Dads203

Cheers everyone for the kind words and all the likes I've had an hour at the bench today whilst I'm off work, nothing to serious so this is fruits of my bench time. Tamiya have simplified the MLG legs with one of the rams moulded onto the leg direct, I decided to replace it with some telescopic brass rod to make it a little better. Brake lines added and general clean up of the part, one more to do !! Enjoy

Anyone would think there is some potato chat on this thread? Or am I thinking of another 😗 Good work Lee, it’s going to be another stunner mate.

These were the last bits I did last week before my trip to the hospital, didn't get a chance to post them up. Reworked the gunsight as the kit part was lacking in accuracy and detail. Added a new clear lens from some old packaging and a few bezels and dials to it, look much better in the flesh as the macro lens really shows every tiny imperfection, wart an all but its better than the kit stock item. MLG gear bays painted up in white and a simple panel line wash added, more details to be painted up yet. Enjoy

Really nice Build John, lovely animation on the running gear 👍

He could just be building a model Aeroplane 🤫

Cheers Paul, Armour will follow soon so don’t worry 😉 A bit of a delay on any updates as I’ve just had a stay in hospital for a blood clot on the lung, hopefully back in the workshop soon chaps.

Chipping fluid is more controllable than using a liquid mask, you can decide how much you want to distress the finish.

They look like Potatogawa to me, quite expensive, very tastefully done 😉

More like critical mess 😗

Tail wheel gets the paint today, MRP white primer which was then glossed with MRP varnish. Mike Grant decal for the data plate, glossed again and then it with Tamiya panels liners. Turtle deck got some grey paint and the combing got some extra weathering using the AK weathering pencils to add some subtle highlights and shadow. Wheel wells got some basic painting. Exhausts get some basic colours added.

I fear that the white spirit has stripped out the plasticiser from the plastic. Not sure you can rescue it tbh but polishing it with a plastic polish might work to reduce it, wont harm to try. Next time I would use Isopropyl Alcohol to remove any overspray. White Spirit will really damage plastic so you have to be careful.

Other MLG leg assembled, I'll be adding a bit more detail on these as Tamiya skimped a little. Some wiring need in the gear bays which is why the wing to and bottoms have not yet been glued. Brassin wheels have some great brake details rendered. Engine is now in subassemblies and the prop and cowl are primed in Mr Surfacer black.

One of the main landing gear legs roughed out, again with the Eduard Brassin wheels. Brake lines yet to be added. Exhausts get cleaned up and the tips drilled out, primed with MRP white primer.

That's really nice mate, proper good quality modelling all round

Credit where its due, the Eduard Brassin 3D printed tail wheel is a work of art and a very cheap upgrade to an already excellent kit. This will paint up really well. Working on the main gear bays using the Eduard PE set as a basis for detailing, I've removed the gear bay doors from the inners as to make painting easier. I'll pin the doors with brass rod during final assembly.

Cheers for all the likes chaps, not much of an update today I'm afraid Stuff has been going on with the build but not very exciting, sanding seams and the likes but I have painted up the combing, well more like blocked it in with the base colours. Some decals added to the scratch instruments and the engine got a matt varnish, some highlights have been added but very subtle at this stage. A couple more missing details added, one antenna thingy to the tail next to the nav light that Tamiya missed for the J version and a sight thing to the side of the cockpit. I've read various bits on it and one article stated that its a dive bombing sight and one other article states that it was used for carrier landings? Anyway the USAF pilots hung their helmets off it. It's the bent bit of brass rod below the left hand site of the cockpit bolted onto the amour plate.

A touch of work on the kit engine, some ignition wires added with lead wire and that is it. added the Eduard PE wires and they looked pants so a v2 was required. No point in going to mad as you really can't see much. Painted up with MRP Steel, white aluminium and interior green, primer was Mr Sufacer Black, after the main painting the engine details were treated to a pin wash of Tamiya Black Panel liner. Mike Grant decals provided a small data plate. Black panel liner is still drying so one dry I'll hit it with a matt varnish.

Cheers chaps, the VHF whip isn’t yet glued on so it’s not a problem 🫡 Engine will get some extra work but nothing to major, I have the Eduard PE set so some wiring and careful painting will probably be fine.

A touch more done to the combing, more detail added again, working on the gunsight which is a bit basic so I'll detail that up. Some basic engine works started. Enjoy

Dark Grey tile grout works really well.

Actual, it’s named after the German company who manufactures the track, they did some for the M113’s, M109’s etc.

German made track in essence.

A tad more work tonight, I've added some missing detail from the cockpit combing, a couple of extra instruments added, almost done with this now with a few more bits to add. The two new instruments will get some dials added from an Airscale set. Cheers

Cheers chaps, Fuselage together, no real dramas with this just a bit more fettling with the seat to get it to clear the tub sides. Scratch built the VHF whip base and antenna which is missing from the Tamiya kit. Added the whip from Carbon rod. Noticed a few more lumps a bumps that have to be added but no real dramas, probably forgotten by Tamiya after they released the H version. Enjoy

Cheers Bob, good to know that the wing fold might need some extra attention. I’m in two minds on wether to use it on this build tbh, I have the A-1H in the stash so it might be saved for that build. if you are using the Eduard seat you have to remove a few circuit breakers from the Quinta decal as they foul the front right of the seat, not a difficult task but worth noting.