CANicoll

Where in VA are you headed to?

Carl, Really nice work on the panel shading and just putting this all together in the first place. The fit looks really tight.

Exactly. Time I don't need to spend!!

Peter - I like your thinking. Also, saves an enormous amount of time masking... 👍

I have no idea what you are talking about, but it's cool any way, Ernie!

Ugh. Found these pictures, which seems to show more freehand camo rather than use of masks... Also, notice yellow 4 has what looks like green camo color rather than the black/greys called out by Eduard. While this one looks more like hard lines on the back of the fuselage, but soft lines elsewhere... So I get to pick and choose!

Dave, Super job and I'm glad you went with the kit intakes - I have a ZM 1/48 F-4C kit so was interested to see how they worked and looked. Great on your build BTW. Your cockpit looks terrific - nice detail with the RF/ZM IP set. And you really don't miss the seatbelts since you are using the pilots. Easy enough to fashion belts for them. You are making me want to break out my ZM kit!!

Have I mentioned I hate masking? This is two bench sessions of masking, and I'm still not done. Worse that this is only for color number 2. One more after this... Oh yeah, I did knock off one of the aileron counterweights - but found it on my mat. Whew...

Damn, this looks really good. ALL of it.

Good eye! Yes, the one fell off for the picture - it's in the bottom of the bin in the picture - and the other aileron is a completely different color than the wing so no need to have it attached. Maybe a field replacement?

Thanks for trying! Oh well!

Thanks PW!

Finally making a bit of progress on the topside camo. Starting with the sand/yellow color, free hand. Here is the overall scheme. Tested using the same RAF Dark Earth color as on the underside and it largely disappeared under both the sand/yellow but especially the darker camo colors. Hoping the usual black works out better. The left wingtip has a hard mask line at the edge, and the white cardboard is my attempt to NOT break off the probe. Will let this set for most of today, then try the next color probably later this afternoon. That is the plan, anyway. The idea is for a faded effect overall.

Hubert, Looks good and I'm envious of your 3D printing skills. We have a 3D printer here I have access to, but I'm not even sure where to start. Your progress looks terrific, and those PE parts are definitely TINY.

PW: I also did a foray into WWI biplanes but never got into the loops and turnbuckles for that exact reason - OMG so small even in 1/24 scale. But the effort is definitely worth the look. Can't wait to see the next steps.

Agree with PW and Peter on this - you have put SO much great effort into this that I'm looking forward to seeing it done. The printing is amazing and all the dry fitting looks awesome. Maybe not perfect, but I can't tell. Even if you go the Mad Max route - would be a shame to put this away.

Beautiful work, John. Nice job on the shading - I'm following for hints for my build.

Very interesting! I have seen a few displays at different model shows, Telford SMW namely, where the displays featured fans to get the props moving. Very cool the contra-rotating props will work on this build.

Kevin, Nice job on the paint. Hard to see the faded effect in the pictures, I know. I have the same problem with my photos. My suggestion for a panel line wash is something on the tan/brown side. Here is what I did for the bottom of my 109 on pre-shading, and I like the effect for the Sandbox build. I have not done the topside yet, but will mirror the color - which actually is RAF Dark Earth MRP-108: I may do a panel line wash of darker brown to highlight the individual panels. Hope this helps.

Wow, what a project. That will keep you away from the bench for a while.

Carl, Looking back over the thread, wow the detail IS amazing! The missiles look amazing. To answer your question about drooping flaps - even with folded wings, the flaps and ailerons seem to be down a bit.

I hear you, hope you and Diane are doing well.

Hey Mike, Seems like there are a few lines there - also lower right from the bottom right corner of the opening you made. My suggestion is to do a quick spray of primer to see if it is cosmetic or if there really is a bit of a 'valley' there. I've tried running my finger over those lines to see if I could feel for a gulf, that never seems to find one. Primer always does.

Nice detail! This will be an interesting build, Peter.

Amazing work on the research, great idea to get that book and I'm sure it is a gold mine of detail and information. Looking forward to hearing what you think about the Hataka paints.