Air Campaigns
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Official: FROG Modellers Campaign
md72
#439
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Washington, United States
Joined: November 05, 2005
KitMaker: 4,950 posts
AeroScale: 3,192 posts
Posted: Saturday, March 22, 2014 - 06:55 PM UTC
Some progress. This sample seems to be better engineered than some of the other planes pictures here. I think I did a lot more damage fixing the trench at the control surfaces.


Only slight fill needed at the wings, a lot at one flap but not as bad as I expected.
Mcleod
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Alberta, Canada
Joined: April 07, 2010
KitMaker: 1,028 posts
AeroScale: 939 posts
Posted: Sunday, March 23, 2014 - 01:23 AM UTC
I just reviewed this thread from the 1st page, and indeed there is some wonderful work going on here. That 707 is especially attractive to me.

Sadly, I have not proceeded too much further than my last photo on the 1st page, and it's not going anywhere fast. If only there were 36 hour days.
So, with reservations, I must withdraw. I have one build on the table that is an absolutely must build campaign, one build arriving soon that will be expected of me to complete soon, and one build so close to completion that I cannot lay it aside.
That's about all I can handle, at this time space I'm in.

This is a wonderful, fun campaign though. Good luck to all.
amegan
#243
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England - North East, United Kingdom
Joined: March 21, 2008
KitMaker: 996 posts
AeroScale: 915 posts
Posted: Sunday, March 23, 2014 - 04:58 AM UTC
Sorry about that Ben, but I sympathize. I have just re-read the thread too, and there seems to be a fairly common theme through this, Frog kits and especially their Eastern Bloc spinoffs were pretty poor. Some early Airfix are almost as bad,but Airfix did improve till, by the 1980s they produced pretty fair new kits. The thing is, I don't remember Frog kits as being that poor, the Percival Proctor, HMS Undine and the Spit and Flying Bomb kits I remember building and I don't remember problems with any of them. Rose coloured specs? Maybe.
Jessie_C
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British Columbia, Canada
Joined: September 03, 2009
KitMaker: 6,965 posts
AeroScale: 6,247 posts
Posted: Sunday, March 23, 2014 - 05:15 AM UTC
Frog kits were always pretty basic, and I'm pretty certain that the awful fit problems we're having are the result of aging moulds having been overused and not well cared for, not to mention the sprues being ejected while they're still slightly warm and thereby warping, combined with the horrible plastic that was available in Russia during the Soviet times.
md72
#439
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Washington, United States
Joined: November 05, 2005
KitMaker: 4,950 posts
AeroScale: 3,192 posts
Posted: Sunday, March 23, 2014 - 06:20 AM UTC
Mostly as a result of this campaign, I think I've added 6 1/2 Frog kits to my stash. Three are in original FROG boxes, 2 in Novo boxes, the last one is from Ark Models. The 1/2 kit is the Hasegawa F-102A.

I think the Ark kit is out of Russia, I can't read Cyrillic, it could be Ukraine. Ark is a new molder boxing the old Vultee Vengeance. They've put some money into the molds, the parts are in better shape than the Novo version of the same kit. Really good looking decals, much better and more details than the Novo offering. Unfortunately they saved money on the instructions. it's a cut and paste of the Novo artwork, which was probably a direct copy of the Frog set. There is a lot of degradation in the line work. Markings for 2 planes are provided, but no painting or decal placement instructions. There's a dark B&W artwork for one plane claiming #45 Squadron RAF in India, but I think the markings are RAAF roundels. The box top does show an RAF East India Squadron plane, but the markings don't exactly match the decals.
JClapp
#259
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Massachusetts, United States
Joined: October 23, 2011
KitMaker: 2,265 posts
AeroScale: 1,715 posts
Posted: Saturday, April 05, 2014 - 06:56 AM UTC
I got the TwoSix decal sheet in the mail last night-


and a good days work today putting them on

the film is very nice and thin, is floats nicely and reacts very fast to solvaset. I have ruined three door outlines and one flag, so Ill have to try to replicate those tomorrow.

the nose and cockpit doesnt fit the model too well, Ill have to do some work with black trim film to try to make that look better.
Otherwise pretty nice!

Every single time I move this model I manage to break the needle thing off the tail and lose it. Ive made at three of them now.

also this splendid reference photo, Keflavic Iceland, 1858. via

Note MATS C-118
Mcleod
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Alberta, Canada
Joined: April 07, 2010
KitMaker: 1,028 posts
AeroScale: 939 posts
Posted: Saturday, April 05, 2014 - 07:24 AM UTC
I'm impressed, Jonathan. The 707 looks wonderful.
JClapp
#259
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Massachusetts, United States
Joined: October 23, 2011
KitMaker: 2,265 posts
AeroScale: 1,715 posts
Posted: Saturday, April 05, 2014 - 08:11 AM UTC
two foot rule on this one, no close ups!!


the photo in Iceland above was of course taken in 1958.
JClapp
#259
_VISITCOMMUNITY
Massachusetts, United States
Joined: October 23, 2011
KitMaker: 2,265 posts
AeroScale: 1,715 posts
Posted: Friday, April 11, 2014 - 06:46 PM UTC
I think I have finished this.






Berwickboy
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England - East Midlands, United Kingdom
Joined: April 27, 2013
KitMaker: 450 posts
AeroScale: 387 posts
Posted: Thursday, April 17, 2014 - 09:42 AM UTC
I have started on my FROG A4, here is what I have to work with


Note that the canopy is in 2 pieces, a result of being stepped on after it fell out the box. This is going to be a lot easier to build than some kits as the parts count is low and I intend to build it as a 'Plane on a Pole' rather than an operational jet. Onwards and upwards
JClapp
#259
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Massachusetts, United States
Joined: October 23, 2011
KitMaker: 2,265 posts
AeroScale: 1,715 posts
Posted: Thursday, April 17, 2014 - 10:52 PM UTC
Hey Mike, Good to see another box opened!
This thread has been rather quiet lately, I am hoping the final weeks bring some campaigners back to the game.
Berwickboy
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England - East Midlands, United Kingdom
Joined: April 27, 2013
KitMaker: 450 posts
AeroScale: 387 posts
Posted: Saturday, April 19, 2014 - 09:55 AM UTC
Tonight's excursion into the garage (model room) has resulted in the fuselage halves glued together. The wings. which have previously been glued with the u/c doors shut, have also been attached, the wing/fuselage join is so good there is no filler needed except on the forward part where there is an horrendous gap which may well need Plasticard to bridge. The badly smashed canopy is also in one piece but I'm not worried about it being clear as most planes on poles seem to have the canopy opaque.

I now have to decide on what ordinance to add, I think 2 wing drop tanks may suffice so the 'pole' will support the A-4 under the fuselage. This just leaves the base to plan.
JClapp
#259
_VISITCOMMUNITY
Massachusetts, United States
Joined: October 23, 2011
KitMaker: 2,265 posts
AeroScale: 1,715 posts
Posted: Saturday, April 19, 2014 - 10:35 AM UTC
will you be using the IDF markings shown on the box?
Berwickboy
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England - East Midlands, United Kingdom
Joined: April 27, 2013
KitMaker: 450 posts
AeroScale: 387 posts
Posted: Saturday, April 19, 2014 - 10:38 PM UTC

Quoted Text

will you be using the IDF markings shown on the box?

No, I will be using the NZ markings as a late friend of mine was a rear gunner in a 75sqn Lancaster and that is the squadron that used it in NZ. Ake Ake Kia Kaha, Forever and Ever be Strong
Berwickboy
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England - East Midlands, United Kingdom
Joined: April 27, 2013
KitMaker: 450 posts
AeroScale: 387 posts
Posted: Monday, April 21, 2014 - 10:05 AM UTC
Work continues on the A4. With the fuselage and wings joined the gaps have appeared in the joint lines. The worst area is the wing/front fuselage join with an appreciable gap which I filled with Plastic card. In order to fill this part correctly I have had to remove the guns and will not replace them, NZ has no offensive capability now so as this is a slight 'Whiffer' build I will say the A4 has been 'pacified'

I made a poor job of inserting the aibrakes so that will be something I will have to think about later. The canopy is back in 1 piece and the cockpit opening will have to be fettled to make it fit.

Some seams are faultless and have rubbed down beautifully, move a millimetre and there's a trench. filling is going to be fun.



This is the build so far, the photo was taken using my ancient mobile (I text using a slate) so it is not very detailed. The mug is one of my favourites, I thought I'd include it for fun
ljames0874
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England - South East, United Kingdom
Joined: August 15, 2012
KitMaker: 408 posts
AeroScale: 365 posts
Posted: Tuesday, April 22, 2014 - 03:50 AM UTC
I'm still here, still scribing away. The last few days sessions I've been working on the underside of the fuselage. The folding sections of the wings are done, another few days I'll have the upper fuselage done as well.

ljames0874
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England - South East, United Kingdom
Joined: August 15, 2012
KitMaker: 408 posts
AeroScale: 365 posts
Posted: Sunday, April 27, 2014 - 03:11 AM UTC
.... and that's the scribing done! I'm so glad to have rescued the Sea Vixen from the bin, and to have got it back to a primer worthy state.


I've got a coat of primer on now, and it shows the scribing up very well. Some of the scribing is a bit rough in places (ideally you should scribe the parts before building the model) but overall, I don't think it's too bad for a first effort.



So, now I have just over a month for paint and decals, should be fun!
JClapp
#259
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Massachusetts, United States
Joined: October 23, 2011
KitMaker: 2,265 posts
AeroScale: 1,715 posts
Posted: Sunday, April 27, 2014 - 05:06 AM UTC
looking good, you jumped a tall hurdle!

I love that radar dish, begs for a diorama presentation.
SmashedGlass
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Florida, United States
Joined: October 26, 2006
KitMaker: 105 posts
AeroScale: 62 posts
Posted: Wednesday, May 07, 2014 - 11:22 AM UTC
Sorry for the loooooooooooooooong delay. Been busy taking care of other more pressing obligations instead of whittling away on plastic. But I rectified that over the last couple of days, and will hopefully complete this pair by the deadline. If it looks as if I can't make it, I will probably change course slightly and paint up the V-1 as an American Doodle Bug

Here is the dynamic duo test fitted and mocked up together on the flight stand in dramatic "action!!" pose:


Something about that Flying Bomb just....didn't....look right to me off the bat. Laid up on some plans and. Whoa!!!


As well as certain details being wonky or completely wrong, of course. This is old FROG, after all!

Now, I had originally planned all those months ago to just shake the box and pop out a nicely finished, albeit old school, build. My CDO (it's like OCD, only the letters are in the proper order, AS THEY SHOULD BE!!!) of course got the better of me and I couldn't live with how "off" the Fieseler looked. So, after a bit of research and some hackery we get to this point:


A masterpiece by no means, but far far closer to reality for sure:



And now, I shall proceed with that Buzz Bomb flipping Spitfire! I will try as hard as possible to refrain from any major alterations to it other than necessary to make it look decent (i.e. not gonna even try to sand in the gull wing...)

Cheers!
JClapp
#259
_VISITCOMMUNITY
Massachusetts, United States
Joined: October 23, 2011
KitMaker: 2,265 posts
AeroScale: 1,715 posts
Posted: Wednesday, May 07, 2014 - 03:23 PM UTC
nice mods!
the metal tape access doors look pretty good, Im going to remember that
North4003
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England - West Midlands, United Kingdom
Joined: August 01, 2012
KitMaker: 960 posts
AeroScale: 391 posts
Posted: Wednesday, May 07, 2014 - 03:44 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Sorry for the loooooooooooooooong delay. Been busy taking care of other more pressing obligations instead of whittling away on plastic. But I rectified that over the last couple of days, and will hopefully complete this pair by the deadline. If it looks as if I can't make it, I will probably change course slightly and paint up the V-1 as an American Doodle Bug

Here is the dynamic duo test fitted and mocked up together on the flight stand in dramatic "action!!" pose:



Something about that Flying Bomb just....didn't....look right to me off the bat. Laid up on some plans and. Whoa!!!


As well as certain details being wonky or completely wrong, of course. This is old FROG, after all!

Now, I had originally planned all those months ago to just shake the box and pop out a nicely finished, albeit old school, build. My CDO (it's like OCD, only the letters are in the proper order, AS THEY SHOULD BE!!!) of course got the better of me and I couldn't live with how "off" the Fieseler looked. So, after a bit of research and some hackery we get to this point:


A masterpiece by no means, but far far closer to reality for sure:



And now, I shall proceed with that Buzz Bomb flipping Spitfire! I will try as hard as possible to refrain from any major alterations to it other than necessary to make it look decent (i.e. not gonna even try to sand in the gull wing...)

Cheers!




Very impressive Buzz Bomb.
ljames0874
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England - South East, United Kingdom
Joined: August 15, 2012
KitMaker: 408 posts
AeroScale: 365 posts
Posted: Wednesday, May 07, 2014 - 07:26 PM UTC
Nice job on the V-1!
tinbanger
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Ontario, Canada
Joined: February 04, 2008
KitMaker: 2,507 posts
AeroScale: 1,814 posts
Posted: Thursday, May 08, 2014 - 10:44 AM UTC
Update, time for first coat of primer:-

md72
#439
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Washington, United States
Joined: November 05, 2005
KitMaker: 4,950 posts
AeroScale: 3,192 posts
Posted: Thursday, May 08, 2014 - 06:56 PM UTC
Well flat white on primer doesn't give much contrast, But I'm making progress.
JClapp
#259
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Massachusetts, United States
Joined: October 23, 2011
KitMaker: 2,265 posts
AeroScale: 1,715 posts
Posted: Thursday, May 08, 2014 - 08:56 PM UTC
Good to see, two more airframes heading to the paint shop.

As is often the case, the last month of the campaign will be the busiest