Peterpools

Hubert You just never know. Going to be using Mr Color FS13538, as per the instructions call out by FS number only. I don't think Mr Color was invented yet ⚗️

Nice work on the front office and exhaust. Surely stating to look the part.

Thanks John Been working on the outrigger floats and maybe tomorrow I'll start shooting the yellow wings. 🤞

Rob The details and PE look amazing - delicate work for a steady hand. I normally reframe from shooting closeups with a macro lens as the images show details beyond what we can see normally. I try to depict in my photographs what a viewer would see is viewing the model in the flesh.

Thanks Mike, much appreciated. Just never thought a simple assembly as the floats would dictate buying a second kit - thank goodness the kit was very inexpensive this time.

PRIMING – FINALLY OMG, the prep work of sanding, clean up and masking is done. Masking for a kit this size, an abundance of Tamiya tape was needed and hopefully the masking will be OK. With the engine worked into place and needing to be masked, I finally used my DSPIAE circle cutter. Took a few minutes to assemble and cutting the mask was a snap. I have to keep reminding myself I’m not building an old kit from 1997 but a 55 year old kit, whose molds date back to 1967. Back then it was state of the art but today, it’s handful. The outrigger floats were a mess: bad injection pin marks on the struts, the struts were twisted and bent, the worst being the male pins on the inside angle struts were parallel with the strut and should have been molded at an angle – no way would they fit into the locating holes as is. I needed to redrill the wing locating holes on an angle to accept the locating pin. Of course, when assembling the floats, I glued the inner brace in place, firmly on the locating pegs and let dry, I created a disaster; now the strut was nearly vertical and shouldn’t be. I’m assuming the technology of the day, just didn’t allow for the faces of the locating tabs to be at an angle and a problem I just didn’t foresee. Trying to straighten out the struts, I snapped three of four off! Nothing much to do and I needed to purchase a second kit on eBay for parts and new outrigger float assemblies. Knowing the pitfalls, I fussed for a good day, cleaning up the second set of floats, filling and removing the injection pin marks and figuring out a way to glue the inner struts on at the right angle. I used the second kit's lower wing as a gig and I still need to tinker a bit more. The PE bracing wires for the main float will be added after painting, as it’s hard enough to air brush in the center area between the float and the lower fuselage, as the bracing wires will be another obstacle to shoot around. Not overly happy with the fit of the glass but considering the Kingfisher’s age, it’s not that bad. My go to primer: MRP Light Gray Primer and now checking for any areas that need some additional attention. Finally in Primer From the second kit: The replacement floats being test fitted and using the new lower wing as a gig. The offenders - Hunted Down by NCIS

Bill Way to go and besides Mt Color Self leveling thinner as my go to thinner, it's my #1 paint remover as well.

Bill Nice progress and I'm with Ernie, every time down the road when you look at the Kingfisher, the tail stripes are going to annoy the dickens out of you. I'm forever backtracking and fixing things and sometimes it feels as if I built the model twice.

Nice progress Kev .. looking mighty good.

Ernie Enjoy and the perfect purchase.🎅

Pau Nice work on the T55 ... always enjoy seeing arm or both weathered and as they would be seen in a museum.

Gaz As always, some mighty spectacular foiling - looking simply stellar

Scott Well said .. safety and awareness always come first

Kev Thanks for posting the vid - just awesome.

Ernie Following with great interest and watching your magic take place.

Gaz As they say, any team can win on any given Sunday ... sometimes it's just the way the ball bounces that decided a game, or just that one play.

Rob I just can't imagine what you have done that was so bad as to have the modeling gods bestow this kit on you! Nice progress on removing all the offending parts and fingers crossed the parts being replaced with PE, the PE fits like a glove. 🤞

Tim, welcome to the forum. WOW, a Cessna 172 Skyhawk. Will be following all the way, as I've logged more hours in Skyhawks then any other aircraft. Even took my commercial check ride in one. Back when I was flying 172's they were all four cylinder engines, not like the smooth sixes of today. For me, your build is going to be a trip down memory lane. Very nice work on the rear seat - looking mighty good.

Dave Welcome aboard and what an interesting build thread for a kickoff. Will be following.

John Awesome ... I'll be waiting for her to cross the finish line by this weekend at the latest. Don't you just love pressure?

May he Fly West .. RIP.

Made perfect sense back then but when we look back, yup, we mutter to ourselves: How did we really ever survive?

On a business trip years a go, to Pheonix, we drove out to the museum - what an experience and even in the winter, it was blazingly hot! That same night we went to a "Dude Ranch" for dinner and a show by bus and were told to bring a jacket as it would be cold. The advice came when it was close to a 100F outside that afternoon. That night in the mountains, it was close to freezing and we spent a lot of time in the bus - like we really thought it would be cold!

Sasha Awesome work on the front office - looks so good and your style of weathering and detail painting is simply exceptional.

Rob & Gaz When I'm not pulling for any of the three NY Teams (give me a break when it comes to the Jets), I go all out for the Chiefs. As a New Yorker, nothing good or nice ever to say about the Eagles. Of course, the situation with Purdy if the Niners win the Super Bowl would be the story of the year and a great movie as well. Rob, quite a history with your playing sports way in your younger years and baseball - semi pro? I was a baseball guy in my teen years and after that, just a fan, as my talents were nothing like yours. I was terrific at the plate and just an average fielder.