Peterpools

To be honest, I'm still out to lunch on the yet to be released ZM 190 kit. I'm on hold on my ZM 109 build, waiting for the DN mask set to arrive, as the decal crosses and decisions about them by ZM are poor at best. While on hold, I'm knee deep in their Skyraider kit and lessons from the 109 are being applied: leave out all the never to be seen details except those that that add strength the model. I am hoping they will release both the SMS and the often talked about standard version (never actually seen) and odds are doesn't exist. There are fit issues with the 109 and while the instructions looks grand, part location and orientation for some parts were frustrating at best. I prefer their older style instructions of the Skyraider, which are clearer and cleaner over the 109 instructions. Yes, the Bf 109 is lightyears ahead of the Skyraider in molding and crispness, as all the new technologies have been applied.

Carl I thought Ernie was also referring to the clear carrier film on the edges as well.

Absolutely

Ernie Try Mr Setter and Mr Softer, they are about the strongest decal solutions out there. I can see a bit of the carrier film and a final cote of clear gloss should do the trick.

Mark Some mighty nice armor under way.

Rob Absolutely going to be using them in full on my Lancaster build later this summer. The juices are starting to slowly flow. and gather steam.

Bill NIce going and it surely looks as if you have those nasty seams whipped and in the books.

Gaz Fiddly yes and surely a pain to install but they do goo add and add so much. I,m right with Rob, once paint and some weathering, they will look spot on the money. You're so right, nearly as dangerous as sailors who climbed the rope ladders (can't remember the correct name) to insanely work on the sails and yard arms, high above the deck and sea.

Rob It just seems conversations, pots and sometimes heated debates on paints and colors are never ending. Honestly, if I could have my one choice of paint and brand, I would leave the world of lacquers and acrylics and dive headfirst back into enamels and Model Master paints. Of course, this just can't happen as Testors stopped manufacturing the paint many years ago. Nothing shoots like enamels, even taking into account it's slow drying times. What was the debate about on Modelshipworld?

Carl The Kit World IP decal set does look good in your Tomcat - nice and busy. I've pretty much settled into using Quinta decal sets if there is a Quinta decal IP set available for my build at hand. They look great plus every set comes with a good looking seat belt set as well.

Gaz Haven't tried them yet but from your build and what I've seen on some of the channels I follow, I absolutely will give them a try.

Pete Nice work on the Aces II seat.

Ernie If the Solvaset wasn't effective, what did you go with? On my Revell Spitfire, I used a combination of both the Revell decals and EagleCal decals and found the Revell decals responded to both Microset/Sol and Mr Setter/Softer. I did use the kit roundels and they sat down well from what I remember.

Thanks Mike I would build at least one to see how you feel about all the issue that seem to keep coming up for me. While I'm waiting for my mask set (I'm guessing a good few weeks), I started the ZM Skyraider - now I'm really a glutton for punishment. I only had their Skyraider and the F4-E in the stash and wanted to build the Skyraider, so as good a time as any. One of their older kits, very much different and easier to follow instructions (who says old isn't better at times?), molding is nowhere as crisp and precise as the 109, every part has mold lines and a load of molding grease. So far, I've spent over three hours cleaning up only a mere 25 parts of mold line, edges, gluing surfaces and washing every part in Dawn. The parts are the basic cockpit, fuselage (four-part shell and ribs) tailhook and tail wheel parts. Unlike the 109, I'm not adding a single interior detail part, nor painting the interior or using any pin washes, which would be a total waste of time: the isn't even an inspection panel or any means to see any of the interior, so why bother!

Pete One good look Aces II seat.

2X, Right with Carl

Gaz Right with you. I'm sure I could have gotten the carrier film to disappear but my normal way of working with decals with a lot of carrier film, is to always remove it before application. In this case, my plan failed (my bad). But what really got my goat was the fuselage crosses where the central color was neither printed on the decal nor provided as a second decal (done all the time by everyone on large roundels). Just seems ridiculous. If I hadn't spent so much time on the spinner spiral, I would have absolutely gone the route you and John did and bough AM decals for a different aircraft. I guess buying masks wasn't the smarted of moves considering the cost and the wait (still hasn't been shipped yet) but at least I'll finally get my feet wet using them. In the end, I just can't understand ZM's thinking and going overboard with the hidden details. It's even called out in the instructions as to what color to paint. My guess it was missed when the decals were designed and the instructions hadn't been finished yet, so they added the note there. For what the kit cost and their reputation, add an additional decal to the kit, as there already is one for the gauges. Bad QC in my book.

Kev Looking good and some mighty nice progress. The part fit looks to be really good and that's a terrific mojo builder in keeping the build "full steam ahead".

Oliver My money is riding on you ... going to be a gem.

Nice work on the hinges and a good thing Italeri provided extras.

Great video on how to tie a cleat knot. 3The only other knot I know how to tie besides household ones, is the knot on the tie down rope for and airplane. Other then that, I have a hard time even with a slip knot.

Kev Looking mighty good. Once I click on the image and it enlarges, it's so much easier to see the awesome work done.

Oliver WOW - looking fantastic - can't wait to see the truck and crane in the painting stages.

Nothing like a Tamiya kit to remove the stress from recent builds and to build up the mojo. As always, will be following all the way.

Thanks John Been working on the front office for most of the day and getting everything ready for the Quinta set as well. Even though the Skyraider is one of ZM's earlier kits and the molding isn't as crisp, so far, the instructions are a lot easier to follow and no issues with part orientation.