Beechcraft D-18S TuAF Build process

Fuselage closed and lots of work to do for the seam line. 🙁 

One layer of Mr. Surfacer 500 applied and sanded.  

Sanding result was not satisfactory. One more layer Tamiya white putty applied and will be sanded.  

Engine support plastics installed in to the nacelles. 

Horizontal stabiliser glued and… 

…there is a huge gap to be filled. 

Gap is filled with evergreen 0,25mm sheet. Rest will be filled with putty. 

Base color H53 Neutral Gray, cylinders H416 RLM66 Black Gray. 

Color for rods is H8 silver. 0,6mm holes drilled for 0,5mm brass rods.  

It is not super aligned. I don’t know if it’ll worth that effort when it is finished. 

I know it is not the best but for the first attempt I’m satisfied.  

Wings are in place but those huge gaps should be filled in. Hard work ahead. 🙂 

Let’s create an exhaust with a cotton bud, lead wire. Put the wire in side the tube and bend. Then heat and cut. Take the wire out. After that cut in half longitudely as you desire.  

Dry fit with U-tack. I think better than nothing.  

Now let’s make engine cowl flaps with round cutter and 0,25 mm evergreen sheet. 

Dry with fit U-tack. Again better than nothing.  

Wrong panel lines filled and re-scribed on engine cowlings.  

Cabin air vents crafted from sprue and installed.  

Finally gaps filled and sanded. Three layers of putty used. In sequence; Revell plasto, Tamiya white putty and Mr. Surfacer 500. Moment of truth will be after primer. 🙂 

Wind shield is in place and as expected there is a gap to be filled.  

First filled with stretched sprue then putty.  

It’s not the best but better than nothing.  

Ready for primer.  

Propeller hubs are not correct according to reference picture.  

Hubs are modified with Tamiya epoxy putty.  

This is my reference picture.  

Before painting primed with 3 layers Mr. Finishing Surfacer 1500 white. Sanded with 2400 grind polishing cloth.  

Painted with 3 layers of Tamiya x-7 Red.  

Chrome engine cowlings and anti-glare panels painted with Alclad chrome and Tamiya XF-1 flat black 

Decals and panel lines are on. Masked for wind screen frame painting. Pitot tube will crafted from brass tube and AZ Lines will be for HF antenna.