Thanks Matt, Jan and Evan. It's this darned weather - a bit of luke warm sun one minute, then more rain the next, with big pressure changes. Been thundery the last three days, and playing havoc with me!
Anyway, the engines are almost done, juts got to do some tidying and fit the last three.
PIC 1. The engines as supplied in the kit, showing the age of the moulds, as what detail is there is very soft and virtually invisible.
PIC 2. The exhaust collector ring has been engraved, along with the cowling panel joints and the 'ring' for the cowl flaps. The flaps themselves, having been thinned down on the inside, were then sawn through to the 'ring', using a razor saw. All four engines have had this done.
PIC 3. The engines were given a coat of dark grey, including the crank case, and the cylinders brushed with a mix of silver and grey. Cowling support stays were added from stretched sprue, and have yet to be painted in this shot. The exterior surfaces of the exhaust collector rings will be painted when fitted to the nacelles, then masked, along with the openings for the engines.
PIC 4. First engine in place, with the carb intake fitted. This had all mould seams removed first, and the front rounded off, with the sides and top thinned down. The interior was painted matt black before fitting. There are some sink marks (in fact sink holes!) on all four of these, and they will be filled later, at the same time as all other filling is undertaken.
PIC 5. What the model looks like to date.
Next job is to sort out the canopy fit, although it won't actually be attached until after the model is painted, then it'll be time to make and test fit the bomb doors, and fit the ailerons, before masking and painting the model.
Thanks for your continued interst, and I hope to post another up-date some time tomorrow.