CANicoll

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Ahh, ok, did a bit of digging and the Quinta seatbelts represent a Sutton Harness - best as I can tell anyway. Here are the instructions for the HGW belts showing that part A (Part 2 on the instructions below). But the Quinta instructions seem to show the harness very short of where it should be. More research to come...

Hi guys, Flu is getting better. FWIW the foggy brain is gone, well, as much as it is ever gone... after the fever broke last night so now it's just dealing with the cough. Making some headway on the cockpit and again having a bit of an issue with the Quinta parts. Some of the instructions are not very clear on placement of a few pieces. To wit: Where does part A of the seatbelts go? And how about 29 and 30? I put the small placard on the top of the throttle body where is mostly fits, but the line for 30 just ends... Not that any of this has kept me from moving forward. 👍 Painted the seat Luftwaffe Red Brown, which I asked Gemini (from Google) what it was made of an actually got a complete answer (!). They were made of SRBP Synthetic Resin Bonded Paper to save on valuable aluminum. Apparently they were also easier and faster to make than an aluminum seat. Go figure. Love the texture of the Quinta seat pad and the worn look, which goes well with the intended weathering. Started on the sidewalls included some weathering; still some work to do. Test fitting the sidewalls: I think I need to trim inside that seat! The IP and bulkhead: More to come!

It's still <$49 there.. Trying. so. hard. not. to. buy.... But then Carl says he has 15 of them and this would be ONLY two for me... so I'm still WAYY behind him.... and its Tamiya...and its an Mk. IXc to go with the Mk VIII from the Christmas Raffle....... The PlazaJapan search engine is frustrating. Searching "F-15" hardly turns up a kit, but lots of other stuff. But "F-15E" turns up some kits... Can anyone recommend a good 1/48 or 1/32 F-15E Strike Eagle kit? PJ has the Bunker Buster version but that seems like overkill. I'm looking to show this inflight so don't really need all of the radar/avionics stuff to detail. (Not that I know hardly anything about the F-15 TBH).

Nice grab!!! Tex Hill autographed a copy of his biography for me years ago. I still need to build a better copy of his plane. Let me know how you like the GWH kit... I think @Peterpools also did this kit a while ago. Edit: @Clunkmeister also has a build thread on this kit. Great info on both threads!!

Got some of the Quinta bits into the cockpit, but not really enough to post. Hopefully tomorrow! Thanks guys, the flu sucks.

And now I have the flu. ARRGH! Hoping to feel well enough to keep working on the cockpit tonight.

Kevin, For a nice 1/32 P-51 as much as I like the Tamiya kit (I did Big Beautiful Doll), there is so much stuff with that build that is kind of extraneous that I prefer the Revell kit, with some extras like AMUR flaps (GREAT oil canning) and some additional cockpit bits. Without having to do the engine or the movable flaps/ alerions or the removable landing gear, the build goes so much faster. I do like to use 3D Printed exhausts with the Revell kit, but I'll either use one of the Tamiya canopies or an AM one. I have one more of the Revell kits in the closet, with a TON of AM to go with it. Not sure I can even count how many Mustangs are in the display case! +

Rob and Kevin, thanks!! I'm looking forward to the build and will keep you posted. Kevin, your build looks terrific. Did you have a build thread on that? I have not done an Eduard P-51 yet, but I have 3 in the closet. I do like their P-39/P-400 kits as well as their 109's so was hoping the P-51's would be more of the same...

Beautiful work, John. Love the IP!

Way to go!!

With the snow and taking a snow day, thought I'd try and start another build. Something fairly quick as my schedule these days is kind of packed. This is the Eduard ProfiPACK kit with some color PE but also have the Quinta cockpit set which will spice things up a bit, a set of camo masks and AM decals for a different Polish pilot. I do like the Eduard kits as they seem to go together pretty easily. Looking to do A/C#1 below, and also shown is the ProfiPACK PE set The sprues include both the early and late wings, with the top set in the picture having the canon-relief bubbles. Something I have never seen is tape to keep parts attached to the sprues. Got started on the cockpit, building armored plate - five parts! The seatbelt will (hopefully) drape over the bar. And attached to the seat frame Its a start...

Wow, and smart to get the snowblower. "Heart attack snow" is a real thing so better to be smart. I live in an over-55 community (where I'm the 'young guy' at 64!) so the snow removal here is stellar. Now, once you get outside the community, it's a different matter. I have an indoor garage spot which is nice. Took a quick drive this morning to check out the roads and how the new car handles the snow. All good! (Plus, Starbucks was open - bonus!). Stay warm!

Nice work, Mike! The detail on the carts is terrific. Looking forward to seeing the planes under paint. How much snow did you get/are getting? Seems to come and go here in Lansdowne, but steady. Keeping the plow-folks busy.

Carl, Good to know!

Thanks, Carl. I did one before but without the goodies so this will be a much better build.

Love this! Nice work!

This arrived the other day but I finally am able to post pictures. Thanks to @TJTX for this nice 104 with some extra goodies from the Christmas Raffle.

I just changed a setting on my cell phone camera. Seems to have worked... Changed to a lower resolution.

Something strange is going on. Here is a picture I took with my cell phone a few weeks ago, and it posts just fine.

Hi Jeroen, I'm mostly taking pictures with my Android phone, opening them with the photo app in Windows to down-res to something smaller than 2MB. These are saved as a .jpg. This has usually worked in the past, but lately I've had the -200 error several times. Thanks for your help!

@JeroenPeters I hope it is ok that I tagged you on this. I've been getting the -200 error for a few days now and can't post any pictures. I thought it was a sizing issue, but the pictures I'm trying to post are far less than 2MB. Any thoughts? Thanks!

That is a PITA....

Carl, Exactly!!! I think that is what makes this so cool - it really is like watching a total off-frame restoration. Cool!

Rob, The kit itself is amazing, but equally amazing is how much work (really skill) you are demonstrating in putting it together. Fascinating to watch. The magnet idea is terrific. I used those magnets on a Tamiya P-51 build to make it easy to remove the drop tanks. I only have about 50 magnets left from that! Good luck! Chris