VT Red Sox Fan

B-36 = a million plus rivets flying in formation--1:72 Revell Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer enhanced with a gallon of putty = AMAZING-- I cant what it looks like under paint--following with interest--best, Erwin

Bill, just caught up with this--really like the bomblets, they add character and color to the build--and this build reminds that the A-10s really looked the part in their original scheme--best, Erwin

@giemme, @The Spadgent & @opus999 —thanks guys—really appreciate the compliments coming from this crew! Will look into Flory for Yanks soon—my Kate will need to look well worn and maintained to replicate a Midway aircraft—Flory will be important—looking forward to the upcoming FAA Martlet build—best to all and thank you to everyone who checked this out this and provided a thumbs up—best, Erwin

@Graham Boak & @Denford—brilliant & thank you! I am familiar with Mikesh’s book & Maru Mechanic (I reviewed Mikesh but not Maru as I do not have a copy)—but was not familiar with IPMS or the Bunrin-Do series—fascinating material. Denford—I think you are absolutely on the money—particularly since my Kate will be configured to carry a torpedo—why would they carry oxygen when weight has such an impact on range. As I thought this through, a few elements from my A6M2 research rang very true—the A6M2’s aluminum colored compressed air cylinder was significantly larger than the black oxygen bottle—it is not to much of a leap to think that a B5N2’s systems would require more air than a Zero—also, now that I have a better scratch at B5N2 knowledge network, I will move forward with my build following Airfix’s recommendation for aluminum colored tanks in the navigator compartment—thank you both for making time to help me out—best, Erwin

Thanks @opus999—will be attempting to use the technique you used to break up OD on my B5N—really looking forward to that stage—best, Erwin

Bill, just catching up--amazing. Not to get side tracked, but that P-61 looks phenomenal--best, Erwin

Closing up my Wildcat build linked below and about to start my Kate--I really appreciated the inputs from @dov, @Blimpyboy & @Greenshirt along with many others. These inputs along with the highly recommended sources from Millman have me ready to build my first deeply research IJN aircraft. Had a few quick questions to throw out for thoughts from the forum as I get ready to start--it is interesting to me how hard it is to get info on the Kate--where did Airfix get the historical info on the cockpit/rest of the aircraft--usually Airfix puts out a news article on their research, but all I could find was info on the CAD design--is Airfix's cockpit a that "looks about right" or is there more to it? Finally, regarding the tanks in the cockpit, I have seen both metallic colors recommended for bottles in the navigator compartment--did the IJN have a color standardized colors for oxygen/compressed air--I imagine the bottles in the navigator cockpit are oxygen, and all the period A6M2 photos I can find show black oxygen bottles and silver for compressed gas for aircraft systems. That said, Airfix says they should be aluminum--similar bottles are not present in Hasegawa's 1/48 & 1/72 Kate's to compare and I it is hard to find this level of detail on IJN aircraft systems Thanks to everyone who has grown my Kate knowledge and for anyones future thoughts--really excited to start this build (finally ) best to all, Erwin

Hope everyone's summer is going well--its been busy & rewarding over here. Got a few minutes to catch everyone up on this build--very shortly I will add my Kate to this thread given that this is a Dogfight Double. First up is installing the undercarriage--I would highly recommend following instructions and install the gear before closing up the fuselage. As Johnny @The Spadgent demonstrated in his build linked here, the gear are both complex and very maskable-- Airfix did a remarkable job replicating this portion of the aircraft. Neve the less, I moved forward inspired by some of the magnificent scratch builds provided by @giemme & @billn53 to get to base--a time consuming proposition. Once complete, I added the brake lines based on @Dana Bell's and Detail & Scale's book. This was followed by Eduard's PE doors--very necessary given the thickness of Airfix's doors. Once complete, I added the formation lights with Krystal Klear and Tamiya Clear paints. Once done, it was time for the final odds and bits and then call it complete. It is fascinating to compare the F4F-4 to other period aircraft in my collection from the same period and scale--both to see the rapid sprint of technology in the opening stages of the conflict between Imperial Japan and the U.S while seeing the positive influence of many who have belt my skills. I look forward to thoughts and perspectives from all points of view--thanks for looking--best, Erwin Final bits attached an painted Spending time on a radial in 1/72 is soo worth it Eduard's PE is really apparent in the Wildcat's cockpit--I spent a lot of time with @Dana Bell's book to get the color order correct. Landing gear and intercoolers With the rest of the early Pacific War fleet With P-40s

Incredible—really appreciate the walk through the PE—Best, Erwin

Simon, an incredible build with fantastic research—I will be following closely. I plan on doing the “B” with Airfix decals—I know another Doolittle raider, but a first for me—anyway, your walk through the signal lamps, vents and the overview of Eduard’s PE is much appreciated—very interesting to see if the details you highlighted as issues for C/D also need to be updated for a B—shame on the nose transparency, but I know you will fix it based on your high caliber work so far—following with interest—best, Erwin

Bill, good to know & I learned something—maybe I had my engine concerns focused on the wrong kit—can’t wait to see how you sort this all out—best, Erwin

Really like how the weapons are coming a long—I may use this technique—well donebest, Erwin

This will be cool—best, Erwin

Bill, thanks & good to know your opinion of the Hasegawa engines—honestly I would rather not drop the coin for aftermarket engines if builders and researchers like yourself think they are very close or spot on representations—well done so far & look forward to any bonus comparisons with Monogram’s kit as you create another masterpiece—best, Erwin

Bill, really appreciate the walk through on the flaps. Since you always have done your research or have knowledgeable folks following your builds, I figured I would ask a question. I thought I read Hasegawa’s 1/72 A-10’s greatest weakness was the engines—did I hear that wrong? I noted you are using the Hasegawa A-10 a lot as a reference—I also read the old Monogram 1/72 A-10 was an extremely accurate early A-10. Hope I don’t hijack your build—I really like A-10s in the green vice grey schemes. As always, amazing work—best, Erwin

The ‘stash looks great and I love the Wildcat in the background—I also think you should start a 1:1 home improvement blog to help us all out with the rest of our families who just don’t seem to be as enamored as we are with bronze green vs interior green under Florywash discussions Good luck with the moves—I know we will all be envious—best, Erwin

Sam, joining late--an incredible build--I will be tagging along if you dont mind--Best, Erwin

Ed, an inspirational build of a colorful in-between the wars aircraft (yes, I know some P-26s found their way into WW2 combat, but I believe it is fair to say their hey day was before WW2)--I just mosyed over to Starfighter Decals to contemplate the purchases you made for your aircraft--it looks simply gorgeous--would be nice to see it next to one of your other builds--I think the camera makes it look much larger than it actually is--your skills are impressive and the outcome is amazing! Best, Erwin

Bill--just catching up--really looking forward to how you will sort this one out--best, Erwin

Johnny, great job--I like the idea of using a cocktail stick to circle back and solve the decal on decal issue--looks smart! Best, Erwin

@SafetyDad—all is good & I am sorry if my humor was taken the wrong way—I actually was impressed with the data plate & I thought I saw an engine related stencil under one of the ground crews arms—well done! Best, Erwin

& win to @SafetyDad—told you the torrent would come best, Erwin

Amazing—this is not a model—it’s turning into an amazing replica—1st one I have seen of a Privateer—best, Erwin

Amazing work—great job—best, Erwin

G, looking great—will be cool to see where you take an amazing start—best, Erwin