Peterpools

Paul I've been using the Tamiya #123 Side Cutter for a few years now and it's awesome. I only use it to cut parts of the frets but if the plastic is too thick, I use a different cutter and then follow up with the Tamiya cutter. Just love Tamiya tools.

Hi Rob That's quite a bundle of awesome supplies and the Caudron is a build I am looking forward to as well. You are going to love using the Da Vinci's Kolinsky Series 10 brushes - nothing paints like a true sable brush. I bought a set of three W&N Series 7 Russian Red Sable Kolinsky Brushes over 15 years ago, still use them all the time and they are as good as new. The trick, once or twice a month, I clean them with Master's Brush Cleaner and Preserver #101, as the sable bristles are cleaned and preserved. I paid over $45 for the brushes back then and the best brush investment I ever made.

Jbert Thank you for the comments and my progress and the decaling issues. I'm plugging ahead and using some of the decals, patching them together if possible. For the balance, I'll wait for the replacement decals.

Thanks Phil I'm plugging away and with some luck, will be making progress as all that I have left to do is the three cowling panels (cammo paint work), tail wheel (painting) and all the small parts. I'm going to try using masks for the ID codes and fin flash and see what happens.

Thanks Gaz, Tamiya has the photos they requested and should be sending new decals. Luckly, what I have on the Spit looks pretty good as the repairs seemed to work and doesn't need to be removed.

John Agreed, folding will be easier but surely no picnic, after all, it's an early Trumpy kit. I'll be following all the way.

Thanks Kai, I'm just going to keep plugging along, use a combination of masks and decals and roll the Spit across the line. What I should have done, is practiced and practice masking until I had it down and then started the kit. But I jumped in and this is the price I paid. Could have been worse

Thanks Rob, I just need to hear back from Tamiya and then formulate a plan. It's looking as if I'll be doing a combo of decals and masks (Maketar) and work my way through it. Funny thing is and I know we have talked about this, as decaling is one of my most favorite parts of a build - could be changing.

Thanks Mark, it's always something Still waiting to hear back from Tamia and I'll try calling customer service in a little while and see if I can get through.

Thanks Dude I'm starting to feel the same as Tamiya might have had decal issues for a certain period of time. I've never tested Tamiya decals in the past before using them, but next time around, absolutely will. .

Dennis, that is what I should have done before starting the build - practice, learn and work out a procedure (following Carl's tutorial) that I can use and go slow, one step at a time. Very much appreciate the tutorial and photos as I am going to be doing at least the large, ID numbers and the fin flash and see how that goes. Just never occurred to me masking was such a delicate art and skill - but one I need to learn how to do.

John Right with Kai, nice open field running with replacing the exhausts, yours look a million times more realistic. the Trumpy Corsair is a hand full reflects the time period of movable everything. I'm still leaning for folding the wings as after all is said and done, folding will be a lot less struggling and less of a cuss factor then extending them. Pulling for you either way.

Mark Literally, brilliant work - looking so good. Yor painting skills are top of the line.

Thanks Carl, greatly appreciated. I'm just waiting to hear back from Tamiya and see what they will do. I'll send a PM with the issues I'm having with masking.

DECALS AND MARKINGS NOT GOING WELL Right from the outset my intentions were to use masks for the very first time and I read and re-read Carl’s excellent tutorial on how use paint masks. Things didn’t go well and I discovered I need to spend a lot of time practicing before attempting to actually mask and paint the markings on without making a mess of things. The three and four color roundels and fin flash were way beyond what a rookie could manage. I needed a lot of practice and the Spitfire was not the place to practice, makes mistakes and learn. The kit decals would be used for the roundels and stencils and I would try and use the masks for the lettering. The Spitfire was glosses with Mr Color Clear Gloss and dried super smooth. I was surprised at how thin the decals were and as soon as I removed the blue/white roundel from the soak water (warm water, a few drops of Dawn and Micro Set) the decal was slipping and sliding on the wing and started to chip and break. Once in place and fixed, the red center decal did the same, broke, shattered and was a goner. A second red center decal was used and went on OK. The other side roundel had the same issues as well. All the stencil data was applied for the lower wing as provided my Tamiya, without breaking. I decided to try the fuselage roundels and both had cracking issues – I was lucky to repair them, using a combination of Micro Set and Sol and Mr Setter and Softer. I sent an email to Tamiya customer service, requesting a new set of decals and am waiting for a reply. I’ve built many Tamiya kits and this is the second time I’ve had this issue in all these years. The other kit with this type of decal issues was their 1/32 F-16. Tamiya replaced those decals after I was asked to return the original kit decals. I’m hoping the decals will be replaced without first having to send the kit decals back. Except for painting the three cowl panels, there isn’t much else I can do on the Spitfire until the decal issue is resolved. I don’t have any photos of the actual cracked decals as I did manage to repair them. I'm not going to proceed any further with the decals as I know I'm just pushing my luck. Time to start a new project until the decal issues are resolved. The right hand roundel still has a few nice sized chunks missing that I need to still fix. The left hand side has a chunk missing as well Stencil data is fine Both fuselage roundels cracked badly but came out OK - not perfect as there are crack lines.

Ernie Nice progress on the Helldiver as the front office is looking so good. Scratching out a new bulkhead does look like the best option as the kit suppled version seems too small all the way around. Yup, with your Corsair this far along, would be great to see her finished and cross the finish line.

Mark Looking so go - cammo work is amazing

Gaz Outstanding, simply a beautiful finish - the polished aluminum is surely the Real McCoy and I'm right with Mark - need my Ray Bans. Is this as far as you're going with the Mig? Fingers crossed you will take it to completion.

Carl Sure, hope so. I have the F4F (Early) and absolutely hope a late F4E isn't far behind.

Mark Nice start on the decaling. looking forward to your next update

Gaz Foiling on the Mig from my end looks awesome and so well done. Terrific work for sure

Paul Finally, the kits arrived after a lot of work on your part. Enjoy them.

Paul Finally, great news for sure and what an effort on your part to get those kits. 👍

Carl Brilliant masking and paint work; looking awesome for sure. I'm still struggling on using masks and hopefully will get there. Like most, I wish I had room for kits of this size but I'm limited to those that will fit in my display case: 47x19x 65.

Paul Thank you for the link, fascinating reading.