DocRob

NMF is looking good Phil, not too shiny, which would not match the OD tops . Great to see, that you got the mojo back and will finish your P-51. Cheers Rob

Thanks for your opinions Señhores, the Do-17 is ruled out. If I take part, it will be Do 335 or AEG. Counting your input, the AEG is the winner even taking into account a redicule in code by @CANicoll . I´m a bit more tempted by the AEG as well, but it is indeed a huge project with all the decaling and rigging. @Bomber_County: The Tamiya Mossie is out of question, Bill is building one and that´s enough. I also don´t want to build a super kit now, even with tons of resin to add. Cheers Rob

Some days away without a computer an whoosh, there is a new group build. The theme initially didn´t ring a bell with me, having recently finished a Fly 1/32 Arado 234 and the Tamiya 1/48 P-38. I thought for a bit and came with the PBY 1H, converted from HKM´s B-25, but Ernie got that. Tamiya Mossie, meh, ME 262 also covered by Carl others in stash, also meh. I´m still undecided and need some persuasion to take part, as my modeling plans included everything except twins. Possible candidates from stash (there´s more, but there is a little itch with these). AEG G.IV, might be a bit too much work, but I thought about starting this one more than once. The DO-335 with loots of goodies, also nearly started a while ago. A 1/48 Do 17 Z Hmmh, forgot to take a pic, but there is also the 1/32 Horten from Zoukei Moura. All German subjects, turns me also down a bit, I don´t know.......................................................................................................................................................... Cheers Rob

I have been away for a Berlin trip, lots of family affairs, visited good friends, good bars, fine restaurants and finally a LHS. As I was flying baggage was limited and needed for other big city goods to bring home. SBS 1/48 Caudron C.600 resin kit. I originally wanted the civilian version which was sold out, than the Spanish Republican, but went with the Hungarian instead, because I wanted a silver bird and no camo. Next some figures which show a scene from the last days of the war in Berlin, my old hometown. The street signs seem to be wrong, but I will research this later. This set is made from resin by Scale 75 in 1/35. Something for honing my figure painting skills a bit later with more experience to get beforehand. I spoke to the guy in the shop and he told me, he painted her twice for customers and gave me some precious tips for painting. Last but not leas, some tool. A Proxxon pen sander along with whit markers, which were recommended by a member over on MSW for tire painting. Finally a micro rolling tool for diameters ranging from 1 mm to 5 mm. The bigger brother came in handy, while building the USS Arizona with tons of rounded PE. There were many parts with smaller radii, where I had to improvise. And now I will be busy the next days, follow up your various builds and other threads. Cheers Rob

Very nice Peter, the Jug is looking great. The engine, cowl, fuselage fit is always a bit of a challenge with the big radial engines. A one piece cowling would have helped, but what I see on your pictures seems to be a good fit. Hopefully the masks arrive soon for painting the beast. Cheers Rob

Gone are the days, where another NZ-venture dared to roll out a Gotha UWD, a bit like an anti 109 . Cheers Rob

Indeed, good news, I want a Kingfisher too, thanks for the news. Nobody seems to have them in Europe. Wait and see... Cheers Rob

I developed a new term for this and similar ones - BSG - B= Big or Boring, S=Sales, G= Generator. Cheers Rob

Yawn, pretty inspired choice , what´s coming next, FW 190? Cheers Rob

Some of the vintage racers, like the Mefistofele and Fiat 806 date back to Protar releases and are a real mixed bag to my knowledge. I would recommend some research before biting. The Bugatti and Alfa Romeo C8 2300 Monza and Roadster are relatively fresh releases and seem to be better made. Same can be assumed with the Cincecento, where Italeri also offers a cool Abarth racing version. Cheers Rob

Hello FA, there were sprue shots in the Modeling News. I will comment about the parts, when I start my WIP which might be soon, somehow the Alfa whispers ´build me´in my ear. The Modelling News: An Alfa roadster, top of the range, a desert Crusader, flying bananas & a Stork in Italeri's December preview... Cheers Rob

Some madness must have befallen me lately. I bought my first kit for 2024, which is generally sane, but it´s an ITALERI kit , something, I would´ve thought impossible a while ago. I got the kit for a very decent price and just couldn´t say no. The Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Roadster attracted me and I hope it´s one of their better kits, at least, it´s not one of the old Protar re pops sans metal parts. The box content doesn´t look too bad and there are several build logs out there, which deem the kit buildable. I measured the kit spokes and they are a bit too thick with nearly 10 mm diameter in real life. I may address this with the crazily demanding wire spoke wheels, made by Unobtanium. I definitely add the wire lock bolts from the same company. unobtainium.digital Cheers Rob

Holy cowl , fantastic. Cheers Rob

Great work Phil, that´s as close to F1 kits as you can get with armor, being all open. You see, its only a small step and brighter colors (and no carbon decals). Cheers Rob

Nice little Fokker and I really like the colorful chosen scheme, Kevin. These Eduard 1/48 WW1 birds are great little kits. I have some in stash and made a twin build of two lozenged SSW´s some years ago, using a lot of goodies. So far for the ´completed 48 stringback´ section Cheers Rob

This is coming out nicely Gus. Your way adapting to the 3D technology seems to successful. So far, I used only smaller portions of 3D-printed parts with kits and liked them a lot. I have a Dekno Gee Bee Racer in 48 scale in stash, which is completely printed. I´m eager too see, how this works out, but there are small traces of printing lines visible. Anyway, I can´t wait to see your Viggen in Swedish splinter, which I like a lot, but would be too much of a coward to attempt. Cheers Rob

My kit list is very short, but that´s normal, as I spontaneously visualize a kit finishing idea and buy it then. Not much planning, but Airfix Sea King and Gannet are set, as well as a SBS 1/48 resin Caudron C.600 and - devil I did it - an already ordered Italeri (sacrilege ) kit, the 1/12 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Roadster, maybe with wire spoke wheels. Maybe the 1/24 resin kit of the Citroen SM made by USCP. There is also the SBS 1/48 resin Macchi M.39 on my list. and a XPlus Spinosaurus, which at least is 1/35, which opens endless dio possibilities. Cheers Rob

Uhh, I see lots of AM looming, maybe, she has a knack for ageing surfer dudes . Cheers Rob

What a beauty, Peter, nice and shiny NMF, love it. Cheers Rob

Nice progress despite the obstacles, Peter. Good that you found the joystick, it´s terrible to loose such an important and visible part. Maybe MiniArt is listening and betters their instructions. Cheers Rob

Thank you Kevin, I´m not much of a car nut myself and motorsport doesn´t interest me at all, except maybe for 80´s F1 and some classic cars, but car building and painting is entirely different than other subjects, which are mostly ´closed´, and I like variety. Cheers Rob

Thank you Phil, cars are indeed a completely different breed, with a lot of emphasis on finish and replicating materials. The F1 cars are even more different, because, if you want to show engine, monocoque, drive train and other innards, you have to perform another approach, as everything needs to be build like the real one, not only cockpit, wheel wells and maybe an engine with planes. This needs careful planning of building and painting steps, but it´s a welcomed change at least to me. Cheers Rob

Thank you Carl and Peter, it´s indeed a lot of work, but the casted on pattern with paint would only be sufficient for a car with a body never to be removed. Carl, I have some similar car kits in stash, for example two Tamiya AMG Mercedes GT3 with Good Smile and another similar finish and a GT3 BMW also in Good Smile livery. Cheers Rob

I think, I mentioned a while ago, that this build was supposed to be a fun build, but guess what, this beast keeps fighting me on all angles. After finishing the engine, I decided to give the Studio 27 carbon decals a try. There are over 80, luckily cookie cut with a very nice representation of different carbon patterns, along some rivets and fasteners. So far so good, but the decals are very thick and brittle. I broke many while applying. First things first, the preparation included removing cast textures on some of the plastic parts with files, sanding tools and chisels, then use Tamiya LP 1 gloss black as a basecoat. It´s best to develop an applying pattern for the decals, because they are slightly oversize on purpose to cover the edges as well. I started at the bottom sides and went up. It´s very time consuming as the brittle decals had to be bend around the edges with different numerous applications of strong decal softener and added heat from an hairdryer. When that is finished, you can go up further with decaling with the same exhausting procedure. I then applied a layer of AK Real clear flat for the finish and as protection. I finished further parts not shown here, but will continue with the body pan and then on to the cockpit. What you see on the pic are no decal seams, but different carbon patterns, some more glossy than others. Cheers Rob

Just saw, there are some detail sets out there made by Magic Factory specially for the Corsair, Peter. A set of figures and a superbly 3D-printed engine. The Modelling News: Construction Review PT I : P&W R-2800 Double Wasp & Separate display version from Magic Factory in 1/48th scale The Modelling News: Construction review PT II: 1/48th scale F4U Ground service (5 figure set) from Magic Factory Cheers Rob