Do you get to a point on a project that you see that end may be in sight?  I think I am at that point with this model.  A lot of masking and painting lies ahead, but I am envisioning a finished model.  

I do love the challenge of working with these old Monogram kits, but my next project will be a  more modern kit.  I have some Takom and Tamiya armor kits in the stash that might be just the thing.  But, I am getting ahead of myself…

I painted the cowlings already because they can be mounted on the model after major painting is done.  The rear part of the cowling has some zinc weights in them that should balance the model on its landing gear.  If not, that gun nose will hold all I need.  I’ll confirm that before final assembly.

Also, I carefully sanded the mating surfaces on each wing for a nice fit, and I think they will be easily mounted/glued in place after painting and decal application.  This will make painting easier, and I won’t have to worry about overspray leaving a pebbly surface on the model.

After priming with Stynylrez, I will apply Tamiya TS-17 Gloss Aluminum.  I have decanted the paint from the spray can.  This is the first time I tried that, and I was surprised how easy it was.  I thought the paint might squirt out of the drinking straw I stuck to the spray can nozzle using some Loctite “Fun-Tak” Mounting Putty as a gasket with some masking tape holding it on.  

But the paint hit the bend in the straw and dribbled right into the jar I had ready.  Afterwards, I just had to occasionally stir the paint to help disperse the propellant gas trapped in it.  I have since applied some of it with an airbrush, and it works perfectly.

More to come.  Thanks for visiting.