Subject: Re: Just what you need, another damn article submission!
From: "Steve Bamford ARC" <[email-masked]>
To: "Andy Bannister" <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 7 Oct 2004 23:06:58 -0700

Hi Andy,
I just wanted to let you know your article went on ARC today.  Thanks for sending it in.   

Steve Bamford
Aircraft Resource Center
http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com
 
Live like there is no tomorrow;
Love like you've never been hurt.
Work like you don't need the money.
Dance like nobody's watching.
Sing like nobody's listening.
Live like it's Heaven on Earth.

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Andy Bannister 
  To: [email-masked] 
  Sent: Monday, August 16, 2004 6:29 PM
  Subject: Just what you need, another damn article submission!

  Gallery Template #05

  "1/72 High Planes Smirnoff Bearcat" 

  by "Andy Bannister"
  --------------------

        Steve Bamford will insert full sized version of photo 01.jpg here 

  In 1966 Lockheed test pilot Darryl Greenamyer won at the Reno air races in this highly modified Bearcat which was the start of a 4 year run of first place victories. On August 16th 1969, with a speed of 482.463 mph, he broke the world absolute propellor-driven speed record that had been held since 1939 by Germany's Fritz Wendel in the Messerschmitt Me209 V1.  The Bearcat would be modified many times over the years and sport several different eye-catching paint jobs of which this 1966 blue and white scheme is my personal favourite. And I don't even like vodka....

  High Planes Models has an excellent line of racing aircraft in 72nd scale and a growing range in 48th as well. I had no problems with the Bearcat's construction other than the usual minor headaches associated with a limited run kit. The plastic parts are very well moulded and sport fine recessed panel lines. So fine, in fact, that I knew they would disappear under the many coats of white paint needed to cover the lovely pale blue plastic so I decided to deepen them with a scriber. In contrast to many racing aircraft, Greenamyer doesn't seem to have bothered much with filling the panel lines and they are quite noticeable in photos so I considered the re-scribing to be a necessary evil.

  The only other problem worth noting concerns the decals. Though they are beautifully printed and go down well, the markings for the horizonal stabilisers are not handed which means they will only work on the top of the right and bottom of the left stabs without modification. Fortunately this was very easy to overcome with a little experimentation. I floated the incorrect decals off the backing paper and let them soak for a bit to wash the glue off. Then it was just a matter of turning them upside down (obviously this won't work on decals that are more than one colour or have a white backing), placing them on some wet decal paper to "re-glue" them on the correct side and then applying them in the normal fashion. I also wish there had been more spare trim decal on the sheet as I had a hell of a time trying to match that metallic blue colour in order to paint the prop. In the end I used all the spare decal on the front of the blades and cobbled together the remaining bits for the backs. It's a bit of a patchwork affair but fortunately the decals blend together very well once they are dry and a clear topcoat is applied.

        Click on images below to see larger images
       
        Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 03.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 03.jpg 

        Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 04.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 04.jpg 

       Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 05.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 05.jpg 

  I removed the moulded on exhausts with a Dremel and then made new ones from heat stretched tubing. These and the pitot were the last items added. Exhaust and oil stains were airbrushed on with a very thin mixture of Pollyscale flat and dark gray and then finished off with brown pastel chalk. I was a little hesitant to add exhaust stains, fearing it would detract from the pristine racy look but almost every picture of this aircraft show it to have some staining and burnt paint behind the exhausts so I thought I should give it a bit of weathering. In fact, in some photos the dark brown exhaust trail goes all the way back to the rudder, making it look dirtier than your average combat aircraft. In the end I was quite happy with the slightly used look - I think it kind of adds to the potent look of the aircraft.

  White metal gear legs and a beautifully clear (but tiny!) vac formed canopy complete this high quality offering from High Planes. If I were writing for one of the major modelling magazines I guess I would finish off the article with something like "High Planes' Smirnoff Bearcat is a colourful and unusual addition to my collection and I highly recommend it". But I'm not so I won't.  ;-)

  If you have an interest in racing and/or record breaking aircraft then I highly recommend The IPMS  Racing & Record Aircraft Special Interest Group.  Details on how to join are on the website.

  In addition to "Bent Throttles", the bi-monthly newsletter put out by the above mentioned SIG, main references used for this model were "Reno Air Racing" by Michael O'Leary (Motorbooks International) and WarbirdAeroPress.com which has excellent photos of this aircraft and many other racers.

  But wait, that's not all! Order now and you get this free shameless plug for my own website: Warped Plastic . Hurry, supplies are limited!!

        Steve Bamford will insert full sized version of photo 02.jpg here 

  Photos and text © 2004 by "Andy Bannister"