looking great Dan

Looks fantastic! I am busy going cross-eyed cutting out all the fish plates for the wings. I have about 10 thousand down, and only a few more thousand to go.

Seriously though, the best way I have found to do it is to start by cutting the skin into strips just a bit wider than the plates themselves. I then nibble at each end, making the 2 diagonal cuts, and then snipping it off at the end, leaving a sort of pyramidal shape. I build up 100 or so of these, and then go back, and make the 2 diagonal cuts on the other end.

A good pair of photoetch cutters is an absolute must. I use the ones by Xuron.

not much to update on as most of the last pack is skin for the port wing, which im not skinning.
so all that's been completed since last month is the cockpit floor and assembly to the wings, a few checks on landing gear to ensure correct operation. im still undecided whether to have the gear up or down. im swaying towards gear down on the port wing without skin & gear up on the starboard wing!
i also had a slight misfortune whilst screwing the fuselage to the wings in that i inadvertently knocked off one of the canopy rails, something i had not noticed until after the wheel of my desk chair crunched it, therefore i hope customer services have some spares i can purchase







till next time

Cheers Andy
appreciate you looking in

regards
Dan

hey Paul
Welcome to the forum
Customer service for me has always been great, the damage to the rail was my fault and therefore i asked to purchase the replacement, only 1 problem! At the time i spoke to them they where out of stock of the issue i needed, which given the demand on this Spectacular model is understandable. i will contact them again soon, but rest assured the item I damaged will be available soon and purchased. they have always been EXCELLENT with any problems (my fault or damaged delivery items) and can only recommend with the highest enthusiasm if your thinking of following the "part work builds".
paint issue is really been with the detail on the "etched skin panels" as im doing a Half Skinned & Half Open model i found with the skin panels to be painted (tested on the skins not being used) the detail of the flush rivets was being lost! Andy (apurchase) mentioned a pounce wheel but the rivets where flush on the real plane, however i played with the idea and tested on a skin panel not being used! given the scale and the thought that even with a flush rivet inevitably their would be some form of indentation within the vicinity of the rivet, i liked the look. (photos to be shown soon with the latest issue of components & build). The paint is really me not knowing what im doing, yes ive been out and brought myself an airbrush, compressor and a load of paint, but its been decades since i painted an "airfix model"! and back then when i was a young wippa snapper, it was all done with a paintbrush! none of this weathering and special Techniques these guys use today (fantastic skills they have, (just look at any build diary) & by the way, i really envy them) i would love to know how to weather the "skinned" side of the Zero to make it look more authentic, but at the moment its just a case of trying to make it look right ( the reference library started by Kev & added to by all has been invaluable)hopefully the end result will do this magnificent Model justice.
regards
Dan

Hi Dan
The skinning looks great and she is certainly coming together now the stand also looks the part, keep the pics coming
regards
Andy

Very nice, the stand looks a quality item too. Are you going to paint the skinned parts or leave bare metal?
Steve

Stunning work as always Dan

Spencer

I am Dan but getting itchy fingers Regarding your post on weathering the panels, i've been playing with one of them to see how i can achieve a good enough effect and if it's one your interested in then let me know.. little pic below

Spencer

Hi Dandare,

It is looking fantastic! I have stalled out on mine. For some reason, I can't bring myself to sit down and rig the control cables in the rear fuse.