denders

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. 🤞

I've been distracted by some other things. Just about to attach all the other bits. I scanned the canopy masks and I'm going to cut another set for use on the inside.

Working on the landing gear, just amazing!

No, I won't. I didn't make the plug connections on the back side of the cylinders, that will be rather obvious with wire ends just sticking out. I've gotten to thinking that I'm going to leave it rather clean and at least a semi-gloss finish. While it doesn't have modern cockpit instrumentation, it's just someone's warbird waiting for fun time in the air.

Thanks, John.

Oh yeah, those stencils, hmmm. I'll have to have another look at them. Thanks for the reminder. I want to have it done by ~7/15 so I have time to work out packaging, so I can take it along in the car to NATS. I haven't decided whether I'll show it or not. (Never done that.) I want to deliver it to my brother on the way back home.

Peter, I'm not sure if I'll use the decals or mask it and paint the markings. Certain markings will definitely be easier to paint. Then there are all the stencils that definitely are too small to paint.

It looks mighty fine!

You don't often see Mustangs with multicolor camo either. The top camo'd version looks like it's probably Bolivian, what's the other one?

Thanks Kevin. Yep. The aircraft with the yellow nose. Overlooked the P&W logo and added a data plate.

Keeping on moving. Now to paint some more parts.

Ready to close up the fuselage. I like the results of the Barracuda cockpit stencils despite the work. Perhaps a Quinta cockpit for the next one. It worked out well in the Trumpeter F4U-4 I finished recently.