Wolf Buddee

The Force is with you Bill! Try not, only do! There'll be a nice empty spot on the table for a certain Hawker Hart or maybe even the Golden Hawks Sabre which I don't think I've seen either.
 
C'mon Bill, ya know ya want to be there!
 
Cheers,
Wolf

Great to see another WIP thread from you Bill. Looks like you have everything that you need to build an incredible Mustang. So, do you think you'll have 'er done for the Vancouver show? Serious though, are you going to be at Bonsor this weekend?
 
Cheers,
Wolf

Beautiful Mustang!
 
……..and done in just the right markings. I love the spiral on the spinner!
 
Cheers,
Wolf

Peter, beyond incredible work, unbelievable doesn't even describe it!
 
Somewhere I had read that those dull lines on portions of the airframe were a reaction of the aluminum skin to a brush applied acid etch. Unfortunately I can't, for the life of me, remember it's purpose. If it's not a detail you're planning on replicating though it doesn't really matter eh?
 
Cheers,
Wolf

Hi Jay,
 
The majority of the radio equipment is behind a fold down plate that can’t be accessed unless the pilot’s seat is removed. 100% accuracy is not going to be necessary or even noticed by anyone if the seat and harness are in place. That should take some of the self imposed pressure off. However I don’t imagine that makes much difference to you based on what you’ve already done so far! 
 
Amazing!
 
Cheers,
Wolf

Are you kidding?! This isn't magic Kevin, it's freakin' sorcery, that's what this is! 
 
I think we should create a whole new thread category: Peter's works in progress.
 
Cheers,
Wolf

Beautiful work Quang!
 
Martin sent me the link to your build earlier today. Unfortunately I haven’t been able to log in for a while as I completely forgot my password. I tried a few different ones today and got lucky!
 
Your build brings back a lot of memories albeit in 1/32nd scale, LOL! I have to question one small detail though. The small placard you added to the front of the small hydraulic tank that sits between the oil separator and the coolant tank for the intercooler shouldn’t be written in german! That made me laugh.  
Is the surface of the fuselage smooth? Their Hellcat has a slightly pebbly surface texture which really needs to be sanded down.
 
Keep up the great work.
 
Cheers,
Wolf
 

Beautiful work Quang!
 
Martin sent me the link to your build earlier today. Unfortunately I haven’t been able to log in for a while as I completely forgot my password. I tried a few different ones today and got lucky!
 
Your build brings back a lot of memories albeit in 1/32nd scale, LOL! I have to question one small detail though. The small placard you added to the front of the small hydraulic tank that sits between the oil separator and the coolant tank for the intercooler shouldn’t be written in german! That made me laugh.  
Is the surface of the fuselage smooth? Their Hellcat has a slightly pebbly surface texture which really needs to be sanded down.
 
Keep up the great work.
 
Cheers,
Wolf
 

You know Peter, if I don't comment too much in this thread, it's because someone else has already said it or I don't have anything intelligent to add but trust me I'm hangin' on your every word! Now excuse me while I go back to my plastic while you create magic in metal!
 
Cheers,
Wolf

OWith my wife at home recovering from back surgery I took some time off to be with her and help her. That also means I had time to work on the Fokker and push on with the cockpit interior interior. The fuselage side walls were painted with Tamiya lacquer Racing White which is a great representation of unbleached linen. The fabric portions were covered in Microsculpt fabric effect decals and the plywood was done with wood grain decal. The metal tube framing was painted with Model Master British Interior Green. The black rod and “T” handle with red stripe was moulded integral to and flush with the metal tube framing so it was removed and replaced with a length of brass tubing and a smaller length of nickel plated wire that was inserted in to the “T” handle at the end. The whole assembly is supposed to sit proud of the cockpit framing. The modification was super simple. Photos and drawings in the Kagero book show a pulse o meter on the right side of the cockpit so one from Taurus Models was added. Taurus Models indicates it’s for British aircraft but I couldn’t see any difference. The left side cockpit detail is essentially box stock but I did drill out the center of the red handle as it’s moulded solid. The seat base is woodgrain decal from Aviattic.
 
Cheers,
Wolf
 

 
 

 

 

Hi Jay,
 
The majority of the radio equipment is behind a fold down plate that can’t be accessed unless the pilot’s seat is removed. 100% accuracy is not going to be necessary or even noticed by anyone if the seat and harness are in place. That should take some of the self imposed pressure off. However I don’t imagine that makes much difference to you based on what you’ve already done so far! 
 
Amazing!
 
Cheers,
Wolf

Hi Jay,
 
I’m certainly not a master, especially regarding weathering but most powders require a fixative to prevent them from disappearing. You can also use the hairspray method. I’ve used that with some success. Also applying random colours of greys, browns, and light tan colours applied with a piece of torn sponge or Brillo pad. Just make sure there’s very little paint coming off your applicator. Essentially dry brushing by dabbing.
 
Of course, everything requires a bit of practice to figure out what works best for you!
 
Fantastic stuff you’ve got with those 3D printed items. I wouldn’t be surprised if the future of modelling is that anything you want to build will be provided in software and you simply print it out. No more injection moulding.
 
Cheers,
Wolf
 

Hopefully this photo will show what I was trying to accomplish by adding those small photo etch pieces from Part.
 
Cheers,
Wolf
 

Well........that was fun! NOT! I went to post an update and lost the whole damn thing somehow so here's my second attempt, LOL!
 
I've almost finished the cockpit for the Corsair. I still have a few items to scratch build like the cockpit lights and their two forward mounts.There's also the plumbing that goes between the various different cockpit components and the linkage rods that go from the instrument panel to the throttle quadrant. They should be interesting to align when fitting the assembled cockpit module.
 
The extra detail added to the rudder pedals is hard to see once in place but visible enough to make filling the void well worth the effort.
 
Comments and critique always welcome and there's some close up pics as requested by Misha71.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Cheers,
Wolf

I've been continuing work on the Corsair's cockpit. The rudder pedal assemblies were given a little love as they were missing the adjustment mechanisms so I scratch built some of the missing details. At least the stuff that will be readily visible.
 

 
I've also managed to complete the side consoles. The data stencils are from Roy's (BarracudaCals) Cockpit stencils. While very fiddly to apply, especially the ones for the right console, they make a huge difference in the overall look of the completed cockpit. Time consuming to apply, yes, but worth every penny IMHO!
 

 

 

 
Lots more to come but the cockpit is almost finished! 
 
Cheers,
Wolf

I have most of the cockpit bits painted, decals applied, and ready for assembly. There's a few more pieces I have to scratch build, like the cockpit lights, before I can put everything together and close up the fuselage. One part that is a little "lumpy looking" straight out of the box is the throttle quadrant. With some help from Airscale's cockpit details and a razor saw I rebuilt it to look a lot more prototypical. The final touch was applying BarracudaCals stencils and a placard on the side from Airscale.
 

 

 
Cheers,
Wolf

I started work on the cockpit by completing the instrument panel. I added the Tamiya suppled placards and to those two tiny knobs punched out with my Waldron sub-miniature punch and die set. Stretched sprue was used to make a bat switch for the larger of the two placards. I small drop of Kristal Klear was used to give the end of the bat switch it's shape. 
 

 
The rear cockpit frame was modified by opening up the solid mounting points for the tubular seat mount frame. The retaining "U" bolts were made from a photo-etched washer base, silver wire, copper wire, and 0.45mm nut/bolt/washer resin detail from Taurus Models. I also used the nut/bolt/washer detail to represent the fasteners on the upper seat frame. The headrest received a bead around it's front face using stretched sprue and very careful application of Tamiya's Extra Thin glue gluing small sections at a time until I'd wrapped the sprue all the way around.
 

 
Hopefully my Corsair Aircraft Pictorial book shows up soon to see if I need to add anything more.
 
Cheers,
Wolf

It's been a while since I've worked on or attempted to complete anything so I've decided to post this WIP here rather than in a group build. I don't know if I'll have this finished in time for a  group build deadline but the creative juices seem to be flowing right now so I thought I would give this a go.
 
I've had the F4U-1 Birdcage Corsair in the stash for a while but the semi-bubble top version's look really appealed to me. I decided to start with the engine rather than the cockpit, I know, crazy eh?, and after looking at some of my research material and on-line pics I decided the kit's PW-R2800 needed a little embellishment. I drilled out all the holes for the spark plug leads, scratch built the oil transfer lines at the front of the cylinder heads as well as those between the rocker covers. It took me a while to figure out how I was going to do the ones between the rocker covers. One I got a handle on those it went fairly quickly but each one required 4 separate pieces. I also decided to scratch build spark plug connectors as they're fairly prominent when looking at the front of the engine. I used a 2.5mm long 0.5mm brass tube from Bob's Buckles, a 0.5mm brass nut from Scale Hardware, and a length of 0.15 lead wire. I'm only going to do the ones for the front of the cylinders for the forward bank as the others are next to impossible to see. The remaining leads will just be fed in to drilled holes.
 

 

 
I painted the firewall and rear engine mount but after dry fitting it looks like the extra paint work on the rear engine mount will be virtually hidden from view. The same goes for the exhaust manifolds which, other than the ends at the bottom of the fuselage, will be mostly hidden.  I drilled the exhaust openings deeper and really thinned the openings to give them a more scaIe appearance. I painted them with Model Master Metalizer Burnt Metal and they'll get some weathering before installation. It looks like the exhaust can be easily installed at the very end of the build, before the engine of course, to negate having to mask off the exhaust ends while spraying the underside of the fuselage.
 

 
I wanted to give the instrument panel a go as well to see if I could improve on what the kit offers. I used Airscale instrument decals but they were placed on top of Tamiya's clear part rather than on the back. The Airscale instrument decals are slightly too large but carefully aligning them on the clear part will give you everything you need. I also enlarged the instrument holes in the IP to accommodate the thickness of the decals and to allow for the paint on the instrument bezels. I didn't want to tear the decals when fitting the clear portion of the IP. Some Future on the instrument faces finished them off and I also added a couple of the BarracudaCals data placards.
 

 
Cheers,
Wolf

It’s been a while now since I’ve seriously perused any of the WIP threads here. Life, ya know, eh? I’ve just kind o’ been darting in and out of the different forums to see what’s goin’ on. WOW Jay! I just had the pleasure of going through your entire build thread and this is one freakin’ awesome build! Just WOW! What an incredible effort.........
 
Cheers,
Wolf
 
Oh, by the way, don’t forget to add the Oxygen bottle’s (beside the pilot’s seat) red service tag. The bottom of the tag says “ Do Not Remove” so you know it’s got t’ be there. 

Hey Bill,
 
Ya know you had to fix it. Martin would have bugged you until you did! 
 
Almost done eh?
 
Cheers,
Wolf

Beautifully done Bill!
 
Great job mating the Trumpeter wings with the Hasegawa fuselage. That makes a huge difference in overall detail.
 
What paints are you using?
 
Cheers,
Wolf

Thank-you all for the birthday wishes!
 
I’m still around but I’ve recently immersed myself in working on a car model. There’s a whole new world in aftermarket stuff for vehicles!
 
I had to have emergency surgery for a perforated ulcer the beginning of February. I spent two days in ICU after surgery and having gone septic, it was unclear whether I was going to remain on this side of the grass or not. I spent three weeks in hospital, I don’t remember anything of the first week. I was off work for a full two months. I’m still dealing with some residual effects of the surgery these days but overall doing much better. I sold off some of my stash and while going through it I discovered just how many car models I had so I figured it was time to have at ‘er on some of them. That’s why I’ve been a bit scarce here. It’s kind o’ like moving to a new neighborhood and finding there’s so much to explore. In my best Arnold Schwartzenegger voice, “I’ll be back.” 
 
Cheers,
Wolf 

Thank-you all for the birthday wishes!
 
I’m still around but I’ve recently immersed myself in working on a car model. There’s a whole new world in aftermarket stuff for vehicles!
 
I had to have emergency surgery for a perforated ulcer the beginning of February. I spent two days in ICU after surgery and having gone septic, it was unclear whether I was going to remain on this side of the grass or not. I spent three weeks in hospital, I don’t remember anything of the first week. I was off work for a full two months. I’m still dealing with some residual effects of the surgery these days but overall doing much better. I sold off some of my stash and while going through it I discovered just how many car models I had so I figured it was time to have at ‘er on some of them. That’s why I’ve been a bit scarce here. It’s kind o’ like moving to a new neighborhood and finding there’s so much to explore. In my best Arnold Schwartzenegger voice, “I’ll be back.” 
 
Cheers,
Wolf 

Thank-you all for the birthday wishes!
 
I’m still around but I’ve recently immersed myself in working on a car model. There’s a whole new world in aftermarket stuff for vehicles!
 
I had to have emergency surgery for a perforated ulcer the beginning of February. I spent two days in ICU after surgery and having gone septic, it was unclear whether I was going to remain on this side of the grass or not. I spent three weeks in hospital, I don’t remember anything of the first week. I was off work for a full two months. I’m still dealing with some residual effects of the surgery these days but overall doing much better. I sold off some of my stash and while going through it I discovered just how many car models I had so I figured it was time to have at ‘er on some of them. That’s why I’ve been a bit scarce here. It’s kind o’ like moving to a new neighborhood and finding there’s so much to explore. In my best Arnold Schwartzenegger voice, “I’ll be back.” 
 
Cheers,
Wolf 

Thank-you all for the birthday wishes!
 
I’m still around but I’ve recently immersed myself in working on a car model. There’s a whole new world in aftermarket stuff for vehicles!
 
I had to have emergency surgery for a perforated ulcer the beginning of February. I spent two days in ICU after surgery and having gone septic, it was unclear whether I was going to remain on this side of the grass or not. I spent three weeks in hospital, I don’t remember anything of the first week. I was off work for a full two months. I’m still dealing with some residual effects of the surgery these days but overall doing much better. I sold off some of my stash and while going through it I discovered just how many car models I had so I figured it was time to have at ‘er on some of them. That’s why I’ve been a bit scarce here. It’s kind o’ like moving to a new neighborhood and finding there’s so much to explore. In my best Arnold Schwartzenegger voice, “I’ll be back.” 
 
Cheers,
Wolf