Thanks joe.

Hi Bish, looking really good, glad you went with the lighter shade of weathering. 

I see what you mean about the hoist, it serves no purpose where it is other than as a storage place when not in use.  Even considering the supplying of ammo through the top of the fighting compartment, that would still require the pulley wheel of that contraption to sit much higher so the shell clears the roof.  Maybe it's just half of a two part pully system, and the second section is stored inside?

regards,

Jack

Bish: Excellent! I'm really impressed with lighter weathering touch you achieved. It looks very good and realistic. I'm scratching my head over that little pulley system also. I'm no armor guy but, I'm struggling to figure that out. Your figures are sure looking great also Bish. You are certainly doing some nice paint work there.

Moff: No, can't say as I'm a member of Armorama. But, I'll take your suggestion into consideration and check it out.

She looks great Bish, bravo!!! Looking forward to the dio and seeing her in her element as it were.

The camo on the figures looks pretty darn good too.

As to the hoist I was wondering that since I've read these skirts were armoured rather than the sheet metal ones used on earlier tanks maybe it was used to lift them back into place if they needed to be removed to fix track damage? But looks like the hoist is only on one side and there's no way to use it on the rear skirt sections so frankly I dunno...  

Thanks guys.

Jack, that could be one possability. But it still does not seem to make sense. The Sturmtiger, which used 380mm shells, had quite a simple hoist on the back of the superstructer which could swing ammunition straight into the hull. But given the height on the E-100, useing some sort of hoist would make sense to lift such large round up that high, which is over head height. But i think G may have hit on somthing.

Joe, thanks. I am really pleased i have not obliterated the camo. Some of my armour builds have been a bit to heavily done, it some times suits the base, but it would be nice to see whats undrneath. I think with this, i have finally nailed it.

Gamera, you may be onto somthing there. There are 4 lcations that this device can be used from, 2 on each side front and rear of the superstructer. From those positions it would be possable to use the divice to at least take some of the weight of each of the sections of armour. I would not fancy working on the track with that armour just held up by the hoist,but you would have to remove all 3 sections to replace the track anyway.

So, i think its either that, or jacks idea of one part of a system to hoist ammunition.

Finally getting a chance to check in and see some of the awesome work being done. Fantastic builds guys! Some really amazing work here.

I got a chance to get a little more done on mine.
I've got all the main assemblies minus the cockpit done, thinking about scratching the current progress and detailing the he** out of it after seeing the amazing resin example.

I also got a chance to get a flight in Sentimental Journey. First B-17 ride and it was everything I hoped it would be, loud, shaky and 100% off the charts amazing!:D
Took lots of high res photo's of all the detailed fiddly bits, so if anyone is going to be building a b-17 feel free to rifle through my shots at the link below.

http://s172.photobucket.com/user/colinrickards/slideshow/B-17%20-%20Sentimental%20Journey

And snagged some video as well.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaqudbelNrgdmq0vg-BfP16D6EahQ-DtR

Got a little dusk flying in as well with my Dad in his re-fabriced and painted Stampe S.V.4c which just got back in the air about a month ago after a long fall/winter/spring overhaul.

So a few weeks of summer stuff, a little flying and a little model building and things are back to normal, a few nights a week building after the kids are in bed :)
You should see some more regular progress on my build.

Coming on nicely Colin.

But wow, we have an inside tour of a B-29 and a flight in a B-17. Theres some real lucky guys on here. Some lovcely scenery there as well Colin. What part of the US is that.

Thanks :)
Southern Ontario, just about 1/2 way between lake Erie and lake Ontario, 40min north of Buffallo, 3 hours from Detroit.
I'm hoping to get some good autum shots from the air, that's when it really looks amazing.

Got ur, didn't realise you were in Canada.

Colin: You've made some right nice progress on your 234. Stay the course. you're doing great. Must say I am righteously jealous of your opportunity to get a ride of a lifetime. I do thank you very much for the excellent photos. They're great. That's a beauty of plane your father has. What a treat.  Your photos brought back some wonderful memories of when I'd go flying with my dad in his Cessna 172 & 182. Spent many hours flying scenic flights and raft trip shuttles with him. Thank You.

Glad to say that I've got some progress to share with you all. The wings and tail planes are glued on and I've started the masking prior to prime/paint. I had to use some putty on the wing root area. Otherwise evrything has fit nicely.

Nice to see it together Joe, look forward to seeing some paint going on.

Hey Colin, I thought I'd responded to your post before but guess I didn't. Nice work there and wow I'm green with envy. Haven't been off the ground since we flew down to Orlando Florida as a kid. I need to buy a flight or three while I'm still young enough to climb into the cockpit. 

Joe: Looks great, one of my favorite all time kits. 

Thanks Gam & Bish. I've got it masked off and hope to shoot some primer today.

I'm headed over to WestFest 2016 model contest in Grand Junction, Co. this weekend. Obviously, I will not have the little Corsair ready in time. I'm going to help judge there and I'm a bit apprehensive as it will be my first time truly judging. I helped out a bit at their last contest 3 yrs ago so that will help me feel more comfortable. Next weekend is the IPMS contest in Salt Lake City and I'm hoping I can make it up for that one also but, that trip is still a bit up in the air.

Sure is a testament to the rate at which I build. It's been 3 yrs since the last contest and I only have 2 available entries that I have built in that time frame. I really need the wife unit to take a 3rd job so I can free up some bench time. Yeah, that would go over like a turd in a punch bowl. 

Here's some pics of the masking work. Done with Tamiya tape, dense packing foam and silly putty (over the head rest).

Looks good Joe! For some reason I was thinking this was the 1/48th kit, nice to see the 1/72nd one is just as good. 

Have fun at the show. I've judged a few times but don't like it. I hate having to judge one model as better than others when they're all better than the ones I build... 

Gamera

Looks good Joe! For some reason I was thinking this was the 1/48th kit, nice to see the 1/72nd one is just as good. 

Have fun at the show. I've judged a few times but don't like it. I hate having to judge one model as better than others when they're all better than the ones I build... 

 

Joe, just tell the wife unit (that still makes me chuckle) thats its for the good of mankind that you can build more. She will be doing her bit for humanity

Corsair is looking good.

Bish

Joe, just tell the wife unit (that still makes me chuckle) thats its for the good of mankind that you can build more. She will be doing her bit for humanity

I'm afraid that would create the reverse effect as it's mighty difficult to build models when one is laid up in the ER at the hospital.

Great looking weathering Bish.  The camo on the figures just might be too good I can't see their heads

Thanks Johnny. It seems the camo has worked better than i expected

Movin' right along I see there Joe.

Thank You Joe & Johnny.

The primer is on. I am quite thrilled that all seams and panel lines look clean. Wow, I don't get to pull that off very often. I attribute much of that success to using the Testors silver paint pen to check all seams first and make all corrections prior to applying the primer. 

By the way Bish, how has the pen working out for you?

Looking good Joe.

I really like it, i have been useing it on all my aircrfat, has really helped improved my seams. I have found that Tamiya does them as well which i can get over here, so i will get on of those when this one runs out.

So thanks again for that, i owe ur.

Man Joe that sure looks like a smooth coat of primer. Rattle can Tamiya? I may have to invest in one of those pens you're talking about. There's a guy in the automotive modeling realm that's put out a video or two on painting smooth automotive finishes by the name of Donn Yost. He uses MM Metalizer rattle can paints for a primer coat for the same reason you use that silver pen and delivers fantastic results in regards to smooth finishes.

That does look beautifully smooth and even Joe. 

Thank You Bish, Joe and Gam. I really appreciate it.

Bish: Glad to hear it came in handy for you. Always happy to keep you supplied with anything you need from across the pond.

Joe: No, it's not Tamiya. It is Mr. Surfacer 1200 from a can. It is really nearly sixes between Tamiya and 1200 but, I find the 1200 to give you a bit more smoother finish.