specky

Hi Guys, having completed some metallic paint tests for the P-47 and thoroughly cleaned-out the 'brush, its back onto this. As I mentioned in my last update, the 'light aircraft grey' just wasn't working for me, so I've hit it with some heavily thinned straight white and I feel much happier about it now... I've also put a little time into the pilot and even though figure painting really isn't my 'thing' - he doesn't look too bad, although from this angle, there is a bit of a 'Stormtrooper' look to his head and helmet! Cheers for now Craig

Hi Guys Well, this is ready for some colour - in fact it has been sat in Tamiya surface primer for most of the week whilst I complete the metallic paint test program.... Unfortunately, tests on Revell and Humbrol metallics have been rather disappointing. Between them, there is a nice range of 'aluminium' shades, but none of them has the 'finish' that I'm looking for. All 'sparkle' rather than 'gleam', if you can appreciate the distinction... So, not for the first time, my attempts to do it on the 'cheap and nasty' has backfired and I've had to bite the bullet and place an order for some far more sophisticated and, by extension, more expensive metal look paints - I just hope its worth it! Cheers for now Craig

That throw-away comment did make me laugh!! Cheers - you've made my day Craig

Hi Guys, with Harrier in the paint shop and P-47 on hold waiting for a delivery of paint, I need to keep the momentum going and this looks interesting... Apologies in advance for stepping on any toes by duplicating a build - if I can locate alternate decals for a 'rag-wing', then its identity will be changed! Cheers for now Craig

Hi Jaime, you need to thin the fairings a little otherwise the nozzles wont fit !, but I went a little further just to add a bit of refinement - as I said, to make it appear as they are thin 'sheet metal' I'm not really happy with the paint - don't like the colour! so I will be going back to it with much more white in the mix Cheers Craig

How can I be down on page 3 already? Hi Guys It would seem that I have been neglecting this somewhat, so time to put that straight! As I mentioned in my last update, the fit of the gun packs was awful and just as I was about to start shaving plastic away, it occurred to me that it wasn't a good idea because I would almost certainly end up with them sat at odd angles. So I glued both with the best fit to the outside, and filled the gap on the inside - not my best work and there is no way I'm posting images of that bodge but at least they are both splayed at the same angle relative to the centre line I also spent a few minutes thinning the nozzle fairings so that firstly, the nozzles would fit! and secondly, so that it looked more like aviation quality sheet metal rather than something you would start building a bridge with! Out of the box... Thinned.. Then, after completing some experiments with metallic paints for the P-47 project, it was time for some colour. Humbrol 166 'light aircraft grey' isn't very light and isn't very grey! and looks nothing like the photos of the aircraft I am modelling that I've found on the internet. But, now I sit here typing this, it occurs to me that Airfix may have recommended the BS number paints that it left the factory in, but it was then repainted by the Americans in the FS equivalent - does that sound reasonable? Need to give colours some thought and I know the mid-shade is still a little fierce, but when it became obvious how far off the colour was, I started losing interest! Cheers for now Craig

Hi Sgt, the track 'sag' looks spot on to me - good job! Craig

Although black is always a bit of a drama to paint - it really is the only colour option for these cars IMHO! Best of luck Craig

Hi Guys, despite real lifes best efforts to interfere, this is still moving forward - slowly but surely! The moulds are showing their age, which is unfortunate, meaning that adding all the 'sticky out bits' took rather longer than I anticipated. Conscious that slapping loads of filler over joints is not really an option with a bmf, extra time and care was required to get the best, tightest joints possible. So after a lot of test fitting and trimming/adjusting, job done with only a dribble of Tippex around the lower wing root joints - result! Assuming there are no major dramas with the remaining few odds and ends, I'm aiming to lay on some paint middle of next week - weather permitting! It's all over the place at the minute - struggling for 3 degrees on Wednesday, then up to 11 on Friday - what's all that about? Cheers for now Craig

Very tidy job on the stripes They always look better painted, rather than decals Cheers Craig

Hi Guys So, the second attempt at closing-up using the new fuselage halves has gone without a hitch . Many thanks to all who offered advice on how best to use CA accelerator. Although it might seem something of an over-reaction to abandon a project over the apparently minor issue of a couple of finger-prints, everything I've read regarding the creation of a bmf suggests that its all about the preparation. The finish is, apparently, even less tolerant of imperfections than gloss black, for example, so to have fundamentally compromised any chance of a consistent finish killed my motivation stone dead! But, luckily, I've had the opportunity to start again, so from now on, every step will be very carefully considered - which almost certainly means that it wont be a quick job! I had planned to get some paint onto my Made in GB Harrier this weekend, but since Winter has finally decided to make an appearance and the temperature has fallen through the floor, I think it best to stay in my nice warm lounge and fiddle with this some more Cheers for now Craig

Hi Guys Its been a little quiet on this for the last week or so, due to it having to share bench space with a P-47, but its not been forgotten! Some PE has been folded and some has even been fitted! The gun pods have also been added but the fit was truly awful and will need some 'tweaking'. But I stumbled across this today.... ...which may provide the solution to my somewhat simple cockpit Cheers for now Craig

Hi Tony. Thanks for the heads-up. I had noted that in one of your earlier posts, which came as something of a relief, since after fitting the air and oil cooler intake ducting to the cowl, suddenly my motor didn't want to fit too well whilst test fitting! This is what I like about Britmodeller - sharing the experiences! Cheers for now Craig

You've managed a top class build so far , but I agree with your assessment. Based on your excellent photos, it looks to be more work, due to clean-up and filling ejector pin marks, than it really needs to be. Keep it up! Cheers Craig

Don't say that! I've just ordered one for the Spitfire tribute build

Thanks guys and as a bit of a bonus, its also provided another P-51 option, in unusual colours, for the STB

Hi Guys - I'm back!! Spotted behind the counter of the only local hobby shop that sells acrylics....... ....to paraphrase Britmodeller, 'you can never have too many B-17's', but in this case, I'm far more interested in the P-47 element of this 3 kit gift set.... ....and thanks to the very helpful young man behind the counter who was happy to open the box, I could see that it was, indeed, the same tool as the one I had just screwed-up - result! So, I'll try again and thanks to my new acrylics, I may even get it closed-up tonight! Cheers for now Craig

Hi Rich, thanks for your concern In my frustration, I'm blaming everyone and everything else for the issue - but it was entirely due to my own carelessness Whilst pinching the lower fuselage joint with one hand to close the top joint, and not aiming properly, I managed to soak my fingers with accelerator rather than the glue! In the matter of a couple of seconds it took to re-aim & re-squirt, the damage was done with fingerprints all over the lower wing root, exhaust/ air vent area. Worn-out wet'n'dry has removed the marks from the 'flat' areas but around the detail - I'm stuffed I'll leave it for a couple of days and re-assess Cheers Craig

This is looking really smart and I've got to get me one of those beefy looking clamps! I'm very keen to see it with the exterior PE bits on Keep it up! Craig

Hi Radleigh. Due to a catastrophic reaction between plastic and super-glue accelerator, my P-47 build is now in the bin. Since the whole point of that was to get some experience with bmf, and since the only other kit in my stash with a bmf option is a Lightning F.2, I'll be duplicating your build - if you don't mind! Sorry for stepping on your toes Cheers for now Craig

Hi Guys Sadly, due to a catastrophic reaction between plastic and super-glue accelerator, this is now in the bin . My own fault, for not following the instructions and testing somewhere inconspicuous first. It has to be an issue with the plastic, since I've used this accelerator, without problems, on a half dozen builds over the last 6 or 8 months. Cheers for now Craig

Hi Steve Just a word of warning if you use super glue and an accelerator - for Gods sake, do what you're supposed to do and test it somewhere inconspicuous first! My attempt at 'Balls Out' has just gone in the bin after an horrific reaction between accelerator and plastic, which has not happened on any other of the newer kits (modern plastic?) that I've built over the last 6 or 8 months. Never mind - its all part of 'life's rich tapestry' Cheers Craig

Cheers Rich, kind of you to say and, to be honest, I'm also very pleased with the ip