JRutman

Ok ok ok,no worries my good buddy. I was more concerned that you had got the wrong Idea. No offense at all taken on my end,believe me. I am just thoroughly enjoying watching you take it to the next level,or really the next many levels.
J

Hope you didn't take my post the wrong way.  I believe your research. I was just saying I have never seen anyone delve into the innards of the wheel and replicate the brake detail before is all. This is like the time you went whole hog on the ETC rack for the 109. Holy cow that was nice and a complete kit unto itself.  Or the inner detail on the canopy. I could go on like a little schoolgirl but you get my point,
J
J

Looks very interesting with a lot of exciting possibilities.
J

This is going to be one heck of a dramatic dio.
J

I would go with the gell medium as well buddy. The seawater in those pens was pretty dirty and you would not have to worry about transparency with the water at all. Just worry about the color and the surface sheen. Piece of cake. Cool dio idea
J

"In retrospect, I may have been pretty loose with the term Flak boat. This will actually be just an up-gunned Type VIIC/41, and not really a dedicated Flak boat."

I am glad that you came to that conclusion Kevin as I was wondering how to let you know without sounding like a know it all.
Didn't the "flak boats" have another deck added to the front of the conning tower with additional AAA?
J

Really nice progress on that tender,
J

Nice groundwork dude!
J

I built a few of those revell locs when I lived in Germany. They are nice!
J

Nice work so far. Nice to see you keep your strength up for this arduous build with a bowl of cereal.
J

Lookin really really good. The main reason I made these backdates was because I like the early versions so much better!
J

That is just brilliant work man! Iam lovin' this build.
JR

Always nice to see the figgies getting built! Nice job so far,
J

I think Steven answered this very well already.  I would only add that I built quite a few vacs from Combat. I actually prefer the ID models because they had no surface detail. It saves you the extra step of filling in the awful panel lines. There are very few vacs anywhere that have good panel lines.
  I just look at the shape and the symetry. Some combat kits had such a problem with the left side matching the right that I gave up.
J

I also got a set of liners for the helmets in case you want to show them upside down somewhere. And some beautiful Garand rifles as well !  Awesome versions and it includes wonderful bayonets as well.
 

 

Here is the squad leader finished tonight.
 

 

 

 

 

 
   Happy to answer any questions as usual,
J

Thanks all,for chiming in with such nice remarks. It was a rainy day yesterday so I got some painting done.
 
  The cost of war,
 

 

 

Here is the squad leader finished tonight.
 

 

 

 

 

 
   Happy to answer any questions as usual,
J

Here is the squad leader finished tonight.
 

 

 

 

 

 
   Happy to answer any questions as usual,
J

Too bad about the gun bay. You are correct about the shape of the bay,it was squared off. They seem to have made this part to conform to the opening of the wing cut out? Just like almost every model company and every kit used to do with the P-51 wheelbay. The compartment should conform to the wing ribs and stringers just like the way the real deal was built. This is also why one machine gun is not fitting as the bay should be squared off.
  Lots of aftermarket parts are made that violate the cardinal rule:When scratchbuilding a part,the first priority is make sure it fits!!!  THEN you complete and detail said part.
  Nice job so far Florin and I am happy to read you are making a smooth wing!!
J

You are really going to town on this old old kit. Looks good! You are correct about the Revell kit being the best start point out of a choice between Trumpy and Revell. The Revell shapes are much closer and you only have to correct the details and that is much easier.
J

I tweeked one of the older figs as I thought he looked too mono-tone. Any better?
 
 

 
In context
 

I tweeked one of the older figs as I thought he looked too mono-tone. Any better?
 
 

 
In context
 

Thanks guys,
  I have a few things going on at the same time as usual. Sort of like readin books when I used to be able to read. I would have more than a few going at once.
J

Maru!!!!Thanks for the very kind remarks!!
J