Second of my builds will be this one
Anigrand McDonnell XP-67 Moonbat -F.16 Moonbat. F.16 apparently was the next available F number for USAAF PR types before they went to using R numbers in 1948. Thanks to Dave, Kitbasher for that information and useful link :thumbsup:
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/a134/NARSES2/IMG_20210703_102815.jpg?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds) (https://app.photobucket.com/u/NARSES2/p/c7397c4e-4f29-4d92-90bb-1a75bf82247d)
Foto Recce without observer post? (yes this seems very possible) <_<
Started cleaning this up yesterday evening before the Italy v Spain game and it's typical Anigrand. Resin is a tad on the thick side, but the fit looks to be excellent. Indeed a dry fit of one of the outer wing panels into its roots was so tight I struggled to separate them :rolleyes: Detail is fine as well, although there's hardly anything to go in the tiny cockpit, but not much will be seen under the canopy framing. I will dress it up a little and may see if I have a bubble style canopy in the spares that fits, although the heavy framing wouldn't be as significant a disadvantage on an aircraft intended for high altitude "stealth" operations.
I'll take some photos of the bits and bobs before I get the glue out.
I built this a couple of years ago. It's a fairly easy build. Good fit and I did not have a lot of problems with bubbles.
The props are a bit finicky to assemble though and break easily.
I could not get it to sit on its nose wheel though. The nose is very pointy and has no space for weights.
TomZ
Cheers Tom
Must admit the first thought that hit me when I started "playing" with it was "it will need a base" ;D I think when I start on it I'll get the props done first, then I can do them gradually rather than at the end of the build when I tend to be in a rush to get to the finish line and can get frustrated by such things :angel:
Sounds like it may be beneficial to remove some of the internal resin (especially aft), if you can. ;)
Yes, take a tip from Colin Chapman - add lightness.
Quote from: Old Wombat on July 08, 2021, 01:55:21 AM
Sounds like it may be beneficial to remove some of the internal resin (especially aft), if you can. ;)
I'm assuming from the ;) that you are aware of the shape of this thing and what with its horizontally split fuselage/wing panel construction I think it will go on a base ;D
Quote from: zenrat on July 08, 2021, 03:04:11 AM
Yes, take a tip from Colin Chapman - add lightness.
But perhaps not
quite as much as he was fond of doing!
Big Bits
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/a134/NARSES2/Moonbat_large_parts.jpg?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds) (https://app.photobucket.com/u/NARSES2/p/778ac1fe-1705-4a50-9391-001726d667a5)
Small Bits
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/a134/NARSES2/Moonbat_small_parts.jpg?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds) (https://app.photobucket.com/u/NARSES2/p/05ec5826-b1a6-4f99-b5cb-74c28dc981a7)
I have a Czechmaster one somewhere that is largely the entire aircraft moulded as one piece with a few smaller parts on a wafer or three of resin.
Tap your old workmates up for some tungsten powder, or failing that, spent uranium... :angel:
Always liked the moonbat, it's got a very pleasing shape.
Quote from: The Wooksta! on July 17, 2021, 08:16:59 AM
I have a Czechmaster one somewhere that is largely the entire aircraft moulded as one piece with a few smaller parts on a wafer or three of resin.
I had one of those too, all held together in a moulded tissue bag thing. Very odd.................
But that's the way they did things and TBH, weren't they so much better because of it?
It was VERY well moulded for sure, and not a bubble to be seen either.
Sadly I can't remember what I did with the darn thing, I certainly haven't got it any more. :(
Quote from: The Wooksta! on July 17, 2021, 08:16:59 AM
I have a Czechmaster one somewhere that is largely the entire aircraft moulded as one piece with a few smaller parts on a wafer or three of resin.
It's quite a sensible way of moulding it, think I've seen the boxing.
Quote from: Mossie on July 17, 2021, 09:07:31 AM
Tap your old workmates up for some tungsten powder, or failing that, spent uranium... :angel:
Always liked the moonbat, it's got a very pleasing shape.
Indeed it has Mossie. The fuselage it'self is very "stealth like". I wonder what its radar signature was like ?
As for sanding ? Anigrand resin sands very easily, sometimes to easily :angel: the only problem is that I have to wear a special pair of old jeans because of the amount of sanding slurry
Quote from: The Wooksta! on July 17, 2021, 03:24:52 PM
But that's the way they did things and TBH, weren't they so much better because of it?
Some of those old CMR kits were really nice, as were, and still are the Planet ones.
One day I will get around to building my CMR Wyvern TF.1
Some progress.
Fit so far has been very good and I've only found one nasty, awkward air bubble. I like these Anigrand kits, yes they are a little "chunky" some would even say "clunky", but they tend to fit ok and clean up fine and easily and if you want more detail then add it. Only possible problem is that you only get one vacform canopy so care is needed. I have a really good pair of small nail scissors for that, much more controllable, for me anyway, than a scalpel.
Basic Assembly
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/a134/NARSES2/Basic_Assembly.jpg?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds) (https://app.photobucket.com/u/NARSES2/p/301259aa-07dc-4aa0-85de-cd8d705f9263)
The Men in Grey Arrive
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/a134/NARSES2/The_men_in_grey_arrive.jpg?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds) (https://app.photobucket.com/u/NARSES2/p/e40f5ab1-fe89-4810-b1c4-435b604b66e6)
Apologies for quality of photos but I'm experimenting with my phone for in-progress shots and I'm obviously still at the bottom of the learning curve :-\
But spare Anigrand canopies are very cheap, or they were when I built my Martin Monterey anyway. He sent me two Seamaster canopy mouldings for £5, and there were TWO canopies on each moulding!
Quote from: PR19_Kit on July 18, 2021, 05:59:30 AM
But spare Anigrand canopies are very cheap, or they were when I built my Martin Monterey anyway. He sent me two Seamaster canopy mouldings for £5, and there were TWO canopies on each moulding!
I've never thought of getting in touch with him if I botch it. Good to know, thanks Kit :thumbsup:
Quote from: NARSES2 on July 18, 2021, 05:47:55 AM
One day I will get around to building my CMR Wyvern TF.1
It's a fairly straightforward build with little or nothing to trip up the unwary.
Quote from: The Wooksta! on July 18, 2021, 09:17:44 AM
Quote from: NARSES2 on July 18, 2021, 05:47:55 AM
One day I will get around to building my CMR Wyvern TF.1
It's a fairly straightforward build with little or nothing to trip up the unwary.
Looks nice in it's packaging :thumbsup:
Meanwhile as far as the Moonbat is concerned and to the tune of "'ere we go, 'ere we go" - "PSR, PSR,PSR" ;)
Mainly on the outer wing to nacelle joints and the nacelles themselves where they are split horizontally. Discovered I'm running out of my favourite grade of sanding pads and have run out of Greenstuff, both of which I would have replenished at Telford.
Go to ebay for sanding pads. Offcuts are exceedingly cheap and a tenner will likely get you a lifetime supply.
Cheers Lee :thumbsup:
Slightly to my surprise the outer wing to nacelle joints only needed one round of psr, although the nacelle joints themselves will need another round mainly because of their odd shape. With the wings, whilst there was a gap that needed filling at least both sides had the same thickness therefore there was no blending in to be done :thumbsup:
I've done some work on adding a little extra detail to the cockpit tub. Seatbelts, some spare instrument panel transfers cut up for the panel and a bit of plastic added to the rear shelf for a "radio". You won't be able to see much under the heavily framed canopy but I know I've made a modicum of effort.
Just about got the nacelle joints sorted, one more round of psr should do it, fingers crossed. Unfortunately I've lost a couple of the small air intakes at the very front of the nacelles however. The nacelles have one on each side and of course on one side I've lost the outer and the other the inner :banghead: Anyway dug a couple of drop tanks out from the depth of the odds and sods boxes and will cut the very tip of them off and use them as replacement intakes.
The nacelles also have their exhausts buried in very rear of them so I'm assuming they may have been seen as some sort of thrust augmentation ? I've read somewhere that the idea was toyed with, with a couple of WWII exhaust designs, so as the exhausts themselves are not a great fit I've been toying with the idea of replacing them with a couple of F5 exhausts I've found (in the same box as above) and which are almost a perfect fit.
So maybe a simple exhaust augmentation to give an extra 5 mph or so ? I know nothing about engines so assume that circa 1943/1944 there wouldn't have been a small enough turbojet or similar to stick in the back of the nacelle for "emergency boost" ?
Quote from: The Wooksta! on July 19, 2021, 08:30:34 AM
Go to ebay for sanding pads. Offcuts are exceedingly cheap and a tenner will likely get you a lifetime supply.
Just ordered some, thanks again for the nod Lee :thumbsup:
Quote from: NARSES2 on July 21, 2021, 07:06:11 AM
Quote from: The Wooksta! on July 19, 2021, 08:30:34 AM
Go to ebay for sanding pads. Offcuts are exceedingly cheap and a tenner will likely get you a lifetime supply.
Just ordered some, thanks again for the nod Lee :thumbsup:
Literally just arrived and I can't believe how big the package is :o It's about the size of a well padded lounge chair cushion. £9.99 for the lot and the postage was £4.55 of that. Will last for ever.
Great steer Lee, thank you :thumbsup:
Meanwhile progress and then a :banghead: moment.
I got the small air intakes either side of the nacelles sorted and my idea to use drop tank end's worked well. Then I decided to fit the wings to fuselage. Test fits had been fine, but I checked again and it was fine. So applied glue and guess what ? Would it fit ? Would it heck. Now at this stage I should have stepped back for a bit, but no. I was slightly annoyed as something had wound me up so I gave it a good old "shove". Pegs went into the wing root holes but the outer wing panel broke off :-\ My fault and if I'd realised how much psr the engine nacelles needed I would have used epoxy on the outer to inner wing joint.
So stepped back, had a mug of tea, calmed down, swore at what had wound me up and returned to the modelling room. Made the repair and this morning attached wings to fuselage and guess what ? They went in like a dream :banghead: Roots will need some psr as will that rejoin, but I think that just needs some Mr Surfacer 500.
So I now have what's looking like an airframe. Photos tomorrow maybe.
Quote from: NARSES2 on July 24, 2021, 06:45:00 AM
Quote from: NARSES2 on July 21, 2021, 07:06:11 AM
Quote from: The Wooksta! on July 19, 2021, 08:30:34 AM
Go to ebay for sanding pads. Offcuts are exceedingly cheap and a tenner will likely get you a lifetime supply.
Just ordered some, thanks again for the nod Lee :thumbsup:
Literally just arrived and I can't believe how big the package is :o It's about the size of a well padded lounge chair cushion. £9.99 for the lot and the postage was £4.55 of that. Will last for ever.
Great steer Lee, thank you :thumbsup:
Here's the package
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/a134/NARSES2/Sanding_Pads.jpg?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds) (https://app.photobucket.com/u/NARSES2/p/965af396-1e18-4987-8244-df3e4db45308)
Looks one I got last year.
I really like the shape of the Moonbat so i'll be watching this from now on. :thumbsup:
I wish someone did a 1/72 styrene kit of this plane, i'd surely get one or two. IMHO, it's the best looking WWII twin engine fighter design, too bad it didn't work out.
Quote from: DogfighterZen on July 25, 2021, 03:45:19 AM
I really like the shape of the Moonbat so i'll be watching this from now on. :thumbsup:
I wish someone did a 1/72 styrene kit of this plane, i'd surely get one or two. IMHO, it's the best looking WWII twin engine fighter design, too bad it didn't work out.
It certainly has a "look" to it. Must admit if there was a styrene one, not vacform, I'd be tempted by a jet conversion and a decent bubble canopy.
If any of the UK lads fancy those sanding pads then the people I got them from have sent me a code which will get 20% off the cost which is open to friends as well as me.
Only available for 14 days though so if you want it let me know.
Chris
What are these pads like Chris, can you post a pic of them perhaps?
If they're anything like the ones I got, they'll be similar to the foam backed ones that Aeroclub used to sell and Halfords still do. Basically 5-6mm of foam with a layer containing your abrasive material.
I've been using them for 25 years ever since Doug Feeney advised it. Much better than wet and dry.
They are a mixture of the pads Lee describes and larger sanding blocks, so with four "working" sizes and some two. Varying grades of grit. Outstanding value IMHO
Here's a shot of some of the types included, note some of the thinner pads are single sided, some double. Hope it helps Kit
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/a134/NARSES2/IMG_20210728_134240.jpg?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds) (https://app.photobucket.com/u/NARSES2/p/1ad9354d-ac4e-4bc2-b70a-277b24986c76)
It's almost certainly a case of Lucky Dip as to what you actually get Kit.
Every so often, my copy of the CMK Moonbat comes out and I think about building it, then I see the warped wings (natural given the sheer size of the casting - see also the Bv P.215 made in the same early 90s timeframe - 1 foot single piece cast wing!) and the resin u/c to take the weight and it goes back in teh box.
Shame, as I want to do it in RAF markings - preferably the fetching High Altitude Day Fighter scheme of MSG over PRU Blue - and it would look fantastic. Really wish Special Hobby would do it as an injection kit.
All different then? That could be VERY handy, count me in on the 'secret number' please! :thumbsup:
Quote from: PR19_Kit on July 28, 2021, 02:01:41 PM
All different then? That could be VERY handy, count me in on the 'secret number' please! :thumbsup:
I'll PM you Kit
Link and code now sent
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
I now have an airframe, hopefully paintwork this week. It's a single colour so hopefully should be reasonably straight forward.
Finally got around to getting some colour on it
Well she's painted, but as mentioned in my blog, my conscience got the better of me and I've been reworking the canopy/fuselage join. Think I'm there now so hopefully get the bulk done before I disappear for a few days next week.
Can't wait to see this done! :thumbsup:
Got the canopy masked yesterday and took advantage of the very poor frame outlines (virtually invisible) on the vac form canopy to make it more of a late war "bubble" type rather than the horrible early war "greenhouse" type the real thing flew with.
Quote from: NARSES2 on September 07, 2021, 06:17:01 AM
the vac form canopy to make it more of a late war "bubble" type rather than the horrible early war "greenhouse" type the real thing flew with.
Good whif improvement, congratulations! :thumbsup:
Thanks Tophe
It's something that i find horrible in WWII era fighters, those greenhouse type of canopies... I guess they were needed at the time but they look bad. I can also think of a few jets that could do with a bubble/teardrop shape canopy, the F4D Skyray is one but there are more. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Quote from: DogfighterZen on September 08, 2021, 06:22:26 AM
It's something that i find horrible in WWII era fighters, those greenhouse type of canopies... I guess they were needed at the time but they look bad.
I think some types can get away with them, but some do look terrible and the Moonbat is one of them.
Well, i have to agree, the P-40 and early P-47s are some of those for me. Still, i can imagine a Zero with a bubble canopy and i think it would look good.
Quote from: DogfighterZen on September 08, 2021, 06:41:12 AM
Still, i can imagine a Zero with a bubble canopy and i think it would look good.
Indeed, or at least far fewer frames
Removed the canopy masking and there's still a couple of spots at the canopy/rear fuselage join area that could do with a little more work, so filler has been applied.
Also dug out all the transfers needed from various spares boxes :thumbsup:
Been musing on a back story and so far I've got a couple of options.
a) Go into some detail, but my knowledge of the German 1944 Ardennes offensive is very basic and whilst I've got some references (inc. the Osprey Campaigns book) I could read up on while travelling in the next couple of weeks I'll probably be lazy and opt for option b. :angel:
b) Basic background info for the scenario she sits in.
If I'm honest I'm not really into writing detailed and lengthy backstories unless my brain is really in the mood. If it is I enjoy it, otherwise it's a bit of a chore. I must admit I'm in awe of some people on sites ability to write back stories.
Quote from: NARSES2 on September 09, 2021, 06:28:12 AM
I must admit I'm in awe of some people on sites ability to write back stories.
Whif back stories are good and bad at the same time.
Good for us enjoying unreal dreams. <_<
Bad for Historians and Politicians saying this is fake news, horrible lies... :angry: :-\
Quote from: NARSES2 on September 09, 2021, 06:28:12 AM
I must admit I'm in awe of some people on sites ability to write back stories.
I'm exactly the other way round. I really enjoy playing with words, starting with undeniable fact and leading the reader off into the realms of fiction.
I'm in awe of the ability of some people on this site to work marvels with styrene and/or resin!
Quote from: Rheged on September 09, 2021, 08:32:43 AM
I'm exactly the other way round. I really enjoy playing with words, starting with undeniable fact and leading the reader off into the realms of fiction.
I'm in awe of the ability of some people on this site to work marvels with styrene and/or resin!
I find I get to bogged down in the history and what I thought was just some gentle research for a few facts becomes a major project, which I enjoy, but doesn't help with writing the scenario. I'm much better off if the scenario involves an area/period I'm comfortable with, but there's not much call for air power in the 1750/1850 timescale ;D
I can now live with the canopy join so final, hopefully, piece of painting done and is drying.
I'm out and about this week so nothing will get done until next weekend at the earliest. Who knows the Xtracolour might be dry :angel:. Once I get back to the bench it's transfers and then undercarriage etc. At least all the remaining bits have been assembled as far as possible and painted so this should get finished by the deadline, but in this world of hours today who can really tell ?
Manage to get the fairly minimalist transfers on this morning before my brain and body stopped collaborating with each other, although to be fair to the pair of them they weren't feeling that great on their own. :angel:
Off traveling again this coming week, but I might get a little work done before I go.
Well "Christine" has had her matt coat and is now standing on her own legs, well two of them at least. So, hopefully on finals now
Go Christine go... ;)
Nearly there, on finals now. Must remember to fit her props though, seriously, she just looks as if she should be jet powered to me.
Quote from: NARSES2 on September 29, 2021, 06:44:38 AM
as if she should be jet powered to me.
This would be even more whif ;D
If I spot a cheap CMR kit at a show Tophe, you never know ;) :thumbsup:
Quote from: DogfighterZen on September 08, 2021, 06:41:12 AM
Still, i can imagine a Zero with a bubble canopy and i think it would look good.
It does. ;D Even though this isn't a Zero anymore, though...
(https://live.staticflickr.com/4159/34646641385_5eb57fd409_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/UMB6pX)
1:72 Saab J 19D; 'Groen Erik' of the Flygflottilj 8 (F 8) 4th Division, Flygvapnet (Swedish Air Force); Barkarby (Stockholm region), 1947 (Whif/Hobby Boss kit conversion) (https://flic.kr/p/UMB6pX) by Dizzyfugu (https://www.flickr.com/photos/dizzyfugu/), on Flickr
The canopy came from a Spitfire
Quote from: NARSES2 on July 21, 2021, 06:27:47 AM
So maybe a simple exhaust augmentation to give an extra 5 mph or so ? I know nothing about engines so assume that circa 1943/1944 there wouldn't have been a small enough turbojet or similar to stick in the back of the nacelle for "emergency boost" ?
It would appear from Jon's document and something I found in one of my books that this was actually looked at. So great minds eh ? ;)
Meanwhile she's based, no where to put weight in order to balance her, and is just awaiting my camera battery to charge up.
Quote from: NARSES2 on September 30, 2021, 07:25:20 AM
... is just awaiting my camera battery to charge up.
Oh, good! <_<
As Lt James Siouxsie climbed out of "Christine" the specialist guys were already unloading the film from his cameras. He'd radioed in as soon as he'd spotted the German armour hidden in the forest just in case he'd failed to make it home, but the photos once developed should settle the argument once and for all.
There had been rumours for weeks that the Germans were preparing a counterstroke against the Allied advance, but these had been dismissed by the top brass on the basis of "Counter offensive. What with ?". However, for those closer to the front line the rumours had not only persisted, but some firmer evidence had started to trickle in. Unfortunately, it was only a trickle, and it was very hard to convince the High Command, especially given the recent Allied advances, that the Germans were not, to all intents and purposes, beaten and the War would be over in the Spring, if not before.
Some intelligence officers had however continued to sift through all the information that was coming in and although most of it was irrelevant, they had started to firm up on their initial suspicions. The first thing that they'd been able to establish was that any attack was highly unlikely to hit the British/Canadian sector of the line. Yes there was a salient sticking out into the German lines around the Nijmegen sector due to the failure of the Arnhem offensive in the autumn, but once snipped off where would the attack go from there ? There were a lot of river lines to be crossed which would more than impede any farther advance as the British had found out a few weeks before.
So any attack would likely fall on the Americans, but where ? Given that the Germans probably only had the resources for one final assault in the west it was unlikely that there would be any feints and thus any attack when it came would be the sole offensive. So what would be the aim of this offensive ? It would need to achieve some form of strategic success as well as a tactical one, otherwise what would be the point ? The obvious objective would be to try and split the British/Canadian forces from the American/French ones. It might also be able to reach the coast around the Scheldt estuary and thus cut off Antwerp which was fast becoming the allies' main point of reinforcement/resupply.
So looking at the maps their eyes gradually fell upon the Ardennes sector. Sure, it was forested, but that hadn't stopped the Germans in 1940, and yes there were rivers to be crossed, the Meuse in particular. However, there were far more crossing points here than on the Waal and Maas further north and once across the going would get easier. On top of this the Americans were to some extent using the sector as a "rest area" where battered formations were sent in order to recuperate for the forthcoming Spring Offensive. If the Germans knew this, then it would be ideal and the planners had to work on the assumption that the Germans did know.
While patrols had been sent out these had discovered nothing conclusive. This was not surprising given the nature of the terrain, the weather conditions and the exhausted nature of the units involved. Indeed, many units were having to make up for their losses in the infantry with men from the specialised units within the Division, and these men were not trained for the task. So, what was needed was aerial reconnaissance assets, but these were not readily available and the prevailing weather conditions would be of no help if they were anyway. Still the planners were persistence in their requests and in the end, possibly so the air staff could have a quiet Christmas, they got some. They'd expected a couple of F.5 Lightning reconnaissance aircraft, what they got was a couple of the new, and as yet unproved, F.16 Moonbats. These were a reconnaissance version of the failed XP-67 fighter programme and had only been converted in order to be able to say that something useful had come from the project and the half dozen or so airframes produced before the project had been cancelled. They had the aircraft, they had their enthusiastic crews and their support, all they needed now was the weather.
So on the 9th of December when the skies cleared somewhat the Moonbats flew there first combat missions. They both returned to base with nothing to report. The same was true on the morning of the 10th, but in the afternoon and with the weather closing in again Lt Siouxsie climbed into Christine and took off for one last look before the weather made further flights impossible. At around 2:30 in the afternoon as it gradually got darker base controllers heard Siouxsie's excited voice start to shout "tanks, hundreds of them". His controller told him to get a hold of himself and then report what he was seeing as well as taking the all-important photos. Back came the reply. This is Lt Siouxsie in Moonbat F.15 reporting hundreds of German armoured vehicles in bivouac in the forest clearings, am returning with my photos".
Once he returned the developed photos were quickly despatched to Divisional HQ and thence onto Corps and Army levels. There was now no disputing the intelligence, the Germans were coming.
Now as every schoolboy knows the Germans launched their offensive on the 16th December and whilst it had not been possible to reinforce the American front line units at least they were ready and were able with a skilfully conducted fighting withdrawal to delay the main assault. When the Germans did eventually break through General Hodges was waiting for them and the rest as they say is history.
Despite their success in discovering the German' positions prior to the battle the Moonbats were soon retired from active service due to continued engine reliability problems while Lt Siouxsie was sent to an F.5 squadron where he saw out the rest of the war flying "Christine II".
In reality the XP-67 programme was cancelled on 13th September 1944 after the complete loss of the sole flying airframe caused by a serious fire in one of the engines, a problem that had plagued the test programme. The test pilot E E Elliot escaped un-harmed, but the project was cancelled, the remains of the first prototype scrapped and work halted on the second prototype. As envisaged the P-67, the names "Moonbat" or "Bat" were never officially sanctioned, was to have been a a high-speed, long-range, high-altitude interceptor intended to destroy enemy bombers with its 6x 37mm cannon. It was always a bold specification which was going to be difficult to fulfil, and so it proved. Various proposals were put up for different engine installations, the installed ones proving a particular Achilles Heel, but weren't proceeded with.
So, this is the Anigrand kit and is quite chunky, with some heavy detail and a fair bit of flash to be cleaned up. Some of the smaller parts are quite basic, the cockpit interior for instance, whilst others have a certain amount of finesse, the wheels for instance. However, it cleans up easily, to easily at times, and the fit is generally good. At the end of the day, I personally like Anigrand kits as they give you more than an adequate starting point if you then wish to go to town on the detail. I didn't and apart from the canopy this is built virtually straight from the box. The greenhouse style canopy has fairly indistinct frames, so I took the opportunity of masking it up and painting it so as to give it a far better looking, in my opinion, "bubble" style canopy. I also gave it some extra/larger air scoops where I'd inadvertently sanded the originals off, did I mention his resin sands easily ? It's finished in overall Xtracolour Synthetic Haze Blue which was used for a time by USAAF PR aircraft until they switched to RAF PR Blue, that's if they bothered to camouflage them at all. The minimal transfers are from the spares box, apart from the serial number which are from the kit. All in all, I enjoyed the kit and just wish that for various reasons I'd tackled it a couple of years ago.
So to the "Beauty Shots"
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/a134/NARSES2/F-16_Moonbat_004.JPG?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds) (https://app.photobucket.com/u/NARSES2/p/37dae348-391a-4c73-b029-c76b0eacc76f)
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/a134/NARSES2/F-16_Moonbat_003.JPG?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds) (https://app.photobucket.com/u/NARSES2/p/81d50742-d638-4f25-9ca5-dbcbfed7a5ac)
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/a134/NARSES2/F-16_Moonbat_002.JPG?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds) (https://app.photobucket.com/u/NARSES2/p/ae9a0bc0-4b23-4596-8ae6-c17a7d9deee8)
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/a134/NARSES2/F-16_Moonbat_001.JPG?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds) (https://app.photobucket.com/u/NARSES2/p/1382913b-9392-449e-b110-a2a44ded865a)
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/a134/NARSES2/F-16_Moonbat_005.JPG?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds) (https://app.photobucket.com/u/NARSES2/p/c02caf6c-6d31-4948-9dcf-baa0f00c6a1e)
Christine
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/a134/NARSES2/f_16_Moonbat_Christine_close_up.JPG?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds) (https://app.photobucket.com/u/NARSES2/p/78cd1179-1a04-4267-a840-69ad00d809d1)
Nice one, Chris! Both story & build! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
A beauty, Chris. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Nice build but why is a US aircraft in RAF colours? Na, doean't work for me.
Quote from: Old Wombat on October 02, 2021, 08:28:12 AM
Nice one, Chris! Both story & build! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Agreed!!
I like it a LOT! The aircraft has always fascinated me, and it should have gone further.
You've made sure it did Chris............. :thumbsup:
Great story and a beautiful model - well done, Chris! :thumbsup:
Good job Chris.
:thumbsup:
Thank you gents
Quote from: The Wooksta! on October 02, 2021, 10:39:38 AM
Nice build but why is a US aircraft in RAF colours? Na, doean't work for me.
Because it isn't in RAF colours Lee. It's in official USAAF Synthetic Haze Blue which at the time was the proscribed colour for USAAF reconnaissance machines. It was dropped because it was extraordinarily complicated to apply and it wasn't hard wearing, indeed you could call it fragile. It is very, very close to RAF PR Blue, especially on screen, but there is just an admitedly small difference when viewed with the naked eye.
As an aside a lot of USAAF PR Lightnings F.5's were painted overall RAF PR Blue upon reaching the UK. A fair few were left unpainted but those that weren't borrowed RAF paints.
Quote from: NARSES2 on October 03, 2021, 06:16:29 AM
As an aside a lot of USAAF PR Lightnings F.5's were painted overall RAF PR Blue upon reaching the UK. A fair few were left unpainted but those that weren't borrowed RAF paints.
I've done an RW Lightning F5 in that scheme, complete with D-Day stripes. Its unit was based at Mount Farm, just north of RAF Benson, the home of the PRU.
The color is s€xy! :wub:
Looks good Chris, love the finish!
TomZ
Really nice job. I think it is the first time I have seen that kit actually built and not still in the box on a swap and sell table.
Quite like the colour as well.
Quote from: buzzbomb on October 03, 2021, 03:15:57 PM
Really nice job. I think it is the first time I have seen that kit actually built and not still in the box on a swap and sell table.
Quite like the colour as well.
TomZ has built it "straight" as the fighter version and pics are on here. It's a decent enough kit and if the price was right I'd grab another.
Your starter for 10 as Bamber would have said. ;)
Just wondering if anyone has noticed the connection between the pilot's and aircraft's names ?
Quote from: NARSES2 on October 05, 2021, 06:22:51 AM
Your starter for 10 as Bamber would have said. ;)
Just wondering if anyone has noticed the connection between the pilot's and aircraft's names ?
No, not yet anyway............
Quote from: PR19_Kit on October 05, 2021, 09:42:14 AM
Quote from: NARSES2 on October 05, 2021, 06:22:51 AM
Your starter for 10 as Bamber would have said. ;)
Just wondering if anyone has noticed the connection between the pilot's and aircraft's names ?
No, not yet anyway............
I'm thinking song or album by Siouxie Sioux
Including or excluding the Siouxsie & the Banshees song Christine? :unsure:
]https://youtu.be/Rtt_0OKzRek] (https://youtu.be/Rtt_0OKzRek)
Excellent - nice one Chris!
Quote from: Old Wombat on October 06, 2021, 02:25:06 AM
Including or excluding the Siouxsie & the Banshees song Christine? :unsure:
]https://youtu.be/Rtt_0OKzRek] (https://youtu.be/Rtt_0OKzRek)
Yup. My niece was well into Siouxsie and the Banshees and use to play that quite a lot. Obviously stuck in the back of my mind and came out just as I was typing the aircrafts name in the backstory so I checked it on line and renamed the pilot ;D
I love it! It looks so sleek and IMO, the blue suits it perfectly. :thumbsup: :thumbsup: