Peterpools

Finally, some much needed MRP paints arrived.

Martin's suggestion seems to be the way to go. Yes, all those colors are oils but also available from Vallejo in their Model Color line and I think also in their Model Air line.

Rob, thank you so much for your very kind comments on the Corsair's paint and decal work. Completely agree as it takes a lot of time and work to select the correct colors as offered from the various manufacturers. I've pretty much now settled on both MRP and AK as my go to colors for all upcoming builds. I was finally to purchase the correct MRP colors for the Corsair and now have a choice between MRP and AK to use. Yesterday I was able to apply the gloss seal coat and right now I'm in between coats of Alclad Semi Matte Clear, which is just a little less glossy then my usual clear; Alclad Semi Sheen. So far, so good, see how it looks after a few hours.

PW You're are going to love your new air brush. I have two H&S Infinity CR Plus airbrushes, one with a .2 tip (used for a good 80% of my work) and the other with a .4 tip. They will last a lifetime - just keep them clean and you will never have any issues. I have changed the seals and spring in the .2 tip AB just once in all the years I've had it and it's as good as the day I bought it.

carl Yikes ... looking mighty good,

John Just love anything from the Iron Works Gang and the Folks at Republic. Completely agree we need a new, Hellcat with today's level of detail and accuracy and the correct shaped cowl/mouth. Terrific choice for your next build and the specific aircraft has a very unique history captured on film as well. Never thought about the diorama but for guys that know hope, would be a showstopper. Fire in the cockpit or on the aircraft is a pilot's worst nightmare. Looking forward to following your progress as I can remember building the Hasegawa Hellcat back in the 1970's - the model is long gone unfortunately.

Carl Thanks for the info .. I never would have guessed the body colors were not hand mixed and shaded - they look so good. Holy cow, over a foot and half tall ... she sure is big and forbidding. Yup, the eyes are big and going to use all your creative juices.

Mike very much appreciated. Coming together nicely now and hope to roll the Corsair across the finish line this coming week. She has been a fun build and enjoyable build.

Martin, Thank you so very much for the kind words on both the modeling and presentation.

Rob Surely does and with your creative touch, going to be a joy to follow.

Rob Going to be some nice builds and maybe a full diorama?

Carl Looking mighty good - what mix did you use for the colors - they look so good. With the Big Fella standing next to a bottle of Tamiya paint, we get some idea of his size. How really big is he or her?

Scott WOW - Gorgeous gloss finish.🏆 Completely agree about Tamiya calling out for far too many colors that are only available in their AS spray cans line and has always been a great mystery to me as well. I could see in the days they didn't offer a lacquer paint in jars but now they do: LP paints.

Thanks Carl Completely agree and a pleasure to build - zero stress and as John b would say: a non-cuss kit.

Thanks Chris How very true. For me working out a technique that provides the results I'm looking for, is repeatable and easy to do. I try to keep it simple and most of my air brushing formulas and working pressures are the same. I'm also in the camp of counting drops, like being a few drops off one way or another would do anything but it's just how I do things. The exception is for very small amounts of paints for a small job, where every drop counts.

Dennis WOW, she looks fantastic. Surely going to be a beauty.

Carl Some very interesting and unique builds for the year - so very well done. I still just marvel at how you keep so many projects going at the same time and all seems to flow so well. 🏆

Thanks Chris, so very much appreciated. The kit has been a gem; all Tamiya in fit, detail, accuracy and looks. Agreed, that their decals have been improving and I have used them a few times in the past year. No trick with their X22. I thin out the X22 with Mr Hobby Self Leveling Thinner 60% thinner to 40% X22 and shoot at a working pressure of about 15 - 12 psi, using a .35 tip. A mist coat to start and then building up the layers. The last few layers, I thin out the mix to 2;1 thinner to X22 and it goes on nice and wet. Whie I almost always use a .2 tip for air brush work, when it comes to the clear coats I'm at a .35 for 48th scale models and for 32nd scale, I'm either at .4 or .5 as the wider spray angle makes for a smooth application.

Thanks Kev, you hit the nail right on the head -fun, enjoyment and relaxation.

Carl Nice surgical work for sure and looks like you're zeroing on the painting stages of the rescue.

Phil Nice going and I'm glad you found the Dspiae Circle Cutter easy to use and works well. I've had mine for well over a year and haven't used it as of yet but surely will. The masks you made for the markings worked perfectly.

IT’S DECALING TIME With the paint work done, the Corsair was glossed with Tamiya X22 and while drying over night, I needed to make a decision about the decals. To be honest, the kit decals are fine and quite useable. I had been seriously considering using one of the decal sets in the Magic Factory Dual Corsair kit, which are by Cartograph and glad I did – the decals are superb. The Magic Factory’s kit decal sheet contains four sets of markings, two for each kit but only two sets of Stars and Bars are provided, as it should be, so down the road I’ll need to replace one set of US markings. I used the kit decals for the white sealant tape that goes over the oil access panel, as the decals needed to fit over the curved access panel lines, doubted the Model Factory decals would work as well and then added the missing detail & stencil decals from their decal sheet. The tape lines and stencil data for just this area consumed a good number of hours and some prominent carrier film to worry about. The Magic Factory decals included almost all the stencil data for the Corsair (I’m not a big stencil data guy), I didn’t use very many as I also wanted to save the majority of the stencils for the two Magic Factory Corsairs. It's been years since I didn’t cutout and remove the clear carrier film and the two “29” decals and parts of the white sealant tape decals have a lot of carrier film left in place and I was curious to see how well Cartograph decals would allow the carrier film to disappear - no time like the present to give it a go. The decals went down beautifully using the full Micro System, both Cartograph and Tamiya. I’ll now have to wait until after I apply the remaining two clear coats to see how I did. With the decaling finished and drying, I turned my attention to the remaining parts and at this point, almost all are painted, decaled where needed, ready to go and then the final assembly – the finish line is almost in sight. Please excuse the dust .. as usual, I forgot to dust the Corsair before taking the photographs

Gus Awesome gifts for sure. I built the Tamiya F4B a few years back and to this day still feel it's the best model kit on the market - just perfect in every way. Enjoy

Ralph Looking mighty good and a nice POA ... going to look so good as the famous Killer Bee.

Ralph The old Revell Gemini Capsule looks mighty good and would hope when you build the kit, you do a build thread for us.