Lewbud: Those invasion stripes look awesome! I'm a little embaressed to admit I partly chose the scheme for mine due to her being a post-war aircraft with no invasion stripes to screw up! 

Rocker: That blows but as you said it shouldn't be too visible. I brush a little diluted white glue like Elmer's on decals when I have an issue like that. 

I had a little time this weekend to work on the SE5.  I got all the lines tied up and ready to rig when I set the top wing on.  I decided to pre-tie the rigging this time for the last Roden kit I built, the Albatross, the wing braces were too weak to put tension on when tying the lines.  This process is reminding me a lot like when I built a ship in the bottle.  

Scottrc:  That's a neat looking jig you've got there for your SE5- good luck with the rest of the rigging!

Thanks for the decal tips, everybody! Gamera I think I'll try elmer's glue next time like you suggested- I doubt it'll melt the decal like the super glue did!

I did a bit more work on my Defiant tonight. I cemented the fuselage and wings together, and added the retractable fairing behind where the turret will be. The kit came with two options for the fairing- one in the "up" position and one in the "down" position.  

Scott, great idea for tyhe rigging, and love that jog. Really coming together.

Looks good rocker, i didn't know it had a retractable fairing. Nice touch by Airfix.

Scott: WOW, not sure I'd have the patience to rig something like that. Looks awesome! 

Rocker: I didn't know about the retractable fairing either- nice progress. 

its been awhile here are my lastest pics.

Good to see this again Nick, looking forward to seeing the scheme.

Ohhh, cool job there on the masking.

Thank you I try to trace the putty to the camo on the paper 

Started the installation of the upper wing.  As I suspected and had experience with Roden's Albertross, nothing aligns nor is correct in length.  The center struts are a good 3/16" too long.  Outer ones have warpage.  Thank goodness for making this jig, otherwise I would have sent this kit to the compactor.  Now to start cutting and shaping new struts and hopefully get this wing on without losing my sanity. 

Quite a task you have there Scott, look forward to seeing how you fix it.

That looks awesome to me Scott. I'm amazed just to see how you work with all that rigging. 

Thanks all for the supportive comments, this kit has been insane as far as fit.  

Its not great, but its together, here are the pics of the wing now fully attached and glued up.  I could not have completed this without the jig, it was a huge help.   Now the rigging will commence.

I just find that amazing Scott- I'd probably end up going sucidal and hanging myself with the thread......

BTW: My apologies for the lack of photos but I think I said the lens on my phone broke and I replaced it but it won't focus properly now. I finally got my camera up and working so now I can use it. Though it has fewer megapixals I still think it takes better photos.

Anyway here's the Tempest with the leading edge ID stripes. I masked them off the other day and sprayed the grey undersides this weekend. Hopefully I'll have some photos of that up soonish.

Nick - Can't wait to see the paint job on your Meteor!

Scott - You've got patience, bud. That looks like one tough kit and you're turning it into a masterpiece!

Gamera- Great progress on your Tempest!

I spent some time on my Defiant again tonight. I attached the tail fin, stabilizers, air intake and radiator. Every piece went on without any fuss, though I'll have to use a bit of filler around the air intake. I ended up having to show my progress to the "boss" for his approval.

That Defiant has a lot of fine detail for such a small kit.  I see you need cat permission to move to the next procedure as well as I do.

Looks cool Rocker. You guys have way better eyesight than I to build in 1/72nd. 

Theuns, 

If you can wait, Airfix is doing that aircraft in their next B-17 release.  Will have all the necessary antennae for the aircraft of 100 Group (223 and 214 Sqn.).  Don't normally do bombers, but this one has piqued my curiosity.

Scottrc,

The SE-5 is looking great!  I was wondering if that was a Wing nuts kit, but then I saw it was the Roden.

Gamera, 

The Tempest is coming along nicely.  Can't wait to see it done!

Mine is all marked up and ready for the dull coat.  Really should take some pics and get them posted.  Got excited when I found decals for Beamont's Typhoon, the I saw it was for the car door version. Will be using the kit decals.

lewbud, are you talking about the Fortress Mk III. Its already been released so should be there with you soon. I have been thinking about that. I already have a Fort I, but that would make a nice addition. I already have an aircraft for Oulton, but another would not be un welcome.

G, rocker, some nice progress there.

Thanks guys and looking forward to the photos Lewbud.

Anyway, here's where I currently stand.

Sorry, not the greatest photos. I did pre-shade the bottom but it's hard to make out in the photo.

Lewbud,

I would give my left thumb for a Wingnuts kit, instead, I got just the "nuts".

Looked at the plane last night after I got home from work and saw something not right.  The left strut popped off becasue the top wing had a warp in it.  I ended up using a hair dryer to take the warp out and now the wing is reglued and back to normal.  

I also noticed a slight twist in the rear of fuselage, but I'm going to live with it.  

Bish

lewbud, are you talking about the Fortress Mk III. Its already been released so should be there with you soon. I have been thinking about that. I already have a Fort I, but that would make a nice addition. I already have an aircraft for Oulton, but another would not be un welcome.

 

Bish,

That's the one.  I have the Revell/Germany B-17 in the stash, but this one is different enough to pique my curiosity. I will keep an eye out for it on this side of the pond.  

I'm back onto my 1/32 RAF pilot figure by Masterbox. I've used the Andrea Miniatures Blue Uniform paint set for the uniform, mainly to see how it works out as I've never used one of these sets before. I'll make some more adjustments and then proceed. The rest of the colour are just roughed in undercoats, except for the blue smear on his face :)

This is my first attempt at a different photo service host, so please bear with me if its problematic.

]

cheers

Tony

I've gotta say I love the aircraft being built at the moment, that SE5a, the Tempest, the Defiant, nice work everyone.

Cheers

Tony

lewbud

 

 

Bish

lewbud, are you talking about the Fortress Mk III. Its already been released so should be there with you soon. I have been thinking about that. I already have a Fort I, but that would make a nice addition. I already have an aircraft for Oulton, but another would not be un welcome.

 

 

 

 

Bish,

That's the one.  I have the Revell/Germany B-17 in the stash, but this one is different enough to pique my curiosity. I will keep an eye out for it on this side of the pond.  

 

From what i can tell, it would need some work to do a Fort III from a standard B-17G kit, so its nice to see this done.

Nice to see you back at this Tony, the figure is looking good. The blue looks just right.

Bish,

I think you're right, it would take some work to make a Fortress III out of a G.  The first thing that caught my eye when I was looking at it on the Airfix website, was what I thought was the chin turret. Then I downloaded the instructions, and it looks like the nacelles are configured for something other than the Pratt & Whitney.  The nacelles in the instructions look like the ones on the radial powered Lancaster.  Don't know if this is true or not.

I am not sure what the deal is with the engines, couldn't find any info on it. I think the bump under the chin is an H2Sradaras carried under the Lanc. And i notice there is no ball turret either.