Oh, wow 1943Mike, it looks like you're really set up to do this build.  I like the choices of your AM additions.  Please, don't worry about mistakes, every single build I've completed had an issue, some small, some major.  FSM Forum members are fantastic!  They've helped me grow and teach me (Some in real time) not just how to finish my kits but they have helped me in life as well.  I'm excited for you, and can't wait to see your WIP.

Toshi

I forgot to add, I started collecting coins and stamps while residing in Europe.  I eventually sold my whole collection for the purpose of monetary funds for relocating Mrs. Toshi and my two children.  At the time, I knew that I was seriously investing in my family.  Did it payoff?  Hell yah!!  

We did so well in that I got to start my collections again.  I've also started to collect rare football cards as well.  I started collecting football cards in 2012.  I have some really great cards with autographs, just to throw some names out, Johnny Unitas, Peyton Manning, Andrew Luck.  I also started a very small collection of baseball cards.  These cards are from 1913-1915, called T-206.

Currently, as is obvious is that my collecting has ceased, and I now have focused all of my attention in building model kits.  Why model kits?  Besides being therapeutic, I enjoy the fact that when a kit is completed, I can tell myself that I did that.  This is such an exciting hobby.

Toshi

Toshi and Lawdog,

I'm going to be counting on you guys to give me some tips and encouragement along the  way. Like I said in my original post, It'll probably be a work in progress where I'll do some portion of the kit, run into trouble and ask for advise. Toshi could build 5 kits (maybe a dozen) before I'm done with this one .

Mike

Very nice, this has been a model on my "must get oneday" list for many years. Will be tuned in.

Theuns

Mike, Glad you're here.

I'm not much into double wingers but the Fairey Swordfish is the one I do want to build because of the famed history of this fine aircraft. You chose an excellent kit in the Tamiya and I am looking forward to your WIP.

I am a slow builder as well ,since this time of year has me out-of-doors with car repair, boat repair and especially fishing before it gets too hot here in Florida, after which I retire to the in-of-doors and the air conditioned hobby room.

Nice to see you do a wip Mike. Wish you good luck. I've read the main thing with this kit is to just make sure you dont' forget to open up any holes for struts/rigging, and ordinance. And...Cliff Clavin built this model too?

Well, you did chose a good kit for your first WiP, as a newer Tamiya she shouldn't have many issues. And take your time, it's a hobby- no point in working on it if you'd rather be doing something else. 

Redstang,

I was actually searching for the floatplane version but couldn't come up with one (at least in a reasonable price range).

Gamera,

I am certainly going to take my time on this puppy. I have a feeling it'll be a very entertaining/enjoyable build for me.

Nathan,

Cheers!! No, I don't think Cliff was into plastic models .

Jay Jay,

Looks like our modeling seasons are reversed. Even with a chance for rain today I'll likely take a 3 to 5 mile walk in our wonderful Minto-Brown Island Park here in Salem today. After months of rain and cloudy weather any day that's likely to be mostly dry is a good day to get outside. .

Theuns,

Thanks for chiming in. I hope this WIP won't be too much of a disappointment to many of you who are planning on dropping by.

Mike

Mike, if I can, you can! Some of the same ailments with hands, etc. Great fun, though. Looking forward to seeing your work.

Oh, a plane that I want in my wish-list....looks like a lovely kit, I'll be watching this one come together!

Cheers

Martin

Martin,

Please understand that this work in progress may be a bit too rough around the edges (read amaturish) for viewers with modeling skills such as yours.  

I've enjoyed watching several of your posts and try to pick up a tidbit of model building tips from your work as I do try from so many others on this site. I am, however, not in the same modeling ballpark.

I am expecting my build to be fun.

I just ordered some paint from Hobbylinc some of which is back ordered through the end of June so I may have to try mixing some of my existing paint stock for parts of the cockpit. Don't expect perfect color accuracy from this project.

As a child I went to summer camp near Kean, NH. I recall climbing Mt. Monadnock using the white dot trail. Are you anywhere near that part of the state?

Mike

OK, I've done a little work on the cockpit but I've also, in my zeal to take a few pictures of my progress, broken off the machine gun from its bracket. I've glued the gun back on but I've taken the liberty of adding some CA/acrylic powder to the join that will no longer conform to reality. Too bad but on we march!

First, some pictures of my work area. It's the small, second bedroom in my condo that I've converted to my hobby room.

Then follow several pictures in order of my progress. I've used a few parts from the Eduard PE set - mainly got it for the seatbelts (that's another story - coming up).

I mixed up Tamiya paints to get something that might be passable as the interior green in the Swordfish cockpit area. I used XF-71:3, XF-57:1, and XF-58:1 if anyone's interested.

Back to the seatbelts - I added the pilot's belts without too much difficulty although I left out several parts that were just too tiny for me to work on - remember shaky hands, etc.? Then a couple days ago, when I had most of the parts of the cockpit ready to assemble, I did so without having added the seatbelts to the gunner's chair . Yesterday I made an attempt to add the belts that are attached to the aluminum floor and draped over the gunner's seat. I think I spent at least a frustrating hour trying to pre-bend them in a way that would allow them to drape over the seat and lie more or less flat on the floor of the pit. Getting them in there after having glued the sides of the cockpit together was a lesson in paying more attention to thinking ahead .

I'm not very neat and tidy - I try, it just isn't in my DNA to do the fastitiously realistic work I see done on this site all the time. But I'm enjoying myself immensly while trying to get this stringbag together.

Mike

First shot of bench

Wider shot of bench and desks - shot #2

Paint booth and bathroom - shot #4

Hobby room closet stash - shot #5

Hi Mike,

The Swordfish is looking great !  Really nice details, your color mixing of interior green looks right on, the cockpit looks like I could climb right into it, and the photography is gorgeous.  

So just one question . . .   remind me again what you you said was gonna be "rough" about these posts ?

This is some really nice work.

Chris

Thank you Chris!

I know where the "rough" areas are and try not to show too many of them in the pictures. All in all I'm happy enough with my progress - mistakes, omissions, et al. So far the build has been lots of fun. I'm a little worried about some of the upcoming steps but I'll deal with each slowly and as methodically as I can.

I very much appreciate the encouragement.

Mike

Nice detail on the office for sure.  You're more fastidious than you let on.

Lawdog and Jay Jay,

Thank you both.

My challenge now is trying to figure out what painting and decaling comes at what point in the build.

Mike

OK, I have to walk away from this build for a few days. I've just tried to dry fit the fuselage halves over the cockpit assembly and, at first, I couldn't even get it close. I filed off some plastic from what looks like a radio (I really have no idea what it is) on the starboard side of the fuselage and it got a little closer but no cigar. Then I filed away some of the tubing of the pit where I thought there might be a problem. My next try was a very, very tight dry fit. When I get back to this build I'll have to put my hobby clamps to work to hold the assembly when I go for the glue.

Mike

You're heading in the absolute right direction.  Everything looks great, as for some parts not aligning, sometimes things need to be cut, sanded, or scribed.  That's just the nature of the beast.  

I'm looking forward to this build!

Toshi

Sorry for the delay in updates. I've been doing other things when the weather permits.

I do have a very small update. I've gotten the engine done (AFAIK) and have started working on painting the fuse, wings, elevators, etc. It's taking me a loooong time! I'm on my third session of having masked, A/B'd, stripped, masked, A/B'd .... you get the idea. I'm at a point where, even though my little hand painted touch-ups are showing differently than the air brushed portion of the paint job, I'm probably going to give up and move on to the next steps.

I used Future on the fuselage to get ready for a little wash on the panel lines and to prepare for some decals but I over zealously put future on the bottom wing sections as well . C'est la vie. I don't think it'll matter once I've sprayed flat clear on all my paint work. I just finished air brushing the gray on the top wings this morning so I haven't sprayed them with Future yet.

With regard to my last post where I was having difficulty fitting the cockpit into the fuselage, as you can see I managed to do it - but with a lot of clamping, holding sections together with every available means I could find and it is finally together. I'm certain it must have been my fault for somehow not putting the pit together correctly. Oh well, it's done.

Just two pictures today.

Mike

Looks great.  Quit shortchanging yourself, the work you are showing is on par with what everyone else puts up on here.  As long as you are enjoying it and are happy with it, no one else matters, but it looks just dandy.  Just hope my Gato's and Enterprise come out as nice.

Looking great Mike . I have the MK1 version so I'll be intrested to see how it goes together.

Steve

This build is really looking top notch. Regardless of what you feel are issues, they are not coming out in your work.

BK

BK, Goldhammer, and Steve,

Thanks for the encouragement. And, I AM having fun working on this aircraft. It's meeting or attempting to meet the challenges that arise in building a kit that is most gratifying. I guess my style of writing a WIP includes the glitches and foibles that I come across and that I create as well as whatever information I might deem useful to those who would attempt this puppy in the future.

Mike

Mike, First, I am not seeing any rough spots at all, all I am seeing is spot on.  The engine in particular looks amazing.  Good job, and good luck with getting the fuselage together.  You are doing it the right way, dry fit until it works, then glue.  (I've done it the other way too often, and it really doesn't work)  Keep going, and I look forward to seeing more of your Swordfish.

John

Beautiful job on the engine and camo painting on the wings Mate. The camera didn't catch any mistakes that I can see.

That is some of the best detailing I've seen in a cockpit.  You're doing a fantastic job thus far!

Toshi