Landlubber Mike

Looks so good Rob - the level of detail is incredible on this kit! You're doing a masterful job.

Wow that came out great! Nice job!

Those belts look really nice!

Yes, I use an optivisor, good lighting, and very precise tweezers. Still not easy!

That looks incredible Rob! That must have been a really satisfying step of screwing the tub into the floor plan. It's been interesting following you along on these MFH builds. The amount of pre-assembly part work and test fitting seems to be a big difference over your standard plastic kit. Looks like a lot of fun though!

I'm working on an IJA aircraft carrier in 1/700 that carried autogyros and reconnaissance planes - they have to be assembled with probably a dozen parts each of PE. I think I went half blind trying to finish them.

Awesome Martin, looking forward to seeing what you do with it!

Look great! Planes in 1/700 are no joke!

Montex MM48188 has masks for the spirals: https://www.scalemates.com/kits/montex-mm48188-me-410b--198914

Thanks for those pictures Martin! Interesting that the socket is on the fuselage versus the engine pods as with the Hs129. Unless planes at that time had a few different sockets?

That looks great Kevin - nice closeups! Excellent work my friend!

No clue off hand. I found a picture for my Hs 129, so maybe just try a google search? I think the Hs 129 opening was on the engine pod.

Wow, that looks fantastic Rob! Thanks for sharing your painting technique - especially with how you use the Number Five paints (and, I didn't realize that about resin and static). I'll have to look into those paints.

Nice! That will look really cool. I’m using a power cart like the one in your Tamiya set for my second Hs129. Just remember that you might need to open up a panel if you want to show it plugged in.

I have to do that myself for one of my Hs 129s. It was being towed so the cockpit and the engines were wrapped. I’ll be curious to learn from you how to do it. No pressure now!

For what it’s worth, one of my Hs 129 has the top half of the propeller cone painted a different color than the bottom. It’s been a royal pain to try and mask and get them painted. I couldn’t imagine doing a swirl like yours without a pre-cut mask.

Yeah no doubt. Thankfully I drive to work as it’s really hot out there. Would die if I was on the Metro.

Looking great! You're moving along quickly!

Martin started a Pro Modeler/Revell Me 410 buddy build about a month ago - Kevin and I are hoping to join in soon:

Looks great, thanks for posting this log. I'm a bit surprised they ship it with the 3D printing frames still attached? Doesn't seem too big for 1/32. Maybe I'll upgrade from my 1/48 I Love Kit...

Hope everything is cooperating on the fit - a really cool subject to model.

Nice to see you back. Welcome to the Commonwealth! I'm in Northern VA, but Richmond is a really nice area.

I have a similar tool from The Small Shop (I think recently closed up shop) that I use a lot on 1/350 and 1/700 ship models. Really helps to get curves in PE. I haven't annealed my PE parts before, but will try it especially with thicker brass (I think 1/700 brass is probably too thin). Rob is right about the springiness of non-annealed PE. To deal with it, I usually roll to a thinner diameter to account for the spring. Good to know that annealing takes away the spring.

Looks great Rob. I wouldn't have thought you could get that kind of result from polishing white metal. Very interesting.

Happy birthday Rob! And that engine looks spectacular, really well done!