Well, after seeing Tom Cleavers article on the PBJ, I really wanted to do another tri-color scheme (and also needing something for the Year of the Cat build) so I started my Wildcat this morning. Just a few details to paint in the cockpit and it will be going together before bed. I anticipate it on the paint bench tomorrow after work and final assembly Tuesday or Wednesday.

I've been working on a B-29 for quite some time now and wish I had just polished out all the seams for the application of Metallizer. This project had stalled due to frustration but seeing Doc at EAA this year rejuvinated me. It will still be a while as I get a little covered before things start to go awry and I want to make it take flight. I just keep telling myself that it will look great when it is finished. (It is also expensive to do this as sheets of BMF are about $8 a pop. Between completion and mistakes I'll have about $80-$100 dollars in the finish.)

Then in the real world, my Z car started making some wicked noise from the bottom end so I have an engine to pull and inspect. I just hope I haven't hurt anything too badly as I drove it about a mile afterwards. (It was pretty quiet holding a steady speed, but acceleration and deceleration made the most offensive sounds!) I HOPE I can get away with polishing the big end journals and installing new bearings. At least nothing came flying out the side of the block!

5 attached images. Click to enlarge.

Good stuff, my friend! Best of luck with your Z-car - it looks great, too! You've got your hands full with all those projects!

Josh, the 2 'Cats will look great together. Kinda like 2 brothers a year or 2 apart. They were never as sleek, sexy & pretty as a Spitfire or a P-51, but they sure got the job done when called upon!

Hey Louis...your diagnosis sounds a few pay grades above the "shade tree mechanic" position! 🙂