CANicoll

Carl, THANK YOU for the advice! Always welcomed. Definitely will focus on the top fit and actually did not recognize that the bottom would be covered by the wing. Whew!! I'll look up those vari-ramps, too. Cheers!

That is a strategy I can embrace!!

Carl, Looking good!! Umm, how do you find anything on that work desk?!?

It Begins!! Finally getting started on my build. I assumed that it would begin like most aircraft builds: with the cockpit. Noooooo... Had to start right from the get-go with the major surgery required for the GT Resin intakes. Anyone who followed along with my Catalina build knows how much I just LOVE grafting resin onto styrene. This is what needs to be cut from the fuselage to fit the GT Resin intakes. A MicroMark razor saw was a big help. The fit is pretty good, but not sure if there will be a step at the bottom of the intake. Otherwise, the fit seems tight - even with my butcher block cutting and rough sanding. Hoping to do further clean up tomorrow and try and keep progress going from there. Stay tuned!!

Dana does terrific research. Hope some folks here find it interesting, if not useful.

Beautiful work John! And so fassssst. You are killing me....

Just for grins, here is some work done by Dana Bell who was kind enough to share with me his high-resolution scans from the Library of Congress photograph originals. Some people think the colors are green, some think the pictures document blue on some aircraft. I have copies of his original scans but the files are huge. Here are some lower resolution captures and the notes are his. One modeler's version of the blue/green scheme:

Peter, 154 decals??? WOW. The loadout looks AMAZING and will be a huge addition to your build. You have really mastered the art of the PLW. Chris

John, another beautiful build and nice work with the Ares gun bay. Post fit was amazing! Just beautiful. Chris

Pete: Post it all, I'm interested in seeing what you are doing because its different. Welcome to the fun bunch!! Chris

Phil, Your paint work is really top notch! Beautiful. I'm a big fan of Vallejo's metal paints including the Model Air you used. But the panel fitment on your bird is perfect - so smooth! I hear you on polishing out the mould line on a canopy. My first one I cracked the canopy literally a minute after I started. The other as I was nearly finished. Lots of bad words were uttered. You do realize, of course, that the topside of the fuselage and tail were blue? (Throws grenade, ducks down into a trench). Just kidding!! So much controversy of the colors. I've built two, one all green like yours, and the other blue and green. Don't even bother on what SHADE of blue.....

Peter, as usual your build threads are full of useful information. Thanks so much for the paint call-outs! Super helpful. The cockpit looks stellar.

Brilliant. Simply Brilliant.

That is one great upgrade! Nice work and wish I had known you could do that when I did my plane. I'd have hit you up for a set!!

You can do it!! I have every confidence!

Definitely coming along nicely! Nice work on the Camo and underside. Super job on the masks, too. Chris

And always a pleasure to follow along with your builds. And Flexy 5K CA Black CA is something I will have to look up. Nice work!

Peter, impressive detailing and washing display! BEAUTIFUL!!

Ha ha ha!!! Thanks Scott. I was fortunate to be able to use the pen lathe that one of the guy's bought. I just picked up my own gouge and then all the pen bits and pieces and the wood blanks. But, yes, it is both a time and money sink. HUGE! Like - I could work on this cockpit, or I could do a pen. One or the other...

It is very satisfying to see a piece of wood (or plastic or whatever) get turned into something like a pen. The wood is actually fairly dull, until the final finish (CA if you can believe it!) is applied, then its 'wow!'. Give it a whirl! Takes me about 2-3 hours start to finish. Chris

Received a few things to help me get this project kicked off, and yet another example of the brain fading... Quick shipment from Ali at Aerocraft of his terrific clear resin canopies - top for the Revell 1/32 P-51D, and bottom for the F-4 for the GB. The polish up beautifully. And, this makes me sad. Ordered a full set of Quinta cockpit sets a while ago - took a while to arrive which was expected, but completely slipped my mind that I had ALSO purchased the set for the Tamiya F-4E. Now I have TWO sets I need to dispose of, or I imagine someone is going to suggest just buying a F-4E kit.... Chris

Thank you, Martin. I didn't show the pen blanks I cracked, shattered or otherwise screwed up. But it is a fun hobby. Having some really smart and helpful people in the shop (like the guy who showed me how to make the pens) is a huge help. Chris

Thank you!

We have a nice woodshop here where I live and a CNC machine. The box at the top I made for my mother's Christmas present two years ago. Made a serving tray for myself out of some extra cherry wood. One of the guys here showed me how to turn pens on a small lathe he has and that has been a lot of fun. I think I've made maybe 45 pens at this point.

Martin, The paint looks awesome! Love the mottling effect. Nice work! Chris