popeye the sailor

I run into things like that with decals........the Nine o Nine build is a good example. the supplied decal sheet is less than adequate and doesn't point to any definite subject......it's missing half of the markings anyway. after market has saved me in that respect. granted, the decal sheet didn't include the Nine o Nine nose art, but one couldn't detail a model even with the existing nose art. for detail, I've had kits that are really good.......some not so good. disappointing when you buy something that looks really cool, turns out to be a dud. I've always heard that Trumpeter was a good brand......but I've also heard that they have a degree of inaccuracies with some of their kits. the book might not have been a bad idea..........research is key

I'll check those links out....thanks gents surprised that I've not heard of that place CW.......god knows how much decal searching I've done. though my past 'weekend' was kind of a wash.....things kept me hopping, I did get a little bit more done on the Nine. I cut out the decals I'm going to use from the supplied sheet, and the one I got from Mega Hobby. for the wings, I'm using the 1:64 insignias and 'A' marking for the top surface of the starboard wing. though not shown, the insignia is on the bottom surface of the starboard wing.........looking at the pictures, there is no 'A' on the underside. for the rudder......these are the 1:72 decals. there really isn't that much of a size difference, as can be seen I should have shot a picture of the whole plane.........I thought I was going to get back to it, but got carried off on another errand {can't wait for the Christmas hub-bub to kick in} I started to clean up the fuselage.....the underbelly will need a little extra attention. I got a surprise in the mail recently........a Revell 1:72 'Memphis Belle' looking over the kit, it is clearly too good for the 'Wulfe Hound. rest assured that a kit has been scoped out to build it. this one will do well as the 'Belle', or the 'Shamrock Special' I can't thank you enough 'masked stranger'

very nice work on the tender.......the whole model looks awesome! the camo really came out great

I built one cycle model in my day........1:9 is an odd scale. still gonna built into a large bike superb start as usual!

amazing work Michael.........you never cease to amaze

ballasts? what do they look like?

the task is complete........I've done a few checks to insure that all of the cables are cemented. I've found only one that is being stubborn. I was going through some of cast off pieces, which I keep in little bins. these pieces are the cut outs for windows, doors, circular and square bits, that are usually punched out and tossed. I have found many uses for these bits in the past, and now I need to come up with six that will fit into the screw pile holes in the base. I need to shallow these holes, so reinstalling it back on the base, is not a problem. not finding what I needed in the bins, the though turned towards looking for what I could use instead. I was going to cut some dowel........but then I came up with alternative idea. long ago, I received some parts for a Billing model....the Danmark. I have the center spine, the long panels for the bulwarks and upper section of the hull, and a few other bits. I also have a copy of the instructions on CD, sent to me since I was helping at the time, a modeler who was building the model. that has long passed........but I hung onto the parts, intending on replicating the hull, and outfit it for another subject. the panels have portholes.......they are not punched out yet punching out six of them, they will be perfect......they are about 1/8th thick........the base is about 1/4 inches thick. I've drilled out the holes in the base to accept them and will make it easier for the screw pile to set back in the holes too. I was going to paint the pile flat black.........but thinking of how hard it would be to mask the underside of the structure, I'm leaning on simply painting it flat gray. should look OK.

I wish it was that easy......the bomb bay doors are molded to the fuselage........would have to cut them out not only that, there would be the floor closing the bay off.....he would be trapped. I warned him of court martial, but he simply replied 'melt me!' . there is a silver lining to this story however........he is finally back at his post I used really thin wire, turning the fuselage upside down and rattling the gun into view, it was hooked and pulled over to the slot. from there, tweezers were used to get him back into position. I used Ca to cement him in place......I hope it won't mar the clear turret. in the initial efforts to free the free fallen gunner, the other gun came loose.......I'll have to put it back in place after I know the gunner is firmly back in place. gluing the halves together...........and after the gunner is back in place....... .....I almost forgot........ I've about hit the end of my patients concerning the order of those other decals. as the admiral and I discussed......I would rather see this order go to it's full fruition, as I think cancelling the order might be a ordeal getting my money back into my account. I was ready to order from Mega Hobby, but I was told to hold off until I've dealt with the order already in progress. I sent them an email yesterday, asking if there was any additional problems and that this order is over a month old. when will it be sent to me. the reply I got is that it was mailed yesterday......wow! as can be seen, I still have some touching up to do, so I have time to wait.

the sheet metal used for model railroading might be better........I have some of the corrugated stuff. it's like tin foil and shapes very easy. you could look into the doll house modeling too. looking great so far.

........and I'm sure that the decal sheet is just as 'crisp' I have a B 25 as well.......haven't decided on the name yet.

wonderful progress Yves! the conning tower looks great!

oh bother! I have an MIA to report! the fuselage is now glued together.....not as pain free, as I would have liked. I'm sure some have scratched their heads, wonder why I chose to build her this way......1/2 at a time. I've hardly built my planes the way I've seen some do........assemble and paint the interior, assemble the fuselage and wings together, and then paint the exterior. I'm terrible at plugging up all the open areas to do it that way........I always suffer some degree of over spray. bu no matter how I assembled the fuselage.......it wouldn't have saved me. the top gunner came loose in the turret, and before I could save him, fell into the plane I tried to coax him out through one of the other openings, but he's trapped inside the bulkheads, and can't escape. my only option to save him, will be to try and snag the gun that he's attached to, and pull it back out through the gun slot. my luck.......I just checked the crew roster........and the gunner's last name is Houdini

your welcome...though I do have to apologize for going off topic. this is one of Revell's more popular kits....the 'miss Marilyn' is another.......actually a spin off of this kit. model companies have a habit of this practice...this one was easy, merely needing to change the decal sheet I've been delving into the subject of 'nose art' for a while now......some of the reasons for naming their aircraft are rather interesting, and I can agree that Lou gave a pretty good synopsis on Gorbel's mindset when he named his plane. the P 51 was a deadly adversary in the air, used widely in air acrobatics, it was a very nimble plane......he likely viewed her as his harbinger of death, with the record that he held at the time. I also apologize to you as well Kevin.......after looking at pictures of the plane, the anti glare does come to a point at the nose......you are correct sir

....and the military centipede grows

is the model company out of business? if so, the molds were likely sold to another........Round 2 models might be a good starting point. I also look at oldmodelkits.com quite a bit...they have a lot of kits that I remember building. I recently bought a Glencoe kit........looking inside the fuselage halves, I noticed that this it was an old Aurora kit. I saw the date but can't recall now when the molds were produced...I've since glued the halves together. chances are good though, that if the kit is an older kit, then you might pay a heftier price tag. OMK has quite a few commercial aircraft kits as well.......might be worth checking out

could be.........but only if your stood up in a corner after your stuffed

thanks for the tutorial Danny.......here's what mine looks like.. it looks the same as Bruce's

I think you did well also Lou.........given what I know of the lore. there's a story about a train........and a big rig........and of course the infamous Flying Dutchman. it was indeed a dutch ship, of the East India Company VOC. the story is long and drawn out, but it was cursed to sail the seas for eternity, never to make port. read the whole story here: https://www.ancient-origins.net/myths-legends/legend-flying-dutchman-ghostly-apparition-ship-captain-hendrick-007285 quite a collection of planes you have there

I've had one model that hit the circular file...a Russian A. Tupolev TB- 3 bomber. it was so frustrating that I chucked it......but I kept the decals. they haunt me every time I go into my decals. I checked the site, but I think they're not producing it any more. it's the only kit I ever gave up on...........my walk of shame nice looking plane

same here with the General........I had never built a train model before {if I did, I don't remember}.

I really don't want to sign a pact with the devil not that she's a devil, but it would take away from my modeling time

I think you nailed it........you've done a really sweet job to this piece

hello Harley.......checking in to see your progress. you've done quite a bit I see.....looks really good

I'm gaining on it.............almost there! yesterday, I got all but one on the outside rim, considering the slow drying time of the ca...........could not believe how slow. anything else, and I'd be prying the part off, if I made a mistake! it's one of the main reasons why I use it so little....only if I'm doing something that needs quick adhesion. these will likely look like the pictures before, but you decide five of the sides have been done here............and below I'm on the last one. note that the jig is no longer needed........the posts have been taken down. ....and this morning.........the last cable was cemented in place! way too busy under there! now to check for any that the glue didn't hold........and then paint.

still attempting to woo the admiral, on the Wolfe Hound thing........but I keep getting shot down ...........*fingertips rhythmically tapping the table*......... what can I flank {flak}her with?????????????? anyway..........I'm still doing a little here and there as I wait for the decals from across the pond. I'm thinking their tracking process doesn't work.......it never moves from the order processing stage. it will be a month tomorrow since I ordered them. I'm hoping to see them in the mail box today........yea, I'm a hopeless optimist that they will come though. what this has proven to me, after reading some of their reviews, is that they may be good on domestic shipments, but internationally, they blow major goose eggs hey.......I'm still laughing......... one thing I did that isn't common on the plane, was to black out the sides of the nose glass, leaving just the bombardier's window. I figured that it was like putting blinders on a horse I came up with a solution for the top gunners pod. I assembled the two guns together so they would go through the two slots. gluing them in place, I modified the figure......he appears to be holding what I considered the trigger. I trimmed it back so a 'hook' was left, and hung him on the bar that joins the two guns together. I'm hoping the jot of cement isn't noticeable. once this is dry enough, I can join the two fuselage halves together. then I think decals will be in order for the next phase. I guess if I don't have the other decals by that time, I'll just finish without them. I just wish there was the foresight to have added them on the original decal sheet.