With only around 2 hours total benchtime, I did manage to get the fusalage sides, rear seat ring, and the pilot’s instrument panel done and am now working on the crew figures. They need to be finished and installed when I join the sides together. I learned that lesson the hard way when I did my F6F-3 about 10 years ago. I’m going to see if I can get a friend to take some pics as this progresses,hopefully next week. Regards, Bill By the way, I like what you guys have done so far[tup].
AggieMan,
I had so much fun in your USAAF/USAAC GB, that I’d like to join you in this one too.
Kindly, put me down for a 1/48 Accurate Miniatures SBD3 Dauntless.
I’m trying to finish my P-47N for the USAAF/USAAC GB before the 31st. All that remains is the NMF. While I’m waiting for paint to dry, I’ll start working on the Dauntless 'pit.
Thanks & looking forward to building with everyone!
I’d like to get in on this.I love USN carrier planes.Can you guys recommend a good kit for an armor/sci-fi guy?I really dig birds such as the Helldiver and Devastator.
Welcome Darth and TD!
As for kit recommendations, where do I start?
I once built a Hasegawa SBD-3 Dauntless that I thought was a great kit, but I’ve also heard the same about the Accurate Miniatures kits that are currently available. Accurate Miniatures also does an SB3U Vindicator, and has done the Helldiver (which was a repop of the Pro-Modeler kit that I would highly recommend, having built that one a few years ago). Monogram is the only 1/48 Devastator that I am aware of, and I’ve built that one probably 3 times in my life. You’d have to find it on ebay or some other such place as I don’t believe it’s currently available.
For non-American subjects, Hasegawa does a Japanese Aichi Val and a Ju87 Stuka, but a Dragon or Pro-Modeler Ju88 would also qualify for this GB.
TD,
Welcome aboard. What scale are you looking to build in? I build, for the most part, in the divine scale of 1/72. I have the Academy SB2C-4 Helldiver and it’s a gem of a kit. Hasegawa makes a Dauntless, you usually can’t go wrong with them. Heller makes the SBC Helldiver biplane, think Airfix quality. Valom makes the Northrop BT-1. Have no experience with them, but am thinking about picking one up at Squadron’s open house at the end of the month. If you decide to venture to the dark side and build in 1/48, I can’t help you much. All I can say is that the Monogram SBD in 1/48 is a hoot to build. Not up to today’s standards by most, but you can’t take off, rectract the gear, deploy the dive flaps and dive bomb a target with a Hasegawa or Accurate Miniatures kit. Plus it comes with figures.
I enjoy messing around with graphics as much as I enjoy building. Here’s my shot at the dive bomber GB badge:
I have a go to if I may, not sure yet depends on what I can get hold of what I’ll do but my thoughts are
Yokosuka D4Y Suisei (Judy)
Aichi E16A Zuiun (Paul)
Henschel Hs 123
Henschel Hs 132
depends on what I can get really.
KW
I love WWII Warbirds,but hate doing the canopies.I’d like to go with a 1/48 kit.
Whatever kit you decide on, you should check to see if Eduard makes a canopy mask for it. These dive bombers tended to be multi-seat airframes with big canopies and lots of panes. In fact, come to think of it, I need a mask for my Stuka …
I also have the Accurate Miniatures Vindicator in my stash, as well as the AM Dauntless. I am pretty sure both kits come with canopy mask sets. If that makes your decision any easier, and both kits are 1/48.
I figured a 1/48 canopy would be easier to work with than 1/72.
Well picked up an AMtech 1/48 Hs-123A today, updated version of an old ESCI kit with resin cockpit included, so thats what I’ll be doing. Since she served well on the eastern front I thought I might do her with unspatted landing gear and if I get find a decent reference shot (or shots) done up in a winter cammo. (any help would be great)
might make a little hs logo to [:)]
KW
Am a little scared doing the canopy painting, could be too much detail[:D]
I found a couple of references for that HS-123. Looking forward to seeing your build (and I’m considering adding this kit to my stash).
I got only a couple of hours at the bench over the weekend - building a new wooden playset in the back yard for my daughter takes priority. I basically managed to finish construction of all major components and fill the seams, of which there were only a few. Tonight I started sanding but ahead of me lies the most daunting and least favorite part of this kind of build - masking the canopy. I could not find a canopy mask intended for this particular version of the Stuka, so I’ve resigned myself to having to mask all those tiny little “glass” panels.
I’ll get around to finding a carrier bird as well,but put me down for an Airfix 1/72 Junkers JU-87B/R.I knew I had something in the stash that would suffice!I’m not looking forward to that canopy however!
Well since GB’s are supposed to be about sharing advice along the way, I’ll post this here before I try else where. THis is my first time really working with resins, I have built resin figures but they havnt required much clean up, whats the best way to remove large areas from around the parts?
The smaller one I figure just carefully trim away as one might with plastic (but a bit more careful). I tried using a grinder attachment from my engaving tool to remove a large block from the bottom of the seat, while it was ok it was slow going. I am on the right track here or is there better ways to remove large blocks or similar large areas?
KW
I got started on that Stuka this morning.I must admit I feel like a fish out of water.
Two words-Razor Saw. Makes quick work of the pour stubs, allows you cut fairly close so clean up is a lot easier. Plus you don’t have to breathe in all that resin dust (nasty stuff I’m told) as you grind it off. These can be found at just about any hobby shop or craft store. If that doesn’t work or the shape doesn’t allow it, you can use the back of a x-acto blade and score the area like you were cutting thick plastic, then snap off the pour stub.
You can do it TD. Just like building a TIE Fighter, only different.
Aggieman I can confirm my kit, it will be the Italeri Ju-88A-4. Not sure when i will be starting, but will get some pics up once i do.
The biggest PITA is that I’m unfamiliar with accurate a/c colors.I also have to do some digging to find out what an Italian Stuka pilot’s flightsuit looked like.Did they use German gear as well?
Anybody involved in the SW GB knows by now I can crank out TIE fighters kinda quick.I’ve also cranked out a couple TIE Pilot costumes.Here’s one I made for the wife.
