Peterpools

John So glad you're back building the ZM Skyraider and leaving everything closed up except the canopy. Great choice going with the Quinta Cockpit Decals and your front office looks fantastic. With you all the way, front and center.

Phil Right on the button for sure. Doing the same types of builds over and over all these years and it was time to add some spice to the mix

Thanks Carl I've always been an airplane guy and as of late, thanks to my brother, have also started becoming a car guy/model builder. Sometimes I get names and numbers a bit confused but try to match the decals and kits and figure it out as I go. Absolutely correct about the Jag XJR-9LM and I wanted both kits. Hasegawa is a curb side kit and Tamiya, well is Tamiya with all the goodies and the Indycal decals are for only the Tamiya kit. I'll be buying a hopefully sealed Tamiya Jaguar not too far down the road.

Thanks Mark I'm pretty well now set in what I've been looking for and combined with aircraft builds, it's a good thing I'm retired and in full remission.

Thanks Harv Itching to start my next race car build but I first need to get the Spit into the paint booth and get the primer on first.

Phil Another terrific build and the finish is spot on the money! In the first image, the light weathering and steaking looks perfect. Terrific build

Phil She came out looking fantastic. Cammo and finish look just superb. So very well done.

Gaz I'm just the opposite and so very passionate about photography - I've been shooting for over 60 years. About 95% of all the images I post are always taken in the RAW, processed in Photoshop and I'll spend about a good ten minutes on each one. Actually, most the images I post have also been focused stacked and are a combination of anywhere between 4 to 7 images, allowing the model to be sharply in focus from front to back. Just how I do things and way beyond what a normal person would do. 🙃 No matter what camera Kev is using, if he is posting from say Image Shack, you can change the resolution (image size right there as you copy and paste) or if from you PC, the resolution then needs to be increased to increase the image size. I'm not sure why everyone waits for a sunny day at noon to take photos of their work, which is absolutely the worst time of day and worst light unless you use a diffuser or photographic umbrella to soften the light; otherwise, some mighty harsh shadows and hard contrast is at the top of the list. All cameras, even cell phones allow you to change the white balance and then you can shoot indoors and not get the dreaded incandescent yellow caste. Indoor flash, camera and cellphone also removes the color caste but then there are those harsh shadows again. OOPS, time to get off my photography soapbox, my apologies, I just can't help getting carried away.

Hubert I'm right with Rob about starting up a build thread for all of us to follow and enjoy.

These past few weeks, some interesting kits and accessories have arrived. All the photographs were found online. The kits were all purchased on ebay at excellent prices. Zero Paints were purchased from Hiroboy in the UK. Indycal Decals were also purchased

Gaz I know he surely can

Kev Nice progress and looking mighty good.

Thanks Gaz and you're 100% correct. Just can't understand why they can't get what seems as a simple part to fit and all the incredibly detailed parts, fit perfectly 🙃

Thanks Hubert, guess you saw my note to myself. I do have a tendency to forget things at 74 but notes help save the day. I'm going to bookmark your post as I can always use the help and reminders.

Thanks Carl Holy Smokes, nine Spits, now that's something and could be more then John has done. This is my third Tamiya Spit, I just love them and like you, the leading-edge inserts are a pain. I just wonder why Tamiya chose to go that route?

Much appreciated Mark Feels strange not doing a gloss finish but the Spitfire is just an iconic aircraft and Tamiya the benchmark of Spitfire kits in my book. I only wish I could come half as close as to what comes off your bench.

Thanks Dennis and completely agree, when your build schedule always, pully one out of the stash and enjoy awesome kit.

Thanks John Totally enjoying the Spit and you know me, nothing like a Tamiya kit a relaxing and enjoyable build, which is just the opposite of your Helldiver.

Rob Remarkable work and she is looking OH so Good. Reading through your description of your update, it's almost in a foreign language and yet I have no problems following and understanding your every step.

The Major Components I’ve been pushing ahead completing most of the major assemblies and started sanding some seams and filler where needed. Did I say filler and Tamiya in the same sentence … you bet ya and no question, I was a bit too aggressive and sloppy in spots with the various sanding sticks and sponges and the result was some filler would be needed. I finished the front office, added the interior tailwheel assemble the tailwheel fitting. I decided to leave off a few of the more delicate interior parts that I would still be able to break or knock off and would add them later on, when it would be safe to do so. Part fit was right on the money and as with most Tamiya kits, paint left on the mating surfaces would need to be removed or the parts will not fit together correctly: excellent, solid engineering. The fuselage halves were now glued up, taped together tightly and left to dry a good 48 hours to be on the safe side. I’m becoming a fan of Revell Contacta Professional Glue for internal glue areas and large flat area where Extra Thin has its issues and put it to good use as needed. With the fuselage drying, I went to work on the wings which required knowing which of the three aircraft is being modeled: Scheme A: D GE. I’ve gone through the instructions a few times now, carefully highlighting the correct parts and which holes need to be drilled out out for my specific aircraft. There is an abundance of parts that are not used, which are not only dependent on the specific aircraft being replicated but there are frets/sprues common to all three of the Tamiya Spitfire kits, with specific parts for each mark on the frets. Go slow and double check. I worked my way through the “E Wing” which is the clipped wing for my Spit and care needs to be taken, as there are so many options. All the control surfaces were built with each having their own set of PE hinges, allowing them to be moveable. I have everything working but my plan is once the Spit is assembled, I’ll position the control surfaces and then glue them solidly in place. Yup, my one big bugaboo on a good deal of WWII aircraft is the MG leading edge plugs which never seem to fit, at least for me. Not shown in the photographs is the Mighty Merlin 60, which is now basically assembled and painted semi gloss black. Since Tamiya used the basic Merlin in three kits: three Spitfires, three Mustangs and the Mosquito and Merlin’s were manufactured on both sides of the pond, there are again a lot of extra parts which are not used depending on which Merlion for which aircraft. A few more parts need to be painted and added to the bottom of the cockpit framing. Quinta's IP does look mighty good Working my way through the wing assemblies and making notes for myself. All the fcontrol surfaces are now done and ready for polishing and primer. Additional parts and assemblies in various stages. The only injector pin marks that needed any attention were the three in the front of the radiator housing and I doubt if I didn't remove them, you could actually see them on the finished model

Gaz Looking so good. Some mighty fine progress.

Enjoy the skies and she is so beautiful. My flying days have long been over, but the dreams are never gone.

John What's the next project schedule or your bench?

Rob WOW, you're back and rolling. The strops look so good and I'm willing to bet you found a couple of John's cuss words during their construction. Mast platforms also look right on the money and nice to see everything aligned so well.

Bill Some mighty nice work on the masking and decals - missiles are looking so good.