Peterpools

Rob Fantastic progress for sure. Your careful and delicate work looks unreal. Keep 'em comin Peter

The Big P&W R2800 The P&W R2800, firewall and exhausts. Here is where Papa Tamiya requires strict attention to the instructions and details. Care needs to be taken in assembling the Big Radial and assuring you are following the engine for the aircraft you are building, as there are specific differences between A, B & C and I’m building scheme B depicting Lt. Cmd John Blackburn's aircraft of VF-17 The Jolly Rogers, Ondonga Airfield, New Georgia, Solomon Islands, November 15th, 1943. I questioned Tamiya’s color call outs, as the kit specs the firewall and the inside of the cowling to be painted AS-12 Silver and Dark Gray respectively and my research shows they should be painted the same color as the undersides of the aircraft; Insignia White. I wasn’t planning on opening up any of the access panels or cowl flaps and none of the area forward of the firewall would be seen, except looking directly in from the front. The Big P&W went together with the usual fussing and adjusting the various parts so all would line up as needed. The most finicky portion of the engine build, was adding the ignition harness and ignition leads, which were made from thin copper wire painted brown. The instructions call for the engine block and crankcase to be painted Tamiya XF66 Light Gray and some research showed that FS36240 was a bit closer in color match. The R2800 cylinders were primed and painted with Model Air Aluminum for the upper portion of each cylinder and the lower portion of the cylinders with Model Air Gun Metal and then given a healthy wash of Tamiya Black Panel Wash. Push rods were painted with Tamiya’s new Gloss Black Lacquer. Allowing all the engine parts to dry overnight, it was time to assemble the engine and thank goodness Tamiya in their infinite wisdom, keyed all the parts making the assembly a bit frustrating but going slow and working carefully, the assembly was completed. Installing the Big P&W onto the airframe was another issue, taking care and time, as it’s a very tight and tricky fit. While waiting for the various engine assemblies to dry, I completed the horizontal stabilizers, elevators, rudder and vertical stabilizer. No issues again and part fit was sensational. Next up: Tailwheel and the center wing assembly, a major crossroad: it’s here you have to decide: wings folded or extended and flaps up or down. Thanks for checking in Keep ‘em comin Peter

Kev Very nicely done Keep 'em comin Peter

Phil Right with martin - looking mighty good and raiding one kit to aid another is OK in my book Keep 'em comin Peter

Gaz Awesome kit and looking forward to following your progress. I build both in 32nd and 48th scale scale these days so I can have models that are of importance to me and fill out my collection. I'm along for the journey Keep 'em comin Peter

Rob Glad you are safe and sound from the volcano and our hearts go out to all those who lost their homes and more. Thoroughly enjoying your build and tip my cap to your NMF treatment of both the aircraft and the engine. The added details add the right tough and the overall effect is perfect. Keep 'em comin Peter

MIke Nice progress on the Albatross and your cammo work and color mixing is simply superb Keep 'em comin Peter

Mark Glad to see you taking a bit a small break from the Viggen and abck working on the Mirage - cammo and decal work looks mighty good to me. Keep 'em comin Peter

Mark Simply fantastic progress on the Viggen and taking loads of note on how you are approaching each assembly and part. Keep 'em comin Peter

Craig WOW, nerves of steel and patience of a saint. Looking absolutely fantastic Keep 'em comin Peter

Kev Nice progress and I'm shaking just thinking about assembling all those track links. Keep 'em comin Peter

Gaz Very nicely done and it always amazes me on what a kit manufacturer assumes a modeler can and can not do. The two braces and shield alignment is a perfect case in point and I doubt it the company spent much time actually test building the kit in the first place. Nice work getting everything to align and work out. The periscope is black on my monitor in one pic and brown in another but after carefully looking at all the photos, black seems to be the correct color as the brownish hue looks as if rust. Nice work on all the details as a lot is going on in such a tight space and completely agree, I not a fan of paint in tight spaces either. Cammo work is light and so very realistic - just my style. Keep 'em comin Peter

"When the General Electric engine was first fitted on Block 30 models, it was soon realized that this engine required more air than the Pratt & Whitney engine. To increase the airflow, the intake was widened at the opening, resulting in the MCID (Modular Common Inlet Duct), or "Bigmouth" intake. This intake first appeared on F-16D 86-0044 and F-16C 86-0262. All previous Block 30s have the NSI intake, while all subsequent Block 30, 40, 50 and 60 aircraft have the MClD intake. The MCID intake can be distinguished by a much larger opening than the NSI". Keep 'em comin Peter

The Bigger the Better Keep 'em comin Peter

John Brilliant work and and as always, a fantastic build. Keep 'em comin Peter

John Ready and waiting Keep 'em comin Peter

Carl Mighty cool F-14A decals, especially from the movie. Keep 'em comin Peter

Carl Excellent point and question. Could it be the Spitfire just overwhelmed the Hurricane on the kit side of the equation? I would love a 32nd scale Mk1a Hurricane. Keep 'em comin Peter

I bought, built and enjoyed the Tamiya Mossie and still feel it was an excellent value. Awesomely detailed and dislay space was not an issue. Availability and shipping wasn't an issue as I bought mine from Sprue Brothers. Keep 'em comin Peter

Rob WOW - absolutely brilliant. Weathering and the overall looking is incredible and is as realistic as I've ever seen. An to think, the Corsair was your first build using an air brush, AM so effectively added what a job on the Big P&W . If my Corsair comes out half as well, I'll be a very happy camper. Thanks so much for the posting the photographs. Yesterday was quit a day at the podiatrist and I'm still sore but mending. Keep 'em comin Peter

Kev Nice choice and will be following Keep 'em comin Peter

Rob Thanks so much for the very kind words. I've started the Big radial late last night as today it was a visit to the podiatrist and then I needed to be off my feet for the rest of the day. Not planning on doing much to the engine other then wiring her up, a light touch on the weathering and getting the colors right. How about posting a few pics of your Corsair build - I can only guess at how she looks. Keep 'em comin Peter

Kai, Much appreciated. Felt fantastic to dig in and work on a kit that so far, has no vices. Keep 'em comin Peter

Mark, much appreciated, as the front office went together perfectly - just a small hiccup with the harnesses but that's it. Keep 'em comin Peter

Thanks Harv Shall do and it's on to the Big P&W as the next assembly Keep 'em comin Peter