Peterpools

Welcome back and will be following all the way

Chris Decal work looks perfect and the aerial wires while super thin look the part. I'm with Gaz and hoping you keep the weathering. Looking forward to your next Me 262 in 48th scale

Scott Nice progress on the Viper and as a paint/color guy, your search has paid off. Of course, I'm most likely wrong in calling your F-16 a Viper, as I'm not sure when she actually became the Viper to her pilots and crew.

HI John Nice start on Miss Bardahl. Going to be a beauty - just love the P-51 racers. Will be long for the ride.

Dennis Glad you will be along for the ride and an RAF build would be pretty cool.

Martin Glad you're on board for the ride. Rob posted some terrific photos of a Museum AVG P-40B, including two of the left inside cockpit wall. I'm in need of your magic and any cockpit and detail AVG P-40B photos would be of tremendous help. I plan on starting right after finishing the Whirlwind, and tomorrow decaling should be under way.. So it won't be too much longer until the P-40 occupies my bench.

Thanks Rob Holy Cow the photos are fantastic and even a few of the front office. Can't wait to finish up the Whirlwind so I can dive in.

Thanks Carl The front row is quickly filling up and I better make sure the popcorn vendor has an unlimited supply. Hopefully LSM is picking up the tab

Thanks Gaz You were so right, there is a lot of interest in the AVG P-40's and I can't wait to start. I'm just trying to get things squared away and finishing up my research and build photos. Hopefully, Martin can find some P-40 Flying Tiger cockpit photos.

Thanks John Just looking at the kit it's well detailed going to be a fun build. I've already ordered some Eduard PE and Mr Color paints and should be ready to start when the Whirlwind is finished up in a week or so.

Hubert Glad you're front and center and along for the ride

(Found online) GETTING READY and RESEARCH COLORS AND PAINTS Originally, I was planning my next project to be the ZM Bf109G but with three excellent builds underway, I just couldn’t see what I could offer right now that would be different. I did talk with Ernie about it and was still leaning towards the ZM kit but after reading Gaz’s comment about the P-40B, I thought I could contribute more doing this kit and maybe by the time I finish my BG entry after the P-40, more AM would be available for the 109, allowing me to put a different twist on it. I’m not a big research guy as my builds are nearly always close to OOB except for colors, paints and some AM. Right from the start, every P-40B AVG build I read all spent time on the exterior colors and most went with convention and answers all over the place; just not enough documentation. The P-40B’s bought by China for the AVG were supposed to be painted in RAF Daylight colors of Dark Green and Dark Brown and Gray but there was a problem as Curtiss didn’t have the paint, just the RAF specs. They used DuPont paints and these were the colors they used: DuPont 71-013 Curtiss Green DuPont71-009 Curtiss Brown Dupont 71-021 Curtiss Gray Seems easy but try and find a close match and don’t use the RAF colors as they are incorrect. After loads of research I found a fantastic 13 page research article by Rato Marczak, 2009 which was incredible and so very well documented, including references from Dana Bells research as well. In the end, his findings were based on digital color analysis from color photographs, correctly adjusted in Adobe Photoshop and if there is one thing I know its Adobe Photoshop, as well as original, unrestored museum P-40B AVG engine cowl. After downloading and reading the research paper numerous times, I settled on the following where the colors were matched as closely as possible. Yes there was no such thing as FS color chip system back then but there needed to be some common ground to match up model paints. DuPont 71-009 (FS30219) Mr Color C310 DuPont 71-013 (FS34092) Mr Color C302 2 pts (FS34079) Mr Color C309 1 pt Dupont 71-021 (FS36622) Mr Color C311 I settled on these colors as they seem to be close to what I need. I’m not big on mixing and matching, so this works for me and I’m close and that’s good enough for me. Interior Colors. Using IPMS Stockholm Interior Colors of US Aircraft; 1941-1945 documentation, Curtiss purchased their paint for the interior from Berry Brothers: The Interior Green might have been a little browner and I might add a drop of brown to the mix and that’s as far as I’m going to go. Enough research and I’m off and running while finishing up the Whirlwind and waiting for paints to dry.

Bill Sorry I misunderstood. I have a good number of ZM kits plus the 109 and completely agree their instructions are so very well done.

Bill, thanks for the tip on using the clear plastic wrap - going to give it a try on the Whirlwinds tailwheel. I originally thought the same regarding the instructions - they look wonderful and complete. But once I was into the build, there are placement and clarity issues. Just curious if the comments were from guys who built the kit or just went through the box. I'm sure everyone will have their own opinion on the instructions, especially guys who are a more familiar with SH kits.

Gaz Some mighty fine work and canopies are always a delicate issue. I sue a very fine CMK razor saw blade like Chris but as you, cut far away up the fret gate and then so so carefully sand off the nibs with a 400 Infinity Sanding stick. I also keep reminding myself to handle the canopy gently, no pressure so not to crack it while sanding. As for the filler in front of the canopy, I use Tamiya Whiter Putty and smooth it out and then let it dry thoroughly. Any follow up filler that is needed, I switch over to Mr Surfacer 1200 and take my time. Everyone looks into the cockpit and at the canopy first time they enjoy the completed model.

Carl Looks great and thank Goodness it's an early April Fool's joke - which I fell for.🙃

Thanks John Making progress and hopefully it will be smooth sailing the rest of the way. Somehow, every time I say this, something else seems to pop up and Murphy stops by for a visit.

Thanks Chris, so very much appreciated. Always new adventures and obstacles to overcome. Besides all the issue with a limited run kit, I finally realized I need to look a bit ahead and see what's down the road. Normally, I completely agree I would never, ever think of painting the fuselage band first but what threw me for a curve, was there no way to mask the stripe where it physically touched the vertical stabilizer. I must have looked at it a million times and nothing registered until it was too late. I'm so lucky I have incredible doctors and my wife Diane nursed me back to health every step of the way. It's a long journey and thank goodness all worked out well. I have another Petscan at the end of the month, where I'm checked to make sure the cancer has not returned. Fingers crossed as always.

Thanks Rob, feels great to being able to do what I've been able to all these years. It's sad, we never realize how lucky we are to be able to enjoy what we do, until we physically can't anymore. I just don't take anything for granted and enjoy everything to the fullest. I'm looking at building the GWH P-40B Flying Tigers next and have been doing a lot of research, especially on the colors. My plan now is to continue doing the free hand cammo and see how it goes.

Thanks Gaz The build surely has had its moment and hopefully and from here to the finish should be relatively smooth sailing. I'm taking your advice and decided to go with the GWH P-40B Flying Tigers. I've been doing a lot of research on the colors and some details and can't wait to get going on the project.

Thanks Dennis Right with you and by Friday I should be decaling and looking forward to my next build.

Martin, Thanks so much. I used modeling as a therapy after finishing chemo as it required use of my hands and coordination - couldn't think of a better therapy. Still dealing with a number of chemmo side effects including cardiac issues but I'm getting there.

John Always ready for your next build as following your work keep my juices and mojo flowing. Paul Fisher certainly would be so proud of your Panther build - not to mention the Iron Works Gang from Bethpage. Simply a stellar build and what a rescue from the SOD!🏆🏆🏆

John A killer build and of course, a flawless finish. heading over to the RFI Forum now.

Thanks Gus, so greatly appreciated. From what I've learned, the "cocktail" for each chemo is specific to the patient, for the type of cancer and how far it has progressed. It was bad when I was going through it but I'm here and that's what counts. My wife suffered though it with me and the side effects continue but we're dealing with them. Costs were very high but it is what it is. I'm just so happy for my doctors and the support I've received.