biggtim

So far, Amazon hasn't let me down yet! I'm also very curious about your previous life now.

Ticking along, almost ready for some paint!!

I used this: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01F7Q1K3W/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1, and a dryer vent in the exterior wall. I've been quite pleased with it, though it is a bit loud, as the duct run is very short.

Honestly, nothing is on my list. That's not saying that something won't strike my fancy on a whim, but I have nothing planned. I just want to finish some builds, so maybe paint and glue? Unless ZM actually puts out that fabled P-51B this year....

Maybe not on this site so far...but there are a couple over there on my list....

The "ignore" function is nice, if you get my drift

Coming along....

Just catching up on this build, very fine work going on here!!

I could cover up a LOT of coughs....

Until they shut the mail down, too.

You guys suck! My company wouldn't close until someone in the office actually gets sick with it. And maybe not even then.

I hadn't either, until now.

I contacted Tim at Grey Matter to see if he was interested, but haven't heard back. I saved the masters with reproducing them in mind, but I decided I don't really want to go through the expense and hassle of getting set up and casting them myself. I just flat don't have time right now. Maybe in the future.

Some progress photos: Decided the humps were too big, so.... Then new cowl flaps, as the kit part is awful: I made molds of all the pieces, which turned out pretty well, but as I don't have a pressure chamber set up yet, it's been tough to mold the new parts without bubbles. Got a few good enough ones, so I should have one ready to go soon. Tim

You are nuts, sir, but my kind of nuts!! All that chopping away on the M to F conversion looks very familiar. Forgive me, but I think you need one with a Russian engine......

I wish, my friend. I will have to wait for Vegas before I can go again, though Vegas is hellacious in August too. Why does this dang convention have to be in August anyway? Plus, it's always in someplace hotter than the devil's ballsack for that time of year. Never in some cooler northern city like Seattle.

I think the surge of cases that is starting right now should taper back down by late summer. That's a long way off, and viral illnesses usually decline drastically in the summer months as people get out and spend less time cooped up indoors. It's hitting my area (the PNW) right now, and we expect it to last until about June before it winds back down here, slightly later for the central states. I wouldn't cancel your reservations just yet!!

Progress so far:

That's a good looking engine, Harv! What are you planning to use to weather it? I'm curious because I've been looking at some of the AK products. Tim

Dale, those look fantastic! The paint finish on both is very sharp, weathering is extremely well done. Just the right amount for my taste. Tim

I have to admit that this thing would have made me crap my pants if I saw it coming after me. There's just something really mean looking about it, and after the wussy little tanks that preceded it, this would have been a butt-puckering shock to the system.

Man, you twisted my mind for a second there! I saw this and thought, "wait, I already answered that question". Then I realized I answered it on LSP. Whew!! Tim

So, what exactly is the prize for showing what's on my bench? Cuz there's a LOT of stuff on my bench, and that would be a big effort!!

Need some opinions on this one from you guys, especially Martinn, who originally helped me out on this over at LSP before he defected. In the photo below, which is literally the ONLY photo I have ever seen of an actual Klimov engined P-40, do you think the exhaust pipes join into a single pipe, or do you think it is two pipes with three cylinders exhausting into each? There appears to be some sort of bump, or joint, or gap after the first three cylinders, but I can't tell for sure. I ask because the Brengun 1/48 conversion (which I have), most of the other 1/48 kits available, and most of the artists' renderings of these planes show them as two separate 3-pipe exhaust banks, but I did find one drawing that showed them as one single pipe. I am always hesitant to rely on artists perceptions of things, and I don't think the Brengun set is very accurate, so I'm trying to pin this one down. Thanks, Tim You'll note that in this source, they appear to be joined into one pipe: Bit this source shows them as two:

There a BUNCH of films by that name, I had no idea. Might need a little more info to find the one you are talking about.