GMK

Stunning work @Carts - very, very high-quality paintwork there! I look forward to seeing more progress.

Have made some more progress over the last few weeks, including paint tests using SMS paints. I’ve settled on Pilbara for the tan & CARC Brown for the hinges & ‘feet’. Very happy with proportions of the scratchbuilt backpack. Still lots of work to go.

Exciting stuff, @tomprobert - very ambitious, too. Having watched your previously builds over the years, I’ve no doubt the end result will be sensational. And enormous!

As of 31 Dec 18, the world again has an airworthy XP-82 Twin Mustang - thanks to a high-speed taxi test somewhat exceeding expectations!

Amazing work, Rob. Not long to go now!

Great work on your Merk 4 (try Roman numerals in Hebrew!).

Getting closer to paint - and gathering ‘references’ for colours. So, on to YouTube to watch Super Dimensional Fortress Macross to screencap as many Brownie/Cannon Fodder VF-1A: Plus some colour tips for the CF pilot:

Crazy sharp work there, Mike. Looking good.

Thanks @rockpopandchips - it’s taken longer than I thought it would, that’s for sure!

Great pics, @AndyRM101! Can you confirm which version of the Millennium Falcon it’s bundled with?

Merry Christmas, all! Used Boxing Day to make some progress... Firstly, I needed to build the small ‘dome’ on the backpack. After some attempts using a ping pong ball, some epoxy putty, and a disc of styrene, I got there (bottom, left). I lined the three candidates up (kit, version 1, version 2) to see what was what. I think making v.2 was a good idea (dome dry fit). With intake grill added... Almost done on this freaken backpack!

Very clean work @Mindmax - you should be very, very happy with the outcome. ‘Simple’ geometric shapes are some of the hardest to scratch build, in my experience. Yours has turned out very nicely indeed! Well done.

Very clean work @Mindmax - you should be very, very happy with the outcome. ‘Simple’ geometric shapes are some of the hardest to scratch build, in my experience. Yours has turned out very nicely indeed! Well done.

Built a new backpack that’s 10% smaller overall - not there yet, but definitely an improvement over the first version. Also took the opportunity to add the legs, just to get a better view overall. Compared to the kit backpack. This kit isn’t getting any smaller!

Train smashed some pics together to compare the pieces... As I see it, the back half of my version (top) is closer to the anime (middle), than the kit. That said, the opening of the kit piece is closer in height. Some thinking to do.