Rick Griewski

A tail end Charlie caught again?  Another Spitfire going down out in the background.  Out for an oil check again are we?  Hmmmm?

So, making a start...
 
First thing was to establish likely interior colours: looking at period photos, along with other sources, I've decided to do most of the interior below the inner cockpit sill in aluminium (AK Extreme metal used for this), areas above the inner sill in interior grey green (Xtracrylix) and fabric areas, that would have had a red primer applied externally, an off red/pink colour - probably too light - but keeping things simple I've used the MRP colour for the primer used on Corsair aircraft (not that you'll be able to see it).
 
Here's the kit cockpit - with compass from the quinta set, and a few items from the AIMS photo-etch:
 

 
One modification I have done is to the area behind the seat.
 
ICM provide a flat plate, with a 'bridge' doing the middle for the seat harness anchorage. In reality this 'bridge' was open on either side and you can see into the radio compartment.
 
So, this has been cut out and structural elements re-created using styrene sheet. I'm drawing up a TR.9D radio set in Fusion 360 at present, as part of my attempt at learning to use the software, and I'll print out on my resin printer. Not a lot will be seen - but it will be there if anyone looks.
 

 

 

 
Quinta throttle quadrant details - levers will be added later...
 

 
Lower panel in place underneath the cockpit sill:
 

 
And the main panel - I love the detail - and the reflection from the 'glass':
 

 
Many times larger than it is in reality:
 

 
Dry-fit mock-up to check everything fits together:
 

 

 

 
That's it for now - I'm going to try and do a little more each week - and not get too worried about things - just build...
 
I'm hugely impressed with the ICM kit, everything's been a joy to put together so far! 
 
Iain

Before I started working on the wings and drop tanks, I figured I better get a sense of what challenges I was going to have installing the resin cockpit. After cutting off the pour blocks and doing a bit of sanding and shaving of parts, I dry fitted the cockpit into the fuselage, and the fit of the cockpit is very good.
 


 
I'm going to work on the resin gunsight coaming next. A little plastic surgery is need to remove the kit coaming, and hopefully, the resin replacement will drop right in.
 
Thanks for looking in on my build.
 
Mike 

Thanks everyone!
 
I had read that the parts of this kit are thick, and they definitely are! One plus of the excessive thickness is greater surface area for gluing the parts. 
 
First issue of the kit to deal are the gun port panels. I have the AMS Resin replacement panels, but after comparing the dimensions of the resin replacement panels against the kits panels, I felt the replacement panels would be more work (and frustration) than they would enhance the look. So, I decided to try and improve the kit's gun panels. To fill the gapping holes in the kit's gun panel (on the right), I glued pieces of styrene strips to the backside of the gun panel (on the left). I think this simple fix helps tremendously. I did the same for the right side once I saw how it improved the appearance. This next step for improving the gun panel was taking a drill bit and routing the gun ports out a bit to improve their shape. 
 
 
 
After completing the gun panels, it was closing up the machine gun panels. Not a fan of open panels. The panel fit wasn't bad. The only issue was a slight warpage to them, but nothing that was too difficult to deal with.


 
Next up will be the wing assembly and the wing tanks.
 
Thanks for looking in.
Mike

My most productive year, was 2020, during which I boxed off 5 kits in total. A couple from the shelf of doom, and the remainder started fresh from the box. 

No other year has been so prolific, either before or after. 

Probably average 2 a year, all 1/32 scale of course. 

3 in 1997.
completed 2 non-LSP during 2023! 

I decided to build Radu’s kit.  It is very nice!
(the Hasegawa kit is for a Ki-100 conversion)

3 in 1997.
completed 2 non-LSP during 2023! 

3 in 1997.
completed 2 non-LSP during 2023! 

I know it may not matter to many of you, but I lost a good old friend this past weekend, at the age of 100. He was a veteran of the USAAC in WW2, served with the 474th FG, 428th FS, as an assistant crew chief working on P-38 Lightings. He was fantastic human being, and a good friend, and I will miss him. Archie Lee Stuck. He is the reason I love P-38s so much.
 
Tim

Yes, I'm a major slouch. Does it count that I probably started 50?

Finish them? Why on earth would I do that?
 
I'm rather embarrassed to admit to only two completed in the last ten years.

Aires wheel well part installed.
 

Thank you all for your messages.
Today I took care of the two "60s".
If you look at the photos, you can see a thin border around the 6 and the 0 :
 


I decided, in agreement with myself, that this border was red like the star's border.
With this in mind, I placed the masks and painted them white, placed the internal masks and painted them red:
 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Unfortunately, the "60" on the right-hand side was completely wrong: the "60" was leaning backwards and the "60" was squinting between the white and red parts: I had no choice but to redo it entirely (You can see it clearly in the photo above.).
The right "60" completely redone:
 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 

I decided to build Radu’s kit.  It is very nice!
(the Hasegawa kit is for a Ki-100 conversion)

I use the image hosting site for family etc too.  $8 a month and it keeps my photos and brain organized. 

100% on the mark. My budget doesn't allow for paying for an image hosting site, assuming I am still competent to take the pictures. It's quite condenscending assuming that non image-posters do not build. 
 
Tony 
 

That’s a shame Nick - your builds are well worth looking at - really nice work.
 
Kind regards,
Paul

I decided to build Radu’s kit.  It is very nice!
(the Hasegawa kit is for a Ki-100 conversion)

Sutherland:  I would like to see ICM produce a full length fuselage with full interior. This could be similar to the Lancaster nose but full length; there is much more to see within the whole plane.  Skipping the rest of the airplane or doing fuselage first then the whole kit would I am betting should get it into our hands faster. I do not need a clear fuselage but it would keep the dust out.  

I decided to build Radu’s kit.  It is very nice!
(the Hasegawa kit is for a Ki-100 conversion)

I decided to build Radu’s kit.  It is very nice!
(the Hasegawa kit is for a Ki-100 conversion)

How quickly a thread wanders from the OP’s original and, as usual, develops into yet another boring wishlist. 

Haha! It’s Already in reverse- noted. Got threads crossedAs you were. Continue with speculation wishlisting from rumourmonger!