Peterpools

Mark Way to go, looking so good and you're rolling again.

Thanks Hubert, always glad you are along for the journey. Completely agree with both you and Rob, most aircraft look their best in their natural environment with the sky surrounding them. To my eyes, some do look nearly as good resting on their gear: B-47, B-58, Pitts Special S-1 and a J3 Cub to name a few.

Thanks Paul, I'm in the home stretch and working on all the small parts I left until the end.

John Nice progress for sure. Always hard to work out the best method to build a kit from a company whose kits are somewhat unfamiliar.

Thanks Kev and shall do. A day or so more and the Spitfire should be done and ready for her photo op.

Carl Your Spit in the flight mode looks great. Please take a few more pics.

Thanks Phil, very much appreciated. The Spitfire should be finished this weekend (🤞) and then on to the Whirlwind. I'm with you as so much was said about the kit, so few builds and I've only seen one completed. Can't wait to get going on it.

Thanks Dennis so very much. Just a wonderful kit and even with the few issues, has been so rewarding. Looking at my display case, there are more 32nd scale Spitfires and Mustangs then all the other models combined. Just can never have enough Spitfires and Mustangs - thank goodness for Tamiya. Right with you, as I've always thought the Whirlwind was a gorgeous looking fighter and always wanted to build one in 32nd scale. I jumped at the Special Hobby kit when it was released and just always seemed to have something else to build first but no longer, as the Whirlwind is already on the bench and ready to go.

Rob Very much appreciated, as painting and decaling are my favorite parts of any build. Barring any unforeseen issues, she should hopefully be in the display case by Sunday night. believe me, I've had the carpet monster consume large parts then a model wheel - I have no idea how but it's the truth - could be old age sneaking up. I've loved airplanes my entire life, a pilot since 1970 and I completely agree, no airplane looks as good sitting on the ground as she does up in the air. Even fixed gear airplanes look so much better with the wind beneath their wings. It's like a bird: flying or standing - the beauty is in the air. I've sometimes thought about doing a few in flight builds but just never seem to actually get there.

Thanks Gaz I'm slowly getting to the finish line and hopefully by the end of the weekend, the Spitfire can be parked out on the flightline, headed for the display case.

Thanks Carl, it's been a journey for sure and even with the decal issues, it's been a fun build. Always nice to know I haven't lost my touch on 'How to Strip Paint' and give it a second try. I'm still working on learning to use masks and they would have made the build so much easier if I only practiced before hand. Looking forward to the Whrilwind as it is one of those aircraft I always wanted to build and add to the collection.

One of the early versions: Dark Green and Dark Brown. Kit decals are Cartograph!

Special Hobby 1/32 Westland Whirlwind. I actually have the paints, seatbelts and canopy mask set; I'm ready to go.

Thanks John Very much appreciated. Seems, once the paint and decal issue were mostly resolved, typical, awesome Tamiya. I'm hoping to finish the Spitfire in the next few days, do all the final photography and then get ready for my next build, which I've been waiting a good long time to do.

Rob Thanks for the mini review on the ZM display bases, they do look good. I have been buying a lot of AK synthetic brushes and they do work well but when I need a precision brush, I'm a W&N Series 7 guy. Yup, the Kettenkraftrad does look pretty neat and will work well with your planned dios.

THE HOME STRETCH Some nice progress over the past week. I decided to go with a mix of Alclad Clear Semi Matte and Flat (75/25) and then thinned with Self Leveling Thinners. No issues but the large white ID Letters seemed to ‘flake’ a bit, but what it is, it is – I’m just happy they are still in place and haven’t cracked any further. Canopy and windscreen were unmasked and no issues to speak of and the canopy itself is just resting in place. The rearview mirror for the top of the windscreen and the canopy latch will be installed last, when I no longer have to handle the model, for sure as the sun sets in the west, I'll manage to break them off and the carpet monster will have a nice snack. The kit’s cockpit dropdown door was removed as I used it for a mask and the finished Barracuda door was installed. A bit of finish work is still needed. Fitting the tailwheel in place was a bit tricky and required any traces of paint to be removed from the assembly and all went well. The main gear was installed as per the instructions and then the Barracuda resin wheels are just being test fitted, as they need some tweaking to fit the landing gear legs. So for now extra care has to be taken not to pick up the Spit and let the wheels feed the carpet monster as well. From here, all that needs to be done after the gear is glued up, is add the numerous small parts I was holding off until the last stage of assembly and the Spitfire will be ready to roll across the finish line.

John Especially the front office

John Nice progress on the front office and so glad no issues at all. She does have a semi Skyraider feel and look.

Gaz Good luck at the show and your packing seems as a safe as it can be done. 🤞

Carl Sems there is always something to deal with and glad there wasn't much overspray in the bomb bay to backtrack and correct. The corrected weathering on the 'offenders' looks spot on the money and nice to see you're now moving forward.

John Your so right, both seats appear to be very delicate and need a tender touch.

John Terrific choice for your next build. I'll be front and center, start to finish

Kai Rescribing looks perfect and you are 100% correct.

Happy Birthday John Just so glad we're both here at this ripe old age ... I'm only a few months behind you.

Awesome build and your photography is equal to the high level of your Cobra.