HubertB

Good-looking Mossie, Kevin 👍 ! These glass-nosed Mosquitoes were definitely the best-looking ones. And, strangely enough, the all-blue scheme alleviates some of the funky shape of the wing leading edge over the radiator intake … Like it a lot ! Hubert

Although they seem worth inordinate amounts of money nowadays, I actually think the best tribute to Paul is to build them. As for the specific Fisher stash, I think Ernie’s makes all of us look like amateur midgets … Hubert

IT’S HERE ! After 17 years, I could finally lay my hands on a 1/32 TBD Devastator ! It’s basic, but the basics are good, and a good base for improvements, starting with integrating the Airscale set (but not the folding wings one, as I do not like folded wings). I need to finish my Cutlass first, lest it returns on the SOD for another 6 years, but I can see a TBD build in a very near future Hubert

Exercise : find the oxymoron in the above expression. Hubert

Where is this talked-on drone delivery when you need it 🤬 ? Hubert

The T-28 is in the top-list of KH kits, and builds nicely OOB. John got a kit where the parts have been demolded too early, and still hot. Tough luck, I agree ... But it says something about abysmally poor QC procedures, not the kit design per se (like for instance the nose area of the F-86 D) Hubert

Peter's (Airscale) set is a lot more than just the IP and side consoles. It's detailing and accurizing a lot of the areas treated with minimal detail by Trumpeter... (and for the record, yes, I helped Peter by providing documentation on the TBD, so I may be a bit biased , but the essence of Airscale's set is still what I describe) Hubert

I fully agree. I was just teasing Phil. It’s a different story however with the Mk IV and its glss nose … Hubert

Yes. One (the STM / PT-20), which is shown n the gallery here, and the Cutlass is under way … Compared to other resin kits, they are « la crème de la crème », with great surface detailing, very little pour stubs to cut off, and generally good fitting (knowing resin is a product that can shrink up to 3 % when curing) : in short, they are - essentially - a dream to build, and compare well to most injection-molded kits in the overall building experience. As for my stash, it’s currently palletised, so no way I can take a pic, sorry. Here is my list: - Skyray - Cougar - F9F-8 T Twogar - Ryan PT-22 - Red Baron - Bell X1-E - F9F-5 Panther Plus the two tiny biplanes (Pitts S2 and Eagle) that Fisher re-released. I really regret not taking the plunge on the F9F-2 and the two Sea Fury racers, Miss Merced and September Fury. Hubert

That’s the plan. I have the Cutlass under way … And two of my last 5 builds are Fisher’s … (That’s 9 left to go ) Hubert

Wow Phil ! This cockpit is looking great ! (But you forgot to add the wires leading to the instruments’ casings, says Mr AMS 😇) Hubert

Aren’t « slow parts » the very essence of cricket ? Enquiring minds want to know 🙄 ? Hubert

You don’t risk anything for asking, do you ? Me, I keep my Precious [Fisher kits] (including the Skyray), in my hooked hands, all fangs glistening in the dark, so beware … 😂 Hubert

Nice one, Kriss 👍! Hubert

A few weeks ago, the air here over Central Portugal was hazy with the Canadian wildfires smokes. Nothing like last Wednesday however, where a fire on Serra de Montejunto, 45 kms north of Lisbon, was pushed by strong Northern winds. We live 20 kms south of Losbon, and the evening sky was brown with smoke, and the air smelled burnt wood during the subsequent night. The fire was put out quickly, during the night, by some 380 firemen and 10 aerial support crafts, thankfully. Nothing like that with the Canadian fires, unfortunately. Hubert

The general rule is that US Navy aircrafts take a lot of beating, and weather rapidly (but then the paint is patched-up by maintenance crews as allowing corrosion is a no-go, hence the quilted effect which, for once, is justified). This said, the weathering was a lot heavier on the Forrestal-class CVs than the CVNs, because of the fuel exhaust soot from the boilers. And, most likely, the US Navy wanted their Tomcats to look pristine for the Hollywood guys … So, I’d say little weathering is the best option for this specific model … Hubert

Simultaneous post with Peter … And glad I could (modestly) help on this one … Hubert

The pre-order link is here … https://www.airscale.co.uk/#!/airscale-Pro-1-32-TBD-Devastator/p/572300117/category=153261775 Peter has really gone to town on developing this set. HTH Hubert

Good fix on the windscreen, Ernie. There should be soon a great AM set for the cockpit. It will help a lot to fill this huge space under the greenhouse. Keep the great work. Hubert

The problem with PE flat « rigging » is effectively the thermal expansion differential between the metal and plastic or resin. It’s going to sag at some time in the kit’s life. Even Paul Fisher, who supplies flat PE wires for the Ryan ST-M / PT -20, advises against using it … I ended up using round monofilament, and only the keenest eye will argue it’s the wrong profile. If you need the structural strength of wires, and therefore monofilament, then round wire is still a better option than flat PE. I have found flat monofilament, which is rarer than a hen’s teeth, but it is so wide that I am not even sure it could be used on the 1/32 Swordfish … If structural strength is not needed, then Prym or the like can be used … Hubert

The epitome of this being the F-22 : weird - if not ugly - looking squatting on the ground, but impressively beautiful in flight … Hubert

You’re right. I just did a quick search. Many tanks had a V-12, including the German MBT of WWII, the Russian tanks from T-34 to T-72 … Plus trucks, and even boats … (the cars and aircrafts are an easy group to identify) Hubert

One subject that always appealed to me was « 12-cylinders engine». That would open the field to a lot of aircrafts and, on LSM, some cars and even, I believe, some tanks Hubert.

That’s nothing compared to Kevin ‘s extraordinarily bad influence. That microscope and screen is some seriously great and useful stuff for modelling, but it ain’t cheap … See what you done, Kevin 🤬 ? Hubert

Great choice ! I have found memories of the Monogram ‘57 ‘Vette I built in my youth years. I api ted it blue and cream 🙄 Hubert