Peterpools

Carl Glad you were able to spend a week visiting family in Wisconsin, something that wasn't possible just a year ago. Nice to see you back at the bench working on the Lancaster - the seat detail is truly amazing and no question that 3D AM details are changing the hobby. I know how you feel having to drive through Chicago by error, as a few years back, my wife and I were driving home from a vacation in Maine on US 95, heading south towards Long Island and missed the exit for the by pass around Boston. We spent hours in heavy duty rush hour traffic and just missed getting into an accident from some nut who decided to change lanes without looking. Keep 'em comin Peter

Rob I'm so glad Papa Tamiya decided to re-release their 1/12 scale kits with upgrades, new decals, aluminum cylinder funnels and PE. Even after all these years, the kits are remarkable. Back in the seventies, I was a huge Formula One fan ... loved the cars and drivers. I'm hoping to keep purchasing the kits as my budget allows and absolutely plan on building all, including the Porsche 935 and 934 IMSA cars as well. Back in the seventies, doing research was a lot more laborious and time consuming as there was not a hint of the forth coming computer age and no internet. You bought books, magazines an d watched the race on TV if it was broadcast. As you, I was suspect of the car actually having any chrome wings and a few other parts as well but as far as I can determine, they actually were chrome and not polished aluminum. I have a few resources I need to check out and then decide how to proceed; thank goodness I have time to do the research and figure out the correct answer. Either way, I plan on removing all the chrome and repainting those parts with the correct Alcald. I've searched on line for AM detail sets and have found a few I will use. My goal is to achieve the highest level display/finished replica I can do - fingers crossed. With the few modeling sessions now under my belt, I can honestly say I have never enjoyed building as much as now. Keep 'em comin Peter

Hi Rob I started the Ferrari a few days ago as I'm now in a holding pattern for the GT40 until the house construction is finished and hopefully by Sunday I'll have the first update done and on the forum. The Brabham BT44B was reissued in 2021, is still the original kit with new decals and PE and younger plastic. My Ferrari 312T is the original kit, molded in 1976 and no PE or new decals. So far the hardest part of the kit has been deciding how much of the interior portion of the car to display when finished. I'm just blown away how well the kit has gone together and puts a good deal of present day manufactures to shame. Priming and air brushing on the Alclad aluminum to the interior tub today. I'm trying to build the kit as I would have back in 1976 and only adding new finishing products that weren't around then. It's a wonderful trip back down memory lane. I've been keeping an eye open and buying Tamiya's 1/12 scale kits as I find them at a reasonable cost without breaking the modeling budget. Keep 'em comin Peter

Gaz OMG ... simply amazing work Enjoying following your progress. Keep 'em comin Peter

Rob Awesome work and I'm blown away. You and Mike make quite a Team and following both the build and discussion it's an education for sure. Much appreciated Keep 'em comin Peter

Thanks Rob It surely isn't a perfect kit, no real issues but could use some refinement in how the parts assemble and in the instructions department. The seat belts and harnesses were a small letdown but the more I think about it, they will hardly be seen so I can let it slide. it's going to be a while before I can paint the body as the contractors are back on the job Monday with a good three weeks of work to door and just way too much dust and construction debris will be airborne. MOst likely I'll start my next build and get a jump on it: Tamiya 1/12 Ferrari 312T and it's the original kit from 1976! Keep 'em comin Peter

Thanks Kai So far all fun and no issues at- now that's the way to travel. Keep 'em comin Peter

Kev Nice work on your NMF - looks so good Keep 'em comin Peter

John Beautiful work and your masking came out perfect. Another beautiful Unlimited racer in the books Keep 'em comin Peter

John Glad you have it sorted out, done and in the books - hedaing over now to check her out. Keep 'em comin Peter

John You're a machine and your work is simply top notch. Keep 'em comin Peter

Jeroen Sorry to see you had issues with the Quinta seat belts. I've used them a few times now but in 48th scale where the detail and look is no where as critical as in 321nd scale. What's your course of action now? Keep 'em comin Peter

John Going to be another beauty and I'll be following on the B-26 again. Keep 'em comin Peter

John Unreal - all this time waiting for the mask set and it's not what you wanted. My money is riding on you creating your own masks for sure. Keep 'em comin Peter

Oliver Amazing work as always and I only wish I could do what you do Keep 'em comin Peter

Gaz Great project and looking so good. Thanks for sharing your club GB build with us Keep 'em comin Peter

BW Very much appreciated. Just a fun build ... no filler and a whole bunch of painting ... my kind of kit Kit 'em comin Peter

Thanks Gaz Completely enjoying the build now and looking forward to painting the body ... should hopefully be fun. Keep 'em comin Peter

Hi Carl Right with you - Meng has a nice kit but the let down is the instructions and assembly sequences - just not a lot of thought and now that I starting to get use to how the parts mate together, there absolutely is a better way to build the kit. BTW, I watched Ford vs Ferrari last night on FX and was completely blown away ... what a great movie and inspiration ... just way too many commercials. Keep 'em comin Peter

Thanks Mike, much appreciated So far the build has been a blast and as I become more "acquainted" with model cars again, I'm starting to get into the flow. I test fitted the body parts late last night, fit is very good and today starts the body work. Keep 'em comin Peter

Finishing the Interior. Still plugging away and learning as I go. The front clip is done. The cockpit is also now complete with the additions of the harnesses and dash. Speaking of harnesses and seatbelts, the ones provided in the kit were tossed in the trash after about a half hour of pure frustration. I just can’t understand why Meng chose to use the felt like material with glue on one side, makes assembling a nightmare. I decided to double up some Tamiya take, cut on my Infinity Cutting Matt (one awesome tool I use nearly every day) and made new belts. I wish I had some textured ribbon but of course I didn’t, so this was the next best choice. They are in, painted and done, painted with Model Air Nato Black for a slight difference of black used for the seats. The non-operating interior door panels hide the floor sill/fuel tanks but what it is, it is: done and finished. The rear cockpit bulkhead/firewall is finished as well and has to be installed after the 427 engine otherwise the front end of the engine will not fit. Here I made another classic mistake and without thinking, glued the intake manifold and cylinder the heads to the engine block and then installed the assembly onto the block. Of course, it didn’t dawn on me for hours, that I forgot to install the headers as I haven’t even painted them yet. Now after painting them with Alclad dark aluminum, getting them glued into place was a bit testy. I struggled for quite some time but managed to installed the headers, the exhausts, carb and the balance of the engine parts. All the remaining parts of the rear suspension was painted and installed and figuring out how this all went together wasn’t the easiest of jobs as the instructions were a huge letdown. Getting the engine installed squarely to the chassis was another fun filled adventure but that’s now done as well. One tip for Meng: a bit more thought on the exhaust would have been welcomed. The exhausts are added as a separate part and the seam at the rear just past the mounting bracket is poor at best. What Meng should have done is mold the ends of the exhaust pipes as a separate part and added last and no seam. I had some fancy and fun filled seam removal to do and then repaint – not the best results but learning how to think ahead. Next up: It’s time to face the music and get to work on the three major parts of the body shell: front clip, rear clip and the bottom of the car. Thanks for checking in Peter Note to self: before photographing - dust and clean the model

Kev I always check (of course when I remember to and just couldn't pass the GT40's up at that price). Keep 'em comin Peter

Kev Looking good and like the effect of the individual panels buffed out. Nothing like a classic F-86 basking in the sun. Keep 'em comin Peter

Kai So glad you are feeling well and the Virus is behind you. Keep 'em comin Peter

Kev One awesome machine and what memories. I bought one for myself and my brother as a Lightening Deal from SB: $25 each. I'll be working on my next update as I'm close to finishing the complete three interior areas and time to start working the the body paint. Keep 'em comin Peter