June 2015 Meeting Notes

Posted on July 6, 2015 by Frank R

June 19, 2015 McKinstry Meeting
Theme: Bare Metal aircraft

Program: Dan Paulien – Applying Metallic Finishes

Notes by Paul Gasiorowski

AT the meeting: Carl Geiger, Glenn Estrey, Brain Gardner, Mark Murray, Jim Batchelder, Charlie Scardon., Steve Kumamoto, John Koziol Sr. and Little John Jr, Paul Gasiorowski, Dan Paulien, Mike Hanlon, Norris Graser, Frank Ress

There was discussion about the new meeting schedule for the rest of this year and 2016. Meetings in Aug. 2015 and Sept.2015 are only 2 weeks apart. The meeting in October is scheduled for a Saturday.

Dan Paulien brought up the idea that since this meeting will have a longer run time, maybe we can have a long demo or a couple of short ones. Also in 2016, the meeting between Mar 2016 and April 2016 will only be 2 weeks. There is no meeting date for May 2016. Then the July 2016 and Aug 2016 meetings will be 7 weeks apart. Discussion on this was tabled to the next meeting.

The theme for this month’s meeting was Bare Metal aircraft. There were approximately 18 models on display.

Dan Paulien brought in 5 models: P-47 from the 2001 Group Project (Nemanie II, 509th FS/405th FG, AMaster decals, Hasegawa kit; F8U Cutlass, Fujimi, 1/48 painted with Alclad Aluminum F-86, Academy, 1/72; P-51B, Academy, 1/72

Paul Gasiorowski: F-84G, Heller, 1/72; Out of the box build. Tamiya primer and MMaster Aluminum Spray can. Tamiya tape before the primer to get various shades of aluminum. Very little sanding was needed. The wings and horizontal stabilizer were not glued to the fuselage, as the fit was tight. Nice easy build for the theme night.

Ford Tri-motor, Monogram 1/67; Truly OOB. Since the Ford Tri-motors were not painted, since it was an aluminum alloy. I just built this OOB, except for some painting of the engine cylinders. Some decals were added. This was probably a good example on how a kid in the fifties or early sixties would have built it.

USAF NT-43A, Highly Modified Airfix B737-200, 1/72; Built as a one off from a picture I received from the TICK. The platform was used primarily for radar work in conjunction with the stealth programs. The only modification were extended nose and tail radomes. There will be a review posted on the new web site of this build.

Brian Gardner. P-36, Amt/Monogram, 1/48. Modified kit to show what the actual P-36 was like before a kit was available. He used a cowling from an AMT P-36, engine from a Monogram P-40, and prop from a Mono- gram Wildcat. He finished the model and HobbyCraft released the same version.

John Koziol Jr. An update on the Merlin Engine project in 1/24 scale. Also a 1/24 Zero Project engine made of different metals.

John Koziol. Sr.; Scratch built 1/10 scale 1967 Lincoln Town car.

Jim Batchelder F-104, Hasegawa, 1/48 OOB; F-86, Academy, 1/48 OOB; Alclad Aluminum paint job.

Mike Hanlon, P-47D Razorback, Tamiya, 1/48; easy build. Used Thundercal Decals and Alclad paints.P-47D-20-RA Slick Chic 69th FS/58thFG

Glenn Estrey; P-51B Mustang, Tamiya, 1/48, entire plane in Bare Metal Aluminum sheets of different hues. OOB Decals were from a different source. He suggested building this if you want to suffer a lot of pain.

Charlie Scardon; F-89H, Revell, 1/48Built OOB. Nice kit to build, used Super Scale Decals, Used MMaster Guards Red over white for “Arctic Red.”

Steve Kumamoto; Convair XP-81, Anigram, 1/72, Kit was a final version of the turboprop model. Steve wanted to build the original version. He had to cut down the nose and add a Hasegawa P-51D Mustang nose, just like they did at Convair. He also had to build a higher fin insert, ventral fin and scratch build the oil cooler.

Bell XP-83, Anigram, 1/72, OOB scratch built landing gear doors.

North American RB-45C, Mach 2, 1/72 OOB. A tail sitter, Steve had to add so much weight to the nose that the original landing gear could not support it and broke. He had to re-drill the struts and add stiff wire .040 into the body of the plane to get it to sit correctly. Used Platinum Mist paint as the base coat.

Program: Dan Paulien – Applying Metallic Paints

Dan Paulien did the “honors” with a “hands on” demo for applying metal paint with an airbrush. He covered masking techniques and surface preparation. Tips included masking for various shades of metal finish. Paints demo’d were Model master Metalizer and Alclad II.

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Civil War Re-enactment Cannon Demo by the Tick

Posted on June 1, 2015 by Frank R

Civil War Re-enactment Cannon Demo

by Norris Graser (the Tick)

For five years, a civil war cannon reenactment has been presented at the school located across the street from where I live. I missed the first time around, but I sure did hear and feel it as I watched the windows rattle in office. Every year thereafter, I have grabbed my camera and walked across the street to listen to a little history and take pictures of the several groups of students brought outside for this enactment.

In addition to some history, they explain the way the cannon works including how it is loaded and fired including the interaction and function of the four man crew. There are several trial runs concluding with a student volunteer to command the firing and pull the chain that fires the cannon. It’s righteously loud and belches an impressive amount of smoke as it recoils from the firing. Everyone is impressed but the students who actually command and fire must be thrilled the most. This demonstration occurs three times with a new audience each time.

After the late morning demo, I called Lee Lygiros to offer up some high end Peat Whiskey I picked up in Ireland a week before. Turned out, he was on his way home and when I mentioned the cannon he decided he would also like to see demo.

After the final firing, we talked to the gun crew a bit. We found out all four are (no surprise) serous civil war historians. I noted how ironic it was that in this day, with all of the political correctness and no tolerance policy about firearms – especially in a school environment, that this event was allowed to occur at all, let alone annually. That thought wasn’t lost on them as it was related that the first year they visited the school, there was a lot of concern and security and police were present. However, they haven’t been back since. Now the crew just show up, place the cannon, talk to the kids and set it off.

This 3” cannon was cast some 23 years ago, in Wisconsin. They told me there is one canon in use that is over 100 years old.

Trial run….<click>…..

Ka-BOOM

The Tick

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Tamiya P-51B in 1/48th, by Mike Hanlon

Posted on June 1, 2015 by Frank R

Tamiya P-51B in 1/48th

by Mike Hanlon

Tamiya P-51B box art

First released in 1995, the Tamiya P-51B Mustang is a simple kit that builds into an exceptional model. The initial P-51B release was quickly followed by the Mustang III in RAF markings. This release added a blown Malcolm Hood as well as the original kit canopies. All subsequent releases include the Malcolm Hood.

Built straight from the box, a very competent model can be assembled. The only thing that lets the kit down are the decals. They are labeled “Invisiclear” by Scalemaster.

They have a tendency to shatter when dipped into water. Fortunately, there are a large variety of decals for the B model Mustangs from Superscale, Aeromaster and Eagle Strike.

One area that can be improved is the cockpit. The instrument panel has only blank gauges, the cockpit sidewalls are simplified and the cockpit floor is curved rather than straight. If you want to go to town there are several resin cockpit sets available. If chiseling off the sidewalls doesn’t appeal to you, Eduard makes a Zoom set with an instrument panel, sidewall details and seat belts. If you leave the canopy closed careful painting of the interior is all that is really necessary.

Assembly of the Mustang is pain free and the fit is excellent, there are no problem areas to speak of. If you want to improve the looks of your model, Ultracast makes a number of simple resin replacement parts including propeller blades, seats, shrouded and unshrouded exhaust stacks, and three wheels with different tread patterns. I simply added Eduard seat belts.

For my Mustang I used Eagle Strike sheet 48-274 4th Fighter Group P-51 Mustangs. I chose Capt. Howard Hively’s “The Deacon”. The aircraft is in standard Olive Drab over Neutral Gray. With full invasion stripes and a red spinner and noseband.

The model was painted with Tamiya acrylics. The Olive Drab mixed using Tamiya Olive Drab lightened either Tamiya Yellow Green. The remaining colors were straight from the bottle.

Overall a straightforward and enjoyable build the kit is highly recommended.

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May 2015 Meeting Notes

Posted on May 20, 2015 by Frank R

May 22, 2015 McKinstry Meeting
Theme: Bare Metal aircraft

Notes by Paul Gasiorowski

16 members attended the meeting. Bill S., Brian G., Frank R., Scott O., John Jr., John Sr., Charlie S., Steve K., Mike H., Paul G., Glen E., Jim B., Mark M., The Tick, Bill L., Lee L.

It was a pretty good turn out for the holiday weekend.

Frank Ress gave a short demo on how the new website would look. Frank is moving a lot of the information from the old website to the new, but it will take some time because of all the pictures and articles that are embedded in the site. It looks like it will be easy to navigate once it’s up and running. He will email a link to all members, once it is ready.

There where something like 30 models for show and tell. Charlie and Steve had the bulk of the WWI planes on display.

Glen Estry

Spad XIII, 1/72, Academy. Not a bad build, but the decals were very thick.
Sopwith Triplane, 1 /72, Revell
2 Plane Diorama, Fokker DVII & Sopwith Camel, 1/72 Revell and Academy. The diorama showed the planes in flight with one chasing the other. The base of the diorama was the ground which made it look more realistic. Nice job Glen.

John Koziol Sr.

S.E. 5, Guillows wood kit. 24” wingspan, quite old. Some metal parts included.

John Koziol Jr.

Mosquito, Airfix, 1/24. John’s continuing saga of the metal rolls Royce engine mounted on this 1/24 scale airplane.

Lee Lygiros

3 tank models circa WWI,MK IV, 1/35, Enhar, A7V Tank, 1/35, Tauro, DFW T-28, 1/48, Eduard. Lots of trial and tribulation when assembling the tanks. A frank Comment for Lee was %##%%&%^ on the ease of building these kits.

Paul Gasiorowski

British SE5A, 1/48, Lindberg. Lot of clean up of parts, many small pcs for engine assembly which would be hidden from view once the cowling was one. Overall colors Olive Drab on upper wing surfaces and body. Sand on the lower wing surfaces. Tried not to be to neat with the pain job to show some wear and tear on the plane. Cabanes were hard to get set up right. Omitted the rigging.
NT-34 Modified Air Force Boeing 737.. All miscellaneous bumps and lumps add the the fuselage. Basic primer added to the plane. Next step is to paint the Semi Gloss White and be ready for the next meeting. The rear tail radome was made of 3/8” dowel rod, with a brass insert to give it some body when attached to the rear of the 737.
KC-135R, 1/144, Minicraft. Minicraft did a good job of producing this kit. Upper fuselage seams cleaned up well. Added some weight to the nose of the plane to keep it from being a tail sitter. Some filling and sanding at the windshield. Used Model Master Acryl paints, with a Tamiya primer as a base.

Steve Kumamoto (all 1/48)

Albatros DIII. Manufacturer: Glencoe (Ex Aurora); Injection molded. Except for cockpit OOB. Builds great even after all these years I think I remember building it in the late l950s. Recommended as a first WWI kit. Decals are for Werner Voss 1917.
Fokker D VIII. Manufacturer: Koster Vacform. Excellent as an Intro for WWI vacforms. Incl. jig makes positioning wing a snap.
Folker D VII. Early Man: Rodan; Injection molded. OOB. In general, a good accurate kit but brittle plastic lets the struts for wings down. I had to use wood to make new struts. But, metal would have been better. Whether or not you show the motor, working in the cowling area is tough. Decals are for LTN. Hugo Shaefer. Jasta 15 summer 1918.
R.A.F. SE-5a. Man: Rodan; Injection molded. OOB. Very good kit, except for the brittle plastic, no problems in assembly as long as you forget showing the motor. Decals are for 2/LT J.J. Fitzgerald. Oct 1917
Sopwith Triplane. Man: Koster Vac. Very good and easy to build vacform. Cast metal struts make aligning wings fairly easy. Decals are for FLT. CDR R. Collishaw.
Berg D. 1. Man: Flashback (ex Edward?). Inj. OOB. Fairly easy build, but be careful with the decals as you only get one shot (no backups) at getting it right. I would recommend applying the decals in sections, not in one piece. Decals are for F. Like-Crawford Flikv 60J

Charlie Scardon

High wing monoplane w/striped stab; 1/72 Eduard Fokker E.V Jasta 6 out of the box except for wooden prop
High wing monoplane silver German; 1/72 Heller Morane Saulnier MS-230 modified to the one from The Blue Max
Silver incomplete German biplane w/hexagon lozenge; 1/72 Meicraft Dornier D.I Pegasus lozenge
Incomplete green German biplane; 1/72 Eduard Junker J.1
German biplane with white stripe on upper wing; 1/72 Aeroclub Fokker D.VI Jasta 80b
Red German biplane; 1/72 Toko (now Eastern Express) Sieman Schuckert D.III Ernst Udet Jasta 4
Green German biplane; 1/72 Toko (now Eastern Express) Sieman Schuckert D.IV Alfred Lerner
German biplane w/striped stab; 1/72 Toko (now Eastern Express) Phaltz D.XII pilot unknown
Black Fokker DVII; 1/72 Esci w/Roseplane nose Fokker D.VII (Alb) Carl Degalow Jasta 40
Grey/brown Fokker DVII; 1/72 Revell w/Roseplane nose Fokker D.VII (OAW) Wilhelm Scheutzel Jasta 65
Austrian biplane; 1/72 Toko (now Eastern Express) Hansa Brandenburg DI Flik 41J Godwin Brumowski
HMS M1 monitor submarine 1/700 HP kit
Imperial Russian destroyer Engineer Mechanic Zweriev 1/700 Model Krak kit