Peterpools

Jeff Right with you 100%

Martin Yup, the best TV shows ever and the greatest decade to grow up in. B&W and you used your imagination to fill in the color.

Jeff How true ... nothing like the TV shows of the early 1950's and I try to watch a good number each week. Since deciding to change directions for the GB and build the Songbird, I've done a lot of online research, watched video's and lots of TV episodes online. For me this GB as now become a wonderful journey back in time.

Thanks Guy very much appreciated. Finally closing in on crossing the finish line.

Hi Carl Welcome aboard and welcome to the 1950's. Hopefully should be starting by the end of next week as the Jug will be across the finish line.

Phil Most likely it was never broadcasted outside the states it was such a big part of my childhood, as our generation was the first to grow up with tv and tv grew up with us.

Thanks Rob We grew up with such iconic B&W TV shows in the early 50's as: Sky King, The Lone Ranger, Rin Tin Tin and the Honeymooners. Just a magical time. Yup. way cooler then a Tomcat and every time I see the box, I can almost hear the announcer saying: Out of the clear blue western sky ... Hope I'm close)

Rob Test fitting surely shows what a beauty she will be, and the tolerances are as tight as Tamiya, every spec of paint will need to be removed for a good, clean fit.

Mark WOW, some mighty nice progress.

Scott I've also been using a lot of AK Real Color paints as I'm always finding it hard to find the MRP colors I need. AKRC shoot beautifully when thinned 1:1 with Self Leveling Thinner.

Carl Happy New Year. Some mighty nice progress.

Dave Great choice and a completely unique subject. Will be following all the way.

Earnie Looking mighty good.

Martin Not exactly sure what is causing your H&S Infinity issues and same as Rob, I have their reamer and it does help when needed. I also use their brush set to clean out any nasties inside the AB and that should help remove anything disturbing the air flow. I once had a problem similar to yours and found soaking the tip parts in lacquer thinner and then using the reamer did the trick for me. Anytime I needed to replace a tip or needle, I always bought it as a matched set. One bad thing about H&S, parts are super expensive. Hope this helps.

Thanks Mike In a big way after you decided on the Sikorsky, I knew I needed to build some as cool and different, as the Tomcat just wouldn't do. The Jug should be done this coming week and then it's time to get to work on the Song Bird. Doing online research, there is a lot of information on the Cessna itself both military and GA, but not a lot on the Song Bird. Trying to locate the PE set from the Czech model before the Squadron issued the kit without it.

Thanks Jeff Surely going to be a nostalgic and fun build. I don't think I ever missed an episode as well ... just wonderful memories.

Thanks Mike, the checkerboard nose had its moments - just glad it's done and I'm now in the home stretch.

Seeing there are so many creative entries and mine entry was only going to be the Tamiya 1/48 F-14, I thought I need to pick up my game. First I thought of doing a more challenging entry, the new HK 1/48 B-25J Strafer. I was getting ready to change my entry and then I found this gem in my not very local hobby shop - just happen to be in that neck of the woods this morning. We Baby Boomers grew up with the birth of TV and so many of our shows have become classics and one of the classics was Sky King and his Song Bird. I found a long out of production Squadron Encore model of the Bamboo Bomber and one of the decals choices is for Sky King's Songbird. This kit lacks the colorful PE set of the Czech kit but I can live with that. So, without further adieu, I present Sky King's first Songbird.

Thanks Rob, so very much appreciated. Just a lot of slow and careful work, plus a lot of slicing and dicing ... but in the end all looks well.

Thanks Chris I had the same issues with the EagleCal Decals for Big Beautiful Doll many years ago and wound up cutting them into strips to get a good but not great fit. As soon as I started the checkerboard decals, I knew I was in trouble as finding both the exact starting point and being square to the cowl flap line was going to be a problem. What I wound up doing is cutting a lot of clits in the checkerboard and working each section in place with a lot of Micro Set and Sol. Some touch up work was needed and, in the end, it looked pretty good.

Thanks Hubert very much appreciated. Just hard to believe how long it took to do the decal work.

Thanks John, much appreciated. Getting close to seeing the finish line.

DECALING DONE Bench time has been somewhat sparse the past few weeks, as doctor appointments and scheduled procedures for my wife and myself have occupied a good portion of our time. The last few modeling sessions, I was able to finish the remaining air brush work, including the clear gloss for decaling with Tamiya X22. The kit decals are by Cartograf and for the life of me they seem to have a different feel then other Cartograf decals I’ve used in the past. They feel a little stiffer and seem to have more of a matte finish. All the decals went down without a hitch except the checkerboard nose set of five individual sections. The top and two other sections had dash lines in front of decal on the paper and I thought they were for helping locate the decals, as there aren’t any precise, easy to locate points. It turns out they indicate cut lines you need to make to allow the decals conform. I used a lot more then indicated and even cut a few when they were on the Jug and still had fit issues as I went along. I’m pretty sure since I struggled getting the cowl on, it may have been a tiny bit out of alignment and the start of the checkerboard decal issues. I started with the top section of the checkerboard, using the instructions painting/decal guide to locate the decal as precisely as I could. As I proceeded with each adjacent decal, the fit was off a bit more and there were gaps, which I filled in. Surely could have been designed to be a lot easier, taking into account there really wasn’t a positive starting point. Of course, it’s the builder’s fault in the end, as I had trouble with the cowl and it went downhill from there. The panel lines and control surfaces were highled with a few different panel line washes. The Big PaddleBlade Prop – painted, decaled and waiting for the PLW to pick out the details. If memory serves me correctly, when I bult the Tamiya Bubble Jug, I used the kit decals and their checkerboard nose decals - went on perfectly, no cutting and no fuss.

Martin The beginning of your weathering is looking mighty good as the bleaching is coming through load and clear. Same as with Carl, what issues are you have with your air brush?

Rob Brilliant choice and surely is going to be an epic build. Will be following with great interest as I've always longed to build a few biplanes and have never been able to cross the finish line.