BLACK VIKING

I continue the work 2 days, staying inside:
Made the gratings, and planking the lower deck.
Hope tomorrow to finish the upper deck

I think this self isolation has cocked my brain up . I forgot to add the pictures  
Martyn

Hi all and a big thanks for the likes.
A little more work on the old girl. I have painted the square G on the tail and I think it looks ok the biggest problem I had was with the numbers as I tried painting them but they looked rubbish so I came up with a cunning plan and modified the ones that came with the kit and some I had leftover from another kit I think they look ok and much better than I could paint.
Cheers for following 
Martyn

I think this self isolation has cocked my brain up . I forgot to add the pictures  
Martyn

My understanding was they were green, but as they aged, like all the other colors, they faded, eventually to yellow, then eventually to grey.... So it would really depend on the time period your depicting as to what color it was.... Personally the areas that were shaded most of the time stayed green the longest. Wheel wells were shaded most of the time so I would go with green....

You're so correct about how, as we get older, we start to really appreciate the workmanship and history that belong to these replica kits. With each new build, I'd say that learning the history on the real airships, ships etc. is the most rewarding part that I get with building the model. Keep up the excellent work! I've learned so much from modelers like yourself with these posts. Many thanks.

I'm sure that I'm not the only guilty person that has bought a second kit of the same model.   the security of having built the model before and a better sense of direction are two comforting facts.........every kit of the same subject is different in some way.   they can keep going with the multi variant kit.......my spare parts bin will thank them for it    it doesn't matter what plane it is........B 17.........B 24.......P 51......P 47....P 40.......they all have enough subject matter,  to keep the mind busy.  I knew a guy that only built Lancasters......he had quite a number of these planes.......all with various degrees of difference.
    as mentioned,  there is no indication of which example pertains to which variant...I've always found this confusing.  I have done kits that tell you which is which...guess it depends on the manufacturer of the kit.  I note that the wheel wells depict the interior color.  I went out and bought two bottles of Zinc Cromate......but to me,  it looks more yellow than green.  is this the correct color?
 
you don't need to thank me Robert......it's the evolution of the medium........and our evolution as well.  I still see the dangers of it...but it's all in how we use it ....... ....and learn from it  

I think this self isolation has cocked my brain up . I forgot to add the pictures  
Martyn

Hi all and a big thanks for the likes.
A little more work on the old girl. I have painted the square G on the tail and I think it looks ok the biggest problem I had was with the numbers as I tried painting them but they looked rubbish so I came up with a cunning plan and modified the ones that came with the kit and some I had leftover from another kit I think they look ok and much better than I could paint.
Cheers for following 
Martyn

Hi all and a big thanks for the likes.
A little more work on the old girl. I have painted the square G on the tail and I think it looks ok the biggest problem I had was with the numbers as I tried painting them but they looked rubbish so I came up with a cunning plan and modified the ones that came with the kit and some I had leftover from another kit I think they look ok and much better than I could paint.
Cheers for following 
Martyn

Thanks for posting this. ' Been There, Seen the picture. Didn't get the 'T' shirt'. In 2016 I was asked if I could paint a cover and some illustrations for a book being written about the experiencies of a Ships Engineer Cadet on board a Liberty Ship the book 'Liberty's War'. To cut a long story short. The book was launched at the US Merchant Marine Academy, at Kings point. I had the Privilege and Honour to be invited to the event, and to give a short talk about how a retired ex RN Rating from a small village in Fife Scotland came to be there. The cover painting was acquired by USMMA Museum. What more could I ask, one of my paintings among such eminent company.
some photos of the cover painting, exhibition and launch.
 

My understanding of that kit you can build 3-4 different variations of B-17 from that kit from an early "F" model to a late "G" model... They figured that to build the version they depict on the cover, a simple "greying out" of the parts you won't use was the most efficient way to go for the builder... but they don't actually tell you that in the instructions do they? 
 
It's a great kit and f you do your research and know what your looking at you can pretty much build any mid-latewar B-17 from that molding....
 
A couple more of "Little Miss Mischief...... (and she carried both type tail turrets during her service life)
 

Note the left wing outer section is OD over Grey and the Ailerons & Elevators are new aluminum painted fabric, the Rudder & tail turret is NMF ....

Last picture is flak damage from a different raid than the first picture. She was definitely in the thick of it.....

so......progress has been made.  not real huge;  just cleaning up sprue marks on parts,  denoting top and bottom,  and assembling a few parts that will see same color paints.   of course it all starts with the wings and fuselage.

after adding radio and navigation equipment on the bomb bay bulkheads,  the assembly that I started with earlier was slid into the fuselage for the first time,  to check the fit.  I usually need to trim the edges to improve the fit,  but in this case,  I don't think I will need to.  the fuselage closes up perfectly........the kit is THIS good!
  
the mating surfaces on the halves are flawless,  as is the rest of the kit.....again I mention how thin the plastic is.........very high precision.  the bomb bay cavity,  even though it is not complete,  looks really good.

other parts were assembled and readied for paint.  I usually paint before assembly,  but a lot of this will be hidden once the fuselage is joined.  I hope not.
the bombardier position

the navigation bulkhead with equipment racks.......I failed to show the platform that joins it.  there will be seating........

oh.....there's the platform in the background....the belly ball turret fits in that hole.

I don't want to make the mistake as I did with the Nine o Nine........best to get the gist on the top and bottom here.   there's a tiny bit more.....I'll show you when they are painted.   more soon  

Looking forward to this OC . Stay safe m8 
Martyn

Hello Everyone,
 
We just wanted to let folks know that we are still open for business and shipping regularly in this odd reality of the COVID-19 outbreak. As we posted on our own blog last week, while we are taking measures to keep both employees and customers safe, we shut down our showroom to the public. 
 
Also, while we have a very large inventory of kits, fittings, and supplies, some imported items are running low or are out of stock. Given the problems in Europe, we're expecting it may be some time before we get some of these shipments in. 
 
Fortunately, we've recently added a number of products to our inventory recently, which you might be interested in checking out if you're looking for your next project. These include:
 
Shipyard's Laser-Cut Kits:
Hanse Kogge - Bremen, 1380
Wütender Hund Kogge
 
Kolderstok Kits:
De Zeven Provencien
Batavia
Duyfken
Statenjacht
Exploration ship of Willem Berentz
 
Master Korabel Kits:
Schooner Polotsk - Plus Edition
Brig Phoenix - Plus Edition
St. Gabriel
Tender Avos - Special Edition
Cannon Jolle
Double Boat
Secret Vessel Morel
 
We're also working on getting the new wooden kits from Shipyard, but this may take several weeks to process and ship.

Unfortunately, some of the most popular kits right now, OcCre's Essex and HMS Beagle kits, are out and we're just about to run out of HMS Terror kits.
 
But we have a very good stock of Billing Boats, Caldercraft, Constructo, Corel, Disar Model, Mantua, Nordic Class Boats, other OcCre kits, Turk Model kits, and others. 
 
Plus, of course, we have tons of Amati, including all the kits of the Victory Models line.
 
Hopefully, the situation will be back to normal soon. Until then, please stay safe!
 
 
 

ok.....let's get to it    at the moment I'm cleaning up sprue marks....there is some minor flash.  I can't believe how thin the plastic is!  I'm not a huge fan of movable flaps and ailerons.........I think it depends on the subject application.......you know,  what your going to do with it.  the stabilizer ailerons have no hinges,  so they will be very hard to give them that property.  looking at the paint chart,  this is going to be a complex model to paint.
    some can be done with airbrush,  but I think a lot of it will be done with a brush.  should have an update for you all soon  

Wow thanks m8 . I've looked again at the picture and have just noticed that little triangle that's the apostrophe  
Martyn

A quick update on the Zulu.
 
The second layer of pear wood planking is now fitted. This was done with CA gel (Gorilla Glue) which is very different to how I usually work with PVA etc. Plank edges were bevelled as I went, and tapered where necessary. Once installed, the hull was sanded down with 120, 180, 240 and 320 grade papers. A small amount of Ronseal natural wood filler was also added, but that was tiny. A testament to how well this kit is designed.

 
 
It was now the turn of the rubbing strakes to be fitted. The upper two, which butt right up next to each other, are walnut and semi-circular in section. A nice contrast to the pear of the hull. Three other 1mm square strakes are also added. The lower one only extends part way back down the hull. Any glue marks you see will disappear when I add the polyurethane varnish later.

 
 
The rudder simply plugs into the stern post and the sockets more or less hidden by the pintles. A 0.6mm drill was used to cleanly open out the laser cut holes so I could easily fit a pin through. The pintles and gudgeons are photo-etch and glued with CA gel. I used the kit's Amati brass nails on the pintles and applied a part nail from either side so I could have the domed heads on both faces. The gudgeons have their nails etched onto the parts.


 
More soon!
 

Got my openings done on my forward and aft bulkheads or frames. I will probably widen the opening on the rear bulkhead to more accurately match the original Oseberg. Think I will now put the strips and veneer on top of the frame edges to make them appear to be solid wood instead of plywood. Will also veneer around the openings I made in the forward and aft frames. Not the best pictures shown here as the holes are actually better than they appear.

Looking forward to this OC . Stay safe m8 
Martyn

Cheers for looking in Popeye .
Had a bit of time this afternoon to have a go at the name on the side . I think it looks ok , just one more thing the paintwork looks to new and is there a way of whethering without a airbrush. Any help would be most appreciated.
Stay safe all 
Martyn

Cheers m8 . I was a bit dubious about the number but the only picture I could find was a long distance one of her with her bomb bay doors open flying over Germany and it's very fuzzy. I must admit I'm not very good at all this computer stuff lol . 
Thanks agane 
Martyn 

Hi all and a big thanks for looking in . I can't find a lot of information on this plane but she was damaged by flack which killed the ball turret gunner but was repaired to fly again. If anyone can find out more I would be very happy.
Hears a picture of her and I believe her code number is232006.
 I will post some pics of the build later 
Martyn
 

@Zarkon thank you 

I thought it can help me take the corona virus prlm out of my mind, so am back on my build again.
 
The two boats finished and loaded on board.