Airfix Grumman Duck 1/72, Alaska, USAF, 1948

[jrlx]

Dear Fellow Modellers,

Feeling really encouraged by the reception to my first two RFI posts, here is my third

This time I'm presenting the Airfix Grumman OA-12 Duck 1/72, in the colours of the 10th Rescue Squadron, USAF, Elmendorf, Alaska, 1948.

I started this model in parallel with the Hurricane (posted here) and Spitfire (posted here), in early August 2014. However, just after finishing the cockpit and closing the fuselage, I left it untouched for 2 and a half months, while finishing the other two. I only managed to finish it by the end of January 2015.

This kit is a very old mold (1968, according to Scalemates). As such, it was a nightmare to build, since nothing seemed to fit or align properly... Seams were very hard to treat and the general fit of parts was poor.

On the other hand, the cockpit detail is bare and the surfaces have raised panel lines and gigantic bolts. I didn't try to solve these detail/surface problems because my objectives for this buid were:

• gain experience with Alcald paints
• build my first biplane with full rigging

So, here are the pictures:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Details of the rigging are shown in the following photos:

 

 

 

 

 

To conclude, a few words about the techniques:

• Primed with Alclad II Gray Primer and Microfiller
• Metallic paints are all Alclad II (regular shine):
  • Fuselage: Alluminium
  • Wings: White alluminium
  • Struts and landing gear: Duralluminium
  • Engine and exhausts: Gunmetal
  • Engine couling: Semi-Matte Alluminium
  • Hook: Steel
• Red, Blue, Yellow and Interior Green are Gunze Acrylics, Flat Black is Tamyia Acrylic
• Weathering: dry-brushing with silver on the engine, nothing else
• Top wing with struts was glued to the bottom wing after finishing painting
• Decals applied according to the usual method (Micro set/Micro Sol). Went on beautifully.
• Rigging
  • holes drilled on the wings and fuselage, according to pictures of real planes and the box art, before priming
  • used elastic fishing wires, glued with super-glue (CA glue), after main painting was finished (this aircraft had no stretchers for the rigging. The rigging passed through holes on the wings and fuselage)
  • rigging brush painted with silver after installation (some complicated masking was needed to protect the aircraft painting)
• General finish is Alclad Aqua Gloss, except for the anti-glare black panel and the propeller, which are flat (Micro flat)

As a first experience with Alclad I can say I was pleased with the results and found these metallic paints easy to use, contrary to much of what is said on the net. They provide a realistic metallic finish and the only difference to acrylic paints is the different primer and the different thinner used to clean the airbrush (cellulose thinner). Apart from that, they are pre-thinned, can be used directly from the bottle and dry fast. As long as the surface is properly primed and without defects, all works fine.

Hope you like it. Please let me know what you think.

Cheers

Jaime

[noelbarnes]

Hi Jaime

I think you have done a fabulous job. I have always been interested to have a go at the Airfix Duck, but was put off by the age and mouldings etc. You have shown me that it is possible to get a nice result, without going overboard in rebuilding, rescribing or scratch building. Thanks for posting.

[BerndM]

This one looks brilliant. Great job on this old kit.

[kira666]

An exotic US hydroplane.

Nice high-visibility plane.

Good result with an old kit.

[Sir T]

Just goes to show that with a little extra effort - these old kits can turn out great!

Very nice work - Well done (Your Spitfire and Hurricane. are very good too BTW)

[jhutchi]

Great result for such an old kit.

Very nice finish with Alclad. I have had mixed results with this in the past but that's all down to my technique. You have done very well with this

[Spitfire31]

Frankly, that's a wonderful model!

First, it goes to prove that older kits can be the basis of top quality models, in the right hands.

Second, these 'tween the wars types belong to my favourites. The Duck shows its Loening OL heritage very clearly.

Third, it's a smashing, colourful build, impeccably finished.

Pure inspiration – bravo!

Kind regards,

Joachim

[Hamden]

Nothing wrong with that build and the finish is outstanding!

Looking forward to the next one!

Roger

[noelh]

Like my namesake Noel above. I always fancied a go at the Airfix Duck but was put off by it's age etc. I even picked one up in a shop lately and was tempted to buy. Seeing your version may just push me over the line.

[jrlx]

Thanks to all for the kind words.

The kit was really difficult for me to build due to the fit and seam problems I mentioned. On the other hand, I must say I still haven't mastered the art of seam treatment... that's one of the areas I dread the most (that and rescribing...). I guess this model would be a piece of cake in more experienced hands.

Anyway, in the end I was quite pleased with the colourful result as well.

As said, this was an almost purely OOB build. I only drilled the ends of the exhausts with a 0.3 mm mini-drill:

 

and kind of "scratch built" the bomb holders under the wings. Though these would not be used by 1948 and by a rescue squadron, it seems these holders were kept:

I just used the kit parts and transformed each pin in a kind of claw, as per the following pictures.

Here are the two bomb holders. I've already cut the pins of the bottom one:

 

The holder was glued in place and the pins were cut in half and glued in a claw-like fashion. Here's the front "claw":

 

This holder is ready:

 

The end result was this:

 

Well, nothing too sophisticated and not perfect but I believe it improved the looks of the aircraft compared to the original straight pins.

 

Thanks for looking.

[BerndM]

Your improvements are a nice touch and your Duck is a beautiful build.

[russ c]

Brilliant job on that old kit, really nice

[Martian]

Agreat result from a great old kit from Airfix.

Martin

[Tango 1]

I like that a lot! Nice work!

[louiex2]

Outstanding work, especially the finish.

I applaud that you did not try to make major changes/corrections to the kit and builit it, instead, with specific goals in mind that you clearly accomplished. Too often, I beleive, we put ourselves under the false assumption that every kit we build on has to be built to perfection, match every rivet and panel line of the prototype, etc. so it will win the next IPMS nationals. Building a contest competitor is fine, but mostly we should build for enjoyment, relaxation, to improve our modeling skills and, most of all, have fun. Thank you for the reminder.

[jrlx]

I applaud that you did not try to make major changes/corrections to the kit and builit it, instead, with specific goals in mind that you clearly accomplished.

Thank you louiex2. I always set specific objectives for each build, be it learning new techniques or consolidating skills. Since I'm really just returning to the hobby, I have a lot of techniques to try and skills to consolidate.

Anyway, I'm a bit obsessed with detail and accuracy and also try to research the individual aircraft or similar examples in order to avoid glaring accuracy mistakes.

Cheers

Jaime

[stevej60]

That,s a very inspiring build and finish,excellent work.

[JWM]

Very well done - inspiring!

Cheers

Jerzy-Wojtek

[06/24]

Bravo sir!

[Cookenbacher]

Wow, excellent Duck! And based in Alaska no less.

[Mario]

Hi Jaime!

Always amazing how good old kits can look if built properly. Especially the paintwork looks superb. Have read you used the Alclad aqua gloss.Bought some time ago their laquer gloss and found it very sensitive and the smell awful.

I would really appreciate to hear about your experiences with the aqua gloss. Is it similar to Future? Also think there is one especially for their metalizers?

Cheers,

Mario

[Bordfunker]

Definitely a silk purse from a sow's ear!

Lovely build.

Karl

[modelling minion]

A superb result from a very old kit.

Just goes to show what can be done with these classic kits.

The only problem now id that you have got me wanting one!

Very well done.

Craig.

[kira666]

This kit is available on Amazon.

[HL-10]

Great results from the old kit, excellent work