klr Posted October 12, 2020 Share Posted October 12, 2020 (edited) This is another placeholder. I figure I need to build at least one really old kit of a French aircraft, and this will do for starters. This is one of the Smer reboxes that were issued c. 2000, to my great delight, as the original Heller kit eluded me. The original catalogue number was L093 (?), the "black box" reissue was 213: These SMER box scans are my own: Edited January 30, 2021 by klr 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted October 12, 2020 Share Posted October 12, 2020 A great choice, mate! While I like the French options, that Turk looks good Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klr Posted October 12, 2020 Author Share Posted October 12, 2020 (edited) 37 minutes ago, RidgeRunner said: A great choice, mate! While I like the French options, that Turk looks good Martin You read my mind. I don't recall ever building a kit in Turkish markings before, so this should be the first. Edited October 12, 2020 by klr 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SledDawg Posted October 12, 2020 Share Posted October 12, 2020 Somewhere I have a set of His-Air-Dec decals for this kit (I think... or was it for an Airlines kit?) for the Turkish aircraft. They were included in an issue of the "His-Air-Dec News" and were quite revolutionary at the time. Who knew there could be markings other than what came in the box?!?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOCKNEY Posted October 28, 2020 Share Posted October 28, 2020 Hi @klr Really glad you decided to build this one. It always seems to play 2nd fiddle to the Dewortine 520, " always the bridesmaid never the bride ! " Best of luck with the build. Cheers Pat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klr Posted December 10, 2020 Author Share Posted December 10, 2020 I've finally started work on this. Somewhat surprisingly, there is a Smer stamp inside one fuselage half, but the Heller stamp on the other half remains. The kit is now being sold by Heller again, so I wonder if that Smer stamp is sttll there? The rear cockpit bulkhead is a very poor fit. Just as well there's very little cockpit detail: The wing assembly was quite good given the age of the mold: I've made more progress since, and will post the evidence as soon as I can contrive proper lighting conditions. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klr Posted December 10, 2020 Author Share Posted December 10, 2020 ... and that didn't take long. The airframe is now assembled, and cleaned up. The cockpit rear bulkhead has also been fixed. As usual with a single-piece lower wing and a curved transition between the upper wing roots and fuselage, there was quite a bit of work required, but it's the sort of challenge I like (usually anyway). Much of the remaining parts are of poor quality, and some may be replaced with plastic rod, etc. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klr Posted December 13, 2020 Author Share Posted December 13, 2020 The canopy and windscreen have now been attached. There are small gaps between the sides of the windscreen and the fuselage. These will be fixed as I tackle the complex undercarriage. The part numbers on the Smer instructions bear no relation whatseover to what is on the sprue. Just as well it's a simple kit! 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyW Posted December 13, 2020 Share Posted December 13, 2020 That's one tough looking fighter. No finesse, just bare bones trouble. It kind of reminds me of a Pit Bull dog, not a pretty looking prima donna, more a house brick in the teeth. The French should have built more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdrianMF Posted December 13, 2020 Share Posted December 13, 2020 Nice work! It looks like the kit is about as primitive as the FROG one. Looking forward to seeing the smaller bits get added. Regards, Adrian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Tucker Posted December 14, 2020 Share Posted December 14, 2020 On 12/10/2020 at 4:46 PM, klr said: I've finally started work on this. Somewhat surprisingly, there is a Smer stamp inside one fuselage half, but the Heller stamp on the other half remains. The kit is now being sold by Heller again, so I wonder if that Smer stamp is sttll there? The rear cockpit bulkhead is a very poor fit. Just as well there's very little cockpit detail: The wing assembly was quite good given the age of the mold: I've made more progress since, and will post the evidence as soon as I can contrive proper lighting conditions. This was where I stopped thinking I would build my SMER 406. I think I will get the Brengun detail set and see where that takes me..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klr Posted December 14, 2020 Author Share Posted December 14, 2020 On 12/13/2020 at 7:15 PM, AdrianMF said: Nice work! It looks like the kit is about as primitive as the FROG one. Looking forward to seeing the smaller bits get added. Regards, Adrian I actually like the complex and varied surface detailing, especially compared to some modern kits with relatively "plain" detailing. The main parts fit is quite good as well. But yes, those small parts are daunting. I'm currently working on the main undercarriage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klr Posted December 15, 2020 Author Share Posted December 15, 2020 Main undercarriage legs now attached ... hopefully! The SMER instructions give no clues as to their outward-sloping angle, or the even more outward-sloping angle of the wheels (which will be next): 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klr Posted December 23, 2020 Author Share Posted December 23, 2020 Like all my builds currently in progress, this will resume at the end of December, once I get back home (just copy and paste this everywhere!) But I should add: The kit is now almost completely build, except for the external gun sight, and the horn balance on the top of the rudder (at least that's what it looks like). 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOCKNEY Posted January 2, 2021 Share Posted January 2, 2021 Hi @klr I hope we see you return to get this one finished, wouldn't seem right not to have a completed 406 in the Gallery ! Best of luck. Cheers Pat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klr Posted January 3, 2021 Author Share Posted January 3, 2021 On 1/2/2021 at 10:03 AM, JOCKNEY said: Hi @klr I hope we see you return to get this one finished, wouldn't seem right not to have a completed 406 in the Gallery ! Best of luck. Cheers Pat The Morane is on the schedule for next week! It "just" needs to be painted and decalled. I've got other business this evening (Italeri Churchill). 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klr Posted January 12, 2021 Author Share Posted January 12, 2021 So ... undercarriage attached, along with most of the other fiddly bits. Note the odd orientation of the wheels, which is certainly not covered in the instructions: In the last few days, painting has started. Upper camouflage colours are as per instructions for the Turkish aircraft: Hu 26 khaki, Hu 30 dark green, and Hu 98 chocolate. For the undersides, I picked Hu 127 US Ghost Grey, same as I did for the Yugoslavian Bf 108. It will need a coat of matt varnish. The Propagteam decals are prone to falling apart, and required an amount of touching up. By tomorrow, all but the tail and rudder will have been painted, although there will be a considerable amount of touching up first. I also hope to have the fuselage serial decals applied (... fingers crossed). 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Tucker Posted January 13, 2021 Share Posted January 13, 2021 10 hours ago, klr said: So ... undercarriage attached, along with most of the other fiddly bits. Note the odd orientation of the wheels, which is certainly not covered in the instructions: In the last few days, painting has started. Upper camouflage colours are as per instructions for the Turkish aircraft: Hu 26 khaki, Hu 30 dark green, and Hu 98 chocolate. For the undersides, I picked Hu 127 US Ghost Grey, same as I did for the Yugoslavian Bf 108. It will need a coat of matt varnish. The Propagteam decals are prone to falling apart, and required an amount of touching up. By tomorrow, all but the tail and rudder will have been painted, although there will be a considerable amount of touching up first. I also hope to have the fuselage serial decals applied (... fingers crossed). It looks good. I am sad to see you have the same experience of the Progateam decals as I have. They have a habit of exploding on contact with water. They must be made of Lithium or something 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOCKNEY Posted January 15, 2021 Share Posted January 15, 2021 On 13/01/2021 at 08:24, Richard Tucker said: It looks good. I am sad to see you have the same experience of the Progateam decals as I have. They have a habit of exploding on contact with water. They must be made of Lithium or something I think Novo made the decals for Progateam, which explains the adverse reaction to water ! Cheers Pat 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klr Posted January 27, 2021 Author Share Posted January 27, 2021 More painting, and applying the big fuselage serials, which were surprisingly well behaved: But the star and crescent rudder decals ... oh dear. They literally fell to pieces: So I'm currently finishing this by hand. Hopefully it will be done tomorrow. It would have been far better if the decals were confined to just the star and crescent, to be applied onto a painted rudder. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOCKNEY Posted January 27, 2021 Share Posted January 27, 2021 Sorry about the decals but the rest of the build is looking the business. Cheers Pat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klr Posted January 27, 2021 Author Share Posted January 27, 2021 29 minutes ago, JOCKNEY said: Sorry about the decals but the rest of the build is looking the business. Cheers Pat It is a nice kit despite its age, if you can look past the tricky undercarriage and some clunky small parts. I won't be parting with the other one in my stash, but I will also probably grab a Hobby 2000 (ex-Hasegawa) kit or two. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klr Posted January 30, 2021 Author Share Posted January 30, 2021 Finished! 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyOD Posted January 30, 2021 Share Posted January 30, 2021 Great save on the rudder there, and a fine result. Was it difficult to match the colour? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fightersweep Posted January 30, 2021 Share Posted January 30, 2021 Ooo! That's nice! Like the camo colours and also nice to see something a bit different with the markings. Great job! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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