popeye the sailor

This is my first take on the salt technique, I chose the bombs for testing, because I wanted to know, how they look in the end, and if I have to replace them with AM. Normally, I build my planes without ordonnance, but in this case, I chose them for contrast and for learning the salt technique. If I´m satisfied, I will use the method for the inside of the cockpit as well, which is primed and salted and waiting for some paint.

First they were primed with Mr. Surfacer 1500 in black
 


Then the bombs were brushed with water with an added drop of detergent for better distribution and then salted with irregular salt grains from a mill.
 

 
After drying, I shot a layer of AK Real color RLM 76 overall and now let them dry until tomorrow, before removing the salt. The contrast will be too harsh by far, but that´s ok, because I want to overspray again with color in translucent layers until I reach the desired effect.
First, I wanted to use Tamiya XF-23 but opted for the slightly more bluish tint of the AK color.
 

 
Cheers Rob

I cleaned a zillion parts after cutting them from the sprue. With the tight tolerances, WNW kits usually have, this should be done with great attention. Before I start painting, I´ve done some test fitting, to see, how the innards of the AEG lay out and how the fit will be and which parts are visible and need painting and weathering. Test fitting was promising so far, but yeah these tolerances will call for scraping away paint and use the fiber pencil as my best friend for mating surfaces.
 

 

 

 
Cheers Rob

The AEG III/IV was the first aircraft that Von Richtoften went into combat in....  He started out as a gunner/observer in that forward seat.... (claimed two enemy aircraft as well, but they weren't confirmed so they didn't count as was the custom of the day) He was eventually transferred to the Romanian front where he flew in two seaters as a gunner and pilot and then transferred to fighters after a chance meeting with Bolke....
 
I'm in for this one.... That late war scheme is going to be something special....

Well, it´s a bomber, why not starting with the bombs and the exhausts. In this case, it´s because the smaller 12,5 kg bombs will be filled into inboard racks and have to be painted first. I glued the parts together along with the exhausts, to evaluate the need for substituting them with AM. There are bombs from Kellerkind and the metal exhausts by Rexx. The parts look promising, but I will decide after priming.

This beast was able to carry a bomb load of up to 800 kg and a later -.b version could handle a 1000 kg bomb, a lot more than the Gotha. It seems the ground was the worst enemy of this type, as many crash landed, due to night conditions and the tendency to nose dive easily when touching down. 
Earlier types were used in daytime raids, but better fighter coverage pushed the AEG´s into night duty.
 
 
 
Cheers Rob

I have to admit, I was less than thrilled with the Twins-GB over on LargeScaleModeler initially, when I read about it on my Berlin vacancy. Back home, I decided to browse through my stash for inspirations, still unsure about my participation.

Lots of twins to choose, but one immediately rang a bell, the monstrous (for it´s time) night bomber version of the AEG G.IV by Wingnut Wings. I have a soft spot for quirky designs and since I bought the kits years ago, it was sometimes on my schedule, but was dropped, because of sheer size and complexity.

Well, now with the GB, there is another possibility to tackle this lozenged monster. I´m absolutely not sure, if I can finish the AEG until July, but will try.


 
This is the kit and this will be the chosen scheme, but with the shark-? mouth only in white.
The entire airframe will be decaled with the kit supplied night lozenge and I have to experiment a bit with the underlying color for contrast and accentuation.
 

 
I will use some AM, like HGW Seat belts, Gaspatch MG´s and HGW masks. The figure of the boy will play a role along with a mechanic, which is still to choose.
I think about adding Rexx metal exhausts and skipped the thought about adding Taurus timing gear for the engines. I watched at many pictures and decided, the gear is hidden under the wing in a tube metal cage, so not a lot can be seen and I will enhance the kit parts with some detailing.
 

 
Rigging will be a nightmare and I´m not finally decided about the rigging material. I liked fishing line and Bob´s buckles a lot with other builds, but may simplify rigging a bit. A while ago I thought about a method, gluing in the thread directly into holes, pre drilled through the wing. this can be pulled taught from above, sealed with CA and cut flush, when dry. Because of the later to apply lozenge decals, the holes will remain invisible. 
Later I found a build log, where the builder used that method on his AEG build and it worked, lets hope the best.
 
I will further use Karim Bibis great PDF-book, which I acquired from KLP publishing and use it as a guideline through the complex build.
 

 
Cheers Rob

It starts to get cozy in the front office. It´s time to add the numerous details and it´s a good idea, to follow the manual with the progress. Guess how I found out. I had to wiggle one bulkhead in, because I glued the sliding pad too early.
The seats are oil painted on sand yellow and accentuated with toned variations of the base color. After a coat of flat, I had a semigloss finish, which was treated carefully with 4000 grid sandpaper, to remain glossy leather patches and some worn dull areas.
On most of the metal parts, I applied a very slight rub of iron pigment with a cotton swab, a technique, I use very often to enhance the metal appearance of these parts. Somehow it looks right scale wise.
There was a lot of detail painting in places and I used CA mostly, as it´s not so thin to spoil surfaces and bonds well, even with painted surfaces.
 

 

 

 

 
Cheers Rob

that looks to be one busy model!  I have a small collection of Billings catalogs and I've not seen one pictured.  {you've peaked my interest   }  where did you find the drawings?  look'in forward in seeing your progress!  

that looks to be one busy model!  I have a small collection of Billings catalogs and I've not seen one pictured.  {you've peaked my interest   }  where did you find the drawings?  look'in forward in seeing your progress!  

that looks to be one busy model!  I have a small collection of Billings catalogs and I've not seen one pictured.  {you've peaked my interest   }  where did you find the drawings?  look'in forward in seeing your progress!  

What an interesting project, Nils. I think that's the first lightship I've seen with a clipper bow!
 
John

Very interesting subject Nils - clearly you have found a corner of your house without a glass case in it!

A scratch built lightship. I will follow along, Nils.

Another interesting subject. I will happily follow along.

Thank you Veszett,
yes, probably Mike Maynard
 
Nils

Unfortunately not. Maybe the author, Mike Maynard, who served on that ship? At least the readers cheered him because the model, but nowhere else mentioned who is the builder exactly.

Thanks Roel,
for looking in and stay tuned...
 
Nils

Hello Veszett,
 that is a great model in an excellent diarama, thanks for sharing the pics and the story of the author (within the logs reading), do you know who the name of the model builder in that forum ?
 
Nils

Since I love colourful ships, you can count me in. Never really seen a model of a lightship being constructed from scratch, should be interesting! 

Thank you Nils. Fortunately she is still afloat in Bedford, Massachusets, could be seen there. But check out this excellent model, this was the one which ignited my interest many years ago.

Hi Veszett,
 
Nils
I wish you success, much fun and good luck, whenever you get started. It will be an interesting project
 
Nils

Hi Nils,
 
You got another follower. My far plan is to scratchbuild the AMBROSE lightship WLV-613.

Many thanks Uwe, Chris and B.E.
I`m happy to see you on board already !
 
Uwe,
yes, thats right, an interesting way-point and the bright red color is clear visable at day from afar, The light per night.
 
Chris,
thanks for your input, but I would prefer a wood built ship rather than a card model in this case.
 
Thanks B.E.
well I`m realy still at the kick off point. This time I`ll be starting with the stand, before I go for the frames. I still have the wood and two pedestals over from the prevous builds.
 
Nils

You surely do have the knack of  finding lesser known subjects to model Nils,  I too look forward to seeing this one develop.
 
B.E.

Oh, but there is, my friend! Just not in the scale or medium that you usually work in. 😜
 
https://www.h-m-v.de/en/models/special-purpose-ships/light-vessel-elbe-3/

Hi Nils,
This will be an interesting project and I will certainly follow your build log! I often saw the light vessel during my active seafaring time during the 1970's and 1980's.
 
Best regards from Stade
Uwe