mcdonnell

Hello,FortyEighter and F-32 - Many thanks to both of you,gentlemen.My next RAF Phantom will be in grey/green tactical scheme.All The Best,Paul.😉👍

A wonderful build of a wonderful kit and subject.👏😉👍

Hello,Ian - A great result as always.Was it the kit itself or the subject that caused you to temporarily lose interest? All The Best,Paul.

Hello,Corsaircorp - Well done indeed on a fine-looking Lightning build.The photos of her with the Spitfire are superb and are a great tribute to two of the RAF’s finest. All The Best,Paul.👏😉👍

Hello,Ian - Your fine classic work and result on another classic kit.Great build indeed. All The Best,Paul.😉👍

Hello,Steve - My full compliments to you on a beautifully built and finished Hurricane.Just the perfect degree of weathering for my liking as well.Great work and she’s got equally good company with the Spitfire and Meteor. Well done indeed. All The Best,Paul.😉👍

“Hello,Gentlemen” - Many thanks to each of you for your very kind replies.Much appreciated and respected. Ian,you’re quite right.There were several occasions when I thought of putting this kit back on the ‘Pending Shelf’ and starting something afresh.Destiny must have stepped in when I discovered the decal sheet at Cosford Show. It’s made me wonder what the other CAM and CAM PRO Decal Sheets are like.They do some nice looking JASDF Phantom Schemes but my experience makes my alarm bell ring. Anyway,onwards and upwards and on to the next! As Always,Paul.😉👍

Hello,Dans80 and Orion - Many thanks for your very kind replies.Much appreciated. The Hasegawa kit is the only game in town for a British Phantom in this scale. These are now rare and command high prices accordingly. Following their success with other Phantom variants in 1/48 scale I would love Academy to turn their attention to this and also the extended nose versions (F4E,etc.) In the meantime, “Phingers Crossed!” All The Best,Paul.😉👍

Hello,Tony - You’re certainly working your wizardry with this fabulous new kit and with great pace.I have a soft spot for the Wellington and must admit I’m tempted to indulge in one of these myself.Brilliant modelling as always,My Friend. All The Very Best,Paul.👏😉👍

Simply sublime!👏😉👍

Many thanks,Mario - Yes,My Friend, I’m delighted the build finally came to a happy conclusion but she occupied the Production Facility too long!?! How true your comment is. All The Best,Paul.😉👍

Hello,Mario - These are two magnificent examples of your skills and expertise.Imaginatively displayed as always at Kempen Air Base. How I love visiting there! All The Best,Paul.👏😉👍

Hello,Tony- I’m sorry I hadn’t locked this ‘On Radar’ until now.Your hallmark superb work evident again with this Spitfire and she looks resplendent in her unusual scheme. All The Best,Paul.👏😉👍

Hello,Nocoolname - Thank you for your question.I know I haven’t been the only person on BM to have encountered problems with these decals. Okay, the problems started with the prolonged soaking time required for them to move from the backing paper.They were also supposed to be compatible with MicroSol/Set according to the instructions. The Decals were extremely brittle and split despite being carefully handled during positioning.Once in place I found the Microscale System had no effect on them at all.So,I purchased Daco Products Medium Strength Decal Solution.This needed to be applied repeatedly before the decals began to respond.However, they wouldn’t conform to the airframe shape other than on the flattest surfaces. The clear carrier film wrinkled like cellophane and again wouldn’t smoothly conform to shape. I got about halfway through the decalling process when during handling the dried decals began to lift off.They hadn’t adhered properly.They were applied on a properly prepared and high gloss surface. I’d approached the whole process in a textbook manner but realised this was a waste of time and effort. So, out came the sanding sponge and I removed all traces of the decals and prepared the airframe for repainting as shown on the photo I posted earlier. I was so disappointed at that stage but I realised I was on mission impossible to create my ‘dream scheme’ on this model. On the flip side, the decals promised so much because the actual printing,detail and colours were exquisite. I thank goodness I was very lucky in finding and purchasing a secondhand Hasegawa Decal Sheet from a trader at Cosford Show, again shown in the photo. Despite their obvious age, they behaved perfectly. With a scheme like this, you can expect to use a little artistic use of a small brush.This was minimal. Without the kit release decal sheet this scheme wouldn’t have materialised. I wish you all the best with your final decision, Nocoolname. All The Best, Paul.😉👍

“Hello,Friends” - Many thanks to each and everyone for your very kind and much appreciated replies and feedback. I’m aware of the new 1/72 scale Airfix rendition of the British Phantom but in 1/48 scale, with all respects to Hasegawa, I think an upgraded new-tool is overdue and also for the F-4E Series. I hope my next Phantom build will be less fraught and problematic than this one was. All The Best,Paul.😉👍

Hello,Stix - Thank you very much.She finally got there after a dreadfully long time.It’s great to have finally completed another build to post up. Hoping You and Mrs.Stix are okay.As Always,Paul😉👍

Hello,Gary- Bless you,My Friend - Well, the decorating was certainly quicker! Thank you for your reply,it’s much appreciated and respected. The added photo shows her before her final appointment with the airbrush and also the secondhand Hasegawa kit decals.They saved the day as far as this scheme was concerned. My best guess is that they must have been about 25 years old? As a safeguard,I coated them with Microscale ‘Decal Film’ as an extra precaution but I don’t think that was necessary In hindsight.They behaved perfectly and I only needed to use a little cosmetic work with the red and blue in a couple of places which I expected I would have to do anyway. I’m just delighted she finally made it and is completed. As Always,Paul.😉👍

Hello,Gentlemen - My sincere thanks and appreciation to each and everyone of you for your very kind replies. This was a protracted build due to a series of disasters along the way. Firstly, in customary style I was spraying the acrylic car primer straight from the ‘rattlecan’ when the nozzle went tech and squirted a jet of primer all over the upper surfaces.Once dried, a mega-sanding and repreparation for a repaint. Secondly, a disastrous encounter with the ‘CAM’ Decals Sheet for this scheme.I’m not the only modeller on BM to have had major issues with them.Once again,out with the sanding sponge to remove all traces of these decals followed by repaint No.2. By chance and good fortune,I came across a secondhand set of the original Hasegawa kit decals at Cosford Show last April.Thankfully,they saved the day and performed perfectly. The attached photo shows the model during a restoration phase :-

“Hello,Friends” - Finally got this finished and great to be back ‘On Radar’.She’s finished in ‘Xtracolor Enamel’ and after decalling sealed overall with brush-applied ‘Klear/Pledge’. Hoping you enjoy viewing. All The Best,Paul.😉👍

Hello,Stix - Brilliant work as always!👏😉👍

Hello,Matt - That is a magnificent looking Shackleton build.Great work indeed.👏😉👍

A magnificent collection and tribute to a legendary unit.👏😉👍

Hello,Paul - A phine job indeed.She looks particularly good with her wings folded too.👏😉👍

Hello,Mark - My full compliments to you on a beautiful looking build of your ‘Viking’.This is a charismatic aircraft which I haven’t seen very often in model form and she looks resplendent in her colourful ‘Hi-Viz’ markings.👏😉👍All The Best,Paul.

Hello,Derek - This Beauty was the true ‘Superkit’ of the day back in the ‘60’s.As a young lad then I was awestruck with it.Fast forward a little and I’m equally impressed with this fabulous build of her and she’s a fine tribute to this classic kit. 👏😉👍All The Best,Paul.