airscale

..old school indeed - what an inspiring project Iain amazed you can turn out most of an aeroplane in a matter of days (and ever so slightly jealous..) ..really looking forward to this one - especially as these techniques are not often seen anymore do you have an engine in mind - or a frenzied session with a punch & die set? Peter

not sure words are adequate so I will just pick one... sublime (suh-blime) adjective 1. inspiring deep veneration, awe, or uplifting emotion because of its beauty, nobility, grandeur, or immensity 2. unparalleled; supreme: 3. the ultimate degree or perfect example: ie the sublime Me 110 ..that, Jim, is simply the mutts nuts.. Peter

evening chaps ..got a few hours benchtime this weekend, so another small step forward... ..I cut out the kit weapons panel switch and fixed it to the cockpit false wall.. also added some switch gear from our PE.. ..the main sidewall is made from a scrap of thick card which needed some rectangular holes made in it.. ..the edges of these then needed bevelling as the real thing is some sort of pressing... ...scribed in some access doors, added handles and a hinge and started drilling out holes around the edges for the fixing screws... ..eventually had the false wall and pressed side panel finished up... ...checking layout with a little dry-fit.. ..thats it for now - back soon.. TTFN Peter

that is a remarkably good idea Paul - I just have to try it ..thank you - thats one of the many reasons I love this place Peter

oh boy - that's beautiful.. very nice work Nic

evening all ..managed to get a little bit done and maybe enough to be 'postworthy'... ..actually, I am embarking on my favourite part of any build - the cockpit. It seems no matter what the kit, I will always do my own thing - one day I will do a Tamiya Spitfire and part of me wonders even with something as good as that whether I will bin the instrument panel and start my own... ..anyways, after a lot of delving and rumaging on the web and in the manuals Matt sent I managed to sort of cobble together the detail on the fuselage wall on a print out. No special science, I just cut & pasted images together and shunk them to scale size & hit 'print'... ..this is then stuck with paper glue (Pritt-Stick in the UK) to thin card and used as a guide to punch out the dial apertures... ..I then needed some world class photo-etch instrument bezels and cockpit details - hmm, wonder who makes those.. ..started to add details to the main panel - all the other panels will be built seperately to sit slightly proud of this one as per the original.. ..the upper panel gets the same treatment.. ..and you get the idea.. ...lots (and lots) more to do but it's a start.. ..until next time my friends TTFN Peter

evening chaps ..I still feel a bit guilty for hacking the nose casting in half, but in my defence I hope to add a lot to the interior so hopefully John at AIMs will forgive me ..I want to add all the instrumentation and just wouldn't be able to do it any other way... ..anyways, this is what I had to destroy next - the forward fuselage interior... ..out with the dremel (and a mask) and I got rid of quite a bit of the structure to get back to skin level for the fold down second pilot's seat.. ..soon cleaned it up - I only went back as far as I needed as the door structure will create a new false wall to mount new panels to.. ..started to add the structure from card and fine brass channel.. ..good to get started, but have lots to do.. TTFN Peter

evening ladies so today was all about butchery - taking your nice new kit, thinking you know best, and taking a saw to it to cut it in half... ..I love the one-piece nose that come is the kit and I have spent some time admiring it as a casting achievement - however, I thought I needed to get in and work on the space in the cockpit and thought I would get frustrated trying to shoe horn things in - for example, I want to fully detail the side walls and add the pull down seat and all the other gubbins.. ..at this point I want to offer a public and very big thank you to Matt Low who shared a full set of Ju188 Tech Manuals which means I have much more of an idea of what I want to do - I post elements of these at my risk and hope Erhard Milch doesn't sue me.. ..here is the sidewall with the pull down seat illustrated - I love this sort of info... ..other drawings call out the station points (ringed in red), or bulkheads so positions can be seen.. ..and with a factory plan of the station points I can calculate what goes where - for example the seat goes between bulkhead 3 and 4a.. ..I also found some other pics after many hours on the net that show the seat location and details... ..so, it's one thing to know what stuff looks like and where it goes (and for me sometimes that takes longer than making it), but the challenge is how to integrate this into the model via this beautiful casting... ..ummm - I thought I would cut it in half... ..before I completed the surgery, I measured a number of datum points so I can get the nose back how it should be once I have detailed it - I will shim about 0.60 of card to make back the material lost through sawing it when the time comes.. ..now I have some space to work and two large bits of resin... ..this is where I will probably grind out everything and start to scratch the seat & side-wall details (sorry Pastor John..) ..and sooner or later (likely much later) these bits will end up as a Ju188.. ..thats all for now TTFN Peter

Thanks Wolf – I hear ya ..rest assured I have not stopped, I am just following my modelling flame and for me, while it may have dimmed for now, the Hornet is still front and centre.. ..after a 25 year break, I re-started building in the OOP group build with a ‘simple' kit a Hobbycraft Sea Fury – I thought it would be a matter of months but turned into a couple of years.. .. I then take on a couple of complex twins in the DH Hornet and now the Ju188, and if HK drop a Mossie on the shelves there is a danger two becomes three... in fact if anyone dropped an F7F, three will become four.. I guess I am learning a few things about myself, not least of which is I suffer from a rare form of modelling mismanagement – I write ambition cheques that my body can't cash.. ..either way, I enjoy it and that is why I do it – hopefully posting my dysfunctional journey is harmless enough, and at least for me it's cathartic.. anyways – it's probably time to get off the psychoanalysis bench and onto the modelling bench! TTFN Peter

awww Iain - why aren't you my dad! ..what a special time for you both, and sure as eggs is eggs aeroplanes are in the blood now - he will never forget that trip and the seed is sown.. Peter

evening chaps got home to find the postman had been yippee ..now I have what I need to get started so thought I would share some pics for those that haven't seen the AIMs Ju188 resin kit before - top, top quality, I am really impressed.. before that, some other goodies - I got a 1975 edition of Scale Models as it has some good plans in it, I got the Wurth book and the ebay Fw190 arrived squashed from Korea - not that I care, I only want the BMW801 engine... ..these are the engine parts I will work with - the AIMs kit has engine fronts, but I want cowlings open so thought this would be the easiest way... ..so onto the Ju188 - some great instructions and comprehensive decals from Fantasy Printshop (who we use at airscale, they are second to none...).. ...this is the PE and a small selection of bags of smaller bits - there are bombs & ETC racks etc I won't be using.. ..beautifully cast tail, rudder & wheels... ..engines, nacelles etc - these are really cool one piece castings... ..the bit I was most worried about was the glazing - having just learnt to vacform on my Sea Fury I was dreading having to maybe replace the glazing on a 188, it would be a whole new ballgame, but here you get two sets like this... ...and just to prove how optically clear they are I put the Sea Hornet instrument panel behind one to see how good they were - I think the result speaks for itself, they are superb... ...the last and most significant part is the one piece nose section - another work of art.. ..I expect I will play around with this and maybe make false walls so I can do my thing with the detail - as a canvas to work from it is exceptional and I suspect built out of the box would be more than enough for most, but with my 'illness' I expect to spend a few months on detailing ..thats it for now folks - next time will be some actual building ... TTFN Peter

know that feeling...& welcome ..also know what you mean about the foiled front end - can't wait to see it.. ..I wish I had the courage to take on a bipe.. Peter

wow - i just had to double my popcorn subscription :popcorn: :popcorn: what you are doing here is incredible - and I very much appreciate learning about the difficult finish - 'aesthetically rough' is one you can't buy in a bottle cracking job.. Peter

So, while I also have a DH Hornet on the go, my discipline has weakened and I am starting another project.. I figure all this stuff is in for the long haul so I need to just do my thing and enjoy building things I am a big fan of the airframes the Luftwaffe created in the heat of battle and of those I figure the Ju88 was one of those white-hot designs that held a purity and level of adaptability that was rarely matched.. ..but it was developed... so I have been collecting parts to build a Ju188 – not the peak of development (and I itch to do a Ju388) but even so the 188 is a proper aeroplane, a multi-tasked fighter/bomber so count me in... ..just to build the aeroplane has been a mission of collecting and accumulating (aren't they all ) – so far I am at: Revell 1/32 Ju88 A4 AIMs 1/32 Ju188E conversion (on it's way) G-Factor Ju88 U/C legs Eduard Brassin Early Ju88 Wheels RB Productions PE Luftwaffe Rudder Pedals Revell 1/32 Fw190 A5 Everything airscale does Slightly unusually there is a Revell 1/32 Fw 190. I have no intention of building a ‘what-if' Mistel, but rather I read the early Hasegawa (& Revell re-pop) of the Fw190 has a full BMW801 engine which I intend to have opened up and on display. Anyways, it got here from Korea and for the £20 I paid I am happy it will be the basis for some magic I need to work on it Enough preamble - I like unusual colour schemes, so have decided to model a French Aeronavále E2 version that was used for post war Missile testing of German designs like the FX 1400 "Fritz X" and Henschel Hs293. Escadrille (Squadron) 10.S. received four aircraft that were basically built from parts found in factories in France, Belgium and Germany by SNCASE. Registered 10.S.10 to 10.S.13 there is still debate about the colours used, with 10.S.10 thought to be Blue and 10.S.12 green. The same post war scenarios abound as with Czech He219's in that the suspicion is local (i.e. German spec) paint was used, however at the same time Aeronavále Hellcats & F4Us were in Glossy Sea Blue so that's the way I am leaning for now... ..I have this magnificent book and fully credit it for anything I give as fact and maybe a few illustrations on the way – i only hope I can reflect the efforts made to record Ju188 history in my own way – thank you Pierre Dumollard Here is the only picture I have found of 10.S.10... Collection A Bissol ..and what may be the same aircraft, but crucially this time carrying an Hs293 (does anyone make a 1/32 Hs293, or is it included in any kits you know of – it seems not??) ... Just like the DH Hornet, there are no survivors to crawl all over or even find walkaround shots for, so my obsession with detailing is going to be a bit of a challenge... Fortunately, a lot of the aircraft is common to the much better documented Ju88 so it is really just in the cockpit I need to unravel the mystery, though I have found some period Technical Manual pictures which will help.. ..will likely take me a bit of time to get organised, but hey I think this is going to be fun.. Until next time... TTFN Peter

wow - that is a mighty fine looking 'pit you sure know how to convey scale 'presence' - would love to see how you do it....the P61 is a favourite of mine with a lot going on in the cabin so I am tuned in for life to see you play this out Peter

so another niche in 1/32 modelling is revealed I don't suppose to fill it, but I do see a scratch Hs293 in my future.... thanks all....a bit surprised actually - maybe I should go into weaponry as there must be a myriad of applications that don't hang off the 3,740 options offered in modern jet sprues.. no Fritz X, no Hs 293, no Ruhrstahl, maybe some imagination and enterprise is needed... food for thought.. Peter

Hi chaps anyone know of any kits that have these included or any AM kits? google seems to say no, so hoping I have missed something.. any ideas? TTFN Peter

okay, thats it, I genuinely have nothing else to contribute to this hobby now I have seen this... to say I am awestruck would be an understatement and the fact we have the honour of gracing such engineering perfection has my heart bursting with pride... thats why i got into this business and I just sit here blinking in wonder... Peter airscale as used in the finest model builds witnessed on this planet since cavemen stuck sticks together

oh boy... i love this build because it is like watching an artist with his palette - every scale inch is pure, unadulterated Mustang.. Geoff, i only stop long enough to write now and then because i find drool is gumming up my keyboard - one day soon I am going to pop on one of those 1/18 Fw190s and see you in the big skies.. Peter

wow thanks chaps - you guys say the nicest things! ..I am thinking this is likely to be the last WIP as now I only have a couple of things to do and I am calling it finished.. ..amazing really - this was my first WIP, my second model after a 25 year break (and the first only got a cockpit built), my first go at airbrushing, nearly two years in the making and over a thousand photo's later I am not sure if I can really believe this is nearly finished. I have learned so much and made so many new friends I will forever be grateful for the 'Out of the Box' Group Build as that is what made me think I could have a go ..anyways, enough of the oscars ceremony I did try getting the wing tanks on, the rudder fixed (again) and getting some shots in natural light (in a dark corner of my garden..) as requested.. ..going to try and get some of those proper false perspective shots on a sunny day for the RFI, but until then (and getting the inner gear doors on) this is it... Hope everyone enjoyed the journey and back soon with a certain Sea Hornet that is next on the bench... TTFN Peter

Hi Richard - I use Mr Hobby Mr Metal Primer in an aerosol - a quick blast of that and the part will take paint, alclad or mr surfacer no problem.. ..it definately works as parts I forgot to prime with it immediately lost paint when masking was removed ..if you have a tin of it, I wouldn't thin it, and if it's too thick to airbrush then I would just buy a bit more in an aerosol as its so easy to just fire a blast at the parts and it leaves a great finish to add paint to HTH Peter

does the cockpit need help? assume the big boys would have weighed in with full AM by now - if not, I can't make it look more like a Harvard but can maybe put an IP upgrade together (recall Kev had a nightmare with the kit panel decal)...?

evening folks.. it's been a while so I thought I had better drop in with a little update.. ..this is more about what remains to be done, rather than what has been done, although small progress has been made. I have been distractingly busy in the real world lately - so trying to add the finishing touches and get G-AKRY into the RFI section ..got the U/C doors finished and have part built the jacks to mount them.. ..added some rather crass weathering (hey, I am still learning..) but then looking at the original the streaking is a bit dirty & random so I guess it passes.. ....also this is where the gear doors will mount.. ..added the oil streaks found on the gear doors - I really need to master the 'Haggo' way of doing things.. ..I need to add the rudder - it's finished but I keep knocking it off! so for now it is one of those final placement things.. ..have also worked out the cowl panel mounts - can't really see it here, but when fitted the hinge points and retaining cable all fit in this space.. ..I carelessly dipped the canopy in hot water to widen it for a better fit...... it turned white in my hands and a significant nervous breakdown was only avoided by re-dipping in future (miracle juice..) which thankfully restored clarity.... that said, there is a nasty kink in the lower frame now so I need to re-skin it.. ...so, after all that the old girl is not quite finished, but then there is not far to go now, and I know what I need to do... ..onwards & upwards.. ..I just need to avoid natural distractions like working on airscale's next little sojourn into 1/24 aftermarket modelling heaven... ..who would have thought we would have a Tiffie to play with TTFN Peter

evening all, it's the beginning of March, so we have a worthy winner of the Shelf of Doom competition It's Kevin (LSP_Typhoonattack) and this stunning Mosquito - lets hope it's stay is only temporary Kevin, a PM is inbound - you have won everything we do in the scale of your choice!! that was a good bit of fun - enjoyed that Peter

I love your approach to this - there aren't many things as rewarding (if you are that way inclined ) than unravelling the enigma of little known detail on a well known aeroplane.. slow is good, slow is meaningful, and deliberate is hugely enjoyable for watchers like me... yep, i'm a hardcore detail popcorn fan.. Peter