R Palimaka

Once I finish the two I'm working on, the three I want to do most: - SB Lim-2 conversion from Trumpeter MiG-15 ( Polish built MiG-15 UTI two-seater ) - IBG PZL-P11c - 1/24 Airfix Mustang full meal deal...all the Model Monkey parts, AirScale, Waldron placards, and 3D printed gear legs Should keep me busy for another 15 years or so. Richard

Great choice! Love the Zipper. Richard

This is not very scientific, but it's close enough to 4 degrees for me.

Oops...I will try to fix it if I can. I tried to match it to the photos and drawings. I may have to live with it if it's not too far out.

Thank you Matt! I just used a razor saw to cut in using the engraved panel lines, and then sharpened the corners with a new knife blade.

I don't feel so bad after reading some of the replies. 10 to 15 years ago when I was building in 1/72 scale I would complete 4 or 5 kits a year, but as my eyes got older (along with the rest of me) and I moved up to LSPs it slowed down considerably. I've only finished two in 10 years, but started a few more. I can really relate to the "painted cockpit" thing. I love detailing and painting cockpits, but then it's everything surrounding it that slows me down. Richard

Well, it's starting to look like an airplane...or avion. I assembled the fuselage using long tabs to make sure the mating edges will be solid. The cockpit tub was secured into the fuselage from underneath after a fight. It required some sanding and thinning of the walls to fit. And typical of some Azur kits the fuselage requires a bit of juggling in a few spots to make it all work. I placed the windscreen on the fuselage while dry-fitting and it was a bit wider than the opening and fairing it was meant to fit. I was afraid that if I forced the sides of the windscreen in later to fit it might break...it is beautifully thin and clear. In the end I left a gap on the top so that the windscreen would sit properly, while not making the gap too wide which would cause problems at the bottom where it matched up with the leading edge of the wing root and the rear of the engine "egg". In the end I think it will work and I'm happy. I added the horizontal stabilizers ( out of sequence of course ) and they required sanding and filing to thin them to match the fairing on the fuselage. In hindsight it would have been easier to sand them thinner before gluing the halves together, but... Anyway, they fit now. The tailplanes on the aircraft had a 2 degree dihedral and I had to be careful to set that properly. The structure on the back of the head armour, and the filler cap in place. I've cut the slots for the hinges into the leading edge of the elevators. Next step is to cut the hinges out of plastic card and secure them in the trough at the back of the stabilizers. Richard

That's beautiful Thomas! Excellent finish, I especially like the subtle variations in the paint colour. Very convincing and realistic. Wladek Gnys lived in Beamsville, Ontario on the Niagara Peninsula, only a few minutes from where I lived in Grimsby. I had pleasant afternoons with him discussing his life. Richard

Thanks for that Mike, it helps a lot. I've been studying the photos for longer than I'd like to admit, trying to figure out the details and eliminate some of the things that are the watermark that the Museum put on the image. As for colours, the main colour looks darker than the red in the chessboard national insignia so I'll go with the black that's been suggested by the modellers from Poland. I'll just have to photograph the finished model only from the starboard side. Richard

That's outstanding on all levels! I especially like your choices of unusual markings.

Good choice. I love this kit even with all its shortcomings. It builds into an impressive model. Richard

This will be one to follow once you're ready. An elegant aircraft in its awkward French way. Richard

Impressive as always Max. I really admire your commitment to get it right, and the creativity of your solutions. This should be another stunner! Richard

Thank you everyone, I've never rigged a biplane so that will be a new "adventure" when I get to that. I've been doing research on the markings, and the scheme on the kit decals are not correct. Actually, several kits and decal sheets have it wrong. The instructions would have you apply the "Diana" artwork on both sides, but photographs have been discovered in the Aviation Museum in Krakow showing that there was a large dragon on the port side. Several Polish modellers have come up with the proper scheme based on this photo and one from the rear showing the tail of the dragon approaching the top decking of the fuselage. Photos also show the red and white tailplanes so this should be a colourful bird. Another detail that was pointed out is that the interplane struts and landing gear struts were wrapped and doped with aluminum paint. I was hoping to have the contrast of the natural wood struts but there's that accuracy thing rearing its head. The decal provided in the kit needs a bit of refining, it's pretty stark as it is. I might have to reduce it somewhat with an almost transparent layer of paint to blend in the skin tones, or refine it on the computer and reprint it. I'll also have to draw the dragon using the photo and print that as well. Richard Starboard side: Photo from the Aviation Museum in Krakow. The educated guess on the other websites is that the dragon is black...

Mine are probably predictable, except for the last one: 1 - Mustang IV - over East Anglia and the North Sea 2- Lancaster - at dusk, heading in to darkness for a round trip from Yorkshire to Europe 3- Westland Wyvern - launched from a carrier and fast and low level over the sea. I've had rides in the first two, but would love to try my hands at the controls. The Wyvern has always fascinated me, a huge powerful monster with that humped back and contra-rotating props. Richard