Phantom2

Good Luck! Stefan

Hi All! With the engine, cockpit and fuselage halves done, there´s only one thing left to do. It´s time getting the fuselage together! But, before that, there´s actually one, last thing to do on the Trumpy Hellcat. As we all know by now, the fuselage Is a bit ”fat” , but the Hellcat ain´t fat, It´s a lean, mean cat. The fuselage should be more of a triangular shape, sides should be ”slab”-shaped and the back should be more of a razor-back. You can see that I have sanded down the sides on the fuselage formers to a more correct shape (as much as I dared to). I also had to shave off a lot of plastic (2-3mm in total) from the top as they now overlapped quite a bit, to be able to close the top seam properly. A very simple fix that takes about 10min to do, but the model looks so much better now! Unfortunatly I forgot to take any pictures, sorry. Everything fitted as it should, excellent, even if I had to apply a bit of force in places. The new Resin wheels from BarracudaCast done; A small gap in front of the cockpit that I filled with some plasticard Test fitting of the cowl, now the prop is at a more correct distance from the cowl. Trumpeters R2800 is a kit in itself and a very good one too, but it is about 2mm too long between the cylinder rows, thus the propeller also will sit too far from the cowl. With this engine I have built six of these now, I have learnt that If I shave off 2mm of plastic between the cylinder banks, the props will sit correctly. We are getting close… More to come soon! Stefan

Looks really good, Brad! BUT, can you mount the front gear now, with the main door closed? Stefan

Nice work, there! Stefan

Hi all! I painted the tires with my usual mix of Extra Dark Sea Grey (Hu.123) and Matt Black (Hu.33)…. More detail painting in the cockpit…. It was a chore painting all those small switches, It made me cross-eyed! I went bananas with the wash, Artist´s oil paint, (50/50 Lamp Black/Burnt Umber) and mineral spirits) in the front wheel compartment, but I think It looks alright. Not as much in the cockpit…. More to come soon….. Stefan

It´s coming together really fine now! Good work, Brad! Stefan

Thanks, Misha! Stefan

A really nice build, well done! Stefan E

Hi All! The wheels are primed with Alclad Black Microfiller (ABMF) and then painted with the lurid green color the Russians use for the rims; The burner cans were primed with ABMF and then painted with Alclad steel, burnt metal, exhaust manifold and several more colors. The engines were primed with ABMF and then painted with Alclad Aluminium at the front and the rear part got some Alclad steel. I`ll give them a wash later, but I´m not gonna put in too much work here as they won´t ever be seen again. Painting of the details in the cockpit have begun, there´s a lot to do here, and here it WILL be seen! The side panels got the treatment too; More to come soon…. Cheers! Stefan

Thanks, Brad! Stefan

Stunning work! Stefan E

Hi all! The nose gear well assembled; Trumpeter kindly have included metal-reinforced landing gears, this will hold the model securely! Flickr The nose-gear is supplied in two sections (base and gear) so i can glue the base now and leave the gear for later. But we can do a dry-run, just for the joy of it! Trumpy´s Engine-parts looks fine; ---but they can´t compete with Aires, even the weld-seams inside the cans are there! Engines completed, many parts here…. Intake- and exhaust fans are super detailed by Aires! Engines, exhausts and intakes done; The cockpit is painted with MRP-195, Sukhoi Cockpit Blue-Grey; The details really pops out now! Side panels; More to come soon… Stefan

Nice work! Stefan E

Me neither, but I loaded her up with as much weight I could (I´m quite a bit ahead of the tread and have just closed up the fuselage....), just to be sure. I hate tailsitters! If you use the metal gears, It sure can hold it. Stefan E

Nice build so far! We are building the exact same kits, this will be interesting! You can leve both the nose wheel leg and main leg off until much later in the build (after painting) Stefan

Hi all! Time to get this build rolling…. I´m starting with cleaning up the AIRES Cockpit, Trump´s ain´t bad, but the detail can´t keep up with the AIRES one. Aires parts; Hud/Instrumentpanel; Side wall parts; Seat and tub, I changed the seat for a Quickboost one, I prefer painting the seatbelts instead of trying to fold some etched parts. Detail in the tub is incredible, so much detail, some of the best I ever have seen… Just watch the wall behind the seat! Almost a crime to have the seat in place, obscuring the wonderful details! Aires instrument panel is the old-school etch and acetate, but I´m gonna use a pre-painted panel from Eduard. I don´t like the rubber wheels you get in the kit so I´ll use these from Fisher Models instead; Lovley detail…. First a primer, Alclad Black Microfiller…. …and we are rolling! Stefan

Hi all! I don´t have a SOD, more of a ”must-finish list”…… Here´s some of my ”must finish builds”… Revell BaE Hawk T.1a, OOB William Bros. Curtiss F9C-2 Sparrowhawk, OOB Hasegawa A-4E Skyhawk, Avionix Cockpit, Aires wheel wells, CAM Decals… Trumpeter Grumman F6F-5(N) Hellcat Nightfighter, Eduard Etch, Master Gun Barrels, Master Wheels…. Hasegawa Nakajima Ki-43 ”Oscar”, Eduard etch…. Tamiya McDonnell F4-J Phantom II, Avionix Cockpit, Mastercasters Wheels, Eduard Brassin exhausts and etch, CAM-Decals. Eduard Messerschmitt Bf109E-1 ”Profipack”… Hasegawa Northrop F-5E Tiger II, OOB… There´s more, but those are the ones that have have ”slipped out of the boxes”! Greetings! Stefan

...and ask away! Stefan

Hi all! Late as usual, but here´s my build for the twin-einginge GB; It´s slightly started, tough. Here´s what I have done; …and there´s a LOT still left in the box; Hope it´s OK, I´d say around 25% done. To be continued… Cheers! Stefan

A correction, that is NOT a Camel, It´s a Sopwith Pup! Stefan

Thanks Gaz! My very first attempt at rigging.... Actually, It´didn´t look took too shabby 35 years ago, but It have sagged during the years. Stefan

Hi all! I Really can´t remember exactly what kit I built as my very first, but it was probably something that came in a cornflakes box! But Airfix series one was a staple since I was five and when I could afford it, or as gifts at birthdays and Christmas, the larger, boxed kits. During the -60´s and -70´s I must have built my way trough the whole Airfix-catalog. I grew up in Airfix-territory with the occasional Matchbox, Frog and Revell, never saw any Monogram, AMT, Hasegawa or Lindberg until much later. Tamiya was an unreachable dream for many years, until I made my own money (no, not THAT way!) But the OLDEST surviving kit I have is this little Fiat G.91 Gina, Airfix series one; Airfix Messerschmitt Me262A-1a; …and Airfix series one Sopwith Camel; …and this is my most recent kit, the AMK 1/48 MiG-31 Foxhound; Greetings! Stefan

For the brush; Note; I only use enamels! Humbrol, the OLD, good stuff that smells like paint should! (I´ve been a Humbrol guy since day one!) White Ensign (now Sovereign Hobbies) colorcoates Xtracolor, whenever I can get hold of them! Revell, If I can find them For the Airbrush; MRP; My new favorite color brand Alclad; for primers and metallics Cheers! Stefan

Beautiful build! Stefan

Sorry, but I can´t help you much as I live in Sweden, half a world from You. I suppose some of our American friends can help You. Cheers! Stefan