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Dances With Wolves

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Posts posted by Dances With Wolves

  1. 7 hours ago, harv said:

    Well good to see you here. Haven't heard from you for ages. Exquisite work. Doesn't get any better than this.....harv :unworthy:

    Hi Harv.

    Thanks for that.

    I don't do much in the way of forum stuff these days regrettably; since retiring and surviving the world of work my wife and I have become amateur bat researchers, so when normal folks like you are tucked up in front of the tv (or in the modelling parlour of course), we're sat by a tree line with the Echo Meter Touch 2 'Pro' waiting for bats.

    My paramedic son has been a lifelong fan of all things tractor, so when I tripped over the Heller kit on holiday earlier this year I bought it to complete as a small display piece in his new home. I'm a dio novice, so a lovely oak stand has been ordered in for a rutted track base. ICM do a 'Henry Ford' three figure set too and the guy in denim dungarees will make a suitable driver and the engineer, the land owner - I'm a figure novice too, so lots of catching up to do.

    Hope you and yours are fine and well!

     

    TTFN

    Steve   

    • Like 3
    • Thanks 1
  2. ..with Heller's lovely (but occasionally flawed) 1/24 Ferguson TE-20, built as a 'well worn but fully functional tractor, living a dusty life in the care of a funky farmer that fancied swopping the production line grey for something more eye catching...'.

     
    The real deal was built in Coventry between 1946 until production halted in 1956. About 500,000 were built and little Fergies still earn a living today. 
     
    The steering wheel's had a bit of flat on it but this is otherwise 'it'. A great fun diversion from other things. 
     
     
    TTFN
     
    Steve

    Fergie TE 33.jpg

    Fergie TE 34.jpg

    Fergie TE 35.jpg

    Fergie TE 36.jpg

    Fergie TE 37.jpg

    Fergie TE 38.jpg

    • Like 11
    • Thanks 1
  3. Hi folks.

    Ever since gawping open mouthed at Mike Grant's lovely DH-2, in a prior issue of Airfix Model World, I've nursed an ambition to have a go at the trompe l'oeil effect Mike expertly rendered, giving the illusion of a semi translucent wing, revealing some sight of the structures within.

    The superb taube from Wingnut seemed a perfect foil to try a little French 'slight of airbrush'.

    First thing that whacks you in the kisser, when you lift the lid is the amazing moulding achievements in the wings. Backlighting here reveals the wafer thin flexing 'aileron' portion and the 'fingers' within.

    1_Stahl_Taube_IP_edited-1.jpg

     

    The tank in the forward cockpit was a fair target for abuse; here 'worn effects' liquid, some brush scrubbing and heat from a hairdryer distressed, cracked and flaked the top colour. A little clear varnish was misted over to gently 'fix' the damaged paint.

    10_Stahl_Taube_IP.jpg

     

    The fully assembled and rigged interior includes a portion of the lower fuselage. As per other WW kits it's a snug fit but correctly aligned, it all slots in.

    24_Stahl_Taube_IP_edited-1.jpg

     

    The trompe l'oeil paint, viewed from above the inverted model...

    20_Taube.jpg

     

    ...and then as nature intended.

    image.jpg

     

    The build guide had a couple of period images that revealed the 'turned' cowling in the way depicted here, so the WW methodology was bypassed for a homespun approach that mimicked the photographs without dependency on the direction of the light.

    17_Taube.jpg

     

    While the taube is a rigging junkie's dream, I recognise it may, at the same time, dissuade others from taking the plunge because of the perceived complexity. No need to fear it though, if you apply a few basic rules - rig the fuselage first, leaving the wings off until that's done / add the wings and rig the lowers first / rig the top sections / do all the rigging from the centre first, working outwards / use wire eyelets, tiny sections of brass tube and elastic rigging thread for safe, dependable lines and anchors.

    15_Taube.jpg

     

    Always a huge buzz to see your latest in print and you'll find the nine page coverage of the taube in the latest (November) issue of Airfix Model World.

    Wish you all well with your own projects! Till next time.

     

    Steve

     

    • Like 5
  4. 23 hours ago, James H said:

    The endless hours, days scraping the seams on the cockpit parts due to tooling misalignment, and the cowls. Fitting those is enough to make a saint swear. Two of these, and the second was no easier. Still, it's a kit I love, and I'd easily build another. If this was tooled by another factory instead of those clowns in India, this kit would be perfect.

    Thanks for that Jim - yes, that does sound quite reminiscent. I think I referred to the cowl sanding on my North African car door as 'industrial'. I have slider and car door production kits in the loft and will build them both eventually.

     

    I was reminded by the Tamiya 1/32 Mossie I finished recently, what accurate mould alignment looks like. No reason why Airfix can't hit that standard too and now tooling is a UK based exercise, hopefully it'll become the case. I had a chat with Matt on the design team at Telford last year and the 'other' reason for repatriating the injection bit was 'problems with the plastic'. When the canopy issues on the slider were all the rage, one of the Indian operatives remarked 'but it's only a toy aeroplane'. Stone the bleeding' crows...

     

    Steve    

    • Like 1
  5. Something wicked, this way comes...

     

    Box%20art_zps5ijonwjr.jpg

     

    A sneak peak at this stage.

     

    I had hoped, after nailing the bubble top test shot together in 2014, to have a crack at the car door, which was so plainly evidenced though the parts breakdown, when finally released.

     

    Happily in the wake of that, the boss (Chris Clifford) decided to entrust Airfix's latest big Tiffie test shot to my tender mercies and the car door project was executed over another somewhat frenetic ten week build schedule.

     

     

    Finished the Saturday before last, I confess I was very, very happy to have had the chance to navigate this mighty kit a second time. Here's an informal shot on the bench via the iPhone. I'll post 'official' tasters later in the week.

     

    I've always felt that one of the coolest things you can do with a car door Tiffie is wind down one of the windows some 2/3rds, so the starboard door was so treated and winder handles added to the doors (Airfix don't provide them). Mk.1 Productions brass flaps and exposed cannon and recoil springs, the full Airscale cockpit decals suite, Eduard brass throughout the office, HGW belts, Xtradecal markings, Radu Brinzan brass rad mesh and Barracuda resin carb intake rounded out the project. 

     

    IMG_1972_zpsmf6jllux.jpg

     

    As before, I had the benefit of direct dialogue with Chris Thomas (who Airfix name as one of the key contributors on the car door release) in settling certain details relating to the markings choice.

     

    I felt the North African scheme would contrast well with the European camo on the bubble top (on display in the Airfix Visitor Centre) and I'm doubly happy that Airfix have confirmed DN323 will also go on show with my earlier Typhoon - a great privilege.

     

    The build will be included in the late summer special issue of Airfix Model World (132 pages!), due out next Thursday August 4.

     

     

    Happy days :-)

     

    Steve

     

     

    There she is!!

    That looks amazing.

    Thank you for sharing this here!

     

    Hi Jeroen - thanks for that. The car door's my favourite I have to say, quirky and quintessentially British and with a door flung wide you get to see the whole cockpit... 

     

    Holy damn Steve!

     

    Loving that scheme too. I have one on order from Airfix for review and build. That really has got me excited. 

     

    Cheers Jim - I look forward to seeing your car door on the flight line; it'll be another cracker for sure. :-)

    I'm doing both days of SMW this year - you going?

     

    :unworthy: :unworthy: :unworthy:

     

    Cheers Mike - but truly; I'm not worthy...

     

    Fantastic build, even judging by only just one pic :)

    That cardoor has that look of not being sure what to be, a prewar aircraft or a fully grown WWII classic.

    But it has lots and lots of character.

    Thanks for sharing.

    Cees

     

    Hi Cees - much appreciated.

     

    That looks amazing, didnt even know they were in desert camo.

     

    Cheers Bevan.

     

    Hi Bevan. Thanks for the nod. Yes, three went to North Africa to trial sand filtration with 451 Squadron RAAF...but not the three originally selected! Chris Thomas emptied out his image archive for DN323 for me. I believe his accompanying article covers off all this.

     

    TTFN

     

    Steve 

    • Like 1
  6. Something wicked, this way comes...

     

    Box%20art_zps5ijonwjr.jpg

     

    A sneak peak at this stage.

     

    I had hoped, after nailing the bubble top test shot together in 2014, to have a crack at the car door, which was so plainly evidenced though the parts breakdown, when finally released.

     

    Happily in the wake of that, the boss (Chris Clifford) decided to entrust Airfix's latest big Tiffie test shot to my tender mercies and the car door project was executed over another somewhat frenetic ten week build schedule.

     

     

    Finished the Saturday before last, I confess I was very, very happy to have had the chance to navigate this mighty kit a second time. Here's an informal shot on the bench via the iPhone. I'll post 'official' tasters later in the week.

     

    I've always felt that one of the coolest things you can do with a car door Tiffie is wind down one of the windows some 2/3rds, so the starboard door was so treated and winder handles added to the doors (Airfix don't provide them). Mk.1 Productions brass flaps and exposed cannon and recoil springs, the full Airscale cockpit decals suite, Eduard brass throughout the office, HGW belts, Xtradecal markings, Radu Brinzan brass rad mesh and Barracuda resin carb intake rounded out the project. 

     

    IMG_1972_zpsmf6jllux.jpg

     

    As before, I had the benefit of direct dialogue with Chris Thomas (who Airfix name as one of the key contributors on the car door release) in settling certain details relating to the markings choice.

     

    I felt the North African scheme would contrast well with the European camo on the bubble top (on display in the Airfix Visitor Centre) and I'm doubly happy that Airfix have confirmed DN323 will also go on show with my earlier Typhoon - a great privilege.

     

    The build will be included in the late summer special issue of Airfix Model World (132 pages!), due out next Thursday August 4.

     

     

    Happy days :-)

     

    Steve

    • Like 7
  7. Hi folks:

     

     

    As a postscript to this one, I wrote to Captain Brown on April 5, having located his whereabouts.

     

    Roscoe%20Letter%205%20April%202016_zpszt

     

     

     

    Roscoe kindly signed the AMW USAAF special issues I'd sent him and returned them with a personal endorsement. 

     

    USAAF%201_zpsvjvjnrrr.jpg

     

     

    USAAF%202_zpscjtoubft.jpg

     

     

    I expressed my gratitude by forwarding a few small gifts to Roscoe (which he wasn't expecting) and a while later there was a soft plunk on the door mat when this arrived.

     

     

    Roscoe%20Photo_zpsdpe8ooae.jpg

     

     

    The passage of time makes contact with veterans from WWII an increasingly rare opportunity now but I'm happy beyond measure to have had the chance to correspond with one of my heroes and receive his approval for my personal tribute.

     

    I was reminded of the increasing rate our veterans are leaving us early this month when I received news that sadly, Roscoe died on July 2 and has joined his Tuskegee comrades who passed before him.

     

    I wish Roscoe blue skies with the sun on his back. He was 94.

     

     

    Steve 

    • Like 1
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