China-Burma-India Theater GB 2006-2007

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my pics. finally.

The camo looks great. Looking forward to the decals.  

Looking good Scott.  Should be a winner.

Regards,  Rick

Scott-

Tanky-nice work on the cockpit.  I love the AM P-51 but somewhere in the process, it always manages to give me problems. 

I know what you mean. It's a pretty nice kit, but I personally feel Accurate Miniatures is given undue praise. All of the major parts were warped on mine, and that's unacceptable to me.

Thanks for the comment.  

Rad, I'm not sure If it was a weather thing. All the parts were warped symmetrically- left fusel;age warped leanign left, right leaning right, about the same amount too. Same with the wings, both were warped upwards the same amount.

Fixable problems, but still irritating. The one other thing I don't like, is how it's possible to see into the plane from the tail wheel well and radiator opening. Otherwise I have to say it is  a very nice kit. 

Your P-51A is looking good, in spite of the difficulties you've had with the kit.

I decided to wait another 24 hours to be sure the Future has fully cured before putting on the decals.  I'll have some decal pics tomorrow evening. 

The decals are done!  Whew!  For the most part they went on very easily.  I brushed a little bit of future where the decal was supposed to go, dipped it in water and immediately placed it on the kit.  So far there appears to be no silvering.

I must say though the shark mouth decals were tough to get situated just right.  There are two very small decals with teeth on them that go on the very front just under the spinner.  Those are IMPOSSIBLE to put where they're supposed to go without doing at least one or two cuts so they go around the chin structures.  They're supposed to lay down with the points of the teeth inside the chin inlet. Brutal.    But somehow I survived the ordeal... barely.  Time for a cocktail! 

I need to apply a bit of micro set to get the mouth decals to settle down a bit better, but overall I'm please with the results. 

Tomorrow goes the final future coat before I attempt a light oil wash over the kit.

Nice work on the decals Scott.

Regards,  Rick

Thanks for the comments guys.  Man, I almost had a total disaster last night.  I had put some micro set on the decals and for whatever reason the shark mouth decals didn't like the initial application at all!  The wrinkled up something fierce.  I just about had a panic attack, good thing my wife walked me off the ledge. 

Fortunately, when I look at them in the morning they were almost completely smoothed out.  I put another light application on them this evening and am letting them chill overnight, so to speak.

I finished painting all the details, landing gear, wheels, pitot tube, exhaust etc.  I should be able to get them installed tomorrow. 

Once all those are attached, I can spray the flat coat.  Then there are a bagillion little clear lights and lenses that will need to go on. 

I still need to mask and spray the canopy, should be able to wrap that up tomorrow after work.  

Just about finished with this one guys. 

Tankmaster7 wrote:

We're waiting for the pictures!!!

ya, me too! 

The last two nights were consumed with helping the kids with homework and school projects.  Man, there is never enough time in the day. 

And tomorrow I have to get up at 3:15am to get our youngest son to his high school as they have a band competition in the Bay area this weekend, then they're going to Marine World on the way back Sunday. 

Anyway, I'll have some photos for ya later tonight or in the morning. 

Well, I got tired of looking at the partially completed P-40C....sooo I painted the little parts and did some work.  Still can't find the one landing gear door (the big one, of course) so I'll have to improvise at some point.  I haven't attached the canopy yet-I might do some pastel weathering so I'd need to hit it with a flat coat afterwards.  Also, I took a few moments and drilled out the exhaust-only 'overbored' two of them! 

Still some touch-up work to do, but I should have it finished soon....I hope....

Looks good Bob.

Regards,  Rick

Man, the past 3 days have been insanely hectic!  I managed to get a few minutes to upload a couple of pics (sorry I didn't have time to set up lighting etc.).  These were taken just before I attached the landing gear doors.

All that's left is to finish up the canopy, a little oil wash, flat coat and all the lights. 

Hmmm... any ideas on how I should handle the shell casing ejector ports.  Paint?  Wash?

And now off to Bully's for a Bully Burger and a brew! 

Here are a couple of shots after the gear doors were installed, and after the propeller decals were put on.

The gear doors weren't too bad, although the doors and mechanism that opens and closes those doors was a bit fiddly, I managed to get it all together without too much trouble.  It does take a little patience and a steady hand. 

The decals on the propellor went on well, however I had a small problem with one of the stencils near the root of one of the blades.  I had forgotten to spray the propeller with Future and for some reason the last one I put on was a little crooked, but it totally bonded itself where it was.... I couldn't slide that puppy to save my life!  Even wetting it down didn't make one bit of difference.  Oh well.... it's not too bad, and most people probably won't notice, but I know. 

Looks like she's almost ready for the shelf.  Nice work Scott.

Regards,  Rick

Jeez, Scott, you're not finished yet?  Just kidding

Don't sweat the propeller decal.  Frankly, I've been staring at the picture and I still don't see anything wrong with it.  It's doubtful anyone would have noticed the perceived goof if you hadn't said anything.  The build looks good

Now finish!

Thanks for the comments guys.  Sorry it's taking me so long to finish.  Life has a tendency to get in the way.