BlrwestSiR

I finally spent some time at the bench and have made some progress. First up, I used some Apoxie Sculpt on the rear clamshell to refine the shape a bit. Hopefully they're reasonably symmetrical. Next up, I got some paint on the engine. I didn't have any Ford engine blue so I mixed something up in the airbrush cup. Looks close enough for me.

New purge technique. Ask my son's: -"Hey boys, do you want to build these models? Yes? Great!!! Please take them to your room then."

Not the Tiffie!!!

Hi folks, I'm never going to get to this so I thought it would best to sell it. I'm asking $325USD for the conversion and the required Trumpeter base kit. Both are new and un-started. Shipping is additional cost which these days can be a fair bit. Payment via PayPal or if in Canada, Interac email transfer. Happy to do local pickup if anyone wanting it is in Toronto. Thanks for looking. Carl

I've done that many times in the past. Does feel good to clear out projects that you know you'll never get back to.

Gus, I'm in the same boat. I've yet to build a vac kit. I only own one other vac kit and that's a 172 Canuck.

Thanks Hubert. I've had the Trumpeter kit in the stash for quite some time and most of the AM for it. I'm glad I procrastinated long enough that I can use much of that AM on this kit instead.

Just got my first 1/32 vac.kit. My LHS finally listed the Echelon BAC Lightning they've had in storage for the last few years. This is one kit I've wanted for a while. I'll try to pick it up next week.

The chain looks very convincing. Using the various metallics really helps sell the look.

Like Martin said, very smooth paint.

It's a Bandai Gouf Custom. Same kit that I built recently. Looks like Martin has followed me down the rabbit hole known as Gunpla.

Wow, talk about kicking you while you're down. "We screwed up, lost your stuff. Too bad for you. Have a nice day."

Look great there. Hard to beat a shark mouth on a P-40.

Having laced up several sets of bicycle wheels in the past, that doesn't look any easier. But the results look great.

Finally got a Tamiya Tomcat in the launch position. Now I have everything for my VF-103 Santacat diorama. Carl

Any luck with getting your order?

They did a motorcycle engine in the early '90s that was a 32 valve 4 cylinder. Yup, 8 valves per cylinder.

Nice assortment of items there Paul. Impressive that you have almost all the Egg Plane girls.

It would be great to go but I won't be able to make unfortunately. Last year, it was just good timing that I made it to Madison as we were in Chicago already at the time. Carl

Looks awesome!

Rob, I think companies use ABS as it's stronger than regular polystyrene. So for the small linkages, hose and stuff it makes sense. Tamiya definitely use it for that reason. On their 1/32 Spitfires, the engine cowl framing is ABS for that reason and I believe they even point it out in the instructions. Of course it does make it a bit harder to glue. Tamiya Extra Thin can work with ABS but you need a clean mating surface and it takes longer to dry.

Rob, that engine looks stunning. Nice to see a motorcycle on here.

Finally started with the paint. First up is the transaxle with Dark Iron.

I started working on the engine while the rear clamshell dries. For whatever reason, Trumpeter decided to chrome a number of the sprues. No real rhyme or reason to the ones they picked. It's also that bright chrome and it's thick and heavy so it'll have to go. I used Castrol Super Clean to strip it off. Some kit parts are pre-printed as well. Again, no real order to it. One set are the engine block/transmission assembly. Except they're gold which is so wrong. Nevermind the chrome. The halfshafts also have to be assembled now and get trapped between the transmission case halves. So after some clean-up, chrome stripping and glue, I'm here: Oh did I mention that some parts are ABS? Looks like the (previously) chrome bits are actually ABS and not styrene. I'm glad I have the ABS cement.

Definitely a scratch build. Computer mouse on a Hetzer chassis?