and-so! He's generally my main source of HpH information, what with him seeing Jiri and Mirek all the time! Rog

First Pics of the kit ... Thanks to Heinz over on LSP http://forum.largescaleplanes.com/index.php?showtopic=28641&page=64 Nice eh? Rog

First Pic's of the Ta.154 ... Courtesy of Heinz over on LSP http://forum.largescaleplanes.com/index.php?showtopic=28641&page=64 Typical HpH detail ... yum! Rog

Er ... possibly? ... I don't know much about the type. I think they're talking about a Dakota? ... From what I've heard, this is going to be one of the higher priced ones though?! ................... The un-named American twin I'm referring to hasn't been announced yet - still in development ... Rog

... As you wish ... http://www.eduard.com/store/en/eduard/brassin/fw-190f-8-engine-1-32.html?cur=2 Rog

'nuff said! ... will be on display at Telford! I knew about this quite a few months ago ... but was sworn to secrecy. Announced now ... so getting excited! Rog