158: September Minutes

Ah Summer!  It's winding down and with the kids back in school finding time for modeling can be a challenge as we try to squeeze as much fun out of the remaining sunlight as we can.  So too can be finding time to meet and talk about models...

Only 15 members attended, 1 of which was NEW MEMBER Stu Didsbury.  We did have 21 models to talk about, so that was great!

Only business to discuss was the upcoming 2016 Biplanes & Triplanes air show at Virginia Beach on Sat/Sun 1-2 October.  Also the Tidewatercon 16 will be held Fri/Sat.  Note that if you go on Saturday, you'll pay the $25 air show fee to see the model show...

Just a reminder of the Club's group build efforts ongoing:

• Big Bomber Build -- Monogram or Revell 1/48 bomber group build.  Members are looking to display their finished kits at MauraderCon 2016 on 19th November.
• Yellow Wings Squadron -- For May 2017 Yellow Wings group build -- Members are building the Monogram 1/72 F11C-2 using some custom decals by Starfighter-Decals to create a full squadron of 18 aircraft in all 6 section colors.  Hopefully donate these to the Museum when completed.
• VF-11 Tophatters Display -- for the Museum, one model of each aircraft from beginning to today.  Most should be done, awaiting confirmation from the Museum for the display space.
• Battle of the Atlantic Display -- for the Museum, a display similar to their Battle of Midway display that highlights Naval Aviation's role; awaiting confirmation from the Museum for the display space.  And my PB4Y-1 still isn't finished...

157: August Show and Tell

156: July Show and Tell

156: July minutes

We had 19 members bring 21 kits to the July meeting.

Raffles: I tried to shake down a few folks regarding kits for the monthly raffles; I've got enough to last the rest of this year (through November and possibly to February) but start looking to cull your stashes! I can find a couple in mine.

Battle of the Atlantic display: The museum is trying to find the right space for the display and needs a good description, size, et cetera for the display. I've started looking in my archives for the original proposal (back in 2011!) and a computer crash hasn't been helpful.

Related to the display(s), we need to start drafting the descriptions for each model we are building.  Whether the Top Hatters, or Battle of the Atlantic, we need to help the Museum tie the display to the mission at Pax River, why the historical events we are providing are important to both history and NAS Pax River.

As an example, the Battle of the Atlantic was primarily an ASW mission, conducted in an intra-service (Naval) as well as a joint Army Air Force - Navy as well as Allied Forces (US-UK-and others) battle from 1939 to 1945.  Ultimately the air ASW development and lessons learned has been folded into the P-2 (P2V), P-3, P-4 (PB4Y-2) and P-8 squadrons flown out of NAS Pax River following the war through the Cold War and into today.  Whether long range patrols, or the aviation units involved in convoys and hunter-killer efforts, all used Naval Aviation assets and technologies tested/integrated here at NATC and NAS Pax River.

Regards,
Tim

Yellow Wings Group Build for May 2017

Also known as the Monogram 1/72 F11C-2 Squadron Build

What we are trying to achieve: A full squadron (VF-1B) of 19 aircraft in colorful section markings for the 1933-35 period of US Naval Aviation.  We hope to be able to donate the kits to the Patuxent River Naval Aviation Museum if the museum is willing to accept the donation.

1) Model kit -- Monogram 1/72 F11C-2 -- some of you plan to donate your kit(s) or buy direct from Mark at Starfighter Decals.  Link to the kit.  

2) Decals -- Starfighter Decals Sheet 72-140 has all the BUNO in both black and white.  Since there are only enough black / white trim stripes, and National Markings for 6 models, I'll buy 3 sheets.  A couple want their own sheets as well but I will cut up the three sheets and put the decals inside the kits when they come in.

3) Aircraft Build Assignments --   Note that 2 models are available.

Modeler	Aircraft	Notes
Joe H.	1-F-1 1-F-2 1-F-3	Red Section
Andy F.	1-F-4	White Section
	1-F-5	White Section “Dash 2”
	1-F-6	White Section "Dash 3”
Jim R.	1-F-7	True Blue Section “Lead"
Steve W.	1-F-8	True Blue Section “Dash 2”
Collin T.	1-F-9	True Blue Section "Dash 3”
Dave F.	1-F-10 1-F-11 1-F-12	Black Section
Andy W.	1-F-13	Willow Green Section “Lead”
Jonathan W.	1-F-14 1-F-15	Willow Green Section “Dash 2” & “Dash 3”
Ryan J.	1-F-16 1-F-17 1-F-18	Lemon Yellow Section
Tim H.	1-F-19	SU-1 Utility aircraft

4) Paint colors -- Model Master / Testers unless otherwise noted.

• All metal areas not painted in trim color -- Light Gull Gray MM4692, note this is a gloss color as it is different than the Flat Gull Gray.
• Fabric areas -- Aluminum enamel -- 1181 square bottle, according to Jonathan it covers better.  Do NOT use a metalizer.
• Upper wing upper side -- Chrome Yellow MM4683 painted over a "primer" coat of yellow zinc chromate (either MM4861 or 1184 square bottle)
• Insignia Red tails/trim -- MM4714 or Tamiya X-7
• Insignia White -- White...
• True Blue -- MM4657
• Black -- Black...
• Willow Green -- MM2028
• Lemon Yellow -- MM4684 Blue Angel Yellow
• Prop -- Aluminum, back of prop from cowl to tip stripes is same blue as the decal prop stripe, so match that blue.
• Tires -- Any black, including a tire black if desired (variation is okay).
• Gloss coat when done -- I know that "gloss" is probably not realistic, e.g. Satin is better, but Satin can be very subjective.

5) Pilots -- below is an image from Modeling Madness of a painted Master Details 1/32 scale Aviator:

​

6) Bureau Numbers (BUNO) -- below list is from Mark @ Starfighter Decals, combined with new information from a site online that is referencing photos.  I believe the decal sheet has the chevron and fuselage stripes, but if you want to match the cowling and fuselage stripe feel free to paint them.  Note two corrections to the BUNOs below (1-F-15 & 1-F-16).

Aircraft	Bureau Number	Section Color Notes
1-F-1	9266	Red fuselage stripe, chevron & cowling
1-F-2	9267	Red upper cowling half & chevron, no fuselage stripe
1-F-3	9268	Red lower cowling half & chevron, no fuselage stripe
1-F-4	9270	White fuselage stripe, chevron & cowling, with black trim
1-F-5	9271	White upper cowling half & chevron, no fuselage stripe
1-F-6	9272	White lower cowling half & chevron, no fuselage stripe
1-F-7	9336	True Blue fuselage stripe, chevron & cowling
1-F-8	9274	True Blue upper cowling half & chevron, no fuselage stripe
1-F-9	9275	True Blue lower cowling half & chevron, no fuselage stripe
1-F-10	9276	Black fuselage stripe, chevron & cowling
1-F-11	9277	Black upper cowling half & chevron, no fuselage stripe
1-F-12	9278	Black lower cowling half & chevron, no fuselage stripe
1-F-13	9279	Willow Green fuselage stripe, chevron & cowling
1-F-14	9280	Willow Green upper cowling half & chevron, no fuselage stripe
1-F-15	9281	Willow Green lower cowling half & chevron, no fuselage stripe
1-F-16	9282	Lemon Yellow fuselage stripe, chevron & cowling, with black trim
1-F-17	9331	Lemon Yellow upper cowling half & chevron, no fuselage stripe
1-F-18	9332 or 9337	Lemon Yellow lower cowling half & chevron, no fuselage stripe

Happy modeling!

155: June Minutes

We discussed the Battle of the Atlantic and Tophatter display status.  To be fair, what we discussed is that not much has changed.  Which is to say, still not sure when the Museum will have the cabinets ready for us to move the kits in.  I suspect the "whew!'s" I heard means a few folks haven't finished their models.  Guilty as charged...I still need to finish the two destroyers.

We certainly beat the Yellow Wings horse quite dead!  I'll publish a separate article on the Group Build for 2017.

Speaking of group builds... I would like someone to also write an article on the Big Bomber Build that we're doing this year for MarauderCon.  Even if just a compilation of the models we expect to complete and bring.

We had a new member show up for the meeting; Nick W.  Welcome aboard!  I failed to formally introduce him, so will do that next meeting he is present.

Since the theme was "Anniversary" we enjoyed some pizza and the company of fellow modelers.  We had 19 members present who brought 21 kits.

Regards,
Tim

155: June Show and Tell