Just bought the paints I need for this build. I hope to have everything in place before the end of this year, so that I can jump right into this one as soon as I wrap up my current builds (two 1/48 B-24J Liberators). Caveat - unless I actually finish those big bombers prior to 12/31, then I’ll sit around twiddling my fingers until this GB kicks off. 
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As long as you have 90% left to do on January 1st, I believe you are good to go.
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I maybe heading to Japan in the Spring, looking forward to gettjng Tamiya and finemold kits at half price compared to the US 
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I am going to have to join in. I have a Fine Molds (Tamiya) BF109, three of which the IJAAF secured for test purposes… allegedly leading to the KI61 design. Theres a lot of back and forth on the history and especially the colors of these things. I might do another Japanese subject to go along side the BF109, that of which is a 100% Japanese aircraft, of which, I have a bunch in the stash.
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Sounds interesting @Dtimmerman89 . I assume those would be 109E’s? Let me know which specific 109 kit you will be using and I will get you added to the roster.
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So the F-2A arrived yesterday all sealed up in shrink wrap in perfect condition. I excitedly opened it like a kid opening the biggest present 
under the tree 
on Christmas morning. Looking through the sprues with excitement 
to see what to expect… all looks great… beautiful detail, lots of parts… then I get to the clear parts and find the dreaded seam line right down the center of the canopy bubble. UGH!
This will be a learning experience for me since I have never had to sand a seam line out of clear parts before. I quickly jumped over to scalemates to see if there was an after market canopy available but they don’t show one. So, if I mess this up, there will be no coming back from it. No pressure though. 
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Scratch the Finemolds kit. I will be using a Wingsy BF109 E-3 instead. Accurate plane model with much better detailing. The old Tamiya molds just dont cut it for me.
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Try a 3 in 1 nail buffer on your canopy seam like this one. May want to practice on a spare canopy first. Investing in some Micromesh polishing cloths is not a bad idea either. Then there is the Novus plastic polish which is also good to have.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0017KCQ2W/ref=vp_d_fuw_pd?_encoding=UTF8&pf_rd_p=8e8fc6f3-7347-41ce-acb0-dd5d2946be3f&pf_rd_r=ZN1RF7HJZMQVMESJF8KB&pd_rd_wg=tJ39T&pd_rd_i=B0017KCQ2W&pd_rd_w=0bkPP&content-id=amzn1.sym.8e8fc6f3-7347-41ce-acb0-dd5d2946be3f&pd_rd_r=5dc19876-5469-4b46-a227-da56548c90a9&psc=1
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Great. I am not familiar with Wingsy kits. This should be interesting! Roster updated.
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Thanks for the advice! I will look into those tools.
Wingsy being a short run company is producing kits of some of the highest caliber I have ever seen in 1/48. Check them out. They give Eduard a run for their money in detail and accuracy.
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I’m going to try a vignette with the DML Japanese Army Infantry (Iwo Jima 1945). Don’t have the kit number, bought these off ebay and the knucklehead who packed it removed the beautiful Ron Volstad box art. Guess this will be the last ebay “bargain” for me. Anyway did get things rolling have the commander cleaned up and ready for prime exept he has no head. Working on fig. #2 cleaning the leg wrapping and gluing the torso together.
Thanks for looking and happy modeling
Mobious
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Sounds good. Roster updated.
Broke the scabbard and lost the broken end. Built a replacement from a bayonet. It worked but looked more like a US civil war cavalry scabbard rather than for a Katana. Found the broken piece while replacing the officer’s pistol barrel. I had to add a brass rod to make the repair.
Tojo is back in business 
. Still no head…
Thanks for looking and have a happy new year!
Mobious
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Nice save! Starting work a little early our we?
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Successful recovery my friend! Looks good!
The details on these DML figures is there but way too soft. Some of equipment straps get mixed up with folds in the uniforms. Spent about 5 or 6 hrs just on the leggings alone. I have one more set to do. I did get an update on the location of Tojo’s head. Fedex will be dropping off a box of heads sometime next year. That is when a quadruple head transplant surgery will take place. You are correct I am starting early. Trying not to give up any mojo that I started with these troopers.
As scarry as it seems, it is actually one of the easier things to deal with. There are many videos on YouTube so I’ll keep it brief.
Tape either side of the seam so as to minimize damage.
Start with 400 grit sand paper and work your way up to 8000. Then use novus scratch remover to finish it off and it will be beautiful.
A typical canopy takes me maybe 20 minutes to get looking right.
I hope that helps.
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Just received my Peggy bomber. Looks like a nice kit, but lots of window masking! It will be a while before I get started, as I have other projects in the pipeline. Rest assured, I’ll get it done!
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I’ve been eyeballing that kit. I don’t typically do WWII but that looks sweet. I read up on the aircraft, supposed to be a bomber that flys like a fighter.
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