Thank you for your comments about my skills and which I need to correct.
I am a one trick pony and this is all the woodworking I do - just endless variations on the same theme and after 100 models they ought to be turning out ok. In fact after this number and the years spent doing it I do feel that I should be a bit further advanced. One problem is that I can only satisfactorily work within precisely understood parameters and this is why for example airbrushing the black paint and clear coat finishes where you have to deal with a whole bunch of variables - delivery pressure, volume, viscosity, temperature and humidity etc and probably which side of the mouth you stick the tip of your tongue out as well - is so difficult for me. The timber I use is recycled Rimu which I understand. A while ago a fellow ordered a Mosquito and wanted it built out of Kauri which he supplied and it was a bit of a disaster. I have to stay within my little box of experience and understanding.
Developing specialist tools plays a big part, this one being nothing more than a piece of bicycle spoke drilled into a bit of 5mm aluminium round bar yet it is very useful as a centre punch, scriber, small bit positioned etc.
Out of interest how do you get the very fine lines around the control surfaces. Are they separate parts, or do you cut the lines in some way?
The lines are drawn with the scriber above but not directly. You need to cut the lines with a straight edge and Stanley knife first and then follow up with the scriber otherwise it will tear the timber.
Out of interest, how long does such a masterpiece take?
I would say 20 -25 hours. This is actual building time but the thing from go to whoa is a lot longer. I use epoxy glue for the longer open time to allow for accurate positioning of components but this of course means leaving the model undisturbed whilst curing. Same for the painting. There is some unseen stuff as well. I like the aeroplanes to be robust enough to be played with so bigger bits, wings, tailplane etc are assembled on embedded1.6mm dia stainless rods in addition to the glue which adds a bit to the time. So my income from the aircraftery is about $5 or £2.50 per hour. Pretty meagre for a business but pretty good for a hobby that pays for itself, which it is.
Still prefer a spitfire, sorry!!
I understand your preference. The spitfire is an indisputably elegant and beautiful aeroplane. My preference for the BF109 is that it has an air of barely disguised menace about it which I find quite fitting in a fighter.
