Hawkeye’s Squawkbox

Each time there is an increase of postage rates, I find myself digging through the back of my desk drawer to sort through my collection of stamps to offset the difference. What a collection I have accumulated! I hope the person who gets the letter with all of those little denomination stamps doesn’t think I’m nuts.

There is however “GOLD IN THEM THAR HILLS STAMPS” for a resourceful modeler that is. So before you toss those empty books away of used up stamps, take a look for those that have these on them.

What you have are instant circle templates for painting roundels! Or other circular patterns that need a mask or guide. Start with the outer area to apply a white, then insert the other rings to mask for the other colors. With a little care you can use them several times.

These work well for smaller 1:48 scale aircraft as well as larger 1:72…give them a try.

If you have a suggestion for a tip you’d like to see or have one to share, drop me a note at newsletter@hawkeyeshobbies.com

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One thing that some kits beg for is greater depth of detail. One simple way to give a model greater depth is to open up the ventilation grates such as the ones like these.

A little clean up and you have a three dimensional effect that no washes can replicate as good. It also allows you to add interior details that can be seen through such openings. I grind away with a selection of sanding discs and drums and my Dremel until I can start to see the plastic getting thin. If you hold the piece up to the light you can watch your progress closely. This technique takes a little practice and a whole lot of patience to keep from going too far. Once you master it, it is time well spent. Be sure to pause frequently to check your progress, this also allows the plastic to dissipate any heat buildup.

For vents that have a mesh behind them, that can be added using some brass or nylon screening material.

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One of the challenges of this build is some of the modifications needed to convert the CH-46 into a plausible fire fighter. Of these challenges one is the observers blisters in the aft cabin. As well as the bug eyed windows for the flight crew so they all can have greater downward visibility.

First the aft observers station blisters. I started with a piece of balsa wood from the stash and cut it into a rough shape slightly larger than the opening it will fit. Then I shaped it to fit inside…loose is okay it doesn’t have to be snug. The vacformed canopy will take up some of the space.

After I have the balsa plug fitted, I traced it on yet another piece of wood. I sand this piece down to a similar size and shape

and glue the two piece togetherto double up the thickness.

Once that has dried solid I added a third piece of wood to the stack.

After is had dried I started shaping it with my course sanding stick and my Dremel with a rotary drum sander attachment. I roughed out the shape for the blister window with a flat botton which would give the observer a clear undistorted downward view.

The next step will be to vacform the blisters. Then it will be onto making the flight crew doors/blisters. I may try two different approaches with this. One being using the door frame and blister out just the window sections to make one big blister window within the door’s frame. The second I will make a composite one piece blister/door that has some metal re-enforcements where needed.

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