Popular Post Navy Bird Posted February 24, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted February 24, 2021 Hi mates, 2020 was my "year of resin kits" - everything I built was resin. Since we all hope that 2021 will see a return to normalcy, I decided to return to my roots with injection moulded styrene. And what better way than an old gem from Airfix, complete with those funky square shaped sprues that remind me so much of my misspent youth? (I could have made something of myself, but no - I was social distancing in the basement building models.) Anyway, this is the 1:72 scale kit of the Shorts Tucano T.1 and by my guess her tooling is pushing 30 years old. I used a lot of aftermarket resin bits from CMK, and by doing so made it pretty much impossible to add weight to prevent tail sitting. To remedy that, I added the wheel chocks on the port side, but then discovered that the main gear legs were flexible and she still tipped over. Ultimately I resorted to gluing her down onto one of those nice bases from Coastal. Here's my usual summary: Project: Shorts Tucano T.1 Kit: Airfix Kit No. A03059 Scale: 1:72 Decals: Xtradecal sheet X72137 for the 2011 Display Scheme on ZF378. Stencils from the kit. Resin: Several items from CMK - 7358 Cockpit Set, 7356 Control Surfaces, 7359 Exterior Set, 7357 Engine, Q72285 Wheels Photoetch: P. P. Aeroparts AC703 RAF wheel chocks; various bits from the spares box including mirrors and canopy handles Paint: Floquil 110100 Old Silver, 110015 Flat Finish; Hataka C277 Roundel Blue; GSI Creos GX112 UV Cut Gloss, H12 Flat Black, H11 Flat White, H317 Dark Gull Gray, H23 Shine Red, H90 Clear Red, H94 Clear Green; Tamiya XF-69 NATO Black Base: Coastal Kits C20040 Circular Airfield Improvements/Corrections Cut out control surfaces and added resin replacements Complete resin cockpit and ejection seats, added rear view mirrors Resin engine, exhausts, and replacement prop/spinner Resin tyres and wheels Added blast shield and handles to canopy Airfield base Scratch built antenna on rear spine WIP can be found here. Now for some pictures: A better view of the cockpit: Cheers, Bill 84 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fox1_BE Posted February 24, 2021 Share Posted February 24, 2021 Another immaculate build, Bill 👍 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulaero Posted February 24, 2021 Share Posted February 24, 2021 Very nice, don't think I've seen a Tucano built with the cowlings off. Must get on with my stalled build just trying to find stencils for the Black colour scheme 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadbadge Posted February 24, 2021 Share Posted February 24, 2021 Lovely Model Bill, great work on this lovely scheme, looks great on the base. Chris 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael51 Posted February 24, 2021 Share Posted February 24, 2021 That is a superb build, Michael 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Team Aer Lingus Posted February 24, 2021 Share Posted February 24, 2021 Beautiful work Bill that's a stunning looking model well done thanks for sharing Eamonn 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
viperchief Posted February 24, 2021 Share Posted February 24, 2021 Amazing build! Love the engine, cockpit, and finish! 😍 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
giemme Posted February 24, 2021 Share Posted February 24, 2021 With that paint scheme, the only word is: cool! Impeccable build, Bill Ciao 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
binbrook87 Posted February 24, 2021 Share Posted February 24, 2021 That's a corker! All your improvements and aftermarket items have really paid off 👍 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Natter Posted February 24, 2021 Share Posted February 24, 2021 Superb build. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lightningboy2000 Posted February 24, 2021 Share Posted February 24, 2021 Excellent build & very neatly completed as usual. The resin extras, really make it extra special. The one thing that I do focus on is the det cord, which you can't build one of these without. Is that a decal or did you make it yourself? Martin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Navy Bird Posted February 24, 2021 Author Share Posted February 24, 2021 4 hours ago, Paulaero said: Very nice, don't think I've seen a Tucano built with the cowlings off. Thanks. I'd never seen one with the cowling off either until I started researching this project. Since CMK offered the resin engine I was curious what it might look like. The engine bearers and gussets in the photos were intriguing, so I thought I'd give it a go. Then I remembered it was 1:72 scale! 3 hours ago, bigbadbadge said: Lovely Model Bill, great work on this lovely scheme, looks great on the base. The base is nice, innit? I wasn't planning on one in the beginning but it was the only way I could think of to prevent tail sitting. There is plenty of room in the kit for weight upfront, but adding the resin engine sacrificed all that room. I crammed in as much Liquid Gravity as I could - I even shortened the nose gear well to add more space - but it wasn't quite enough. I had used wheel chocks to keep my Tigercat on her three legs but that trick didn't work here. The main gear legs flexed too much due to the softer plastic used by Airfix. It worked out OK in the end because the base looks great. 3 hours ago, viperchief said: Amazing build! Love the engine, cockpit, and finish! 😍 Thanks. The photos of the real aircraft didn't show a super shiny gloss to the silver paint, so I gave her a final varnish with Floquil Flat, which yields a nice egg shell sheen. 3 hours ago, giemme said: With that paint scheme, the only word is: cool! Impeccable build, Bill Thanks. Cool is good! I get tired of the drab military schemes and just have to go for something flashy. I thought this one fit the bill. 3 hours ago, binbrook87 said: That's a corker! All your improvements and aftermarket items have really paid off 👍 Thanks. All that CMK stuff really adds to the overall model. Pretty easy conversions, too - there are a couple of things to watch out for and they're described in the WIP thread should anyone else want to give it a go. But overall not too challenging. 2 hours ago, Lightningboy2000 said: Excellent build & very neatly completed as usual. The resin extras, really make it extra special. The one thing that I do focus on is the det cord, which you can't build one of these without. Is that a decal or did you make it yourself? Thanks. The detonation cord and other canopy markings are all decals from the Airfix kit. They are VERY fiddly though. I cut the decals into several more "manageable" pieces and they still tried to flip over, curl up, etc. I finally got them all on, but it was a spot of bother. The canopy is too thick, so I should have gone for a vacuform replacement. But I was too lazy. ***** Anyone else beside me notice that these training aircraft (Embraer Tucano, Pilatus PC-9, PZL 130, TAI Hürkuş, KAI KT-1, Fuji T-7, Beechcraft T-6, etc.) all look pretty much the same? Cheers, Bill 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saeran Posted February 24, 2021 Share Posted February 24, 2021 Quality modelling there Sir! Thanks for the base supplier info too, been looking around for something like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Navy Bird Posted February 24, 2021 Author Share Posted February 24, 2021 53 minutes ago, Saeran said: Quality modelling there Sir! Thanks for the base supplier info too, been looking around for something like that. Thanks. Coastal have some really cool stuff. Check it out here. Cheers, Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
72modeler Posted February 25, 2021 Share Posted February 25, 2021 Yowzah, Bill! Not only did you select an awesome color scheme, but you did an incredible build. I really appreciate the list of aftermarket parts you used, too! I have definitely saved your WIP and RFI for future reference! Hoping you are safe and Covid-free where you are. Me, I figure the cloud of lacquer thinner I run through my airbrush to clean it is 100% effective against airborne nasties! Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kapam Posted February 25, 2021 Share Posted February 25, 2021 Stunning! Are sure this is 1/72 scale? If I was told it was 1/32 I'd be none the wiser! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinChipmunkfan Posted February 25, 2021 Share Posted February 25, 2021 Bill, I followed this in the wip. Great modelling skills and a great finished model. Well done sir! Colin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David H Posted February 25, 2021 Share Posted February 25, 2021 Wow. That's just amazing, Bill!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Posted February 25, 2021 Share Posted February 25, 2021 Museum quality modelling, right there.... simple as that. Ian. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-32 Posted February 25, 2021 Share Posted February 25, 2021 That looks awesome, a great build 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fritag Posted February 25, 2021 Share Posted February 25, 2021 It took a Navy Bird build to make me realise what a pretty aircraft the Tucano was. Immaculate as ever Bill. Perfectly judged additions. I’m surprised just how good the canopy mdc decals look as well. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Navy Bird Posted February 25, 2021 Author Share Posted February 25, 2021 12 hours ago, kapam said: Are sure this is 1/72 scale? That's what it says on the box. Thanks! 🛩️ 11 hours ago, ColinChipmunkfan said: Great modelling skills and a great finished model. Well done sir! Thanks Colin. Do I need to do a Chipmunk now? 🐿️ 11 hours ago, David H said: That's just amazing, Bill!! Especially since it's so small - I'm glad I don't build 1:144! 🔎 11 hours ago, Ian said: Museum quality modelling, right there.... simple as that. Ah, but what museum? That's the question! Thanks. 6 hours ago, Fritag said: It took a Navy Bird build to make me realise what a pretty aircraft the Tucano was. Immaculate as ever Bill. Perfectly judged additions. I’m surprised just how good the canopy mdc decals look as well. Thanks! She certainly is purty in this display scheme. I think I bought the decal sheet for a different project, and when I saw that scheme I decided to buy the Tucano kit. When I saw how few parts there were I went aftermarket crazy (although I do that most of the time anyway). The MDC decals do look good, I only wish I had followed your advice and got a vacuform canopy. Oh well, there's always the next time! Cheers, Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swralph Posted February 25, 2021 Share Posted February 25, 2021 Lovely build Bill.😀 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete in a shed Posted February 25, 2021 Share Posted February 25, 2021 Lovely Tucano. A great shame they have gone the way of so many RAF types over recent years. Pete 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IvanP Posted February 26, 2021 Share Posted February 26, 2021 Excellent build! I saw the first flight of the Tucano prototype back in the 80's. Congrats! Ivan 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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