Build Review IA 58A/D Pucara 1:48

[B_Bogus]

13 hours ago, Peter W said:

Looks good Mike and the undercarriage colour appears pretty close to a lot of pictures, almost an eau de nil green.

 

just need Hannant’s to get them off the boat and I can add one to the stash.

 

Pete

Looks good to me too

The call-out for the upper surface colour is BS216 Duck Egg Green, and the U/C certainly looks to be the same colour in the photos I've seen.

Mine arrived from the former Colonies in 10 days, and with no duties...

[exdraken]

Great progress, very inspiring!

 

 

[Mike]

Thanks for the comments folks I managed to finish off the IPs last night, so there's a good chance the fuselage may be closed sometime today.  Wish me luck

[Mike]

Not last night, but this morning I glued the finished IPs and rear coaming into place, then fitted the cockpit to the nose gear bay.  The fit was great, although I don't understand the small gap in the rear coaming, but hey-ho   I ran liquid cement around the fuselage, starting at the nose, which was spreading a little, so I taped it, then repeated it all the way round.  In order to keep the fuselage to the correct shape I push-fitted the wings in place, and decided to add the spine insert, which actually left a bit to be desired.  Using some 0.5mm strip styrene, I pushed the fuselage out a little by sliding a piece down each side of the aft of the cockpit, which set the front perfectly, but the rear was still a bit wide.  I squeezed it between my thumb & forefinger to stress the plastic, which fixed the issue.  I glued it and taped it in before it relaxed, and shouldn't have to do much if any sanding.  Here's where she's at now:

 

 

 

I'll have to leave her to set up for a while now, and decide what parts to put on next.  I'm thinking of the elevators and the windscreen first, and I'm wondering what to do with the lavatory lid that fits into that hole in the underside.  The instructions show it open, but it seems to be closed up in all the pics I've got.  I've also got no idea what it is

[Peter W]

Good to see this one going together without any major problems Mike. Kinetic do seem to be raising the bar with each new release, which is a positive too.

 

Pete

[Mike]

2 hours ago, Peter W said:

Good to see this one going together without any major problems Mike. Kinetic do seem to be raising the bar with each new release, which is a positive too.

 

I'd agree with that.  This one's going together particularly nicely Working on some nose weight now, and trying to find my big jug of weights

[Mike]

I almost made a very silly mistake earlier, and very nearly forgot to put any nose weight in the Pucara Fortunately, I remembered before I glued the wings on, and decided to fabricate a little box from some scrap styrene on my desk.  I sized it so it sits under the cockpit forward of the leading edge of the wings, as there's not an awful lot of room in the very tip of the nose (although it would have been a lot more effective).  I filled the box with metal punchings that used to weigh down my old angle-poise lamp, binding them together with some layers of CA after each tamp-down.  The final weight was 25g including the housing, and a quick test showed a slight tendency to tip forward.  We've still got props, elevators and canopy to go on yet, but I suspect they'll even things out.  If it doesn't, just make sure you put more than 25g in yours

 

 

I've used a generous blob of CA to bond it to the floor of the cockpit, and will leave it to gas off before I close up the area with wings, and leave it a good 24 hours before I start mucking about with canopies.... just in case of the dreaded white deposits

[Pete in Lincs]

That was an interesting catch up. Thanks, Mike. It was always a good looking Aircraft. And, "If it looks right, it'll fly right".

Though I've never read a pilots report, I doubt it was too bad. What could the Whirlwind have done with engines like that?

[heloman1]

Looking good Mike, nice looking build.

 

Colin

[Mike]

Dealt with the majority of seams PDQ this avo, and TBH they're pretty bloomin' good.  I rescribed any panel lines softened by the process, and used my Galaxy Model riveting tool to put all the rivets back, which just happened to be at the same pitch as the wheel that was already chucked into my X-Acto handle I glued the windscreen in place with a healthy quantity of GS-Hypo, and that part fits like a glove.  I might need to remove a fraction off the left bottom to get it perfect, but the fit in general is really good.  It could be the paint that is pushing that little section out, but I CBA removing the screen to find out.  I decided to glue the wings on, and they also fit very well.  I trimmed a shade off the very front on the inside lip, which perfected the sit where it butts up against the back of the nose gear bay.  That could have been my fault, as again the tolerances are so good.  There's a tiny gap in the wing root on the topside, so I've very slightly kinked the wings up with a length of tape to tidy it up, most of that kink occurring in the outer panels, so as long as I don't leave it there for 6 months it should be fine    I've got her propped up on my EBMA paint stand, which they gave me to have a go of.  I have to say it works a treat!   Quick pic:

 

 

I'm getting perilously close to having to find the correct paint colours for this one I'll probably stick the tail together next, and prep the pylons and flaps for painting too, as they're all built up and ready.  I'm going for a central fuel tank, and will dig out of couple of Eduard LAU-61 rocket pods for the pylons, just to give it a bit of interest under the wings.

[B_Bogus]

Excellent progress - looking forwards to seeing your colour choices on this one  

[kev67]

Looks a really nice kit

[Mike]

2 hours ago, B_Bogus said:

looking forwards to seeing your colour choices on this one 

Funny you should mention that.  I had a bit of a mooch round the old internet, compared and contrasted with my preferred paint brand, and came up with these four options.  They look OK, but I think the blue for the underside will need some toning down with a bit of fading in order not to make it look a bit toy-like.  it's a weird old scheme anyway The rest of them I think are pretty decent, so what do you think?

 

 

H336 is a little washed out/grey in that pic, but you get the idea.  I'll pop the tail feathers on shortly if I get chance before close of play.

[Mike]

Agh!  Another bit of info needed.  I've been looking at the sensor fit, and there's at least one blade antenna at the root of the tail that I can't see on Falklands era machines, and there are also four clear parts added to the fuselage, two on each side, aft of the wingroot, and under the leading edge of the tail (low on the fuselage), and they appear to be absent on all the Falklands era airframes - like totally absent.  I've seen them on a few more recent aircraft (and the single-seat prototype), but they seem to be a lot less prominent, and seem to be formation lights or something.  Are any of those appropriate to the Falklands scheme I'm planning?

 

While I'm on the subject, are any of the ones under the fuselage needed too, and what's with the toilet lid under the aft wing root fairings?  The instructions show it open, but there's nothing inside, and I can't imagine it flying with it open, or it'd be known as "the Whistling Pucara" instead

[B_Bogus]

11 hours ago, Mike said:

I think are pretty decent, so what do you think?

H336 is a little washed out/grey in that pic, but you get the idea.  I'll pop the tail feathers on shortly if I get chance before close of play.

 

I'd say you've got it as right as can be, given we're operating from photos off computer screens on some pretty sketchy examples - well I am, anyway! 

The underside blue is pretty elusive, but as you say, the  H323 toned down is the way to go.

The instructions call it 'Air Superiority Blue', FS33450 but the MR Hobby C074 isn't it, if the online colour charts are any guide (what they're for after all..). Nevertheless, photos of the jar would indicate it's probably right?

 

The AK RC 239 version looks pretty close too.

 

I'm using Ammo MIG colours and am in a similar situation with the blue. I think Humbrol 65 was one call-out but this is too green to work with IMHO.

 

I hope a Pucara expert will be along shortly to answer the airframe queries.

Edited February 9, 2021 by B_Bogus

[Mike]

I've been doing some fettling, fiddling and fudging this last session.  I decided to fill in those four holes in the sides of the fuselage, as the pics from then don't seem to show them.  I put some 1mm sheet in with CA and then cut/sanded it flush.  I've also mounted all the various small parts and aerials ready for priming too, which was the last big job.  I threw a small quantity of grey primer at it, which has showed up any issues with fit and finish, of which there are a couple, but nothing that's going to set me back too far.  All the small parts are now primed too, and I've going to squirt a bit of metallic at the belly tank, which I'd already "distressed" with some sanders to give the impression of some dents & dings from handling.  I mounted all the flap sections on cocktail sticks right on the hinge-point where the lack of paint won't be seen.  I've also tacked down the main canopy with a bit of GS-Hypo in the corners, as it's strong enough to keep it in place, but can be levered off when the time comes to expose the cockpit after painting.  Here's a family pic of all the sub-assemblies together before it goes into full-on paint mode:

 

 

...at least I think that's all of it I'll probably find something else later - I managed to disappear the AoA probe and windscreen wiper half way across my desk earlier, and I have NO clue how they got there

[sunray]

Just catching up with your build Mike and I want one.  I built Airfix's 1/72 Pucara a few years ago (here is the build link if anyone wants to have a look https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235018470-172-airfix-pucara/ ) and while I was building it I came across an excellent reference book for the Pucara, called The Pucara Story by Dr Ricardo Caballero & Phil Cater.  The book is as its states tells the story of the Pucara with a walkaround section and is packed with colour plates, modellers notes, and loads more.  In fact for this aircraft its an absolute gem.  The ISBN is 9788361421825 and it cost me about £20 from a Duxford air show.  I have just had a look around the web and the only place I could find it at a sensible price was MMP Book http://mmpbooks.com/shop2/?target=product&product_id=17660 for £25+p&p.  But be quick if anyone wants one as they are only showing 10 left in stock and I think it might be out of print. 

 

I am looking forward to see this finished Mike so good luck with the rest of the build.   

[Mike]

2 hours ago, sunray said:

I have just had a look around the web and the only place I could find it at a sensible price was MMP Book http://mmpbooks.com/shop2/?target=product&product_id=17660 for £25+p&p.  But be quick if anyone wants one as they are only showing 10 left in stock and I think it might be out of print. 

Thanks for the link.  My only problem is that I'll probably be finished by the time the book arrives (optimism is my middle name!), so I'll probably leave those 10 for anyone that hasn't started theirs

 

Got the basic blue on the underside last night, and am probably going to be adjusting that a little with an overcoat of a lightened version, as in its purest form it's a little too severe.  These aircraft weren't in the best of condition, and couple that with the effects of aerial perpective on the real things, it looks a bit like a die-cast at the moment. That was always the plan, so it's just vindicated itself

[sunray]

6 hours ago, Mike said:

Thanks for the link.  My only problem is that I'll probably be finished by the time the book arrives (optimism is my middle name!), so I'll probably leave those 10 for anyone that hasn't started theirs

 

Got the basic blue on the underside last night, and am probably going to be adjusting that a little with an overcoat of a lightened version, as in its purest form it's a little too severe.  These aircraft weren't in the best of condition, and couple that with the effects of aerial perpective on the real things, it looks a bit like a die-cast at the moment. That was always the plan, so it's just vindicated itself

Sorry I was a bit late with the info about the book Mike.  I only came across your build today as I am trying to catch up with whats been happening on the modelling scene as I have been away.  Sods law I am afraid.  If you need me to check any references in the book just let me know.  Excellent build mate.

[James G]

Great work Mike 

[Mike]

I've been a bit lax with photos, and haven't done much work on the Pucara for a wee while, as there were a few rather interesting kits that came in for review.  Check out the Minibase Su-33 I've just finished!

 

A few days ago I sprayed the underside with Gunze H323 as the base for the following modulation.  I just got around to starting that now, so have taken a pic of my first section, which covers the right wing with a slightly lighter uneven coat that tried to pick out the detail and show a little of the weathering effects on the paint colour.  I'm using my little Gunze PS-770 with its 0.18 needle, which does a great job when you tighten up the nozzle properly It was pulsing like I was using a cheap compressor, and I had to decant the paint twice before I figured it out.  Really!

 

 

I'll carry on scribbling, or noodling as I call it, and see how it looks.  As you can see, I've overdone it around the edges so I don't leave any parts in primer when I apply the top colours after masking.  Will I mask the demacation?  Not sure yet.  My brain's gone soft.  If you can see some slightly yellow areas about halfway up the wings, that's the remains of the tape that's covering the yellow wing and tail bands I sprayed earlier.  A rare instance of me planning ahead

[bigbadbadge]

Looking good Mike, with some paint going on. 

Nice and subtle effects on the modulated wing.

Great job

Chris 

[Mike]

I decided to intensify the effects a little, as they were washing out the more they dried, and I'm now glad I did.  They looked a bit stark last night, but today they look fine (to my eyes at least), and once there's a wash, decals and some gloss coats over it, they should tone down and blend in better.  This is where I am now:

 

 

Masking up the underside is going to happen next, although teatime is looming.  Lots of tape will be harmed in the making of the next post

[speedy]

That’s a really cool build there Mike, keep going.

[PaulN]

Great job, Mike!!!!