Speedman Posted September 9, 2013 Share Posted September 9, 2013 (edited) Found this little gem on eBay just before Christmas and I'm really looking forward to this build. I'm going to be engraving the panel lines and I have a nice set of resin wheels that came with the decals to replace the very bland kit parts. The decal choice was born of necessity as the kit decals have yellowed, they are far worse than the photo suggests. There were a few decal choices out there but for some reason these caught my eye. When I did a bit of research I found the Bulgarian Air Force (One of the worlds oldest, being established in 1906!) flew 24 of the AR 96 from May 1940 and the markings in the decal set were used from 1938 - early 1941. So the aircraft would have only worn the markings for approximately 12 months, which in my mind makes it unusual and a little bit special. The only down side of this is that in 6 weeks of looking through hundreds of internet pages I've yet to find a single photo of an AR 96 in these markings. It's not that I need it but it would be nice to see. I'm going to be in new territory with the Airwaves set as I've only ever dealt with buckles, small hand wheels and levers before so it should be an interesting baptism into a full PE cockpit. Edited September 25, 2013 by Speedman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enzo the Magnificent Posted September 9, 2013 Share Posted September 9, 2013 Heller kit originally released in 1977 although I believe that your boxing is from 1979. Recently replaced by a kit by KP. Looks to be a rather nice kit and those markings are going to be quite striking. Nice one! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Test Graham Posted September 9, 2013 Share Posted September 9, 2013 The KP kit is not recent but almost as old as the Heller and not as nice. Not bad, but not as good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enzo the Magnificent Posted September 9, 2013 Share Posted September 9, 2013 The KP kit is not recent but almost as old as the Heller and not as nice. Not bad, but not as good. Interesting. I thought the KP kit was recent but I'm happy to stand corrected. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Test Graham Posted September 9, 2013 Share Posted September 9, 2013 I bought my first one in 1980. One of KP's better kits from the period. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted September 9, 2013 Share Posted September 9, 2013 An interesting choice of both machine and markings. Good luck with the PE and the Airwaves seem to be simple but effective from memory of the sets I've delt with so should be straightforward enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speedman Posted September 14, 2013 Author Share Posted September 14, 2013 Made a bit of a start on this one already. I've scribed the upper wings and starboard fuselage, cleaned up the cockpit floor and seats and I've prepared a few bits of the PE set. Hopefully I'll finish scribing the rest of the kit tomorrow and figure out the fit of the PE in the fuselage, the instructions are a bit vague Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speedman Posted September 14, 2013 Author Share Posted September 14, 2013 Everything is now scribed and I've assembled the wings. I added some strip to the kit "rails" that position the floor to make it easier to test fit, which I'm going to be doing a lot of... I've also removed the instrument panel pegs and filled the injection marks, a bit of green putty followed by a little Mr. Surfacer + some sanding and I've got a nice blank canvas to work with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speedman Posted September 15, 2013 Author Share Posted September 15, 2013 Got a fair bit of the PE done tonight. The sidewalls and seats are finished and I've backed the instrument panels with plasticard. I've added the little panel on top of the rear panel and fitted the front rudder pedals as well. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be but it would have helped if the instructions had proper side views of where things go on the side walls. Still got a lot to do to refine the fit of the panels and quite a few levers and knobs to add but I'm getting there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimJ Posted September 15, 2013 Share Posted September 15, 2013 Impressive work with the PE. I've got an Ar 96 in the stash so I know how small it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SleeperService Posted September 15, 2013 Share Posted September 15, 2013 An excellent start there. You do realise that the GB runs until the 15th DECEMBER not September don't you!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speedman Posted September 15, 2013 Author Share Posted September 15, 2013 You do realise that the GB runs until the 15th DECEMBER not September don't you!!!! You should check out my A-4 group build entry, 16 days in and I'm nearly finished I am called Speedman after all! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speedman Posted September 16, 2013 Author Share Posted September 16, 2013 (edited) Did lots of test fitting in the cockpit last night to get everything to line up nicely and finished the PE this morning. Just need to bulk out the handles and knobs and then get some paint in there Edited September 21, 2013 by Speedman 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enzo the Magnificent Posted September 16, 2013 Share Posted September 16, 2013 This is flippin' brilliant! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speedman Posted September 16, 2013 Author Share Posted September 16, 2013 This is flippin' brilliant! Cheers After bulking out the knobs with a little blob of Kristal Klear I got down to painting the cockpit. I sprayed the floor, sidewalls and rollover frame grey then feathered some black in at the nose and tail to give the illusion of depth when assembled. The panels were sprayed black and the seats got some green. A few reference photos I've found online had green seats and I think it gives a nice contrast to all that grey in there, plus the belts look good with it. The knobs got a dab of either red, white or yellow and then I went blind painting two bezels half red, half yellow! (Enzo, as usual it was all done with my favourite brush ) A dry brushing of grey followed by steel highlighted thing nicely then I filled the instruments with Humbrol Clear to simulate glass. The cockpit got an all over thin black wash but I went to town on the seats. After painting the belts and buckles I gave the seats a Sap Green oil wash to add some depth to the colour without dulling it followed by a Ochre Yellow wash for the belts. The final stage was a black wash applied only around the buckles and shadow areas of the belts. The floor looks a bit wonky in the photos because it's not glued in yet I've really enjoyed working with this PE, it was easier than I thought it was going to be and has taught me some new skills. Although it would have been good to remember to breathe occasionally when gluing and painting it! I'll get some more photos tomorrow in daylight, the flash on my tablet makes everything look harsh on screen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted September 16, 2013 Share Posted September 16, 2013 Well there's certainly more going on in there than the kit started with. Fast work as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speedman Posted September 17, 2013 Author Share Posted September 17, 2013 Control columns now painted and fitted, took this photo in night mode which is more like how it appears in daylight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinytuco Posted September 17, 2013 Share Posted September 17, 2013 Coming along well!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paganpete Posted September 17, 2013 Share Posted September 17, 2013 Looking damn fine!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speedman Posted September 17, 2013 Author Share Posted September 17, 2013 (edited) Had a busy evening with this one. Fuselage, tailplane, top of the nose and the cowl are all done and dusted. The wings are on and the wing roots have had some thin strip, some putty and a sanding session so far. I'll be going over them with some Mr. Surfacer tomorrow. Edited September 18, 2013 by Speedman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speedman Posted September 18, 2013 Author Share Posted September 18, 2013 (edited) I've finished all the sanding tonight and I went over the scribing one last time. I made some new exhausts to replace the kit "stumps" and I've masked the canopy ready for some primer tomorrow. All other parts are cleaned up and ready so not a great deal left to do apart from paint and decals. Edited September 19, 2013 by Speedman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heloman1 Posted September 19, 2013 Share Posted September 19, 2013 Coming along very nicely I do like the PE and rescribing. Colin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jinxman Posted September 19, 2013 Share Posted September 19, 2013 Great progress and starting to shape up very nicely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speedman Posted September 19, 2013 Author Share Posted September 19, 2013 Cheers guys! Unfortunately I've had to delay the priming of this one due to unforeseen stupidity... I forgot to attach the machine gun!! All done now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speedman Posted September 19, 2013 Author Share Posted September 19, 2013 Two coats of primer. Quick rub down. Pre-shading. Several coats of grey. Three coats of Humbrol Clear. Busy afternoon! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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