Peterpools

John Right with you Keep 'em comin Peter

Thanks Harv Keep 'em comin Peter

Alberto Nice work and enjoy your vacation Keep 'em comin Peter

John Nice progress - the engines look so good and knowing you, all will fit like a glove Keep 'em comin Peter

Thanks John Continued with more airbrush work today, adding a lot of the color trim. it's been a long time since I actually got this far on a build and feels so good Keep 'em comin Peter

Rob Got ya. I'm on DN's email/newsletter list and this was from their latest email. You're right in that there is nothing like Cartograph decals and I'm planning on finishing up my ZM F4J along with the F4B and going with the Cartograph decals in the ZM kit as well. Keep 'em comin Peter

Martin to the rescue Keep 'em comin Peter

Ernie Sure sounds good Keep 'em comin Peter

Mark Just keep going at your own pace - looking so good, even if it has the KH feeling. Keep 'em comin Peter

Harv Any reason why you prefer the moisture trap on the AB rather then the compressor? I'm a down the middle of the road kind of guy - I don't like the heat or cold. 60F is perfect for me and of course, no humidity. Keep 'em comin Peter

Nick Nice work for sure Keep 'em comin Peter

Harv Do you feel the added weight of the attached moisture trap when air brushing? Do you paint outside in the garage all the time? You're way tougher then me Keep 'em comin Peter

Rob How true❗ Tamiya is surely the gold standard but not perfect but I'm willing to bet, I had a big hand in the two small fit issues. Awesome work on your Ki-61, beautiful work for sure. Getting ready to air brush on the anti glare panel today and then start the exhaust rear end area. I have no idea why I use so many Tamiya gloss paints as I am still going to over-cote everything with clear gloss and finish up with semi clear gloss; I guess it just how I always do things. DN has new paint masks out for the ZM Kai Phantom - they do look mighty good. I have ZM's new F4E and it is on my build schedule hopefully for this. Keep 'em comin Peter

Kai Wow. Just incredible - the Mirage looks fantastic. Keep 'em comin Peter

Gaz I know how you feel as the kit has fought you every step of the way. Just put it away for another day and when the juices for it come back. Hopefully Martin may be able to help you out. Fingers crossed. Keep 'em comin Peter

Oliver Holy Smoke - incredible work. Keep 'e comin Peter

Mark Super work on the front on the front office. and the kit is coming along so very nice Keep 'em comin Peter

Mark The weapons look real good Keep 'em comin Peter

Gaz Nice progress and nice to see the Marder back on the bench Keep 'em comin Peter

Rob I'm blown away - awesome work on the front office, seat belts do look mighty good and the kit itself - amazing work and know way are you going to convince me you aren't hanging out with John B Keep 'em comin Peter

John Love the scheme you are planning on doing. And of course, your "it won't take a long time to get it built and painted" doesn't apply to us mere mortal builders Keep 'em comin Peter

IT’S PAINTING TIME 8/8/21 Finally, the Big F4 was rolled into the paint shop, with the masking completed, canopy in place, I gave the model one last going over, looking for sanding marks, hints of Tamiya Extra Thin and then a final wipe down with Isopropanol. The last remaining parts had been glued in place and yes, I have to admit, the kit isn’t perfect and there were a few items that needed attention. I’ve attached a photo of how the nose cone is glued in place, using the key slots, the fit should have been perfect but for some strange reason, it wasn’t. There was a distinct step between the front wind screen and the nose cone requiring some sanding, Tamiya filler and all now seems well. Of course, we’ll see how it looks after priming. Deciding to go with the closed canopy option, led to a few minor fit issues and after priming and the first color cotes, there was a gap behind the rear canopy, requiring the need of some filler: two treatments of Tamiya White Filler, three treatments of Vellajo Plastic Putty and it keeps coming back. My thought is the filler/putty is actually shrinking into a small void and filler isn’t going to do the trick. At this point, I’m not sure what I should do including doing nothing as the gap does represent an actual edge of a major moving part. The other fit issue with the canopy, is the windscreen face is a bit narrower then the actual canopy. With the primer on and the Light Gull Gray done, I’m leaning to just leaving well enough alone and pushing on to actually finish the Phantom. It still eats at me at what caused the gap – Tamiya or me and my money is riding on me somehow; as a mild faux pau on the builder’s part. Once the semi-gloss black is done, I don’t think neither of these issues will be as much as I’m making of them – but who knows. Painting: MRP Light Gray Lacquer Primer was applied at 15-18 psi working pressure with an Iwata Revolution AB and a .5 tip for bit wider spray pattern. Allowed to dry overnight and then the first color cotes: Tamiya Gloss White went on first and after drying over night the MRP Light Gull Gray FS36440 was air brushed on. It’s been nearly 18 months since I actually painted a model, with the vast amount of that time due to my cancer and then all the issues with my hands. In the end, I elected to keep pushing on, as finishing is so important to me. I was surprised how smooth the color cotes went on and then it was time to start tackling the masking for the rudder - oh my, was I out of practice. A simple task of masking the rudder took a good hour and a half and another 30 plus minutes to lightly air brushing on the gloss white (smooth as silk). All seems to have gone well and next up will be masking and painting the flaps gloss white, masking out the semi-gloss black upper nose area and lastly masking out the gloss red on top of the vertical stabilizer and wing tips and then the rear end and to play around with all the burnt NMF colors – going to be fun for sure. I’m so glad I took the time, built and painted the gear doors and gear, pylons, missiles and drop tank, as all these parts are now ready to be installed when needed. Thanks for checking in Peter

Phil OD looks mighty good and glad to see the P-38 is back on the bench Keep 'em comin Peter

Mark Pretty cool - any close up pics? Keep 'em comin Peter

Wolf Gorgeous collection of stablemates ... awesome work for sure. 🥇🏆🥇 Keep 'em comin Peter