Nanook

I broke this old started kit out for a Facebook build on the 100th anniversary of the RAF. As you can see it had some odd colors painted onto it. It was missing seven of the eight guns so I replaced them with plastic mounting blocks and plastic tube drilled out. Also boxed in the wheel wells. Added details on the port side of the cockpit and now working on the starboard side. Was going to motorize it but the UK postal service removed the engine that was sent to me out of the package. ??? ??? I'd like to hunt one down stateside this time...we shall see. Lord, this thing is HUGE! Later, Lee

Thank you Peter! I'm pleased so far but ultimately my friend is the one who needs to be happy. He has been pleased with what's been done so that makes everything worthwhile. Later, Lee

Shark64, thanks for the recommendation. Nice stuff for sure but I'm happy with the Dragon crew. So, a bit of an update here. The seams have all been filled and sanded down. The fuselage halves were both warped which made assembly and seam filling 'loads of fun' in a few spots. The overall fit has been so-so...but heck it was released in 1982. I cut out the molded-in screens on the engine covers and replaced them with brass screen cut to fit. Some odds and ends to add during the week, mask the interior off and hope to get paint on it this weekend. Later, Lee Screens cut out on left side cover... Screens in place...

Thank you Kevin! I was pretty tired when I posted...I appreciate you doing that. Thank you for the compliment as well. Sincerely, Lee

Well, the interior is completed and I got her buttoned up. I added weight to the nose and under the floor to get it to stay in the skids. Since the pics were taken last night I've added putty to the seams that needed it and have them sanded down. I'm going to add the windows after I paint it. Later, Lee

Hi Troy! Thanks for the encouragement and for the info on the resin crew! Later, Lee

Thank you gents! Grateful, Lee

While this has been the year of the 'SoD Clear-Off' for my builds this year I am having to make an exception. My closest friend's father served in Vietnam in '64-'65 with the Rattlers. He was a crew chief on 'C' and 'D' UH-1s. Well, his father's cancer has come back a 3rd time and, at '74 years old, it's terminal. He's been given until this fall to live. Well, now it's at the forefront to complete. I had a friend of mine give me his figures from his Dragon kit a few years back for this build (when it was a 'when you get to it' kind of thing) and, although they are 1/35th scale, they will work alright IMHO. I've got to see about having someone make the Rattlers logo for me. I cannot make out the tail number in the one pic so I'll be guessing a bit there. So far here is where I am at. Later, Lee

Thank you all! I received the kit as a freebie that was about 2/3rds done. The paint appears to be acrylic. I got most of the 1st layer off but the base layer is tough stuff. I'll soak the whole thing. Thanks again, Lee P.S. I'll let you know how it works out and what I use.

I have a 1/48 Hasegawa Hornet I'm trying to rescue. I need to strip the old paint off. Thanks for any tips and suggestions. Later, Lee

Thanks Dennis! Indeed these Hasegawa kits go together fast, look good and are a pleasure to build. Glad to hear you got your mojo back! Later, Lee

Yes, actually! The cockpit is done save for the belts. I need to post up a pic or two. Later, Lee

He was a fabulous modeler and a kind soul for sure. Thanks for the link! Sincerely, Lee

Wow, both videos were great to watch. I too miss the Space Shuttle flights. I lament that my sons will not get to see them. Later, Lee

Most excellent! Enjoy and I am still trying to track down that conversion article/build for you. I SWEAR it was done by someone on ARC but I've struck out so far. Later, Lee

Thank you Peter! I am totally chuffed and thrilled to be gifted this kit! Thank you again, Kevin for all of your hard work on this every year and for managing things here on LSP. Many thanks, Lee Fogel

Ian, Jerry did some nice conversions and even a few full resin kits. I have one of his Fw 190A-8 kits and a few of his conversion pieces for the 'Dora' and P-40E. You can look here for a list of most of his stuff but, as mentioned before, these items are no longer produced. http://www.largescaleplanes.com/lane/jrutman.html Best Regards, Lee

Very handy indeed! Thanks a bunch! Later, Lee

I say go ahead and build it! It's a fairly quick build if you go OOB and just add new wheels (that's a must) and some extra details in the cockpit. I have one that I've made into a 2-seat 'hack' and it's not a bad kit. Just devoid of details (shape issues notwithstanding). Later, Lee

Dang this is looking better and better everytime I see an update, Alan! Later, Lee

Beautiful work! Nice to see this classic kit get the justice it deserves. Later, Lee

Thanks Joel! Looking it over it seemed like the logical way to go about it. I'm half-tempted to make new cockpit sidewalls as well. Not looking forward to filling in the sink marks and replacing the wiring details. Later, Lee

Wow this will be a nifty build! Very cool that you could make your own artwork and masks. I never even knew that Master made gun barrels for it! Eager to see the surprise for the cockpit as well! Later, Lee

Very nice work, Alan! What a great subject to do in 1/32 scale. On the door actuation I woul have you look at pics of the old Trimaster kit as I think they got the details on this. Or the Hobby Boss kit. Look here and see if it helps: http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/image/10121732/70/1 My opinion is that the retraction arm for each small door was located inside the fuselage and connected to the edge of the door where it meets the fuselage. Once the nose wheel and struts are secured if you look it over there simply is no room for any suze of external retraction strut within the bay itself. Again, that's my 2 cents... Nice work my friend! Later, Lee

From humble beginnings... So I started by removing the flaps from the wings. I will use the flaps that Rick G. Had begun to modify. I then began work in the cockpit. The boxes built from the Eduard PE fret are for the starboard side. I trimmed the floor per Eduard's instructions. However if you do this it makes it very weak. Plus by the time you repair/fill it you lose any details on the floor. So I used this as a template to creat a new floor out of sheet styrene. I am keeping the Revell floor as my 'eyesight' map to place things where they are to go. That's a bit OCD perhaps but it works for me. More to come later this weekend. Later, Lee