kahunaminor

I returned to the problem of the fuselage and spent some more time dry fitting and pondering. Stephen's photos seemed to confirm my thoughts that the fuselage lacks circumference to fit all the innards and meet the wing root area joins. I think it goes further that that. The lower wing fillet join to the fuselage is also too thin and would benefit from creating a wider join with the lower wing. If you continue that widening forward you end up with a gap at the lower front but the wheel well joins line up much better. It has the effect of spreading the fuselage outwards to meet the wing root areas: The fuselage will still need thinning at the wing roots as they are way too thick. I have thinned them here but a tad more may be required along the entire length, particularly at the trailing edges: But even now it is a better fit. It still catches on the wheel bay rear bulkhead, causing some problems and I will have to take some plastic from there as well. In securing the fuselage I am going to work from the tail forward and cement only the top seam. Hopefully this will enable me to fiddle with the placement of the various parts. Hopefully I can seat the cockpit, engine and associated bits in their correct places from underneath and I will then build up the gaps with plastic, dry fitting the wings to ensure a best fit. Thanks for looking,

Onward ever onward! I have installed the main IP PE, harness and installed the seat. Some silver prismacolour pencil for various chips and Tamiya "dry brush effect" grey weathering pastel. Next a gloss coat, oilw wash and dullcoat for all the cockpit related areas.

Time for an update. Firstly thanks to Ed Russell for some timely advice and an a copy of the the Model Art article on the SH CA12. The kit instructions are a little confusing in areas as to placement. The first I discovered was the IP support bracket. The instructions would have you attach this to the rear of the upper IP in a vertical positions as shown in the photo. Following a good look at some photos you can clearly see the "open" end of the bracket protrudes between the upper and lower IP, meaning it should be attached in the horizontal plane.The solid piece goes against the support on the firewall like this: Another incorrect area is the MG cocking mechanism on the starboard side: Doing so according to the instructions leaves the asembly at the bottom of the support cage and totally out of reach. It should be moved upwards and sit between the two diagonal braces, abreast of the foot troughs. The freshly chewed plastic shows where it was: The cockpit framing detail is excellent but requires dry fit, dry fit and then some remedial work to get it to sit right. The fuselage sides have been painted with WEM RAAF interior green and aluminium. The boxes have been picked out in MM Aircraft Interior Black and the relevant PE. You can see a bit of surgery to make room for the cage. The throttle control and the radio will be added after the cage is secured so I have left the areas bereft of paint to get a good seal: The seat has been painted and the PE harness attached. Not entirely correct but close enough for me at that time: The cockpit has been completed. The armour plating behind the head has had the kink removed, the lower IP has been painted and the PE attached, compass installed and the upper IP and boxes attached and wired at the rear. The IP faces will go on next and then coating, wash and weathering for all. The wheel bay is in and ready for aluminium with a heavily diluted YZC wash. I also put some card behind the landing lights to fill the voids. It has been painted WEM RAAF interior green and black. I intend to add some little lenses to make the lights before covering the openings. The wing uppers and lower have been joined and I think I got the correct dihedral but it may be a bit flat. The transparencies have been added to the three identification lights and will be masked. The camera window in mid rear fuselage will be painted over. I have also started work on the engine, fitting the main components: Many thanks for looking and again to Ed for the advice and help. Regards,

I thought I would share this with you here as it explains why I haven't got started on my JU87 for the GB. Forgive me if you have seen it elsewhere: Having finished my 1/32 Eduard Bf109E-4, I though I would kick off the new financial year with an Australian project: This is my first "limited run" kit so I am taking it a little slowly but I am surprised by the small parts count for what can be a very nice kit. The A/M team: The additional PE is from MPM and is supposed to be for the CA 13 but will do nicely. I won't need the Airscale instruments. I also got some True Details P-40 wheels (27") smooth tread. The cockpit framing is coming together and the seat: Thanks for looking, Regards,

I sense a disturbance in the Force...something I have not felt for a long time.....

Now that is a priceless moment! Well done lads! Regards,

Hee hee! He said rack!!! Regards,

They look nice and certainly needed but from the website link above, they don't retail but they only supply to trade....Grant? Regards, Kent

Decided on a scheme yet? Regards,

Interesting, very interesting! It appears ZM seek to capture the best of both worlds with the "basic" editions. No doubt aimed at those who eschew the SWS principle. Pavlov's dog reenactment....commence! This should be fun! Regards, Kent

ah yep...that'll do nicely! I applaud your work. Regards, Kent

Great result Ralph. Regards, Kent

Great build and a joy to watch how you solved some big problems to end up with such a fine looking result. Congratulations and thanks for sharing. Regards, Kent

Late to the party but sol pleased I started reading this. Absolute top notch...you are a Modeller of the finest calibre. Congratulations and take a well deserved bow and a rest. Regards, Kent

All these are truly great builds. Truly some inspiring work for a 30 year plus returnee and I still think my best is to come but I offer my last build, Eduard Bf109E-4: Many thanks,

End run time. I have completed the build. Canopy attached and an EZ line, coiled spring attached. Wheel covers on. ID lights on the wing tips and a 1mm "little lens" for the rear light. Thanks for the comments and support. I will tray and get some "glamour" shots on RFI shortly. Regards, Kent

Great work as always John. Welcome to LSM and thanks for sharing. Kent

Great stuff Aaron! Kent

Great scheme you've chosen Jeroen. Kent

I got a bit of a rush to the head and installed the antenna wire. Stretched EZ line with CA blobs for insulators and a brass wire "spring". Made a cone for the wind deflector out of stretched card. Then added the wheels: Thanks for looking. Kent

Second coat of Dullcote has gone on and the canopy masks have come off!! Happy with that effort. Regards, Kent

Nice one Bevan, There is some serious airbrush control showing with the squiggle. Regards, Kent

Thanks Ralph. The paints are Aeromaster warbirds enamels for the 02 and 65 that I got off the guy in the US on Evilbay. The 71 is the Humbrol enamel from their new line of RLM enamels. It stays flatter than the Aeromaster, even under a couple of gloss coats! Thanks for stopping by. Kent

Thanks Bevan. This is the point I generally race to the finish and bugger something up.... Kent