CANicoll

Thank you, Peter and Gary! Nice to get this one into the case. Not on a par with either of your builds, but I'm getting back into the saddle here. Ciao!!

You took some terrific photos of the scene, but the first, fourth and seventh pics are my favorites. Just amazing!! Chris

Gary, AWESOME work on everything! The plane, the figures and the diorama - just beautiful! Love the chair but your figures are terrific. A lovely build all the way around. This is going into your LHS? They will be overjoyed to get it! Chris

Ok gents, and thank you for your patience! Finally got it to where I think I'm done (although still some nits to work out). As usual for a Tamiya kit, went together pretty well. Love/Hate the HGW seatbelts, but they do look really nice to my eyes. This is what happens when you use facial tissue to fill in for paint, and then forget to pick out all of the remaining threads: One more build to start before the GB in January to give me something to do in December. Not sure what it will be, but leaning towards an Eduard Bf109 but might pull something else out of the closet. Thanks for all the comments gents!! Chris

I do have Mr Surfacer, 500 and 1500 which I used to fill in the panel lines on the Tamiya P-51D wing (to limited success). I also have the Tamiya fine white putty, Vallejo and the ubiquitous Milliput. Just remembering when to use which is half the battle! Doing a build like this Helldiver would really be an excercise...

Wow, the Falcon is really coming along, but I've NEVER seen a kit of that magnitude. Wow. I see what you mean on the painting taking so long. And I hope your paint booth is HUGE. I'm afraid to open up the Revell 1/72 IX C Sub I have, but I think that has LARGE sprues, not hundreds of parts. Your paint, and pre-shading work is really effective. Does the top come off to show the detail work on the inside? Can't wait to see how the lighting system shows up - should be really cool. I did look at acquiring the kit - Oh my. I think that is way out of my price range! So I just get to watch your terrific build from the sideline. Good to hear you still get to go to work. Further, yes, but for me that is 'decompression' time. and now your five-minute walk is to the LHS!

Wow, What impresses me is exactly what you said, we are not just assemblers, but builders. The hand-work you are putting into the kit to either address issues or add details is where your various skills come into play. Personally, I can't scribe a straight line longer than about 5mm so I do my best to avoid that situation! And I'm getting to be pretty good friends with a variety of putty. But the work you've undertaken is still amazing to me. Love the build!

Human error (the show director for his direction and the pilot for not knowing what was in front of him). So sad all around.

I'm with Rob and Peter - Your figures are TERRIFIC. If yours 'suck', then mine are pondscum. Hang the cost of post, I have some figures I need painted so they are heading to AUS as we speak so you can work your magic! Damn, is there anything you don't do really well??!!!

There was some talk of video of something hitting the P-63 shortly before it changed direction and impacted the B-17. Or something coming off the P-63. Heard any more about that?

I like this idea!

Gaz, Oh beautiful!! I'm definitely taking some of your ideas, such as Bob's Buckles, which are brilliant. I didn't know about the wooden mast, which means I need to go back and redo a couple of my builds. Really like the rivet effect and the overall weathering - it blends so nicely. Just a super job all around. I'd almost say you had a WWII 109 in your backyard as reference - lovely work! Chris

Ernie, THANKS for the welcome and I am very happy to be here and part of a terrific group of folks. Really enjoying the conversations and the fine work everyone is doing. Looking forward to the holiday raffle. Chris

Ernie, GREAT idea! I'm in, and will take a hard look at what I'm going to contribute. I have a few options I am thinking of. Give me a few days on that, please. BTW, check your wording on 8.a. GREAT idea to substitute gift cards for those far away instead of paying outrageous amounts for shipping. Thanks! Chris

Sorry, been a bit busy doing lots of other things, including trying to put up cellular blinds (only 2 of the four ended up actually working, now two more are coming as replacements, ugh), the usual Thanksgiving stuff (cooking, baking) and also a woodworking project. Have had a bit of time at the bench so its a good time for an update. Did a bit of a light spray on the exhaust end of the jet engine using the same Model Master Burnt Iron Non-Buffing Metalizer (that is a mouthful!). I figure those engines were not the cleanest so there were likely exhaust stains around the exit. This is a nice touch - intake covers! The wingtip lights were an adventure amongst themselves. They are TINY and have an annoyingly difficult to remove sprue attachment. There is a divot for the color of the bulb respectively on each side. Working on the antenna wire. Tail-to-canopy is connected (and the excess in the canopy has since been trimmed) and now letting the vertical wire set up before attaching it to the horizontal wire. The piece of tape has two purposes - 1. Make the string easier to see/find and also gives the end some weight which makes it easier to manipulate. Right now it is just folded over the antenna wire. Here is the IP and very out of focus gunsight, as well as the armored glass inside the windscreen. Not too bad for an OOB IP. Plus, this angle hides the edge gauges which are off-center. Win-win!! That's all for now!

Wow, this thing is a beast!! Looking good and thanks for the update. Can't wait to see how she turns out.

OUCH!!!

I did this YEARS ago as a goof. I don't remember which two kits I used other than the P-51C and I think the floats from a Kingfisher, both 1/72. Once I mounted the main float, I had the propeller clearance issue to solve. Hence the cut-out. BMF prop, canopy framing and leading edges, Model Master Acryl Kandy Scarlet I think.

I was going to say lets start now! But Jan 1 is good, I'll just start something else in the meantime. I usually have 2 builds going at a time, just to keep things interesting.

Scott and Bill, Ditto with the back pain, although compared to yours, mine is a 2, not your 10. There are times when I just can't walk but fortunately those are temporary. Good luck to both of you! Chris

Thanks, Gary! I'm not quite where you are but have some plans to try and replicate what you did with your fading. Will try anyway!

I am also noticing how clear the markings and warning markings are, over what looks to be faded and weathered paint... Hmmmm

Very cool. I used the Quinta stuff in my 104 and SU 27 builds and it looks amazing. Have fun!

Really nice recovery and way to get back into it. Hate to miss such a nice cockpit and the plane is just iconic. Very cool you have the photograph of the aircraft. NMF is so unforgiving, but your repair job looks terrific. Great job!

Thanks Peter and Mike! The one thing I struggle with on the MIG products is the fumes. I have a spray booth I can vent to the outside, but when I'm just doing panel line washes and such, I have to turn on a small fan in my room. But I do like the products...