Solid Model Memories.net

General Category => Monthly PING! => Topic started by: lastvautour on February 08, 2011, 05:27:02 PM

Title: February 2011 Ping
Post by: lastvautour on February 08, 2011, 05:27:02 PM
A bit late this month. My regrets. Her are the latest stats for the site

Total Members:   250
Total Posts:   5177
Total Topics:   584
Total Categories:   9
Users Online:   4
Most Online:   70 - August 29, 2009, 04:33:27 AM
Online Today:   11
Total page views:   807280
   
Average registrations per day:   0.3
Average posts per day:   4.72
Average topics per day:   0.6
Total Boards:   55
Latest Member:   Bob Neill
Average online per day:   11.89
Male to Female Ratio:   1:0
Average page views per day: 701.37

Gallery details :

4,660 files in 267 albums and 16 categories with 682 comments viewed 419,206 times

Title: Re: February 2011 Ping
Post by: lastvautour on February 08, 2011, 05:32:09 PM
Fairly quiet around the house with lots of snow being shoveled or blown. The snowblower is really getting a workout this year. Regardless, I am still working on the Argus, Yukon and the new 1/72 scale ID + P-40. It is in the paint shop now but will not be revealed until the group cook-up reaches that stage in the build.

I tried to do a 1/144 AJ-1 Savage but placed it in the recycle bin for now. I will attempt to do one in 1/72 later. The two photo do not show the incorrect profiles I attained. I was rushing and not paying enough attention. Live and learn.
Title: Re: February 2011 Ping
Post by: cliff strachan on February 08, 2011, 08:05:22 PM
Lou I'll "Ping"  ASP but will you please explain the discrepancy between your "250" members and the statistic of "194" that comes up when one clicks on "members".

Cliff
Title: Re: February 2011 Ping
Post by: Oceaneer99 on February 08, 2011, 10:26:52 PM
Cliff,

I have no idea why the software gives two different numbers.  We use the summary data for the Pings, which includes the 250 members number.  But the actual member list (only admins have access) shows 194 members.

"Muy mysterioso".

Garet
Title: Re: February 2011 Ping
Post by: lastvautour on February 08, 2011, 10:48:09 PM
One could assume that the difference is the amount of people we booted off the site for being spammers.

Lou
Title: Re: February 2011 Ping
Post by: Balsabasher on February 08, 2011, 11:39:34 PM
Vickers ES1 Bullet construction has been delayed a bit by other non modelling tasks like rebuilding three vintage doors for a friend for his new house,in exchange I got a lot of nice timber so both parties are happy.
However the ribbed wings are coming along nicely and the wing strut material awaiting shaping.

Plans and templates in preparation for-

BE2C
Fiat CR30

Propellers are in the blank stages for both of the above,I find with the complexities of biplane models it is best to flit around carving different parts and build them up as small batches,it is easier to spend a morning carving propellers in one go.

Two P-40 Warhawks in grey primer awaing small fittings to be added.


In the pipeline are-

DH.89A Rapide
DH84 Dragon
Chrislea Ace
Newbury Eon

Barry.

Title: Re: February 2011 Ping
Post by: Ken Pugh on February 09, 2011, 02:41:28 PM
The 1/8th scale Curtiss electric propeller is finished and yet to be picked up.  I threw the second P-47 I was building in the trash because I was not happy with the fuselage.  I am looking at trying to incorporate some methods I found on the Japanese sites when I start on it again.

My oldest granddaughter came up for a visit last month.  She is 10 years old and a very girly girl.  She stunned me when she said she liked studying war and planes that blow stuff up.  She is particularly interested in Pearl Harbor right now.  This all came up when she asked about the Saitek joystick sitting by my computer, which she would love to use doing some yanking and banking in a combat flight simulator  I asked her if she would like me to build her some airplanes and she got extremely excited.  So, I now have an unlikely family member to build airplanes for and am eager to get to work on that.  She will come up next month for a few days with her sisters who are much younger and I want to have something ready for then.  I originally planned to build a P-40, fitting in with the Pearl Harbor idea because I knew I couldn't get several Japanese planes done by then.  I then decided to build her a bomber.  At first I was leaning towards the B-17 but now I am considering a B-25.  This will be an opportunity to tell her about the Tokyo Raiders.

Ken Pugh
Title: Re: February 2011 Ping
Post by: Mark Braunlich on February 09, 2011, 07:28:38 PM
Work continues on the 1:48 Caudron racer and have started restoring 1:72 Strombecker Lockheed P-80A.

Back surgery slowed the pace to nil but feeling better and haven't returned to my real job yet so maybe will make some progress soon.  Received a built Strombecker A-20 for Christmas that needs restoration too.

Mark
Title: Re: February 2011 Ping
Post by: cliff strachan on February 09, 2011, 09:11:30 PM
Ken, maybe you could interest your grandaughter in trying her hand in building a solid scale model. Our group could probably benefit by having at least one  lady member. My daughter - now 48 - used to build plastic models when she was small. They were pretty good. But alas ...  .

And Mark, good luck with the back.
Cliff
Title: Re: February 2011 Ping
Post by: Balsabasher on February 09, 2011, 10:52:08 PM
Quote from: Ken Pugh on February 09, 2011, 02:41:28 PM
The 1/8th scale Curtiss electric propeller is finished and yet to be picked up.  I threw the second P-47 I was building in the trash because I was not happy with the fuselage.  I am looking at trying to incorporate some methods I found on the Japanese sites when I start on it again.

My oldest granddaughter came up for a visit last month.  She is 10 years old and a very girly girl.  She stunned me when she said she liked studying war and planes that blow stuff up.  She is particularly interested in Pearl Harbor right now.  This all came up when she asked about the Saitek joystick sitting by my computer, which she would love to use doing some yanking and banking in a combat flight simulator  I asked her if she would like me to build her some airplanes and she got extremely excited.  So, I now have an unlikely family member to build airplanes for and am eager to get to work on that.  She will come up next month for a few days with her sisters who are much younger and I want to have something ready for then.  I originally planned to build a P-40, fitting in with the Pearl Harbor idea because I knew I couldn't get several Japanese planes done by then.  I then decided to build her a bomber.  At first I was leaning towards the B-17 but now I am considering a B-25.  This will be an opportunity to tell her about the Tokyo Raiders.

Ken Pugh


What a lovely idea Ken,your graddaughter is very lucky to have you,the B-25 would make a stunning solid model with those cranked wings and all of that history attached to it as well,best of luck in your interesting project,Barry.
Title: Re: February 2011 Ping
Post by: Ken Pugh on February 10, 2011, 02:50:52 PM
I would love to get her into scratchbuilding wood models but the question of knives comes up.  I only see her once a year and cannot properly guide her in the use of knives.  The idea I had was to build her something and prime it then let her paint it.  I could also build primed models for the younger girls to mess up with paint so they won't get jealous.  This can be a nice slow growing hobby that grandpa/granddaughter can share.  I have noticed before she has some dexterity in her hands and can really focus on a craftsmanship task, so I hope to develop this.  My thinking is expose her to technological pursuits possibly broadening her potential career choices in the future.

I will try to have something on the bench in the carving stage when she gets here so she can watch me use the knife.

Ken Pugh
Title: Re: February 2011 Ping
Post by: Balsabasher on February 10, 2011, 03:09:51 PM
Yes this can be a problem Ken,I think your idea of letting them paint the models is a good idea,also how about this one as well,carve up some blanks so that they plug together nicely,something simple like a mid wing with the fillet underneath which pushes into place,have everything pre-carved but not fully sanded,so they get the feel of using wood as a material and can get to glue them together and finish them ? some precision assembly work on your part Ken but well worth it,when they see you doing it enough times then perhaps one day they will do their very own carving.
Barry.
Title: Re: February 2011 Ping
Post by: Mark Braunlich on February 10, 2011, 03:27:20 PM
Not totally safe but a good wood rasp can do most of the jobs a knife can do without the same amount of danger.  With a softer wood like balsa, the amount of force needed to use it effectively should be within her range.

Mark
Title: Re: February 2011 Ping
Post by: lastvautour on February 11, 2011, 01:43:40 PM
Pete's Canadair Limited Dynavert CL-84 has made it off the drawing board and on to the production line.
Title: Re: February 2011 Ping
Post by: Balsabasher on February 11, 2011, 01:56:38 PM
What a novel subject and well executed,well done Pete !
Barry.
Title: Re: February 2011 Ping
Post by: cliff strachan on February 11, 2011, 06:20:56 PM
Undoubtedly neat. But Pete you really must tell us how you attached the wings while at the same time allowing them to rotate. And also what was the source of your plans?
Cliff.
Title: Re: February 2011 Ping
Post by: lastvautour on February 12, 2011, 04:33:45 PM
The Hudson has been repaired and returned to it's resting place. The port engine no longer droops. I did not refurbish the paint scheme as I had originally said.
Title: Re: February 2011 Ping
Post by: Balsabasher on February 13, 2011, 11:50:14 PM
http://smm.solidmodelmemories.net/Gallery/albums/userpics/10005/ES1_I.JPG

I have added a few pictures to the gallery of the Vickers ES1 Bullet and my initial start on the BE2C.

Barry.
Title: Re: February 2011 Ping
Post by: Balsabasher on February 15, 2011, 12:58:21 AM
http://smm.solidmodelmemories.net/Gallery/albums/userpics/10005/BE2C_FUSE_2.JPG

The BE2C is coming along nicely,a subject with lots of character to it,more pictures in the gallery added tonight.
Barry.
Title: Re: February 2011 Ping
Post by: Will on February 15, 2011, 01:34:53 PM
Quote from: Balsabasher on February 15, 2011, 12:58:21 AM
The BE2C is coming along nicely,a subject with lots of character to it,more pictures in the gallery added tonight.
Barry.

Barry, your "Quirk" is coming along nicely.  It looks big, is it 1/24?

I see you're going for a late model with curved fin and normal undercarriage - I prefer the earlier ones with skids and triangle fin, though that's due to watching "Wings" when I was a kid - I've just finished rewatching the whole lot on DVD and notice the BE2C's are a bit of a dog's breakfast of 2a and 2c, to match the flying one converted from a Moth I guess.  Watching the whole lot its interesting to see that the ground running replicas get realistically more tired by the end of the second series, the empennage flops all over the place as they're taxying!!!

I hesitate to criticise but your model seems to only have 3 cylinders each side of the nose, but I think BE2s usually had a V8 (Renault or RAF 1a)?

Will
Title: Re: February 2011 Ping
Post by: Balsabasher on February 15, 2011, 02:16:22 PM
Quote from: Will on February 15, 2011, 01:34:53 PM
Quote from: Balsabasher on February 15, 2011, 12:58:21 AM
The BE2C is coming along nicely,a subject with lots of character to it,more pictures in the gallery added tonight.
Barry.

Barry, your "Quirk" is coming along nicely.  It looks big, is it 1/24?

I see you're going for a late model with curved fin and normal undercarriage - I prefer the earlier ones with skids and triangle fin, though that's due to watching "Wings" when I was a kid - I've just finished rewatching the whole lot on DVD and notice the BE2C's are a bit of a dog's breakfast of 2a and 2c, to match the flying one converted from a Moth I guess.  Watching the whole lot its interesting to see that the ground running replicas get realistically more tired by the end of the second series, the empennage flops all over the place as they're taxying!!!

I hesitate to criticise but your model seems to only have 3 cylinders each side of the nose, but I think BE2s usually had a V8 (Renault or RAF 1a)?

Will


Will it is to 1=20th scale,I intend to do the version that you mention also in the future to the same constructional ideas as incorporated into this one,it sure is a quaint machine to model with that enormous tailplane !

Those replicas were built by Dave Boddington and the flying now fully restored BE2A/C is almost finished awaiting its test flight at Sywell airfield in the UK.
The hard working taxying examples were made from any available material around and did the job intended of them,as you say they got a bit floppy in the later stages of the filming.

My BE2C has one of the rare 3 cylinder RAF engines,well spotted,I put that in so you could detect the difference,I need to make a small scoop to fit above the block and fashion those huge exhaust chimneys.

Build one Will you will get a real buzz from this old lady,coming soon is an RE8 as well.
Barry.
Title: Re: February 2011 Ping
Post by: Balsabasher on February 15, 2011, 02:43:24 PM
http://smm.solidmodelmemories.net/Gallery/albums/userpics/10005/DH86_WORKBENCH_25.JPG


http://smm.solidmodelmemories.net/Gallery/albums/userpics/10005/DH86_WHEELS_AND_FILLING_14.JPG
My second DH.86 Express airliner,a beautiful shape from the thirties.

Barry.