fubar57

I used Polly Scale "Old Concrete" for mine

I have all the kits you mention plus 1:48 twin engines and now wish that I had gone to 1:72 for multi-engine aircraft; they are just so gosh darned huge. I'm currently building the B-29 its fighting me every step of the way. Most of the fit issues are mentioned elsewhere but I found a few more. After two months I am at the almost ready to paint stage, OD/NG. Just need to mask the clear parts. It will be a ceiling dangler

I run stuck Tamiya lids under a as hot as humanly possible stream of water for about 20 seconds and that usually loosens them. If not, another stream of water and use channel lock pliers. I have yet to be defeated. I know others who stir the paint instead of shaking the bottle and never have a problem. I love Vallejo Metal Colors. They are a bit more fragile and will never replace Aclad. I spray paint for about 5 seconds and then send a blast of air through the AB to remove and paint build up on the tip.

Just went through the book again and there are definitely airfoils on the -3R as well

From "PBM Mariner in action", "Vortex airfoils were added to the PBM-3's horizontal stabilizer to further 'fix' the tail problems that had plagued the Mariner. This fix consisted of four airfoils mounted over and under the horizontal stabilizer at the vertical fin, and was designed by Ellis (Sam) Shannon, a Martin test pilot. Shannon was enrolled in the 'Order of the Purple Martin' for this device, which was the highest honor bestowed by the Glenn L Martin Company in the field of scientific accomplishment." This includes the -3D and -3S

Very sharp

Beauty. Get yourself some 2'x3' poster board and a few cheap LED lamps. Powder blue is said to be the best background and I have a few others. I let the camera do its own thing here

Well done. I've never got the hang of aerial insulators

Very cool

Nice Looking Innards Andy George

A handy reference to have if you're interested in Spitfires is a PDF that was made from the ponderings from this site of the late Edward Brooks. I have it but can't post to this site but someone should be able to set you up

Great looking seat now

A Mk.V seat from the Spitfire site

https://www.scalemates.com/kits/reviews.php?scale=1%3A48&topic=Grumman+F-14+Tomcat

Hello Tom. As you can see, a lot of different responses with everyone meaning well. I haven't built their 1:72 version but I have build the 1:48 kit and it pretty much falls together https://www.ebay.ca/itm/233169073941?hash=item3649f5b715:g:0VgAAOSwyi5cjLeZ As mentioned above, start a Work in Progress thread and then before committing to glue and paint, ask lots of questions. Getting answers beforehand is easier than prying glued pieces apart or removing the wrong colour. Again you will get lots of different answers as everyone has their own methods which work well for them. Don't be overwhelmed and have fun.

How about FS 26231. https://www.migjimenez.com/en/acrylic-colors/1104-french-modern-jets.html

Brigade Model's made a Spitfire Tr.IX conversion years ago. Not sure its the same as the Grace mod

Awesome job with the paint work. I always find these builds too late but one note that I would like to add that may be of use to builders of both 1/72 and 1/48 kits by Tamiya. The blue oxygen regulator on the right wall is actually an American one used on a captured Ki.61. A photo can be seen in "Monogram Close-Up 14 - Japanese Aircraft Interiors Part 1." The caption reads, "....This captured TONY was flown by American pilots for evaluations. For this purpose an American made oxygen system was installed and all instruments and gauges were marked in English...." Tamiya probably used the photo for a reference.

Thank you gentlemen

According to Aero Detail 20, its a FuG350 Naxos Z search radar antenna

This is an Esci/AMT repop. The kit went together pretty well but pay attention to the instructions as Italeri mis-numbers several parts; they are pretty easy to figure out though. Another error was that a clear canopy was include and every photo I've seen has the smoked one. An easy fix for me as I swapped it out for the smoked one in their S-3A kit. The cockpit is pretty barren so the canopy hides this nicely. I had to remove and re-position some of the antennae. These things were all over the place so references are needed. I used Vallejo Model Air Barley Grey as it looks pretty close to the photos. I'm pretty much stuck on paint I have in stock due to this COVID thang. Italeri wants you to paint the canopy/glare panel Black but the photo shows Grey; I used Tamiya XF-53 Neutral Grey for this. I used the kit decals and I'm not sure if its my choice of lo-viz paint or their choice of lo-viz markings but they all but disappear. The tail marking...yes...that's singular. Its one piece except for the formation lights. There was no problem getting them into position as they were very sturdy. I got them to snuggle into the panel line but not completely. I made the FOD covers as I didn't feel like fiddling around with the intake seam; not completely accurate.

I wonder if the taller tail wheel strut had something to do with the external fuel tank

Beauty. And a nice clear shot of the tail wheel extension

If you are going to do one of the -3s in Post #2 and not "Jane" try and acquire just numbers from spares or a friend. Alley Cat provide the decals for mine, one set of Stars and Bars and then a bunch of numbers. The numbers for the tail are about 9mm and for the cowl about 5.5mm. No other special markings

Alley Cat Decals makes a 1:48 set but mistakenly call them F6F-5Ks. There is one F6F-5K on the sheet which is the one I modelled using an old Monogram kit, the one with the folding wings and no interior. Two things to note. The antennae coming off the cross beam on the tail both enter the left fuselage at the same location. Look at the second photo down in sabrejet's second post, the tail wheels have extensions. I added 2mm of round stock for mine. Decals https://www.alleycatmodels.co.uk/post-war-test-f6f-5k-hellcats-4247-p.asp