Iain

Starting to really gel with Fusion 360 - faster progress and a lot less frustrating now! Aeronca E-113 engine and undercarriage parts for the Dart Kitten. To give an idea of size the cylinder mounting holes in the block are 3mm dia. Engine block: Cylinder - will be mirrored left/right: Wheel hub: Undercarriage leg - hollow along the two 'tubes' to take a 1mm brass rod core: Some more bits to design and then some test prints during the week, hopefully. May appear to be a small step - but after fighting the software for months I'm finally ahead of the curve - or most of it anyway. This will have a knock on for so many other projects that I've stalled progress on! Blue skies, Iain

Hi all, I'm temporarily locking this thread at the present time. Recent interest is lovely to see, and really appreciated, but has been a catalyst to some self-imposed pressure/stress/anxiety which I could really do without at present, as I've been really busy on other things. However, I have been honing my 3D design skills so, as soon as I can find some time to sit down and focus on the Liberator again, I'll hopefully have something closer to a solution. And when I'm there I'll post here... Thank you, Iain

You're fortunate to have those excellent shops - Wonderland always a treat when I'm in Edinburgh. Pity that Gallowgate Models in Glasgow closed down a number of years back - that was was a real treasure-trove... Iain

Agreed - CAD is one thing, tooling another matter! But they appear to know what they are doing, so I'm sure they've factored everything in. Possibly better to have stayed quiet at this stage regarding future plans - but we'll see. As others have said - their planned subjects tick lots of boxes from where I'm sitting - I wish them every success! Iain

They have access to factory drawings and a number of highly qualified subject matter experts - including, in the case of the Hornet, David Collins and Arthur Bentley. The shapes I've seen so far are the most accurate renditions of the Hornet I've seen in model form to date. Iain

No, not in any way, shape, or form! Believe me - I've gone through ALL the options... If I can get the inserts to work it will result in a light/strong structure that keeps existing surface detail, most of the existing kit parts - and is relatively simple. This route will also be cheaper and take an awful lot less design effort. The wings are too large for complete resin prints - and if I could get a printer large enough - the results would be too heavy and relatively brittle. If printed on the FDM printer as complete wings you'd end up having to do a lot more work - and have to surface prep and engrave all external surfaces. I've been really busy elsewhere, but I will get back to looking at the CAD models at some point in the future. Iain

New British company John - nothing out just yet - but later in year I believe. Injection Moulded with 3D Printed details. CAD designs based on LIDAR scans of original airframes where possible - their 3D printed prototypes of Hornet, Sea Fury and Scimitar that were on display at Telford back in November looked excellent - the Hornet capturing the nose/cockpit extremely well and better than any Hornet that's gone before. https://dbmk.co.uk/about Hope that helps... Iain

Beautiful work Chuck! Iain

Apparently Spit XIVe on top of a Seafire 17. Discussion includes Spitfire PR.19 and Seafire 47 as *possible*. Let's not count chickens until we see their other promised releases - but all quite exciting. Iain

Thanks for the interest everyone - she's taken way too long... Iain

I've only gone and done some actual model making! Plucked up the courage to get some masks I'd drawn up, and cut on the digital cutter, onto the scratch built 1:32 Dart Kitten model at last - and get a coat of red on over the silver. Has come out OK I think. Need to do the wing registration letters next, masks for those are ready to go - maybe tomorrow evening... Have fun! Iain

From memory the D520 builds nicely - a really good introduction to short run kits. I was really excited when it was released - and to see their subsequent releases of French types - subjects overlooked for far too long. Look forward to seeing your build Denis! Iain

It was a reasonable kit when released - I built one at the time and enjoyed it. But release of the Tamiya F-16 made the other kits redundant IMHO. As has been said - decals will probably be quite good. Again - as others have said - the F-15 they did was the best of the Revell bunch and brilliant for the time - pretty much state of the art at that time - we all drooled over it! Iain

And he makes it look so easy Chuck! When we know it really isn't... Iain

Great progress Mike - pity about the prop - probably worth contacting Lukgraph? Iain

Looks great Max - especially love the sheen on the paint finish! Iain

Cor, that's something really special Peter!! Iain

Cracking bit of film - thanks for sharing! Iain

I have one - which I'll slowly build as a B-26K - but only because it's one of my favourite types and a step forward from the ID Models vac I started about 30 years ago. There won't be much of the original kit left by the time it's finished (if it gets that far). Iain

Beautiful build Jim - really like that! Iain

Was going to try and finish this over Christmas (it's been a looong time since I finished anything) - but we were all a bit poorly over the break - and no modelling was done. Catching up today and first colour is on: Xtreme Metal 'White Aluminium' over MRP Fine Grey Primer - and not looking too shabby I think. Tailplane and rudder loosely placed: The 'White Aluminium' works well for a silver doped finish IMHO. Front cowl ready for scribing and a polished alloy finish: I've been drawing up the wheels, legs and engine in Fusion 360 - test prints of some of the draft parts below - still some more work to do: Next up some minor tweaks and then masking ready for the fuselage red - have drawn up masks for the aircraft registration. Really want to get this one off the decks in the next few weeks. Model on dudes! Iain

Wonderful, just wonderful... Iain

I really daren't look at, let alone photograph and share, my 'to-do' pile - so I'm not desperate to know what their next release will be - but I'll probably buy it anyway... As to the 'mystery kit being a Vb - they did say 'not a Spitfire' - although I do hope they'll do a Vb at some point in the future (actually - I think that's quite likely IMHO). An early Hurricane, or Defiant, would be happily received by my loft space, however. Iain

Looking good Max! Iain

As others have said - try the CA Debonder first - may need a bit of a soak in the stuff - and some picking away with a cocktail stick/toothpick etc. as it softens. If you've not used before you might be surprised at the performance of it - usually works really well! If that fails - then go with a mechanical intervention. Iain