Barneydhc82

PollyScale, as has been said many times is absolutely the best clear coat available. It has to be well shaken and like any paint, strained before use. And it does NOT need to be thinned...straight from the bottle, I've used this stuff for many years and have had no problems with it. Barney http://www.barneysairforce.com

Thanks Pierre. I'll have more photos as the final goodies are tidied up. Since the photo of the plumbing and wiring for the Fuel Scan were taken, the wiring has been properly bundled and the beast is awaiting its' first test flight. With the increased horse power and other enhancements, it should really blow the fairings off of most of the Cessna 172s and Piper Cherokee Warriors out there... Barney

Very nice work Pierre. One of these days I'll get back to my C-130E using some of your inspirational ideas. At the moment I am still working on the engine installation in my Grumman Alley Cat...1/1 scale Barney

Pierre: The wood idea is the best as wood dos not conduct heat...and it is very easily formed. Barney

I use an old Paasche VL with a #1, #3, and #5 tip and needle set-up. I use the thing for everything from freehand camo, #1, to 1/1 scale work with the #5. I recently finished a large chef's table for my Better Half using the #5 tip and needle and Satin finish Varathane thinned 20%. The table top is really beautiful. And a few years ago I painted some of the 1/1 Alley Cat with the same combination. BTW, I've worn out a couple of tips and needles over the past 20 years and I love the old beast. Barney

Sam: That Tiger Moth in the Toronto Museum was donated by a friend, Bob Laidlaw of California. Bob was trained on Moths, later worked for DeHavilland Canada on the Chipmunk...and he owns one of the Chippies. The 1/72 Airfix is pretty basic but can be made to look quite presentable with very little effort. If you use a #80 drill bit in a pin vice to drill all the rigging location holes before building, then paint before attaching the upper wing, you will find the rest a bit easier. For more on the Toronto Moth and 1/32 scale build articles, visit my site http://www.barneysairforce.com Go

Pig: As far as sound goes, Radio Shack had a small pc card with two way speaker and the ability to record a 40 second sound byte. Like a dummy, I held off buying one for my electric Herc and of course the unit is not available here in Canuckistan. Barney

Sean: The wonders of building these kits......Pretty darned nice . I have a dual next up after I finish a Hornet for the Better Half. Have you found a tailhook and the underside scoops yet? My last F-5 got the bits from an old Fujimi kit but now I'm tapped out on spares. Barney

From the sounds of it, I can almost see the guy you are talking about. I've got a 20 year old VL and have replaced the needles and nozzles with no problem. I don't have a parts list but there are 3 sizes of needles, caps and nozzles. By the way Randy, have you changed your email address...things keep bouncing back Barney

I've been using Bare Metal Foil rubbed lightly and scored with a new #11 scalpel blade. Tamiya tape is available at Burnaby Hobbies and a very good substitute is the fine tape used by automobile detailers available at Lordco. The BMF adhesive comes off by rubbing down with regular masking tape and the snapping it off. Barney

Very nice Camel...I've got two under construction at the rigging stage but had to put them aside due to arthritis in the old hands...Kept dropping the wires into thegapping mouth of the thing that eats everything under my desk. Barney

Don: I've never heard of any differences in performance re: the spinner. The Hamilton-Standard prop was used along with the Packard-built Merlin even though the few that arrived in Canada from Britain in 1938 were equipt with the Brit power plants. These Colonial aircraft were used to intercept Fire Balloons launched from Japan but I think that the only actual intercepts were by a P-40E and another by a Mosquito out of Boundary Bay. Barney

Greg and Andy: Thanks for the comments. This was an easy build particularly with the Ultracast goodies improving the finished beast. I used Polly Scale...the underside and topside Dark Earth were brushed on without brush marks. The Liquitex Flow Aid really works well for brushing as well asspraying. Barney

Greg: The CDN built Hurricanes had a Hamilton Standard prop ...without a spinner. Barney

Whoops wrong pic #3

Pic #2....Very subtle weathering...no ugly pre/post shading and only a bit of paint chipping

Hi Folks...Here is my Canadian built Hurricane Mk XIIB used by 133 Sqn RCAF, Boundary Bay, BC. There are no serial numbers visible due to them being over-sprayed for security reasons. I used Ultra Cast exhausts, seat with armour back-plate, prop and engine front and elevators . Have at it !!!!!!!!!

Erwin: I'll see what I have ...about 1 inch lettering should do it.....and don't worry about the postage...it's the price of a cup of coffee..... I'll be out all day working on my Grumman so I'll look for you tonight and get back to you...... Barney

Erwin: Looks interesting....now if you had placed the silver decal under the flag it would have really shown well against the fin...red on red..ouch. If you had mentioned that you needed the CF-ICM letters , I could have sent those as well. Next time.... I like that Beaver Barney

I generally add about 15 drops of flow aid to a bottle of Polly Scale plus about 10 drops of PS Airbrush thinner and give it a good shake. When you get ready to spray set your pressure at 15 psi and then mix a bit more thinner to the paint in the cup...almost 50-50 works great. Spray on thin coats...4-5 thin ones are better than 2 gobs of wet paint. Good luck and enjoy the experience Barney http://www.barneysairforce.com

Shaun" Do not use the acrylic gel....use Liquitex Acrylic Flow Aid Barney

Bill: I found the Swordfish to be an excellant kit...simple No Way...You've done a very nice job with this one. I started building models in the Stone Age...1940s ...and the box scale kits were a nightmare. I can now appreciate a quality kit from Tamiya or a limited run kit from Classic Airframes and by switching around, my building is more fun. Barney...http://www.barneysairforce.com

Louis: Congratulations on 30 years of undetected crime...how many bars on the CD? Barney

Animal...Try Lordco or better still any Sherman-Williams paint store. I buy stuff from the Langley store quite regularly. Or any indusrial plastics shops...Richmond, Surrey, Langley Barney

I began my apprentiseship in 1950...got tired of bit$%ing engineers and joined the airforce...and worked on light aircraft as a hobby. I rebuilt my Grumman AA1A Alley Cat in 2003 and have helped re-build other old aircraft. Presently removing the engine from the Alley Cat for overhaul, making new engine baffles, stripped, inspected and painted the engine mount. I'm also working on a 1934 Bucker BU-131 replica full size build... Does this count??