Tim R-T-C

Reference quality build. Amazing work.

I'll be there with SIG144 and a table of tiny models, do come and say hi 😁

Excellent detail and a good kinetic layout

Looks very smart to me

So filling the agressive horizontal seam line also filled the panel lines below the canopy, but reference photos show that there are no visible panel lines here anyway, the kit ones are spurious - so I decided to go back to silver and the original Canadian theme. Decals went on well. The kit decals thoughtfully come precut for going over the gear doors.

Humbrol 86 in a can, slightly different tone of green to my usual brushed OD on the Mustang behind, but maybe representative of a relatively newly delivered airframe? Decals next.

Interesting post and splended photos.

There are many good step by step guides on Youtube. The channel Nightshift is one of the most highly regarded and very watchable. In terms of varnish, it is always worth adding this once the decals are down to protect these. The general rule is to use a varnish of the opposite medium to your washes - if you have enamel washes, put these over an acrylic varnish so the thinners won't react. A good lacquer varnish over the top is my preference as it is very hard wearing and doesn't react to anything.

After a matt varnishing, I decided to chip away at the drabness. This isn't based on any specific reference photos, but as a type used in a neglected campaign - dive bombing against the holdout German-held coastal cities in France - it is easy to imagine it getting neglected for spruce ups. Added and similarly chipped the Hamilton prop and the aerial mast and the plane is now complete. Just needs a vignette base and aerial wires - which I normally add once fully secured to a base. Here she sits with another lesser known French operated type also awaiting a vignette basing, in a little moment of unplanned benchtop synergy.

Well i didn't have a suitable aircraft for this GB. But the good people at Platz look like they are going to provide 😁 Count me in.

Yeah looks like it dribbled down the sides and they missed it while cleaning up the wash on the upper sides. Very frustrating. I think LF decals have markings for these early Hellcat schemes.

They've mentioned this before on the Plastic Model Mojo podcast. That brewery has a few model-box styled packages. Sadly not yet made it across the pond 😕

An entertaining thread and superb building work so far.

True, but I'd be very happy just to be able to pull a reference book on WW2 US Aircraft and check for exhaust stains positions on an F4F Wildcat, than having to scroll through a dozen websites and 500-post Britmodeller threads to get there!

I think there would be great scope for a book or series of books on realistic weathering - not a how to achieve the results book, there are plenty of those - but one with pictures of real tanks and planes and indications of where different tanks and planes actually show weathering and corrosion. For example, where on a Spitfire would you expect to see oil leaks, fuel stains, scratches etc in normal use. Where on a T-62 would you get rust and scratches in normal use, then on an abadoned example?

Quickies perhaps, but very impressive!

Fantastic dedication and a really impressive model results. A very interesting post of details too, thank you.

Everything is going up in price and it is important to put prices into context. A nice takeaway for two will often close in on £50. Your streaming channel subscription to watch a movie together is £10 a month. A decent meal for two in a city will often tip towards £100, a night at a concert or play can easily cost the same. Compared to this, £50 for a kit that might take a month to build is, to me, pretty decent value.

Well this is due 'soon', so if if emerges I'll putting one together for this build 😁

Very impressive work on a very basic kit. I recall the plastic was not very smooth on the sprues I saw, did you have to use a Surfacer on it?

Top show, although the hurricane struck as we were all carrying out to the car so hopefully everyone got out and home safe!

Not to worry I'm also still here 😁 Decal day today. I've had issues before with the Shelf Oddity decals being so thin they were hard to handle, but this particular sheet behaved normally. A pleasantly unusual scheme.

Decals on. No issues with the Brengun sheet, fitted easily. I also added the splash of green paint for a panel by the tail fin, as indicated by the paint profile. Not sure what this is and I haven't seen an original photo of the plane to compare it to.

Beautiful colours and detail

So the primer went down nicely, next step is a blast of Olive Drab.