Hey Gary she looks superb! I wouldn't worry too much about the engines, you got the aluminum finish right and that's what I expect most people are going to pay most of their attention to! 

Thanks, Gamera!  I've been rather slow in finishing her.  I had an accident while masking the wing and pulled up part of the decal.  Luckily, I have enough letters to cobble together some replacement, but it's a hassle.  Just a little more, and she'll be finished (I hope).

Gary

That is a pain with the decals Gary, especially with how well it's all coming together. 

It's a tough job to get them settled into the corrugations in the first place.

(Slow on the response due to vacation)

Oh mama mia!!! I was thinking this started in Oct or Nov and I had a couple of months left to go!!! 

I pulled out the Type 89 and started on the pin washes today. Not sure I'll make the deadline but I'm moving again in any case... 

Deep breaths Cliff, deep breaths!

The builds just had to start by August 1, finish any time.

Thanks Piers! 

Actually I'm making decent progress now. I laid down the pin wash and painted the tracks today. Still not crazy about how the paint comes out but I'm going to finish her up as is instead of stripping her... 

Photos when I have something worth posting... 

Is this going to be my best work, heck no.... 

Is it going to be done by the end of the month, dunno, we'll see... 

But I am making progress. At least it does look like a tank...

That certainly does look like a tank Cliff, a good looking one too!

Thanks my friend! 

Btw I'm done!!! Will get some photos up by the end of the week! 

That's a nice job, Gamera!  Waiting to see the final photos.

As for me, I'm plugging away on the Trimotor.  The rigging is giving me fits, but I'm almost done.  With no major set-backs, I should have her finished by the 1st (famous last words).

Gary

Thanks Gary!!!

Anyway here she is. 

As usual click for a larger picture. 

That looks great, Gamera!  A superb job.

Gary

Thanks Gary! 

Looking forward to the Trimotor!

That looks great GameDay! You just don't see Japanese armor very often. If only they make one in 1/48.

Fantastic work there Cliff, it looks great!

Nice restrained weathing, muddied up well.

Great work on the base too, nice autumn leaves - are they photo etch?

Gary, we're looking forward to seeing the trimotor 

Thanks guys!!!

Waikong: There is a 1/72nd scale kit. But yeah I don't think there is a 1/48th kit. It's a pretty tiny tank in 1/35th though. 

Piers: The leaves are real leaves punched out in leaf shapes. The punches are from Green Stuff World in Spain.

https://www.greenstuffworld.com/en/101-leaf-punches

I've been very happy with the punches I've bought. 

Thanks for leave punch links, they look great. A lot cheaper than buying scaled leaves for sure!

Where I'm at on the Trimotor.  Rigging is done, which is a combination of piano wire and flexible wiring.  At the last minute, I added some exhaust rings around the two outboard engines.  Still some touch-up work to do.  She's not pretty, but at least she's about done!

I should have her finished by this weekend.

Gary

Been following and you guys are producing some great work-sorry I haven't been posting in a timely manner.  Great to see subjects that are unique.

Got started on my Spirit of St. Louis yesterday-primed and did some airbrushing today-I'll have to do some touch-up after assembly but shouldn't be too much of a hassle.

Bob

https://imgur.com/HzHHZ2F

https://imgur.com/HzHHZ2F

Gary-nice work on a very old kit.

We don't see that one built very often Pat.  There's this replica hanging in the San Diego Airport

Waikong: Yeah using leaves you get for free is a LOT cheaper than buying a pile of PE leaves. And personally I think they look better too! 

Gary: She looks friggin' awesome! As I've said before I hate the a corrogated surface like that. It's a pain to sand seams without removing the detail and a pain to put it back. Yours looks perfect! 

Bob: That's so cool! I was a bit of a Lindberg nut (the pilot not the model company!) when I was a kid. 

Gary that Trimotor is looking good, looking forward to seeing it finished!

Bob, that is a nice kit you wil enjoy putting it together.

Cliff, I have you on the front page

John-thanks for the pic-this one has been fun to research-plenty of photos available.  Son & daughter-in-law just moved to San Diego so a visit will be in order....

Gamera-I remember watching the Jimmy Stewart movie as a kid-I really need to do some reading on Lindberg's life-aware of the high/low points but need to learn more.

Piers-thank you-it looks like a fun/simple build but with a lot of detail.  Looking forward to getting the interior completed within the next day or two-after that, the rest should be quick assembly. 

Thanks, guys!  I'm looking forward to seeing her myself.  You become blind to a subject after you've worked on it for so long. 

Bob, thanks, and good luck with "Lucky Lindy's" plane!

The Ford Trimotor is finished, except for an overall coating.  Once that dries, I'll get some pictures up.  Probably tomorrow when the light is better.

Gary

"Happy days are here again!

The skies above are clear again!

Let us sing a song of cheer again!

Happy days are here again!"

And the Ford Trimotor is done.  I won't say "finished", but it is complete.

The Ford Trimotor (also called the "Tri-Motor", and nicknamed the "Tin Goose") is an American three-engined transport aircraft. Production started in 1925 by the companies of Henry Ford and ended on June 7, 1933, after 199 had been made. It was designed for the civil aviation market, but also saw service with military units.

About the Kit:  For such an old kit (1956), I was surprised at how well it went together. Except for the windscreen, which needed trimming and sanding to bring it into shape, it was well engineered.  The engines really could use an upgrade, and I did what little I could for the exhausts, but since the engines changed from the AT-4 to AT-5, I had to guess what was correct.  As for the rigging, I had to figure out how to do it, as that was something I was not expecting.  Wires on the outside of an aircraft?  Who knew? 

I went with the "TAT Maddux" decals as they later became TWA.

Anyway, I've done the best I could with her.  I hope you'll forgive my poor photography.

Thank you to Piers for the GB!

Gary

She looks great Gary! Really nice work on the NM finish and the rigging looks just right! 

Hi,

Are you going to start a new GB now that this one is reached it's end? 

You have some nice models in here and I think this is what I need to get me moving on the many models I have on the shelf. 

Gregob

I hope Piers comes up with something, he has some of the coolest ideas for GBs... 

Gary-love the tri-motor-you did a great job. 

Gamera-couldn't agree with you more-Piers has had some of the best GB's-great subjects and a lot of participation.

Did some work on the Spirit this weekend-fuselage is buttoned up and the wing is together.  Have/had some seam issues-the fuselage was not even close on top/bottom-debated on what to do-looked at the instruction sheet and it showed a rib where the seams were-found some .020" rod and filled the seam-should have been sanded thinner but I'll remember for next time.  Instructions show ribs on both sides-maybe next time.

The wing has a fit/seam on the underside that surprised me-tried some Perfect Plastic putty and primered but it wasn't a good job-did some regluing and sanding-will prime again tonight or tomorrow.

Any suggestions on how to get the machined aluminium finish on the engine cowling?  Kit decals will work but I've painted the cowling with Vallejo aluminium and would like a more realistic finish?

Here are some pics-hope to have it finished by Mon/Tue.

Here's a mockup before seam repair started-had painted the major components figuring there wouldn't need to be any seam repairs....lesson learned:

Bob