BlrwestSiR

Phil, I'm curious about the broach. I've seen them listed but not sure what the use is? I suspect it's a lost in translation thing.

I just spewed potato salad reading that! Thankfully no one was sitting opposite me.

Fast work John. Glad to have pointed out the bulkhead issue before it causes any problems. For the cannon, there's only the CMK ones in resin. The Whirlwind had the recoil springs exposed so there's nothing else that matches. The closest would be ones for a Hurricane IIC or D but they're not an exact match.

Just got an email from Attitude Aviation (Bouchon Scale Models) and they're about to release a retractable tailwheel for the Airfix 1/24 Spitfire kit. Which means building a VII and VIII are now possible. https://www.buchonscalemodels.com/products/1-24-spitfire-retractable-tailwheel-resin-conversion He also mentioned there's more coming and has a picture of a Griffon Spitfire.

That's definitely an odd one there Scott. I haven't come across that issue before.

Looks good Scott. I'm getting close to engine install too.

I started on the Red Fox IP. First up, I painted the throttle assembly prior to applying any of the panels. Then I started by working my way around the cockpit. I'm using PVA glue to apply them as it gives me lots of time to get them in place.

Ron, sounds like a Miniart kit. Hope it goes together like one.

Nice choice John. It's a nice kit. The only fit problem I found was the engine bulkheads in the nacelles. The mounts for the landing gear need a quick trim to fit properly. The top one is stock and the lower one is the modded one. Then the bulkhead fit fine.

Welcome to the club Ron! Or, dog house rather. Nice looking kit too.

Yup, 1/32 but there available in other scales too.

Time to show this Tomcat build some love. I received the crew figures from Reed Oak and the Red Fox IP decals so did some work on the cockpit. I used Tamiya XF-19 to paint the tub and sidewalls. There's not a lot of scraping off of moulded on details since Tamiya didn't really include any. I assembled one of the kit seats to check the fit of the figures. The figures were then removed from their printed cages. I haven't done the final cleanup on them yet but they're really impressive. Here they are plunked on the seat . They fit really well without any mods. I then put the seat in the cockpit tub and checked how the figures fit there. The pilot's left hand even rests on the throttles. Or at least where the throttles should be I'll be definitely considering more of the Reed Oak figures for my builds. Especially since Norbert just announced an F-4 Spook.

The Meteor was a detuned Merlin used in several British tanks. I think many Russian tanks had V-12 engines as well.

Congrats to everyone! It was great seeing the variety of entries. Next time I need to just focus on one build and then I might finish on time.

Shrinkage? Masked and painted will look better anyways.

What's the best way to thin a wing trailing edge? Tape a piece of sandpaper to the bench and grind away? Or is there something better/easier/more consistent?

That's not a bad idea Peter. Lots of car companies made engines and other bits for aircraft and tanks. Some even made them outright. Ford: - jeeps, trucks, lots of tank engines, Trimotor GM: - trucks, Wildcat, more engines Chrysler: - M1 Abrams, tank engines again, Mitsubishi: - Zero, lots of postwar JASDF planes Benz: - plane engines, staff cars, Rolls Royce - Merlin, Griffon, Spey Porsche: - various tanks, Kubelwagen Definitely lots of possibilities for this.

Reedoak.com

I plead the 5th.

Glad to have been a bad influence. I think. Reedoak has a set of figures that are lounging in the cockpit rather than flying so that might work for your build.

Looking good there Scott. Want a crack at a Tamiya one? Don't think I'll do a third one. Lol.

Peter, that chassis looks fantastic. Showroom fresh. I've got a good size collection of car kits myself including some in 1/12 scale. Best part is I have one of my '91 Beat that's in the garage.

Forgot to post this but last week the figures I ordered from Reed Oak arrived. They're amazing and fit perfectly into the Tamiya kit seats. The extra helmets will go into my Final Countdown Tomcat to be placed on the seats in that build.

One thing I've always hated on Navy aircraft is the red outline on the landing gear bay doors. Then I tried a red Gundam marker and now it's easy peasy.

Some detail bits. A couple of mini er, minguns and a cockpit set for Tomcat #2. Some more bits for the big Tiger and a hing tool . It makes hinges too.