#439
Washington, United States
Joined: November 05, 2005
KitMaker: 4,950 posts
AeroScale: 3,192 posts
Posted: Tuesday, September 11, 2012 - 05:11 PM UTC
My project for the Ancient Airfix Assemblers is the OS2U-1 Kingfisher.
The kit dates from 1967. I'm not sure if mine is an original boxing or not, there aren't any copyright markings on the box, decals, instructions or the plastic. The decals are heavily yellowed, doubt I'll be able to salvage them. But if I use a simple enough scheme, I can probably piece something together from other sheets or paint.
I want to go with this scheme from
Kingfisher In Action VO-3.
I've never done a yellow wing version before. I think I can get everything except the "Mississippi", buno and the designator. May just skip them. The squadron stripes and rudder can all be done with paint.
That's a start. Hope to get more tomorrow.
Hanger Queens in Waiting:
Monogram 1/72 F8F-1
Corsair the Sky Pirate - 1/72 Ace A-7D
Century Series - Airfix 1/72 F-105G
Anti Shipping - Academy 1/72 PBJ-1D
Academy 1/72 F-84E
Tennessee, United States
Joined: September 20, 2005
KitMaker: 1,747 posts
AeroScale: 1,673 posts
Posted: Wednesday, September 12, 2012 - 12:39 PM UTC
You go Mark! That was one of the early birds I first learned how to identify from my dad. He was a Marine, so of course he leaned toward the Navy/Marine stuff!
Kingfisher was an interesting looking aircraft. If one was shot down I bet no one laughed when it showed up! Russell
To Thine Own Self Be True
Siderius
A.K.A., RTA
#439
Washington, United States
Joined: November 05, 2005
KitMaker: 4,950 posts
AeroScale: 3,192 posts
Posted: Wednesday, September 12, 2012 - 02:35 PM UTC
Don't have my reference handy, but at least a couple of OS2U pilots made some daring-do rescues. From years ago I remember one saving Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker by taxiing 40 miles with Rickenbacker and other survivors holding on to the wings for dear life.
Hanger Queens in Waiting:
Monogram 1/72 F8F-1
Corsair the Sky Pirate - 1/72 Ace A-7D
Century Series - Airfix 1/72 F-105G
Anti Shipping - Academy 1/72 PBJ-1D
Academy 1/72 F-84E
#439
Washington, United States
Joined: November 05, 2005
KitMaker: 4,950 posts
AeroScale: 3,192 posts
Posted: Wednesday, September 12, 2012 - 02:39 PM UTC
The kit is all there except for the forward section of the rear canopy and a landing light. I contacted Airfix, the part is available, it may be on it's way, but they'd like £ 3.00 POUND STERLING, however much that is, to cover postage and handling. I'll call tomorrow and try to pay it on my debit card.
Hanger Queens in Waiting:
Monogram 1/72 F8F-1
Corsair the Sky Pirate - 1/72 Ace A-7D
Century Series - Airfix 1/72 F-105G
Anti Shipping - Academy 1/72 PBJ-1D
Academy 1/72 F-84E
South Australia, Australia
Joined: August 14, 2007
KitMaker: 5,926 posts
AeroScale: 2,201 posts
Posted: Wednesday, September 12, 2012 - 09:34 PM UTC
Quoted Text
The kit is all there except for the forward section of the rear canopy and a landing light. I contacted Airfix, the part is available, it may be on it's way, but they'd like £ 3.00 POUND STERLING, however much that is, to cover postage and handling. I'll call tomorrow and try to pay it on my debit card.
3 pounds is about US$5.. and that is an original boxing..
You may be right, I may be crazy.
#439
Washington, United States
Joined: November 05, 2005
KitMaker: 4,950 posts
AeroScale: 3,192 posts
Posted: Thursday, September 13, 2012 - 07:49 AM UTC
Well, I made the call and actually talked with someone who spoke British as a first language and American as a second one. Given the time differences, UK to Seattle, WA, I expected to talk to a machine. I bet the charges will cost me more than the part.
I don't know the history of the packaging, but this one has a little perforated tab on the long top edge of the box that can be freed, bent up and used to hang the box on a peg in the store.
Hanger Queens in Waiting:
Monogram 1/72 F8F-1
Corsair the Sky Pirate - 1/72 Ace A-7D
Century Series - Airfix 1/72 F-105G
Anti Shipping - Academy 1/72 PBJ-1D
Academy 1/72 F-84E
Texas, United States
Joined: February 22, 2008
KitMaker: 5,026 posts
AeroScale: 2,811 posts
Posted: Friday, September 14, 2012 - 02:43 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Don't have my reference handy, but at least a couple of OS2U pilots made some daring-do rescues. From years ago I remember one saving Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker by taxiing 40 miles with Rickenbacker and other survivors holding on to the wings for dear life.
I remember reading that from an elementary school library book around 1964-5, wish I had that book now the photos were great.
I can remember this kit at Bobbye Halls Hobby Shop as a bagged Airfix series around 1967 and it was in a light blue if I remember correctly.
Bob
If it aint broke dont fix it.
#439
Washington, United States
Joined: November 05, 2005
KitMaker: 4,950 posts
AeroScale: 3,192 posts
Posted: Tuesday, September 18, 2012 - 03:04 PM UTC
Well, Ran out of excuses today. This well traveled box arrived today.
Deep in all of that was a complete clear sprue for my Kingfisher.
Hanger Queens in Waiting:
Monogram 1/72 F8F-1
Corsair the Sky Pirate - 1/72 Ace A-7D
Century Series - Airfix 1/72 F-105G
Anti Shipping - Academy 1/72 PBJ-1D
Academy 1/72 F-84E
#439
Washington, United States
Joined: November 05, 2005
KitMaker: 4,950 posts
AeroScale: 3,192 posts
Posted: Friday, September 28, 2012 - 04:54 PM UTC
Got a little work done. Primered the aircrew, looks like there's a little clean-up left. Maybe I'll get a little interior green done tonight.
And take a moment to recognize the sacrifices of brave Airfix aircrew.
Hanger Queens in Waiting:
Monogram 1/72 F8F-1
Corsair the Sky Pirate - 1/72 Ace A-7D
Century Series - Airfix 1/72 F-105G
Anti Shipping - Academy 1/72 PBJ-1D
Academy 1/72 F-84E
#439
Washington, United States
Joined: November 05, 2005
KitMaker: 4,950 posts
AeroScale: 3,192 posts
Posted: Sunday, January 13, 2013 - 05:43 AM UTC
Wow, forgotten I'd started this. That's how slow it's been going....
I've got the fuselage together, the cockpit bits installed. The dismembered aircrew painted and installed. The replacement glass masked and installed. I had to shim the front canopy slider to fill a .04" gap between the two parts.
It's ready for the wings and some primer.
Hanger Queens in Waiting:
Monogram 1/72 F8F-1
Corsair the Sky Pirate - 1/72 Ace A-7D
Century Series - Airfix 1/72 F-105G
Anti Shipping - Academy 1/72 PBJ-1D
Academy 1/72 F-84E
South Australia, Australia
Joined: August 14, 2007
KitMaker: 5,926 posts
AeroScale: 2,201 posts
Posted: Sunday, January 13, 2013 - 08:50 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Well, I made the call and actually talked with someone who spoke British as a first language and American as a second one. Given the time differences, UK to Seattle, WA, I expected to talk to a machine. I bet the charges will cost me more than the part.
I don't know the history of the packaging, but this one has a little perforated tab on the long top edge of the box that can be freed, bent up and used to hang the box on a peg in the store.
That little perforated tab would have been added when it got to the retailer as Airfix didn't add any of those way back then. Are you going to keep the box? When I was young I used to cut the top of the box off and keep it but I am not sure where they are now. But I still have all my instructions going back to my second or third kit..
Cheers mate and good luck with this lovely old kit.
Warren
You may be right, I may be crazy.
#439
Washington, United States
Joined: November 05, 2005
KitMaker: 4,950 posts
AeroScale: 3,192 posts
Posted: Sunday, January 13, 2013 - 09:51 AM UTC
Oh, I've seen some far eastern kits arrive in a large box, with flattened kit boxes, a stack of decals, a stack of instructions ans the kits all individually bagged. Then the distributor assembles the bits and forwards them to the stores. Did Airfix do it that way in the good old days?
I kept lots of box tops and instructions back then, but they're all gone now. Although a lot of my recent builds the entire box seems to be hanging around.
Hanger Queens in Waiting:
Monogram 1/72 F8F-1
Corsair the Sky Pirate - 1/72 Ace A-7D
Century Series - Airfix 1/72 F-105G
Anti Shipping - Academy 1/72 PBJ-1D
Academy 1/72 F-84E
South Australia, Australia
Joined: August 14, 2007
KitMaker: 5,926 posts
AeroScale: 2,201 posts
Posted: Sunday, January 13, 2013 - 11:04 AM UTC
I don't think so Mark. That was when things got sent by ship, and saving the last cent/penny on shipping wasn't as so important as it is to the bean-counters nowadays.
You may be right, I may be crazy.
#439
Washington, United States
Joined: November 05, 2005
KitMaker: 4,950 posts
AeroScale: 3,192 posts
Posted: Friday, January 18, 2013 - 05:17 AM UTC
Looks like progress.
Using a Lego jig, I got the wings and stabilizers installed and all the angles right.
Hanger Queens in Waiting:
Monogram 1/72 F8F-1
Corsair the Sky Pirate - 1/72 Ace A-7D
Century Series - Airfix 1/72 F-105G
Anti Shipping - Academy 1/72 PBJ-1D
Academy 1/72 F-84E
#439
Washington, United States
Joined: November 05, 2005
KitMaker: 4,950 posts
AeroScale: 3,192 posts
Posted: Tuesday, January 22, 2013 - 06:16 PM UTC
Had to stop and really clean up the model desk today. The propeller for the Kingfisher was AWOL. Finally found it safely sealed in a baggie along with the stand. Really didn't want to spend another L3 with Airfix to get another lost part.
Hanger Queens in Waiting:
Monogram 1/72 F8F-1
Corsair the Sky Pirate - 1/72 Ace A-7D
Century Series - Airfix 1/72 F-105G
Anti Shipping - Academy 1/72 PBJ-1D
Academy 1/72 F-84E
#439
Washington, United States
Joined: November 05, 2005
KitMaker: 4,950 posts
AeroScale: 3,192 posts
Posted: Saturday, February 16, 2013 - 09:43 AM UTC
It's hard to make progress during Seattle's monsoon season, but I did get a coat of primer on the old girl.
Hanger Queens in Waiting:
Monogram 1/72 F8F-1
Corsair the Sky Pirate - 1/72 Ace A-7D
Century Series - Airfix 1/72 F-105G
Anti Shipping - Academy 1/72 PBJ-1D
Academy 1/72 F-84E
Texas, United States
Joined: February 22, 2008
KitMaker: 5,026 posts
AeroScale: 2,811 posts
Posted: Saturday, February 16, 2013 - 10:47 AM UTC
Mark, your Kingfisher is really shaping up. Are you still going with the VO3 scheme?
Bob
If it aint broke dont fix it.
#439
Washington, United States
Joined: November 05, 2005
KitMaker: 4,950 posts
AeroScale: 3,192 posts
Posted: Saturday, February 16, 2013 - 02:30 PM UTC
Yep, yellow wings, true blue tail, Green section leader markings. All on top of a silver lacquer finish (Tamiys Mica Silver). Now if I can just get a good (dry) spray day. The primer was uneven and looked like it had condensate drops in it..
Hanger Queens in Waiting:
Monogram 1/72 F8F-1
Corsair the Sky Pirate - 1/72 Ace A-7D
Century Series - Airfix 1/72 F-105G
Anti Shipping - Academy 1/72 PBJ-1D
Academy 1/72 F-84E
#439
Washington, United States
Joined: November 05, 2005
KitMaker: 4,950 posts
AeroScale: 3,192 posts
Posted: Sunday, February 17, 2013 - 05:07 PM UTC
Well got a patch of dry weather and got another dose of primer on the kingfisher.
Hanger Queens in Waiting:
Monogram 1/72 F8F-1
Corsair the Sky Pirate - 1/72 Ace A-7D
Century Series - Airfix 1/72 F-105G
Anti Shipping - Academy 1/72 PBJ-1D
Academy 1/72 F-84E
#439
Washington, United States
Joined: November 05, 2005
KitMaker: 4,950 posts
AeroScale: 3,192 posts
Posted: Sunday, February 24, 2013 - 02:34 PM UTC
More Progress:
Got the silver on and now a coat of gloss lacquer is curing. Next up Yellow Wings!
Hanger Queens in Waiting:
Monogram 1/72 F8F-1
Corsair the Sky Pirate - 1/72 Ace A-7D
Century Series - Airfix 1/72 F-105G
Anti Shipping - Academy 1/72 PBJ-1D
Academy 1/72 F-84E
Tennessee, United States
Joined: September 20, 2005
KitMaker: 1,747 posts
AeroScale: 1,673 posts
Posted: Sunday, February 24, 2013 - 03:19 PM UTC
Keep up the good work Mark. Russell
To Thine Own Self Be True
Siderius
A.K.A., RTA
#439
Washington, United States
Joined: November 05, 2005
KitMaker: 4,950 posts
AeroScale: 3,192 posts
Posted: Sunday, March 03, 2013 - 09:52 AM UTC
Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my yellow wings:
Hanger Queens in Waiting:
Monogram 1/72 F8F-1
Corsair the Sky Pirate - 1/72 Ace A-7D
Century Series - Airfix 1/72 F-105G
Anti Shipping - Academy 1/72 PBJ-1D
Academy 1/72 F-84E
#439
Washington, United States
Joined: November 05, 2005
KitMaker: 4,950 posts
AeroScale: 3,192 posts
Posted: Sunday, March 03, 2013 - 03:40 PM UTC
There's a chance I could finish this one by the end of the month.
Only a couple of spots that need touched up. Ton of masking for what I thought was a simple paint scheme.
Hanger Queens in Waiting:
Monogram 1/72 F8F-1
Corsair the Sky Pirate - 1/72 Ace A-7D
Century Series - Airfix 1/72 F-105G
Anti Shipping - Academy 1/72 PBJ-1D
Academy 1/72 F-84E
#439
Washington, United States
Joined: November 05, 2005
KitMaker: 4,950 posts
AeroScale: 3,192 posts
Posted: Monday, April 01, 2013 - 03:07 PM UTC
Oh great, I had to re spray the bottom of the wing where the yellow bled under the tape. Then I had to do a long term TDY out of town. Managed to bring my mini compressor, but managed to leave my airbrush and hose at home.
Looks like this one is mostly sidelined for the rest of the month.
Hanger Queens in Waiting:
Monogram 1/72 F8F-1
Corsair the Sky Pirate - 1/72 Ace A-7D
Century Series - Airfix 1/72 F-105G
Anti Shipping - Academy 1/72 PBJ-1D
Academy 1/72 F-84E
#439
Washington, United States
Joined: November 05, 2005
KitMaker: 4,950 posts
AeroScale: 3,192 posts
Posted: Saturday, December 21, 2013 - 07:54 PM UTC
Back to it for a bit. Got the wings re-masked and re-painted. Gotta figure out where to go from here.
Hanger Queens in Waiting:
Monogram 1/72 F8F-1
Corsair the Sky Pirate - 1/72 Ace A-7D
Century Series - Airfix 1/72 F-105G
Anti Shipping - Academy 1/72 PBJ-1D
Academy 1/72 F-84E
