BlrwestSiR

I've spent the last couple nights at the bench masking off the canopy bits. I'm using the Eduard pre-cut set which has saved a bunch of time but there's a couple mistakes in their design. On the windshield, there's a brace on the upper section that's on the inside. Eduard designed their mask to leave this free for paint on the outside. Which means you have to filling the outside gap and then mask the inside on your own. Fortunately it's a straight brace with no bends so easy enough to do. Never having been a stickler for complete colour accuracy (probably due to a touch of colour blindness) I don't have a lot of reference material on colours. One of the few I have does have colour chips in it though. After painting a couple parts I compared them to the colour chips inside. To me, they seem a good match. This is a section from the canopy painted in RLM02 The lower wings previously done in RLM65 It's definitely not scientific but I'm happy with the results. Carl

I know, it's almost a tease. But the tiger stripes might be a bit more than I could manage without a proper template.

That's the one! It sure is purdy. Even the ROCAF one would be fine. No big tail art but I know my dad would love it. Carl

I don't know Ernie, I mean you have enough room on your bench for a box top. I don't think I've ever had a kit box on my bench. Carl

Hornet closed last month. Wheels and Wings is taking on some of their inventory and shelving I believe. Email Michael there Jeff. He'll give you an estimate on the shipping costs so at least you have an idea how much you'd have to sell the house for. I've done that for the couple bits I've bought. Carl

I like the tiger striped one. Im hoping that someone comes out with a set for the RSAF F-5F. Then ill get one of those too.

These are the ones I use Ernie: https://www.migjimenez.com/en/accessories/523-tamiyamr-color-ammo-storage-system.html They're actually made by HobbyZone. For my tools and brushes, I have a couple HobbyZone freestanding orgsnizers. Carl

Ivan, I think a few of those are available as paint masks: http://www.advmodprds.com/f532.html

I'm glad you're not asking me since being colourblind, I wouldn't be much use to ya. Having fun is the important part.

Why Bill? It looks perfectly serviceable to me. Almost neat in fact. This is mine from a couple months ago. Carl

I forgot, didn't the RCAF use one as a trainer for the F-104 and they stuck that Pinocchio nose on it? Or was the Germans?

So, what's your gameplan with the C-47 Ernie? Are you going to do a WWII era bird or a postwar civil version? Did Buffalo Airways ever fly them? Or with a bit more AM, do a Spooky AC-47? All those miniguns... Carl

On my bench only? Or does scattered all around it count as well? If the former, then I have the following: - Dragon 1/32 Bf110 - Tamiya 1/32 Spitfire IX - HK B-25 x2 Scattered around the bench and being picked at and worked on randomly are: - Takom Leopard 1 C2 - Bronco M24 Chafee - Italeri LCM - Tamiya 1/12 MP4/6 - Tamiya 1/32 F-16C - Hasegawa 1/32 FW-190 A8 - Aoshima Toyota Celica WRC Plus there's the kits my two sons are dragging onto my bench to work on. So to sum up, my work bench is a bit... cluttered Carl

Ryan, Gunze sprays very similarly to Tamiya. This is especially true if you're using their lacquer thinner for airbrushing. The big difference is the light satin finish Gunze has compared to Tamiya which usually has a dead flat finish. Carl

It's a great book. I was lucky enough to pick one up when we were. In Edinburgh last summer. Carl

I finished painting the lower wings. Here they are slid onto the wing spar. There's no glue holding things together, just gravity. The fit is nice and clean. I think the paint colour is ok too. The new AK paint covers very nicely too. Nice and smooth. Carl

Thanks Mike! I kept putting it off hearing how bad the instructions were, thinking that translated to the kit as well. Thankfully that's not the case. I've been there so I know how you feel. Hopefully you'll get the time soon.

Peter, You're welcome as always. Having picked up so many different tips and techniques myself from various forums, it's only right to share what I've learned. As for the boys, it's been fun working with them on their builds. They've already raided my stash for almost 1/2 dozen kits I'd probably never get around to so that's a good thing. They've gotten ahold of a pair of 1/72 F-4s, a Godzilla, space shuttle, and a Cute Yamato battleship. My wife even lives that they're doing this as it keeps them from watching the television.

For $35 it certainly looks worth it. Even if you have to wait a bit. Personally, I need to burn through the stash a bit more. Thankfully my boys are helping me out with that Ernie, I think the camo looks pretty good to me. Carl

Speaking of French Kiss, I installed the gun nose onto the fuselage. There was some seam filling so I took car of that tonight. Tomorrow hopefully I'll get to the re-scribing of panel lines and rivets. In the meantime, I painted the Neutral Grey onto Betty's Dream. Side by side:

That was a nice P-38 Harv. I just have to figure out what to do with French Kiss since the nose is all closed up. Thanks Martin! I don't think it's that fast but definitely moving in the right direction. Thanks Ryan. It's Gunze Olive Drab.

I found out that you should be be able to download it from their website. Hopefully the link below works. https://ak-interactive.com/downloads/

Wow, fast progress there John. Glad to hear there weren't any additional hiccups. Carl

Supposedly Profimodeler is coming out with a 1/32 Jeep. They've released the trailer for it already. No idea on a release date for the jeep though. Carl

The ones in the far back maybe? It says there's both Mk81 and Mk82 in the set.