F.M.A. IA 58A Pucara
With unnumbered sprue, unintelligible plans, poor moulding and misprinted decals, this kit it was so far from what one expects from Airfix that it's hard to believe they would put their name to it. Looking further into its history, I believe Airfix may have acquired it from Special Hobby Models, as their 2003 kit and instructions look identical, albeit it Special Hobby Models' decals look better!
I also attempted, for the first time, to use Blu Tack (the white kind as it contains, apparently, less oil) to mask out the required camouflage pattern. I first applied the sky blue to the underside, masked this with tape and then covered the upper surface with the pale green. In my excitement, I forgot to add the pre shading of darker primer, so will have to make a note to self not to get so carried away next time!
Once the green had been given a chance to dry, I moulded the Blu Tack over the areas which were to remain green and then sprayed over the gaps with the sand colour. After another drying period, and feeling like a plastic surgeon about to remove the bandages from his patient, it was time to remove the Blu Tack. I was quite happy with the final result, although disappointed to have lost the shading through my omission to even apply it before the green!
One of the key building instructions was to place an 8g weight in the nose to ensure it sat correctly on its front wheel when completed. This is not an unusual requirement but having weighed out the ballast it became very clear that there was absolutely no space to place any weights in the nose what so ever! I had to, therefore, reluctantly ignore this instruction, knowing full well that this would mean I’d never be able to easily display it. Indeed, to take the picture of the aircraft outside the hanger, above, I had to superglue its front wheel to the runway!
Navigator is checking flight plans 🙂
Is that the Globe hotel in the background?
The paints I found in my collection which matched best after doing a 'match pot test' were Vallejo's 71.302 Sky Type S for the Green and 71.027 Light Brown. For the sky blue underside I just used a Vallejo blue with a bit of white added until I got that baby blue colour.
Comentários
13 3 December 2020, 18:21
Jonathan Read-BoneDiego, the paints I found matched best when doing a test were Vallejo's 71.302 Sky Type S for the Green and 71.027 Light Brown .. I've added a photo of the bottles and model close up 🙂
4 December 2020, 17:29
Jonathan Read-BoneNeuling .. thank you! More pictures added. The canopy fit was poor and I was going to remove cut and have it open to hide the poor fit .. the mini saw purchased for this arrived today, so I may have a go at it over the weekend if I have time and inclination😉
4 December 2020, 17:31
Jonathan Read-BoneDiego, just found a way of adding paints used to the project .. so have done this too.
4 December 2020, 18:01
Mirko RömerYou just have to admire everyone finishing this kit! But if it's done so nicely - hats off!
4 December 2020, 20:28
Jonathan Read-BoneThanks Mirko. It did turn into a labour of love. Every piece cut from the sprue was an adventure! 🙂
5 December 2020, 07:33
Diego DHthanks Jonathan, great work and nice pics. Wonder where the hangar came from … 🙂
13 December 2020, 22:27
Album info
My scale model of the Pucará is intended to portray aircraft A-522 flown by the Argentinean Air Force Grupo 3 de Ataque, delivered to the islands around 15th May 1982 to replace aircraft lost earlier in the conflict. Based at Port Stanley airfield for the remainder of the war, the aircraft's operations are unknown due to the frequent un-serviceability and cannibalisation of airframes, with no more than two or three aircraft being airworthy at one time.
After the surrender, A-522 was found at Port Stanley airport in a relatively undamaged state. It was airlifted by Chinook onto the Contender Bezant in Port William and brought to the Fleet Air Arm Museum, Yeovilton, Somerset. It can now be seen on display at the North East Land, Sea & Air Museums (NELSAM), Sunderland, Tyne & Wear.
