Peterpools

MAKING SOME PROGRESS Seems for each step forward, I’ve been taking two steps to the rear. Just so many small corrections, fixes, including issues with the Barracuda replacement fabric ailerons. Finally, the lower cowl fits decently, as earlier I thought a bit of Mr Surfacer and all would be good and of course, it didn’t. Sanding, tweaking and liberal treatments of Mr Surfacer and Tamiya Filler to the rescue. The glass looks fairly nice but who in the world these days has the fret runners attach to the glass on the top face of the canopy frames and not the bottom? Just a lot more work carefully sanding the fret nibs off and being extra careful not to sand into the clear glass. ASK masks were used and on the main canopy there were a few spots on the compound curves where the masks had a hard time sitting down. John B came to the rescue with a replacement prop hub as the kit hub was a little too small and shaped incorrectly. I widen the diameter at the base and did a bit more shaping – surely looks much better then the kits effort. A lot of time was needed to square away the wing roots and I’m finally OK with them now. The Barracuda resin fabric aileron had problems: The female portion of the hinges needed to be widened, they were a little short in length and a bit too wide at the flap end. Plastic card and some very careful sanding fixed these issues. The two part windscreen, the armor glass is a separate piece and will be added after painting and the rear portion are just being test fitted and resting in place. With any luck, the paint shop and priming is less then a few work sessions away.

John Nice start and as always, you're flying through the build. The front office, props and wheels look mighty good. And to think, I'm still trying to get the Spit into priming and then the paint shop.

Ernie Mother Nature at her worst. So glad you and Joy and the family are OK. The news had a lot of coverage on the storm and the damage was horrible. We're getting ready for our share of the storm - high, gusty winds and a lot of beach erosion. Here on Long Island, the south shore always takes a beating from high winds, rain and high tide. And yes, the high tides are expected at the peak of the storm. I just hate this type of weather. Everyone in the path of the storm, be safe and stay home.

Mark Unreal ... way to go.

Kev Looking fantastic and you're absolutely in the home stretch now and seeing the finish line.

Thanks Phil I am planning on buying their comprehensive stencil mask set for the Lancaster and maybe the info will be there as well.

Thanks Mark for your thoughts on the LED lamp. of course, what I thought would be an easy replacement, now the options are starting to be overwhelming.

Thanks Chris I'm looking into it

Thanks Carl. When we had the reno done I had overhead lights installed with LED Daylight bulbs - what a difference throughout the house. In my studio, I have two overhead LED's with daylight bulbs but still need extra light when working at the bench and have always used three OTT Daylight lamps, with one also having a magnifying lens. One bought the farm and I'm looking for a replacement the style as the one Mark purchased.

Scott, now that's a light made for a man cave and any modeler would be proud to have.

Ernie Sounds good .. looking forward to seeing the finished weathering

John Thanks for the photos and help. I'm leaning towards the lighter green color as that seems to match the B&W photos I have. Just wish Border would have included color callouts but they didn't and it's a lot of research trying to understand the paint colors.

Thanks John Shows some of the colors. The SBC' are closed in the kit and it seems from the photos the metal straps are a lighter green color which helps a lot.

I used ASK masks on a number of builds and will be using them on the Revell Spit underway and on the Lancaster as well. I have nothing but praise for ASK masks as they are just awesome and a pleasure to use.

Mark Yes, the light looks fantastic and I do like the idea of two power settings. Kelvin temperature is just the color of light and 6000K is where the world is going these days, which is just fine. Of most importance to me is the actual amount of illumination and how it spreads across the work bench. Eagerly waiting your firsthand feelings after using the light.

Mark Looks great. I did notice the lamp is 6000K and the light color will be just a bit on the cooler side (slightly blueish), which should be just fine. Seems it's nearly impossible these days to actually find 5000K bulbs or LEDS anymore. You can just never have enough light and wattage. Mark, when you have a chance, could you do a quick review as I need to add/replace one of my OTT lights for the bench and would want to try something a bit different.

I'm getting closer to starting my Border Lancaster and decided the bomb load will be: the 4,000 lb Cookie and the SBC's (small bomb containers). I have hopefully determined the ordnance colors as Border does not have any color call out for parts and assemblies in the instructions. There are what seem to be metal straps that go around the SBC's and attach them to the bomb bay roof. In B&W photographs seem much lighter then the SBC but I have no idea of what that color is. Any help of the loadout colors would be greatly appreciated. Thank You

Looking mighty good ... no better way to display a finished build as it shows time and place and a reason for the specific type of weathering.

Awesome work on the prop

Ernie Decals look good and I'm hoping you don't go overboard on the weathering.

Rob I feel your pain but as I follow your progress, the level of work, especially the PE with all its frustrations is amazing as I study the photographs. Patience and skill is the key and as always, you have shown they are some of your most important used tools. The boats do look amazing with all the PE details and the four overall photographs of the Arizona shows how far you have come and the level of detail now is amazing as well. Just stick with it, as you are drawing closer and closer to the paint shop and finish line. Of course, rigging waits at the end and hopefully will not be another adventure.

Kev Amazing progress and nothing jumps out at me as being too bright or 'too much'. Tremendous work.

Chris Making some mighty nice progress and yes, the resin tail does seem to be the gift that keeps giving. The horizontal stabilizer fit is surely going to need a lot of TLC, a brass rod or two for strength at the attachment points and the miss-match of the curvature is going to take a lot of thinking. No question you will work it all out - just a lot of work getting it all to blend together. Sometimes you wonder what the AM makers were thinking and if they ever did a few test fits before selling the AM parts. Engines are looking good and it sure seems the old school way of hand painting the details is the best way to go.

Ready and waiting - front row seat.

John Nice choice for sure.👍