2015 IPMS Seattle Spring Show - Part 1

Last Saturday was the annual IPMS Seattle Spring Show.  Held once again at the Renton Community Center,  there were about 800 or so models entered.  (The large room was packed with modelers and at times it was hard to negotiate the vendor area due to all the people.) Vendors were set up around the contest area and this year there was a small separate overflow room.  (All I bought were two sets of Barracuda wheels and a decal sheet...I'm such a good boy these days.)  Entries were of the usual high quality and it was a fun way to spend a few hours. Here are a few 1/72 selections that caught my eye.

Is this an authentic scheme for the A-10?  It sure looked attractive.

 The MiG-21 Analog testbed for the TU-144 SST wing.

A very nice job on this AZ Breda kit.

A nicely done Matchbox Fury.

The Airfix EE Lightning appears to be a very popular kit with both a silver and green example on display.

An Academy Hurricane Mk. IIc in desert markings.  (This aircraft is often described as Bert Houle's Hurricane, but he only flew it a few times.)

I liked this low-viz Tiger MiG-23.

A very nice PR Mosi.

An wartime RCAF Mustang Mk. IV.

Each year IPMS Seattle hosts a Modelfy where a certain kit is chosen and it must be built as something other than what was intended.  This year the A-10 was chosen.  I especially like the A-10 X-Wing.

A Fire Service P-47N

The Cyberhobby Sea Vixen

A really nice A-1 Skyraider.

You don't often see a Storch in Laos markings.

A really well done CF-101 Voodoo.

The Second Canadair Starfighter

Here is a neat set of photos of Canadair CF-104 Starfighter 104702.  Accepted by the RCAF in 1961 as 12702, the airplane spent its whole career flying with CEPE (Central Experimental and Proving Establishment), 448 (Test) Squadron, and their successors AETE (Aerospace Engineering Test Establishment).  It had a brush with fame when it flew as a chase plane for Lockheed built Starfighter 12700 piloted by Wing Commander Robert A. “Bud” White, who set the Canadian altitude record of 100,110 feet on December 14, 1967.

Renumbered as 104702 after unification in 1968, the X on the tail was AETE's "squadron" marking.  The aircraft was slightly bent during arrest hook trails, but the CO of AETE Col. Dave Wightman claimed that that the tail markings made it fly faster.  Looking at these photos, it is hard to disagree!

702 was struck off strength in 1983 and now spends it time sitting on a pole at Joe Hoffner Memorial Park at Grand Centre, Cold Lake, Alberta.

The photo above was adapted into a decorative metal pin.  In a fun twist of fate, my mother found my Dad's copy of this pin and gave it to me last week after I had started preparing this post.  It now has a prized position in my model display case.  I really need to build a CF-104 to park behind it.   (Photos courtesy of the Canada. Dept. of National Defence/Library and Archives Canada.)

Modeler's Note: There have been many Starfighter kits issued in 1/72 over the years.  Most modelers consider the Hasegawa kits issued in the late 1980s as the best kit of the type, but I would counter that the ESCI kit from the early 1980s (also issued by AMT/ERTL and Italeri) kit is well worth considering.  The Hasegawa kits strike me as overly complex and I enjoy the simple construction of the Italian company's Starfighter.

Fleet Model 21

The Fleet Model 21 is one of those minor, but fascinating, Canadian aviation projects of the pre-World War Two era.  I became enamoured by the type after seeing one at a Hamilton Air Show in the early 1980s.  It just oozed 1930s biplane grace and power and in my young mind looked very much like a biplane Harvard.  It turns out that the Fleet 21 was a Canadian built version of the Consolidated Model 21, also known by the USAAC as the PT-11, PT-12 and/or BT-7 depending on the engine.  Eleven aircraft were built in Canada with a Pratt & Whitney Wasp Junior engine.  One interesting feature is that the Fleet 21 had a deeper belly than the PT-11, making the aircraft look beefier than the more delicate Consolidated predecessor.  Of the eleven aircraft, designated Fleet Model 21M, ten went to Mexico.  Armed with three .30 guns, you have to wonder what military use these hefty biplanes offered the Mexicans.

The subject of the above photo was the eleventh aircraft built.  (The photo is dated 1938, and the caption says it was taken at Camp Borden.)  Built as a demonstrator by Fleet in order to entice the RCAF to purchase the type as a trainer, it was flown with absolutely no markings; neither a RCAF serial number nor a civil registration was assigned.  Evaluated by the RCAF at Rockcliffe during 1937 and 1938, the aircraft was found to handle well, but the RCAF considered it antiquated.  With the Harvard about to enter service with the RCAF in 1939, the Fleet does look like a leftover from a previous epoch.  The RCAF decided not to purchase the type, which may have had less to do with its antiquity, and more to do with the lack of funds.  (Keep in mind the RCAF did eventually pony up and buy Canadian Car and Foundry Goblin biplane fighter for which the RCAF had minimal want or use.)

However, the Fleet 21 did find some work to assist with the war effort.  Fleet shared their Fort Erie location with the Irvin Air Chute Company who supplied parachutes for the BCATP and the RCAF.  The contracts required that each chute be dropped from an aircraft prior to acceptance by the RCAF.  Therefore, the Fleet was converted into a single seater, a drop bay was opened up under what would have been the rear cockpit, and it was loaned to Irvin during the war.  During that time, thousands of parachutes were dropped from the Fleet.  I have heard in passing that the Fleet carried RCAF roundels at some point in its life.  Not so long ago, I came across the photo below which appears to show the drop test Fleet with roundels, but again, no distinguishing marks.  Sadly, the quality is such that it is hard to draw many conclusions from the photo.

Post war, the Fleet was finally assigned a civil registration, CF-DLC, and was purchased by Fleet test-pilot Tommy Williams, who also had done most of the parachute drop test work in the aircraft for Irvin.  He installed a Jacobs L-6MB engine in place of the Pratt & Whitney Wasp Junior, converting in into a Fleet 21K.  Williams owned the airplane for many years and in the mid 80s it was donated to the Canadian Warplane Heritage in Hamilton.  Still flown occasionally and converted back into a two seater, the Fleet looks just as good as it did the day it rolled off the Fleet construction line.  While the CWH Fleet is the last airworthy survivor, the Reynolds Museum has parts of an ex-Mexican Fleet 21M in storage as a future restoration project.  (Black and white photos courtesy of the Canada. Dept. of National Defence/Library and Archives Canada.)

Modeler's Note: No kit of the Fleet 21M has ever been issued.  It also appears that the Consolidated PT-11 has yet to attract any model manufacture's interest.  One for the resin guys, someday?

Spitfire APR

I've been spending most of the morning trying to finish up my Spitfire APR.  The white winter camouflage is turning out to a little more difficult than I hoped...

If you don't know about the RCAF's use of the Spitfire APR visit Vintage Wings for the full story. Once again Evad has done a great job telling the story of this previously unknown piece of RCAF history.  ; )

WWII Modeling Day at the Flying Heritage Collection

On Saturday, my local model club, the Northwest Scale Modelers, hosted the first of what we hope will be quarterly modeling displays at the Flying Heritage Collection.  Each modeler gets a table to build on and to display a few models.  We spend the day BSing with each other and talking to the museum patrons.  It is a nice way to spread the word about scale modeling and I even got some progress made on an Academy P-40N.

My workspace for the day.  Yep, it is a rough life...

The nose of Lancaster Mk. I (FE) TW911 makes a nice display. This Lanc was built for the Tiger Force but carries the more common night bomber scheme.

One of the newest displays at the Museum is a Scud missile on its launcher.

The Spitfire had the engine off for some winter maintenance.

Vought XF8U-1 Crusader Unveiling

Today I had the pleasure of attending the Vought XF8U-1 Crusader (Bu.No.138899) unveiling at the Museum of Flight restoration center. Sixty years to the day that the prototype XF8U took to the air for the first time with John Konrad at the controls, the Museum took the wraps off the same aircraft which had been under restoration for decades. The Crusader exceeded Mach 1 on its maiden flight and it still looks speedy to this day. Originally, the Museum had requested the loan of the Sageburner F-4A Phantom II, but instead the XF8U was offered. The Crusader was on display at the Museum for a short while and then sat in storage until restoration work commenced in 1996.

The covers come off...

The restoration team.

F-8 pilots, the restoration crew, and one of the aircraft's designers.

Shiny!

Some progress has been made on the Airfix Mustang 4.  The natural metal finish has been simulated with Mr. Color H8 Silver.  I was pleasantly surprised, as it turned out a little shinier than expected.

The Canadair Argus

Title: The Canadair Argus:  The Untold Story of Canada’s Cold War Maritime Hunter
Authors: Major Cary Barker and Major Bert Campbell

During the Cold War, the Canadair Argus plied the skies of Canada’s East and West Coast and, outside of a few preserved airframes, is almost forgotten.  Even in books about the RCAF, it only gets mentioned for a few pages in chapters on Maritime Command.  This 190-page hardcover book changes all that.  It tells the story of the Argus from development to retirement and everything is here; weapon’s trials, stories of patrols, crew and maintenance tails, etc.  I was fascinated by the Bullpup missile trials and the references to the Argus's use during the Cuban Missile crisis.  The book is well illustrated with both colour and black-and-white photos and nicely done aircraft paintings.  A must for an RCAF fan of Maritime operations.

The Sopwith Dove and William Barker

After World War One, the Sopwith Aviation Company decided to create a twin seat adaptation of its Pup fighter for the expected post-war sport aviation market.  The new type was called the Sopwith Dove.  Unfortunately for Sopwith, a civilian post-war aviation boom did not occur in Britain and only ten Doves were built.

This selection of photos were taken when the prototype Dove G-EACM had a brush with fame.  In the spring of 1919, Canadian World War One ace William Barker gave the Prince of Wales a half hour ride in the Dove over London.  (Note that Barker has one of his arms in a sling; a holdover from his October 27, 1918, battle for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross.)

The Dove followed Barker to Canada being registered G-CAAY to the Bishop-Barker Aeroplanes Limited.  In 1921, the Dove was destroyed in a crash at Sault St. Marie, Ontario, while being flown by another pilot.  (Photos courtesy of the Canada. Dept. of National Defence/Library and Archives Canada.)

Modeler's Note:  To the best of my knowledge, the only Dove kit to be issued in 1/72 was a Dove and Swallow conversion released by Airframe of Canada for the Airfix Pup.  Airframe's kits were crude vacuforms molded on very thin plastic, so it would be probably be easier to modify the Airfix Pup on your own than to use the Airframe conversion.

Battle of the Barristers - There's a Hurricane Coming! Part 1

As Mr. Knights let the cat out of the bag the other day, he and I have entered into a 2015 Battle of the Barristers challenge build with Battle of Britain Hurricanes. Both of us will be building the recently issued Series 1 Airfix Hurricane Mk. I.

This is the second boxing of Airfix's fabric wing Hurricane.  The kit is excellent and clearly the best Hurricane in 1/72 scale.  The price point is a bit friendlier than the Series 2 version which also includes two decal options, the two bladed propellor, and other distinguishing features of the very early Hurricanes. (An extra sprue is included in the Series 2 Hurricane Mk. I to cater to these features.)  Sadly, hopes for a metal wing version in 2015 appear to be dashed.

My plan is to build the kit mostly out of the box with replacement wheels...the Airfix kits have one too few spokes...and with Eduard's new fabric seat belts.  I hope to get started this week and will be building the following aircraft:

L1851 was one of a few fabric wing Hurricanes on strength with 1 (F) Squadron RCAF.  On August 18, 1940, the day after the Squadron became operational, Flight Lieutenant V. B.Corbett ran into a fuel browser with YO-U during a scramble at 14:30 hours at RAF Hornchurch.  The results of the collision are illustrated in the photo above.  (Photo courtesy of the Canada Department of National Defence/Library and Archives of Canada.)

As our Battle has a due date of December 31, 2015, not only should both David and I actually finish our Hurricanes, there is plenty of time for other barristers to join in our fun.  Now if only I knew some other plastic-loving lawyers...  (I'm looking at you August and Rick!)

Sprue Cutters Union: New Techniques for a New Year?

I’m not the only one to reappear in the blogosphere in 2015; the Sprue Cutters Union has returned as well. This weeks question is: What new products/techniques will you purchase/attempt this year?

Mr. Finishing Surfacer 1500 Black 

I’m a big fan of Mr. Surfacer 1200 as a primer, but Mr. Knights has raved about this product. It is supposed to have an even finer grain, and I keep hearing how black is a good base coat for metallic finishes. I guess we’ll see, as I’m using the Mr. Finishing Surfacer as a primer on the Airfix Mustang.

Mr. Color Super Metallics 

I’ve never really gotten along with Alcald, preferring Mr. Color 8 Silver or Tamiya spray cans for my natural metal finishes. However, I’ve seen good results from these paints. I have a few to try and may break them out on the Mustang.

 AK Interactive True Metal 

This is an odd one. It sure looks like Rub’n’Buff with an inflated “modelers” price tag, but the manufacturer claims you can mask over it. Guess I’ll get a tube or two and try it out.

P.S.:  I'm no prude, but WTF is up with the figures on page 6 of the PDF?  Almost makes me want to avoid supporting the manufacturer.  I don't need to be manipulated to try your product.  (This is what happens once you have a daughter.)

Part of being in the Union means you must include links to fellow contributor's posts within your own response. So here are a few posts from some of the other members:

The Combat Workshop takes on Vallejo.
Doog wants to modulate his black.
The Museum Modeling wants to try more armor.
Jeroen is fighting monochromaticity.
Kermit wants to try modulation.
Motorsport Modeller wants to try Extra Thin.
Shutterace is seeing ghosts.
The Eternal Wargamer needs to paint faster.
Scale Model Soup hopes to jig.

2014

Wow, my first blog post in a year.

2014 was a year of ups and downs.  A little over one year ago my father unexpectedly passed away. He and I had discussed my upcoming move many times, so moving without his help last April was bittersweet. I packed up my life and moved from Akron, Ohio to Seattle, Washington driving almost 2,500 miles.  After making another cross country drive (El Paso to Seattle) to pick up my Dad’s car, moving into a much larger apartment, and taking on a new job - as well as finishing up responsibilities with my old firm – modeling and blogging time has been scarce.  It is late December as I write this and life is starting to feel settled, even with a new job search in the cards.  It’s finally the right time to get back to blogging.

The last few days of any year always seem to make one take stock of what was completed and what lies ahead.  In modeling terms, 2014 was a total bust.  Only three projects made any headway: an Airfix “old tool” Spitfire Mk. I was built in Ohio just before I left, I recently started an Airfix Mustang 4 for a Museum display in March 2015, and I spent some time plugging away at a Cyberhobby Vampire.  Each project will get its own post as 2015 proceeds and the projects are finished.

However, the biggest modeling change of the year was a major culling of the unbuilt model collection.  It made no sense to move models I never planned to build across the country, so many were left behind with friends in Ohio.  Even then, as most of the remaining models went into storage, I realized that even a collection half the size it used to be was still ridiculous.  After some additional pruning, I no longer feel weighed down by all the excess.  I’ve got about 30 kits in the apartment and I’m excited to build all of them.  I no longer have kits I’m saving for when “I get good”.  I don’t have kits that I think I’ll need for mythical collections.  I just have some kits I’d like to put together sometime – and that feels great.

So what does all this mean for A Scale Canadian?  Hopefully some posts in 2015.  I doubt I’ll average more than one a week, but look for modeling, book reviews, and maybe even some historical photos and essays.  In some ways, business as usual; in other ways, something entirely new for me. Here’s to finding the real joy in modeling, and in life, in 2015.