I am new to FSM but not to modeling, as I have been building models for well over 20 years. I mostly build cars (especially cars I have owned and muscle cars) but have recently decided to build my first airplane kit. I have a 1/72 scale kit of the Monogram Grumman HU-16B Albatross which I want to build as Jimmy Buffet’s Hemisphere Dancer. Does anyone know where I might source a decal set for this version? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Over the past 60 years, I’ve settled into building ships, cars, WWI aircraft, and not much else. And in each of those areas, I have some pretty tightly focused interests. So I understand this Albatross being outside your experience zone.
First, start by understanding that the Monogram HU-16 kit dates back to about 1964 or so, so it won’t be made to the standards of excellence that everybody expects from manufacturers. And I believe it is an odd scale, although I don’t remember what that is.
As for decals, the best candidate I could think of for making decals for a unique civilian bird in an odd scale is Draw Decals. So I checked there and didn’t see what you’re looking for. However, I suggest you contact him, using the Contact Us link on the website and ask him directly - he makes odd subjects, and it may be that this one had never occurred to him. He may ask if you have a set of photos of the plane in question.
At any rate, good luck. It sounds like a fun project.
I suspect you’ll have to privately source the artwork and decal printing for ‘Hemisphere Dancer.’ Keith Davidson’s Red Pegasus Decals released sheets commercially many years ago, but when Keith passed away, his artwork went to Greg Drawbaugh of Drawdecal – and he stated he had no intention of releasing any new printings due to legal and licensing issues. That was some time prior to Jimmy Buffett’s passing…and I suspect those matters haven’t gotten any less complicated, since then.
The good news is, I suppose, that if you can work up your own artwork, home-printing decals isn’t terribly difficult. Lots of companies produce laser and inkjet decal paper – Bare Metal Foil and Kodiak being among the best I’ve used over the years.
If you haven’t seen it, there’s an interesting build using the same kit here:
Welcome aboard! I have built that plane, maybe about four or five different times just for the “Halibut!” I have never seen Jimmy Buffet’s plane so I can’t speak to it. It is and odd scale and old school tooling, but done right that can be a good thing. That, to me is one very handsome seaplane!
I normally build nothing but Ships or as my modeling Son says, my darned “Floaty Thingies"I build in all scales from 1/700(Don’t like this scale”) to H.O.Scale. Many scratch Built. Freighters, Passenger, and Work boats from European and American Rivers. I also build the odd Paper ship if that’s the only I can have that model.
I will be following you . So again Welcome Aboard! Tanker-Builder
Welcome to the FSM forums Rison51! I also had the idea(Dream) of building Jimmy Buffet’s plane too. I’d like to use Trumpeter’s 1/48 scale kit though. Let me know how you resolve your decal issue.
Hi im new to modeling and would like to build dirt oval track models but i cant find some one to help me with the chassis… can any one please help me with a drawing or blueprints so that i can actually get this thing right i have tried numerous times but no luck, I build 1:24 / 1:25 scale thanks