shortCummins

I believe that you can "scale" the files to give you 1/72, 1/48, 1/32 or any size? when you 3D print them so you could crew fighters or bombers, I must look into a 3D printer rgds John(shortCummins)

thanks Craig I'm thinking of getting some of the Gundam(sic) marker pens that would make repairing that sort of thing easier/possible? thanks James I really would like to be able to add pilots and crew more often, its a shame that so few kits come with them and there are so few aftermarket ones available. rgds John(shortCummins)

thank you I'm still not sure about the coloured pipework, in my previous build Eduard had them as "silver" and I sort of wish I'd stuck to that but a little bit of colour doesn't hurt does it? especially it no one see it 😜 rgds John(shortCummins)

The kit IP decal was used… …and “peeled”… …unfortunately the yellow line didn’t adhere too well. …the lower part of the IP attached… …then the cowl… Even with the yellow line failure I’m really impressed with these “peelable” decals …the gunsight fitted to the cowl… I’m not going to fit the pedals as I’m not sure if they’d catch on Johannes’ legs? …and the IP sub-assembly attached to the aircraft. Next I’ll be adding most of the remaining pieces, ailerons, fillet, horizontal stabilisers etc. until next time as always, any suggestions, criticisms or comments will be gratefully received. rgds John(shortCummins)

thanks chaps the engineering of this kit is very nearly as good as Tamiya, my only "gripe" is the connection tabs and pins are a wee bit small, "they don't click into place" you have to be carful of placement, but I'm assuming bigger tabs and pins would detract from the fine detail? rgds John(shortCummins)

Both the ejector port(s) blancs and wheel well sub-assembly were glued in place… …the identification lights were painted transparent red, yellow and green… …then covered with some aluminium underlay tape and fixed into the wing. Wing tops and guns were fitted… …and the wing joined to the fuselage… …this is the only filling needed! Next I’ll be finishing the IP. until next time as always, any suggestions, criticisms or comments will be gratefully received. rgds John(shortCummins)

There are sixteen pieces for the really nicely detailed wheel wells. I’m still not sure about those coloured pipes. Next I’ll be dealing with the wings. until next time as always, any suggestions, criticisms or comments will be gratefully received. rgds John(shortCummins)

thanks chaps

thanks Victor it took about an hour to mask and 30 seconds to spray, but I think it was worth it rgds John(shortCummins)

Even though I plan to have the displayed “in flight” I’ve opted to “detail paint” the wheel wells even though the chances are that none of it will be seen, having said that how many times do you look at the underneath of any model? After a “base” of Xtreme Metal 478 white aluminium I masked for a coat of MRP-129 zinc chromate… …the outer pipes were given a coat of MrColor 364 aircraft grey/green… …the inner ones HobbyColor H413 RLM04 yellow… …and the middle pipes vallejo 70.841 Andrea blue… …with the rubber(?) connectors painted vallejo 70.995 German grey… I’m not sure about the coloured pipework however the Eduard instructions call for them! Next I’ll be assembling the wheel wells. until next time as always, any suggestions, criticisms or comments will be gratefully received. rgds John(shortCummins)

thanks chaps rgds John(shortCummins)

Both side walls glued in place… …the cockpit sub-assembly was clamped in place and Johannes’ left arm attached… …the fuselage halves were then joined. Next I’ll be having a look at the wheel wells. until next time as always, any suggestions, criticisms or comments will be gratefully received. rgds John(shortCummins)

the blue looks about right to me 👍 rgds John(shortCummins)

thanks chaps this CMF pilot is really nice, I just wish there was more of a choice when you want to add a pilot to your build rgds John(shortCummins)

i've used pink as an undercoat for yellow for a while now, it always made the yellow more vibrant rgds John(shortCummins)

I've decided that I can’t keep referring to him as “the pilot” so I’ve named him Johannes, Johannes and his seat were fixed to the seat support which, along with the fuel tank and and radio base were fitted in place on the cockpit floor… …his right arm positioned to hold the control column… …radio transmitter, receiver, fuel pipe and fuel gage(?) attached. Next I’ll be dealing with the sidewalls. until next time as always, any suggestions, criticisms or comments will be gratefully received. rgds John(shortCummins)

thanks Craig the "close up" photos show far more than I can see with "the naked eye" but I'm really happy with how he's come out. rgds John(shortCummins)

After a base of Mr Surfacer 1500 black primer, white was used for a zenithal highlight… …the face was given a base coat of vallejo 70.804 beige red and then highlighted, noose and cheek bones, with 70.928 light flesh… …his uniform was given a “glaze” of Alkan 5-N navy blue, the zenithal layer provided different tones… …Alkan BS:356 golden yellow was used for the Mae West… …mig MIG-010 dunkelgelb for the harness… …vellejo 70.859 black red for the helmet (and gloves not pictured)… …70.995 German grey for the oxygen mask and shoes and 71.065 steel was finally added for the harness buckles… ….here’s what he looks like now I’ll drop for gloss into his glasses and nail him to the seat rest Next I’ll be continuing with the cockpit. until next time as always, any suggestions, criticisms or comments will be gratefully received. rgds John(shortCummins)

thanks chaps initially I was a bit underwhelmed with the wood effect however as only a little bit of it is seen I now very happy with it. dry brushing, as far as I'm concerned, is a "dark art" when it works it looks just what I was after, when it doesn't, 90% of the time!, it looks a mess. I think the secret is to use a piece of card to "get rid" of most of the paint rather than a piece of tissue, my reasoning is that the tissue wicks off both moisture and paint, whereas card only wicks off paint? anyhow it worked this time so we'll see what happens the next time I try it? rgds John(shortCummins)

Montex have a mask set, MXK48112, for a Lysander target tug... might be useful if you plan to paint the markings rgds John(shortCummins)

I used various vallejo colours to paint the cockpit details… Vallejo wood and woodgrain was used for the plywood floor… …which, after a coat of hairspray, was covered by MRP-173 tyre rubber… …once dried the black was chipped to show the plywood. Vallejo steel was used to dry-brush the sidewalls… …also the radios and fuel tank… …I also made a start on the IP… …saddle brown for the head rest. Next I’ll be attempting to paint the pilot. until next time as always, any suggestions, criticisms or comments will be gratefully received. rgds John(shortCummins)

Various colours were used to “block out” the cockpit. MRP-129 zinc chromate MRP-259 pale wood MrColor 364 aircraft grey/green Xtreme Metal 478 white aluminium Next I’ll be detail painting the cockpit. until next time as always, any suggestions, criticisms or comments will be gratefully received. rgds John(shortCummins)

Whilst searching the old interweb I came across this photo by Scott Slocum via aopa.org which is exactly the “pose” I had in mind for displaying the aircraft. I spent an hour or so identifying parts that need preparation for the cockpit and interior, Mr Surfacer 1500 black primer was used as a base. Next I’ll be making a start on the cockpit paint. until next time as always, any suggestions, criticisms or comments will be gratefully received. rgds John(shortCummins)

this one... we honeymooned in Mullion Cove, Cornwall and as Culdrose was quite close, these would fly over our cottage 2 or 3 times a day rgds John(shortCummins)

thanks Steve I've not painted too many pilots recently, unfortunately they don't appear to be "a kit part" for most of the newer kits and aftermarket pilots are few and far between, I'm hoping that 3D printing will change that for the times we want to pose an aircraft "in flight" rgds John(shortCummins)