C-1A Trader Scratch Build
C-1A Trader Scratch Build

C-1A Trader. Used US-2 kit for fuselage with resin fuselage plugs. Falcon kit used to deepen and round out the fuselage,
streamline and extend the engine nacelles and correct the tail. Scratch-built all surface detail. Converted Fuselage: Adapted single port side Warpaint drawing from references to create four custom C-1A technical drawings used to guide transforming S-2 to C-1A. Removed all S-2 surface detail. Used kit’s resin plugs to fill, then file side intakes off. Filled-in forward S-2 windows and creases in upper fuselage sides. Used lower portion of Falcon kit fuselage, styrene card stock, & filler to deepen and round out the flat S-2 bottom. Replaced tail boom with tail portion of Falcon kit btwn rudder & tail hook. Replaced kit tail hook. Created rear spine “intake” structure from .125 x .250” rectangular tube & styrene card. Located & marked all C-1 surface detail from drawings. Scribed all C-1 panel lines, doors, hatches & detail. Drilled & filed out window openings; then filled with MicroScale Krystal Klear. Port doors’ hinges, handle, drip edge & hatch handles made from styrene rod. Scratch-built all roof, tail, & bottom detail including antenna, top & tail wire supports, EZ Line btwn them; upper tail loops, tie-down points, all structures and lights. Scratch-built support & 2 taillights on rudder bottom. Port side dials below rear wing replicated from cockpit dial decals. Corrected Nose: Drilled out openings per tech refs. Created nose light with silver paint and Krystal Klear. Starboard pipe from styrene rod & shroud from spare PE. Lift point from styrene card and rigid fine wire. Relocated pitot tubes to nose. Removed incorrect molded-in windshield wipers and added wipers scratch-built from spare parts & PE. Engine Nacelles & Engines: Replaced rear portions with extended nacelle sections from Falcon kit. Scribed life raft compartment doors on inner sides. Mapped and scribed/re-scribed all correct C-1 surface detail. Replaced kit engines with Quickboost resin engines, then detailed with fishing line & styrene rod. Drilled open intakes above engines. Wings: Removed S-2 pylons from wing bottoms; re-scribed detail. Cut and folded wings using Black Dog Resin Kit. Scratch-built red adjustable wing supports and their wing hatch doors as per references. Markings/Decals: Hasegawa kit for most markings, warnings, stencils. Starfighter custom tail name. Self-made warnings beside rear port dials. Overlapped/offset black & white 031 numbers on nose and tail. Paint scheme per GRS references