Piet

Hey John, what a pleasant surprise seeing your Camel project here and also the Fokker triplane.  It's been a dog's age that I have visited this site, too may other things taking up too much time. I read through your entire build and have enjoyed it very much.  She's really looking very good, nice work.  Brings back many memories of working on and even restoring a few old airplanes. Not quite as old as the Camel is but some in the 20ties and 30ties.
 
Yeah, my whole working life was in aviation, from 1952 till my retirement in 2009. But now enjoy building ship models and enjoying it.
 
In the meantime keep up the good works and I'll drip in so once in a while.
 
Cheers,

What a pleasant surprise finding two airplane builds! I haven't visited this site for many months, too many other things to do taking much time.
I read through all your posts and must say "well done." You'll have a great looking model when completed.  Yeah, I have been tempted several times to buy myself this kit but I already have too many other projects in the bucket list that have priority. Actually I told myself not to get involved with airplanes any more after i retired from my career in aviation, from  mechanicking, flying and engineering and devote the rest of my life with ships, my second love.
I do need to build a 1:350 scale model of a Fokker C-14W float observation plane though. This plane was used on the ship my father was killed in during the battle of the Java Sea and I am getting a model of that ship to do. When I do I'll start a build log here.
 
In the meantime keep up the good works.
 
Cheers,

What a pleasant surprise finding two airplane builds! I haven't visited this site for many months, too many other things to do taking much time.
I read through all your posts and must say "well done." You'll have a great looking model when completed.  Yeah, I have been tempted several times to buy myself this kit but I already have too many other projects in the bucket list that have priority. Actually I told myself not to get involved with airplanes any more after i retired from my career in aviation, from  mechanicking, flying and engineering and devote the rest of my life with ships, my second love.
I do need to build a 1:350 scale model of a Fokker C-14W float observation plane though. This plane was used on the ship my father was killed in during the battle of the Java Sea and I am getting a model of that ship to do. When I do I'll start a build log here.
 
In the meantime keep up the good works.
 
Cheers,

Hey John, what a pleasant surprise seeing your Camel project here and also the Fokker triplane.  It's been a dog's age that I have visited this site, too may other things taking up too much time. I read through your entire build and have enjoyed it very much.  She's really looking very good, nice work.  Brings back many memories of working on and even restoring a few old airplanes. Not quite as old as the Camel is but some in the 20ties and 30ties.
 
Yeah, my whole working life was in aviation, from 1952 till my retirement in 2009. But now enjoy building ship models and enjoying it.
 
In the meantime keep up the good works and I'll drip in so once in a while.
 
Cheers,

well.....Happy Birthday to you!    the pictures above show the blocks that I've tied on already.......yea,  they are a little over sized,  but in relation to the supplied rings,  not by much.  with what I'm planning to do.....it's looking like I'll get this one shot at it........I have those other two kits.   I think they can be had in 1 mm.......but scratch making them seems to be the latest craze.  I've made a few for a past project...drilling the holes is the hardest part    the fore mast is ready and has been cemented in place.  the yards will be added later......I wasn't gong to,  but I've gone to this much trouble,  I may as well add them in.    darn!  broke another drill bit!  

No problem on the reply, I am being a little off topic anyway.
Glad to hear you made an extended Fathers Day of it all. Now you will be extending into my birthday, (Tomorrow)
 
As for eBay, my preferred method is to hold my bid until the last fifteen seconds or so, (Ten is better but a little nerve racking) and bid the very highest I feel I can justify. Sometimes that is as much as twice or more than the showing bid! Much of the time I win because it is possibly unexpected by the other bidders and there is very little or no time to counter my bid. On the times I lose I at least have the satisfaction that I made the winner pay a much higher price than they would have. I did that a few months ago on a bid for a Fair American solid hull kit in 1/96, (+-) scale made in Holland by a company I never heard of. I placed my bid with something like 30 seconds to go and darn if one of the other bidders didn't manage to place another SIX bids before the bidding was up! I still won the bid because he only made small bids instead of going for broke but the extra few seconds cost me $30 extra!
I tend to stay away from Oldmodelkits.com because they seem to be a bit over priced in most cases. Just my opinion. What is over priced when you can find it nowhere else?
 
I am looking forward to how your 1/96 scale blocks work out as I also have some spare plastic stuff in the stash box and if your's turns out I may do the same when the time comes, but I still cannot help but think they will be massive at this scale. I also think you are right in that 2mm blocks seem to be about the smallest available commercially. I wonder if Chuck could make them to order in a smaller size? Another alternative I have been considering is using the small (1mm?) craft beads then filling and painting after rigging.
 
Lou
 

sorry to get back to you late Lou........with everything going on here,  this last post took most of the day     thanks for sending the links....I did look them up......believe I found one and not the other.
     bids are hard........I tried it a few times before but lost out.   my friend in Hawaii told me about a formula........wait till the bidding is just about over,  then with the last few mins,  post a bid.   this is how I got my United states,  although I posted a higher bid,  I won it for the bid that was on the table....substantially lower bid.   I will try it.......what could go wrong.   I could win and the admiral angry with me  >shrug<   thanks again  
I deal with oldmodelkits.com    if your looking for older kits,  that is.   sounds like the kits you mentioned are not kits readily found in the US   I've had a few 1/16 scale cars...as well as large scale aircraft and ships.  it's one of the reasons why the 1:96 scale ships that Revell offered in the day,  appealed to me.
I've had these blocks for quite some time.......I figure they will work better than those silly rings.   I know they make 2 mm wooden blocks....smaller would be insane to do....if they make them.

OK....I'm back.  oh......by the way.....Happy Father's day to all of you out there!   I'm home today....I took the day off     the admiral also talked me into taking tomorrow off,  so I did.  I really hope that all of the Fathers out there have the best day today.   I call it  'white hair counting day'      since yesterday,  I've been doing a little research on the Lindberg line company.  what I've found of it has been somewhat interesting.  I grew up with Lindberg line kits,  and the roots trace all the way back to the 30's.
 
http://www.scalemodelnews.com/2016/12/new-lindberg-line-1959-century-coronado.html
 
the original Lindberg line company was formed later from another company.....after Paul Lindberg joined up with a fellow,  only known as Olsen,  to form O-Lin models.   the very first companies to be formed to create the model industry was Varney,  Hawk,  and Empire.   Keen to note here,  that during the time between 1947 and {I would say} 1955,  these two had also been busy creating molds for other companies too.  Pyro models entered into the fray in this time frame....becoming another link in the chain........they phased out in 1972,  being sold off to a company called Life Like.
 
http://www.oldmodelkits.com/blog/plastic-model-kit-history/early-plastic-model-kit-development-in-the-usa/
 
Lindberg acquired some of the Pyro molds........could be that they created the molds for them too..........but they released the Pyro line of car models.  to me though,  Pyro's claim to fame was the series of gun and rifle models that they  released.....which can now be heralded as collector's items.   I haven't done much more research than this,  but Lindberg has either merged,  or was bought up by Round 2 models.   what I did find out points to this......research uncovered more.
 
http://round2corp.com/product/1967-oldsmobile-442/
 
http://round2corp.com/product-category/lindberg/
 
Round 2 has been reissuing older kits by MPC,  AMT,  and other by gone manufacturers.   Polar lights has been doing the same.   what cause this interest in Lingberg was what the admiral bought me yesterday.  while I was at work,  she went to Hobby Lobby and bought me some thinner and flat red.   she also bought me one of the other installments in the Jolly Rogers series {I now see that this is a series of models fitted under this pirate banner}......the Flying Dutchman.


this ship is the exact same as the model I'm building now.   the plastic that it's molded from is a special glow in the dark formula.   I've built one of these in the past {I believe it was a Revell kit},  in which it was painted with a solution when assembled, to possess this quality.  so long ago...........I forget the name    the parts for this kit is molded in a pearl, greenish white plastic.   it's the same scale.....the instructions are the same {with slight variation in procedure}....and the sail sheets are the same......I paired them up with the ones from the Jolly Rogers kit     the one thing that  ruins the concept of this kit,  is paint.   those who wish not to paint it will benefit more...but if paint is used,  it will kill the glow in the dark quality.  I failed to find the production date on the Jolly Rogers.....but I did look for it on this model.

interesting to see that it also has a date of manufacture too.  also interesting to see that this is laser printed,  and not etched into the mold.   it will be a bit harder to date the association of kits vs molds.   there was a bit of a pause here.......Kevin and his girlfriend Crystal came to visit.   the got me a father's day gift......so sweet!    I was surprised when I saw it.......and it convinced me that the Jolly Rogers and the Flying Dutchman are clones.  they got me the Henry Morgan!


closer examination revealed that this is nothing more than the Capt Kidd.

it has the raised stern and galleys like the Capt. Kidd and the instructions show all the tell tale 'points of interest' similarities.   it has plastic sails and actual decals of the pirate crests.  it can be seen that this kit is also put out by  Round 2 models,  and the date stamp confirms it.

the kit that I'm building now is not put out by Round 2 models........but by J. Lloyd International, under the Lindberg banner.   the instructions are dated 2009,  but I don't believe that this reflects the production date........it might though.   I know......what's the big deal..........I always had this thing about when a kit was produced.......I love the older models.   I think it's cool to pick up an older kit and think that you might have built it in your younger days  
 
there is a small bit of progress with the Jolly rogers.   trying to get a good picture of the blocks tied to the mast trees,  was a pain.  I did get a couple that were palatable.


the main mast is partially done too.

I will try to get more done today..........I hope you find this post interesting    
 

........thanks for the info!   I'll be sure and check it out!    no need to go into the corner.......I appreciate all input     this forum is based on the thoughts and views of us as a whole,  we would not grow otherwise.   as said,  there is no such thing as a silly question either.  the big obstacle will be to get the admiral's consent,  if I should start giggling like a school boy,  when I find it  !     I have a friend in Hawaii that has three other Cutty kits in his stash......one is the first production,  another is the 'museum' version,  and the third one is the 1959 release with sails.   I have built two of them so far.....a Thermopylae would be the feather in my cap right about now!  {oh god.......now you got me all peckish} 
 
the time aspect is hard to say.......we all are different slaves to it.  my blog writing started when I built my first wooden model.  when Billing Boats was located in Wisconsin,  I contacted them to order the hardware fittings for it.   I met and befriended the owner,  and he asked me if I would be up to doing a log on it.  I built two kits for him as well,  during the time of our exchange,  and I would help with customer service.  I wrote many build logs on the wooden kits I built.......even now,  I'm still writing them.....a habit that I view as fun,  since I love to write.  I also wrote blogs for a website called 'Model Buzz' ,  a Q&A site that I envisioned could be more than that...but the owners wouldn't listen.   I dropped them quite a while ago.
 
gotta take Gibbs out.....I'l be back......I have a story to tell  

Where do you get the time for a blog? I am feeling a bit overwhelmed just trying to keep progress on the dumb Constructo kit that I stupidly thought would be a "quick build". Now I am adding the 1/350th Titanic, with lights, to my list and I want to do the Sultana as a gift as well! I'm retired and don't seem to have that much time!
 
By the way there are a couple Revell Thermopylae listed on eBay for what seem to be a good price in case you don't think you have enough to do.  One of them is a dual kit sale that also includes the Cutty Sark.
 
Just trying to be helpful. I'll go back to my corner now. 
 
Lou

interesting thought Lou........but I already shortened the fore mast root.   I find that,  with wood,  I seem to get away with it better.........but then again,  if the paint isn't scraped away on plastic parts, the glue doesn't adhere as good.   so,  either way it probably would work.   thanks for the thought......enjoy the read     I do blog logs too,  if you really want to laugh  

Hi Denis
Yes I found your Thermopylae build and started reading it last night. For some reason I thought it was going to be the plastic version.
 
It may be a little too late on the Jolly Roger but did you consider leaving the mast footing intact and removing some of the base of the bowsprit? I know it was glued in but I would think you could have still removed it, shortened it and reinstalled it without too much issue. After all look at the almost invisible repair you did to the ratline piece!
Lou

I'm so sorry Marc.....I try to acknowledge everyone.   you are correct.....sometimes it's good to dabble in something out of the ordinary.   I started building plastic models....seems like ages ago....cripes,  back when I was eight or nine!   of course,  paint came later.....I was too interested in build'in 'em......crash'in 'em.....and then put them back together  
 
if you haven't found it yet Lou,  it's here:
https://modelshipworld.com/index.php?/topic/14830-thermopylae-by-popeye-the-sailor-sergal-1124-scale/
the kit has a lot of aspects lacking with it......I did the best I could so far.  I should be back to her soon.
 
hello Piet.......thanks for the good word.  I'm liking the blocks....I think they will dress up this model quite a bit.   way too much thought about which ones should go where though  
 
you didn't offend Gibbs Gerhard,   right now he's preoccupied with squirrels     I did......I cut the fore mast root shorter......a bit too short I think.  it's OK........I think I can manage.   there has been a new development with the Jolly Rogers saga.......can't wait to show it to you all!   at the moment though.....this light is so darn poor......can't get a decent picture of the blocks I have tied on  
    I'm gonna have to juggle the tables......with the build reaching upward......I need a better light    the kicker is..........is that I knew about this.   I knew I should have cemented in the fore mast first,  before the bow spirit.   I wanted to outfit the mast tree with blocks before I did it.   one of these days I'll smart'in up      update soon  

Sorry, did not want to offend the DOG!!!
Why dont you file a bit away from the lower end of the mast to fit it into the hole? If its only the lower hole, noone will see it after.
 
Regards
Gerhard

thanks Gerhard......but Gibbs is a dog       I've run into another uh-oh moment.......with the bow spirit in place,  the fore mast won't fit into it's lower hole.  bother!....I was afraid of that 
 
.......now I'll have to get a saw    since this is an ocean going vessel....should I use a sea saw?

Hey John, what a pleasant surprise seeing your Camel project here and also the Fokker triplane.  It's been a dog's age that I have visited this site, too may other things taking up too much time. I read through your entire build and have enjoyed it very much.  She's really looking very good, nice work.  Brings back many memories of working on and even restoring a few old airplanes. Not quite as old as the Camel is but some in the 20ties and 30ties.
 
Yeah, my whole working life was in aviation, from 1952 till my retirement in 2009. But now enjoy building ship models and enjoying it.
 
In the meantime keep up the good works and I'll drip in so once in a while.
 
Cheers,

Thank you for dropping by, Piet. Good to have you along for the ride. Building models has been in my blood for a long long time, be they planes, trains or boats. This is a respite from the ship building I have been doing and plan to do in the near future. Funny enough, the progress I am making on this Camel is considerably slower than that I would make on a ship! Still, it is a worthy build, detailed, slow, patience demanding, intriguing, and a learning experience. I'd like to say I have worked on old plane restorations, but I cannot. I fly planes, enjoy being around them, and love the history. The opportunity has not yet presented itself for me to get into restoration... yet ;-)
All the best,
~john 

Hey John, what a pleasant surprise seeing your Camel project here and also the Fokker triplane.  It's been a dog's age that I have visited this site, too may other things taking up too much time. I read through your entire build and have enjoyed it very much.  She's really looking very good, nice work.  Brings back many memories of working on and even restoring a few old airplanes. Not quite as old as the Camel is but some in the 20ties and 30ties.
 
Yeah, my whole working life was in aviation, from 1952 till my retirement in 2009. But now enjoy building ship models and enjoying it.
 
In the meantime keep up the good works and I'll drip in so once in a while.
 
Cheers,

What a pleasant surprise finding two airplane builds! I haven't visited this site for many months, too many other things to do taking much time.
I read through all your posts and must say "well done." You'll have a great looking model when completed.  Yeah, I have been tempted several times to buy myself this kit but I already have too many other projects in the bucket list that have priority. Actually I told myself not to get involved with airplanes any more after i retired from my career in aviation, from  mechanicking, flying and engineering and devote the rest of my life with ships, my second love.
I do need to build a 1:350 scale model of a Fokker C-14W float observation plane though. This plane was used on the ship my father was killed in during the battle of the Java Sea and I am getting a model of that ship to do. When I do I'll start a build log here.
 
In the meantime keep up the good works.
 
Cheers,

A short update from the beach, well almost
 
The pilots seat is in place. I have also done all of the wiring (except one cable!) for the engine and the controls. Lots of wires going here and there and not much space to work in. Sometimes I would have needed a mutated third and fourth hand. But now it is almost done. Just one cable from the engine to the magneto left! The fuel gauge "face" will be added to the fuel gage itself on the tank. it can be seen in the top picture, a grey round thing on a rod so to speak. The grey boxes in front of it are the ammo cans and spent cartridge cans.
 
 

 

 

Thanks to all who hit the like button, much appreciated and thank you Denis and John for you comments.
 
Yes, I could make a diorama of sorts with that crane in tracks and a torpedo hanging on he hook. I already have the torpedo in scale 1:50, or even a mine in the same scale. They are right now laying on the O19 display board.
 
Okay, next detail John is actually the final few items to add to finish the build.
 
I added the antenna wires from the bow to the bridge, all periscopes and antenna mast and the little boarding ladder to starboard side. They store these things inside the sail and only attach them to the deck when needed. Actually, most everything is stored inside the sail or under the deck plates between the pressure hull and the deck. From chains, extra cables, spare torpedos and even a few cases of Heiniken beer. The O19 even stored a 5 man dinghy there.
 
After everything was checked and cleaned up I took the spray can to it and painted her in a flat dark grey. Now she looks like a submarine ready  for the hunt. Just a shame that she ran into that minefield.
 
I have picked a few photos to end this build with. I hope you like the result. Being this small and using a few close-ups you'll see some rough edges but most is due to close-up distortion.
 
This shows the O16 right after she was completed and still on my drafting table aka work bench. I temporarily placed the name plate in front of her.

 
For the fun of it and show the difference in scale with the O19, 1:350 vs 1:50

 
Port side view on the drafting table.

 
Yup, she is small!

 
Another comparison picture, the O16 in front of the O19 sail/conning tower.

 
The rest are taken outside with better light.





 
I incerted this photo of the actual O16 as comparison with the one above.

 
Due to the narrow display board I cemented the name plates on the ends. They are a too large to do it the traditional way.



 
Okay, this is it for this build. I really enjoyed it. It was challenging for me because I'm not used to kit building but I learned a few things. I am also honored having you come along and for your very kind words.
Next project is trying to build a diorama of the Young America clipper ship at sea at a scale of 1:3000. Wish me luck with this one and hope all y'all will come to visit.
 
Thanks again everyone and my co-captain Gwen and I wish all of you good health.
Until we see each other again, Cheers,

The top wing has been polyurethaned (silk finish without color). I am now starting the arduous work of capping the wing ribs, lovingly, one by one. This will take some time. Please stand by ;-)
~john
 
 

Thanks, Eddie!   I am having fun with it, as a nice break from ships for a small while. I am now working on the bottom wing ribs, so that will take a long time... you all might not see anything from me for the rest of the month, as there will be nothing much to report. In the meantime, I'll also be looking at some Sopwith history, and maybe reworking some of the engine parts to look better.
~john
 

Hey howya goin jablackwell mate, the plane is coming along nicely mate.   

Continued work on the top wing with the tips and leading edge now added. Some detail work to complete.
~john