Then I decided that since I was on a roll to go ahead and mask off the insignia. This is my first time using spray masks on a model so there is a learning curve.

If I had it to do over again I would have left the outside border mask in place on the wings. I did so on the fuselage sides. It made a difference.

Once everything was painted I noticed that there was some white showing along the outer edges of the wing insignia.

2 attached images. Click to enlarge.

I used Model Master Insignia Blue and Insignia White to spray paint the markings. I think that they came out ok. I thought about spraying a light coat of clear on first, but didn't do it. My thoughts behind this were to help prevent bleed through from under the edges of the spray masks. After I removed all of the masking material, I did find some minor bleed had occurred. It's really not that bad though. It's something I think I can fix pretty easily.

The Port side photo etched metal perforated flap came loose as I was pulling the tape off the upper surfaces of the wing. It should be an easy fix...

Here are the pictures that I took today of the process.

I'm going to let the paint dry overnight. Hopefully tomorrow I can mask off and spray the fuselage and fin side numbers. The fuselage numbers are white, while the much smaller fin numbers are in intermediate blue / gray.

Please stay tuned for updates...

14 attached images. Click to enlarge.

Today was a great day !

I got a lot done on the "Beast". I installed and painted the gun sight. While painting the sight I also painted the upper portion of the instrument panel cowling area flat black, since I had the color in hand at the time.

Then I installed the photo etch lower flaps using CA glue. While this was drying I turned my attention to the engine, adding the photo etch ignition harness.

Next was the propeller. Most of the painting was done, but the tips needed to be sprayed yellow. Since they had the initial coat of white, the yellow covered nicely. The assembly was then given a coat of Testors Dull Coat. Since I had the Dull Coat out, I decided to spray the whole air frame.

After the Dull Coat dried, I attached the front wind screen using white glue. Next I touched up the radio compartment, since a little white over spray ended up here...

The exhausts were cleaned up and brushed in Testor's Metallizer "Burnt Iron" color. Once these dried I glued the exhaust stacks in place.

By now the engine assembly had dried so I went ahead and glue it into position. This was followed by the cowling, and finally I simply pushed the propeller assembly into place.

The last photo shows the "Beast" as it sits now. If I have time, I may go ahead and spray the bombs in Olive Drab... Hopefully it wont be much longer and I will have it finished...

Please stay tuned for updates.

Thanks for watching.

8 attached images. Click to enlarge.

Here's tonight's progress. I finished the "Beast" !

I had an idea that I wanted to try out. I thought about using cloth medical tape for the rear gunner seat belts. So I cut some of the fabric cloth tape into thin strips and it worked great. The adhesive helped to keep the photo etched bits in place. All I had to do was fold the tape over so that the adhesive parts stuck to one another. Then I secured everything with CA glue...

Then I finished the detail painting on the rear facing twin MG's. Once both assemblies had dried sufficiently, I glued them in place.

Next was the "Yagi" antennae's. These could be pointed in any direction, so I thought it would simply look best if the were both pointed outward away from the plane at a 45 degree. So that's what I did.

The air speed indicator's pitot tube was the next item of business. The fit into the leading edge of the wing was tight. It was so tight that I opted to not glue it in place. I simply left it in position once I pressed it into the wing. A few dabs of Dark Sea Blue later...

Finally I stretched out some clear sprue and glued it into position.

There you have it... The "Beast" is done.

Next I'll snap some photos of it and post up a new article.

Thanks for following along.

9 attached images. Click to enlarge.