Peterpools

Chris These day, I do the same and if there isn't a mask set, I skip the purchase. If it's a hot, new kit, I might buy it but wouldn't think of opening the box until a mask set can be purchased.

Gus Most important is that you both rest and recover thoroughly -the Tomcat will still be ready when you are .

Carl BRILLIANT! Awesome work on the PE hinges - looks fantastic and they even work - some mighty fine work.

Ernie Some alignment issues but seeing how you blew through them on the Helldiver, should be no problems out at all. Cockpit detail looks so good through the openings.

Sasha Some mighty fine work - every part of the model fits perfectly.

Terrific progress on the Tamiya 109 - looking mighty good. Just love those Tamiya kits .. perfection in engineering.

Chris Canopy masking looks so good and the touch up work will go flawlessly. I'm only hoping my Kingfisher canopy look half as good when I peel the masks off. l

Oliver You just never stop amazing me with your scratch-built skills and the level of detail being added. I've long run out of superlatives and now just sit and stare at each photograph. Brilliant and beyond inspirational.

Thanks Bill, sure hope so.

Carl No can do as I used both floats from the second kit now on the first kit so, my only option would be to build the wheel version which I'm not crazy about. I also looked at the casting as best I could on my monitor and some of the castings look a bit soft, especially the engine.

Jeff Very much appreciated. Yes I saw this upgrade kit before starting and tossed back and forth about buying it. Seeing how old the kit is and the issues I'm now trying to fix, I decided to just go OOB. Looking at all the resin parts, I just wasn't convinced there wouldn't be a lot of fit issues and still no mask set, which seems to me to be the most important and needed piece of AM.

Phil Passing on the catalog as well.🙃

Rob Glad neither you nor your wife have any lingering side effects. Just can't be too careful.

Ernie agreed. So far, I've built up so many Merlins and will be doing four more for the Lancaster and Tamiya's P&W, I just didn't want to display another engine in the display case. Yes, that was another mistake on my part as GWH did do an exception job on the Allison.

Ernie Excellent point. Just think GWH got it wrong plus the sizes of the roundels are incorrect and not consistent with the kit's instructions and placement color marking/painting guides, if I remember correctly. What I should have done is go the route you are and have used Eagle Editions decals - big mistake on my part.

Ernie I had to re-scribe mine as I lost them with my fit issue. I'm sure the bulk of the nose fit issues were my doing, as the fit of the firewall is critical. In the end, I'm happy with my AVG Flying Tiger. Still feel the biggest drawback to the kit for me, was all the time and effort I put into building, painting and weathering all the internal details, of which almost none can be seen through the small hatch, which I think is a radio access hatch. Same for the fuel lines, if you don't make the lower fuselage 'wing hump' part removable. I'm just not big on: I know it's all there and have photographs if I ever want to look - I never do.

Gus, not good news and hang in there, as covid will pass. For the both of you being front line in our battle against the disease, Thank You. 🏆

Ernie Nice progress but I'm still on the opposite side of the fence about the kit as you. I didn't think part fit was all that great and never needed clamps on any Tamiya kit I've built. Gun fairings were as bad on mine. Nose fit issues were mine alone and needed a lot od work to fix. I know paint and color has always been a hot topic on the AVG's P-40 and isn't as clear cut as it seems. I did a lot of research when I built mine and none of the actual RAF Day Colors were available to Curtiss and they contracted with DuPont for the paint - the colors are different. I'm sure it doesn't make that much of a difference as the paint faded and was worn over time. Maybe my research can help a bit in the actual model paint selection.

So strange that Tamiya isn't planning on any new aircraft releases in 48th scale and of course none in 32nd scale this year. I'm hoping it's one of the years where they are just holding back the actual announcement. 🤞

Bill, Silly Putty - guess it's used for masking cammo.😉

Ernie is so right - what in the world were we waiting for? Someone should have woken up and shot it down the second it crossed into our air space. Gee, Russia and China had no issues on shooting down a U2 and trying to do the same to the SR71. All this shows is how slow we are to react and who knows how much data and information was collected and sent back to China.

Chris Masking looks mighty good and of course a ton of work. Good decision to keep the windows clean as a seaplane, I would think dust wouldn't have much chance to accumulate when the Cat was tied down. Of course, I'm still so envious, as there isn't a set of masks for the Kingfisher and they are lightyears ahead of doing all the glass by hand - especially. shaky old hands.

We absolutely do👍

Chris Has to be stress cracks from how I pushed the two fuselage halves over the wings. I'm trying to figure out a way to eliminate the cause of the stress but it's almost impossible as it has to be inside the fuselage. I'm literally chipping away at it and hopefully with some luck have the stress crack contained. It's been a good twenty hours and the crack hasn't spread any further in either direction. Tomorrow will tell the story.

Thanks John Tomorrow will tell the whole story🤞