how to find the Hangar Deck Resource

I will be spending more and more of my "online time" on my Hangar Deck Resource board.

That is because I won't have to worry about my scale or my subject being "off topic" on a couple of the other boards I used to be active on.

And I can do things like describe the Navy Tail Code system in detail, for anyone that wants to see it, and not worry about the 1,000s of modelers that don't want or need it. (and it will still be there for the day that one of them finds out that he has a "one time need to know."

Here is the location

Hangar Deck Resource by Rex, the Accidental CAG

Thanks to a post from a member of the 1/72 board, I have found and eliminated the "have to register" to read requirement,,,,,,which I never intended to be there.

No "clicks from revenue" or any of those hoops,,,,,just read it if you want, join if you want,,,heck, delete the link from your favorites if you want. 100% up to the reader, as far as I am concerned, with no hard feelings at all.

I keep wondering about the "accuracy backlash" phenomon

Something is still puzzling me. In the course of any discussion on various forums, there are always posts insulting the people that look over kits to find the good and the bad aspects of them.

Why is this? Don't people know that a discussion of a kit would stop dead if  it started with "is kit, you vill like it or else"?

Why do some people want the faults in any certain kit to stay private information? They aren't the distributors, they didn't make the pattern, they have no stake in the kit's success or failure. So why tell people to stop talking about it?

I just read the old expression today, again. The one that claims that people that critique a kit online don't build kits, they post online instead. (of course the irony of someone typing that online completely escapes the posters that say those things)

That is simply not true,,,,,I have seen many kits over the decades that have had shape and detail corrections,,,,,,those were surely NOT built by someone dedicated to the OOB build philosophy.

I get tired of reading this stuff as if critiquing kits was some new thing, it was done long before there was an internet. And it is boring as heck to read someone typing on a forum telling other people not to type on a forum and go build something.

So, okay, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em,,,,,,,If you don't agree with my opinion that kits in 2016 should be more accurate than kits made in 1958,,,,,,go build something. Because after all, "is Blog, you vill like it."

Here's a pic,,,,,it shows that when two kits are equally lauded by the "shut up and build it" people,,,,one of them is clearly wrong. I won't say which, because I don't care, I have better kits to build than these two. I merely post this pic to ask,,,,,,,,are you really sure you would rather not know this? Or equally as sure that you don't want other modelers to have access to the info, simply because you think that people that post info for free should stop doing it?

Trailing edges aligned, note differences, including the length of the wing chord at the wing root, the location of the outer wing joint to the main wing, and the shape and size of the wing tip. But, both are models, so both are Good, so "shut up and build them."

I simply can't believe that "Modeler A" wants to keep "Modelers B-Z" in the dark about these sorts of things, and whines about all the free info that people post to help each other.

But, it is 2016, so that is how things have changed when it comes to helping one another.

Most modelers want to be "Kit Assemblers"

Okay, I bet I have your attention now, and some are sharpening up their keyboards, all set to disagree with this Post's title.

But, give it a little thought.

When a new model comes out, and it either has the "wrong nose shape", the "wrong wing to fuselage joint", or "doesn't come with weapons in the box", what does that truly mean?

It means that the guy describing those flaws wanted to buy the kit, assemble it, paint it, decal it, and hang weapons on it, and have an accurate model. He wanted good decals, a good color call out, logical assembly instructions. And he wanted to just buy the model and put it together, all from what is in the box.  He didn't want to plunk down his money and have to carve out a new nose for the model,,,,,or go buy weapons to hang on it,,,,he just wanted to assemble it.

That means that, just like me, he wanted to be "just an assembler."  If this is not true, there wouldn't be any need for critiquing the model kit,,,,,,in fact, the more vocal typists should revel in the fact that it isn't right,,,,,,,,that lets them show off their "model correction skills."

Instead we see some of the same people pooh-pooh a new model and in another post, sometimes on the same day, pooh-pooh people that are "just assemblers."

Now, so that I don't anger the entire group of people that do this, let me talk about the flip side of it. "Kit Assemblers" choose which kit they will build. How do they decide? Easy, if I want to build a good looking F-8 Crusader in 1/72, I buy and build the Academy,,,,,,,,not the Fujimi. Remember, just as soon as you change one thing on the model,,,,,,,anything at all,,,,,say the wheels on the 1/72 old tool Hasegawa "F-4J/D" kit,,,,,,,you are after accuracy.

So, I just described myself and my goal,,,,,,I want to someday be "Just an Accurate OOB Kit Assembler", just like all the people that are "disappointed" with a new release that "didn't get it right."

Our little groups that we get separated into are not really all that different. Remember to a non-modeler (the viewers of our finished stuff on the shelves), that 1/48 and 1/32 Phantom is still "a cute little plastic model",,,,,same as the "too small" 1/72 stuff.

My conclusion from an "Anti Rivet Counter's posts"

Well, thanks to a couple of decal companies and their new releases, my build list is going to be all scrambled up again.

Don't worry, though, I consider that a good thing. This just means that I can build with more modern decals and in some cases, use commercial decals instead of having to make my own markings.

As for the title of this entry, I have been inspired by a very vocal "Anti Rivet Counter"

It seems that I finally reached that "a-hah" moment with him. So, I will build a Skyhawk using what seems to be his guiding principle. I will take all the parts that I have cut off of models over the last few decades, and glue them together in what he should consider to be the "perfect Skyhawk for 2016"

This will be easy, because I throw those types of parts into a box with the leftover sprues, in hopes that someday I would find an environmentally proper way to give them to a recycle facility. 

I'll use all the modern construction and finishing techniques on it, even though it will be painted in Testors square bottle Battleship Gray, with some wonderful decals from an old AMT kit (or something similar)

Then I will present it, and wait for my expected Gold or 1st with it, rofl. (accuracy doesn't count anymore, remember)

I'll leak the finished model here, with the info that will go onto the entry form.

Just a small update to the build list

I have added the kits to the build list.

I will end up with a whole new category in the process of doing this.

It will be "one of each 1/72 tooling of each aircraft in the collection"

I plan to start posting the builds for this collection soon.

Here is the new first stage of my building list

I revised my build list to incorporate as many commercial decals as possible. My previous lists had far too many sets of markings that I was going to have to do here by myself.  This path is more true to the way I want to build models, which is to just build them without all the excess work and toil.

As you can see in the following list, sometimes there just is no choice but to make them ourselves.

One of Each Tail Code combo, AA to NP, in 1/72 scale.

Atlantic coast Air Wings, Air Groups and Air Task Groups

A-4B  AA-514  VA-152  142676  (59-Forrestal)  XtraDecal on Airfix Kit

F8U-2NE  AB-208  VF-11 149161  (42-Roosevelt)  SuperScale on Academy Kit

A-4C  AC-611  VA-36  148543  (60-Saratoga)  Wolfpak on Fujimi Kit

TA-4J  AD-500  VA-45  153502  (- )  Fujimi on Fujimi Kit

A-7E  AE-410 VA-87  157586  (62-Independence)  Italeri on Fujimi Kit

AD-6  AE-501  VA-135  137497  (64-Constellation)  (Make these markings) on Hasegawa Kit

A4D-2  AF-514  VA-106  142782  (11-Intrepid)  SuperScale on Airfix Kit

A-4L  AF-315  VA-203  154825  (- )  SuperScale on Fujimi Kit

A-4C  AG-301  VA-76  149645  (62-Independence)  Fujimi on Fujimi Kit

A-4C  AH-403  VA-112  145132  (14-Ticonderoga)  MicroScale on Esci Kit +Conversion

A-4E Super  AJ-501  VA-152  150044  (38-Shangri-La)  MicroScale on Fujimi Kit

A-4B  AK-310  VA-15  144918  (11-Intrepid)  XtraDecal on Airfix Kit

F-18A  AK-402  VFA-137  162848  (43-Coral Sea)  SuperScale on Hasegawa Kit

F2H-3  AL-104  VF-171  126489  (42-Roosevelt)  (Make these markings) on Academy Kit

AD-6  AM-414  VA-42  137551  (20-Bennington)  MicroScale on Hasegawa Kit

AD-6  AN-405  VA-16  139758  (post-39-Lake Champlain)  (Make these markings) on Hasegawa Kit

F2H-4  AP-110  VF-11  127598  (9-Essex)  (Make these markings) on Academy Kit

F4D-1  AQ-110  VF-102  134959  (  )  US Airfix on Tamiya Kit

Pacific Coast Air Wings, Air Groups and Air Task Groups

FJ-4B  NA-307  VA-151  141457  (20-Bennington)  XtraDecal on Emhar Kit

FJ-4B  NB-406  VA-116  143526  (- )Emhar on Emhar Kit

F9F-8  NC-302  VA-26  144338  (33-Kearsarge)  (Make these markings) on Hasegawa Kit

FJ-4B  ND-00  VA-214  141467  (12-Hornet)  XtraDecal on Emhar Kit

F-8J  ND-206  VF-302  150654  Miramar  XtraDecal on Heller Kit

F-4B  NE-404  VF-154  151507  (61-Ranger)   Fujimi on Fujimi Kit

A-7B  NF-400  VA-56  154547  (41-Midway)  Fujimi on Fujimi Kit

F-4J  NG-205  VF-92  153842  (64-Constellation)  AeroMaster on Fujimi Kit

F-4J  NH-100  VF-213  155882  (63-Kittyhawk)  SuperScale on Fujimi Kit

F-18A  NJ-501  VFA-125  161216  (  )Testors/Italeri on Hasegawa Kit

KA-6D  NK-522  VA-196  152894  (43-Coral Sea)  Italeri on Italeri Kit

A-7E NL-300  VA-22  157466  (43-Coral Sea)  SuperScale on Fujimi Kit

A-4F  NM-300  VA-23  154201  (14-Ticonderoga)  MicroScale on Fujimi Kit

F-14A  NM-105  VF-191  159870  (62- not deployed) Wolfpak on Hasegawa Kit

A-4F  NP-401  VA-164  155022  (19-Hancock)  Testors/Italeri on Esci Kit

Note that this list covers the time period before CVW-17 was transferred to the West Coast and changed their tail code to NA. I am also cutting off the Carrier list at CVN-76, and all aircraft types will be E/A-18G and older. (there had to be some cut-off point or the list would just keep growing every year.

I will update this list later in the week to add the kits that I will use for each build.

Until then, build away, folks, your stash is only going to get larger if you don't.

Rex

 

I am changing the tone and direction of my Blog

Due to the large and vocal resistance that so many have voiced on various message forums to "the Rivet Counters",,,,,,,,,I am quitting that activity.

I will post various thoughts about the models I build and plan to build. I will cite references for those models, including color data. But, I am not going to go digging around for this little detail or that obscure photo,,,,,,unless it is for a person that is already an online or in person friend.

Please don't get mad at me for this decision, if you must blame someone, blame the people that believe for some reason that Rivet Counters are "making the hobby too hard" for other builders,,,,,,,instead of providing FREE info to the people that ask for it in public threads.

My collection posts will be just that,,,,,vanity posts that show off the goodies I have made masters for (for my own use, now) and finished models.

Rex

now that I am "cured" of my AMS, I seem to have another thing

I have UMS, haha,,,,,Uniform Modeler's Syndrome

In the course of doing my collection, I want the differences in aircraft details, weapons loadouts, and markings to be the main focus,,,,,,not what kit the parts came from, or who printed the decal sheets,,,or what paint line I used "this time"

What I mean is,,,,,,if it's got Insignia Red on the tail tips, and another aircraft has Insignia Red on the intake edge, and landing gear doors,,,,,,I want the Red to be the same on all my aircraft
The same with weapons, I want the different variations of what is mounted, with a Mk-82 always looking like the other Mk-82's on the other planes. I don't want the F-4B wheels to vary from one B to another, just the other B parts to vary.
I don't build as a lot of others do,,,,,,,they build an F-4B to have one on the shelf, then build one F-4J, and then go on to build an F-8E and other planes, some do this without having a stash,,,,,,,,although to me that is hard to imagine, what if I go to build a Fujimi A-4B and there are none to buy at the time?

So, all my Mk-82's are either Hasegawa Weapons Sets or moldings that look just like them from other kits, the same is true for MER, TER, etc,,,,,,,Sidewinders look different because they are models of AIM-9B or AIM-9D, not because they came from Hasegawa on some and Esci or Airfix on other planes.

I am trying to show the differences in markings on the squadrons, not showcase the different colors that paint makers have intrepreted each color to be. So, all my Lt Gull Gray is going to be from the same source, or a close color match to the color I used to use if one gets discontinued.

There is going to be enough variation in having 200 aircraft from A-1 to F/A-18, from each squadron, with each weapons load different,,,,,,,don't need 10 different Grays and Reds mixed in there, too.  Showcasing the different mods to each aircraft also means I don't intend to weather any of them,,,,,,,All will done in "just started the cruise" condition,,,,,,,,,,I just don't want the focus to shift for my viewer from "look, he did all three possible nose configurations on the F-4B" to something like "I like that model better, the weathering jumps right out at you"

Of course, as always, I'll stand and look at built models allllll day, no matter if they are in a different scale than mine, or weathered more, or 4 models have 4 different Insignia Reds

I'll post my collection list soon, but until then, remember, there is only one kind of "wrong model", the kind that never gets built,,,,and even then, collectors have fun at this hobby, too, in their own way.

Rex

will I enjoy reading the Hangar Deck blogs?

Before we get rolling on these blogs, let me save you some time.

If you like talking and reading about NavAir subjects, and the other Phantom variants (of any service that used them), and agree that the Lt Gull Gray over White aircraft era was visually interesting with the most varied aircraft types in service of any of the NavAir eras, you'll have fun here.

The aim at the Hangar Deck has always been to build and display that most varied era and to provide information to anyone wanting to build an accurate model of an aircraft of that era. Another related aim of these blogs is to "put down on paper" my own planned build list so that I stop "improving" it and have a public goal to work towards. I am a recovering AMSer that came up with this build plan to stay focused on what a modeler should do,,,,,,,,,build and show off finished models. Granted, along the way, there will be plenty of nit picky details to discuss, but it seems to me that we should be gluing, filling and sanding, as we read and take a minute out to type, not just typing away instead of the assembly process.

When I came up with my build plan, it cut my unbuilt model collection (the "stash") down to about half, and at the same time, it drastically cut down my shopping list. My philosophy of building has changed to buying the right kit for the job, and not buying the "wrong" kits for my needs. This may not be for everyone, but I was on a path that led to me buying just about any kit I saw with Stars and Bars on it,,,,,,and that had to stop, lol.

Here's what you will find on these pages in the coming weeks. You will find my build list with explanations as to why I chose the aircraft listed to represent the Wing, Carrier, or Squadron. I will show which models or conversion sets will be needed to duplicate any given aircraft, always in 1/72 scale. I will show you just where some of the parts you might want for your own models may be hiding, sometimes the most useful parts are in the strangest places, and sometimes they are right in front of your nose, and gasp!, sometimes they are right in the boxes they should be in.

My "theme" is the varied aircraft, the varied markings, and the varied weapons loadouts that 'could' be carried, and the various ground equipment associated with aircraft service,,,so, even though I build to a specific photo for the markings, the weapons may come from a list of possibilities on a Technical Order, instead of a photo.

So as not to plagiarize anyone's work, I will link to their page, and tell you what info comes from there, when that is needed to explain some detail or choice. I will not copy and paste, and hope that no one else does that in responses. Short snippets are probably okay for discussion purposes, but not whole pages, etc.

On the other hand,


If you are a person that doesn't want or need to know who deployed where, or what aircraft they had and what those aircraft looked like,,,,,,,you won't enjoy these blogs all that much

If you are one of the "modelers" that spend all their time reading, looking at pics, and picking apart someone else's models,,,,,,you might get many hours of enjoyment out of looking at mine, lol,,,,,,,but, you needn't bother to respond with comments explaining my mistakes,,,,,I probably knew of them as soon as I either opened the box, or right after I added the clear coats, making it very difficult to fix my error.

If you think anyone that strives for accuracy, detail and variety has AMS,,,,,you won't like it here,,,,,and please, go right ahead and email me with your comments,,,,,,,I'll then add your name to the hundreds of name calling "modelers" I have run into over the last 45 years of modeling that have snide comments to make about models but have somehow avoided being called names by never showing a built model to anyone.

Having said all of that, if you have any constructive criticism, please do post your comments, I will either correct my mistakes, or explain why things were done or said the way I did.

So, go and build, enjoy, and read and type to each other, no matter what your subject is, or which kit(s) you choose to use. 

Happy Holidays to you all

just starting the page out

just want to see what the page looks like