Hi Carl (@clipper): Everything is looking good and moving toward the end of the build. I have used Flory before and I like how it looks. I don't use it much because I worry about breaking something when I am removing the excess "wash". I now use artist oils as a wash instead. I think it is safer and easier to control. Flory now makes a "washable" paint that simulate things like winter white wash on armor. I got a set of those, but haven't tried them yet.

Thanks for following along Spiros(@fiveten), George (@gblair), and John (@johnb).

Got the plane on it's feet now. Just waiting for the epoxy (30 minute) to cure. The steel plates are there to hold the wheels straight since the axle size is somewhat smaller than the holes drilled in the wheels. This is intentional as the axles were slight out of 90 degrees when I originally soldered them together. The hole size and the epoxy allow me to compensate for that.

Thanks Felix (@fxrob). I still have more weathering to do, but wanted to get her up on the wheels first. Mostly a bit of chipping, smoke stains, and a few oil streaks.

I would expect a measured, sure approach to attaching your wheels, Carl (@clipper). My interaction with the wheels and gear is more of "wing and prayer" affair where I use white glue to hold the wheels on while I sit there with my tweezers holding them straight until everything dries. Your system seems more sure-fire to me. I may have to switch. :o)

So, Carl (clipper), you use a hybrid "wing and a prayer" with an engineering approach. It looks like it works pretty good. I glued my Wellesley wheels before I started watching the football game. I will go up later and see how the wheels did. One fit snugly, and the other was very loose. Such are the benefits of a limited run kit.

Thanks John (@johnb), George (@gblair), and Spiros (@fiveten). Wheel installation is a challenge on most kits given the various angles and flat areas that have to be accommodated.

I've been somewhat preoccupied with a different non-modeling project and this is slowing down completion of my Mohawk. But I did manage to get a few more bits added. The 20 pound anti-personnel frag bombs, the tail wheel doors and remaining main gear doors, and unmasking of the canopy. I still have a few small photo etch bits to add which I have been procrastinating on. However, I want to get the remaining weathering done before I add those.

It was somewhat difficult George (@gblair) adding the text. The white marker initially didn't want to dispense any white paint (Ink?). I tapped it on a piece of paper and tried to get it flowing, which it did, but then it wanted to come out in bucket loads. Mix that with trying to hold the airplane at an angle where I could write (and control my writing), slightly shaky hands, and be able to see what I was doing, well you get the idea.