denders

It looks great in person, Ernie!

It looks great in person, Ernie!

When we went to Tuscon and Phoenix in March, the drive was long, but we enjoyed watching the terrain and scenery changes and my wife, besides knitting, is sort of a foody, so she found some nice spots for meals too. Local places not the chains, most of the time. I do the driving and she knits, etc.

Figure out how to get her started at knitting. My wife has just as large of a stash of yarn as I do of kits. And start going to NATS, my wife likes to travel and this year she wants to stop in Waco. 🤷‍♂️

It's done.

I'm calling it done. I'll have to take good photos. I also think I've got the 'packaging' figured out for taking it to Texas.

Thanks folks!

It's getting there. Some small clear pieces, some PE inside the canopy. I ended up using the Tamiya decals for the stencils. Delivery timing was an issue. Now to figure out packing to get it to Texas. I'm planning on putting it on the table, just because it's there. I hope to give it to my brother when we stop on our way home. There is clear flat on the top of the nose. I didn't want to overdo it.

Try searching for 20mm cannon barrels. SB has a metal set by RB for a spitfire kit that might work for the top pair but would need modification for the bottom pair. Edit: Master has a set for a Hurricane IIc which might be adaptable.

I've got a White '56 T-bird sitting the shelf. A Dark Blue '55 Chevy and a Yellow Deuce Coupe too. They were part of a series that had metal bodies. IIRC, not a lot of assembly either. They look great and my 3-year-old grandson likes to look at them too.

Welllllllllllllllllll....................... I'm sure the PE work in the picture is well within your skills. That's still all plastic. PE after some paint and masking. I'm sure some of the PE is beyond my skills too. Just hope I can learn enough to get it acceptable. If I don't drive myself crazy. 🤪🤞

Thanks guys! Masks are off except for the windscreen. Some small touch ups. Waiting for a set of 1manarmy stencil masks to arrive. They're somewhere between Hannant's and here.

Well, it's blue. Now to remove the nose masking and re-mask for all the little '183' on the nose, fin, and LG front doors.

Thanks, Peter. I've kinda decided that I'm not going to add the representation for the tape. After travelling for 10 days (~2200 miles), we're finally home and I can get back to work on this. Masking added, Insignia Blue next. Then some paint to mask off for the walkways. I didn't want to have the masking sitting on the model the whole time we were away.

Looks great, John!

A little bit of progress on USS Pharris today. (Too rainy to paint.) Next will be PE parts.

One more piece painted, needs decals.

Thanks Peter. I put on a coat of primer and white for the markings. And cut masks. I'm debating with myself about the tape at the fuel tank area. I'm viewing this aircraft as someone's current day warbird. If they put markings on to represent the tape, I imagine they would use paint. Then again, they might not put that on the aircraft too. Hmmm.

Thanks Rob. I've got a set of the stencils ordered. No word on when they're actually coming. I ordered them from an outfit that was listed as a dealer, and they were on their web site. I was under the impression that they were in stock, but I guess not. It's been more than 10 days. I'll have to check with them.

Time for paint.

So, not much progress to report except for adding to the project. I got to thinking about the deck equipment and what was in the kit didn't satisfy me, to I went looking at Squadron. I keep looking for ways to drive myself crazy. 🤪

Does anyone make an AM pitot tube? I knew better than to install it, but I did anyway. And it didn't take long to break it off. Thanks. Edit: Okay, I found two pieces.

Okay, the canopy pieces are masked inside and outside. I only had to make an adjustment for the inside of the front piece of the windscreen. Next is paint for the inside and some miscellaneous pieces which attach to the windscreen or canopy. I need to start on the masking for the markings. Perhaps I'll look through some books and change my plan.

Okay, spill the beans, where did you get the shrink gun? Looks fantastic!

Well, since I have to trace them in the Silhouette software to cut a new set, once I try the pieces on the inside, I can make adjustments and cut another set. It depends on the thickness of the clear plastic and how closely the inside matches the outside too. The Tamiya clear parts look really good, do I anticipate the possibility that I won't have to adjust the cuts. 🤞