Peterpools

Mark The world of modeling sure is changing. I have no doubts the future of the hobby will be all 3D printed kits and software, with the tradition injected molded kits a thing of the past. Technology just keeps moving forward and who knows, most likely an advanced 3D printer will also print the model in full color to how ever we want, including weathering. It's just where the world is going.

Thanks Rob so much. I'll check out the instructions on Scalemates to make sure I have it sorted out correctly. Just over on Scalemates and downloaded the instructions - excellent info. - Thanks Rob for the heads up.

Thanks Chris, very much appreciated. Glad my very light/slight weathering efforts paid off and for the most part, the kit is terrific. Been really fussing with the windscreen as I must have done something amiss as there a few fit issues - but I'm working on it.

John Looking mighty good. Your progress always keeps amazing me - so perfectly done.

Thanks John. You hit it right on the head as the more I researched the canopy issue, that's exactly what happened. It seems the later styles of canopies were curved more on the sides, increasing the pilots' side and downward views and the peak of the canopy was moved forward, adding to the pilots' comfort and headroom.

READY FOR PRIMING (ALMOST) With the front office and interior completed, I was ready to close up the fuselage. The wings leading edges were a bit finicky to glue up in front of the gear bays due to the top of the gear bays being flush up against the upper wing panels – just no wiggle room at all. Once done, the wings were joined to the fuselage, while not perfect, needing some tweaking and sanding, most likely due to the builder efforts. Tailplanes and the rudder were added and the seams needing a bit of filler. The IP and rudder pedals were now added and the front windscreen needed a lot of tweaking to fit and is now glued in place. An excellent Eduard canopy mask set is included with the kit and ready to go. The kit includes three sets of canopies, all look almost identical and all three were broken off Eduard's round style clear parts fret and just rolling around in the clear bag, including the front windscreen. I needed to identify the correct canopy for the version I am building, identify the second one for the -5 version I plan on building down the road and the last one will be a paint/masking mule. I spent some time online researching the history of Mustang canopies, learned a lot and was able to figure out which canopy should be with which version. I did discover that both the Inglewood and Dallas canopies did find their way onto other Mustang variants after delivery over time as replacements. Ready for priming - almost.

Chris Holy smoke, looking fantastic. I did look very carefully the few fit issues and all seem fixable with time and care. Just seems no matter how good resin AM parts are and the amount of care used to add them to the kit, fit issues seem to crop up later on in the build and need to be addressed. Just go slow, as I know you will wrestle each part that needs adjustment perfectly back into alignment with no gaps at all. 👍 And absolutely, the Phantom F4-E is BIG and BEAUTIFUL. I have a ZM 48th scale F4E in the stash and hope to build it this year, as your build is getting those juices flowing.

Carl Right with Rob and Martin - amazing build.

Kev Terrific progress on your Scharnhorst and the scratch crane details is amazing. I am blown away on how much work has gone into the base, surely the equal of any piece of fine furniture. Looking forward to seeing your custom display case in a few weeks.

Rob Some mighty nice progress and I'm right with you in leaving off the solder made oil lines for as long as possible. Considering you still need to handle the engine and the odds are because they are so delicate, it's a disaster waiting to happen - the extra caution is the way to go.

John Incredible progress on the Corsair; looking mighty good.

Carl So glad Fur responded well to her treatment and you're so right, just enjoy her for the time the family has with her.

Scott Nice first order from Scalehobbyist. I've been buying from then for years and they have awesome prices and excellent service.

Paul Your collection of Dspiae tools continues to cover their complete range. Super quality and they seem to cover almost every tool needed for nearly every modeling job. Enjoy. The Nuts and Bolts do look mighty good as well. Dspiae

Martin Amazing detail work and the results are brilliantly done. I've never seen a 'hydration bag' added as a detail or even one to be honest - so unique and what an attention grabber! Beautifully work.

Chris Just catching up and you've made some incredible progress. I'm right with Martin and Carl on your NMF work - beautifully done. The various tones and clear blue shading work so well together and has that Phantom look all over it. Over the years I must have looked and studied hundreds of photographs of Phantom exhausts and almost no two are exactly the same and some are miles apart. It's the overall 'hot metal' look you're after and have captured so very well. Seamless intakes require hours upon hours of work and the end results are so well worth all the effort. You easily knocked yours out of the park and the fit you achieved is amazing - thumbs up for sure: 👍.

John "The King of the Corsairs" Will be following very intently, as I have the kit as well and am very interested on seeing how it's wing fold compares to the Tamiya Corsair, I built a few months back

Rob Some mighty fine progress and just needing a few touchups is a major victory in learning the ropes for these types of kits.

John Perfect decision - when a build starts to become frustrating and the enjoyment factor is gone, time to move on, especially at our tender ages.

John Good call when things just don't go right and the kit is nothing but one frustration after another. The hobby is supposed to be enjoyable and relaxing and not just the opposite. Tomorrow hopefully your P-40 will arrive.

Rob WOW, underway and I'm still amazed at the organization of working through the first assemblies. Clearly, one of the most important technical skills for these types of kits, is the ability to understand the required assembly procedure, organize the parts and then work slowly toward a completed part. Looking mighty good.

John Making some nice progress, as well as moving along at your normal pace.

John Just sems to come with all the Revell 1/32nd scale kits at no extra charge.

Scott Looking mighty good with the second coat of thinned out filler on. Yup, fully understand your concerns of shrinkage as it seems to go on for quite some time. if Bondo removes the shrinkage concerns, absolutely the way to go.

Awesome work as always and no question, your Sea Fury reflects years of wear and many hours in the air.