AMT/ERTL | No. 8895 | 1:48 | Douglas A-20J Havoc (WIP)

So I thought I'd build something that wasn't jet powered for a change. 

Really nice instructions with this charming kit. 

I am intending on following the paint guide on this one more than normal. I've found that Tamiya limonene cement is good for securing differing materials without causing an adverse reaction to the plastic - lead fishing weights being used here. 

I know, it's a bit rudimentary compared to all these flash aftermarket cockpit sets - but as always, my aim is just to build the kit as it is sold. Colour touches just add some interest, they're not historically accurate. 

Bit of wear and tear being added. Foreward bomb aiming section is coloured as per kit instructions. I've tried to roughen it up a bit to all look worn. More to do... 

Getting neater. 

Decided I should cram in even more weight in the hope that it won't be a tail sitter. 

Joining fuselage... 

Few further paint touch ups gone on for seat, stowage area and ensuring glue adherence of interior cockpit side panel to fuselage. Will also dry brush gun turret later too. 

Adding tail. The reason so many clips - they're adding weight to ensure compliance. I was going to showcase an open bomb bay as per kit option. However I've decided that I'm going for the external fuel tank option - yes, I did decide that before I glued the two halves together - honest! ? 

Wings, stabilizer and turbochargers... 

Really pleasing shape. 

There's no detail in here, so just concentrating on a decent colour finish. Bomb bay door is one piece, that didn't fit great for me - in retrospect I should have fixed at same time as fuselage. So glued each side and left across two days. 

I'm not going to display with bomb bay doors open. Decided I'm going to close up. 

Undercarriage on. I made a tiny mistake here and lost a cut piece to my garage floor. Oops. So used some sprue to gain height again - you won't see it when engines are on, but it's not perfect. 

I think I've rescued it! Some touch ups going on. 

Bit more smoothing and subsequent rescribing. I really liked the clean green interior. But... 

Obviously I decided it needed washes, chipping, panel lining and matt varnish! I can't help myself! 

Most of this will be wiped off. 

This seemed to be just enough pull to ensure tight fit. 

I think I got most of the exhaust fairings in the right places. 

Decided I'd add some more weight hoping it won't be a tail sitter. 

This is not an accurate grey. But it's also only my base layer, so with some subsequent weathering it will look more worn. I can't decide whether to build the GB version of the US version at the mo. 

I'm definitely getting better at finishing with a flat surface - so that's improvement! 

Stuck some weight in the drop tank too. 

You can just see some of my shading on the engines... 

I've added some post shading, streaking and grime to the unlacquered underside grey. I do this without too much care as I assume that in reality grime would accumulate around certain areas. If you have the option to wipe it away in my opinion it makes me too precise. I do subsequently over spray with the same colour again if required. Before the usual lacquer coat and washes. 

Well that used a lot of tape! Must get some Post-It notes! 

Vallejo US Olive Drab used. 

Post-shade of panels. This will be somewhat dulled back. Have also streaked airframe with some 'hairy stick' pulled wash passes. 

Pretty happy with that for now. Sure I'll screw it up/over do the weathering next! 

I'm going to try a new technique for brush painted free-handed camouflage on this one too. The contrasting green is supposed to be 'Dark Green'. I've grabbed a bottle of Hataka Dark Green FS34079 for this purpose. But It isn't contrasting enough in my opinion. So I'll likely repaint this too. You can just see the instructions at base of pic I'm using as reference. I'm steering myself more and more to the Boston rather than the Havoc. 

So I'm going to lightly hand overpaint with a different green (thinned) that's more akin to the paint instructions and then touch up/roughen the edges final effect with an airbrush. Let's see...