New Here, Galloping Ghost #177

[xmh53wrench]

Hi folks, brand new here, and I see that you have a section for modelers. I am brand new to building airplanes, as I built cars in the past. I think I may have built a couple airplanes as a kid, and built an H-53 while I was in the Air Force a bunch of years ago. I have raced cars for over 20 years, but after this years accident at Reno with The Galloping Ghost, I have found myself obsessed with the Reno Air Races, the planes and pilots. I guess I do in fact like anything that goes fast and turns left. Its a horrible tragedy on so many levels what took place at Reno this past September, Ive never been there (though I live an hour away) and I certainly did not know Jimmy Leeward. But he and his airplane have really had an effect on me. I have been frequenting AAFO.COM as the photos and the conversation have been great there. Anyway, to my models. I decided to build a 1/32 of The Galloping Ghost #177 and spent the last 3 months of and on building it. Its finally done, and since have started a 1/24 of the Ghost as well, but not in flight. Here are some pics, of them.

Starting of the 1/32 Hasegawa kit

More work on the canopy and scoopectomy

Painted the fuselage, and designed my own decals and will use the Testors decal printing kit.

The completed model....






Thanks to some folks on AAFO for paint codes and great photos, its all done, the decal kit worked great, and fabbed up my own home pylon from scratch.

Now I am working on the 1/24 Airfix kit. Have heard many horror stories regarding this kit, but figured I would chance it. It does need some finessing, but it has plenty of built in detail for my lack of skill. Plan is for it to be parked with engine cowlings removed, canopy open, drooped flaps and elevators, a bit of work in the wheel wells, and of course all the mods that gave The Galloping Ghost its sleek appearance.
Here is the kit as compared to my first build of the Galloping Ghost in 1/32

The engine nearly done

Some of the modded cockpit

My attempt at the instrument panel....not real great, but gets the point across

Lots of work smoothing the fuselage, and building the canopy and turtledeck


I have few other builds I have collected the kits for, that I am looking forward to starting in the near future. TBA

Thanks for looking in, and looking forward to my time here at WIX....

[JOHN MILLER]

[wingman1]

great job!

Will make a fine tribute to the late Great Jimmy Leeward.

http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=223615294363993

[xmh53wrench]

Thanks for the looks and for the comments.
More accomplished today, wow those wingtips were a ton of work, and more done in the wheel wells. Also have been getting the flaps and ailerons ready to install.

[The Inspector]

Nice work!! You do nice work and have a good eye for details. I wouldn't sweat the panel too much, how much of it can you see through the canopy?
Welcome aboard the rocket powered Ferris Wheel! Hang on, don't get offended as we all fight like brothers and sisters but all sit down together for meals. This IS the place to soak up info and details, you'll be right clicking ike a fool at some postings that are put up.

[xmh53wrench]

Thanks for the compliments folks:D

Ready for primer...





Primed...

[lmritger]

This is REALLY d@mned impressive work. How did you make the canopies? The rest of the airframe mods I could scratchbuilt as well, but your canopies look absolutely great and they don't quite look like vacform units.

Once again, really, really outstanding stuff... congrats on a beautiful piece of work! Any chance you could scale that master decal file down to 1/48?

Cheers,

Lynn

[Django]

Looks great.

For the instrument panel, what if you tried to make something on the computer?

[xmh53wrench]

Imritger: Thanks for the compliments...the canopy started out just as the rear section of a 1/32 scale P-51D, its shape is a bit off, but close enough for me, and I scratch built the framework and hinge points. I havent figured out how to make my graphics file into a normal format, as i designed it in my vinyl graphics cutting program. I have several folks out there that have asked the same question.

Django: I had thought of that, but the photos I had were all at weird angles, or had the control stick right in view....I may still take a stab at it, it is certainly one of those things that I could improve on in this build.

But after some reshaping of the turtle deck, as I was not happy with it, I finally painted the silver...



The plane has been sitting due to being too cold in the garage for painting the wings, but I hope to remedy that tomorrow.

[Flagon]

We need new information,and plans,Ooh,Please !

[xmh53wrench]

We need new information,and plans,Ooh,Please !

Here ya go....finally good enough weather to paint the wings, next up is installing the engine, a bit more painting then decals....thanks for looking in

[Scott Rose]

Great job!

[xmh53wrench]

Great job!

Thank you so very much!

Bit more done tonight...

Engine is ready to go in...


Started the decals on the fuselage...


Shortend up the landing gear, and applied the decals to the doors...

[wingman1]

We need new information,and plans,Ooh,Please !

Here ya go....finally good enough weather to paint the wings, next up is installing the engine, a bit more painting then decals....thanks for looking in

slightly off topic here, what's up with the model's in the background? that Red mustang looks intersting?

[xmh53wrench]

Wingman1: its my Mantz racer #46 NX1204 circ. 1949 in progress. Still trying to firm up the colors for the "Latin American" lettering.

http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=44694