Haven't seen any activity on here in a bit but thought I'd help things along by at least making a post. Been caught up in a hit and run case involving my sons truck from a couple of weeks ago but managed to find the car that hit it overnight while it was parked in front of our house. What a mess. Hopefully it all wraps up nicely as far as a settlement is concerned and we get the opportunity to fix her back up. Ton of work went into the truck. 

Slowly making my way back to this build but have another couple of modeling side projects that I'm working on as well. Looking forward to more updates from everyone else.

Thanks for all the kind words, gents!  I have since completed the Corsair, and have begun the "pacific island base, complete with psp Marston matting and coconut palms....and then on to a figure or two...

I will add some new photos soon, but first, I have some Cubscout stuff to do first!

in the interim, I kinda/sorta started the Hasegawa A4M Skyhawks for The Model Geeks podcast A4 Skyhawks group build....

John: That F-16 looks good!!!!

I've had good luck with Testor's Decal Bonder- it's pretty good stuff.

Steve: Thanks for the advice mate, job done.

Fox: Ta for the info and advice mate, I'll go and have a hunt on the Internet.

GH: Thanks to you too mate.

No bad, at least you found some.  Testors no longer shows it on their website/products.

Thanks GH, I just updated my post without looking if there were any more posts below it. Sorry. My Bad.

Jim 

Stay Safe.

Testors had a decal top coat to hold them together like you described.  Might try a HL if one close by.

Edit... Just looked on Amazon.  Micro has a decal coater, looks like a brush on bottle like microsol and microset.  About $7-8.

Dodgy, thanks for following my build. 

They've always had no problems with fit and they still don't. The parts fit perfectly (as usual) but the sharp edges were rounded just enough to need some filling and sanding after gluing them together. I was planning on priming over the weekend but "best laid plans of mice and men". 

The "Decal Bonder" however is a problem. My 81 year old memory can't remember what brand it was. It was a small spray can of a clear gloss, I think, that you sprayed on the older decals and it kept them from breaking up when used. There was a slight problem with it. If you used it, you turned the sheet into 1 decal. You had to cut each one out completely separate as close as possible. I remember using it quite a few times. Looks like I used it all up. Can't find it anywhere. I think it was a white can with either blue or black lettering. Might have been Model Master. I'll keep looking for it on line as I can sure use it now.

Jim 

Stay Safe.

 I just found it. It's Testors Decal Bonder available at Hobby Lobby @ $8.95ea. and in stock. I'm going to order a couple of cans.

Thank you guys for the good word. I guess I'm gonna have to take those keys out of the ignition to keep 'er from that "joy ride" you all keep talking about.

John: Progress is looking good on that F-16. I would've only been finished with the cockpit at this point but heck.....it looks like you're almost ready for paint!!!!

Dodgy.

The first one will be fine.

All you have to do is copy my picture onto your computer. The nice thing about imageshack is you just double click on my picture and it will enlarge so you can copy it. Then you upload it to your hosting site (I have a folder called "member's models) and upload that onto the forum as usual. 

You're doing fine mate.

Beaut work mates.

Steve: That Puma is awesome fella. The masking of the clear parts and the decals would have terrified me. Your mate Buddy would be stoked. So now I believe I have to ask you which pic do you want to go into the finished builds section annnnd, how do I do that???? Sorry mate, but I haven't done this before.

Joe: Perry had the right of it mate, that thing is going to be able to be driven and lookout, cos Perry and I are going to take it for a spin! (Incidentally, if anything goes wrong, it's Perry's fault.)

Jim: That Corsair is coming right along. Although, after all that I've heard about Tamiya 1/48th aircraft models, I'm a bit suprised at the fit challenges and the filling you've had to do. BTW, what is decal bonder? I have not heard of this before.

John: Your F16 is looking great. Can't wait to see the Tiger stripes.

Gamera: I know what you're saying about sanding/filling/sanding.... I'm having that same issue with my Otaki Spit build for the RAAF GB.

Justin: Love the weathering on the underside!

Mustang: Neat idea using the push pin as your shifter! Really going all out on that interior!

Steve: Spectacular job on the puma, Buddy would be proud!

Spent a few afternoons working on the f16 and it came together great except the end of the nose broke off. The cockpit really isn't anything special. with it being so small, it is hard to make out the molded detail. Right now, it is still missing some items like the seat and control instruments, but those will be added after I lay down a coat of primer with a rattle can.

Each and every one of you are doing work that just absolutely blows my mind. I can guarantee that my build will look nothing like those on here. Had a problem with some of the joints. Instead of being flat they were rounded. Looks like the plastic was either too cold going into the mold to get down into the edges or the pressure was too low to force it in. So, I had to do a little filling and sanding on the fuselage and wings. They are ready for primer now.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/e5MvQGQ72eXDgWB86

Got the landing gear done and added hydralic brake lines with wire.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/BwPxedF1iSWt1uo67

The canopy masked and interior color followed by first coat of blue put on.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/SJYQJzSz7d344Pw68

Prop finished with paint. Manufacturers decals for prop disintegrated one after the other. The old grey matter let me down and I forgot to put a coat or two of decal bonder on them as they were old. Will be digging through spares for some more. Should have at least a dozen from old kits. 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/DqWAJEhkgXYJ4YkR8

That's it for now. Will be shooting primer this evening if all goes well. 

Jim 

Stay Safe.

That looks so good Joe, she's going to be a winner for sure!

If I may ask what brand are those aftermarket floor mats? I've got injection pin marks on a bunch of car kits and was hoping they didn't really show. Covering them up with mats would be a big improvement.

BTW: The Corsair is together. Filling seams and sanding, filling more seams and sanding, rinse and repeat. Will get some photos up when there's something worth showing. 

John: I have a strong liking to F-16's and especially when they're decked out with ordinance. Looking forward to this one very much.

Justin: What can I say? That is one fine looking Corsair. To tell you the truth I really like the dark panel lines on the bottom as it really brings out the details and has a great overall look to it. Can't wait to see her all finished up.

Steve: Steve.....Steve!!! You just blow me away with some of these teeny builds of yours man. You're such a talented and versatile modeler. Looks great buddy.

I've had some set backs this week in personal life as far as vehicles go. Will tell you all about it in a bit. 

Progress is still ongoing. Finished the center console and shifter finally. This shifter is meant to replicate the Hurst shifter that was in my Car #2 and #3. It was a great short throw shifter.

I replicated it using a push pin and started by smoothing out the mold lines in the white plastic ball and then etching out the shift pattern with my X-Acto knife and then going over the etching with a dark wash to bring out the gear pattern. Don't worry about those nasty ejector pin marks in the front corners of the flooring. They'll be covered up by the AM floor mats I'll be using. 

Thanks guys. I'll start on Hunter and his dad's build in a little while. I need to clear a few things (namely the SS gift) off the bench first.

Wow, Steve. That Puma is incredible. Well done.

BK

Oh wow that's spectacular Steve!!! I'm sure Buddy is up there looking down with a big grin!!!

Bravo my friend!!! That is one stunning Puma. You have done a miraculous job. That is indeed a very fitting tribute.

Ok, I completed the Puma.

There you go Buddy, I hope it does you proud my friend.

Justin that Corsair looks awesome. If I can get mine half as good as that I will be one very happy bunny!

keyserj I'm anxious to see how that builds up. Haven't seen the Tamiya in the international scale yet.

Justin the corsair looks awesome! Chipping looking really good. I see what you mean about the darker panel lines on the underside. i had to go back and check tho after reading that as they didn't stand out on 1st look if that means anything 

Oh cool Justin- love the fading, chipping, and stains! 

finished the topside paint ading, the weathering on the underside, and the chipping and dust effects on the prop this weekend.

not super crazy for the dark panel lines on the white underbelly, but, its there...

Also got the gear doors painted and installed, and got her up on her legs:

just a few ods and ends left, windscreen and canopy, figure, decal and weather the gear doors, etc, and i will be done with the main build.  i have some Marston Matting on  order for the display base...

Oh yeah John! Cool Viper!!! 

Joe: She's 1/48th- I'm not that good at 1/72nd either! The way my vision is going maybe I should be moving up to 1/32nd... 

Got you Keyserj. The build list has been updated.

Justin: love the aluminum chips that show through the blue.

Gamera: Your engine is much improved and looks great. 

Steve: I bet using those decals where way easier than painting the stripes on.

Mustang: That dash and interior look slick.

Finally got a Saturday off work to make a run to the LHS to pick out a kit to build. Ended up deciding on getting this f16 and will be building it for lewbud. The kit comes with tigermeet markings and I plan on painting tiger stripes instead of going with the two tone grey scheme. 

Thanks Perry, Neal, Steve, Cliff, Rob and Joe!! It's alot of work and not too much to show for now but it'll all come together in the end.

Rob: I didn't know about all the "extras" that were involved with auto building till I got into it either. Whole nuther WORLD of modeling.

Cliff: Good improvement on that engine and some really good work in that interior. That 1/72 scale stuff is just out of my league man. Hats off to you guys that can do that kind of work in that scale. 

Justin: Terrific work on your Corsair. The paint and weathering techniques turned out wonderfully. 

Joe: BANG! You nailed the interior work. Gorgeous work my friend. It truly looks like the real deal.

Cliff: The engine does indeed look much much better. Very nicely done on the OOB cockpit. It certainly looks the part. Well done.