Peterpools

Rob Absolutely concur. Enjoying following your exploits and marvel at what you have done so far.

Dave Very nice progress and the 108 looks mighty good all closed up.

John Just posted in the Finished build section. terrific build and you surely conquered the Revell kit - looks fantastic.

John Beautiful work - perfect cammo paint work.

Ernie Terrific progress and I have to disagree - fit is good in most places but not all. But being a huge Tamiya fan boy and having built the P-40, way too much wasted details and not the equal of any of the new Tamiya kits for part fit and location. Part fit is sloppy in certain areas and even with GWH adding a correction sheet, they missed parts that needed to be relabeled/re-numbered. Unsure part location/orientation in the instructions surely didn't help. One area they do pull ahead of Tamiya is the quality of the decals but the decals have a few errors.

Oliver Simply insane -- your detail work is impeccable and a work of art is in the makings.

Ernie As Gaz pointed out, I did a lot of research on the colors at the start of my build and concentrated on the ones used for the AVG aircraft, which were originally destined for the RAF. Check it out, as it may help - the biggest issue was RAF paint colors that were spec out, were not available in the US and Curtiss used a lot of DuPont paint, which was close but not the same. In the end, it's the builder's choice. Exactly, everything needs to fit perfectly or there will be alignment issues down the road that take time to sort out and fix. One decision I made right at the start was what to do with the Allison V12. I decided to go closed cowl as it makes a difference. I also had a hard time with the instructions in some areas as to part orientation and placement. I'm sure that was just me, it did cause problems just the same. I wound up using a lot of Quinta and Eduard AM for the front office which I thought added quite a bit. You can build the P-40 with changeable front cowlings and engines; I just didn't go that way.

Scott This is really the first time I can appreciate actually how big the Seaview actually is. Incredible work - both on the sub and display base.

Gus Looking so good and your steady hand at detail painting isa spot on the money - looking so good. I have a number of the newer Tamiya's 48th scale kits in the stash: F-14, F-16, F4, P-38 - they're all spectacular. papa Tamiya is taking us where few manufactures have been able to go.

Rob SPECTACULAR ... doesn't come close. I've followed a few very intricate 1/200 builds with full Pontos sets and am convinced that working in 1/350 scale at the level you are, requires a completely different skill and patience level. The smaller the PE, the steady the hand and eye. Awesome work for sure.

Thanks Rockie, much appreciated. For my generation, Rocky and Bullwinkle were a staple of our TV watching when we were kids.

Thanks Chris, very much appreciated. A few touch ups are needed next bench session and then it's off to the decaling procedure. Sometimes what lacking in molded in detail can be overcome by a colorful or intricate paint finish. I just gravitate towards colorful finishes. Surely the Kingfisher is getting closer to the finishing line. s

Thanks Kev The old kits do have a charm of their own and even with raised panel lines from that era, there isn't a lot of surface detail that was missed. The biggest differences are the interior details that are nearly completely missing. How times have changed.

Scott. much appreciated and surely will be looking forward to your Yellow Wing Kingfisher

Thanks Mike Painting and decaling have always been my favorite part of any build and the prewar super colorful Navy and Army paint schemes some of my favorites. Only drawback is the enormous amount of masking.

Chris Deliveries seem to be the same in most places. Rarely in my case has a delivery been missed and a signature required (I live in a gated community). It does happen that when one of the delivery services (UPS, FedEx or USPS) can't make the scheduled stop, checking the shipping email/tracking and the delivery date had magically has been changed to the next day. In the past twelve months, I think I had to only sign twice for deliveries: The Lancaster and the Spitfire, everything else has always been left by the front door. One exception is deliveries from overseas with DHL, signature has always been required. Thanks for the pic of the bench with both the Voodoo and the Big Cat on their paint stands - looking mighty good for sure.

Rob You're right on the money about the build but don't forget to add in a very steady hand and the modeling skills. Surely out of my skill level of work.

Thanks Rob, feels good to be mostly finished with the masking now. Some touch up work next and then onto the decaling, showing the Kingfisher as she dressed out on the USS Arizona. Kit decals aren't up to snuff and I needed to purchase two sets of Yellow Wing Decals for all the markings. The Canary' birds sure must have had their bright plumage approved by the USN way back when. 😉

Thanks Hubert, very much appreciated.

Scott Nothing like looking to sanding and filler work but you easily have it under control.

IT’S COLOR TIME OUTRIGGER FLOATS First up, the second kits replacement outrigger floats. This time around, I exercised extreme caution, taking care with the strut bracing as to not touch or fuss except where necessary, as they are just too easily broken. As the pervious update photos showed, I used the second kits lower wing as a jig, built up both assemblies, a touch of Mr Surfacer, primed and painted with Tamiya LP-70 Aluminum – done, good to go and not tempting fate. Hours and Hours of Masking …The Paint Booth As of now, I’ve masked, painted unmasked, masked for the next steps a good four times .. My supply of Tamiya tape has dwindled to now needing a healthy resupply. The Yellow Wings Decals comprehensive multi page instructions called for either FS 13538 or Tamiya Camel Yellow TS-34 for the wings. I used Mr Color FS 13538, as I had the paint and didn’t have the Tamiya paint. Mr Color rendition was way too yellow and too light, so I hand mix the color. I should have waited and ordered the Tamiya Camel Yellow – next time for sure. BTW, I was in error as I needed to order a few more decal sheets from Yellow Wings for projects down the road, sent an email and yes, the information I read online was incorrect, they are still doing business as normal and ordered the two decal sheets – decal sets arrived right on time. I’ve done a lot of research on the markings and colors and am happy with my decisions. Colors used: Insignia Red, specified on Yellow Wings data sheet. I masked the wing walks with the flair on the flaps. Also decided to mask the black wing walk lines – what a job and I’m pretty happy how they turned out. I needed to mask and paint the wing chevrons and fuselage band with MRP Insignia Red and so all the red paint matches. Low and behold, the MRP Insignia Red wouldn’t cover the black stripes and I had to first re-prime the chevrons and then on went the red. A final masking to prep the Kingfisher for the aluminum paint and it seemed nearly every square inch of the Kingfisher had now been masked many times. The airframe is polished aluminum paint (standard USN anti corrosion practice of the time) and I went with Tamiya Gloss Aluminum Lacquer LP-70. When done, I was happy with the results. Next up: it’s decaling time. Photographs show some touch up work is still need but for the most part, I'm happy with the results,

Rob Amazing - simply amazing work.

I've seen free hand cammo work that was absolutely spectacular and takes a very special skill. Mine has been good over the years but nowhere near that level. These days, I favor paper masks, held off the model surface with rolled Tamiya tape - the soft edge effect is excellent. Goofs and clean ups I still do free hand. A few negative with paper cut masks is getting smooth and realistic curves without kinks and the masking does seem to take forever to do. But at this stage of the game, I'm nowhere as steady as I once was and the best way to go.

Kev Awesome - your wood working skills are money in the bank as the base looks just beautiful. Your progress on the Schnellboat is progressing at a steady pace and looks so good. Nothing looks as good in the display case a a beautifully built ship on a gorgeous wooden base - no doubt in my mind you are on the way for both.

Chris Surely looks as if you're one or two shot of Mr Surfacer away from being finished with removing the panels lines. Take care of it now, as down the line it becomes harder to clean up.