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Thanks Peter! Can't wait to see you make a proper start on the Kingfisher. It took me a long time to figure out how to get decent results with PE. Mostly it was CA everywhere and badly made folds. Some proper tools really made a difference.

Thanks for sharing that Nick. It seems there's a few of these lurking in people's stashes. At the moment, I'll probably built 77 as I don't have much (any, in fact) reference material to pick another option. Some of the other camo schemes do look much better though.

Interesting talk about the appeal of Atlantic vs Pacific camo schemes. The tri-colour has always held an appeal for me especially compared to the overall GSB later in the war. At the same time, the white and grey Atlantic scenes carries a similar level of interest. Then you have the RN Temperate Sea Scheme...

Phil, it looks like Royal Models do a PE and resin detail set for the PT boat. There's one on eBay for sale at the moment. https://www.ebay.ca/itm/201564236121?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=d3gYxXf7SiS&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=J7xpuL_STvq&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY Lion Roar also do one but I can't find it anywhere at the moment. Carl

I painted the recessed bays on the upper hull and added them. The cockpit tube was finished and then I attached it to the upper hull. I then finally added the upper hull to the lower assembly. It's really starting to look like the Falcon. I also got the upper jawbox painted.

I thought I'd get more done over the Christmas break but even though I was off, we were busy with family stuff. I finally got the cockpit done. This was mostly applying various decals over some well detailed panels. I had to use a lot of decal solvent to get them to conform. I then painted the figures. I decided to use the crew layout from when the Falcon escapes from the Death Star. This puts Leia and Chewbacca up front, Han and Luke in the gunner seats. To fill the rear seat, I added C-3P0. The rear panel of the cockpit door I felt was a bit too deep to cover easily with the decal so I cut that part of the decal out and painted it. I oddly don't have any pics of the finished panel. Whoops. Finally I painted the canopy after masking it off. At this point, I found a clear stand I'd bought for the Fine Molds Falcon. The fit isn't perfect but it does hold the model so I might use it.

It's going to together nicely. Quick too. Carl

Nice work so far Chris. I'm impressed by the paint still being good. I didn't get the Model Master Acryl paints to ever work for me. Many went off in the bottle before I could even try them and those that didn't, wouldn't stuck. Glad you've had success with them.

Same here, this will be the first one I've seen done.

The yellow looks fantastic like the other have said. I've never had an easy time spraying gloss yellow.

Thanks guys! This is definitely a challenge. I've been reading the instructions (sacrilege, I know) and there's more insanity to come. Like adding 156 bolts to the torpedo tubes. Anyways the flying bridge is done. That's about it for tonight. @CANicoll Chris, I'm using a CA applicator called the Glue Looper. It's a thin stainless hook that you dip in a puddle of CA and touch to the seam. It really helps keep the mess down.

This one might scare you Hubert. I had it at Christmas after it's been aging since 2015. 11% which means they have to call it barley wine instead of beer. It's on the sweet side and very smooth.

As of mid Nov, the Val was still moving forward. https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=150926154349323&id=100082958181041

We've got lots of torpedo boats so that's great to see.

Looks like you made it! Have fun in the sun.

I still can't believe I'm trying this build myself. So far, my plan is to build the PE replacements and if they come off okay, then I'll remove/replace the kit plastic part. That way I have an option to backtrack if needed.

Thanks! I'm using CA for now. I thought about soldering the parts but my soldering skills are not what they used to be.

I've used both of their pre-made sets before. I'm still trying to figure how many lights I need and what size.

Great to see a PBY. With the original version of the tail, I don't think you can put enough weight in the nose to get it to sit level. I'm just remembering from when I did mine so many years ago. Carl

A bit more work done. It a bit of a challenge to get things aligned but just need to work slowly.

Phil, the cabinets goes at the back of the main cabin so are in full view. There's lots of internal cabin detail but I wanted to get a grasp of how the PE would go together before committing to the more challenging bits.

Thanks Peter. It's my first time using Griffon PE. So far, it's been nicely done. The sheets are various thicknesses of brass which adds to the detail. I don't see too much of their stuff around.

Ernie, I knew about the engine issues but not the hydraulic ones. Thanks for the additional info, especially on the efforts to return one to flying condition.

So here's the kit part on the right and the AM replacement I'm currently piecing together on the left.

Well, I took a small break from the Falcon and decided to try assembling one of the PE cabinets that go in the cabin. A basic box, with some dividers in it. Then add some diagonal dividers. 30 of them... Then add a frame to the face of the cabinet. Finally add an upper cabinet to that. Now for doors.... ...this build will definitely not be shake and bake.