Small Scale Military Headquarters

Very very nice work. I like it.

Thanks for the kind words guys. I have to admit that this is the most detailed cockpit I have ever built....and it has not been easy.

Starting to tie together nicely.

Starting to tie together nicely??? I think you're being a bit too modest. For me when a project is "starting to tie together nicely" means I finally got the fuselage halves glued together or didn't foul up mating the wings to the fuselage.

Well AN....I haven't gotten there yet. I have to get the whole cockpit and gunners tub together before I can mount it between the fuselage halves and then get the fuselage ready to mate with the wings....so...I have alot of work yet I can screw up (oh I hope not). But thank you for the kind words.

Here's a fairly nicely detailed FW 190 cockpit. Not as well detailed as your SBD but...........





I took this picture standing on the wing of our Museum FW 190F during its restoration. Yes it's the real thing and doesn't have as much detail as your model!!!

I'm usually happy when not much of the interior of the fuselage is visible when I glue the halves together.

Awesome dude. To be able to touch tired iron! I envy you dude. And remember, I'm recreating an operational aircraft about to fly out on a possible one way mission. They get a little "busier" and dirtier. I also appreciate the encouragement you and others provide....it means alot to an old fart trying to get back into the modeling hobby with so many talented people out there like yourself.

My talents are minimal. I couldn't carry your paint thinner bottle. And I'm probably an "older fart" than you. As far as touching tired iron, sometimes I get to do a bit more......

Unless you're born before 1955....and I still envy you flying in them too. Man do I ever wish...

1953. We're both old farts!!

Wow...and I thought I was the only one. Like a fish out of water sort of thing. Appreciate you sharing dude. Wish I could lay hands and butt on some of what you have....

Folkwulfe wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 02, 2020 4:24 pm

Wow...and I thought I was the only one. Like a fish out of water sort of thing. Appreciate you sharing dude. Wish I could lay hands and butt on some of what you have....

I've been volunteering with the Tri-State Warbird Museum since their inception in 2005. I'll always cherish my many B-25 rides. I enjoy helping on ground crew too, whether it's hooking up the planes to the tug, wing walking in and out of the hanger or clearing props for start-up. I have three of my nine uniformed mannequins there as well as a slew of my 1/18 planes and other stuff. What I really miss are all the WWII Veterans that used to hang out with us that are now gone. They were National Treasures. Oh the stories they told! It's our goal to see those memories are preserved.

O.K. Back to your build!!!

Okay guys...the cockpit is now one big unit...I closed it all up. These pictures are a test fitting to make sure everything is in its proper place. It fits!

Folkwulfe, Awesome plane! You mentioned Pensacola earlier and it brought back memories of the museum at the Naval Air Station. All four of my kids attended PCC and over the years we went there quite a bit. I also loved the USS Alabama and USS Drum down the road at Mobile. I also noticed you’re a 95Bravo? So was I from 83-86.

Thanks GIJoef....95B from 74 to 94...where did you serve? I got the compass and power line mounted inside the forward canopy.

I can’t believe that detail on the instrument panel. After basic/AIT at Ft McClellan I was assigned to the 5th MP company at Ft Polk. But it got better, they then sent me to Germany with the 165th MP company at Fischbach army depot (Nuclear Physical Security ) I only had 13 months left when I was sent there without an extension to 24 months. An old lady at Ft Polk tried to force me to extend so I’d have 24 months to go to Europe and I kindly advised her that my contract was for 6 years, 3 active and 3 inactive ready reserve. So I am one of the few people who went to Germany on less than a 2 year tour. It was funny when guys came up to me picking on the new guy because they were going back to the states before me

I understand...I spent 5 1/2 years at Miesau in the 164th....and thanks. I have put as much detail as my limited talents will allow into that cockpit.

The cockpit is looking great !
I know something about cockpits !!!!!

You 2 guys are old farts !!
I was born on 1959

PK....Welcome to the Old Fart Association! I think I'm going to grab a cartridge and slap it in the 8-track. Time for some "Grand Funk Railroad".....
And I stand in awe of your kits....You are the Master!

Man and here I am feeling like a kid again at 21

Sheees...kids! Just kidding. A little update...fuselage halves are joined and the tail planes are on.

First shot of real color. I used AK intermediate blue and it went on smooth and even after a little water thinning.

Finalizing the upper and lower paint before varnishing coat for decals, staining and weathering. We're getting there!

Beautiful progress on the Dauntless

Thank you sir....