Too Many Irons In The Fire

[pennausamike]

This is proof that I have too many distractions. I like to have a bunch of projects going in a number of different areas of interest so that I can work on whatever strikes my fancy at the time. That was OK when I was finishing 3 or 4 kits a year because even though I had a lot of "in-progress" projects, at least they were always changing. But, I've been in a two-year builder's slump (the model builder's version of writer's block).

 

My problem is that it seems like every kit has a "hump" to get over.

On the bigger level, it is a result of real-life problems sucking up all the energy that would normally go into overcoming the modeling hurdles.

 

For example, this He-219 is stuck on the sanding. And actually, I'll never buy another vac kit because I can't get beyond the sandingsandingsanding.

[pennausamike]

Or this little project, hung up on the canopy problems.

[pennausamike]

These two P-51's are so close and yet so far.

The A-36 is hung up on the dive brakes. Although I just got a little Dremel, so I'll give that a shot, shortly.

 

The P-51B is in need of markings; I want to do it as "Old Crow".

[pennausamike]

I just haven't been in the mood to work on a WWII Navy plane. I have added some detailing to the engine and the wing-fold mechanism is pieced out in the box. One of these days I'll just get a burr in my saddle to do a carrier plane. Now if I can just stay away from the Dauntless.....

[pennausamike]

And finally, I don't know WHEN I'm going to get back on a Vietnam era jet or two.

Both of these kits were picked up at close-out stores that get rid of excess inventory and out of production toys at bargain prices. I only paid $8 apiece for each of them.

 

Of course that means they both have to be extensively modified to be back-dated to Vietnam era craft.

 

The MiG-21 is going from an MMF to a PF.

The RF-4 is going to be an F-4E, complete with a Vulcan pirated out of a garage-sale Blue Thunder chopper.

 

One of these days......

[pennausamike]

One of my friends said I should just give it up and only build cockpits.

I'm not ready to go that far.

 

I'm almost inspired enough to head to the basement...

...See Ya

 

Mike

[LSP_Mike]

Mike, I feel your pain- I have some stuff I've been "working" on now for a few years. A 1/28 Fokker DVII-lozenge,streaky doped finish,checkerboard tail,P/E guns ,and wire wheels...no wait thats the problem,can't get the d#*^ wheels to come out the way they should! IT waits,lurking,on the shelf......

you know Mike your way ahead of me-I can't even compress my pics enough to post them ,soI can ***** about them! but I do have some P/E dive brakes from the '89? IPMS nats down in San Diego-would that help?

mike in calif

[Coolie]

Mike and anyone else...If you need to post pics but dont know how to make them smaller, send them to me email and ill fix and send back...only a few minutes and I love seeing the pics!

[pennausamike]

but I do have some P/E dive brakes from the '89? IPMS nats down in San Diego-would that help?

mike in calif

 

Wow! Really? Photoetch A-36 dive brakes; that is cool.

Thanks, but I'm building mine in flight, so I was going to scribe them on.

Making the slots was not going well. That is where I'm hoping the dremel will help out.

So, as generous as your offer was, I guess I'll just scrape and paint and hope for the best.

 

As far as the pics, I use the stretch and skew function of my Paint program.

That is pretty simple. Holding the cursor in the lower right-hand corner will tell you if it is small enough. If not, hit undo and try again.

 

I posted the pictures as a motivational tool. It kinda worked. I'm making a scratchbuilt 72nd scale science-fiction-y plane for my 9-year old out of stuff from my spares boxes. (Yes, that is spare parts boxes-plural.)

 

Next step, 32nd scale.

Mike

[Guest thorhammer51]

Mike- Looking Great! I am especially interested in the A-36 conversion. I would like to convert the Revell P-51B, but not sure where to start. Could you possibly drop me a line off-board to discuss that conversion, as I would like to do one.

 

Oh, and the Tony cockpit is looking great so far- I have the floor assembly and the front and rear bulkheads completely done, and am working on the seat assembly right now. I am still trying to find the best way to replicate the sidewalls, but am still not sure.

 

Also- been scratching my head to find out what I can use for rudder chains off the back of the pedals-------------

 

Anyway- keep up the GREAT WORK!

[pennausamike]

Hey thorhammer51:

 

Right now my digital camera is in Japan with my oldest boy.

But I'd be happy to post a couple of close-ups upon its return.

No need to go off-board, (I don't think).

 

My A-36 conversion took three kits; a Revell P-51B, a Hasegawa P-51D and a Revell P-40E.

I used the P-40 air intake, 3-blade prop, exhaust stacks and pilot.

I'm using two gun barrels, the bomb racks and the bombs off the Hasegawa P-51.

 

The Squadron P-51 "In Action is my main reference.

 

The main changes are:

1. The nose.

a. Attach the P-40 air intake to the cut-out P-51B engine cover and extend the intake with sheet styrene.

b. Modify the P-51B Spinner and backing plate to accept 3-blade prop and shaft from the P-40 kit.

c. Cut off the lower nose and re-shape with sheet styrene and putty.

d. I attached my Allison P-40 exhaust stacks to plates behind the (narrowed) exaust-slot-openinings. Or the Allison could be mounted in the P-51B nose.

e. Drill 2 holes to accept the .50 cal. gun barrels for the nose mounted fifties.

 

2. The belly radiator air intake needs to be cut off and reshaped to A-36 appearance.

 

3. The wings.

a. The A-36 had a unique landing light opening.

b. The bomb racks are modified Hasegawa P-51D racks; much shorter.

c. I used the 500 pound bombs from the Hasegawa P-51.

d. The A-36 had upper and lower dive brakes mounted in the wings. I'm scribing mine into the wings in the "closed" position. My ayttempt at making a set out of sheet styrene to lay flat looked like heck.

 

I didn't do any "correction" work to the Revell P-51B kit, so my conversion would probably not satisfy many of the better modelers. But even only partially complete, there is no doubt that it is an A-36 Apache.

 

I'll post a couple of pictures next weekend, hopefully.

 

Hope that helps,

Mike

 

P.S. Good Luck with the Tony cockpit. The old Monogram 1/36th scale Wright Flyer has all kinds of chain material leading from the engine out to the props, if that helps.

[LSP_Mike]

Mike if you get a chance would you shoot the belly of the beast so we can see the mods? mike in calif

[pennausamike]

Mike if you get a chance would you shoot the belly of the beast so we can see the mods? mike in calif

 

Sure, hopefully tomorrow or Sunday.

I'll shoot anything else I think is helpful.

 

Mike

[pennausamike]

My camera is back from Japan, so hopefully these pics will be of interest to someone.

 

The first shot shows that the underbelly scoop of the A-36 was much flatter, tucked in closer to the belly and had a flat front rather than being angled like the later Mustangs. I cut apart the original scoop and and used sheet styrene and automotive spot putty to re-shape it.

[pennausamike]

The next pic shows the sheet styrene "top" of the inside of the scoop. I based this configuration on the Squadron in Action info. Same with the recontoured nose. Also, the first picture also shows the modified bomb racks pretty well.

 

I would note that I don't really measure or make templates to insure "correctness". I work mostly by eye and the relationship of modifications to reference points that remain unchanged.