Author Topic: Model Airplanes (Read 11925 times)

3rdCrucisLancers · « **on:** 05 January 2012, 22:54:58 »

I build model airplanes as a hobby--right now my wife is in grad school in another, even colder state, and so I have a lot of time on my hands. Any other builders out there on the forums? I don't claim to be very good, but I think I do manage to build more models than a lot of better modelers. Quantity has a quality all its own.

Here's a quick shot of pretty much everything I built this year:

All in 1/72: Spitfire I, 2 x Spitfire Ia, Spitfire II, Spitfire Vb, Spitfire Vc Trop, Spitfire HF.VI, 2 x Spitfire VIII, 3 x Spitfire IXc, Spitfire XII, 3 x Spitfire XIV (XIVc, XIVe, FR.XIVe), Spitfire LF.XVIe, Spitfire F.24, Spiteful F.14, Seafire IIc, Seafire IIc Hybrid, Seafang F.32, Hurricane I, Hurricane IIb Trop, Hurricane IIc Trop, Sea Hurricane Ib, Barracuda II, Fulmar I, Firefly FR.I, Corsair IV ("Hammy" Grey, RCNVR VC's aircraft), Hellcat II, Mustang III, and Bf109E-3 (boo, hiss!).

Right now I'm working on:
Bf110C-4
Ju88A-4
Do17E
Fw190D-9
Hudson I
Corsair II
All by Airfix.

Xtrakit Spitfire F.22

AZ Models Wildcat VI, which is not going well.

I have in the stash:
3 x Tamiya Spitfire Vb
Special Hobby Hawker Sea Hawk FGA.6
Trumpeter Westland Wyvern
Cyber-Hobby Sea Vixen FAW.1
Hasegawa Ki-43-I
Hasegawa Ki-43-II
Hasegawa A6M2-21
Hasegawa B5N2
Hasegawa D3A1
Ancient Monogram Do17Z

What about you?

Spector · « **Reply #1 on:** 05 January 2012, 23:23:34 »

I used to ages ago and I want to get back into it again. Especially since I am far more patient and have better gluing skills. I might be able to get the landing gear to stay straight now...

Sigma · « **Reply #2 on:** 05 January 2012, 23:40:54 »

Those are some great planes.

My N-scale mini/model line has blurred so much I don't even know what is what anymore. All I care about is scale. :D

Grim_Reaper · « **Reply #3 on:** 05 January 2012, 23:42:56 »

was it just me or (for just a fraction of a second) at first glance did anyone else get the impression of the surface of an aircraft carrier before realizing it was a shelf?

HobbesHurlbut · « **Reply #4 on:** 06 January 2012, 00:17:54 »

I see you have a fairly large number of COmmonwealth planes, but I don't see Whirlwind, Typhoon, or Beaufighter?

3rdCrucisLancers · « **Reply #5 on:** 06 January 2012, 01:02:51 »

Quote from: HobbesHurlbut on 06 January 2012, 00:17:54

I see you have a fairly large number of COmmonwealth planes, but I don't see Whirlwind, Typhoon, or Beaufighter?

I actually forgot my Typhoon, it's almost done. Just needs decals. No Beaufighter, Whirlwind, or Mosquito yet, alas.

Stormlion1 · « **Reply #6 on:** 06 January 2012, 01:11:20 »

I on occasion like to build modern military aircraft, usually in 1/144th scale. I have a B-52 on the workbench right now. I already have one built now so the plan is to convert it to look like the Old Dog from the Dale Brown novels, I'm going to scratch build the SST nose and the twin V-tale and pack it to the hilt with underwing missiles.

PsihoKekec · « **Reply #7 on:** 06 January 2012, 01:22:57 »

Now that's a lot of Spitfires.
It's been two years since I last built a model, but I was more into tanks than airplanes, so only one Spitfire for me.

I am Belch II · « **Reply #8 on:** 06 January 2012, 02:13:56 »

Very Nice!!!

Desert Raider · « **Reply #9 on:** 06 January 2012, 13:54:02 »

Nice! Very Nice. My particular vice is armor, 1/35th scale, and usually German/Italian.('Cuz you can only build so many olive drab vehicles...) Takes me awhile, because I actually take the time to research paint schemes, insignia and the like. Latest projects tend to be the assortment of "Paper Panzer" kit coming outs... deigns that were prototypes or on the drawing board as the war ended. That, and my model trains, which I can't set up because Mom's (ended up living back at home) basement floods regularly

ShadowRaven · « **Reply #10 on:** 06 January 2012, 14:02:47 »

I'm starting to get back into it. Though I have a preference towards giant robots, I'm still going to do a few classic warbirds, and maybe a couple of classic cars as well.

3rdCrucisLancers · « **Reply #11 on:** 06 January 2012, 14:22:02 »

Quote from: Desert Raider on 06 January 2012, 13:54:02

Nice! Very Nice. My particular vice is armor, 1/35th scale, and usually German/Italian.('Cuz you can only build so many olive drab vehicles...) Takes me awhile, because I actually take the time to research paint schemes, insignia and the like. Latest projects tend to be the assortment of "Paper Panzer" kit coming outs... deigns that were prototypes or on the drawing board as the war ended. That, and my model trains, which I can't set up because Mom's (ended up living back at home) basement floods regularly

I'm fortunate in that there are a lot of well-researched aftermarket decal sets for 1/72 aircraft and lots of information on aircraft serial numbers; cuts down a lot on the research I need to do as compared to armor kits. I'm fond of British "What-Ifs" myself; besides the Spiteful and Seafang (stillborn evolutions of the Spitfire and Seafire with Mustang-style laminar-flow wings) I also have injection-molded and resin Martin-Baker MB5 kits to build. I have to pack everything away when my wife's birds are home, because they fly into stuff; the doves wrecked several Spitfire XIVs' landing gear before I wised up. 1/35 is too big for me, though; you have to be really good to work in that scale, where it's much easier to spot errors.

God and Davion · « **Reply #12 on:** 06 January 2012, 16:59:43 »

Nice models! Whoooa.. that's a lot of Spitfires... O0 O0

I have done 5 models... Airfix Spitfire, Italieri Corsair, Tamiya Fw190 A6 and Hasegawa FW190A8 R2 in 1/72 and Revell A-90 Orlyonok in 1/144. The next one is a Tamiya 1/72 Thunderbolt with several aftermarkets... but I'm too busy right now.

wasp · « **Reply #13 on:** 06 January 2012, 19:35:49 »

Great shot 3CL. I would like to see some Mosquitos added to your collection too.

Wasp

Moonsword · « **Reply #14 on:** 06 January 2012, 19:40:27 »

Nice photo and good work on the models, too.

CrossfirePilot · « **Reply #15 on:** 06 January 2012, 20:05:05 »

Nice I thought a few years ago i should get back into it, but found my skills or patience or attention span hasnt improved over the last 15 years. A bomber or two might look nice.

nerd · « **Reply #16 on:** 06 January 2012, 20:13:18 »

I'm getting back into from 3CL's peer pressure. ;)

I've got a Pegasus Hobbies 1:72 (IIRC) Spitfire Mk. I that's a remarkably nice snap-together done right now, and I'm working on a Revellogram A-4 Skyhawk that I'm completeing as John McCain's from a very bad day on the Forrestal.

CrossfirePilot · « **Reply #17 on:** 06 January 2012, 20:28:36 »

Quick count of hands, how many people here when they are making an airplane model, at some point in the process pretend it is flying while making engine noises?

3rdCrucisLancers · « **Reply #18 on:** 06 January 2012, 20:39:47 »

Quote from: CrossfirePilot on 06 January 2012, 20:28:36

Quick count of hands, how many people here when they are making an airplane model, at some point in the process pretend it is flying while making engine noises?

I...I don't have to answer that question.

But I will say that there's a reason I now build them with the gear down. If my wife caught me (hypothetically, of course!), I'd never hear the end of it.

greatsarcasmo · « **Reply #19 on:** 06 January 2012, 20:43:27 »

I just picked up a BEAUTIFUL airfix Spitfire MK 1. Seriously, for the cost (<$10.) It is the nicest 1/72 scale plane I've seen. Recessed panel lines that were so, so nice. I also got a Revel BF109 that is HORRIBLE...
I've also been picking up 1/72 & 76 armor.

3rdCrucisLancers · « **Reply #20 on:** 06 January 2012, 20:49:14 »

The Airfix Spitfire I/Ia/II kits (all made from the same base kit) are amazing. A dream to build, one of my personal favorite kits.

CrossfirePilot · « **Reply #21 on:** 06 January 2012, 21:35:36 »

Quote from: 3rdCrucisLancers on 06 January 2012, 20:39:47

I...I don't have to answer that question.

But I will say that there's a reason I now build them with the gear down. If my wife caught me (hypothetically, of course!), I'd never hear the end of it.

yeah good call. with the landing gear down i always use the excuse: "i am visualizing my approach for my next flight"

fltadm · « **Reply #22 on:** 06 January 2012, 22:38:30 »

I use to build a few but it has been on hiatous for a few years now . I realy need to finish by half conpleated AV-98 and HMS Victorious

sillybrit · « **Reply #23 on:** 06 January 2012, 23:03:18 »

Wow, that's a great Spitfire collection. [drool]

I used to make a lot of model kits back in the day, mostly Airfix with the occasional Revel, after I dad got me hooked as a kid. Mostly WW2 aircraft, a few jets and some ships, plus a couple of those diorama sets that Airfix used to make. Sadly, my last project was destroyed a day after completion: I'd proudly (and in retrospect, stupidly) placed the Wasa on top of the TV for my parents to admire and then left it there overnight. The cats thought that there was something new to explore, resulting in broken masts & shredded rigging, with the GSDs happily finishing the job on the hull when they found the new "chew toy" on the floor. Cats are evil.

3rdCrucisLancers · « **Reply #24 on:** 06 January 2012, 23:17:09 »

Quote from: sillybrit on 06 January 2012, 23:03:18

Cats are evil.

They have nothing on my wife's doves. Those bloody birds have smashed more Spitfires than the Fw190.

Quote from: sillybrit on 06 January 2012, 23:03:18

Wow, that's a great Spitfire collection. [drool]

It's my favorite airplane of all time. Of all time! When I was eight, I wrote J. E. "Johnnie" Johnson, the RAF's top British ace of WWII, and he sent me an autographed copy of his memoirs and a handwritten letter. A very great gentleman. I also wrote a letter to the Spitfire Society, and they put me in touch with many RAF (and one RN and one USAAF) Spitfire/Seafire pilots, who very kindly sent me period photos of themselves with their impossibly beautiful aircraft.

Here's my most recent project, Johnnie Johnson's Spitfire in D-Day stripes. I masked the stripes using 6mm Tamiya tape. I think this is probably my best work so far, though I could still screw it up yet.

sillybrit · « **Reply #25 on:** 06 January 2012, 23:35:23 »

That picture there shows one of the most beautiful aspects of the Spitfire: that graceful elliptical wing.

Then add in the poetry of the Merlin's growl, a sound that always got me bolting for the nearest doorway or window to try and catch a glimpse of the source. Of course, sometimes I was cheated and it was "just" one of the Battle of Britain Flight's Hurricanes. (Unashamed Spitfire snob)

Siberian-troll · « **Reply #26 on:** 06 January 2012, 23:49:47 »

Wow, nice.
I was in it too, ten years ago. But I been into WWI :-[

Still have row of my rare scratchbuilds, like Sikorsky C.XIX, twin boom trimotor attack plane

[

Hmmm, I should someday make a better pics, then these, which been made several years ago.

ShadowRaven · « **Reply #27 on:** 06 January 2012, 23:53:39 »

Quote from: 3rdCrucisLancers on 06 January 2012, 23:17:09

They have nothing on my wife's doves. Those bloody birds have smashed more Spitfires than the Fw190.

Pure Envy I assure you. Doves tend to view themselves as the most beautiful winged creation under heaven. When faced with something as graceful and elegant as a Supermarine Spitfire, even at a fraction of it's size and glory. Well they just can't cope, and it drives them to madness and acts of violence.

3rdCrucisLancers · « **Reply #28 on:** 07 January 2012, 00:03:07 »

Quote from: Siberian-troll on 06 January 2012, 23:49:47

Wow, nice.
I was in it too, ten years ago. But I been into WWI :-[

Still have row of my rare scratchbuilds, like Sikorsky C.XIX, twin boom trimotor attack plane

Holy crap! I should have known you'd do something spectacular! WWI stuff is too hard for me, I can't handle the challenge of rigging. Most of the Russian kits I see in the USA are old Frog molds re-used; were there any Russian kitmakers who're highly regarded in Russia?

Luciora · « **Reply #29 on:** 07 January 2012, 02:10:19 »

Mm I should get a Spitfire for my growing collection now. I started off on WW2 planes for my modeling addiction too. I have a Frogfoot and a Privateer on my current to-do list, just finished a Hien and a Mazinger Z kit last week.