CliffB Posted July 6, 2012 Author Share Posted July 6, 2012 Ace! Thanks Don (Subliminal Wimbledon?) I don't think you're going to get many super-geek modelers peering in with a torch and saying 'ermm, Actually I don't think that stringer is located in the proper position for a late 20s built Potez 25 A2 in Paraguayan service... 'Will Too true Will! Part of the appeal of subjects like this is that you can get away with any number of liberties Here's the latest update - some lovely PE to lift the cockpit. In addition to these 3D parts, there are also half a dozen or so levers and minor panels to add interest. Cheers Cliff 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarLos Posted July 6, 2012 Share Posted July 6, 2012 Good work so far! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bertie McBoatface Posted July 6, 2012 Share Posted July 6, 2012 (edited) Thanks Don (Subliminal Wimbledon?)Cheers Cliff Certainly not. I detest all forms of sport. I'd spoilsport if I could! Burn it all with it's own bloody torch! For me 'Ace' is more likely to be: or or your outstanding modelling! Edited July 6, 2012 by per ardua ad ostentationem Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CliffB Posted August 28, 2012 Author Share Posted August 28, 2012 (edited) Almost two months have slipped by and hardly a thing done on the Potez - until this Bank Holiday weekend that is..... The cockpit is now complete and when I've posted this, the fuselage sides will be joined together - always a bit of a landmark Cheers Cliff Edited August 28, 2012 by CliffB 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CliffB Posted September 2, 2012 Author Share Posted September 2, 2012 This week's update - fuselage and most flying surfaces assembled (the Scarff ring is balanced there, just for show!) No real nightmares, just a lot of laborious sanding and fettling. I tried to make the wings as thin as possible (they are formed from upper and lower halves), but very quickly they started to snap as I sanded them. The plastic is incredibly weak, although thankfully it glues OK. There is no way that I'm going going to be able to use the struts and other fine parts. Thanks for watching. Cliff 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CliffB Posted September 14, 2012 Author Share Posted September 14, 2012 I seem to be moving at a snail's pace at the moment with the Potez..... Some good news though as, despite all my expectations, the under-carriage parts proved strong enough to use. Looking back, it's the parts on the sprue containing the wings which have crumbled or snapped - the parts on the other sprue seem OK. I've also been fettling the upper wing and once that's finished I'm looking forward to getting some paint on this weekend. Cheers Cliff 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted September 14, 2012 Share Posted September 14, 2012 A very brave build Cliff... it looks to be a horrible kit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CliffB Posted September 22, 2012 Author Share Posted September 22, 2012 A very brave build Cliff... it looks to be a horrible kit Yes Mike, in many ways pretty horrible - in other ways though not too bad, at least the important bits fit together OK Here's an update for today. Started off with the kit in primer and some pre-shading added. I've also been thinking about the markings. I'm using Blue Rider sheets for all my Chaco War aircraft (to maintain colour consistency), and the 25 TOE on their sheet is number 13. By coincidence, number 13 is also one of the options provided on the original HitKit decal sheet. No. 13 was unusual as it had 'unofficial' under-wing roundels that had been modified in the field to incorporate a star motif (the standard Paraguayan roundel is exactly like a French one). Presumably the mod was to help recognition for Paraguayan ground troops (the enemy Bolivian aircraft having simple roundels too). There's great uncertainty about exactly what colours were used. In the photo above, the roundel on the left is the HitKit take - this matches the black and white photos, but has reversed the blue and reds of the centre dot and outer rings (relative to the standard Paraguayan roundel). The central decal is the Blue Rider version. This matches the description given in the 'standard' text book on the Chaco air war, but lacks the outer ring visible in all photos. The decal on the right is my interpretation - I've simply over-painted a yellow star on top of a standard Paraguayan roundel. This seems to me to the most likely field mod - I've used yellow because that's the colour of the star on the Paraguayan national flag and also of the star on the Potez's tail markings! . We'll probably never know the truth though..... I've subsequently put some green paint on. The standard text describes this as Dark Green, closely matching FS34079. I understand that this matches with Tamiya XF-61 Dark Green, which is what I've used. It's incredibly dark though! I don't really have a problem with this (it hides all the blemishes and will look cool with the markings), it's just not what I was expecting - it also means that my pre-shading is completely invisible! Looking forward to the decals next... Cheers Cliff 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CliffB Posted September 23, 2012 Author Share Posted September 23, 2012 Today's update (trying hard to get this finished in time...) The decal's are on and over-coated with varnish. The Blue Rider decals are pretty good - strong and with excellent colour density (the white 13s work well and capture the hand-pained look beautifully). The only downside is that the decals are quite thick - I made a mistake in using the decals for the rudder markings (softening solutions did help though). I think there will need to be plenty of oil streaks on the rudder to disguise the mess ! I've also been thinking about bomb racks. There's nothing provided in the kit and my own references weren't a lot of help. CarLos to the rescue though (thanks again CarLos ), and I was able to get a reasonable appreciation of what the racks look like. When on CAS duties, the Paraguayan 25s were fitted with a 'salvo rack' under each lower wing. These carried six (or possibly 12?), small bombs each and had a complex lattice frame structure. There was no way that I would be able to create an accurate representation in 1/72, but when trawling through my spares box I found a couple of bits of PE which seem to capture the spirit, at least, of what the racks look like. So I'll be using these! Cheers Cliff 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyC Posted September 23, 2012 Share Posted September 23, 2012 It's obviously been a bit of a battle in place Cliff, but that is awesome - how good does she look with a coat of paint on? Great stuff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CliffB Posted September 25, 2012 Author Share Posted September 25, 2012 It's obviously been a bit of a battle in place Cliff, but that is awesome - how good does she look with a coat of paint on? Great stuff Thanks Andy. You are right, the paint has transformed it - I'm almost fond of it now! Tonight has seen a first for me - the first use of my Aeroclub biplane jig. The first stage is to mount the aircraft using its lower wings... Then the upper wing is positioned... It all went very smoothly - although it quickly became apparent that I hadn't fitted the lower wings quite as straight and true as I had thought. The jig shows up every imperfection! Tomorrow will see another first for me - using brass Strutz Cheers Cliff 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted September 25, 2012 Share Posted September 25, 2012 That jig looks like some form of medieval torture device! Kind of appropriate given how hard you've had to work knocking this one into the great shape it is. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CliffB Posted September 30, 2012 Author Share Posted September 30, 2012 Thanks Col. The jig actually worked really well. The instructions are quite off-putting, but in fact it's really pretty intuitive to use. The only problem I had was some slight paint abrasion - this wasn't hard to sort out with the dark green paint, but would be a big issue with a NMF. I will need to get some padding sorted out for future builds.... So, just in time I'm finished More photos in the GB Gallery. As I promised, here's a photo showing the Potez in the context of my Chaco War collection (such as it is a present) - there's a long way to go! The two at the front are Paraguayan, the remainder are Bolivian - I'll be re-dressing the balance slightly with my next build (Interwar GB). Thank you for your support and interest throughout the build. Cliff 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikkel Posted September 30, 2012 Share Posted September 30, 2012 WOW!!! looking good what a pig kit and when I see your master piece!! WOW Cheers, Mikkel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CliffB Posted September 30, 2012 Author Share Posted September 30, 2012 Thanks Mikkel - I have to say that it did turn out better than I feared it might. I won't be making another one in a hurry though... Cheers Cliff 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyC Posted October 1, 2012 Share Posted October 1, 2012 Wonderful Cliff, just wonderful. She looks a stunner and you must be proud of how she turned out! Looks great alongside her contemporaries too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmcclure Posted October 1, 2012 Share Posted October 1, 2012 Wow - what a great finish from such a difficult starting point! Really inspirational result and such an interesting topic - I enjoyed the WIP immensely so thanks a lot for sharing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt.Squarehead Posted October 1, 2012 Share Posted October 1, 2012 Absolutely outstanding build! How you managed to whittle such a beautiful model out of that horrendous kit is just beyond me.....I'm extremely jealous (on several counts)! All the best Andy S. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CliffB Posted October 1, 2012 Author Share Posted October 1, 2012 Thank you guys for your kind comments - they are very much appreciated Cheers Cliff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pabbi Posted October 7, 2012 Share Posted October 7, 2012 congratulations Cliff, great result on a difficult model ! cheers, Ragnar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CliffB Posted October 10, 2012 Author Share Posted October 10, 2012 Thanks Ragnar Cliff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JWM Posted March 4, 2016 Share Posted March 4, 2016 Beautiful work on this basic kit...And the result! Mine Potez is still in stash, I am building up my courage to start it one day... Best regards Jerzy-Wojtek 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOUSTON Posted April 4, 2016 Share Posted April 4, 2016 EXQUISITE little unique model.. GORGEOUS build. Cliff Good job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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