Clunkmeister

That’s 1/72 scale. A Tupolev Tu-154M. Russian airliner much like a 727 or Trident.

Crazy duck eating squirrel

This thing looks like a big bratwürst

Good to see this back on the bench. John. It’s one of those “do it once” builds, and you’re gonna knock this one clean out of the park, man!

John, you’re gonna KILL IT with that P-61. Much of the tedious is done. The interior looks fabulous!

John, any thoughts to finishing that P-61? That’s one that’s on my list of things to do in the future...

Good to see you, Iceman. Us newbs here are building like crazy. Check out John’s TBM, a bloody work of art that. And Jeroen’s Wellie drops my jaw. Plenty of good going on here these days.

Yeah, there’s very little there for the engine. Just enough cylinder detail to show behind the fan and spinner. The detail is adequate for our scale but certainly there’s much more that could be done if you wanted to know the 8nternals were in there despite not being able see them. Personally, I much prefer the buttoned up, ready for flight look, so the PCM approach suits me fine.

It’s good to see this one back on the bench, Carl. I saw this on TOS, but when The Troubles started, I saw less and less of it. You’re kicking butt and taking names, man. Looking absolutely awesome in every way, sir! Oh, people been asking me what “TOS” is. Nothing sinister, nothing mean or vengeful, just “The Other Site”. TOS. Like SOD. A useful abbreviation.

@smitty44 always a nutcase comedian. Or is it comedienne?

Fresh off the assembly line. The early ones were definitely assembled with tender loving care.

As you can see, the fit is typical PCM. Bloody hideous around the wing roots, but all in all, a whole lot better than many limited production kits. Any modeler who’s moved past the Tamiya or Hasegawa stage can deal with this. But on the other hand, as we all know, we get some gorgeous resin in these kits. TWO choices of wheels, full resin cockpit, wheelwells, exhaust stubs, and an engine insert. The engine appears only adequate, but you won’t see much anyway, so this is about all you need.

Well gentlemen, let’s throw one together. While the epoxy is drying on my P-51B, I found myself with a couple spare hours so I dug out the earlier PCM FW-190A shortnose kit. This is the original A-1,2,3 kit without the resin -4 conversion, so I’m planning a semi quick very early issue A-1 with the four rifle caliber machineguns. I built the 152H-1, the last Würger version, so I figured let’s do the first. It will be a simple build, using a kit scheme, either Black 13 or Red 1, and the only AM will be some of Radu Brinzan’s belts, and maybe metal gun barrels. i need to do research on the prop. Is it right? Is an email to Henri Daehne needed? Most manufacturers miss on the German prop shapes, some by just a bit, but some are way off the mark... Here’s a few pics....

Thanks, Maru. It’s an average build of a brilliant kit. This is one of those rare kits that makes a modeler look better than he actually is.

Peter, I used Aviattic fabric decals for rib tape. They worked well. I’ve seen Archer rivet decals and they are stunning. No clue on Dzus fasteners, though

In Texas, we make our whiskey out of corn in a big copper pot and copper coil. 180+ proof, clear as fresh water it is. Burns completely clean. No real flame... And you city slickers throw up your noses at it, too.

It’ll buff out

I always thought that checkerboard was a convenient aiming spot.. ”Just click here...”

Better than I could do!

Perfect pic! and I suppose I should finish mine with antenna wires and such

Many folks don’t realize how much of a beating prop blades take. Just powering up to get moving throws up gravel, but tight pivoting turns when you’re gassing on the outboard engine,.. that tosses gravel and sand everywhere. Prop blades wear quickly. They get checked and, if necessary, filed every single day.

We ran these things. They made us money. We weren’t all worried about preservation back then. They hauled big loads, reliably, and brought us home. No better praise than that. Note to modelers: working radials are filthy underneath. But the top of the aircraft is often spotless.

LOL. Not the way you put it, noooo....

Yup. It’s ugly where it can’t be seen, but decent on the outside. just line the cowl, louvered panel and nosebowl straight in a line. It’s harder than it seems because you’re dealing with a full engine, tight cowls, and a radiator surrounding the prop shaft...

Filing the edges. Tip damage, wear from gravel, etc. they could file a certain amount off and as long as we’re all the same, it was ok. Pretty routine stuff. The black paint just wore away.