SPA Modeler

Well, after 22 pages, I finally find and get all caught up with this. Amazing work Bruce, although you did claim at the beginning that this was going to be an all OOB build. LOL! Hey, it wouldn't be a Bruce build without all the extra exceptional detailing you've done! I am stunned and amazed at how well you've done so far. I am even taking notes to try and use some Bruce techniques to move ahead on some of my projects too.

I'm now following along on this and 'even though I can't give the thorough help that Carlos, John and others have given; I'll at least be able to enjoy the rest of this build with you. It will feel great to see a finished Bruce build!

Bring it home my friend!

You're getting it done Bruce! I've got a few hundred books on many different subjects and I am always adding more, if you ever need a reference just let me know.

First - thank you, John. I spent the majority of my evening build time fixing the cowling and I am ready to touch up the paint. Thanks again for your comments. Sincerely.

Second - hello, Duke! I am so happy you are here. I use Silly Putty every day thanks to watching the way you work! So. I think you have had an enormous influence of my model building approach, and I still want to schedule a time at a St Crispin’s Model Building Day where you can show me a few techniques in person. This will be at some point in the future, of course.

Third - I feel incredibly grateful to have your advice, Clint, and to know you are following along lifts my spirits considerably. With 7 days to go I am feeling I can get this d-o-n-e.

Tomorrow will be greens and grays.

Blooming 'eck - I go off line for a few days and when I get back Bruce has stuck some bits together!!! Excellent work my friend, it's coming along nicely!

Are the wings on, or dry fitted for the present?

Thank you for your encouragement, Stuart. I am learning, which is always both good (better than following by actually doing something) and painful as weaknesses emerge. I am grateful for the support I am receiving here. To be honest, this project is the first real test of my small skill set being used on a German aircraft, a subject as you probably know was taboo for me. The first kit I ever wanted to build was a Fokker Dr.1. As a child I read a book about air combat and was fixated on the chivalry of the stories I read, far less so the horror. Looking back I romanticized the air battles and left the ground combat stories behind me as the stories of the mud, the blood and the dread filled me with fear and anxiety. Oh darn, buried the lead- the wings will not be glued on until I am finished with the fixes I have to do.

Welcome to the last week of work. Six days to go.

First stage of camouflage painting in progress. The scalloped edge comes next. “... where the fun begins.”

Still ain’t got no wings!

LyleW wrote:Still ain’t got no wings!

My plan is to have the wings finished tonight and assembled tomorrow. As much as I want to keep the canopy propped open, I am 90 percent sure the cockpit will be closed. The decision to keep the canopy closed comes down to the amount of additional time involved as well as aesthetics and visibility of the cockpit details. Since the cockpit is essentially close to out of box, there really is no need to showcase this. It was designed to be seen through the closed canopy.

Beautiful work Bruce! Your camouflage looks amazing. I'm glad I was able to have a small and positive impact on your modeling with the Silly Putty. You rock!

You have had a major impact on everything I do with the exception of multiple project building!! I’m still painting the camo by hand freestyle, which is also how I am gonna do “265” on each side of the fuselage. I believe what is happening is as the pressure increases to finish the more art school techniques get whipped out for efficiency. I am using cel animation paints on the upper wing markings, for example. I gotta long way to go with painting techniques, I always feel my strength is in line drawing not in painting, and I am stretching the painting muscles each minute with this kit.