It's 2:15am EST.  I can't go to sleep so here are a few photos of my work this very early morning.

Toshi

With three months experience, this is what disaster I created.  At least I learned from this mistake and have moved forward.

allan

Im really liking this Silver Stang! I dont think Ive ever seen one finished like this before.

 

As to your life in Zurich:

"we were forbidden to drink milk and any green leaf vegetables"

I wouldnt have had any problems with this. Especially the leafy vegetables part. lol.

 

Toshi

Im really liking this Silver Stang! I dont think Ive ever seen one finished like this before.

As to your life in Zurich:

"we were forbidden to drink milk and any green leaf vegetables"

I wouldnt have had any problems with this. Especially the leafy vegetables part. lol.

To my fellow forum members,

Just a theraputical practice for my brain in regards to memory.  Thank you for allowing me to share this with all forum members of FSM.  

Living in Europe, was a great experience for me, especially being only 18 years old and on my own.  My first trip was with my band "Jazz Attack", I was 17 then.  I set up a bunch of gigs, we went on tour to Amsterdam, Brussels Belgium, Paris France (To perform and celebrate the 200th anniversary of Bastille Day), and finally Zurich Switzerland.  That's the year Chernobyl blew up, we were forbidden to drink milk and any green leaf vegetables.  Yah, like that really help with all that nuclear practicals floating around!

Upon returning to the US, (I lived in Oakland, California East 14th Street, the ghetto and San Fransico) I realized how much respect as well as appreciation the Europeans had for jazz artists.  You see, in America, I was a starving musician.  In Europe, I was a jazz artist.  

Two years prior to this this was the year 1982, I left my home in Hawaii for bigger and greater things.  Little did I know of the struggle to be a responsible adult.  While classmates were dating and going to the prom, I was playing in jazz clubs.  I had rebuilt a 1966 Mustang three speed in line six.  After three days of driving it around in Oakland, a drunk driver totaled my "Stang".  I sold the heap of metal to a junk man named "Humble Harold" for $700.00, and wondered what my next step would be.

Well, needless to say, I bought several suits, a backpack, the type that you take when you go camping with a nap sack, purchased a one way ticket to Amsterdam with $20.00 in my pocket and off I went.  To keep this short, I lived there until 1991.  

I just wanted to share this with my fellow brothers and sisters of FSM Forum.  I hope you don't mind nor insult anyone.  If so, please forgive me in advance.

Getting into the main subject of modeling, after a delicious dinner that my daughter prepared of which was chicken and brocolli pesto pasta, I went straight to work on my Tamiya 1:32 P-51D Mustang Siver Chrome plated Edition.  What's really cool about this build is that I can reference my previous build of the same size and scale Tamiya Mustang.  I get to correct any errors made from my previous build.  So here is an update of this evenings endevours.

Toshi

I just love working with PE!

The completed engine detail.

Much more updates to follow very soon.  Thank you all for visiting my thread.

Gamera

Very cool Toshi, I haven't commented much since I don't have that much to say here but thanks for letting us follow along.

 

Toshi

Very cool Toshi, I haven't commented much since I don't have that much to say here but thanks for letting us follow along.

M. Brindos

You know, now you may have to follow this up with a "soild gold" build lol!

 

Toshi

You know, now you may have to follow this up with a "soild gold" build lol!

Bish

Really nice there Toshi. I do like what you have done with the pit and engine. I have the same issue when taking close up pics of 72nd cockpits, the pics make it look like the Himalaya's. Seems like your daughter is onto something there.

 

Here's what was assembled after breakfast.

Toshi

These are some shots to show what the silver pigment has brought out in the chrome plated Mustang.

This pic makes it look almost like a Twin Mustang.  LOL!

Here is what's been progressing as of Wednesday.  I have only one seam/gap at an eight of an inch and that's a quarter of an inch long that I have to deal with.  Other than that, I think everything went together very well.  Just like a typical tamiya kit.  Here are the results and build progress.

Toshi

allan

You beat me to it Brandon. lol

 

Toshi,

Some paints may have pigments that make them appear grainy when taking pictures, exactly as you said. This is especially true for metallic finishes. Since the 90s Ive only used Gunze when spraying on metallics. They have really fine paint pigments.

 

One product that I fine interesting are Flory Washes.  Thank you so much for your time that you've taken out of your busy schedule in teaching me of your experience with Gunze.  You sparked a great interest in me.  Thank you sir and thank you for the read and reply.

Toshi

scottrc

Dang Toshi,  I'm away for a few days and acome back to see that you are 40% into a very complex Mustang build.  And doing it well.  In the same time, I cannot even get a simple 1/72 scale Hurricane painted.

 

Toshi

You beat me to it Brandon. lol

Toshi,

Some paints may have pigments that make them appear grainy when taking pictures, exactly as you said. This is especially true for metallic finishes. Since the 90s Ive only used Gunze when spraying on metallics. They have really fine paint pigments.

Dang Toshi,  I'm away for a few days and acome back to see that you are 40% into a very complex Mustang build.  And doing it well.  In the same time, I cannot even get a simple 1/72 scale Hurricane painted.

BrandonK

I'm sensing a trend here Toshi................

BK

 

Toshi

Here is the next procedure.

To Subaroomike,

My daughter pointed out with the same concerns you've had.  When she analyzed the situation, she said; "The pigment in the Vallejo is affecting the photo shoot to look like it's rough like you have pointed out".  

She recommended switching over from acrylics to enamels.  So I reshot everything that was AB with Vallejo 70.997 to Model Master Silver Chrome Trim Enamel 273409.  What you see below is a improvement over what was utilized prior. 

Toshi

Here is the enamel with a Testors Clear Gloss Lacquer Spray from a rattle can 1261.

I'm sensing a trend here Toshi................

BK

This is why I rarly take pics of my builds.  The camera never does them justice, lol

No, not at all.  I used primers and then Vallejo silver followed by Testors clear lacquer.  Thanks for inquiring.

Toshi

The surface of the parts you painted silver look very rough, like sand paper.  Is this so in person?

Here's a great example of seams, glue, and CA.  No issues nor concerns at this juncture.

Toshi

Building of the cockpit.

PE Gunsight

Completed cockpit and engine bay.

Jay Jay

These parts you have shown are beautifully detailed and you're doing a fine job on the construction of them Toshi.  I am watching with great interest becuse I am anxious to see how you deal with the chromed body parts . I previously thought the factory chromed parts was an attractive feature until I read the comments on this thread and realized there could be a problem with hiding the seams and glueing etc.  Good luck with that.

 

Toshi

These parts you have shown are beautifully detailed and you're doing a fine job on the construction of them Toshi.  I am watching with great interest becuse I am anxious to see how you deal with the chromed body parts . I previously thought the factory chromed parts was an attractive feature until I read the comments on this thread and realized there could be a problem with hiding the seams and glueing etc.  Good luck with that.

Here's what's been done prior to Monday Night Football MNF!  Chicago Bears vs San Diego Chargers.

Toshi

Big scale, big parts sprues. You wont see that many cockpit parts on most 1/72 planes.

Shipwreck

Toshi, now that you have all those cockpit parts primed and painted, are you planning on scraping the glue points at the join location?

 

Toshi