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AZ Model, 1/72nd scale Israeli Vultee BT-13 Valiant, 1948...


John Masters

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Yes..thanks Col.  The recent additions are not so good.  I am not sure about this Hataka paint.  What's the point of having airbrush-ready paints that you must thin?  

The brown was very odd to spray and the blue...what a mess.  I'll post some pictures later, but suffice to say there will have to be a lot of touching up.  I had to raise the psi to 25 and thin the paint just to get it to come out of the airbrush.  And the tip dried so fast...bothersome.  You'll see...

 

Not to worry.  I am confident in the mission.

 

 

Edited by John D.C. Masters
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Here are the updates and after 24 hours of not looking at it, I am happier than I sounded in the previous post.  The blue looks alright and any touch-ups will give the aircraft a certain "we-don't-have-any-money-for-our-fledgling-airforce-but-we-painted-them-anyway" look.

 

Flickr is acting up right now.  Pictures soon...

 

 

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Here we go...masked over the 'sand' for the blue...

 

33609746648_793f7a7af1_z_d.jpg

 

And the blue is on.  I like the colours.  I have to figure out the paints.  Like I said, a fair amount of hand-brushing to fix things...any tips from those who have used the Hataka acrylics would be of great use.

 

47486226151_cc43c98c63_z_d.jpg

 

33609746598_09865180ac_z_d.jpg

 

 

--John

 

 

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On 26/03/2019 at 06:18, John D.C. Masters said:

I am using the Hataka Acrylic (red) paint set for the Israeli Air Force 1948/67 (Early Period)  This is the 'Silk Grey' on the underside.  For the camo upper surfaces I will be using the Medium Brown and Grey-Blue.  Even though the AZ Model box calls for 'Sand' and 'Dark Green'...

IIRC the Israeli blue/brown/ grey scheme is from the early 50's,  when the airforce became properly established,   prior to that they used what they had, or could get, or what aircraft were delivered in.(Avia S-199 in reed green, Spitfires in DFS,)
there is supposition that some early Israeli paint was ex-RAF leftovers, they built a Spitfire out of parts from dumped ones. 
if the BT-13 is from 1948,  then the Blue/brown/grey is wrong, and AZ call out is reasonable.   I'm away from my copy of Israeli Airforce colours,  but the profiles are like the AZ art.

 

HTH even though a bit late....

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Just now, John D.C. Masters said:

Too late!  Oh well...

I also away from the Air War on the Edge,  a massive tome on aircraft of IAF,   as aircraft that carried on in service in the 50's did in time get repainted, and I don't know until when the BT-13 served until offhand.... 

http://www.iaf.org.il/200-18274-EN/IAF.aspx

Quote

A twin seat trainer that was used primarily by the US Army. Two Valiants purchased in the US were disassembled and flown to Israel inside the Transport Squadron's Commandos in 1948. They joined the ranks of the IAF and were retired the following year

 

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Paint fixed up a bit, decals on and varnish applied.  I'l give it some wear and tear and then add the radio antennae, pitot tube, landing gear, prop...whatever else I have forgotten.  I looked in to my early Israeli books as well and I saw almost no mention of this aircraft (1 of 2) except for what Tony said--used for a year then scrapped.  Also, noting definitive about the paint, so I am sticking with the blue.  It actually doesn't look that blue anymore and won't once I hit it with some FloryWash.  This will all happen tonight so I'll wrap this up tomorrow morning.  

 

47497706041_9a3c4a8ce9_z_d.jpg

 

33620864758_fa48cc7624_z_d.jpg

 

--John

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At one of the model club meetings someone made the comment that 'Straight to airbrush' should read 'straight to bin' so well done getting it to perform John. The Valiant is looking good and the colours are unusual so will stand out in your collection.

Edited by Col.
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Last night I applied a healthy dose of FloryWash to the model.  I let it dry overnight and this morning finished up the build.

 

46781262654_ebb2e084d2_z_d.jpg

 

Here is my little 'MidEast Shelf'...On a side note, I have moved three Spitfires (Israeli and Egyptian) from the Spitfire Shelf up there.  It reminded me that I have been neglecting my Spitfire A-Go-Go so I will get back to that presently...😉

 

Here is the Vultee next to some of its compatriots.

 

46781261944_5a078012ac_b_d.jpg

 

The rest are in the gallery...

--John

 

 

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Another good edition to your collection John :thumbsup:

There's plenty opportunities to add a few Spitfires to your Go-Go in this GB as well as the 50s and Specialists events ;) 

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