Ludek Spunda

Alex: Yes you're right with the bombs....not happy with them as well. But wanted to make the kit almost out of the box, so wasn't worried about them that much. They can be removed anytime

Nothing special really....airbrushed on 90%. Panel lines were highlighted with MIG Neutral wash and some dirt added with Tamiya weathering sets. That's all Yes there is, but on Czech modellers website "Modelforum"....link below if you want to check out http://www.modelforum.cz/viewtopic.php?f=57&t=78830

First of all I have to say a big "THANKS" for all the nice comments here .... this kit really draw me back to modelling and can't wait to start on another one, which will be posted at "In progress" soon. Now, I will try to answer some questions below As far as I know, this offered some extra lift during take-off and landing without affecting visibility from cockpit. Wings were raised by 7 degrees I think Easy answer here...Because I was lazy to apply weathering to bombs as well as on the aircraft itself

Hi friends, after a long break in modelling, I have finally convinced myself to grab something from the shelf and here's the result. Quite easy build, only Eduard ZOOM added to pit and aftermarket decals. Hope you gonna like it. Thanks Thanks for watching

Hi all, some of the progress after a while, cockpit painted but need to rework pilot seat. The way I did it is not correct as the sides of seat are not full plates but only a round bars...this is a long track runner and will take some to finish it. Also working on another kits in the meantime so works on helldiver are not my priority for the moment. There's no special process in it really...I'm using Loctite gel cyano which is easy to work with. Always trying to use only a few drops so it doesn't mess up areas around the joint. Thats all. Now the pics of painte cockpit (I still have to rework pilot seat and add scratches etc.)

Many many thanks for all of your responses

Hi friends, just want to share a few pics of P-51 I did over x-mas holidays .... it was a relaxing build and a lot of details as wiring etc. was ommited on this one. The only aim was to enjoy painting without spending too much time in books and publications. Hope you gonna like it

Thank you for comments ... now after a short break when building corsair, I'm back on Helldiver again. Finished wiring in cockit and bomb bay recently. Can't wait to paint all the stuff Cheers

Thank you again for all your posts, really appreciate it I'm using GSI C varnishes only...this one is a mix 1:1 of semi-gloss and matt varnishes which gives you nice satin finish.

Thanks to all for you comments, appreciate that The kit has been rescribed completely including rivets. Everything was in the kit actually, but to shallow to take wash on some places. So I've decided to rescribe it.

Hi all, finished this one last night, completely OOB, no aftermarket stuff added .... the Hobbyboss kit is nice in general but full of mistakes. Managed to fix some of them but not all, it was a build-for-fun anyway Thanks for watching

Some progress again....decals on place and Mig Neutral wash applied.

Thanks for your comments .... now, another small step closer to the finish. Some small bits sprayed on the plane itself, but spent most of the time on payload and other little stuff.

Hi Colin. I will probably use semi-gloss top coat on whole plane....Don't like the idea of having gloss underside and matt upper surfaces on a kit. Just don't think it will look nice on a model. Appearance of the kit is priority for me, even at a price that reality is pushed a bit backwards. But hope you gonna like it anyway

Some progress after yesterday night.....top surfaces painted and masking removed. Now need to paint details like avionics etc.

Hi Colin, there is an alternative, if you're looking for positive rivets (helicopters etc.) Not sure if you know Czech company HGW? The are making free rivet lines in black or silver color. Working in these is very similiar as with common decals. Just prepare your kit for painting, apply surfacer and then stick on the rivets (I reccomend using some decal solution as Mr.Mark Softer). They are supplied on a large sheet, so you need to cut them off with scissors, put in to water and then apply rivet line to the kit. After it dryes (cca 2 hours) remove the foil and that's it. Then apply paint as normally...I have used these when doing an 1/35 Huey and worked out perfectly. Hope it's not against rules to place a link to these rivets....it's also quite cheap, 3.6 meters of these rivets costs about 4.50$ http://battlefield.e...=product&id=738 And this is how it looks on the kit...I have used HGW rivets instead of rivets sanded down and finished helicopter....

That's an interesting picture....I just wonder where that blue strip came from. But it look more like an exception that rule, so I will stick to the red one. Rivets are made with the kit already, but they were somewhat "blunt" and faded on some places. So I have used a scribing needle to make them sharper and restore the ones I've sanded down. It was a boring job but pays off at the end of the days.

heloman1: Thanks Colin, will try to fix it somehow to get it right. I will probably use original NG decal as a base and shape up to NE......my son is only 3 years old, so not really modelling yet. But he likes to work with me, I always give him some empty plastic sprues and a few harmless tools so he can play with it. But I hope we will share a modelling table after a few years

Finn: Yes I see what you mean....didn't notice that before. Unfortunately, I'm too far in a build to get it fixed. But sure will keep that in mind in case of starting on another Corsair. Thanks a lot heloman1: I'm afraid that fixing of tail code won't be that easily avoided. I have a photo of 153228 "312" and it clearly shows NE tail code ... actually I think that this illustration was a reference to Hobbyboss when creating camouflage scheme for this kit. And this was the place that mistake came from. They also missed code number "312NE" on top of right wing. All other planes of that unit has it on available pictures, so don't expect this one to any different. Conclusion is quite clear - never believe anything except photos. But thanks for your help Colin

I would be more than happy to agree with you, but not quite sure that NG has been used on "A" model Corsairs. What I have discovered so far is, that NG appears only on later "E" Corsairs of the same unit. Planes caught in early Vietnam era on USS Ranger are using NE unit code on all pics I have seen. Would be grateful if you prove me wrong, as it might save me a lot of work with fixing that mistake.

Now, everything ready for painting... Some preshading added (not a real use of that, just to keep me busy ) .... and bottom surfaces painted white....thats all for now, hope I'll be able to post more of my progress very soon...thanks for watching so far

Hi all, I've decided to make this small kit to have some fun in between of pauses on my 1/48 Helldiver .... will be completely OOB. Nice kit in general, except a mistake in decals (squadron insignia should be NE and not NG, missing imatriculation on top wing etc.) Also spent a lot of time on rescribing every single line or rivet, these were too shallow and sometimes completely faded. But nothing what cannot be fixed and on the other hand, the kit offers nice details as open avionics bay, full payload and nicely detailed wheel wells. Hope that will get it finished quite soon...thanks for watching working with my "little helper" is a pleasure

Most of PE parts on it's place....but still a lot to do on hydraulics, cables and other small stuff. Will also add colored PE Zoom instruments after paint Thanks for watching

Now something from the progress I did so far....added rivets on wing surface with Dousek rivet wheel 0.75mm Original wheel bays removed and replaced by Aires resin parts and plastic parts prepared to house PE replacement....

Hi friends, I'd like to introduce my new project which I have started few months ago....don't have too much time to work on it so the progress is quite slow, mainly to the addition of PE parts. I will use Eduards PE for exterior, interior, landing flaps, bomb bay and colored zoom sheet for the instruments. Also a few resin parts like engine, wheels, air scoops and exhausts.....going to make one of my favourite color schemes from the post-war helldiver service in atlantic two tone gray/white scheme. Hope you gonna like it and looking forward to you comments Cheers Ludek