Well guys,
I have returned victoriously from my fishing trip! I have a freezer full of ocean fish for this summer! I got caught up on the thread, just in time to save it from getting bumped to page 2!
bbrownii - thanks for showing how you do water waves with foil. I've never bothered to look it up, but it's something that I might have to do for a winter Grumman Goose project I'm dreaming up. I got to fly co-pilot in a Grumman Goose on my fishing trip! Taking off water!! It was certainly the coolest ride I've ever been on.
Arki - awesome work as usual, bud. All of your efforts payed off, because your model looks very realistic. It's amazing how much the little details can add to an overall finished model. I love the mossie, it's one of my all-time favorite airplanes. Must be pretty big at 1/48.
Regarding your comments on puttywork, here is a quick rundown on my method: First I use tamiya tape to mask around the area, then I apply&sand putty in layers which takes a long time. First I apply SQDN white putty, because it dries very hard and makes a durable foundation. I usually like to wear surgical gloves and apply putty with my fingers. Then I let it cure for at least 6 hours, and sand to shape with sanding sticks and paper (occasionally jewelers files). Then I remask about 1/8" outside of the white putty area and apply the second layer: this time SQDN green putty. Green putty sands smoother and feathers better at the edges, making a better final surface. Sometime after 6 hours, I sand with the same techniques, then I usually have to do final spot-work on any pits, blemishes, etc.
I've recently purchased and experimented with Tamiya fine primer, which sands really nicely: even better than putty. I'm looking forward to getting a layer of it on my B-58, because I think it will really add the finishing touches to those putty areas. I wouldn't know, but I'm guessing that it's really important to have perfect surface for a NMF finish.
razor - You E555 looks awesome, especially now that you pulled the canopy masks. Super cool kit, dude. You're getting quite close.
sidure - Great finish on that IL2. It's beyond my understanding how you accomplished that paint job. Really great work. Sucks that you LHS is gone! And it sound like you even missed the close-out sale!! What a bummer. Online stores are killing the LHS I think.
T-greg - I think I've seen 1/24 mustang decals a few times at online decal shops. It might be worth your while to look for them if you have crappy decals. Let me know if you can't find them, and I'll see if I can remember where they were.
Work on my B-58 continues, but photos wouldn't show much. I'm still scribing panel lines, but I'm almost done with that tedious task. I took a break from scribing last night and worked on assembling the engine nacelles. I dry-fitted them to the wings and flew the model around the house for a while. That's an important part of any of my builds.
I don't think anyone has brought this up yet: but are there any prospects for a IMS3??? Any interest? Or perhaps it would be best to wait a few months before we started it up again. Just wondering what everyone else thinks of the idea.