Watcher

IPA will do it easily. Cheap to buy - I get mine from CPC but any electrical supplier (Maplins) will do some

Can't imagine why you are worried about the airbrushing. Looks very good to me.

Exquisite! I've been struggling to think how to do navigation lights but having seen yours now I know!!

What is that? Missile detection?

That's a bl**dy good idea. Just the right colour.

I have the LCM 1:48 Ju 88 in my stash so I will watch with interest.

Nice work.

The hunt is on! I shall scour the shelves of every shop I go in. I did promise SWMBO a trip to Ikea so I shall special attention to the pedicure area!! If I had more business acumen I would produce suitable plastic in a packet just for modellers.

I'm on with a 1:48 Hellcat for which I need to make navigation lights (red and green). I thought I would cut up some plastic beads but Hobbycraft couldn't provide the right size or hue (despite selling hundreds!). I've heard of people cutting up children's toothbrushes (bit cruel but needs must...). Has anyone any good sources of the right sort of plastic?

Troy, Thank you. I'd found a couple of pictures but none as good as those. Matthew

Deleted - I just managed to find the pictures I was struggling to find! Matthew

Just to let you know that I raised the non-appearance of my stuff (and the failure to answer any of my e-mails) with PayPal so there is a 'happy' ending. I got what I needed from Ultracast (via SB Models in Barrow) and they've been excellent.

Some thoughts: If you have filled a gap with a soft drying putty then the scribing tool will gouge; I use Milliput extra fine which is harder. I use a micro saw blade sometimes to start a line - if it will fit. I do this especially if the line is over a wing or the like; I use the Trumpeter scriber and also the Squadron one. If needs be I fix a darning needle in a pin vice. It depends on how much space you have. I tend to use Dymo tape to mark out the lines. I cut it into thin strips if I need to make complex shapes. Hope this helps. Matthew

I have one of those that I bought about 40 years ago! Connect it to a railway transformer so I can run it at any speed. Beware that it won't takes tools made for Dremels etc. They have a three millimetre shank. The Expo takes tools with a 2mm shank. You can get all sorts of tools from jewellery suppliers.

I've bought some artists pastels (black, grown, light grey etc.). I rub them with a stiff brush (white nylon artists brush) and then rub on the aircraft. Works well for me.

That is a beauty. I have one in my stash but I'm sure it won't work out half as well as that.

Joachim, I did wonder re the undercarriage. Sadly only after everything was glued solid! The Eduard kit has a fairly solid box joint at the top of the leg which doesn't give much lee way but, with hind sight, its something I should have looked at. Thanks for the advice though. M

Thanks Rick, see you on the 6th.

I think that's very nice indeed. Flawless paintwork especially. Hard to get such a nice finis with a brush.

May I show you my latest build. It's the 1:48th Eduard Me 109E-1 in the JG 52 markings from the kit. The figures are ICM drawn from their two sets of Luftwaffe ground-crew. I've added some extra pipe work to the engine and a few oil drums etc. from a Tamiya set. Base is a Wilko's picture frame with evidence of my Costa coffee habit used for the deck work... Sorry things are a bit dusty in some of the pictures - the flock is still a bit fresh! Best wishes, Matthew

I use the Alclad primers. Always get a very smooth finish and can be sprayed straight out of the bottle. Can be sanded without difficulty as well. Only down side is that they are cellulose therefore a little more pungent than other paint types.

That's a very nice model of a very interesting subject.

I did get a steer to a Polish shop that stocked their stuff but they didn't list the bits I wanted. I've raised a dispute via PayPal so I might get my money back. I got my stuff from Ultracast in the end.

I like the model a lot but what is very effective for me is the use of the trench map as a base. Very clever idea and one which sadly I can't steal without being rumbled!!

That is very nice - I like the style.