Lucky13
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I've been trying to find builds on Modelling Madness and Hyperscale to help out, but no luck Terry old boy. 
Avenger II, 857 Squadron, FAA, HMS Indomitable, December 1944, Group Build.
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- #122
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
He He! I think I'll stick with a flat bit of board, painted to represent a carrier deck!
I was just clicking the 'post' button, to reply to your previous post, when my 'net connection dropped out! The bl**dy thing has been doing it off and on all day!
Anyway, the pics of the 'blister' windows are just the job! The colour shot is the best reproduction of that particular formation pic I've ever seen; normally, it's all blurred and de-saturated when reproduced in books or magazines.
They all show just what I need - the blister is fitted directly over the rectangular opening, with the surrounding exterior paint colour 'trapped' inside the small areas around the edge of the blister. Most of the 'Anglisising' of the Avengers was undertaken by Blackburn's, in England, who fitted the British radio, electrical and oxygen equipment etc, as well as such things as the 'Sutton' seat hatnesses on the Tarpon/Avenger I, and subsequent models from Grumman, although the Eastern Aircraft Avengers retained American harnesses. I'm guessing that Blackburn's just removed the Perspex from the windows, and fitted the 'blisters' over the openings, so that makes things a lot easier for me!
Btw, I'm also surprised that no one has entered a Japanese aircraft as yet, or a RAF one for that matter!
I thought there would be a load of Corsairs, Hellcats, Zeros and the odd RAF bird! Still, there's plenty of time yet!
Thanks again for your help Paul, it's very much appreciated.
I was just clicking the 'post' button, to reply to your previous post, when my 'net connection dropped out! The bl**dy thing has been doing it off and on all day!
Anyway, the pics of the 'blister' windows are just the job! The colour shot is the best reproduction of that particular formation pic I've ever seen; normally, it's all blurred and de-saturated when reproduced in books or magazines.
They all show just what I need - the blister is fitted directly over the rectangular opening, with the surrounding exterior paint colour 'trapped' inside the small areas around the edge of the blister. Most of the 'Anglisising' of the Avengers was undertaken by Blackburn's, in England, who fitted the British radio, electrical and oxygen equipment etc, as well as such things as the 'Sutton' seat hatnesses on the Tarpon/Avenger I, and subsequent models from Grumman, although the Eastern Aircraft Avengers retained American harnesses. I'm guessing that Blackburn's just removed the Perspex from the windows, and fitted the 'blisters' over the openings, so that makes things a lot easier for me!
Btw, I'm also surprised that no one has entered a Japanese aircraft as yet, or a RAF one for that matter!
I thought there would be a load of Corsairs, Hellcats, Zeros and the odd RAF bird! Still, there's plenty of time yet!
Thanks again for your help Paul, it's very much appreciated.
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- #123
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
Ah, crossing posts Jan! It's OK mate, I think I'm almost there. There is one thing I haven't identified yet though, but I'll have to take a pic to show what I mean. There is a small blister, moulded onto the upper surface of each wing in the kit, inboard from the wingtip, but before the leading edge slat, and roughly in line with the trailing edge of the wingtip nav lamps. It's visible in the colour shot, and the 'barge' shot Paul posted. I haven't been able to find out if this is a solid blister, or a formation lamp or similar, as it's hard to tell in those pics where it's visible. Anyone got any ideas? BTW, it appears to be on all Avengers, at least up to the TBF/TBM1C (Avenger II).
Well I found these two pictures that are intersting. One is without the blisters or it fell off after the crash or removed before the picture was taken. The second, well its your choice. I found a couple pictures of Avengers with drop tanks. Personally I dont care for the look but I do have some more info on them if you like to add them. Other then that Im not sure if there is much more I can help with so if you find something just ask and your more then welcome. I know Ive learned lots from this.
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- #128
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
More useful stuff Paul! I'd have to check the serial number of the 'crashed' bird, but it might be one of a small batch diverted from a US Navy order, and eventually returned to the US. It's possible that these aircraft were 'stock', used for conversion training and work-up in the 'States, which would explain the lack of the 'blister' window. However, there is a feint outline around the outside of the frame that might be the mark where a blister was mounted?
The second shot definitely has the blister, but, like you, I'm not keen on the drop tanks. However, the very useful thing about both pics is the trailing aerial fairlead, and its position and shape. There isn't one in the kit, so now that I know about it, I can add one from scratch. It's interesting that the second pic shows the radio mast angled, as the aircraft seems to be an Avenger II which, according to the caption to a pic in one of your previous posts, had a vertical mast.
Once again, you've been a great help Paul, thanks very much indeed!
The second shot definitely has the blister, but, like you, I'm not keen on the drop tanks. However, the very useful thing about both pics is the trailing aerial fairlead, and its position and shape. There isn't one in the kit, so now that I know about it, I can add one from scratch. It's interesting that the second pic shows the radio mast angled, as the aircraft seems to be an Avenger II which, according to the caption to a pic in one of your previous posts, had a vertical mast.
Once again, you've been a great help Paul, thanks very much indeed!
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- #129
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
Crossed posts again! Sorry Paul, didn't quite understand your last posts, and there were no pics/attachments. I think you were talking about the little blister i mentioned, and it being a formation light?
Try refreshing your screen and hopfully the pictures show up.
Lucke.stz
Senior Airman
- Thread starter
- #132
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
Got 'em this time Paul. It was the bl**dy 'net again, acting up!
That's brilliant info on the formation lights, just what i needed. The 'mail box' slats picture is useful too. They are correctly moulded on the kit.
Looks like I'm good to go!
Thanks a million Paul, you're a star!
Now, I'm off to get some sleep, as I've been on the go for over 36 hours!!
That's brilliant info on the formation lights, just what i needed. The 'mail box' slats picture is useful too. They are correctly moulded on the kit.
Looks like I'm good to go!
Thanks a million Paul, you're a star!
Now, I'm off to get some sleep, as I've been on the go for over 36 hours!!
- Thread starter
- #133
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
Hey, thanks Lucas! I'll have a dabble with that when I'm more awake!
Your welcome Terry!!!! Now get some sleep!!!!
Lucke.stz
Senior Airman
No problem Terry !
You welcome,
cheers,
lucas
You welcome,
cheers,
lucas
109ROAMING
2nd Lieutenant
Awesome photos Paul! 8)
Thanks Daniel!!!!
- Thread starter
- #138
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
Right, having reverted to Plan B due to the bomb doors fiasco, these are now in place, and have been given a thin wash of zinc chromate to repair the damage. They'll be dirtied a little later; PIC 1.
Fitting these now will cause a little bit of difficulty in masking and painting, but not much.
PIC 2 shows the joint in the wheel wells, which has been filled with my home-made 'porridge' of varnish and talc mix. It really is great stuff for small gaps, and for reaching the parts other fillers can't reach. (With apologies to a particular UK beer advert - I'm sure Jan will understand, if no one else does!)
The small air intake scoop on the rear fuselage has been drilled out, and awaits tidying up, PIC 3, and a hole has been drilled for the trailing aerial fairlead. There is a small depression moulded into the kit, but no part is provided, and the moulded 'hole' is in the wrong place anyway; PIC4.
A fairlead will be made from scratch and added near the end of construction, after the painting etc.
The next job, after masking and painting, is to make the kit turret, as shown in the instruction sheet drawing, in PIC 5, look something like the real turret, as shown in the schematic in PIC 6.
So far, so good, with only a couple of minor hiccups. Anyone intending to build this kit, when it comes to the bomb bay doors, I reccommend ignoring the instructions, and fitting the actuating mechanisms, leaving off the split, folding doors until after painting.
So, it's now time to mask the model, and apply the first coats of paint, starting with the Sky Gray on the underside, this being the Du Pont 'equivalent' to 'Sky', used by Eastern Aircraft Division of General Motors.
As this build has progressed a lot faster than I thought, I might have a short break, and carry on with some other unfinished projects, including the Hunter. Afterall, I've still got almost 3 months in which to complete it, and I probably won't be 'entering' another model in this GB. (Yeah, right.....)
Thanks for your interest and comments.
Terry.
Fitting these now will cause a little bit of difficulty in masking and painting, but not much.
PIC 2 shows the joint in the wheel wells, which has been filled with my home-made 'porridge' of varnish and talc mix. It really is great stuff for small gaps, and for reaching the parts other fillers can't reach. (With apologies to a particular UK beer advert - I'm sure Jan will understand, if no one else does!)
The small air intake scoop on the rear fuselage has been drilled out, and awaits tidying up, PIC 3, and a hole has been drilled for the trailing aerial fairlead. There is a small depression moulded into the kit, but no part is provided, and the moulded 'hole' is in the wrong place anyway; PIC4.
A fairlead will be made from scratch and added near the end of construction, after the painting etc.
The next job, after masking and painting, is to make the kit turret, as shown in the instruction sheet drawing, in PIC 5, look something like the real turret, as shown in the schematic in PIC 6.
So far, so good, with only a couple of minor hiccups. Anyone intending to build this kit, when it comes to the bomb bay doors, I reccommend ignoring the instructions, and fitting the actuating mechanisms, leaving off the split, folding doors until after painting.
So, it's now time to mask the model, and apply the first coats of paint, starting with the Sky Gray on the underside, this being the Du Pont 'equivalent' to 'Sky', used by Eastern Aircraft Division of General Motors.
As this build has progressed a lot faster than I thought, I might have a short break, and carry on with some other unfinished projects, including the Hunter. Afterall, I've still got almost 3 months in which to complete it, and I probably won't be 'entering' another model in this GB. (Yeah, right.....)
Thanks for your interest and comments.
Terry.
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Lucky13
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Marvelous old bean, splendid!
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- #140
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
Why thank you, old fruit!
