Some great work happening here guys.  Keep the pics coming, I'm loving it. 

Ernest:  That 219 is stunning to say the least.  Can't wait to see what you have in store for the dio.

Johnny:  Good to see you again.  Been a long time.

I have one more build to finish and then I hope to restart my Ar 234.  It's been on the shelf for a couple of years so it's about time I finished it.

The He 219 diorama is done.  I got in alot of time at the bench this past weekend, and completed the figures and equipment in record time, for me that is.  Overall, I am satisfied with how the dio turned out, though I should have made the base larger to avoid the somewhat cramped look of things.  The scene shows Strüning's Uhu under repair in late July 1944.  The port engine has been replaced and the "black men" are either working on the plumbing in the cowling or stripping the damaged engine for spare parts.  The figures at the rear represent Lt Strüning and his chief mechanic in conversation. 

Enjoy the photos,

Ernest

Greif, Bravo!

BTW did you make the ladder or was it from a dio kit? I'm attempting a 1/32 Bf-109 workshop dio for the weathering GB later this year. The people look fantastic!

Cheers

Ernest: WOW, she looks great! Already said I love the Uhu, the base and the figures look great too, great job all around!

Looks great Ernest, and I actually don't think the base is too small, I like seeing all that action in one spot. I can't say that I have ever seen (in a diorama) a mechanic working on the inside of a cowling like that, very nice touch!

Ernest, Inspiring work indeed! Concur with what has already been mentioned, the smaller base focalizes the attention of the viewer on the action. Top marks for a wonderful build and spectacular dio! Thanks for sharing.

Mo

Ernest Wow that really came out great! I love the detail in the dio and the layout is perfect!

I finally got a good interior pic from a fellow modeller on another site showing the fug set up . I had a spare seat left from the dragon ju88 and got the first radar display box ,up will scratch the others next.

I did get the engines mounted and some work on the main gear. So I could paint the wheels seperate from the assembly I cut off the axles . I drilled out the legs and will insert a scratched axle for the final assembly

Here is the work that was done on my Mosquito XIII before packing up to move. 

I used the kit IP decal over the kit panel without removing the lumps and bumps it came out OK. I think

This is the way she currently sits waiting for me to finish a couple of other builds.

JOHN

Hi Casper, thank you for the kind words.  The ladder is from the Verlinden ladder set.  It is a PE set that contain three ladders to be built.  The scale might be a bit small for 1/32 though.

Ernest

Casper the Chihuahua

Greif, Bravo!

BTW did you make the ladder or was it from a dio kit? I'm attempting a 1/32 Bf-109 workshop dio for the weathering GB later this year. The people look fantastic!

Cheers

Yeah seems to be not a great deal of 1/32 dio props. Will try to make a ladder myself I think

Cheers

Ernest, fantastic diorama!  So much to look at.

Trey, you are cruising on the 189.  It looks great too.

I just got my copy of A-20 in Action today along with some Eduard pe.  I won't be able to mess with it for a couple of days though.

I took this yesterday before I sealed up the fuselage.  My camera doesn't do it justice.  I added a little bit of structural detail, ammo racks, and a raft.  I have most of the seam work done on the fuse now, and the tail is ready to add.  Dryfitting shows it to have a horrendous fit!  I hope the wings are better.  I thought I had some pics of the bottoms of the wheel wells, but I was mistaken.  I'm not sure if my camera can capture the added detail.

Ernest, you are making me think about doing a dio scene for the P-70!  What manufacturer does anybody suggest for US airfield accesories in 1/48?  I did a search on Squadron, but I didn't come up with much.  Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Again, you guys are awesome!  The build quality is very inspiring to say the least.

Cheers,

Greg

Trey - great work on the 189.  Top marks for the interior and the engines, especially fine work there!

John - the Mossie looks outstanding.  You did a first rate job on the office, it really stands out.

Greg - The P70 is coming along very nicely, though it sounds like you'll need a Tamiya build after the fit struggle on this bird to make you remember the hobby is actually fun and relaxing!    You may want to look at VLS' webpage, they have some U.S. airfield dio stuff if I remember correctly.  Another source that has some nice stuff  is the company Flightpath.  I know a number of companies make PSP matting, Eduard, Materpiece Models and VLS come to mind here, and as the P70 saw nearly all its operational use in the south pacific that might make a good base for a diorama.  You can find most of the above at online dealers like Sprue Brothers or Roll Models. 

Ernest    

Ernest,

WOW the dio looks great!

As I Hang my head in shame for not even starting yet.

Looking great guy! Earnest..

got some work done on the HO-229, some progress, some setback..

the decals really rot on this kit... I had to hand paint some of the wingwalks..

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sorry for the bad cell phone pics..

the wing walks came out ok.. then the dullcoat crazed the jet exhaust paint job.. grrrrrr

Greg,

I like the way the P-70 is shaping up great. Looking forward to seeing it completed.

John nice job on the Mossie so far

Greg the interior is looking great,nice work on the add ons!

Ernest thanks real happy with the kit engine detail

p38jl sorry to hear about the bad decals,still the wing walk dash's look great

I've been working doubles at work so not too much to report. I did get the upper instrument panel done with some scratched instrument backs(stole this idea from Ferris thanks )

P38- Looks like you did a good job despite the poor decals. I knew better on my old dragon kit so i ordered some aftermarket decals from Aims. Trey awesome job so far on the 189. How does that kit compare to the eduard 110? I'm curious as i might be adding it to my collection. Greg great to see your gettin somewhere on a tough kit, looks like its turning out good so far. I'm havin a heck of a time on the canopy of the 88. the rear half broke in two while i was trying to sand  it. Dragons clear parts are apparently real brittle. So i got an aftermarket from squadron and masked it with EZ masks after dipping in future. the vinyl masks left some adhesive residue behind after i pulled them off. not sure if you can see it in the pic or not. I'll have to try and remove it some way. Heres the rest of the progress. the decals will be going on shortly.

Nathan,

That pit looks great, I like the way you weathered the exhaust too.

thanks Trey !

Nathan... sweet !

Nathan, Wow! Nice work. Really like the shot of the pit. The work on the replacement canopy looks great. Can't see any left over masks from where I'm setting. Is the EZ mask a relatively simple technique?

Thanks for the comments guys. The EZ masks are vinyl and the instructions state that they are real tacky. they fit great, but once they're down they're down! Im not sure if i left them on too long or what. maybe 1 week or so. Goo gone didn't seem to do it, and after checking its almost like the masks tried to peel of the future, as only a q tip soaked in windex seems to remove it, and also removing the future, so i'll have to re-dip them in future when i have both canopies cleaned up again. It seems that for me canopies are the worst part of each build. I'd like to think after doing enough of them id get it right in the first shot!

Nathan

Great work guys.  Thanks for the comments too.  Thanks for the advice on dio stuff.  Just Plane Stuff makes a geat base, unfortunately, everybody is out of it.  I hope my plane isn't too big for it.

Bad decals are so frustrating.  Paint can be stripped and reapplied, but having to source new decals, if they are even still available, is an added expense and pain in the rear.

Got a little bit done on the P-70 yesterday.  The Eduard parts really help.  I spent  way too much time trying to make firewalls though.  I am slow!

Keep up the great stuff guys it is awesome.

Cheers,

Greg

Nathan, very impressed with your work in the pit and on the canopy.  I like the way you did the exhaust dampers.  I have 6 Dragon or ProModeler 88's in my stash,  now I'll have to find a G-6 too... JOHN

Ernest and Trey wow I just did a quick peek at your builds.  Outstanding.

My modeling time over the last 9 to 12 months has taken a huge hit. 

Here is the short short version.  Put my house on the market in Sept 09 did not get an offer til May 10.  Put an offer on a bigger house in May also.  The house I put the offer on was a short sale so the bank had to approve the offer.  That took 4 months.  Meanwhile the family buying my house gave me a ultimatum that he needed to move in by the middle of Aug.  Luckily the house I was buying was empty so I rented it for a month before closing. (Not many apartments I know of would take a family of four a dog and four cats). Then had all kinds of painting etc. to do around the new house.  Finally got my bench up just before Xmas.  My stuff had been packed away for almost a year.  Still have a lot to do around the house but am getting more time at the bench;. JOHN

Nathan thanks ,you're doing a great job ,the flame suppressors and office look outstanding! I really like the mottle on the spinners nicely done. The Greatwall kit is right up there with the Eduard you wo'nt be dissapointed with it.

I got the wiring on the overhead console done

I also built the diopole support from a brass tube and some stretched sprue. I'm geussing at this set up as the ref pics I've found fail to show this area,might not be accurate but I'm living with it. I drilled a hole in the floor for the hard point

then made the mount from stretched sprue

test fit is good,I'll be able to leave the tube off until the final steps,also mounted up the overhead cluster

I also replaced the cannon barrel and wheel axles with some steel rod

anybody have a clue if the mg151 in this instalation was belt or drum fed?

I'm back from training and the Bf 110 build starts tomorrow.  I ordered the decals today from Peddinghaus.  I also picked up the Verlinden update set.  Wish me luck!

Nathan and guys, great lookin' work!

Cockpit of the P-61 is slowly coming together, hopefully will have photos soonish!

Gamera

Nathan and guys, great lookin' work!

Cockpit of the P-61 is slowly coming together, hopefully will have photos soonish!

You're doing the P-61? Have you seen that Vector's been making some new goodies for it? 

Satch looking forward to seeing the 110 started

Gamera thanks

I tried some plasti-pair to mold up the Fug radar boxes,I use the stuff to repair the fairings on my race bike figured it would work on this application

molded it into blocks

then cut to size added the details and paint

this should just about wrap up the interior aside from the schrage music instal

Trey, Wow! The office looks great! Nice work on the scratchin'. Thanks for included the photo's too. Looking forward to seeing more!

 TempestJohnny, Congrats and best wishes with the new home! I can relate to having the bench packed away. Hope to see progress soon!