Peterpools

After the Corsair, you surely managed to finish quite a few shelf queens residing on the SOD.

Paul, whose decals are you using .. Tamiya? It does seem odd that decal issues are popping up lately in places they use to be trouble free. I'm with you, the Whirlwind is a col looking aircraft and so far, no real issues as I'm almost done with the cockpit and getting ready for an update. From my research, it seems the biggest drawback to the Whirlwind being delayed in production and being issued to the RAF, was a shortage of RR engines. While the engines regulated for it were not Merlin's, parts of those engine were needed for Merlin production and the Whirlwind took he hit for the shortage.

carl Still trying to understand why this set and Mark's latest Cartograf decals had settling and softening issues - color and registration look perfect as always. At least, they're on and ready for a flat coat and then the gloss dials. It's funny, my two favorite portions of any build: paint and decals.

Gas The troops are rolling in for your upcoming dioramas ... nice haul for sure

Paul Nice work on the Stuart and in markings I would have never thought of. Neat clean work and all should be fine with the decals.

🤞🤞🤞

John Looking good and fingers crossed

Mark Been playing around with still using Mr Setter and Mr Softer on the Cartograf decals and I finally was able to get all my ducks in order and all went well. I'm not sure if Cartograf made any changes to their decals (which I doubt - why fool with perfection) but I decided to use Mr Setter to only position the decal and then keep applying Mr Softer, letting it fully dry between coats and NOT touching anything at all. The decals upon drying, settled down perfectly and no further issues at all. Live and learn.

A little while ago I read Marks problems with the Cartograf decals for his Viggen, replied that I never had any issues with Cartograf decals and will be using Mr Setter and Softer with my Cartograf decals for the Whirlwind. OMG, for the very first time, the Cartograf decals do not want to sit down and sink onto the IP - what on earth is happening? I'm going to pull out the big guns and try using a hair blower on the decals to get them to sit.

MIke Thank you for posting the latest photographs of your progress. Takes a bit to get the cobwebs out and then I remembered you build. What a project and all that Am is taking the Buffalo to a new level. Of course, I would have pulled my hair out by now but thankfully you worked your way through all those issues. Looking simply fantastic

Thanks Hubert, very much appreciated

Hubert, glad you're on board for the journey and a great reason for buying the ki,. We all should purchase a kit once in a while based on support for companies going the extra mile and producing kits of subjects rarely done or not done at all. .

Mark Decals look good - I wonder why the Cartograf decals supplied with the Viggen, didn't respond to Micro Set and Sol?

Mark I'm decaling the kit IP with Cartograf decals and OMG, yes, there seems to be compatibility issues. After reading your post, I went straight to Mr Setter and Mr Softer which are much stronger the Micro System and low and behold on the second portion of the IP decals, the Cartograf decals did not want to settle down and conform to the IP. I have never seen this before. There is a possibility that the decal run for the Whirlwind and Viggen were done at the same time and there might be an issue; who knows.

Mark Pretty strange as I've never had any issues at all with Cartograf decals and Micro Set and Sol. Right now, I'm decaling the IP for the Whirlwind with the supplied Cartograf decals and am using Mr Setter and Softer and no issues at all.

Mark My guess is you're making painting masks

Thanks Dennis for the seat painting help - surely will be coming in handy in a day or so.

Mike, yup. we seem to be countering the same small issues at this stage of our builds. Special Hobby does have a unique way of doing things and once learning their ways and how their instructions depict the work to be done for each step, things do get a bit easier. I'm making progress on the front office and an about halfway through it and getting ready to do a build update in a day or so. Lots of small detail parts that need a gentle nudge into place and then brush painting. One thing I am finding pretty consistent is the small detail parts are all a bit soft and not as sharply molded as I would like but once in place and detailed painted, look pretty good. Any chance of you posting some build photos of your Buffalo? Would be a treat to follow your progress.

Thanks Drifter, I know. Just so many new kits .. it's feast or famine and we're now in the feast mode for sure.

Bill Catching up and some fantastic progress and aces on a awesome build. Awesome solution and decisions on the burner cans, they look fantastic. Completely agree, photographing such a large model is going to be difficult and has its challenges. Best bet would be outside, midday under a white umbrella to kill the harsh shadows, soften out the light. Surely not an easy task.

Thanks Kev, that's perfect advice and a note for future use.

John Right with you for sure. Nothing like staying safe and sound for us seniors.

Mark Brilliant build .. absolutely perfect in fit and finish. She sure is one big model for the display case and will be a stunner for sure.

Thanks Dennis, they absolutely help. SP office isn't as detailed built with a bit of weathering and the decals will come somewhere in the neighborhood. My info shows the seat cushion to be a light-midtone brown canvas material. Ay better info as it's the first thing you see when looking into the cockpit.

Bill Nice progress on the Big Cat and what a perfect solution to the underwing screw hole. hard to believe back in those days, Tamiya had yet learned how to deal with all the injector pin marks - nice going on cleaning them up. Looking good in primer, which I am assuming is Mr Surfacer 1500 Black (Going to be giving it a go on the Whilrwind).