DocRob

Nice progress with the Corsair. The masking and preparation looks great. Cheers Rob

Very nice Arado, I really like the chosen scheme and it sounds like a great father son project. I have the same kit in my stash and you made me thinking. The early 196 looks a bit boring in monochrome livery. Cheers Rob

Thank you Mike, believe me, I can take the blame, I have wide shoulders . Of course, I studied some builds of the Hasegawa build, but I would have liked to see, what you do with the Arado. I would go for another Fly kit, if I build a second one. The kit has it's flaws, but the resin is amazing and you only need AM for the instruments, provided by Jahu and seat belts, in my case from HGW. The rest is oob, all the detail is there. It only needs a courageous modeler to form a diamond from the partly crude kit. Cheers Rob

Thank you Harv and Carl, I first thought about omitting the fastener decals as well, but then, I looked at pictures of the real thing and found them very prominent. I started with some strips on the underside, to see how they behave and if the canopy can cope with Micro Sol. After all efforts, I put into the Nachtigall, it would have been a shame to leave this feature out. After all, the decals work well enough, some broke, but it was an easy fix. Cheers Rob

Progress is slowly, as there is not much bench time and I started another in between project, but I finished the underside of the Arado, adding pitot tub, antenna, the parachute release ropes for the starting rockets, steering horns, ... I also touched up the underside color, where necessary. Flipped to the other side, I started decaling the canopy framing with the supplied rivet decal strips, a task, I wasn't looking forward to. I don't like to work on canopies, but the Arado needed it all, sawing, sanding, painting, masking, gluing, drilling, in other words, many ways to potentially damage the canopy. Luckily this was not the case and the decals behaved mostly well, some, I hope to lay down better with following coats of Micro Sol, fingers crossed. The framing isn't finalized, which will be done, after the decals have thoroughly dried. Cheers Rob

Nice progress with the big cat, Carl. It seems, your up and making it to the deadline with your actual speed. I like the 'spreader' idea and keep it stored on my brain-HD. Cheers Rob

No lo sé, like they say here in Spain, I have no idea, but there are some projects ahead of the Mossie for sure. Cheers Rob

That pit looks fantastic, Phil. The RedFox panels are simply stunning, but your paintwork is also. Good decision with the ammo chutes, I have to check, if the Brassin ones, I own have ammo replicated. Cheers Rob

Happy Birthday Martin, never run out of Tamiya Extra Thin . Cheers Rob

Are you that strong, my dear Peter ? Cheers Rob

I guess, the speed dropped down dramatically with all the clutter on board. I assume, in a night fight, only the gun pod will be left for drag. I wanted to show the Nachtigall in starting configuration, with everything destroying the image of a sleek and slender airframe. Cheers Rob

Thank you Paul and Phil. With all the effort, I put into this kit, it was only a little bit extra work for the stencils . Cheers Rob

Looking great Ernie, you are cruising through the build. The kit seems at least decent, all we can hope for from Trumpeter. Cheers Rob

Fantastic result Kevin, the Tempest shines in all her brute beauty, with your skill full painting and weathering. Cheers Rob

Thank you Gary, I didn't know about the landing accidents, but the canopy was one of the shortcomings for the night fighter role. Everything, explosions, the guns, search lights, reflected multiple times in the glazing and there was no protection for the pilot. You also wouldn't want to fire the guns from the pod with extended front landing gear . Cheers Rob

Thank you Peter and Carl, I'm really happy to have reached this point of the build, but have to say in a way the build was demanding and motivating, but never really frustrating. That's how I like difficult builds. Cheers Rob

How cool she's lookin' Cheers Rob

Wow Phil, what a great last second entry. Your PT-Boat looks fantastic and there is so much detail to please the eye. I hear you on the Italeri quality, a company I normally avoid, but I have the Vosper boat in my stash along lots of goodies. I hope you'll add figures later, these boats cry for it to add some life. Cheers Rob