December 31, 2009            Kit arrived safely at Guy Shepherd's home, Bournemouth England
01/02/2010

The package arrived unexpectedly early. I had rung the supplier of the kit and they had told me that it wasn't arriving untill later this week.
So, I was pleasantly surprised to find a huge box in my porch.

On opening the beast, all I can say is Wow. The mags have reviewed this kit to death and they all say it's great, but nothing's the
same as seeing it with your own eyes.  Everything is really top drawer.  Tamiya have excelled themselves.  And I'm sure with the
talent we have on the build (myself excluded, of course) it's scheduled to be a fantastic tribute to our C.A.G, Darren.

As the 1st person to put his mark on the kit, I smiled to myself as I snipped the 1st piece.

These pieces are obviously to allow the later kitting of the Seafire with its arrestor hook. The piece positively clicks into place. Once dry
you wouldn't know it was a separate part. Just look at all those lovely rivets.

I sprayed the fuselage as per instructions using Alclad's Airframe alluminium and Tamiya's Interior green.

Next up I started on the cockpit pieces, in my to do section. Everything goes together flawlessly, as you'd expect. I was a bit concerned
as the PE fret looks to be the horrid thick stainless steel type.  Its not as bad as it first appears, being slightly thinner and grooved to allow
for easier bending.

For my bits, I just needed the compass bracket.  After glueing the bits together, it all received a coat of interior green and was
detailed where appropriate.

This now brings me to the highlight (For me anyhow) of the kit.  Eduard have for a while now been producing their 'Sandwiched' instrument
panel.  Tamiya have improved on this.  Yep, improved it.  In the dash panel, the holes are there for the instruments.  These are supplied,
unusually, as clear plasic inserts that go in from the back of the dash panel. But heres the good bit. You apply a decal of the instrument
to the back of the clear piece. It looks like they've failed to make the instruments clear on the decal at first,

but once its off the backing and on the clear part,

Genius!

Anyhoo, the finished parts and the rest of the kit are now winging (sorry) their way to the States, for Round 2.

All the best, Darren,

...Guy
(Luftwoller)