February 2008 PING

[Oceaneer99]

It's time for the monthly PING to see what members are up to.  I'll send my own update separately.  It's not too different from last month, but it looks like I might have a ship commissioning in a day or so!

The gallery has really taken off; here are the statistics:

458 files in 76 albums and 10 categories with 38 comments viewed 5946 times.  There are 16 Members.

And of course, this forum has grown as well.  The latest statistics are:

270 Posts in 62 Topics by 17 Members.

[lastvautour]

Update from Lou's shipyard and aircraft factory:

USS Enterprise launched Jan 08 along with 10 Dauntless Dive bombers

HMCS Bonaventure 1/350 scale hull shaped and preliminary sanding started, deck cut out and contour shaping started, island about 50% completed

Boeing B-314 Sanded, primed and clear coated for application of metal paint.

Ercoupe 1/32 painted, decal printed, coated but requires additional drying time

Hudson 1/32 few swipes with sandpaper, little progress

Tracker 1/96 - abandoned

Tracker 1/350 primed awaiting paint. decals on order through CanMilAir.com

Tutor primed little progress

Expeditor, Sabre and Bollingbroke on hold

Most of my work has centered on the Bonnie and the B-314

[Oceaneer99]

Update from Garet's shipyard and aircraft factory:

Speed Spitfire 1/48 scale: no progress.  Fuselage shaped, wing still a rectangular blank

PRU Spitfire 1/72 scale: shaping complete, white primer applied, needs tailwheel and final color paint, decals need to be drawn

Profile Scale CT-114 Tutor 1/72 scale: painted white overall, needs color paint, paper decals need to be drawn

PT-9 (Comet plans) 1/84 scale: no progress this month, still awaiting remaining three torpedo tubes

PT-10 (Model Navy plans) 1/350 scale: painted ID gray, hull sides sanded clean to fix imperfection, awaiting final hull paint.  Will meet scheduled shipment to Canada under Lend-Lease.

Lisa Hy-Bird 1/80 scale: painted white overall, solar panel decals drawn, need to finish decal design.  Needs fuselage color detail and canopy painting.

Bristol Spaceplanes Ascender: good progress, wing complete, awaiting final fuselage rounding.  Turbofan engines and rocket nozzle need to be cut and shaped.

Plans projects: still looking at seaplane plans, contemplating ferry Kalakala drawings, looking at concept drawings for large multi-engine supersonic bombers from 1950s-60s, considering Space Ship One model

[R.F.Bennett]

USS Perch report,
Stuffing box still leaks...
Bathtub tests show stability is an issue.
Builder forgot Rudder, yard will not clear for trials.
Builder reports rudder lost in attack by mysterious creature described as Orange/White in color, Fuzzy, "Ten times the size of boat" "Smelled of fish and bacon" Blames Yard Security Contractor.
Crew unwilling/unable to comment.
Still awaiting deliver of 3" deck gun and Torpedo load from contractor. See PT 09.... contracting dispute 33453.AMB-8897887244#$%&*!.... 

Reports of mysterious Orange/White creature lurking the shipyard at night believed to be false.

Upon further investigation by Yard Commander. "Found No rudder post installed." "No 3 inch deck gun mount installed or accommodated for" "For and aft Torpedo tubes are simply stickers on hull"
Yard Command finds Perch "Good Enough for display as long as it doesn't stink up the place!"