elanlane13

Thanks for the feedback.
 
I'm not currently planning a seated version but could be persuaded if there is enough interest.

HI Everyone,
        I started the rigging today.   My main goal was to get as much done as possible before putting the struts and upper wing on. 
 
I used Bob's Buckles, but they're very hard to see since my phone doesn't like to take close up photos.  For the wires I'm using 1.5Lb test.

 
I blackened the 'wires' with a Sharpie before attaching them to the model.

 
I use a lot of light, and a light colored background to improve my ability to see through the eyelets once the upper wing is on.

 
And I used a box to elevate the jig and inter-wing area to eye-level.

 
But back to work tomorrow...  so I probably won't get it all rigged before the end of the week.
 
Cheers!
 
Gaz

After a long delay, here Is the first of the finished pilots. US Navy pilot, painted by Edward Sage. This figure is now available. I'm waiting for the box art for the FAA Pilot to arrive from New Zealand.

Here is the first of two pilots we are producing for the new 1/24 Hellcat release by Airfix.
US Navy/Marine pilot in flying gear. 
Resin kit
Sculpted by Robert Lane
Box Art Edward Sage
Available from the Elan13 Miniatures website
Price: £20.00

After a long delay, here Is the first of the finished pilots. US Navy pilot, painted by Edward Sage. This figure is now available. I'm waiting for the box art for the FAA Pilot to arrive from New Zealand.

After a long delay, here Is the first of the finished pilots. US Navy pilot, painted by Edward Sage. This figure is now available. I'm waiting for the box art for the FAA Pilot to arrive from New Zealand.

Here is the first of two pilots we are producing for the new 1/24 Hellcat release by Airfix.
US Navy/Marine pilot in flying gear. 
Resin kit
Sculpted by Robert Lane
Box Art Edward Sage
Available from the Elan13 Miniatures website
Price: £20.00

After a long delay, here Is the first of the finished pilots. US Navy pilot, painted by Edward Sage. This figure is now available. I'm waiting for the box art for the FAA Pilot to arrive from New Zealand.

After a long delay, here Is the first of the finished pilots. US Navy pilot, painted by Edward Sage. This figure is now available. I'm waiting for the box art for the FAA Pilot to arrive from New Zealand.

After a long delay, here Is the first of the finished pilots. US Navy pilot, painted by Edward Sage. This figure is now available. I'm waiting for the box art for the FAA Pilot to arrive from New Zealand.

After a long delay, here Is the first of the finished pilots. US Navy pilot, painted by Edward Sage. This figure is now available. I'm waiting for the box art for the FAA Pilot to arrive from New Zealand.

After a long delay, here Is the first of the finished pilots. US Navy pilot, painted by Edward Sage. This figure is now available. I'm waiting for the box art for the FAA Pilot to arrive from New Zealand.

After a long delay, here Is the first of the finished pilots. US Navy pilot, painted by Edward Sage. This figure is now available. I'm waiting for the box art for the FAA Pilot to arrive from New Zealand.

After a long delay, here Is the first of the finished pilots. US Navy pilot, painted by Edward Sage. This figure is now available. I'm waiting for the box art for the FAA Pilot to arrive from New Zealand.

New from Elan13 Miniatures
German Two-seater crew WW1(1/32 scale)
Pilot and Observer; as a set or singly.
Available on the website now.
Single figures £14.00
Set of two figures £22.00
Sculpted by Robert Lane
Box art by Edward Sage

Elan13 Miniatures New Release.
Italian pilot WW1 1/32 scale
Sculpted By Robert Lane
Box Art by Edward Sage
Available on the website now
£14.00
Trade enquiries welcome

Elan13 Miniatures New Release.
Italian pilot WW1 1/32 scale
Sculpted By Robert Lane
Box Art by Edward Sage
Available on the website now
£14.00
Trade enquiries welcome

Elan13 Miniatures New Release.
Italian pilot WW1 1/32 scale
Sculpted By Robert Lane
Box Art by Edward Sage
Available on the website now
£14.00
Trade enquiries welcome

Jeez, a 1/24th Hellcat and awesome FAA figure.  There goes the rest of my budget....
 
Nice work!
 
Tim W.

A quick Smudgysnapovision update on the 1/24 (75mm) Hellcat pilots.
Below are some snaps of the castings, produced in the usual excellent way by MDP.
Examples have winged their way to New Zealand and Hove for box art magic.
Full release date is still on track for May. (Though I may have the odd pre-release at shows where the Elan13 Miniatures roadshow is in town.)

 

Hellcat Pilots build log. Part: The Last (sculpting)
 
Things have advanced since part 4 and the final set of smudgy snaps show the two pilots primed and awaiting their final checks before heading off to sunny Newport for the Welsh Wizard (and Tom) at MDP to perform their moulding and casting magic on them.
 
The Fleet Air Arm pilot now has two fleet air arms and his parachute has been added, carried over his shoulder. There were no real problems with this stage of the process.
The US Navy pilot (who looks rather grumpy!) had to have his legs altered ( possibly why he looks grumpy) and straps amended to match up with the strapping of the parachute that he is wearing.
 
For both figures the extra additions were sculpted in Magic Sculp or Duro both from Sylmasta.
 
Although it seems I am well on target for having both these pilots finished in time for the proposed May release of the Hellcat by Airfix, things will actually be tight. Moulding and casting has to be done. Boxart and photographing has to be completed and resin castings boxed ready to be dispatched.
 
I'll keep all of you loyal readers (optimistic use of plural here) informed of how things are going.

Tim, at the moment the scanning isn't happening, but I will look into it further. However, more 1/32 RAF/FAA figures are planned. 
 

Thanks Rob & Tom 
 
I hadn't really meant to start this kit but I’ve been drawn in by its loveliness 
 
The cockpit is is really good, I’ve added a little detail to sharpen it up, but it doesn’t need a huge makeover. I’ve added seat cushions from Milliput, the gunners seat would really give you a sore a***. I can’t imagine them not having a cushion there... I’ve fabricated a fairly generic oxygen bottle from odds & ends from the spares box and replaced all the moulded knobs & levers with rod and super glue and a few other bits and pieces. I’m going to add a bit of wiring but I think I’ll leave that until after painting - I’ll use coloured wire to hopefully give it a little more depth rather than just post painting.
 
There are still some more things to do but this is the gist of it:
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 
 

 
 
I ended up ordering the Airscale brass instrument panel so I’ll have to wait for that to arrive before I can go too much further on the cockpit. I may dip into the engine next. I also ordered Montex Masks, HGW belts and a Master Barrels MG for the rear gunner.
 
Have a good weekend...
 
 
Guy

So, as I wait on my Maketar Masks set for the 1/18 FW190, the devil has found work to do for my idle thumbs.
 
I’ve been tracking Airfix Stukas on eBay for a while now, but yesterday stumbled across a dusty box at the back of the shelves at the Sussex Model Centre. It seemed like fate and I had that serendipitous moment that was foretold by the modelling gods...
 
So here she is, shamelessly dwarfing my modelling bench:
 
 

 
 
 
After a trawl on the internet and a post requesting info, I realised that there is next to no aftermarket for this old girl. I was expecting a mountain of PE, resin and stickers. No problem though, it will be great fun modding as I go (don’t expect too much here), but I’m sure I can add the odd wire or lever here and there. What I will be getting are a set of Montex Masks which, in addition to the markings, have canopy masks - although my previous experience of vinyl masks leaves me with a little trepidation, but it’s a start. I haven’t picked a scheme yet - I’m still hovering between a standard/ desert/ winter finish. There’s also an Airscale brass instrument panel available, but tbh the kit IP is pretty impressive - just add Airscale Decals. I’ll have a think on that. The other must will be a set of HGW generic Luftwaffe belts.
 
Looking in the box the first thing that struck me was the indecent amount of flash on the sprues. Although, as it’s a mould well used from the 70’s this is only to be expected. The surface detail ain’t too bad, little bit woolly, but not excessively so. It definitely has promise and I reckon this is going to be a fun build.
 
I’ve done a mock up of the cockpit and it took me most of the evening to remove all the flash! But, once done it really doesn’t look half bad and it’s a good starting point at least. From what I’ve heard of the kit, it fits well and is accurate enough in dimensions (if only Trumpeter could do this I might have even attempted one of theirs).
 
Here’s what the kit basically gives you in the cockpit - IP, side panels and radio boxes:
 
 

 
 
The main elements:
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 
Can't wait to get stuck in! 
 
 
 
Thanks,
 
Guy
 
ps any suggestions along the way more than welcome.
 

A quick Smudgysnapovision update on the 1/24 (75mm) Hellcat pilots.
Below are some snaps of the castings, produced in the usual excellent way by MDP.
Examples have winged their way to New Zealand and Hove for box art magic.
Full release date is still on track for May. (Though I may have the odd pre-release at shows where the Elan13 Miniatures roadshow is in town.)