Rick K

Closing things up. Fuselage buttoned up and wings glued in place. A little sanding and scribing. Masking cockpit and wheel wells complete and little more surface prep. After breaking blast tubes off multiple times I've folded some paper and taped to tings to protect further breakage. Black from the attack. After primer Gunze Finishing Surfacer 1500 Black cures will begin masking for ID bands.

Prop, engine and drop tanks get a little love. While drying rack is full I'm going to work on the prop. Engine work complete abd test fitted in the cowling and prop. Prop tips painted MRP122 Yellow. Another test fit this time with the fuselage. Prop boss/spinner painted MRP135 White and masked with tape and maskol. Tips masked and ready for a shot of Tamiya FX69 NATO Black. After the NATO Black cures more masking to paint the prop hub Alclad 102 Duraluminum. Making removed and I'm happy with results. Test fit with engine.

Details picked out with toothpick, pointy brush using Vallejo Model Color. After dry, sealed with varnish then Mig dark wash highlights all the details.

My OCD has kicked in. Drilling out blast tubes with a .35mm drill.

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PB is driving me crazy. Not sure what is going on. The Thunderbolt Mk.II images appear to be the only ones being affected in my library. Stay tuned.

My brother (NPS Ranger/Historian 14 years at Gettysburg) went to school with Mark Nesbit, the original Ghosts Of Gettysburg authority. The stories these two would weave (mostly accurate) after a few beers were always great to listen to. Clearly while not on duty. I completed this build in about 40 days. I'm posting WIP first before I post finished build.

I chose the M for one reason, 5 Dollars. Yup, If someone looks at this completed build and note the reduction gear case I'll give them a well deserved "Atta Boy" or "Atta Girl". Also, fin fillet not being used. Where you from in PA? I was raised in Gettysburg.

Finally got around to sorting out my photo issues. Cutting apart the landing gear doors...1:72 scale. Various priming done on pit, interior engine, etc Interior Green for...the interior. Gunze 302. Yellow Chromate for wheel wells, inside cowling. Gunze 27.

You bet your baklava!

it already finished (about 40 days) still a record for me. I need to post WIP and RFI images. Issues with my iPhone are holding me back Stay tuned.

Great work on that rigging! Cross eyed for sure. Very well executed.

Finally got around to photographing these two together. Stay safe and model on. Best - Rick

Kevin - So wen are you gong to start the 1:32 KH Mirage 2000?

I picked this up at our club meeting for USD$10, no decals. Always wanted to do a 1:72 HAF Mirage to accompany my 1:72 HAF Viper. No decals? No problem. These are left over from my HAF Viper build. My scheme s/n 245. Tanagra AFB 2003. Cut off a few parts, clean and some PE trim. Take a break and play with some 1:48 ordnance for another build.

While at the Old Dominion Open IPMS Richmond, VA show I was asked (challenged actually) to do a P47 build as a group with several members of our local IPMS club. The challenge was to finish the build in 30 days. If I can find an inexpensive kit at the show I'm in. 30 minutes later I found this gem for USD$5. My scheme will be a RAF Thunderbolt Mk.II SEAC. Parts cleaning begins. Really? Must cut the landing gear doors?

This worked for me: MRP 122 RAF Yellow, MRP 183 Oxford Blue, MRP 123 RAF Red. I read (i forget the source) the MRP 124 RAF Blue is early war. Late war RAF blue is darker. The RAF "Brick" Red is also an early war. Not sure if my selection is accurate. I'll be happy to be corrected by anyone smarter than me, flood gates now open. I'm pleased with results. Model on...Rick ___________________________________________________ All national markings, ID bands will be painted. Using Maketar masks the 4 color roundel application begin. A base of MRP135 Insignia White is applied for roundels, fin flash and ID bands. I'm applying markings using this method as I want to keep paint build up to minimum. MRP122 RAF Marking Yellow is applied. This late war aircraft, flown by New Zealand ace Evan Mackie, will have C1 roundels in all 6 positions. After yellow cures masks are carefully positioned. MRP183 Oxford Blue is applied. I spend much time deliberating on the correct "blue" for late war RAF a/c. I took the FICE approach and I'm pleased with my decision. The blue has cured and more masks carefully placed. I applied liquid mask on all tape seams to insure no bleeding. MRP123 RAF Marking Red completes the national insignias. Masks removed. No bleeds, no lifting. Win, win.

This was my fix for my "Slick Chick" build. Good luck and have fun: THE DOCTOR IS IN carefully removing the engine mount after fuselage is glued and cured, the one piece canopy (I'm using the two piece option for both final builds) is very handy to protect the pit during surgery... using 1.6mm styrene angle 3 pieces are cut and glued, port and starboard sides are easy to position however, the critical bottom piece is dropped 1mm. initial test fit (with complete engine parts) shows an acceptable fit... a final test fit of engine mount then... add a .05mm styrene card placed to recapture space lost from the "saw off" and give the repositioned engine mount some glue area... engine mount positioned and glued... styrene card shows "saw off" recovery... and the final fit is good...

The largest 1:32 a/c turnout I ever saw was 2016 ODO there was about 2 dozen entries. It's a combination of Jet and Prop aircraft, any era, which may lighten the 1:32 a/c entries at this show. The 1:32 rigged a/c are combined with 1:48. The other 1:48 and 1:72 a/c are well segregated in this type of categories 1:72 Single Engine Prop Axis Single Engine Prop Allied & Other Nationalities Multi Engine All Nationalities Single & Multi Engine Jet All Nations 1:48 Single Engine Prop Axis Single Engine Prop USAAF/USAF Single Engine Prop USN & Other Nationalities Multi Engine Prop All Nationalities Single Engine Jet All Nationalities Multi Engine Jet All Nationalities Rigged Single & Multi Wing Some if these "small" scale builds were just stunning.

Thanks Gazzas! Thanks Mike. Yes, this build almost got 86'd multiple times. Thanks Hubert Thanks Ray. That which didn't kill me just made me stronger. Thanks! Thanks Scale32

bravo on the hairspray work. looks great. one of these days I'm gonna drink the hairspray, chipping, oils kool-aid.

PM inbound. ------------------------------------------------------------- Here's the article! https://www.largescaleplanes.com/articles/article.php?aid=3401 Cheers, Kev ----------------------------------------------------------- Thanks Kev!

Color this done. RFI link here.

A few detail shots.

The Fa330 Bachsteize (Wagtail) always interested me as a unique aircraft with an equally unique mission. This was towed aloft to about 400ft (120m) by the U-Boat so the pilot could see beyond the horizon view (25 nautical miles) and report any enemy activity. Stored in 2 water tight compartments by the conning tower a team of 3 can assemble and disassemble the Fa330 in about 20 minutes. U-boat commanders disliked the Fa330 as the prolonged time on surface make their boat venerable to an air strike or detection by enemy ships. The Fa330 was abandoned in the North Atlantic due to allied air superiority but continued use in the South Atlantic and Indian Ocean. The only recorded successful use of the Fa330 was 5 August 1943 by U-177 on the Indian Ocean off the coast east of Madagascar. Greek merchant ship Efthalia Mari was observed by U-177's Fa330. U-177 proceeded to intercept the Efthalia Mari and sink her with 2 torpedoes. Efthalia Mari lost 1 crew of 43. U-177 did not survive the war and was sunk 6 February 1944 in Atlantic west of Ascension Island by an American P4BY-1 Liberator. U-177 lost 50 crew of 65. Not a easy build as there was plenty of angst and head scratching moments. This build also gave me an opportunity to practice rigging as a WNW bird will be landing on my bench soon. WIP link here. Build Details Replaced over a dozen tubes with styrene rod .5mm .4mm .3mm Scratch All Grab Handles on frame and underside rotors Cleats on skids Parachute Pack and all straps Turnbuckles on Outriggers on top of rotor hub Pitot Tube and mount Instrument Panel mounts Foot Pedal and Straps Rigging & Cables INFINI Medium 110 (.121mm) Black Lycra thread EZ Line Medium ANYZ Black .5mm Braided thread Brown .4mm Braided thread RB Productions P32023 Turnbuckles GasPatch Rigging eyelets Albion Aluminum Slide Fit Tubes .3mm .5mm .7mm Gunze RLM 66 RLM 76 RLM 81 Vallejo 306 Dark Rubber Tamiya XF86 Flat Clear MiG Washes Dark Wash Decals MDC Luftwaffe Instrument Dial HGW Luftwaffe Textile Belts Thank you all for your encouragement and support during this build. I don't get many opportunities to follow and respond to many of the awesome builds on this site. I wish I had the time to as there and many exceptional projects going on here at any given moment.