BlrwestSiR

More work done on the tractor.

Interesting that they don't work but it does help keep the cost down on the kit. It looks like the suspension in the M10 and Achilles kits will work though but that's a different design.

Peter, no plans yet really. Probably something to display beside my B-17 whenever I get to that kit. Supposedly Thunder Models is coming out with bomb trailers soon to go with the tractor.

Not sure what I was thinking but I've got one kingpin drilled for posable steering. Thunder Models has really crammed in a lot of detail on something so small.

Something different. A 1/32 Clarktor tractor. This thing is tiny.

Incredible detail there Ron. The air filter is particularly impressive.

Coming along nicely. Definitely the white accents on the fuselage will pop

How do you find the 19? I've only tried the 17 and found it kicked a bit more than expected. I thing it was mostly the weight or lack of it. I had a much easier time using a 1911with the recoil.

Not really a mug shot but this is the only pic I could find of me from the last 18 months. I'm out walking our behemoth of a dog Jimmy.

That would be the kettle calling the pot black. Or is that the Quacta calling the Stifling slimy?

Scott, somehow I missed your post on the Enterprise. Not surprised that you beat me to it knowing your affinity for things Trek.

Well, my Sherman arrived yesterday. So I found an interesting solution the stash size. After discussing it with Sue, we've decided that it's going to be Findlay's Christmas present. His brother already got a fishing rod earlier this year for around the same price and Findlay is getting into WWII history so we thought it would perfect for him. I'll probably have to help him out with some of it when the time comes to build it. So my stash size stays the same now.

Me too! Even better in RCAF markings.

Thanks folks! It took a bit of head scratching but Martin pointed me in the right direction for the solution. Peter, I suspect much of the problem is from the continued evolution of the kit. Originally it had a multi piece wing typical of an IM kit. Then that was replaced with a one piece one which in turn was superceded by one with the outer wings folded. Likewise, the cowling didn't have the exposed engine originally and then it did. So the mixing and matching may have had something to do with it.

With the epoxy cured, I mixed up some Apoxie Sculpt to join the wing and fuselage and fill in the gap. I put a bead of it around the lower cowl/wing join as there was a sizable gap there now. While it was still soft, I removed the excess and smoothed it out with some tools moistened with water so the Apoxie wouldn't stick to it. The cowl now matches the fuselage in diameter and I have some smaller imperfections to fill in. So I'll chalk this up as a win.

It seems that the record may not last for long. Apparently the 33" Enterprise from Star Trek has been found. Folks at the RPF are trying to confirm if it's the actual one seen in many publicity photos with the cast and that used to be on Gene Rodenberry's desk as well as used in some of the VFX shots. It disappeared after it was lent to Paramount for preproduction work on Star Trek Phase 2.

Thanks Peter! Your build was very informative. Unfortunately I've run into the same issue with the cowl that you did. So after the epoxy dried, I checked the fit of the cowl to the fuselage. One the actual plane, it's a very tight fit. The cowl and the fuselage are the same diameter. On my kit, the cowl is a fair bit bigger. At first I thought that it was going to be a pain to centre the cowl on the fuselage with and even spacing all the way around until I realized it's supposed to be the same diameter. I considered using the Special Hobby Tempest cowl as it's also Centaurus powered and a predecessor to the Sea Fury. Thanks to Peter's generosity, I was able to determine that it measured only slightly smaller than the Fisher cowl. So I decided to risk it and I carefully separated the wing and fuselage. Thankfully they came apart without anything breaking. I then mocked up some spacers between the wing and fuselage. This gave me the correct diameter to match the cowl. Or at least much closer than it had been before. So I've now glued some spacers onto the fuselage. Once the epoxy is dry, I'll do some shaping and then attach the wing a second time.

Unintended oil canning effect? At least they look like they fit in the closed position. What about after filling and sanding them, you mask the perimeter and use a coat (or two) of Mr Surfacer to replace the RAM tape? Might be more subtle.

Both subjects look great John. The white cowls on the Corsairs are certainly different.

Peter, any chance you could measure the diameter of the cowl in the Tempest kit? I'm considering using the cowl on my Sea Fury. Thanks. Carl

Amazing work Ron. The tracks look great.

I've got 3 more Tamiya Spitfires in the stash myself. I need to shrink my stash too but I'm failing badly at it.

Glad to see that the Kotare Spitfire is even a reasonable deal for US members. It's definitely a decent deal up here where things tend to be more expensive.

Fran, great review on the high back conversion. I was fortunate enough to be able to get the low back (bubble top) version when it first came out. I'm partway through the assembly at the moment. One thing on the template for the wing tanks. For some reason, when I used them I ended up with curved rather than straight panel lines. I ended up filling them in and re-doing them using a straight edge. Other than that, the fit has been excellent. It's very well thought out. Now to convince Matthieu to do an F2G Corsair conversion.