CANicoll

I forgot to post the RFI thread which is here. Now I just have to figure out the next build...

Rob, Sorry, been off for a bit but catching up quickly. LOVELY!! The culmination of your efforts are striking. You've often referenced where you know things are off a bit, but what I see is a fantastic build that could easily be mistaken for a photo of the actual car. I see wear marks that would appear on the actual car but that body work you did is amazing. I'm not as worried about the gaps - the car looks right. I remain in awe at your skills.

Gentlemen, thank you so much! Nice to finally finish something in a decent amount of time. I really do appreciate your comments, all along the build, too!

Amazingly, I'm done after only three months. Actually, I SHOULD have been done a month ago, but the last four weeks have been busy. But here she goes. The build thread is here. Such a nice build, the surface detail is terrific. The Quinta cockpit set really added to the pit, since this is the ProfiPACK used some of the PE that comes in the kit. All of the 'issues' were self-inflicted either by not paying attention to the instructions (umm.. WHICH wheels and tyres go where??? and should have used the fishtail exhausts but was too late on that to use the correct parts) or forgetting where I was coming back to the bench. The Lifelike Decals worked very well, as did the Eduard decals. The Masks were not properly sized to the aircraft, but a little extra tape worked wonders. A few of the build detail shots to start off. The decals really did snuggle down nicely into the find recessed detail of the Eduard plastic.

That gasket around the windshield looks amazing, nice work!! All of those clear bits have really come together beautifully, Rob.

Rob, Thanks and good point. I didn't think about the retouching. The period photographs of the Mk XVI that I have seen do not have an antenna on the spine of the aircraft. I'm seeing that my wing leading edge work needs some attention!

Beautiful detail! That took a lot of work and references. Amazing - looks so real.

Rod, Beautiful job on a huge build. The NMF is terrific, well done! Nice work on the interior and the details (like the pin-up poster!) and the wheel chocks. Beautifully done through and through.

Finishing up but still have some details to add like the underwing antenna and probes, as well as the radio antenna which is presenting me with an conundrum: some pictures seem to show no antenna on the top of the fuselage. I THINK I see a very thin wire on top of the fuselage above the V here. Thoughts please! Also noticing really no exhaust staining The clear lens didn't fit the opening very well so am using some canopy glue which eventually will dry clear and will need multiple applications to flatten out. Attached the cannons and the prop. Now its looking like a Mk XVI Spitfire! Applied a bit of light gray chalk to hint at exhaust staining and some brown chalk on the wheels for the dirty airfields.

Awesome Rob!! Looks just like glass.

Minor update as I approach the finish line here. Still have to do weathering for the exhausts and touch-up from attaching the door (could have used a PE hinge there!) which needs some clean up. Got the petrol filler cap in place. Photos show a red center, which I'm taking as getting worn, as well as some stains. Finally did attach the engine cover and exhausts along with the prop. Getting there, finally!

Nice fit and with incredible detail. Whew!

Hmmm. Sorry to hear you consider this a failed build, Rob. I certainly understand your frustration with getting things to fit (or not fit as the case may be) and the bonnet is the latest example of bits to disappoint you. For static display buttoned up, all of the frustrations are not apparent, at least from what I can see. She's a real beauty and the detail inside and out is amazing. The engine bay is too good not to be seen and appreciated. Sorry it is turning out this way, but what a beautiful effort and workmanship you showed.

I forgot you did that to the SH P-39's. Beautiful fix, John. Wow!

John, What tail is that? did you graft a resin tail on the P-400? Nice recovery!