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Re: From Kenny X’s Shelf Of Doom

Posted: Fri Oct 02, 2020 6:55 pm
by KennyX
Danke, Floki and Bruce! I appreciate it!

And Bruce buddy, I’ve been feeling that melancholy too, when I’m not stupefying in a marsh of ennui, that is. I go back and forth. Some days I feel really good, and I exercise and practice Kali -I haven’t been back to Jiu Jitsu since we all got exposed back in June- and well, when I wake up in a cold sweat at 3AM having a panic attack and I can’t calm down, well, then it’s the old “electric lettuce” and some Charlie Mingus on my headphones, for me my man. We live in a trying time.

One thing I will say- this has helped me with my models.

A buddy of mine was telling me about how much he likes fine German engineering. Said he admired the Messerschmitt and how well constructed they were. That kind of inspired me to get this here Emil as tight as I can get her. Here’s some shots. The middle part of the canopy is dry fit, I still have to paint and install the armor. The rudder is dry fit as well. The rest is all glued up. Basically, as I said in my FB post, this kit was meant to be built cowl and forward panels off. And it’s almost like building it all buttoned up was an afterthought to the good people at Eduard. Now, with some modifications to the engine and a few workarounds, it goes together well. Not “Tamiya” well, but good enough. However, there were some small gaps that needed fills, so I’ve been working on strategic, precision fills. I mask the edges of the gaps, fill them with Mr. White Putty thinned with Mr, Leveling Thinner, and then I take one of those hard, pointed, Tamiya cotton buds, dip it in thinner, and use it to burnish the putty into there. After that I polish it with microfiber pads. This has been a fun exercise and I will totally use this technique to fill in the panel lines on the wings of the Mustang I’ll be starting very soon.

Okay, here’s Pips’ Emil as she is at the end of this week! Oh, and I’m doing it canopy closed. I like how menacing the aircraft looks, this way.

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Re: From Kenny X’s Shelf Of Doom

Posted: Fri Oct 02, 2020 7:00 pm
by LyleW
That is looking really good. But, your stuff usually does...

Re: From Kenny X’s Shelf Of Doom

Posted: Fri Oct 02, 2020 7:25 pm
by KennyX
Merci, Lyle. Still got a ways to go before paint. Small gaps under the other side of the canopy I’ll need to fill once the armor is installed, and I’m thinking about simulating the canvas in the gear bays, maybe primer this coming week. I’d like to get back to my Panzer but this Emil demanded all my attention this week. And that’s okay. Happens that way sometimes.

Re: From Kenny X’s Shelf Of Doom

Posted: Fri Oct 02, 2020 7:33 pm
by LyleW
Yeah, amazing how inanimate objects can be like that. Looking forward to seeing more.

Re: From Kenny X’s Shelf Of Doom

Posted: Fri Oct 02, 2020 7:39 pm
by KennyX
It really is, yeah!

Re: From Kenny X’s Shelf Of Doom

Posted: Fri Oct 02, 2020 8:14 pm
by BlackSheep214
Oh yeah, baby! She’s menacing and a bad thorn to any allied fighter who sees her on their six. I always liked my aircrafts with canopy closed up. Can’t wait to see more.

Re: From Kenny X’s Shelf Of Doom

Posted: Fri Oct 02, 2020 8:33 pm
by KennyX
Mr. Black Sheep,

Right!!?? It was a hard decision too. I bet it is for you as well. As much work as we put into those cockpits and all. But, I don’t have an Emil that isn’t buttoned up and I’d like one. So that’s what this’ll be. It’ll look nice that way. Like she’s ready for takeoff.

Re: From Kenny X’s Shelf Of Doom

Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2020 7:58 am
by Floki
Won't be to long and will be seeing paint on her! I usually build canopy open but my last Dora something made me decide to build it closed it looks meaner that way I think.

Re: From Kenny X’s Shelf Of Doom

Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2020 3:55 pm
by KennyX
Floki,

I get that 100%! The canopy on a Dora when closed just shows off those lines ever so well. Mean-looking apex predator indeed!

This week’s work on the Emil left me construction fatigued. Oh man. There will be paint on her very soon, but I have to address a few things around the canopy first. Plus, I need to install the armor plating and so forth. I can’t wait to start painting this one but the next bit of tightening things up is crucial. I don’t want to rush it,

So today I got the Spitfire out and shot some paint on some cockpit parts I’ve been fiddling with. On a sad note, I ended up accidentally breaking the resin bulkhead whilst attempting to drill out those holes *sniff*. That forced my hand to make the decision to use a mix of kit parts and resin. Mostly kit parts BUT- I’m using the resin seat, framework that sits attached to the bulkhead just aft of the seat, stick, and various bottles and things. The rest is stock. And I’m okay with that.

Here’s the kit bulkhead, which was much more cooperative under the drill, with the resin framework dry-fit to it. It fits *nearly* perfectly. Please forgive that paint spot. It isn’t perceptible under my naked eye, only under unflattering light and zoom. And it’ll probably buff out when I hit it with the micro mesh tomorrow after the paint has had a chance to cure.

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Work resumes on Pips’ Emil this week!

Thanks for looking!

Re: From Kenny X’s Shelf Of Doom

Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2020 2:53 pm
by Stuart
Awesome work Kenny!

Personally I always build mine with the lid closed - I much prefer to see the lines of the aircraft.