Airacobra

1
May 22, 2022
Starting on the cockpit, and a mistake ... PE for Hasegawa not Eduard, so it's going to be interesting....
2
May 22, 2022
First step is to remove moulded dials and cut out two rectangular slots. Here goes...
3
May 22, 2022
Okay, so far so good. Now for the largest of the PE.
4
May 22, 2022
Very thin PE, and one piece didn't survive being removed from the sheet. Repair required...
5
May 22, 2022
First painted items, plus a black wash. More assembly but only when fully dry.
6
May 22, 2022
Progress is slow, but careful, given that one set of instructions is for a different kit!
7
May 22, 2022
A little licence with colours, to try to bring out some details.
8
May 22, 2022
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!!
9
May 22, 2022
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).
10
May 28, 2022
Adding handles started...
11
May 28, 2022
Learning how to handle, bend and install tiny PE parts.
12
May 28, 2022
Gun sight painted, leaving some faces clear. The doors receive PE too, so will paint the insides first.
13
May 28, 2022
PE to be fitted to the sides of the cockpit.
14
May 28, 2022
PE for this side too.
15
May 28, 2022
A little more red paint added to the handles, so they stand out more.
16
May 28, 2022
Multi-piece seat harness being assembled.
17
May 28, 2022
More tiny PE items on the floor too.
18
May 28, 2022
19
May 28, 2022
Lots done, lots more to do. The carpet monster has devoured 2 tiny pieces, but the fret provides a few spares, thank goodness...
20
May 28, 2022
A few items added to the side walls.
21
May 28, 2022
Cockpit coming together.
22
May 28, 2022
23
May 28, 2022
24
May 29, 2022
Next parts, including rusty exhausts.
25
May 29, 2022
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.
26
May 29, 2022
First time using pre-cut masks.
27
June 2, 2022
Sheet lead for nose. Don't want a nose-sitter...
28
June 2, 2022
Lead stashed.
29
June 2, 2022
Final PE items fitted in the cockpit, on the left side.
30
June 2, 2022
The last two PE pieces.
31
June 2, 2022
Loose items that mustn't be forgotten, when it's time for the primer.
32
June 2, 2022
Wings fitted after a tiny amount of fettling. Small gaps to fill next, and also rub down the long seams on the fuselage.
33
June 2, 2022
34
June 2, 2022
35
June 2, 2022
36
June 3, 2022
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...
37
June 3, 2022
38
June 3, 2022
39
June 3, 2022
Rattle can paint on upper surfaces, applied a little too heavily, so pre-shading hidden. More practice needed....
40
June 3, 2022
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.
41
June 3, 2022
Getting there...
42
June 3, 2022
Looking okay, but can still re-visit if needs be.
43
June 3, 2022
She's taking shape... Clear coat added too, ready for decals.
44
June 3, 2022
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!
45
June 3, 2022
I'm trying to make the navigation lights stand out more, so added a silver border to separate one green from the other.
46
June 3, 2022
The red light stands out nicely.
47
June 3, 2022
The next steps await, but I'll let the clear coat dry out fully first.
48
June 4, 2022
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.
49
June 4, 2022
Decals in progress.
50
June 4, 2022
Stencils on the loose items.
51
June 4, 2022
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.
52
June 4, 2022
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.
53
June 4, 2022
Stencils all done on the fuselage now too.
54
June 4, 2022
Clear coat will follow, when all completely dry.
55
June 4, 2022
Getting there, slowly but surely....
56
June 5, 2022
Well, the undercarriage is added and she's definitely not a tail-sitter.
57
June 5, 2022
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....
58
June 5, 2022
Some panel lines enhanced, and a few area of wear and dirt added.
59
June 5, 2022
60
June 5, 2022
61
June 5, 2022
I made the exhausts be less rusty, so they look newer.
62
June 5, 2022
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.

tyu
A 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 Huxtable
Many 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 Huxtable
Many 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 Huxtable
Well, 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

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P-39N Airacobra

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