mikeblack

Beautiful work, Peter - I'm following this one (as I did with your Mossie) with interest!! Mike

Hi Peter - I've just caught up by reading your whole build thread. It's incredible! Looking forward to learning more, and being inspired to raise my standards as you progress onwards. Mike

Just like to add my thanks to Brad for moderating! It has certainly been a nice way to honour 'Winkle' in this way. Upwards and onwards. Mike

Hi Justin Many thanks for this. Yes, as the painting was the 'Achilles Heel' on my first attempt I've put a lot of thought into how i'm going to do it on the second attempt! Will definitely not be using Xtracrylix! Tamiya sounds really good and I would be interested in your colour codes in due course - thanks. However, in my research I've become a bit more laid back about the RLM 76 as, by that stage of the war, it was a case of 'beggars and choosers' as the German war machine ran out of raw materials. Shame that the three photos of '290126' are slightly over-exposed so don't show the upper camouflage that clearly. In addition two of the references I've used are slightly at variance with the photos themselves! Therefore, I too will use the NASM aircraft as a baseline. Finally, as I was trying to complete the build for the end of October deadline I started to feel self-induced pressure which began to erode the enjoyment: I think you had the same experience coming up to the model competition? Going to take a page out of 'Mal's Way/Corsair' build in this section: do it slowly and enjoy it (and hopefully I'll make fewer mistakes with paint)! First going to sort out the model bench Cheers Mike

Woa, nice save, Hakan!! Mike

Going along nicely, Alain ;-) Mike

Congratulations, Mike, on a lovely model Hawk, and a fine tribute build to Winkle! Mike

Just superb! Mike

Coming along very nicely, Hakan ;-) Mike

Hi Mike - thanks for your post. Yes, as I was in the painting phase there were a number of sub-assemblies waiting (cowlings, propellers, landing gear) for attachment that I could use again. But who knows...I might be able to improve on them at the second attempt Mike

Hi Justin - I picked up your build thread quite early on in my research. Your Uhu is a beauty and richly deserved the awards and accolades it received! If I can get 50% of the way towards that I'll be pleased. Thanks for your kind offer of help - I take it that you used the NASM's (Uhu) paint scheme as your reference? As you can see from my latest post I'm starting the whole project again so the painting will be some time off... Will be in touch and thanks again Mike

Gentlemen, many thanks for your kind and encouraging words following my 'Great Painting Disaster' - they are much appreciated Last night I came home to find that a framed picture's string had snapped and (pure Murphy's Law!) being directly above the model fell onto it knocking it to the floor. With so much additional weight in the front it must have hit the ground with a thump. One wing has split open and the other is cracked but the cockpit section is largely undamaged. Sooooo..... I have decided to start again and build the same kit in the same finish (WN 290126 in British markings) as Eric 'Winkle' Brown flew her in 1945. I've often joked that I should build each kit twice so that I could learn from my mistakes and incorporate the advice and emulate the example on forums such as this one. That's my plan! However, I have a busy couple of months so I'm unlikely to restart this project until December. Will post updates in due course. Thanks for visiting Mike

Ah, well, Hakan, I'm afraid you'll have to wait a bit longer as I had the original 'Great Painting Disaster' . This was almost certainly due to my inexperience though I have learnt a great deal! The Vallejo RLM 75 (Grey-violet) went on nicely and hardened up; however, when I came to apply the (Xtracrylix) RLM 76 (Light-blue) for the 'Wellenmuster' wave/squiggle pattern I hit a few snags: 1. With the paint well thinned it would not adhere to the surface, and 2. With the air pressure low it would not adhere anyway, and 3. If the paint was thickened it would not flow through the AB (even with a flow improver) So, I thought I'd just brush-paint the RLM 76 This was successful and looked very effective (initially) but when it dried it looked awful with ridges and runs. I was left with no option but to clean all of it off and start again. However, time is now against me so I'm going to be another member of this GB who is not going to complete it in time. Very sad but I'd rather get this right and that will take a bit longer - and I intend to airbrush the whole scheme Having given this particular camouflage scheme a great deal of thought I now have the basis of a plan. What is interesting is that one of the best references for the 'Wellenmuster' appears to be the beautifully restored NASM Uhu. I've used their work as a basis for completing my Uhu (290126) because the three photos of this particular aircraft (two are of it in British markings) do not show the upper camouflage scheme very clearly. It seems to me that the 'Wellenmuster' on the upper main wings is a definite series of coils, circles and lattices (however, as the NASM's example was missing this scheme on the wings, theirs, by admission, is an extrapolation). On the fuselage and tailplanes the NASM was fortunate to have the remains of the scheme plus some undisturbed paint in the wing roots, and were able to recreate what is a very definite lattice work. So, interesting times ahead - but I will finish this build. Finally, I will continue with updates but, in the meantime, all the best to you other builders: you are an inspiration Thanks for visiting Mike

Hello Torben Many thanks for your comprehensive update, and while it will be a trifle disappointing not to make the deadline at least you are enjoying the build - which is the main thing! Your cockpit build is beautiful and most inspiring. I can also appreciate your thoughts on the efficacy of PE: being a returnee to modelling I was initially enthralled by it but now I'm not so sure...the jury is still out! And as I'd like to develop more scratch building skills ahead of a series of vacuform kits then using PE won't do the trick. So joining this GB has given me a lot of food for thought. Finally, I've been giving thought to the strength of the undercarriage legs on my Uhu: with so much weight in the nose I've inserted a brass rod in the nose gear for starters but now I'm pondering the mains. Keep up the great work and I'll keep following your progress!! Mike

I'm echoing Torben's words, Alain. Great modelling ;-) Mike

Coming along nicely, Hakan! Mike

Well recovered, Mike! Mike

Great work, Alain! Mike

Good evening everyone! A progress report on my Uhu 'WN 290126' now that rest and play are over: In the last few days I've reached the stage of painting the Uhu. Recently I've been working on various sub-assemblies such as the landing gear and propellers, though they will need weathering. I reduced the size of the nose oleo to something more reasonable and inserted a piece of brass rod to strengthen the assembly. I'd like to do the same for the main landing gear (showing off its decals with a nice bit of silvering!) but not quite sure of the feasibility I did a prime with good old Tamiya Primer from the can and learnt a lesson: too little control (didn't decant) though it did the job! After sanding, repairing and rescribing I gave her a coat of Vallejo acrylic primer from the airbrush - much better. Then came the interesting exercise of positioning the 'old' markings so that later on the overspray and subsequent British markings could be applied. First problem was finding a set of references which agree - despite the fact that this is one of the 'more photographed' Uhus!! Of the two major references I was using, both disagreed about the placing of the side fuselage markings. In the end I eyeballed it from a grainy photo of the actual aircraft. Then on with a couple of coats of RLM 75 Some bits look a bit rough but I've planned them (trust me I'm a doctor!) as part of the weathering process (who said it was a ploy to cover up bad modelling?). Next stage is practising the RLM 76 squiggle over the RLM 75 before the real thing Now a short intermission while work disrupts the modelling..... Many thanks for visiting. Mike

Going along nicely, Torben - keep it up! Mike

A superb build, Justin - and rightly recognised by your awards. Many congratulations! Mike

Truly inspirational modelling, Max!! Mike

Great pictures, Torben! Very useful I would think. Mike

Sorry to hear that the Folgore is not going at all to plan, Brad. However, please be assured of the Group's support, and we would all be thrilled to see you complete it. Mike

Coming along nicely, Hakan ;-) Mike