cheeley

Lovely rivetting, what tools did you use for that? I think I've only rivetted one model before, a 1/48 Tamiya 109 E3, and the results were OK but pretty wobbly. I bought a rivetting wheel type tool & tried it with dymo tape as a guide, but struggled with it to the point of frustration.

Hi Mark, as you thought, there is definitely a difference between being 'touch dry' and being ready to be handled/masked. My only real experience is with Tamiya acrylics. If you're not in a hurry, the next day should have given the coat plenty of time to 'cure'. Also bear in mind the length of time that you leave something masked for, and what you mask with. If you give your base coat a day to cure, and mask with something that you remove quite soon after painting, you'll probably be OK. In my expereince, the glossier the paint, the longer the curing time. I also use Tamiya acrylics, thinned with meths, and given my slow build rate I don't usually have any problems as it's usually more than a few hours between paint & masking. I did use some Mr Colour acrylics once, that had a satin finish, and even after a couple of hours I was able to cause a ruddy great thumbprint in the paint through squeezing a bit too hard when handling. chris

Excellent! it looks so much better than a flat black triangle. I love the weathering. Don't worry about your english, I think we understood you just fine. Also, "a picture is worth 1000 words" Chris

Just gorgeous. You've given a top notch kit the finish it deserves Chris

Excellent job - it could easlily be much larger than 1/72. That drop tank in the palm of your hand really shows the scale of things Chris

Super job on the mottling. I know it's a bit of a worry when you start freehanding all over your nice crisp paint job, but your results speak for themselves Chris

Wonderful! I like the way you used a block of wood for the base. And those chocks must be tiny! Chris

I second this. I use Tamiya acrylics, and have used the yellow for Luftwaffe ID panels before. Lots of thin coats is the key.

I haven't been on the site much in the last six months, and my mojo has deserted me for now. I thoght I'd look back on what I'd completed this year and was surprised to find it was a single solitary build. So, a pretty poor work rate this year! Here she is though, a HobbyBoss 1/48 Me262 A1a/U5 built for the Defense of the Reich group build, I was pretty pleased with the final product. With a new baby due in March next year, I fear my output for next year will be similar. I have a 1/48 Hasegawa Stuka languishing semi-built, so I'd better get that completed before mini-cheeley arrives & changes the landscape somewhat Bets wishes to everyone for a safe & prosperous New Year Chris

Ah, that explains it - I was misremembering my metallic blue Eagle, it was the TB2 that was blue! I had a UFO interceptor too. God I must have been a spoiled brat Chris

Nigel, I really do like the way you shrug off the mini misfortunes that happen during this build. Part of my problem is that I lose my rag too easily when things go wrong. I think i need to take a leaf out of your book, you seem to have a zen-like patience whilst doing this build. Oh and I now have a hankering for tongue (steady now...). Haven't had it for years, and now I live in the colonies I don't think I can get it easily. I don't think they have it in the supermarkets, so I don't fancy boiling up a whole beef tongue (if I could find one). They probably weigh a couple of pounds, and I know my missus wouldn't help me eat it! Keep up the good work Nigel! Chris

That takes me back. I had two, but I could have sworn that one of mine was a metallic blue? The passenger pods also had little stickers of the moonbase alpha logo. Ah nostalgia... Chris

Came for the Dalek, stayed for the nosh! It's looking brilliant so far Nigel, you seem to have overcome a lot of little hiccups without breaking a sweat Chris

Lovely stuff. Glad you didn't get disheartened with the couple of mini disasters that happened! Chris

Superb result chris