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Revell 1/72 Boeing P-26 Peashooter (Not OOB) Finished!


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Good evening my fellow afflicted model builders!

 

Now my Easter eggs are finished and safely in the display cabinet, it's time to get back on track with a 'real world' project. And here what found its way to my bench:

IMG_20210209_215812

 

Maybe I needed a short, stubby and colourful aeroplane in my collection... I don't know but I wanted to build one for some time. And now is the time!

 

So here's what's in the box:

IMG_20210209_220425

 

IMG_20210209_220437

 

IMG_20210209_220453

 

IMG_20210209_220504

Thankfully for everyone involved, a throne and a mummy are included.

There is only one option as far as colour schemes are concerned but that's all I need. I want this!

IMG_20210209_220202

Already thinking of panting and masking for most of that instead of using the decals but we'll see what happens in the end.

But that's wasn't enough for me. I wanted more pieces and more ways to mess things up and ruin everything. So I got me a detail set:

IMG_20201230_115629

(No I'm not using that propeller, the kit's own is better)

Then I got me some reference material, a bottle of primer (first time I'll be using white primer) and because I wasn't sure about the blue I got me a few different ones to try so that I can decide, maybe.

IMG_20210211_200142

 

And finally I thought it would be a good idea to try bracing this time...

IMG_20210306_161153

 

So guys... wish me luck!

 

 

 

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I built another boxing of this kit recently and the decals for the wheel spats and cowling were completely rubbish shape-wise. I doubt they remeasured them for this release so be prepared to do some masking here.

 

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Hi DF,

I'll pull up a chair and follow along, if I may? The P-26 is such a great little plane.

I built one of these very kits when I was about ten years old (40+ years ago!), it was a good little kit and, bizarrely, I seem to recall that it came packaged with an Easter Egg! It was my first (and, to date, only) attempt at rigging, and at that tender age I used white cotton :D you can imagine how overscale it was, and hairy, too!

Looking forward to seeing this one come together - you might even inspire me to try another one after all these years :)

Cheers,

Mark

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  • 4 weeks later...

Hello guys,

 

after a little while here's a itsy tiny bit of progress I hope you find interesting.

 

So first I cut the few major pieces off their sprue. Then I proceeded removing some plastic from the cockpit interior...

IMG_20210403_183742

 

Then I started re-scribing over the existing raised panel likes. First the wings...

IMG_20210404_231508 IMG20210406223245

 

...then the landing gear pants...

IMG20210409212833

 

and then the fuselage...

IMG20210412231708

 

some areas were more demanding than expected...

IMG20210418194636

 

Many days and a whole roll of Dymo tape later it was time for some preliminary sanding...

IMG20210421233744

 

Then the three pieces making up the wings and lower fuselage were glued together...

IMG20210421234630

 

Then the resin cockpit interior/side walls were glued on. They were so very thin and caused no problems at all.

IMG20210422220636

 

Note the missing cockpit door which I decided I'm going to leave open.

Vallejo black primer was then applied to some of the parts...

IMG20210424194345 IMG20210424194505

 

Then I sprayed Vallejo aluminium and picked the details with black, linen etc...

IMG20210426213254

 

A black wash followed...

IMG20210428220048

 

and when everything was dry the cockpit was assembled...

IMG20210428224338

 

Meanwhile the PE parts were primed, painted...

IMG20210505202546

 

...and assembled:

IMG20210507221949

 

So the time to glue the two fuselage halves together is almost here...

 

I hope you found this update of some interest. As always, thanks for looking and thank you for leaving a comment!

 

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Excellent progress, and the cockpit with the resin additions looks absolutely brilliant! 

 

For re-scribing, I can see you've got French Curves, but can I ask where the metal stencils are from and also what you use for the actual scribing work?

 

Cheers,

Mark

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Not so sure about the PE rigging, I'd use monfilament if I were you as it would also add strength.

Looking good though and it will be interesting to see how that rigging PE works out!

 

Ian

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2 hours ago, 2996 Victor said:

Excellent progress, and the cockpit with the resin additions looks absolutely brilliant! 

 

For re-scribing, I can see you've got French Curves, but can I ask where the metal stencils are from and also what you use for the actual scribing work?

 

Cheers,

Mark

 Thank you @2996 Victor

 

Yes, the resin parts from Starfighter decals so far have caused no problems and greatly enhance the appearance.

 

The metal template is an old version of this one here: https://www.scalemates.com/kits/hasegawa-tp1-template-set-1--555377 As for the scribing I'm still climbing the learning curve. I use most of the time a sewing needle on an x-acto style grip. Then I have a V shaped scriber (can't remember where I got that from) and a P-cutter. The main difference is that the needle creates a groove by pushing plastic aside on each side. Whereas the P-utter and the V shaped scriber remove plastic in a fine curly shaving. Both have their pros and cons of course.

2 hours ago, Fritag said:

Lovely stuff;  I’ll follow along if I may.

 

Many thanks @Fritag

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2 hours ago, bigbadbadge said:

Some great work there, this looks fantastic so far especially considering it's size too.  Great work. 

Chris

 

Thank you @bigbadbadge I'm glad you like it

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1 hour ago, Brandy said:

Not so sure about the PE rigging, I'd use monfilament if I were you as it would also add strength.

Looking good though and it will be interesting to see how that rigging PE works out!

 

Ian

 

Thanks @Brandy
Yes I'm curious to see how this will work out myself. Never tried this before but I think this being a monoplane it would be easier? And if all else fails I have some rigging lines as my backup 🙂 

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1 hour ago, Desk Flyer said:

The metal template is an old version of this one here: https://www.scalemates.com/kits/hasegawa-tp1-template-set-1--555377 As for the scribing I'm still climbing the learning curve. I use most of the time a sewing needle on an x-acto style grip. Then I have a V shaped scriber (can't remember where I got that from) and a P-cutter. The main difference is that the needle creates a groove by pushing plastic aside on each side. Whereas the P-utter and the V shaped scriber remove plastic in a fine curly shaving. Both have their pros and cons of course.

That's brilliant, thanks! I'm still near the bottom of the re-scribing learning curve, and any advice is welcomed.

 

I've got a P-Cutter, which is brilliant for scratch building model railway wagons with wood planked bodies, but I've found it a bit wayward for aeroplane panel lines, even with Dymo tape. I've also got a hardened and ground scriber, which is rather better. I just need to practice!

 

Thanks for the pointer to the template, as ready-made shapes are always a useful shortcut.

 

Looking forward to seeing the next instalment!

 

Cheers,

Mark

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Great work Desk flyer. I am following along ,as I have the same kit. I was thinking of using the Star fighter detail set and I am glad they are working well for you. I am going to do the Chinese air force version, in overall green.   

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On 5/11/2021 at 11:34 PM, Bill Davis said:

Great work Desk flyer. I am following along ,as I have the same kit. I was thinking of using the Star fighter detail set and I am glad they are working well for you. I am going to do the Chinese air force version, in overall green.   

Thank you @Bill Davis 

 

Yes, without being exceptional they do improve the model a lot.

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Good evening all,

 

here's another update. Not much I'm afraid; working at break-neck speed is not one of my attributes really.

 

So with all the cockpit pieces now inside the cockpit, it was time to close the two fuselage halves...

IMG20210508124106 IMG20210509122313

 

The two halves and cockpit caused no real problem. For this project I decided to work with sprue goo or sprugue or sproogoo...

IMG20210508203354 IMG20210509122150

 

Then the fuselage was introduced to the wings...

IMG20210509124306

 

As you can see above there wasn't much of a gap but in any case more spruegoo was applied all over...

IMG20210510214022

 

Then the kit's tail wheel was replaced by the one provided by Starfighter decals' resin set...

IMG20210510213049

 

No drama there either. At that point the sanding begun in earnest. I used wet sandpaper starting with 600 grit, then 1200, then 1500 and then 2000..

IMG20210514220353

 

That wasn't a straightforward process as I would invariably find defects and I would then apply more spruegoo starting the sanding cycle from the beginning.

While this sand-fill-repeat was going on I started thinking ahead. What paint should I use? Which shade? I was beginning to get the blues...

IMG20210429214740

 

In the end after much deliberation I decided to go for Revell Aqua 50 as the colour and paint of choice. With that problem sorted I masked the engine cylinders...

IMG20210429220252

 

and sprayed white 'One shot' primer on the wheels and on the engine cover. Then I sprayed the blue on the wheels...

IMG20210503134857

 

masked it and proceeded with Revell's Aqua Anthracite...

IMG20210503215130

 

when that was dry the landing gear was assembled...

IMG20210509175611

 

and (you guessed it) spruegoo was applied and sanded. As it was to be expected after all this sanding some repairs of the panel lines were needed...

IMG20210514233104

 

After that, the horizontal stabilisers and the landing gear were added to the mix and the whole thing started to resemble a P-26 at long last...

IMG20210515211458

 

I hope you enjoyed tonight's installment. Thank you all for looking and thank you for leaving a comment.

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Excellent progress and worth the wait.  Sprugoo is fantastic stuff.   I usually sand smooth but don't get to polishing until later that saves multiple multiple sanding sessions and sanity!!!

Great work, it looks splendid.

Chris

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  • 1 month later...

Hello everyone,

 

welcome to yet another edition of the long overdue Peashooter project. Here's what I have been up to so far...

 

With the main assembly now complete (see above) I decided to improve on the non-existing carburettor intakes in front of the cockpit. So, two holes were drilled and Evergreen styrene tubes were cut and placed inside but (most importantly) they were drilled down their centre as well.

IMG20210608202656

 

In the end the result was a bit on the thick side but I'm happy with them over what the kit had instead.

IMG20210608211846

 

Then the (resin) engine firewall was installed...

IMG20210608212130

 

Then the windshield was glued and as painting was drawing closer, masked. Other small bits were prepared as well...

IMG20210610220811

 

After some more sanding, the cockpit was masked using a piece of sponge and Maskol. Then the whole model was cleaned using IPA and cotton pads. No prizes for guessing the next step.

IMG20210616175359

 

IMG20210616204940

 

Then One Shot White primer was sprayed neat from the bottle...

IMG20210617221625

 

I didn't like the result very much to be honest. The surface was not smooth at all. But as this was the first time I used this product it is more likely the fault was with the user.

 

And then the aforementioned user slowly but surely decided to commit suicide by masking. I'll try to describe the thought process so you can spot the first signs if this malady ever strikes you and hopefully you will avoid going down this rabbit hole.

 

It started with the thought of "white decals for the stripes and cheatlines there is no way of looking white after they are applied over blue paint". "Yes" agreed another voice inside my head "red will also be kinda muted, right?". "Oh and yellow decals will come out looking green! Remember that Blue Angels F-18 you built many many years ago?" said the other voice sending shivers down my spine at the memory of that build and at the realisation it was sooooo many years ago. By that time I was already at the brink. And then came the final push: pictures of the real thing revealed that the tail was in fact yellow with blue leading edges. The kit provided yellow leading edges for a blue overall tail. I wanted to have it the other way round. I must have it the other way round!

First thing first, I sprayed some Testors white on the areas that are to remain white (rudder, fuselage stripe etc). Them I stuck Tamiya masking tape on the cutting mat and then I placed photocopies of the decal sheet over them, secured in place with scotch tape. I cut the patterns on the cutting mat and transferred the masking tape on the model.

IMG20210618225152 IMG20210619195559

 

Then came Humbrol's acrylic Insignia red...

IMG20210620200302

 

Then was the easy part where the yellow was sprayed. I used Revell Aqua 36310 delivered in two coats a day apart...

IMG20210622215120

 

Then the crude masking was taken off...

IMG20210622215607

 

Then more cutting and transferring really thin stripes of masking tape on the model using tweezers and some swearing...

IMG20210705224929

 

The thin strip to cover the red part of the cheatline extended all the way back on the fuselage... Guess who cocked it up? :facepalm: (insert more swearing). Anyway, after that slight discrepancy was rectified and the yellow bits masked, I sprayed a thin misty coat of white over the whole kit to take the bite out of the remaining red and yellow in preparation for the blue...

IMG20210709214639

 

Again, I used Revell Aqua in two coats a day apart only this time it was 36150. You could say I was feeling blue all day...

IMG20210710200311 IMG20210710200332

 

And then it was time to take the masking tapes off and inspect the results...

IMG20210711145203

 

As expected some very fine brush work is needed where the red managed to find its way on to the white but all in all I am pleased with the result so far.

 

I hope you find this interesting. Many thanks for looking and thank you for leaving a comment.

 

Until the next time ta ta for now 🙂

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On 7/11/2021 at 7:40 PM, Chaotic Mike said:

Impressive masking. It must be tiny... 

Thanks! Well some strips were very thin indeed.

 

On 7/11/2021 at 9:19 PM, bigbadbadge said:

Agreed very impressive masking , you should be very happy with your efforts it looks gorgeous. 

Great work. 

Chris

Thank you! Overall although please with the results, there are some things I don't like. But it is part of the learning process and if God forbid I have to do this again, I now know a few things more.

 

On 7/11/2021 at 10:27 PM, ColinChipmunkfan said:

Following this with admiration of your modelling skills and painting skills,

Colin

You are much too kind! Thank you.

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I too know the heartbreak of the paint/mask/repaint/mask/touch-up/mask/touch-up-the-touch-up/mask/etc. cycle.  Two theoretically simple models have recently given me absolute fits, and I'll soon be painting a multicolour D-Day P-38, sure to test the limits of my skills, patience, and Anglo-Saxon vocabulary.  I'll keep the results of your P-26 efforts in mind should doubts arise.

 

Peashooters are little early for my tastes, but I kind of want to try a Revell one now.  You've got some proper modelling going on here!  😎

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  • 4 weeks later...

Good evening everyone.

 

Back with yet another update but I promise this will be the last one 🙂

 

Picking up from where I left the last time. with the paint and the corrections complete, a gloss coat was applied to the whole model...

IMG20210713211323

 

Then it was time for the decals...

IMG20210715234710

 

To be fair, the decals performed much better than expected, with just a little help from Mr. Mark Setter and Mr. Mark Softer which might have been unnecessary.

Then I weathered the model slightly; Tamiya brown wash, a little bit of aluminum paint for chipping and some oil stains near the engine...

IMG20210723225118 IMG20210723225138

 

Everything was sealed under two coats of satin varnish (Mr. hobby aqueous 102 semi-gloss)...

IMG20210725165046 IMG20210725165031

 

Then the engine was attached...

IMG20210725172954

 

...without the cowling? Oh you muppet! :facepalm: Off with the engine, fit the cowling first with no glue and then re-attach the engine. A loose cowling will help with the exhaust stacks (seen in the above picture)...

IMG20210725220912 IMG20210725220940

 

(The propeller is there only temporarily)

Next comes the dreaded rigging!

IMG20210724223840

 

I decided to use the photo etched 0.2 stainless steel strips for the bracing. The EZ line thread was kept in reserve in case I couldn't work with the photo etch,
Started with the landing gear bracing...

IMG20210729221459

 

...then the wings undersides...

IMG20210801213951

 

and finally the fuselage-to-wing braces...

IMG20210802215737

 

It took me almost a week to do the bracing mainly because the process was taking its toll on my nerves and on my eyes. I could only do a couple during each session. Measure, cut, bend, dry-fit, glue, out again because it didn't stay where it was supposed to etc etc,,, But looking at the result I declare it was worth it!

Next I made the rudder control cables and bellcranks out of left over PE and copper wire...

IMG20210804214019 IMG20210804214826

 

And finally the pitot probe, the propeller and the antenna wire were fitted on...

IMG20210804223625

 

And that's that. C'est fini! Next I'll be posting a couple of pictures over at the "ready for inspection" section.

 

Many thanks for following the build. I hope you found it of interest. And as always, thank you for leaving a comment.

 

The next kit is already on the bench. So see you soon  😉

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  • Desk Flyer changed the title to Revell 1/72 Boeing P-26 Peashooter (Not OOB) Finished!

Good evening everyone.

 

Back with yet another update but I promise this will be the last one 🙂

 

Picking up from where I left the last time. with the paint and the corrections complete, a gloss coat was applied to the whole model...

IMG20210713211323

 

Then it was time for the decals...

IMG20210715234710

 

To be fair, the decals performed much better than expected, with just a little help from Mr. Mark Setter and Mr. Mark Softer which might have been unnecessary.

Then I weathered the model slightly; Tamiya brown wash, a little bit of aluminum paint for chipping and some oil stains near the engine...

IMG20210723225118 IMG20210723225138

 

Everything was sealed under two coats of satin varnish (Mr. hobby aqueous 102 semi-gloss)...

IMG20210725165046 IMG20210725165031

 

Then the engine was attached...

IMG20210725172954

 

...without the cowling? Oh you muppet! :facepalm: Off with the engine, fit the cowling first with no glue and then re-attach the engine. A loose cowling will help with the exhaust stacks (seen in the above picture)...

IMG20210725220912 IMG20210725220940

 

(The propeller is there only temporarily)

Next comes the dreaded rigging!

IMG20210724223840

 

I decided to use the photo etched 0.2 stainless steel strips for the bracing. The EZ line thread was kept in reserve in case I couldn't work with the photo etch,
Started with the landing gear bracing...

IMG20210729221459

 

...then the wings undersides...

IMG20210801213951

 

and finally the fuselage-to-wing braces...

IMG20210802215737

 

It took me almost a week to do the bracing mainly because the process was taking its toll on my nerves and on my eyes. I could only do a couple during each session. Measure, cut, bend, dry-fit, glue, out again because it didn't stay where it was supposed to etc etc,,, But looking at the result I declare it was worth it!

Next I made the rudder control cables and bellcranks out of left over PE and copper wire...

IMG20210804214019 IMG20210804214826

 

And finally the pitot probe, the propeller and the antenna wire were fitted on...

IMG20210804223625

 

And that's that. C'est fini! Next I'll be posting a couple of pictures over at the "ready for inspection" section.

 

Many thanks for following the build. I hope you found it of interest. And as always, thank you for leaving a comment.

 

The next kit is already on the bench. So see you soon  😉

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