Mach Turtle

I'm running out of time, aren't I? In any case, I had some time to work on this today, and made some progress. The interior is further detailed, with a couple of subassemblies stuck together: Plus, the empennage (except for the rudder, which I will paint before adding) is done... ...and I've done four of the six gun assemblies, with turned barrels from the Z-M updetail kit: Thanks for looking.

I wanted to show some progress. Here's the cockpit as it stands now. The instrument panel, rudder pedals, and right side panel are ready to be put in place soon. This is with Z-M's "Super Wing Extras" cockpit photoetch set. Thanks for looking.

Well done! Congratulations.

Vhet a greet luokeeng iurpluone-a! I luok furverd tu fulluoing zees oune-a. Bork Bork Bork!

It looks like, I don't know, it's been through the war or something.

Coming right along. I've supplemented the basic kit with the Zoukei-Mura phototoetch for the cockpit and various other areas. I also have the turned gun barrels, resin weighted tires, and cast landing gear struts for later. The instrument panel and center console: Right side cockpit panel, with map. Apparently, they're ready for a diversion to a tropical island: The engine, with mounts and oil tank in place: Thanks for watching. I'm learning a lot from everyone else, as usual.

Thanks, guys. I have made some progress and should be able to get pictures up this weekend. Plus, my Fundekals decals arrived. Happy times.

No padding, really, wow! They're not called the Greatest Generation for nothing. So, maybe Z-M made an error here. Thanks for your help.

A question about the pilot's seat. My Z-M kit came with these plastic seats: (One has molded seatbelts, the other does not). I see that there is no padding or upholstery on the lower part of the seat, but a cushion on the back. I bought the Z-M etch set for the cockpit, and it has this (disregard the painting): There is no provision for any padding on the back (there are PE seatbelts). So, the pilot sat on his parachute pack, right? Was there a cushion on the back? Thanks.

Thank you. I must say that it looks as though I'll be able to buy plenty of cleaning fluid with the money I'll save by not buying rattle cans.

Also, what is cleaner? Is it okay to use, for example, methylated spirits (for acrylics) or turpentine (for oil-based paints) from the hardware store? Must I buy the paint companies' cleaning products? Thanks.

Hi. I have a Paasche VL double-action airbrush. I am just learning how to use it, and to do airbrushing generally. How do I clean it? Specifically, do I just flush some cleaner through it via the color cup when I want to change colors during a session, or do I have to disassemble the whole thing to change colors? I assume I have to take it all apart at the end of a session for a thorough cleaning. Correct? Thanks.

What color were P-51D floors? I see the specification that Wolwe82 posted above says "Spec NA-2 1301 Surfacer." What color is that? I have seen models with grained wood floors visible, and also floors painted interior green. Thanks.

Greetings, everyone. I'm going to try to model the P-51D of Ray Wetmore as it was when deployed as part of the 370th Fighter Squadron at RAF East Wretham in late 1944. Wetmore's aircraft (44-14733) was designated "Daddy's Girl" and remains flying today, after postwar service in a couple of South American air forces. Here she is: I've made a start with the Merlin. The Z-M kit is great because it attempts to mimic the real manufacturing process, and for that reason is highly modular. Mini Merlin:

Ian, How did I miss the bars? I looked at it for months and while I think I made a note to do them sometime, I never did and I got used to seeing it without. I will add them!

Thanks, mate. I have an idea for the next one. It'll be based on Ernest Gann's "Ice" story, where he saved a DC-2 coated with an inch or more of clear ice. We need the Airliner IV GB as soon as possible.

Thanks everyone. She's done. I added tinted plastic prop discs to the three operating airscrews, and tried to twist the blades on number three into a feathered position. I added HF antennas with E-Z Line, too. Pictures in the gallery here. Thanks for watching, everyone. I enjoyed this group build a great deal and learned a ton!

This is the Minicraft 1/144 Pan Am Pacific Clipper kit, built as NC18602 as it made its way westward from Auckland toward New York after being unable to get home to Hawaii after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Specifically, I have tried to depict the aircraft on its return to Trincomalee harbor after experiencing a catastrophic failure of the number three engine. The build thread is here.

I'm getting toward the end here. I've started to attach the final details, and I've added the depiction of the failed number 3 engine. According to Ed Dover's history, the number six cylinder cracked, causing, "a wide swath of oil streaming back off the wing." Here she is, with a wide swath of oil streaming back off the wing: By the way, the crew of the Boeing 314 on this flight consisted of a Captain, plus a First Officer, Second Officer, Third Officer, Fourth Officer, two engineers, and two radio operators.

Me too. Or 1/32, or 1/1, really.

Okay, getting toward the end here. I am not sure about the sea base, but the aircraft itself should be done. In case you've forgotten, I'm modelling Pan Am Clipper NC18602, en route from Auckland to New York via the westward route after being caught in Auckland on December 7, 1941. Specifically, I'm showing her return to Trincomalee after a catastrophic failure of engine number three. It's supposed to be depicted with rudders deflected to compensate for the asymmetric thrust, and I'll add a feathered prop later. The story is that the crew concealed the identifying markings before leaving Auckland, but then I found a picture showing the huge American flag still present at the end of the flight. Whether it was added back after arrival on for advertising or propaganda purposes, I don't know, but I've assumed that the crew were concerned about attack from above and so painted out the "N" registration number (which has the added benefit of dealing with the fact that the kit has the wrong number on its decal sheet). Without further ado:

I have a Zoukei-Mura P-51 that I'd like to build for this Group Build, but I wonder if anyone can help me out before I start. I'd like very much to have the Kagero decals for Capt. Leroy Grosshuesch's P-51 "Little Girl" in 1/32 scale. They were published by Kagero in Fighters Over Japan Part II, which is out of print and will apparently remain so, according to Kagero. Does anyone have them? I'd be very pleased to buy or trade for them. Thanks. If not, I'll do another scheme.

Revell 747-8 D-ABYA, Lufthansa, 1/144 scale

Now that the 748 is done, I am back onto the Clipper. Here's how she looks now: There's some overspray and seepage to correct, and obviously plenty more painting to do. I also have to decide what to do with the decals, which have the wrong N-number. Maybe I can say that the crew scraped/overpainted the incorrect digit. Just for information, the cost of a one-way ticket from San Francisco to Hong Kong in 1939 was USD 1500 or so -- this at a time when the median U.S. annual salary was about USD 1400, a doctor might make USD 5000 per annum, and an airline pilot USD 8000. Also, just because I can, here's part of the animation from Indiana Jones and His Flying Boat. I think that's what it was called -- that was the highlight for me anyway.

Thanks! It's a wonderful kit. It's hanging from my boy's bedroom ceiling now.