One of the displays that I have been wanting to do for a while is a collection of Grumman's aircraft. I have two maybe three built already but I need to get off of my can and start something towards this display. I have this 1/48 Special Hobby Grumman Guardian sub "killer". I became interested in this plane several years ago when I had a chance to visit the Pima Air museum in Tucson. If you ever get a chance to visit you really wont be disappointed. I started this kit a few years back and became intimidated by some of the resin details and really didn't do such a hot job trying to get the resin R 2800 built. This was my first limited run kit and I was discouraged so I boxed it up and holed it away for a later date. Well I think I can really put a wholehearted effort for this group build. The kit comes with the hunter belly mounted radome as well as the wing mounted mad units. Ill get going on it tomorrow and Ill see how far I can get before it takes off to the wall.
Oh man, am I looking forward to watching this. I've always wanted to build the full run Gruman cats. The Guardian is cool plane, I know you'll do it justice.
CFL
taking inventory of the resin parts I find out that I am missing about 6 cylinder heads. I guess that a Corsair will be making a small donation.
I love these obscure aircraft! I've got a Martin Mauler of the same era. If I have enough mojo, I might bring it out to join you (even though not Grumman).
This one was buried deep in the stash. Unique subject. Looking forward to your build.
I did get the fuse all sewn up and surprisingly enough, it fit fairly well.
looking good!
So how's he Guardian coming? Get diverted to the Prowler? (squirrel!)
here are a couple of pics of this really gappy kit. Fit is poor at best but not impossible.
I am determined to get this Iron Works build done.
It's starting to look like an aeroplane!
You do have lovely 'pits.
Awwwww shucks, stop it. you are embarrassing me. 😋
Very interesting bird indeed and pilot seat offset to one side.......not sure the reason but cool
That offset is to allow more cool elektronical stuff in the cockpit, you know, like a VCR.
Or a cooler full of beer.
Do to some unforeseen circumstances this one will not be finished. I spilled some glue on the kit and according to Kurt I did it on purpose. So in the grand scheme of things I have started this 48 EA-6B that I got from Zack in trade. These Kinetic kits are fairly nice and so far I only said one dirty word and that was my faux pas.
looking good - keep that glue far away until needed!!!
another detour happened. I had to complete one of the grand kids macquette .
This is the Fan Art 1/6 Harley Quinn. Most of the red and white are Tamiya and Gunze Aqueous. I used pitt pens for the hair and Tamiya for the skin tones. This is a cartoon caricature so I looked at some of the cartoons that are available on line and I decided on the scheme and other details to complete her.
I don't usually build bi-planes but since I have been on an interwar kick lately I thought I would get this one going and see what kind of damage I can to to it. I guess we all should know of ICM's hit or miss kits, well that is what I thought before I built their 48 scale Chaika. That really wasn't that bad a kit to begin with but the one thing that I had difficulty with was the exact location where the rigging should begin and end. I just went ahead and built the kit with out wires just to get something done.
I did some research about two ICM kits that I have been wanting to build. One was the Buker which I bought as the Revell of Germany's repop and the other was the Mk I Gladiator. As heavy handed and shaky I have become of late I really thought I I would make a big mess of this as time went on. There were only around 8 or 10 parts to the cockpit assembly and the instrument decals went on with out a fuss which made me pleases with my self just a tad. Since I didn't have the seat belt for this kit I used my spare Swordfish belts which worked in a pinch. The fuselage went together and only required just a tiny bit of filling and filing. The engine assembled nicely with the cowling support brackets the only issue that I had. They are quite fiddly.
As for the rigging, that comes with the wing assemblies tomorrow. I had a heck of a time trying to get my bearings on ending locations so I went and did my research and found that the clevises are not exposed so just finding the correct location in the wings and fuse will be the big hurdle tomorrow. As it stands right now I have a pretty good idea where and how they will be installed.
looking great! I like round engines
When I can't find the "exact location" where something goes, my premise is "no one else will know if it's not correct!" I certainly won't, and who else matters!!! 😎
I got all the holes drilled for the rigging, around 30 or so, closed the bottom wing parts and installed the wing.
Then I added the lower half of the upper wing getting the struts lined up with the major headache being the cabane struts.
So far I am pretty pleased and when I backed my chair up to admire my handiwork I heard a terrible sound.......
I am not going to order another one all the way from the Ukraine because the shipping would be many times the cost of the part. I figure I can buy the Mk II kit soon and use that canopy section to vac form another. I am still going to finish this build though . I enjoyed the kit considering ICM's past with fit issues this is a real nice kit.
Looking good - what a shame about the canopy!!!