amurray

Thank you, Mike. I must say that of all the kits I've built since returning to the hobby 25 years ago this is my favorite. I sincerely wish that I could just sit down and build a Tamiya kit OOB. But I can't. I have to be doing - SOMETHING - different! I have been remiss in not thanking the following for their help and advice: Dr. Frank Mitchell - Fellow IPMS Atlanta & IPMS Marietta member, one of the great scratchbuilders of our time. His advice on tearing a kit apart and re-constructing it was invaluable. I can say that the hardest part of any major conversion is getting up the nerve to destroy the existing kit. Once you take that step, there is no turning back and your creative juices have to start flowing...or, you have to trash the kit. But once you do the major destruction the rest is easy. Ed Sveum - Fellow Atlanta IPMS member, master modeler and USAF T-33 pilot of long experience. Ed's love of the T-33 and his knowledge of the aircraft were invaluable. Ed also showed me how to easily reproduce the canopy rails. Fellow LSP members - Your encouragement and suggestions kept me going and helped me through the hard times. This is a unique and supportive group, always positive. My wife - Through 13 surgeries - 7 just on my left hand - plus a broken right wrist while building this kit, my wife encouraged me to keep working and not give up. Many was the time I wanted to just give up in frustration because my left hand would not function but she wouldn't allow it. She is special and has first hand experience with such injuries. As an equestrian she has broken her back in 3 places, broken 3 ribs, punctured a lung, collapsed a lung, broken her sternum, her scapula, hand, foot and big toe in 2 places - and still rides! Art

This kit always brings to mind the quote from the movie Spartacus, "We who are about to die salute you!" Good luck to you!

A brave man indeed! We'll follow this with interest!

Got it! Thanks for the explanation.

Very nicely done! The missiles are separate works of art. Very cool!

I'll take your word that the fit is poor but you sure overcame that and made it into a great looking model! Good job!

Very, very nice job of modeling! Question: What is it about the kit that Trumpeter is going to re-tool? Looks really good to me as is but then I know nothing about the MiG-29 other than it is a beautiful airplane.

Thanks to the group for the many nice comments. It makes it all worthwhile.

I like the way you pin ALL small parts. I've started experimenting a little with it on a hit or miss basis but I need to consistently do all the small parts. I've always had trouble with small parts and pinning them will solve 98% of those problems. Great job!

Thanks, John. Those who have built this kit as you have know its trials and tribulations. I must say though that having worked on it off and on for three years there is a bit of a void now as I sit at my workbench. I'm trying to decide what masochistic project I can start on next. Maybe convert the Czech Model F-80C to a P-80A? I think I see the men in white jackets coming!

Please do. Thanks.

This took me far too long to build but life got in the way. Sorry my build articles were few and far between. But it is finished! Any spots you see on the black area are water spots from a rain shower I was in as I took it out to my car last night. I forgot to clean them up before I photographed the model. With a resin cockpit, resin tip tanks and nose weight this sucker is heavy! I'm keeping my fingers crossed for the landing gear but I don't think they'll last long. I should have drilled out the tip tanks to reduce weight. Thank goodness I put brass tubing in the wheels and axles for support! Hope you enjoy it.

I love the way you have shaded the various areas of the plane. Great work!

Great work! Thanks for the Silhouette tutorial!

Very cool! I missed this a while back. What did you use as a template to draw the new masks?

I am starting to fit the landing gear. They have a very shallow positive insert area, less than 1/8 inch. I'm thinking of inserting some small gauge aluminum tubing into the end that is inserted into the wing and then anchoring it somehow. I'm afraid liquid glue or epoxy won't create a strong enough bond for the shallow insert without the tubing. I've asked John how he dealt with this. Your suggestions are appreciated.

"I drew up new ones and cut on my Silhouette" Please explain. What is this? Great project! I am tempted to tackle a HPH kit but I'm torn between the IL-28, MiG-15 and La-7. Your build will help me to decide.

"Confession is good for the soul!" (6) A6M2's (sold 2) (6) A6M5's (sold 2) (2) P-51D's (sold both) (2) Spitfire's (sold both) (2) F-4C's (sold 2) (1) F4-E (sold) None built. As one can see, I enjoy having them in my disturbed hands, fondling them and then passing them on. Bottom line: lack of confidence that my skills match the quality of the kits. Having said that, my Twilight Project (the one that carries me into the next life) coming up next is a simultaneous build of the A6M2, A6M5 and an A6M2/A6M5 kitbash of an A6M3 Hamp using the UMI Resin cowling. That is, unless the next issue is a Me-262, in which case I will buy (5) and maybe build one before I start my Twilight Project.

The MiG-19 is a unique aircraft, no doubt about it. The shape is unduplicated. You did a great job on this kit! Great twilight photos - very real! I would love to hear what the vagaries of construction were to which you alluded.

Moving (finally) into the homestretch. I made the drogue chute out of Milliput and lead foil, added the PE release handle and wire cable. And, of course, every model should have an absolutely futile nod towards Advanced Modelers Syndrome, so I scratchbuilt the canopy latches to fit into my scratchbuilt canopy sills. Each latch is three pieces. I also added the map lights and their wiring.

Your small parts painting and detailing is amazing! Great job!

Thunderous applause accompanied by wild whistling and stomping feet!

I am very late to this party but saw your earlier comments about the difficulty of replicating seatbelt fabric. Various medical/surgical tapes have a fine textured finish to them and work well for fabric seat belts. Your Dauntless is looking very good! I especially like the subtle weathering in the cockpit.

Outstanding job! I love the kit build and the diorama!

I learned from Charles Metz over 20 years ago to put a drop of distilled water on my finger tip and touch it to the CA (medium) immediately after applying the CA. The water speeds up the chemical reaction. I then wait about 4-5 minutes and start sanding. The CA is soft enough to sand easily but hard enough to accept sanding and retain its general shape. This takes a bit of practice to master. The mistake I sometimes make is to start sanding too soon. The CA then rolls up almost like rubber cement and comes off completely. The bad news: It comes off. The good news: It comes off COMPLETELY. You only have to start over with no damage and no mess to deal with. Another advantage of the water is that it turns the glue a whitish color making it easier to see.