Fairey Battle Turret Trainer

[SJPONeill]

Now that has some real whiff potential..!

[JohnRatzenberger]

This is not going well. I believe the problem is that I simply did not think carefully about how to do the rear deck and get the turret in - or I simply did not do a good job of it. Anyway, I have been filling, shaping, sanding and then making a hole for the turret - usually causing more damage than necessary.



I think my only solution is to put the cockpit and turret on, neatly glued and filled around, then protect them while I sand and smooth - then do the final big pieces and get some paint on. It's not the way I usually work, but if I don't do something this will be a DNF by mid-next-week.

I'm annoyed at myself. Although my plan was to take down the heavy rivet detail, I think I now have enough bare spots that I might just have to take all detail off.

[JohnRatzenberger]

I have the wings and tail on. The front cockpit is on and the front part protected from paint.
I will try to get some yellow paint on tomorrow, but time is somewhat limited.



I am still plugging away.

[JohnRatzenberger]

Yellow paint is done.



I'm hoping to get a good coat of dark earth on tomorrow, then it'll just sit until we return at the end of the month at which time we shall see what happens. I really had hoped to get this done by now, but lost too much time getting the top deck reconfigured.

[Clashcityrocker]

Nice work with the yellow.

Nigel

[TomW]

Great yellow work and kudos for getting those bomb doors in place neatly. They caused me no end of hassle when I did mine.

Regards

Tom

[Old_Tonto]

Good progress so far John and I must say that yellow looks great. Did you use a primer coat?

[iggie]

That is some gorgeous yellow!
Looking very good so far

[JohnRatzenberger]

Good progress so far John and I must say that yellow looks great. Did you use a primer coat?

No (I forgot ) just 4 coats, it's just Humbrol Trainer Yellow.

BTW, got one coat of DE on, but it's not drying well enough to get a 2nd on before I leave so I have the to do on return, then start the green & etc ...

[Dazzled]

Really interesting subject John and it's really nice to see some "proper" conversion work going on.

[lancfan]

Brilliant job John, watching with interest.

David.

[JohnRatzenberger]

I return home late Sunday, and between after-holiday catch-up and new things on the calendar, think I will only be doing bits & dabs on this, so I am probably a DNF, depending on how much past the 30th it runs. I know I need a 2nd coat of DE and drying time, then the DG, then touch-ups, then decals, and all the undercarriage and other details.

I will make an effort, but do not hold this open just for me.

[JohnRatzenberger]

Still plugging along, 1st opportunity since return to hit the bench was today and I slopped on a coat of DG, then pulled the masking.



However, one should not mask Trainer Yellow with Tamiya tape, unless you do it all -- it didn't take me long to see that I have some major touch-up to do where I "slopped" (my words) the DG onto what I thought was masking tape ....

Sigh, I'll have to pretty it all up tomorrow before I can think about decals & final assembly.

[Stuart]

A very interesting build this John - looking forward to seeing it done.

[JohnRatzenberger]

I am puttering along, since not much else is happening - that 10-day trip really killed things.

Got the DE/DG/TY camo done. Picked out the decals I'll need. Then realized the fin flash is an (RCAF) oddity so I'm painting the white for that. Also I do not have an decent yellow '9' for the fuselage, so I'm going to use a black '9' but that means I need to make a yellow background - doing that.

Still need to address gear, props and a couple other items - no biggie just not organized.

Couple-three more days ....