Airacobra
Starting on the cockpit, and a mistake ... PE for Hasegawa not Eduard, so it's going to be interesting....
First step is to remove moulded dials and cut out two rectangular slots. Here goes...
Okay, so far so good. Now for the largest of the PE.
Very thin PE, and one piece didn't survive being removed from the sheet. Repair required...
First painted items, plus a black wash. More assembly but only when fully dry.
Progress is slow, but careful, given that one set of instructions is for a different kit!
A little licence with colours, to try to bring out some details.
PE for the dials and gauges applied, but still to bend and install red handles. Only in the photo can I now see that I've mis-aligned the right-hand dial face over-lay, and can't see the actual dials. I'll have to try to rectify that, using the supplied decals and a magnifying glass! oops!!
Decal for lower dials added. I think the right-hand fascia moved as the 'glue' dried. I used a gloss arcylic varnish, so that the dials would still be clearly seen (successfully, on the other panels).
Adding handles started...
Learning how to handle, bend and install tiny PE parts.
Gun sight painted, leaving some faces clear. The doors receive PE too, so will paint the insides first.
PE to be fitted to the sides of the cockpit.
PE for this side too.
A little more red paint added to the handles, so they stand out more.
Multi-piece seat harness being assembled.
More tiny PE items on the floor too.
Lots done, lots more to do. The carpet monster has devoured 2 tiny pieces, but the fret provides a few spares, thank goodness...
A few items added to the side walls.
Cockpit coming together.
Next parts, including rusty exhausts.
Although I've fixed a PE harness in the cockpit and won't install the pilot, I was tempted to try to bring grey plastic to life.
First time using pre-cut masks.
Sheet lead for nose. Don't want a nose-sitter...
Lead stashed.
Final PE items fitted in the cockpit, on the left side.
The last two PE pieces.
Loose items that mustn't be forgotten, when it's time for the primer.
Wings fitted after a tiny amount of fettling. Small gaps to fill next, and also rub down the long seams on the fuselage.
An experiment in brush-applied pre-shading, including high-lights on leading-edges and upper curves. Let's see how it works out. Fingers crossed...
Rattle can paint on upper surfaces, applied a little too heavily, so pre-shading hidden. More practice needed....
Brush applied light coats of grey for the undersides. Lighter pre-shading being toned down, but this time under control. Let's see how this works out.
Getting there...
Looking okay, but can still re-visit if needs be.
She's taking shape... Clear coat added too, ready for decals.
A few lessons for the next one.... Don't forget to install the gun sight before adding the canopy. And ensure the doors are properly closed before spraying. Yes, I managed to get some fine paint mist on the inside of the canopy. A real shame, as the paint masks had done their job well. I'm definitely converted!
I'm trying to make the navigation lights stand out more, so added a silver border to separate one green from the other.
The red light stands out nicely.
The next steps await, but I'll let the clear coat dry out fully first.
Main decals started. These are the best ones I've come across. Very thin, and bedding down well. They only take seconds to release from the backing paper, so I'll have to be extra careful with the tiny stencils, tomorrow.
Decals in progress.
Stencils on the loose items.
Stencils for the sides of the fuselage, for later. I will let those on the wings and tail dry fully first. The stencils are fully legible, so I'm very pleased with the quality from Eduard.
Progress so far. All behaved fine except for one, which just fell apart as it was slid off the backing paper. I'll have to fake the text with some spares.
Stencils all done on the fuselage now too.
Clear coat will follow, when all completely dry.
Getting there, slowly but surely....
Well, the undercarriage is added and she's definitely not a tail-sitter.
The fine, fragile items are only dry fitted for now, and I've not added the doors either.... I have to decide what to do about the canopy....
Some panel lines enhanced, and a few area of wear and dirt added.
I made the exhausts be less rusty, so they look newer.
I tried to keep the access panel lines subtle, but ended up painting each screw head individually! A wash of dilute silver used in some places, after a darker grey panel line enhancement. I should have eliminated the central seam to the fuselage, and may return to do so.
Comments
16 22 May 2022, 10:41
Bruce HuxtableFirst ever attempts at working with minute PE.... already lost one item to the carpet monster, and I've got a wooden floor! Thank goodness the fret has spares of the smallest items!
22 May 2022, 18:24
Robert PodkońskiI am always hesitant to use the tiny PE parts for the same reason, Bruce 😉
28 May 2022, 12:10
Bruce HuxtableDoes anyone know how much weight should be added on the nose? No-one likes a tail-sitter.... I'll progress other areas whilst I get hold of some lead shot.
28 May 2022, 18:48
Ben MSometimes I clip off tiny pe parts inside a large plastic bag. It helps keep them from flying across the room.
29 May 2022, 17:49
Bruce HuxtableThanks for the tip, Ben. Just when you think the tweezers have a secure hold, ping, off it flies! Only 2 more parts for this project....
29 May 2022, 20:27
Gordon SørensenGreat work with the PE. I have a hard enough time losing little styrene parts, afraid to try PE… And the exhaust rust looks excellent!
29 May 2022, 21:13
Bruce HuxtableMany thanks, Gordon. I'm in amazemwnt when I see what some modellers achieve, with minute PE on huge ships. A few pieces in a cockpit is much less daunting 🙂
30 May 2022, 07:55
Bruce HuxtableThe next steps proceeding, after getting my hands on an offcut of lead sheet.
2 June 2022, 11:55
Bruce HuxtableMany thanks, Robert. Lots of decals, so she will look very different soon. Then all the finishing steps to think about...
3 June 2022, 17:15
Bruce HuxtableCan anyone suggest how to remove the fine acrylic paint mist from the inside of the canopy? I can wipe with a cotton bud, but what solvent would work? All advice welcome!
4 June 2022, 08:44
tyuA solution of ammonia, Windex, ethanol or IPA (not the beer) would remove ANY acrylic paint so if you used Future (or equivalent) on the canopy that will be removed too. AK paint stripper would work as well, also useful for enamels. All are safe to use on clear parts, when in doubt test it on scrap material. I mostly use Windex or IPA for cleanup of acrylics.
4 June 2022, 09:10
Bruce HuxtableMany thanks for your advice, tyu. I'll fake up a spare canopy and see which product I can lay my hands on. It'd be a shame not to try to correct this mistake.
4 June 2022, 13:17
Bruce HuxtableMany thanks for your 'likes', everyone. I'm working through the many stencils this afternoon. I'll post some pictures.
4 June 2022, 13:19
Bruce HuxtableWell, I'm calling it done for now, but am kicking myself for messing up the canopy. Ah well, a lesson for the next one. I may have to learn surgery, and hunt down a replacement canopy!
5 June 2022, 16:13
