oortiz10

Alright ARC, I've been able to get a few things done on my Super Hornet. After gluing on the intakes, I figured I was gonna need some help with the seams, so I ordered my secret weapon... After it arrived, I glued the fuselage halves together. The fine tips were immediately useful and allowed me to get the putty exactly where I wanted it. One of the great things about this putty is it cleans up with water so no sanding was needed to clean up these seams. I just used a moist earbud to wipe away the excess. The seam isn't perfectly filled, but it looks way better than the huge gap that was there before. I'm sure the joint will look acceptable under a coat of paint. I was able to get the rear fuselage seams cleaned up pretty well. I used a little CA glue and rescribed the area as well as I could. Some of the lines you see in the photo above are filled with CA. The CA dried clear and so it looks like those lines are still there. They pass the "feel test," but of course I'll double check after I get some primer sprayed on. The seams under the LEX were filled with Mr. Surfacer. I'm going to get the LEX cleaned up before I get the nose glued on. That'll be next. I'll get the nose attached and cleaned up, then I'll move to attaching the wingtips and attacking all the wings' seams. Hopefully, it won't be too long before I can start spraying some paint. Thanks for stopping by. Feel free to share your comments, questions, or criticisms. Cheers! -O

OK ARC, it's been a long while since I've been able to post some progress. I haven't made much, but hey, every little bit is still progress. So, I was able to get the cockpit and cargo area completed. I used some paper and old PE buckles to make a few belts. I also painted and cut up some Band Aids to give the seats some texture. Not 100% accurate, but it adds a bit visual interest. I cut the center pedestal down on the instrument panel because some dry fitting showed that the IP shroud interfered with the installation of the windscreen. In this last picture, behind the cockpit assembly, you can see that I've scratched a simple roof for the cargo area. Without the roof, you can see up into the upper parts of the fuselage. I figured the roof would eliminate that "see-through" aspect of the kit. I think the next step will be to close up the fuselage. Thanks for looking. Feel free to share your comments, questions, or criticisms. Cheers! -O

Hey ARC, I figured I'd work on something while the filler on my Super Hornet dries. So, since rotary winged aircraft are allowed in this GB, I'll be trying to get a UH-34 built alongside my F-18E. I'm planning on building my kit with the cargo door open, so I decided to paint up the inside with a little color. I don't know if the yellow egress markings were found on UH-34s, but I think it adds a little visual interest to the interior. Also, since the side door will be open, I used a few tape strips to build some netting to cover the open hatch at the back of the cargo hold. Again, not 100% accurate, but it gives the viewer something to look at. That's all I've gotten done on my helo. I'm hoping to go back-and-forth between my builds. My goal is to work on one while I'm waiting on the other. Again, feel free to comment, question, and/or criticize. Thanks for looking! Cheers, -O

I'm wondering...does that include rotary wing squadrons, or only fixed wing? Thanks, -O

After looking at picknpluck's post, I decided to tackle my intakes before I wrestled with the nose. I haven't started cleaning up the joints and seams yet, but here are a few pictures of how badly they went together. I'm thinking I'm going to try Milliput to fill these gaps. I think Milliput, which I can shape with water, will be easier to use instead of a different type of filler than will have to be sanded. Sanding in those tight spaces might be too difficult. Well, before I move on to attaching the nose assembly, I'm going to try to get this mess cleaned up. Cheers, -O

So, I've started this build and I'm glad(?) to see that picknpluck has run into the same problems that I have. The fit on this new kit is terrible. I know these molds aren't very old, and I'm surprised at how poorly the parts go together. picknpluck is having issues with the intakes on his kit, and some dry-fitting has shown that my kit's fit is worse! I have started with installing the kits rear deck and its nose assembly. Just these six pieces have needed some serious fill-sand-rescribe-repeat. Anyway, I'll keep plugging away. Thanks for stopping by! Wish me luck! Cheers, -O

I agree! I'm working on the same kit and I've had a serious fill-sand-rescribe session with the nose assembly. I've started fiddling with the intakes, and it seems the fit is WORSE on my kit! Great work on those tails. They look pretty sharp! Cheers, -O

OK ARC, I'm doing Revell's 1/48 boxing with Two Bobs decals. Here's the starting point: I'll post more pictures as progress...uh...progresses. Cheers! -O

OK gang, I don't think a final decision was made regarding -115. I'm guessing since it was never disestablished, that it's good to go. If that's the case, I'd like to get in with a 1/48 F-18E. Cheers, -O

Hey ARC, This is the third and final installment of my Pacific Warriors mini group build. (If you're interested, Part 1 is here and Part 2 is here.) It's another Tamiya Corsair, but this time it's built as a generic USMC -1A. The plane number and kill markings are from my spares box. The national insignia are from the kits sheet and reacted pretty well to MicroSol and Set. Aside from resin wheels and seat, the plastic is out of the box. I did make a new light for the spine, new wingtip lights, a new light for the tip of the tail, and a new light for the top of the right wing. Everything's painted with Testors and MM enamels and weathered with pastels and Flory washes. Oh, you eagle-eyed modelers will notice that the underwing formation lights are missing. They've since been added. Here are a few pictures for you to view. I shot a few more than the other two builds, only because I'm pretty happy with this 3-footer. Here are some pictures for you to enjoy. Thanks for following my mini-GB! Feel free to question, comment, or criticize. Your feedback is welcome. Cheers! -O

Hey ARC, Here's the second installment of my Pacific Warriors mini group build. (You can see Part 1 here.) It's Tamiya's jewel built as a FG-1D using the old Superscale decal sheet. The decals are supposed to represent Lt. Col. Donald Yost's plane, but the markings don't seem to be accurate. Still, I used the decals to build my kit. I used the decals to create some masks and painted on the stripes and squadron markings. The national insignias are actually the decals from the sheet. Aside from resin wheels, seat, and flaps, the plastic is out of the box. The only modifications I made were to create a new light for the spine, new wingtip lights, and a new light for the tip of the tail. Everything's painted with Testors and MM enamels and weathered with pastels and Flory washes. Here are a few pictures for you to enjoy. I didn't shoot as many as my Hellcat because it was tough to photograph with the folded wings blocking a lot of the view and light. Still, here you go... I'm happy with another solid 3-footer to add to my collection. Thanks for looking! Feel free to question, comment, or criticize. Your feedback is welcome. Cheers! -O

Hey Rex, my post was not a commentary on anyone's proper or improper use of nomenclature. More than anything, it was just for me to get myself straight on what would or would not be allowed for this group build. Also, to make my case for -115 to be allowed in this group build. Hope I didn't wag my finger at anyone. I meant no offense. Regards, -O

I say, yes, there are two reasons that -115 should be allowed to participate. First, according to this source, "there are hundreds of former U.S. Navy aircraft squadrons which have been disestablished and no longer exist and there are approximately 40 or so U.S. Navy aircraft squadrons which have been deactivated and which currently exist only "on paper" in an inactive status. These disestablished and/or deactivated squadrons are sometimes incorrectly referred to as "decommissioned" squadrons, but proper usage prior to 1998, was that squadrons were "established" and "disestablished" and after 1998, squadrons are "established", "deactivated" and sometimes "reactivated". It has never been correct to refer to U.S. Navy aircraft squadrons as being "commissioned" and "decommissioned", ships are commissioned and decommissioned, U.S. Navy aircraft squadrons are not. [Prior to 1998], a squadron's history and lineage began when it was established and ended when it was disestablished. Since March 1998, with the issuance of OPNAVINST 5030.4E (and its subsequent updates) US Navy aircraft squadrons are no longer disestablished, instead, they are now "deactivated." The difference being that a deactivated squadron still exists, though in an inactive status, and only "on paper", awaiting possible future "re-activation". Its last held designation along with all former designations are not available to be used for a newly established squadron, and should a deactivated squadron ever be re-activated its lineage would resume and trace back past the re-activation date all the way back to the squadron's original establishment date and would include the entire period during which it was in the inactive status." (Emphasis added by author. Me!) According to the Navy itself, -115 has always existed. It's lineage was never broken. Therefore, I think -115 should be included. A second reason I think -115 should be included is because I was considering entering this GB with a -115 Super Hornet. Of course, this reason is strictly self-interested. So I say yes for -115. Of course, this is ultimately up to the GB gods. If they decide against -115, then I guess me, my Super Hornet, and this GB weren't meant to be... Cheers! -O

Hey ARC, This is the first of a trio I built for a personal Pacific Warrior mini-GB. It's Hasegawa's "Cat Mouth" boxing, but I built it to represent a "generic" Navy Hellcat. All the plastic, except for a resin seat and wheels, is out of the box. It's painted with MM enamels, weathered with Flory's washes and pastels. The markings are painted on, and you eagle-eyed modelers will notice that the national insignia is a little "off." This was the first time I've used Montex masks. (Next time I'll do a little better.) I tried to show an airframe with some wear-and-tear. The exhaust stains on the fuselage sides might be too heavy, but I'm happy with the way the staining on the belly turned out. Anyway, that's the build's story. Let's take a look at the pictures... I know it's not perfect, but I think it's a solid 3-footer. Thanks for looking! Feel free to question, comment, or criticize. Your feedback is welcome. Cheers! -O

Uh...yeah! Watch out for the landing gear! The way the instructions have you install them would leave them backwards with the oleo scissors (torque links) facing forward. Problem is, the landing gear legs are "keyed" and installing as instructed would leave your struts at a strange angle. I had to cut off the mounting tabs and find an alternate mating solution. If you have any questions...don't hesitate to ask. Good luck with the build! Cheers, -O