FG2Si

I really like the Tamiya Spitfire kits. Generally they go together really well and don't have any surprises. Yours looks to be coming together very nicely. As for the engine, you need the basic block, supercharger, cylinder heads and the reduction gearbox. Everything else you can leave off.

Finally got the last set of parts all painted. These are the gear door actuators. Installed in place. With those done, I added the pitot tubes and seats. Then it was time to call this done. I'm off camping as of tomorrow so I'll take some better pics when I'm back.

Hope to see you get back to this.

In case you're not aware, Hasegawa has released a line of Regult kits in 1/72. They started with the standard one, the small missle pod version came next and the recon one is the latest.

Who said 1/32 jets are too big? I'll be up for one of these, especially if it's the same quality as their Cavalier Mustang and Seahawk floatplane kits.

Amazing work Max. Great problem solving on the cockpit width issue too.

Looks like it's been quite a fight but I think you've got it cornered and ready for capitulation. Carl

The new crop of 1/32 kits are generally really great. The Tomcat is Tamiya's first 1/32 kit and really shows its age. If you like Spitfires, and who doesn't, their Spitfire kits are a huge step up in detail and quality. I've done 10 of those so far and have 4 more in the stash. The Corsair is even better.

Thanks Max! I got some more of the small details done. I masked and painted the tail hook. Installed on the fuselage. I then painted the ejection seat pull handles. The Aires seats done come with these so I'm using the kit ones. I've left them attached to the kit seat part so they have a handle. First on was the yellow. Then I masked them off using 0.7mm Aizu tape. A coat of NATO black... ...and done!

The Andromeda looks to be around 37 cm long. Might be a bit longer than that.

Meantime, I got gear bay doors on and started with the missiles. The wing glove pylons were next. I used brass rod to pin the missiles to the pylons and then some more brass pins to attach the pylons. For the non slip walkway, I used a set of self adhesive ones I found in the box. Not sure how I missed them. I painted them and then stuck them on. They only go on one side of the plane. Getting closer.

Here's the HAD ddal instruction page which shows some of the numbers.

I've decided on this entry for the GB. I'll be doing the Andromeda in one of her alternate paint schemes. This of course is similar to the Yamato. Note the two Dreadnought-class ships that are attached to either side of the hull for additional thrust. For them, I'll be using the double kit. There's a third kit that is required for this build and that's the box scale Dreadnought. It has the parts in it to join the three larger kits together.

Some SBY love.

The HAD decal sheet has various serial numbers listed for the planes and includes them as well. I'll try to grab a pic of them later.

Great job on the build and paint. I have the same conversion in the stash. Did your come with instructions? Mine didn't and C1 never replied to any of my emails about them. Carl

Bandai's 1/144 Falcon. Their 1/350 one being attacked by a gigantic space cat. The 1/72 PG version that's still on my bench as I need to finish the decals. Hasegawa 1/48 VF-19 Hasegawa VF-1S Strike Valkyrie, also in 1/48.

Haven't seen an XJ-S in a long time. This one looked nice and my wife like it too. This bike and sidecar I see almost every summer parked down by the park.

Thanks for the link! I haven't seen those pics before. Looking at 203, the front of the Phoenix pallets seems to be a different colour. Looks like it's Light Gull Grey. Now to decide if I should fix mine.

It looks to be about as big as mine.

I took these pics of VR-A a couple years ago and thought they may help.out a bit.

I've got more of the decals done. HAD doesn't include the ejection seat triangle warnings Soni had to use the kit ones. They're 40+ years old but went on okay. At least they included the two kill markings for the Zeros. Just a couple more decals left to go.

I think the other thing to consider with SAC is the geometry of the gear leg. I used their Spitfire legs on my Tamiya builds a couple time and never had any issues but they're just a straight leg. Anything cantilevered would be a problem though.

If I recall correctly, the first number in an FS code is the finish. 1 is gloss, 2 satin or semi-gloss and 3 is flat. My LHS has this and a D kit in stock. They came in as part of a 700 kit collection, all 1/32. I'm trying to decide if I want one...

Just wondering, did all RCAF Lancs get this nose extension? I don't recall FM104 looking that way, not at least when I would play underneath it as a kid. Carl