Bill_S

http://tigger-models.blogspot.com/2012/03/welcome-to-tigger-models.html

I've been on an IJA/IJN binge the past few years. Frank, Tojo, Shinden, George (N1K2), Rex and Raiden. All Hasegawa save the Shinden and Rex. Getting ready to start Hasegawa's Tony as well.

Picked this up from my LHS... Got this oldie from my local club's Secret Santa The Spad was one of my favorite kits when I was a kid. I opened the box to have a look... There was something conspicuously absent. Flash!!!

I'm not sure what's going on there, Dale. I finished this last year, and I don't recall doing anything special with the tailplanes.

I might be persuaded into pulling my Ki-61 out of mothballs!

Hollow nose tire... a perfect place to add some weight!

Congrats, Jerry!

For me, it's a three-way tie. B-58, F-14, SR-71

Congrats, Harv!

I received my metal landing gear innards from Aerocraft this weekend. The casting is top notch - I'm quite pleased. They'll need some cleanup at the the pour stub at the very bottom of each part. The material is too hard for my file; out comes the trusty Dremel tool. In addition there appears to be a minor bit of sanding to remove artifacts of parting lines present in the kit parts. A hit with the Flexi-File should make short order of those.

Iain, There is lots of room above the bomb bay - but in my mind it's not far forward enough of the main gear attachment points to be very effective. To get the same effect as 1 gram placed above the nose wheel, you would need over 5 grams above the bomb bay!

My contributions this year. Three separate prizes.

Please put my name in the drawing, Ernie. I'll dig through the stash and find something to donate to the raffle. Thanks for organizing this again!

I'm well versed with the concept of moments - it amazes me how many people are under the false impression that adding weight has the greatest impact on the nose wheel! I've begun cutting lead sheet to fit between the cockpit floor and the nose gear well roof. About 175 grams will fill that space; I still have a way to go!

It's thin, pliable, and quite heavy. Lead sheet that I got from Amazon...

Thanks, Hubert! I knew someone made them, but wasn't sure who it was. They've been ordered.

This little note doesn't show up until page 16 of the instructions. The time to figure out where to put weight is now. I zeroed my scale with the container on. I'm not sure what the composition of the balls is, but I counted 187 of them. These first, most obvious place is between the cockpit floor and the roof of the nose gear bay. Next up is the space between the nose gunner/bombardier and the fuselage. The further forward you can put the weight, the less you have to use.

Here you go, Phil! https://forum.largescalemodeller.com/topic/7238-hobbyboss-b-24d/

When this kit was first announced, I knew I had to have one. I want to represent a plane that took part in one of the Ploesti raids. I'm unsure what markings will be on this bird, but it won't be "Wongo Wongo" - that plane was lost before it made it to the target. By the time I get to decals, my hope is that someone will release something that piques my interest... The plan: I'll be working on this plane while simultaneously trying to make a dent in my SOD, so it will take some time. As far as aftermarket, the only plans I have are an Airscale IP and HGW belts (no belts of any kind are present). I've started on the bomb bay... Fit of the parts is very good - there are a lots of pieces to trim off, though. I did a test fit in the fuselage; I'm impressed with the fit. The color callout for the bomb bay is "Neutral Gray" I'll be using MRP Ocean Gray.

Exactly my plan too, Carl!

Scratch the Hasegawa kit off the list, Harv. No matter which boxing, it's an old tool kit. I don't have the Z-M, but I pulled my Tamiya P-51D off the SOD a couple of weeks ago. Cockpit placards from Barracuda or Airscale are a must!

A long, slow build commences...

X2

This thing is a beast!

Is there any truth to the rumor that Airscale has been sold to some guy in Texas?