Peterpools

TIME FOR THE DECALS (a corrected update) With the cammo paint work finished, Tamiya LP-9 Clear Gloss was applied for the decal prep, thinned with Self Leveling Thinners. Given a day to dry, it was now time to tackle the decaling. The decals – thin, easy to work with, responded well to Mico Set and Sol and ‘glued’ the decals onto the painted surfaces. I found a few small discrepancies when applying the kit decals that are rare for me to even take notice of. Not having the best of eyesight these days, I try to follow decal placement as best as I can and even scrutinized the instruction’s painting/decal drawings under my magnifying lamp to try and get it right. I felt something was slightly off and I just couldn’t put my finger on it. The under-wing decals went on just fine and no issues at all. Next, I applied the upper wing roundels and locating their placement by the panel lines on the instruction’s drawings and then on the model itself. All should have been perfect but it wasn’t; they were a tiny bit off as compared to the instructions. After a few days of looking at the roundels, I thought they were a tiny bit too large but easy to live with and not a real issue. When I started to apply the fuselage aircraft and squadron codes, placement and color didn’t go well. I checked and doubled checked as best as I could, placed the decals on the Spitfires right hand side and the spacing seemed off. The drawings seem to present the sideview showing the panel line spacing closer together then on the kit itself, changing the kit’s letter – roundel spacing a bit. I didn’t take any actual measurements or do any math, just how it looked to my eye. In any case, I can easily live with it. Now for the BIGGIE! Here is where I went wrong, jumped the gun and in the end turned out to be incorrect. What I thought: The kit/decal color representation of the fuselage squadron/aircraft code letters, should be for Battle of Britain Day Fighter Codes: Medium Sea Gray. But the kit’s decal color on the sheet (prior to decaling) had a slight bluish tint and I could live with it as it was close enough. And since I have the upmost faith in Kotare’s research, I decided to use the kit decals, thinking they might go more grayish in color after being applied and given time to dry. It was very late at night, actually the wee hours of the morning (I normally work in the wee hours) and I applied all the decals for the right-hand fuselage side, followed up with Micro Set and Sol and hit the hay. In the morning, checking the decals, the fuselage codes went from a gray tone with a slight bluish tint to a much more bluish color and nowhere near Medium Sea Gray. As they say, I’m up the creek without a paddle – what to do., I’ve stopped the build looking for a solution. Dennis (Spitfire) did some quick research and found the answer in the kit’s review on Hyperscale. Here is the link and the answer. Now satisfied Kotare is correct in their color choice for the code lettering, I’ve resumed the build. So, if the replies to the update seem strange, it’s because I’ve update the build update, removing my misinformation and going with Kotare’s research and decal colors. The link and answer to the code letter color question: https://www.hyperscale.com/2023/reviews/kits/kotarek32001reviewbg_1.htm "...The codes have a bluish tint however it has been pointed out that Medium Sea Grey was not the only colour used for early Spitfire code letters. A darker and bluish grey was noted on 54 and 72 Squadron Spitfires. Here are a few examples in genuine wartime colour that were previously posted to HyperScale's Plane Talking Forum..". I hope my update removes and clears up the entire issue as a non-issue. I'm now well underway decaling and close to finishing it. A complete decaling update later this weekend.

Thanks Scott -A good reminder of the value of double checking with reference photos. Glad you checked and were able to correct the kits inaccurate instructions for this step of the build for there was 'trouble in paradise'.

As my Kotare Spitfire build is nearing completion, I decided my next project would be to return and finish my Tamiya P-51D and of course I lost the spinner. A quick call on Monday to Tamiya USA, customer service in California and the replacement spinner was in my mailbox today (Wednesday), New York. and at no charge. Tamiya's customer service reflects the quality of their products and second to none. It is what every company's customer service should strive to be. 🏆

Kev Wow, the work looks perfect and the details ... amazing.

Happens way too often and we wonder why manufacturers design kits that way? Surely a sign that most likely none or just a few of the engineers are actually model builders. How hard would it have been to design the kit where the gear is added at the end as it should be and not sticking up in the way during construction, flaunting the builder to break it off unknowingly?

Hi Peter I sit here amazed and spellbound at both the process and your incredible building skills. This is at one time what model building was all about, the skill and ingenuity of the modeler. Of course, I never possessed any of the skills required and could never even build a wooden balsa model with the ribs and paper covering. Just a joy to follow your progress.

Ralph Nice progress on the big radial - lots of details to add and those pushrods - the fit seems mighty poor.

Ernie Tried my hand at the ZM Skyraider and sadly failed - the wing fold did me in. These days I think more then twice about buying, yet alone about tackling a kit meant to have it's wings folded - the fit is always a fight to the end for me and for the most part, I never get through it. I do have a few Tamiya 32nd Corsairs and even one of their 48th scale Corsairs in the stash waiting to be built, all with folding wings but no problems here as the engineering is superb and the parts actually work out well.

Not the best way to travel and goes just east and west - mainly commutation to the city and back. Haven't been on a train in more then many years.

Ernie It's way worse and no way to fix it as everything on the Island goes east - west and into Queens and over the bridges. 🚗🚗🚗

Thanks Ernie for the heads up: Ordered and should be here by the end of the week 👍 By the way SH has it for $ 129.99

Ernie Looking mighty good and it always feels so good to be at the finish line and ready to roll your build out of the hanger and to the flight line.

Oliver Aces for sure - the tool chest looks perfect - like I would ever think it wouldn't. 🏆

Dennis Nice job - nothing better then clean and dust free builds on the display shelves.🏆

Ernie Glad I live on Long Island - way too dangerous living in the Lone Star State. But where we excel is in our world famous traffic, especially on the LIE and our bridges and tunnels heading into Manhattan .

Nothing like nice steady progress at the bench. Looking mighty good.

Here on the island it's: ticks with Lyme Disease, termites (needing an exterminator), bees, wasps and loads of ants - black not red.

Ralph Nice progress and your Sabre is looking real good.

Kriss Nice progress on all the detail work and interior components. Looking forward to the detail painting and photos.

Right with you for sure.

Peter Holy Cow - just incredible work - looking so good.

John Nice choice for your next build and as usual, you're off to a terrific start.

Nice start on a classic aircraft - will be following

Kev, amazing work! More then steady hands are needed - as they say: a boatload of skills and talent. Looking at the rigging, it surely seems to be more then daunting.

Gus Brilliant build and so glad you kept going and didn't let the nose get the better of the build. Fit and finish is superb - so very well done. Any thoughts on your next build? 🏆