Peterpools

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.

Thanks Mike, very much appreciated. In all my years, I can't remember having so many painting go backs from overspray - just a tough kit to work around. But I'm getting ready for decal prep: gloss and decaling and then it's the home stretch. can't wait to cross the finish line.

Very nicely done.

Outstanding work in every respect. Beautifully done

Right with Gaz - beautiful work

Kev Brilliant and simply amazing work. A jewel for sure.

Mike What can I say .. simply in a class by herself. Your build and water diorama are spectacular. I've always wanted to build a ship one day and at this stage of the game do not have the eyesight let alone the skills to even attempt one.

Thanks Hubert, so very much appreciated. Yes, you are so right as chemotherapy has made tremendous strides and progress and if it wasn't for my awesome oncologist and how he administered the chemo, odds are, I wouldn't be here. No doubt you know all too well the side effects and I've had my share plus cardiac issues directly related but thank goodness all is under control with medication.

martin Looking mighty good - what a terrific idea and in your hands -simply stellar .

John Nice change of pans and it might n ot be that the canopy stripes are too wide but a bit on the bright side. Looking so good

CAMMO WORK IS DONE After I posted the photographs of the upper cammo, I carefully reviewed each one and found some bleed throughs and over spray spots – one of the major pluses of photographing your work as you go – finding mistakes and go backs that you might not notice on the real deal. What caused the painting mishaps was trying to mask around the antennas, struggling to mask corners in the tights areas between the fuselage and nacelles and around bulges – I just couldn’t get the masks sit down as needed. OF finishing the underside portion of the cmmo, I created a few more go backs which I am nearly done correcting – ran plain old out of steam and it will have to wait for a few more days to finish up before glossing and decal prep. Since finishing my chemotherapy a good nine months ago, my hands haven’t been steady enough for free hand cammo but slowly improving, with modeling being excellent therapy. There seemed no time like the present to give it a go again and see what happens. I actually wound up not just repainting all the overspray and bleed through spots I saw; other areas were also redone and it’s nearly impossible to tell which areas were painted which way. One happy camper and amazed at how my hands have progressed! Next up was the fuselage tailband which proved a bit harder then I originally thought. The fuselage band butts straight up tight against the vertical stabilizer, which made masking on both sides impossible. What I should have done is paint that area first, mask and then the cammo. But of course, I never gave it a second thought until I was ready to add the fuselage band, which now required two days of some tricky masking to get the job done. The fuselage band color is a very light bluish/green/cream mix, not Sky. I did a good deal of research with the explanations, as always all over the place. I’m happy with the color and it was also used on the spinner. The underside of the left wing and right horizontal stabilizer masked out and painted flat black, while the balance of the underside of the Whirlwind was painted in RAF Sky. Researched showed at the early stages of the war, this was done so ground gunner crews could identify RAF aircraft from those of the Luftwaffe. Sometime in 1940/41, the practice was discontinued as I assumed it wasn’t that successful.

Paul Looking mighty good. The repaint looks spot on the money to me. Take care of yourself as the symptoms of low blood sugar are serious. Are you under a doctor's treatment?

Rob OMG, does the bulkhead detailing and weathering look fantastic.

John Simply stellar work - your Panther is looking fantastic

Martin WOW- looking fantastic. Going to be quite a 1/72 vignette

John Nice going .. lets see what happens.

John Kind of figure that. I wonder if their acrylic line which is available, has the correct color. I pick up a bottle and see how it looks. Thanks for looking.