neil5208

Definitely no weight called for in the Academy instructions, but the clear plastic prop works fine

So we are four month's into 2024 and this is my first finish of the year. This one is the Academy PBY 5 Catalina Black Cat boxing I received for Xmas, so I pick up some FCM decals for south American operators (Brazil and Argentina). Built OOB using Tamiya and Mr Colour acrylics, if anyone uses the Mr Colour day glow red and yellow just be aware that the yellow need a solid white base and the red is best applied over yellow. As usual all comments are welcome.

Excellent result

Very nice, I have the GWH F15i and Revells SU27 in 1/72 to build so am wondering what paint you used for the Raam

I have the the decals for XM607 in Red Flag camo ready to go

A nice reminder of some good times. If I might make a couple of observations, the add on armour packs weren't fitted in BATUS and there should be vehicle zap numbers on the sides at the rear on all vehicles on the prairie.

Good start, I did this kit a few years back with just the prop correction set you have.

Still dealing with a poorly hound, he's recovered from the surgery fairly well but he's not eating enough to regain his former strength so I haven't had much time at the bench but today I managed to fit all the remaining glazing in the nose which went fairly well except the cockpit section, this has some gap to seal with PFA glue. I going to leave to top turret filler plate slightly proud as these where plated over as a field modification.

Good start, another kit on the wishlist

Hi Jeff Thanks for the info, I dug out my Revell B17 from it storage box to compare and was planning to add the shim along the top as you advised, the bottom of the joint looks fine so I don't know how the top can be so far off.

Unfortunately I haven't had much time for modelling as my poor dog suffered a gastric torsion on Xmas eve, this is a rare injury that can occur in the larger dogs like mine (Hovawart) which involve the stomach flipping over and twisting the entrance and exit of the stomach closed. A late night trip to the emergency vet, 3 hours of surgery and £4.5k later he's now home but feeling very sorry for himself and yet to eat anything more that scrambled egg. Once he had his tablets this morning I felt I could leave him alone for 20 mins this morning and did some sanding and filing on the B17. Used a 12" metal file on the top turret to get rid of the excess as its quite good for remove large amounts of material when you dont hane any complex shapes to work around. On the underside I used some course Flory sanding sticks to get the basic shape. On the plus side I the wife picked up 2 models that I'd been looking at in Hobbycraft for my Xmas presents. The Catalina will be built as an Argentinian post war aircraft and the Apache will be as an Afghan based aircraft circa 2011 with the correct single fuel tank, hellfire rack and crv7 set up.

Fitted the bomb bay doors but as usual with most kits the fit of the doors was terrible some sanding to match the fuselage shape. Also add more sprue gloop so that can be shaped but that will be easier than sorting the wing fitment. On the port side it will just be a plastic card shim along the top seam but the starboard will need work top and bottom to get the correct diadreal. The tail gunners position was fitted as well, not sure why academy chose to mould this in clear plastic but fits well.

Really liking the nmf and the eastern front aircraft, and I must get one of these Eduard kits to go with the Fw190's

Some more progress, Fuselage has been joined with the upper turret ring filled with plastic card and sprue gloop and the lower ball turret blanked of with more plastic card, left over sprue and more sprue gloop. Once this as hardened I can start sanding. Wings also assembled as I think I will spray the upper surface before joining to the fuselage.

Nice result and good first use of the airbrush, as already mentioned using a good thinner is vital. Mr Hobby Colour levelling thinners is excellent, and in my experience even the paints that claim to be ready to spray benefit with thinner added. Also using a gloss clear coat before and after dealing will help preventing them from silvering.