StuartMont

Ordered some stuff recommended here and I’ll start working when I get it Saturday. The ribbed areas have me worried most, not sure i could ever replicate that profile. I’ll see it to the end but if it doesn’t go well I can always display it with the engine installed (cowardly but practical 😀) and still build a tow vehicle with an empty dolly. Thanks so much to everyone for the advice and recommendations. I appreciate the patience with my questions. Stuart

Thanks very much, I worked really hard on doing this one. I will definitely look into the decals you noted. I’m working on the F-16 next so that’s where i will focus my search. Stuart

Thanks so much for the technique, I’ll have the opportunity to try it out soon, I’m sure.

Thanks for the kind words, i really enjoyed this one. Decals continue to be frustrating for me. They went on nicely when I built the Corsair but not so much on this one. I have to start trying the solutions that are sold at hobby stores but I don’t see how that will help the tiny ones. One thing for sure is I’m having a great time trying. My goal is too have one plane from all of the major wars, all at the same scale. WWI and Korea need to be filled in.

Thanks so much for the clarification, I’ll get to work. Not going to lie though, had to look up FOD.😀 Stuart

I apologize for not completely following your first suggestion. When you say cover with covers do you mean some sort of thin strip of plastic to “hide” the gaps? I’m still new to this. I do have a Tamiya modeling putty but I was not sure if it was appropriate for a small gap. Thanks so much for responding so quickly, very much appreciated. Stuart

Here are two photos of the engine build. Please notice the longitudinal gap in both. I worked a long time in making sure mating surfaces were smooth and even but as you can see not enough i guess. I am looking for suggestions for fixing this issue because i want to display the engine on the included dolly. I am also going to buy a USAF tow vehicle i found at an online hobby store. Thoughts please. Stuart

Here is the finished product sitting on a mirror base as suggested here. Difficulties still include the application of decals and the hand painting of very large surfaces. The thickness of my coatings are noticeably different. Question - how many of you apply the “hundreds” of tiny decals?

Awesome idea, thanks for the suggestion and the kind words! I wonder why folks would build this one with the bomb bay closed.

Thanks for the comments and suggestions, they will be well heeded in the future. This is the first model (my fourth in total) that required such an elaborate (at least in number of pieces) construction of a wheel/tire. I actually enjoyed it as the pieces fit so nicely and the paint filled the joints so I was quite happy with the result. I am anxious but patient to see this model finished. It’s too bad you have to lift it up all the time to see the really cool details 😀 Stuart

I wanted to post progress photos of my build of the Tamiya 1/32 Mosquito. It would be great to read comments on how I can improve. Several photos were posted in the “techniques“ forum where i received very productive comments and i have put an aircraft weathering how-to book and some weathering products on my wishlist for Xmas. There is a specific issue that i wanted to discuss (although there is nothing i can do about it now). The wheel/tire assembly consisted of many pieces in order to mimic the flat spot at ground contact. I took great care in putting all of it together. However, when I mounted the nacelle to the wing/fuselage, i was very disappointed to find out that the flat spot on the tire is not flush with the surface. You have to get down and close to see it but there is definitely a triangle of light that shouldn’t be there. If anyone out there built this model i would love to hear wether you also had any issue with this detail? thanks for looking! Stuart

Thanks for all of the ideas. I have to think about wether it will ultimately support weight. I provided this photo of the unbroken piece. Zoom in and you will see a similar shaped piece on the other side of it. It seems this would have been something to provide lateral stability of the gear which won’t be necessary for a static model. The weight should go through the rod and up into the stout vertical supports. The mud flap system was an independent assembly, at least in the model. This is making me think of my 35 years as a bridge engineer so it would be great to hear alternative opinions.

Thanks so much for responding. The piece is barely .5 mm in diameter. I tried gluing back together but as soon as i tried to attach it just broke again at the weak spot. You are right, it doesn’t support any weight. I ended up putting it in place in two pieces and it seems to be holding, albeit a bit bent. Thanks again! Stuart

Good morning - the first photo shows a broken piece that happened when trying to complete a wheel assembly. The left wheel in the third photo was a success. The piece is so flimsy. Should I punt and just write this off as another mistake? I would love to hear thoughts on how you would proceed with this. Thanks, Stuart

Thanks so much for the kind words and i appreciate the input. I do love building these planes and plan to do so as long as my brain and hands let me. Retirement and Covid have finally provided the impetus to start. This mosquito I’m finding to be the biggest challenge so far. It’s going to take me a while but i plan build the P-51D next. What a beautiful plane that is. I thought about painting stripes in lieu of decals and i think that’s the only way to fix the F-14 decal debacle. One thing that’s hard to see in the photos is that the figures are very shiny. I found a video about painting small scale figures and it seemed there is a product that he literally poured over the figures that he said will fill in crevices as well. Are you aware of anything like this? I’ll find how to do a brown wash and use it on the pilot and navigator. I do plan to learn weathering techniques. Right now I’m saying they are fresh off the assembly line 😀 Thanks again. I would like to keep posting photos and asking questions. Stuart

As you can see I have problems with decals (the stripe on the Spitfire) and reality (the closed canopy on the F-14 with the ladder attached) - is that possible? 😀

These are the other planes i have worked on. The large decals on the F-14 ripped immediately and i need to remove them and finish the flat black markings.

These are photos i took yesterday. Please comment on everything 😀 I don’t use an airbrush and struggle with getting a good finish. Thanks so much for your help.

I would like to post photos and get feedback. the model is the 1/32 scale Mosquito by Tamiya. I've got the cockpit and engines built. should i post them here? I'm a little nervous about doing it since there will be many mis-steps but i really want to get thoughts on how/where to improve.

Lots of legos (3 boys) and empty delivery boxes 😀. Thanks very much for the suggestions. Stuart

Okay - the model allows you to display the engines so I'll assemble and paint after. thanks!

Thanks very much for the response. sorry for not being specific enough. i understand the sub-assembly (the engine in this case) should be painted prior to attaching. my question is this. the engines on this model consist of many pieces (some quite small with tiny joins), all painted semi-gloss black. so do you assemble all of the many pieces of the engine and then paint them? or do you paint the pieces before cutting from the sprue? Stuart

Good morning, Working on an airplane model and there are several steps where all of the individual pieces are painted the same color (for example the two engines that have to be assembled). Perhaps a simple question for you: should i paint after assembly of that step or on the sprue. i ask because some of the tiny connections cannot be easily masked (by me). I would love to hear thoughts on this. thanks, Stuart

thanks for the info. to the basement closet i go, fingers crossed. Stuart

thanks so much for the response. sanding it is. regarding the decals, these planes are so large and i do not yet have something practical to support them upside down. gotta convince the wife . . . i also have problems getting to lower parts of the fuselage, especially under the wings. i could put them on when the plane is turned over but my brain gets all befuddled.😀 i do love building these planes, i'm so glad for the one benefit of the pandemic. thanks again, Stuart