Etendard IV M

The example

The kit

First 10 steps of construction

Basic seat assembled

True Details NATO PE harness added

Added details into cockpit right side

Added details into cockpit left side

Added details into cockpit tub, rear, and seat

Seat painted and IP decal on

Test fit of cockpit

Test fit of cockpit

Front of fuselage broke off while adjusting fit of seat in cockpit during fuselage assembly! Major speed bump!

Seams cleaned up and reattach front to main fuselage

Nose and intake splitter plates added

Basic airframe construction finished. Now lots of gap filling ahead

Lots of filler and shims needed due to poor fit and warping in this area

Filling complete, tail and under nose strake added

Broke off the pitot tube accidentally during handling. Made up a replacement from brass tube and rod

Clear parts dipped in Future, masked, and installed

Primer coat on

Base coat of flat white onto lower surfaces

Gloss white airbrushed on over flat white

Topside colors on

Wraparound topside colors on

Decals on topside

Decals on underneath

Wash on topside

Wash on undersides

Excess wash removed topside

Excess wash removed undersides

Finished

Finished

Comments

54 15 November 2022, 23:07

Villiers de Vos
Nice progress and scratch build additions.

2 December 2022, 03:16

Carlos Cisneros
Thanks Villiers. I saw a guy doing the mods to the cockpit on Britmodeler and followed his example.

2 December 2022, 04:41

Spanjaard
nice details

2 December 2022, 08:48

John
Looks good. I confess I have never done a Heller kit. Looks like some decent detail and has recessed panel lines. Reminds me of Trumpeter stuff, not fine lines but you can deal with it.

16 December 2022, 01:57

Carlos Cisneros
Spanjaard & John, thank you. John, the detail is decent on the exterior, but sure could use help on the interior parts. The recessed panel lines are ok. I'm not sure how well they will do once paint goes on. Heller kits are ok, but the plastic is a bit on the brittle side. But for some subjects, French in particular, they are pretty much the only game in town.

16 December 2022, 03:59