dai phan Posted October 11, 2022 Share Posted October 11, 2022 (edited) Howdy all, Now my Spitfire is completed, here is my latest project to be started soon. My last 3 builds were with after market engine sets (Eduard, Verlinden and CMK). These sets requires so much dry fitting, filing, sanding to make them fit. Let's see how Aires fares this time. Dai Edited October 11, 2022 by dai phan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dai phan Posted October 12, 2022 Author Share Posted October 12, 2022 (edited) Hi all, Time to get started. Dai \ Edited October 12, 2022 by dai phan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lgl007 Posted October 12, 2022 Share Posted October 12, 2022 Looking forward to seeing the progress 🙂 -Greg Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dai phan Posted October 14, 2022 Author Share Posted October 14, 2022 (edited) Happy Friday everyone... I just love the Tamiya kits coming out in mid 90's. Low part count, simple to put together but yet very detailed and effective kits. Dai Edited October 14, 2022 by dai phan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dai phan Posted October 14, 2022 Author Share Posted October 14, 2022 (edited) Hi all, The airframe assembly is completed and ready for primer. The flaps are the Ultracast correction set. The kit's flaps are designed to be installed down with the tabs but they have the strange indentations at the root to be installed up ! And hence the correction. Dai Edited October 14, 2022 by dai phan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dai phan Posted October 16, 2022 Author Share Posted October 16, 2022 (edited) Hi all, Completed priming, sanding and will be ready for the main colors tomorrow. I choose the color scheme of the well known and often modelled Don Gentile's plane. Since I will not have the side cowling panels I need a scheme that has some nice art works on the fuselage. This scheme fits the bill nicely as it has a large kill marking emblem. I do not like the way the propellers are assembled onto the spinner back plate as it has too much play. Dai Edited October 16, 2022 by dai phan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dai phan Posted October 16, 2022 Author Share Posted October 16, 2022 (edited) Greetings, Comparing the kit's propellers with reference photos indicated they are not correct in outline so I ordered the Ultracast correction set. The gray propeller is the kit's. Photos are from Ultracast website. Dai Edited October 16, 2022 by dai phan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dai phan Posted October 17, 2022 Author Share Posted October 17, 2022 (edited) Greetings, Next will be the top coat olive drab. Dai Edited October 17, 2022 by dai phan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dai phan Posted October 17, 2022 Author Share Posted October 17, 2022 (edited) Hi all, Some references useful for decal placements. Dai Edited October 17, 2022 by dai phan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dai phan Posted October 18, 2022 Author Share Posted October 18, 2022 (edited) Good Monday everyone... Completed painting the airframe. Will need to do some fine tunings and touch ups the next day. Dai Edited October 18, 2022 by dai phan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dai phan Posted October 21, 2022 Author Share Posted October 21, 2022 (edited) Hello all, Working on the engine assembly tonight. There is so much trimming, sanding to make parts go together like the three other engine kits. Nothing is drop fit. Dai Edited October 21, 2022 by dai phan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
barkin mad Posted October 22, 2022 Share Posted October 22, 2022 I have often heard many modelers saying Aries is code for "it doesn't fit" even despite being designed for that particular kit. I have noticed you have an Aries engine pic for a Hasegawa kit, not Tamiya, or is that just a ref pic you are using? Nevertheless you look to be wrestling it into submission. ----------- Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dai phan Posted October 24, 2022 Author Share Posted October 24, 2022 On 10/22/2022 at 4:00 AM, barkin mad said: I have often heard many modelers saying Aries is code for "it doesn't fit" even despite being designed for that particular kit. I have noticed you have an Aries engine pic for a Hasegawa kit, not Tamiya, or is that just a ref pic you are using? Nevertheless you look to be wrestling it into submission. ----------- The Aires box says Hasegawa which is an error. Hasegawa does not produce the P-51B in 1/48 scale. This would be the last time I install after market engine sets. Way too much work based on what I had experienced. I have seen spectacular results on the Net but based on my skill level, way too much work and cussing for what they are. I think 4 builds with engine sets are enough. I am eyeing on the Tamiya BF-109G with engine and I know it WILL fit !!! Dai Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dai phan Posted October 30, 2022 Author Share Posted October 30, 2022 (edited) Hello all, Getting closer to finishing this project. I think this will be my last after market engine sets. So much modifications to have acceptable fit. Did anyone QC this prior to production ??? Dai Edited October 30, 2022 by dai phan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dai phan Posted October 30, 2022 Author Share Posted October 30, 2022 Greetings... Adding some more details to the engine. Dai Quote Link to post Share on other sites
chukw Posted October 30, 2022 Share Posted October 30, 2022 That looks fantastic, Dai- cheers! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dai phan Posted October 30, 2022 Author Share Posted October 30, 2022 (edited) Greetings, Now ready for the final assembly. I had to raise the circular frame to about 1mm so the 2 bars do not have the "dip" in the middle. Dai Edited October 30, 2022 by dai phan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dai phan Posted October 30, 2022 Author Share Posted October 30, 2022 (edited) Before correction, notice the break at the intersection due to the circular frame sitting too low. Dai Edited October 30, 2022 by dai phan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dai phan Posted October 30, 2022 Author Share Posted October 30, 2022 Raise the circular frame to 1 mm higher and now there is smooth transition of the 2 longitudinal bars. Looks much better. Dai Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dai phan Posted October 31, 2022 Author Share Posted October 31, 2022 Hello all, If you plan to use the Aires engine for the Tamiya kit, you must trim the back of the engine about 2.5mm as it will strike the wheel well and sits way too forward. The second is to raise the circular frame (closest to the fire wall) of 1 mm. This will allow smooth transition of the aft and forward longitudinal bars. I think this will be my last after market engine builds. Too much work for my skill level. Dai Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dai phan Posted October 31, 2022 Author Share Posted October 31, 2022 More on the engine stuff. Of course if you want a detailed build with another level higher than my usuals, then I know I must put in the work. I do not mind the work. But when you have a bunch of parts that do not go together that you have to modify to make them work then I start to get frustrated and discouraged. On my last 4 engine buids, there is so much scratch building that excelled the actual time on the kits themselves at least five folds. On the Aires engine I had to build a base so the engine will sit properly. I have seen spectacular builds with Eduard's late Spitfires with super incredible detailed engines but this was done with today's CAD-CAM technology. I think in my case of older releases, the manufacturers just provide the basic parts and it is up to you to make it work (or fit) or just give up. Dai Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dai phan Posted November 2, 2022 Author Share Posted November 2, 2022 Hello all, The Tamiya's decal sheet is way too thick so I got the Lifelike decal replacement. I am very surprised with Tamiya' high quality standard, they still stick with low quality decals. I also got an underwing stores from Verlinden to see if there is anything I can use. Dai Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lgl007 Posted November 2, 2022 Share Posted November 2, 2022 This is going to be great 🙂 Looking forward to seeing the next steps. Can't agree with you more about Tamiya's decals... I always have to sand them down before applying gloss coat and mat coats... very thick decals. -Greg Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dai phan Posted November 2, 2022 Author Share Posted November 2, 2022 1 hour ago, lgl007 said: This is going to be great 🙂 Looking forward to seeing the next steps. Can't agree with you more about Tamiya's decals... I always have to sand them down before applying gloss coat and mat coats... very thick decals. -Greg Greg, I find it very odd they STILL have these sub-standard decals in the offerings. Reminded me of the old Monograms kits. I used the kit's decals in my last Tamiya Spitfire build. I wished I have not as they look really bad on the model. Dai Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dai phan Posted November 3, 2022 Author Share Posted November 3, 2022 (edited) Howdy all, Disaster for tonight's session. I started to decal the propeller and I mistook the decal liquid film as Microset and applied onto the model !!! The damn thing looks so much like the Microset bottle and I wondered why it is so thick ! By the time I found out the decal and paint job on the propeller is ruined. Sand, repaint, regloss and re-applied the decals. I used the Tamiya's decal as I ruined the Lifelife decal. Thank the Lord I did not do this mistake on the main airframe !!! Dai PS: I have the Ultracast correction propeller and a spare set of Lifelike decal is on the way. You can see the Tamiya's decal offering is way oversized. Edited November 3, 2022 by dai phan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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