Peterpools

Oliver Incredible scratch work and the detailing is brilliantly done. Always a pleasure to see your latest update and never disappointed.

Thank you Rob. Very pleased how the Spitfire turned out and the kit in the end, did fit my style of building and finish.

Martin Keep it up and surely my hats won't fit at all. Thank you so much for the very kind compliments on the build. For me, the best part was my hands reached the point of I can finally free hand air brushing again and now I'm off and running.

Thanks Phil, looking back except for a few spots, the Revell kit was a nice build and so worth the cost. BOB build is surely in the offering now with the Kotare Spitfire, Revells Hurricane and I guess either the Trumpeter or Hasegawa 109E. See how it all plays out this year.

Thanks Chris, much appreciated. As always, a bit of a struggle in spots but in the end, she surely looks the part. Yup, the 109 is underway and I started a build thread last Friday ZM Bf 109 Hartmann. John changed his build title when he changed the paint scheme and it will be easier for everyone to keep tabs hopefully. Just posted the second update.

THE FRONT OFFICE THE IP Starting the front office and the first assembly to accomplish: the IP. ZM offers two ways to build the instrument panel; a solid gray panel and a clear plastic panel. There are instructions on how to do both. When I purchased the kit one of the two AM items I bought was the ZM PE 109 Interior set which offered now a third way of constructing the IP and my choice. The ZM PE 109 Interior Set, was made in the Czech Republic and surely by Eduard. There is a good deal of PE parts on the single fret which aren’t used and must be for the next version on its way plus a seat belt set as well. After using the Quinta 3D decals for five builds now, you do get a bit spoiled. Application is much faster, easier then PE and the 3D look is a huge plus. A solid hour plus was needed to remove all the details from the solid gray plastic IP, which would also be required if using a 3D vinyl decal panel. Carefully removing each piece of PE as needed, filing off the attaching nibs and gluing into place with CA or Micro Krystal Klear; nerve racking at least. The biggest two negatives with PE; chipping the paint off when handling with tweezers and very carefully applying the CA to the second layers which are a lot of the instrument bezels and add to the 3D effect. Biggest plus for PE: much sharper details, painted details appear crisper and cleaner and edges are sharp and not rounded. Back to the front office and learning more about RLM numbers and what is what. Yup, I broke my unwritten rule about macro and paid the price. The IP PE has all the hallmarks of an Eduard IP panel and after reading Johnm comments and viewing his image, I went back and repainted any of the area on the IP that was RLM 66 for a smoother and more uniform appearance.

Pete Right with Martin ... looking so good.

Glad all of our friends made it through Mother Nature's worst and our condolences for those in the storms path, that perished.

Have Congrats on our new home and best of luck. Looks fantastic and a wonderful place to hang your hat.

PW When the erg returns, it's back and so much better to move onto a build that keeps your juices flowing.

Scott The Beaver looks so good in flight in her new home. Right with Gus, wishing for a current kit. Another example of a very popular aircraft, flown all over the world, in both military and civilian use, still in heavy bush use today, that is completely overlooked by model companies.

Gaz Awesome progress and thank you as always for all the photographs - they answer so many questions and highlight the progress you're making. I see what Rob is pointing out about the seatbelts and on my kit, I'll be using the kit ones as well but will try thinning them out and adding a sag or two. Not sure if it's possible but I'll try. Of Course, still waiting for my Kotare Spitfire to arrive.

Rob Sure, wish my limited computer skills weren't so limited so I could make the masks I need/want. Guess it's just not in the cards for me.

Rob Very much appreciated your comments on the DB 605 engine build. For the most part, I do agree with your and thought feeling about ZM kits. Some of the detailing is amazing such as their engines and cockpits. Negative side for me with ZM in general has been their over engineering (engine internals?) and all the detail parts that will never be seen and some fit issues. ZM instruction are very good, sometimes not so good and for me the reliance isometric drawings for determining part location and orientation are more difficult and vague then helpful. Their three view draws are actually a bit too detailed and some of what they show could be left out helping part location and orientation. Yes, I do like their color callout system. All in all, I do feel their kits are well worth the cost, I have a number in the stash that I want to build and yes, their F4's are awesome. I did see the next version of the Bf 109 is going to be list for around $130 while the original release was $94 - why the hefty price increase?

Martin Thank you for posting the moving video and tribute. (signature avatar might be inappropriate for this post but it's for my current build)

Phil Sound fantastic. I'm a Mossie guy, so you know what my vote will be 😉

John Might nice progress. Your 109 is coming along fantastically. I'm working on the front office on my 109 and it's going to take a while to work through everything.

Phil Awesome buy - enjoy.

Chris I'm always the culprit for most of everything that has gone wrong or is amiss on a build. All that counts is the struts now look perfect and straight.

Carl Some mighty nice progress. Your scribing is top notch and the clean up on the F-14 being such an old Tamiya kit looks perfect and no one would ever know - that's how good it looks now. Side consoles are coming out perfect as well.

Right with Harv Hope everyone is safe and well. If you're in the bad southern weather zone for this series of storms, please check in and let us know you are A-OK.

Scott Looking good. Aluminum floats do sound like the way to go.

Mark Looking forward to your upcoming build thread.

I my Apache in the stash and am just waiting for a good cockpit AM set.

Thanks Ernie I'm still holding out for maybe a Quinta set which always contains a lot more detail parts plus seatbelts, not to mention Eduard jumping in with a neat PE set or even a Big Ed set. Fingers crossed as I get closer to build time as to what is available. 🤞