Thommo Posted July 6, 2014 Share Posted July 6, 2014 I started this in 2012 for the 'What Got You Started Simple Times' GB, but lost my Mojo - http://www.arcforums.com/forums/air/index.php?showtopic=256207 While it is an old simple kit, what I was doing wasn't really in the spirit of the GB (i.e. cutting the thing to bits rather than just building it). I've got back into it over this weekend, and here are some progress pics. The real thing: The old kit It's actually a Warhawk, so I did some quick and dirty conversions mainly to the rear cockpit to make it a Kittyhawk.....sort of ;) Have got most of the painting done now & sticking on the fiddly bits scratched which I keep knocking off & having to re-glue Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Thommo Posted July 6, 2014 Author Share Posted July 6, 2014 So to the base. A mate with a router made me a rough little base out of a pine offcut. I fear it is a bit small (well, I know it is, the port wing will hang well over the edge). Having just moved house, I ditched all my clear varnish (stoopid) but found some dark merbau stain under the new house, so whacked a bit of that on the edges of the base. I then hammered some nails in (which stuck out the bottom, so had to be attacked with the angle grinder :wacko: ) so secure my terrain So what to make the terrain with. I was considering cutting white polystyrene together, but then wondered if I could find something which could be molded more finely. Being a Sunday, and being impatient to do something, it was off to Bunnings where I found this for $8.30. And did this, which was great fun. I just hope it binds to those nails :unsure: : It did strike me that I should have got the rocks I need near the nose of the plane first and buried them in the clay, but I'll have to work out another way to do the rocks. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Thommo Posted July 7, 2014 Author Share Posted July 7, 2014 Uh oh :o Any ideas on a simple way to fill those cracks? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Thommo Posted July 10, 2014 Author Share Posted July 10, 2014 (edited) Fixed it Using I hadn't opened this stuff for probably 10+ yrs, but it still worked OK. Tried to apply it neatly in the cracks using the end of a spare torpedo half, but in the end used the best applicator of all - my finger. Edited July 10, 2014 by Thommo Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Thommo Posted July 12, 2014 Author Share Posted July 12, 2014 Went for a walk, found some bits of bitumen, smashed a few up with a hammer, stuck them on with PVA. Bit too dark, so will dry-brush them lighter one I get the sand on. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
USMC6094 Posted July 13, 2014 Share Posted July 13, 2014 Looks really good so far, cant wait to see more progress Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Thommo Posted July 15, 2014 Author Share Posted July 15, 2014 I started gluing sand onto the base, but even sand run through a sieve is still 1/1 scale sand, not 1/72 scale. So I'm going to airbrush the sand colour on. Consequently, I undercoated the base with Tamiya spraycan primer - looks like a decent snow scene now. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cag_200 Posted July 17, 2014 Share Posted July 17, 2014 (edited) Excellent work there, Guess the plane needs a bleach as it is there for years... The pilot didn't made it I read. Edited July 17, 2014 by cag_200 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Thommo Posted July 18, 2014 Author Share Posted July 18, 2014 (edited) Excellent work there, Guess the plane needs a bleach as it is there for years... The pilot didn't made it I read. A bleach? That might be beyond my skill set, but I'd be keen to hear what you had in mind. I airbrushed the base with Tamiya Desert Sand, then tried a little Tamyia Buff and Vallejo dark yellow in spots, but it is all too dark. So I decided a trip to the LHS was in order to seek a lighter sand colour. But when I arrived - tragedy ! They have been closed for a week and don't open again till Monday! So I'll have to attempt one of my dodgy colour mixing experiments over the weekend :o/> Stay tuned, it could end in tears...... Yes, sadly, the pilot did not make it, it seems. My background reading on this crash was that 2 Kittyhawks were flying to another airfield for repairs - see http://www.vintagewings.ca/VintageNews/Stories/tabid/116/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/357/language/en-CA/Original-Kittyhawk-HS-B-Discovered.aspx. This one did not make it - mechanical problems? Though it does appear to have battle damage - perhaps it was that previous battle damage which was going to be repaired? Or perhaps it was shot down? Edit to say cag_200, I see you are from the Netherlands - very sad day for you, my condolences. 28 Aussies also lost on MH17. Terrible day. Edited July 18, 2014 by Thommo Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Thommo Posted July 19, 2014 Author Share Posted July 19, 2014 Airbrushed the the rocks light grey and gave the Kittyhawk a test fit on the base. The port wing needs to be half covered in sand, so I'll have to do that with the putty next. I'm happy with the sand & rock colours. The sand took some experimenting with different shades of Tamiya desert sand. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Thommo Posted July 19, 2014 Author Share Posted July 19, 2014 Putty applied over wing. Wonder if it will crack like on the base? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Thommo Posted July 20, 2014 Author Share Posted July 20, 2014 Yes, the putty cracked like crazy so I spent today filling the cracks with Tamiya putty, then used a beaut Brett Green video to learn how to decant some Tamiya spray can primer into a jar and airbrush the puttied area. Next, I'll try to match the colour of the surrounding sand, which will be tricky, as it took me a lot of trial and error to get the colour right. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Thommo Posted July 29, 2014 Author Share Posted July 29, 2014 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stevehnz Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 Cor Thommo, thats looking a bit good. I followed this story at the time & like many would like to see it resolved, with the plane secured in a decent museum & poor Flt Sgt Copping's remains found & interred among his comrades. In the meantime, I reckon your dio is doing a very good job of paying its own tribute to this incident. Very nicely done indeed. Steve. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
a4s4eva Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 Looking good Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Thommo Posted July 29, 2014 Author Share Posted July 29, 2014 (edited) Cor Thommo, thats looking a bit good. I followed this story at the time & like many would like to see it resolved, with the plane secured in a decent museum & poor Flt Sgt Copping's remains found & interred among his comrades. In the meantime, I reckon your dio is doing a very good job of paying its own tribute to this incident. Very nicely done indeed.:thumbsup:/>/> Steve. Yes, it was sad to see that with successive pics and videos of the plane, it was gradually being destroyed. I've based my diorama on what I think are some of the first pics before the clowns started smashing it up. Shame it wasn't taken straight to a museum, but I guess that is tricky to organise. I too hope they find the pilots remains and can return them to the UK for a military burial. If I get the mojo, I might attempt a more refined version in 1/48 scale one day. This is a bit of a quick and dirty attempt. Edited July 29, 2014 by Thommo Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Thommo Posted August 3, 2014 Author Share Posted August 3, 2014 (edited) Done Edited August 19, 2014 by Thommo Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stevehnz Posted August 3, 2014 Share Posted August 3, 2014 Nice Thommo, I think that you've captured the sand abraded lack of paint thing really well. You've done it proud. Steve. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Exhausted Posted August 17, 2014 Share Posted August 17, 2014 Quite the piece! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bravosierra001 Posted September 26, 2014 Share Posted September 26, 2014 That is really coning together nicely! Great job on the desert floor! Brandon Quote Link to post Share on other sites
utley Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 Man, this is awesome! I remember reading this news article a few years ago when they discovered this aircraft. Ive wondered if they have identified the aircraft and pilot yet... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Snowbird3a Posted May 29, 2015 Share Posted May 29, 2015 (edited) Man, this is awesome! I remember reading this news article a few years ago when they discovered this aircraft. Ive wondered if they have identified the aircraft and pilot yet... Er, go back and read the thread, in post #9 there is a link to an article from Vintage Wings of Canada. It was being flown by a Sgt Copping to a repair facility, when it went missing. Tony Edited May 29, 2015 by Snowbird3a Quote Link to post Share on other sites
utley Posted May 30, 2015 Share Posted May 30, 2015 Er, go back and read the thread, in post #9 there is a link to an article from Vintage Wings of Canada. It was being flown by a Sgt Copping to a repair facility, when it went missing. Tony LInk doesnt work. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Snowbird3a Posted May 30, 2015 Share Posted May 30, 2015 LInk doesnt work. then go to the Vintage Wings of Canada website and I'm sure the article can be found. Tony Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Thommo Posted June 8, 2015 Author Share Posted June 8, 2015 Not sure what happened to link, try this: http://www.vintagewings.ca/VintageNews/Stories/tabid/116/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/357/Original-Kittyhawk-HS-B-Discovered.aspx Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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