Peterpools

Rob Happy Birthday my friend and yes you are a lucky man. I'm assuming your 'post ship build', you will be treating us to working your magic with the HMS Sphinx. Looking forward to the adventure and will be along for he journey. Keep 'em comin Peter

Getting ready to start my next aircraft build: the Tamiya 1/32 Spitfire Mk XVIe. I've ordered already quite a bit of AM detail sets from Barracuda and have the Quinta 3D Decals set as well. So far, I've built two Tamiya Spitfires so I'm not expecting any surprises 🤞. I wanted to try using the Montex mask set for this build (I never used masks before), but they specify it is for the Tamiya Mk XVI kit and Tamiya does not make that version, just the Mk XVIe. I know the differences between the two marks are exterior wise nominal, but the big difference is the Mk XVI has the RR Merlin 66 engine while the Mk XVIe has the US license built 266 version. From my research they aren't the same and are not interchangeable. There are also a few external differences on the cowling due to the different engines. Without being any more long winded, are the Montex markings marked incorrectly and are for the Packed Merlin version or are they in fact correct for the PP Merlin version? I'm guessing the RR version is also in the kit with so many parts not being used. I want to stick with the Packard 266 Merlin as the kit is intended to be. I found a set of Life LIke decals which seem to be direct replacement for the kit decals. I haven't bought either yet and hoping to be able to buy the Montex set. Much appreciate Keep 'em comin Peter

Carl Amazing progress. Glad you thinned out the cowl flaps - they now look so much better. Nice work on the wing cammo and matching the fuselage and wing pattern - looks perfect. Keep 'em comin Peter i

Mark Absolutely the right way to go. If you didn't go with the cammo version, when the Viggen would be done and in your display case, you would have wished you would have done it anyway. A true gem in the making Keep 'em comin Peter

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Kev Weather is looking better and better -natural and so good. Keep 'em comin Peter

Hurbert The undercarriage assemblies look so good; weathering is neat, to the point, yet shows the effects of a working Tram. Sorry to read that one part left home and is gone for good. Is it going to be a difficult part to scratch out and replace? Keep 'em comin Peter

Thanks Kev Much appreciated Peter

John Agreed about the IP, really does make no sense. I could buy it if they included masks for the gauges and dials bit it's still a lot of extra work. Yup, I have a Whirlwind in the stash as well and looking forward to building it down the road. Keep 'em comin Peter

Thanks Rob Have to say, when done and the struggles are left behind, I am also impressed with how the Embraer looks. I'm planning on doing the clear gloss, either Mr Color or Tamiya when I gloss coat the GT40, which is now back on the bench. Surely will be taking your advice and going with a light mist coat to protect the decals from any further chances of chipping off. Right with you about the windows looking so good as decals in this scale - seems to be a perfect choice. My favorite airliner is the 787 and I have a few already in the stash with Am decals (different companies then the ones I used on the Embraer) and will be building them not to far distant down the road. Keep 'em comin Peter

Thanks Hubert Much appreciated. For such a small kit, the issues seemed to be mighty big at times, especially the decals, which were AM and I'm pretty sure I will not be using any decals from them in the future. Keep 'em comin Peter

Thanks John Very much appreciate the kind words. Keep 'em comin Peter

FINISHED AND ACROSS THE LINE It’s been quite a learning experience as this has been my first airliner and GB on LSM. Picking up the build after landing in “Trouble in Paradise” with the yellow stripe decals cracking and shattering and blue tail decals chipping badly I did my best to work around the issues. The yellow stripe decals were tossed in the bin and with careful masking, air brushed replacement stripes done. Large blue chips kept popping off and it was a struggle to do any sort of paint repair. I used the Life Color Blue paint I bought, which turned out to be way too dark and lightened it with the only other Life Color paint I had, light gray. I did my best until my depleting patience had virtually run the tank dry. My goal was to finish the Embraer, learn from the experience and move on. The gear assembles parts were painted, assembled (not an easy task with such tiny parts) and glued in place with the gear doors - done. The horizontal stabilizers were painted and the leading edges were done in Alclad Polished Aluminum and glued into place so very gingerly, as I had to deal with the Blue Decals again, as there was so little gluing surface to work with. I had no idea if they would start to chip off and so far, Lady Luck has been riding with me on this part of the build. 🤞 The engines and pylon assemblies were built up, primed and painted with no major issues. The last portion of the painting was masking of the leading intake portions, inside and outside and air brushing on Alclad Chrome – fairly happy with the results and oops, I dropped a pylon onto the hard wood floor. A small nick but it stays as it is not noticeable and I’m moving on towards the finish line. Right now, I’m very happy with the overall glossy finish and haven’t applied and clear gloss or polish yet. I’m so very leery that any additional air brush work might peel off come more of the blue decals, I decided to leave well enough alone and roll her out onto the tarmac. Maybe later on I’ll do the clear gloss when I’m up to that stage on the next build but I just don’t want to take any more chances right now. Done and in the books. Keep ‘em comin Peter

My completed entry for the LSM GB: Ukraine International Airlines Embraer EMB 190 in 1/144 scale. Revell of Germany 1/144 with BOA Decal for one of the various Ukraine International Airlines Embraer EMB 190. Paint were Model Color and Alclad. Keep 'em comin Peter

Phil Glad to see you've taking the Wildcat to task and she is ready for primer. From the photo, the wing roots look pretty good. Keep 'em comin Peter

Andy Glad you're aboard and your front office does look good. I've heard pros and cons about this kit and still haven't decided if I should buy the kit. Keep 'em comin Peter

Carl Fingers crossed the plan works out perfectly. 🤞 Keep 'em comin Peter

John Nice start and I'll be following all the way. Keep 'em comin Peter

Carl HUGE comes closer but is still not right. Gigantic is closer. Where are you going to display the B-24? Keep 'em comin Peter

Mark Looking so good. You’re in the home stretch on completing a very difficult cammo paint scheme. Keep ‘em comin Peter

Carl These days being a cancer patient and thankfully in full remission, I am very cautious of toxic fumes and chemicals. I always paint, no matter what type of paint in a paint booth and wear a very good OSHA approved respirator. I’ve tried switching over to non toxic paints but am have had a hard time doing it. The only paints I know of that specifically say they are both non-toxic and have no odor - Ammo by MiG acrylics. I am slowly switching, as I use up my stash of lacquer paint, if there is an equivalent. terrific progress on the paint work - cammo and de-icing boots look perfect. Keep ‘em comin Peter

Sasha Amazing work on the detailing … looking so good Keep ‘e, comin Peter

Bill Terrific progress - priming looks perfect. I have found that primers such as arm Surfacer 1500 and MRP Primer are very thin and sometime need a second coat for proper coverage. MRP is my primer of choice and use it without thinning, so it’s always a reminder of how to apply it. Keep ‘em comin Peter

Rob Nice progress on the cutter, as the planking is does look very good, especially after sanding. Macro shots do present an unrealistic view in modeling as we are viewing the model as we would actually never see it. Keep it comin Peter

Thanks John Finally in the home stretch now and should be done and in the books in a few days. Never thought such a simple kit would have so many problems and thank goodness they are all done with. Keep 'em comin Peter