Subject: Re: Silly Weeek Posting
From: "Submissions for ARC" <[email-masked]>
To: "George Campbell" <[email-masked]>
Date: Sun, 5 Jan 2014 13:13:48 -0800

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

Steve Bamford
ARC Air - Aircraft Resource Center
http://www.arcair.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: George Campbell 
  To: [email-masked] ; [email-masked] ; [email-masked] ; [email-masked] 
  Sent: Saturday, January 04, 2014 3:59 PM
  Subject: Silly Weeek Posting

  Hello, Steve--

  I've not submitted an article since the review of the 1/48 Hasegawa RF-4C, but I'm happy to offer this text and photos for Silly Week of my Blue Angel Freddy Flameout conversion.  My apology -- images may be 6 mp.

  Which template am I supposed to use ?

  Long ago, before man learned how to write ... okay, not really THAT long ago, but back in the 1960's ... I think it was Monogram who offered the WEIRDO'S Series of models.  One was called Freddy Flame-out.  As I am known locally (Pensacola, Florida) for my extreme dedication to building Blue Angel models, one of my friends challenged me some ten years ago to convert Freddy to a Blue Angel.

  Well, as much respect as I have for the Team, some level of decorum had to be maintained ... And I do like for my models to appear clean and free of appurtenances as things sticking out are too often broken off.

  The conversion is quite simple using Superscale 1/72 F-18 Blue Angel decals and letters from their yellow letter sheet.

    The entire inside of the head is painted gloss red so that from any angle, the white teeth are seen against that background.  

  Markings for a valid Blue Angel were followed as much as possible.   The aircraft is quite accurate, considering -- the US NAVY under the wings would not fit so I resorted to an old scheme used by the F6F and aligned them with the leading edge.  On the pilot, the flag emblem on left upper arm is shown, as is a pilots name and the yellow piping from shoulder toward waist.  

  However, examples of the correct size were not available for a fully legitimate Blue Angel motif so a dab of creativity was employed.  The crests on right chest and back of the helmet were replaced with the aircraft number (13).  The Blue Angels script area over visor shows LUCKY.  So, the aircraft number had to be 13, didn't it ?  

  The visor pivots on the side are shown in silver.  The yellow dickie on pilots chest is painted with flat yellow.

  The blow-torch bears the markings JATO in yellow.  My dad had one of these back in the mid-50's so I knew the knob was brass metal !!  The flame is orange highlighted with yellow.  

  Finally, Lucky's eyebrows were my wife's idea and are straight from Sally's Beauty Supply.  To me, they are the coup de gras !!

  How to model the windscreen was a minor debate and I settled on Bare Metal Foil to simulate the glass.  I often title my completed models with a black brass nameplate.  This one will be "After a Hard Night at Trader John's". 

  The Blue Angels Team has never seen this model ... perhaps I should rectify that situation !!  

  Happy New Year to all, George Campbell aka Blue Angel Modeler