Peterpools

Chris Aces for sure on working out an ingenious solution to the cockpit figures and they do look quite natural, seated in their flying positions. Nice to approach, going one step at a time and you're starting to get the juices flowing about adding a figure or two to my next build.

Kriss Nice progress and the primer coat looks smooth as can be.

Rob, thanks so much. Even with the few setbacks and needing a second kit, the Monogram Kingfisher was a lot of fun and brought back good memories. Hoping the Kingfishers on your USS Arizona will be the same.

Carl, very much appreciated and my vote is for you to go for it.

Thanks Kev and right with you - my favorite era for aviation - colorful and the rivalry between the navy and the army produced some awesome looking aircraft color schemes.

Ernie The Chines roundel on the lower wing now is so very close to the photograph being used and it is the perfect resource pic; It's a keeper and way to go. Carl said it just perfectly about the tailwheel - it will show up in time after having caused all sorts of aggravation and requiring a replacement which would have been accomplished way before, so you can finish the P-40. I tip my hat as you kept on digging and found the correct solution. My only question, why couldn't GWH have done the same, followed through and then printed the decals as per their research and color drawings?

INTRO AND STARTING With so many starts and stops with the Kingfisher and then the weeks of the stress crack repairs, the build spent a lot of time in the repair booth doing nothing but drying as the repairs kept going on and I had basically nothing to do. I knew I wanted the build the Revell Spit Mk lla after following John’s build and would go at it a bit differently. Over the years, I had accumulated a lot of Barracuda resin sets all of which were for the cockpit except one, which was for the exterior upgrades. Most of the sets were designed as I can see for the Tamiya Spits and with some work would work on the Revell kit. I also had Edgar’s notes and would incorporate a good number of his suggestions. The game changer for me, was the awesome Quinta cockpit set and I’ve become a huge fan of their products as my last two builds used them: GWH P-40B and the Tamiya Spitfire Mk XVIe. Crisp and clean, easy to use and no hunting around as to where they go. I decided to save the Barracuda sets for other Spitfire builds and just use the exterior upgrade set and leave the interior to the Quinta set. So while waiting for the Kingfisher to immerge from the repair shop, there was plenty of time to start the Spit. Lots of part clean up and these are the old Revell instructions – so care needs to be exercised. The front office is done and except for some cables that need to be added to the right hand cockpit side wall from under the IP and the shoulder belters for the Sutton harness, the fuselage is almost ready to be glued up. MRP RAF Interior Green was used for the entire interior – I really like their rendition and for touch up work, I have the MRP matching color from their acrylic range – perfect combination. Typical Revell and with some work the interior looks good and with the Quinta detail set, it’s close to a wow from a just OK. Quinta IP Set Both the kit joystick was done as well as the Barracuda joystick - not sure which to use. The seat still needs work as well, as I forgot to paint the actual seat the reddish brown Bakelite color - has since been repainted.

Thanks John, right with you.

Thanks Gaz

Gaz Very nice work and one more then I have. I know I must have missed it but what scale is she in?

Carl and Ernie Have you ever noticed in most kit reviews, the discussion on decals never seems to focus on accuracy but rather registration. Seems the reviewers might need to spend time on accuracy a bit more. Just feel at this stage of the build, leaving the decals alone and moving on is the best course of action. Only real answer would been definitive photographs of the actual aircraft, top and bottom and most likely, they do not exist, so what's correct - I haven't a clue.

Thanks Gaz, appreciate the explanation.

Thanks so much Chris. There have been a few moments when things took a turn and headed south but, in the end, just taking my time and working out a plan seemed to be the way to go. Painting has always been my favorite part of any build and when you have the opportunity to work with such a colorful pallet, the finished build just 'pops' in photographs.

Thanks Bill, very much appreciated.

Oliver There have been parts of your build I couldn't find the words to describe your work and this is another one - simply brilliant execution and the bar has been raised to a new level.

Ernie and Carl I almost never go back and visit a finished build but the issue of the Chinese roundels was an issue I did discuss on my build. My entire discussion was based on the fact the color decal/paint scheme sheets included with the kit showed the upper wing roundel as the larger and in a faded blue color and the underside decal, should be the smaller roundel and a dark blue. The decal sheet is just reversed of the colored decal paint scheme sheets. I never based my comments on which was right or wrong, only they didn't match. GWH either didn't do their homework or QC was asleep at the switch. I chose to leave mine as is as this seemed to be a matter of discussion where there isn't a definitive answer and not worth messing around with the finish.

Thanks Mike, much appreciated. The old gal had a lot of fight left in her but in the end a terrific build that was so very satisfying to do.

Thanks John Very much appreciated. As it turned out, the Kingfisher offered a few more surprises then I had figured on but in the end was enjoyable project in the end. Just goes to show how far the hobby has come.

John Going to be an epic build of a P-51 variant we don't often see. Looking forward to following your progress. The vector cockpit set looks excellent.

Ernie Nope, color interpretation is personal and unless we have the actual color chips, which there aren't any, who is actually able to say which is right and which isn't.

Sasha Some mighty nice black paint work and right with Hubert, as the modulation works perfectly.

Rob WOW, the deck cranes look just brilliant and, in your hands, the Eduard PE looks wonderful.

Carl Nothing more important then taking care of your health, Sue's and the boys. We seem to live in an age where we all have so many medical issues, it's hard keeping up and ahead.

Hubert Most appreciated and yes, the Kingfisher has to be one of Monogram's iconic kits from that era. It's easy to see the kit was designed by engineers who either were modelers or understood what modelers wanted.

A grand trip back to 1967 building the Monogram Kingfisher. A fun build and the kit has held up well these past 56 years - a tribute to Monogram. Yellow Wing Decals with Tamiya Lacquer, Mr Color and MRP paints being used. Masking the canopy Greenhouse frames was a daunting job but, in the end, no issues.